Settling in the dorm

First of all, I am sorry that I haven't updated my blog in a while. I have been extremely busy since moving in last Thursday; trying to get the Internet working and being away at Newport Beach for cross country camp has kept me occupied. I am preparing for my first class as I write this post. I have had a crazy week, but it has definitely been worth it and I can't believe I am getting ready for my first class of sophomore year.

I moved into my new dorm last Wednesday and it was chaotic to say the least. My mom and I left the house early Wednesday morning and made it up to La Verne in just over an hour. It took me a few hours to figure out my housing situation, but I was able to sort it out and move everything in. We had cross country meetings all day so I hurried to get all my stuff in the room before meeting up with the team. The first night was challenging and pretty lonely, but I already felt more at home than I did in Florida and knew things would get better once everyone started moving in.

The beginning of my very pink dorm room :)

Our much anticipated time trial was Thursday morning and we were up bright and early. I was exhausted and it was hard staying positive, but I knew that I was beyond capable of running a fast 2 miles. The team did a 2 mile warm up together and as were were doing drills, I thought of all the hard work I had put in over the summer. I was ready.

The first mile hurt and my legs felt heavy but I knew that once I got used to the feeling of racing again, I would feel better. The second mile felt great and I was really able to open my stride and relax, despite running a faster pace than I did for the first mile. My teammate Micaela was right behind me for the first mile and as we got to the mile marker, I broke away and picked up the pace. I finished first for the girls team, running 12:33 after making a couple wrong turns. I wasn't completely satisfied with my time, but I think that it was more of an effort course and I felt that I had given it everything I could have. The last 300 meters of the race, I felt the speed training I had done this summer pay off. I felt that I had a little something left in the tank and was able to pick up the pace significantly.

Although I really had hoped to run a faster time, I was able to relax knowing the time trial was over and done with. We left for Newport Beach Thursday afternoon and I was excited to spend a few days with teammates before classes began. It was fun getting to know everyone and running with my teammates and staying in beach houses. I love my new teammates and coaches. Coach Mike and our assistant Coach Jason really put a lot of time and effort in trying to make Camp Runamok a success. I didn't want to leave the beach!

After all the fun and excitement of Camp Runamok and getting situated in the dorms, I am sitting here now trying to get ready for my first day of classes. I can't wait to meet all of my professors and to learn again after a much needed relaxing summer! I will post again soon bloggers! To the Great Oak kiddos, I wish you all the best of luck in your training as you prepare for the upcoming races and fun events ahead! Stay focused and realize that all of your hard work will pay off very soon. :)

I absolutely love my new teammates!

From left to right: Shelby, Micaela, me, Sydney, and Brigitte

No Expectations

I know what I am capable of. This is going to be a good cross country season and everything will play out the way it is supposed to. With our 2 mile time trial just around the corner, I have been trying to prepare myself mentally and physically. After a challenging cross country season in Florida, I don't really know what to expect. Although the uncertainty has been driving me crazy, I am not going into the time trial on Thursday with a plan; the only expectation that I have for myself is to have fun and run for my teammates.

One of the reasons why I believe I was so successful my freshman year of high school was because I had no idea what I was doing; I ran because it made me happy. I want to have my freshman mentality going into the time trial. If I don't set my bar of expectations too high, then I will have no reason to be disappointed. I almost have to prepare myself for the worst knowing that while I am beyond capable of running a fast time and surprising myself, running isn't always a perfect sport.

This is only the beginning; the start of many workouts and races to come. I am going into this time trial with confidence in my training and the satisfaction of knowing I have put in the hard work; the rest will come together if I continue to work hard and push myself. Here's to a great season with my La Verne team! :)

The big decision

After a rough first year in Florida, I wanted to find a school where I would be closer to my family and friends, a school I could run at, and ultimately, I wanted to find a school I knew that I would be happy spending the next 3 years of my life at.

