August 31, 2010
The races are just around the corner
I got my uniform today! It is very surreal, I can't put it on yet because I know I'll get too excited, lol. But I will post a picture, and I got to run on our home course today. Our course is at Pioneers Park and while I did believe that Nebraska was a flat state, the "hill" on the course is in fact a hill (comparable to Reservoir Hill at Mt. Sac, but a bit shorter and steeper). There are some woopdy-do type of downhill to uphill transitions along the course as well. The meet hosts about 30 teams and has been an annual event since 1990. A 668 acre natural preserve, the park has a nature center, trails, and some elk, bison, turkey vultures, a bald eagle, and owls are exhibited in their natural habitat. Below are some pictures, I'll be racing there Sept. 18th!
Welcome to Weather in the Midwest
Today, there was a 110 degree heat index with 76% humidity!! Earlier the sky was yellow-brown and stormy, now it is black and lightening literally flashed and lit up my entire room, pretty cool, haha. Welcome to the Midwest :)
The sky..
August 24, 2010
While you sit in your XC meeting..
As Soles 'entertains' ;) you with the necessary information regarding this upcoming season,
I am here in my dorm, relaxing after a long day :) I woke up at 7 to run my morning run of 4miles, it was good, I feel my speed is getting better each run and I'm acclimating not only to the weather but pace too!! After my run I got dressed and was off for my day filled with a math class and biology lab. After getting out of my lab 20 minutes early I ventured over to the student union's bookstore where I bought some last minute class items and then was off to practice. Unlike yesterday's heat index of 98 degrees + humidity, today was rather breezy and a nice change. We drove out to a dirt road that is flat and straight. The path cuts through some trees and the occasional field of tall grass. It was nice to be covered from the sun and felt a lot cooler than the past few days. With Jay's approval, I can share my runs with you, I thought it most appropriate to begin with my first hard workout. While I'm not going to record EVERY workout I run, I thought this toughie would be appreciated by you girls and readers. We started with a 2 mile warm up (you really feel "warm" after running around 7:00 pace for 'warmup' haha ;) Then we stopped to stretch while continuing for a 4 mile fartlek, followed by a 2 mile cool down. While I didn't exactly stay with the group from the first 'up' (and I was pushing 6:00 pace...my quads can definitely feel that one), I did feel a LOT better than I have so far, I was able to push my self in the other 'ups'. For the first time in a long time, I was happy during my hard workout, and was able to surge in the middle of my 'ups' and test my ability. A successful workout I would say, then it was off to the cold tub for an ice bath and the training table for dinner, some studying/writing for classes in the athlete-lobby area and then back to my dorm where here I am, writing my fellow readers and about to go off to bed :)
Buenos noches mis amigos, and have a good rest of the week, stay cool throughout all that heat in CA!!
I am here in my dorm, relaxing after a long day :) I woke up at 7 to run my morning run of 4miles, it was good, I feel my speed is getting better each run and I'm acclimating not only to the weather but pace too!! After my run I got dressed and was off for my day filled with a math class and biology lab. After getting out of my lab 20 minutes early I ventured over to the student union's bookstore where I bought some last minute class items and then was off to practice. Unlike yesterday's heat index of 98 degrees + humidity, today was rather breezy and a nice change. We drove out to a dirt road that is flat and straight. The path cuts through some trees and the occasional field of tall grass. It was nice to be covered from the sun and felt a lot cooler than the past few days. With Jay's approval, I can share my runs with you, I thought it most appropriate to begin with my first hard workout. While I'm not going to record EVERY workout I run, I thought this toughie would be appreciated by you girls and readers. We started with a 2 mile warm up (you really feel "warm" after running around 7:00 pace for 'warmup' haha ;) Then we stopped to stretch while continuing for a 4 mile fartlek, followed by a 2 mile cool down. While I didn't exactly stay with the group from the first 'up' (and I was pushing 6:00 pace...my quads can definitely feel that one), I did feel a LOT better than I have so far, I was able to push my self in the other 'ups'. For the first time in a long time, I was happy during my hard workout, and was able to surge in the middle of my 'ups' and test my ability. A successful workout I would say, then it was off to the cold tub for an ice bath and the training table for dinner, some studying/writing for classes in the athlete-lobby area and then back to my dorm where here I am, writing my fellow readers and about to go off to bed :)
Buenos noches mis amigos, and have a good rest of the week, stay cool throughout all that heat in CA!!
August 22, 2010
Up early
Hello Readers,
First off I'd like to request that if you read my posts you leave a comment.. it isn't a big hassle for you and frankly I am a little unsure if this is even informing any of you back in T-mec. So now that that's stated, I had my first team-run today and I really enjoyed it. This morning we met at 6:30 AM and ran on the MoPac trail (picture below) that is basically a crushed limestone trail that goes out by fields and trees and it has a nice out-of-the-city feeling to it (and yes, I did see some corn ;) The humidity is DEFINITELY something we don't get in T-mec (even if you tell me how hot its been, dry heat and moist/humid heat are two completely different things, dry heat = sweat, moist heat = sweat, more sweat, and what feels like less oxygen intake. My allergies have been acting up a little bit, its probably from the pollen from all the plants out here, so my nose and head feel a bit congested but other than that the running felt good. Tomorrow is my first day of classes and official practice, it's all starting up so quickly.