The University of La Verne was a school that I had applied to during my senior year of high school because the coach was very interested in having me on the team. I had visited once and loved the feeling I got when I stepped on campus; it was small enough that it wasn't overwhelming, the coach seemed enthusiastic about what he was doing and the direction the team was heading, and he genuinely expressed interest in my potential as a runner and as a person. From the brief period of time that I had spent with Coach Atwood, I knew that he wanted me to be successful and happy, regardless of whether or not La Verne was the place where I would find that perfect fit. I was fortunate to have met some of the members of the cross country team and they let me know that I was welcome; I walked away from that visit knowing that I could potentially see myself attending The University of La Verne.

In the end, it came down to a few schools and I chose Florida Southern. It was an experience and while Florida Southern didn't work out for me, I wouldn't do anything differently if I had the opportunity. More than anything, the year I spent in Florida helped me grow up; I learned to be independent. I am grateful for the opportunity I was given and I know that I made some memories in Florida that I will cherish forever.

In less than two weeks, I will be starting over at The University of La Verne and I am more than ready for what lies ahead. I can't wait for a fresh start; a fresh start to prove myself athletically and academically, and a fresh start to meet new people and experience new things. I know that I will have a great sophomore cross country season because I have been consistent and put in the hard work and mileage necessary to be successful.

A lot of people have asked me why I am running for a Division 3 school when I am capable of running for a Division 1 or 2 school. While some people rely on the label of a Division 1 school to justify their athletic abilities, I based my decision off of happiness and long term success. I know that if I am running for a coach that cares about me, and I have a team that I can count on, I will do well. I am proud to be a Division 3 runner!

My story

I started out as a club soccer player. I had been playing soccer competitively all my life until I discovered my talent for running. I spent countless hours a day trying to make myself a better soccer player; speed training, spinning classes at the gym, pilates, plyos, etc. I had dreams of playing soccer in college and eventually becoming a professional. Looking back on those dreams now, they seem foolish but at the time they made perfect sense. It wasn't until my freshman year of high school I was forced to open my eyes to the reality of the situation.

I was a very skilled soccer player; quick to the ball, attentive, had good footwork, and had very good endurance. As much as I tried to convince myself that soccer wasn't about size or strength, I lost almost every tackle and just couldn't keep up with the other girls physically. I was hurt when I only made the junior varsity soccer team at Great Oak my freshman year. Frustrated, I decided to try track and field after much persuading from a couple of the girls on my soccer team and the track coach. It was one of the best decisions that I have ever made in my life.

My freshman year of track and field, I set the girls freshman mile record at 5:21 and the school record in the 2 mile at 11:12. I was so happy that I had finally found my sport and running quickly became a huge part of my life. I liked running because it gave me something to feel good about; it was a feeling that no one could take away from me. I didn't have any coaches telling me that I wasn't good enough or big enough to make varsity; I simply lined up and let my times prove that I belonged. I couldn't have asked for a better freshman year. I had a coach that believed in me and a team that really loved me. Despite all of my achievements academically and athletically, I struggled to take care of myself and ended up suffering the consequences.

I became extremely sick during the summer going into my sophomore year. I was forced to take a year off of school and running and it was heartbreaking. Although I was able to realize that I needed to focus on my health, it was tough to sit and watch from the sidelines. I felt like I had let down my teammates when they needed me the most. It was a tough year to say the least; but in that year I spent taking care of myself, I learned how strong and determined I really was. I knew that if I was ever going to finish a race again, I would have to make it to the starting line. With the support of my family, friends, teammates, and coaches, I was able to run again and go back to school for my junior year.

It has been a long and slow journey. I can't say that I am at the place I would like to be in terms of running, or know that I am capable of, but I can say that I continue to work hard every day in hopes that I will get there eventually. I am proud of myself for overcoming the things that I have and even if I don't run the times I did my freshman year, I am happy because I know that I have given it my best effort. I have improved tremendously since my junior year of high school and I know it will only get better from here.

I can't wait to see what the University of La Verne has in store for me! And for all the Great Oak runners' that aspire to run at the next level, I hope that you continue to follow your dreams like I have. My best advice to you all would be to stay focused and realize that running isn't a perfect sport; if you give every practice, every workout, every race the best you can possibly give, you can't ask for any more of yourself!