Adios for now :)
First off I'd like to request that if you read my posts you leave a comment.. it isn't a big hassle for you and frankly I am a little unsure if this is even informing any of you back in T-mec. So now that that's stated, I had my first team-run today and I really enjoyed it. This morning we met at 6:30 AM and ran on the MoPac trail (picture below) that is basically a crushed limestone trail that goes out by fields and trees and it has a nice out-of-the-city feeling to it (and yes, I did see some corn ;) The humidity is DEFINITELY something we don't get in T-mec (even if you tell me how hot its been, dry heat and moist/humid heat are two completely different things, dry heat = sweat, moist heat = sweat, more sweat, and what feels like less oxygen intake. My allergies have been acting up a little bit, its probably from the pollen from all the plants out here, so my nose and head feel a bit congested but other than that the running felt good. Tomorrow is my first day of classes and official practice, it's all starting up so quickly.
Adios for now :)
A picture of part of the MoPac trail (I found it online)
August 20, 2010
Settled in Nebraska :)
Hello Readers,
Sorry it took so long for me to finally be able to write here! I had some trouble setting up the wireless internet with my computer, but now that it's all fixed (and I have a break from activities) I can write to you Californians. First off, the trip here was good. It took us 3 days to drive here, but we split up the drive, 12 hours the first day, than 6 and 6 the next two. We stopped in Salt Lake City, UT and Laramie, WY. But finally, I am home: Lincoln, NE. On Wednesday I went through all of the necessary physical procedures for D1: height, weight, blood pressure, spine check, check of leg/arm movement, EKG, drug testing, and blood work (ferratin levels, other things, and sickle cell (new NCAA rule for freshman). So, after 4 viles of blood (I've never had so much blood taken), I checked into my dorm. It is actually quite spacious, and so far I love it. It was hard to sleep the first night, I kept waking up from just being in a different environment and then the time difference too (we're 2hrs ahead here..) but I've acclimated a bit. Although, not to running in the humidity!! It hasn't been horrible, but I went for my first run yesterday and struggled only running 4 miles at 8:07 pace. I'm not sure if it was the blood being taken or lack of proper hydration, but I was tired to say the least, I did get a little dizzy at the 2mile and so I stopped while my dad biked next to me. I did jog to breakfast in the Training Table (athletic cafeteria facility) this morning, and felt better :) Yesterday I also met up with the rest of the team. We have returners, three freshman, a transfer from Colorado, and a girl from the Czech Republic. The whole team is really nice and helpful too! I am definitely enjoying my time here, and I've only been here a few days. In addition to all of that, yesterday we had a meeting and then got our equipment (freebies!!!!), that of which I was VERY excited for. We also played indoor volleyball and Ultimate later that night, ate dinner at the Training Table, and went to a home-made-ice-cream shop called "Ivanna Cone" which was delicious. As for today's agenda, I have a Beep Test, NCAA Compliance meeting, team/individual photos, Team meeting, and then Women's XC Meeting. I'll post some pictures below, hope your training is going good as well as your first full week of school.. I start on Monday :)
Sorry it took so long for me to finally be able to write here! I had some trouble setting up the wireless internet with my computer, but now that it's all fixed (and I have a break from activities) I can write to you Californians. First off, the trip here was good. It took us 3 days to drive here, but we split up the drive, 12 hours the first day, than 6 and 6 the next two. We stopped in Salt Lake City, UT and Laramie, WY. But finally, I am home: Lincoln, NE. On Wednesday I went through all of the necessary physical procedures for D1: height, weight, blood pressure, spine check, check of leg/arm movement, EKG, drug testing, and blood work (ferratin levels, other things, and sickle cell (new NCAA rule for freshman). So, after 4 viles of blood (I've never had so much blood taken), I checked into my dorm. It is actually quite spacious, and so far I love it. It was hard to sleep the first night, I kept waking up from just being in a different environment and then the time difference too (we're 2hrs ahead here..) but I've acclimated a bit. Although, not to running in the humidity!! It hasn't been horrible, but I went for my first run yesterday and struggled only running 4 miles at 8:07 pace. I'm not sure if it was the blood being taken or lack of proper hydration, but I was tired to say the least, I did get a little dizzy at the 2mile and so I stopped while my dad biked next to me. I did jog to breakfast in the Training Table (athletic cafeteria facility) this morning, and felt better :) Yesterday I also met up with the rest of the team. We have returners, three freshman, a transfer from Colorado, and a girl from the Czech Republic. The whole team is really nice and helpful too! I am definitely enjoying my time here, and I've only been here a few days. In addition to all of that, yesterday we had a meeting and then got our equipment (freebies!!!!), that of which I was VERY excited for. We also played indoor volleyball and Ultimate later that night, ate dinner at the Training Table, and went to a home-made-ice-cream shop called "Ivanna Cone" which was delicious. As for today's agenda, I have a Beep Test, NCAA Compliance meeting, team/individual photos, Team meeting, and then Women's XC Meeting. I'll post some pictures below, hope your training is going good as well as your first full week of school.. I start on Monday :)
Self explanatory
The view from my dorm room (the indoor track is that white building)
My room (wooh!)
My gear (minus more shoes, spikes and flats)
Finally :D
August 9, 2010
Reason for my Blog
Hello Great Oak-ians!
I leave in 6 days for UNL, and so my journey begins!
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