Life after Running

It has been a month since my "retirement" from running and it has been crazy. I still look at the clock when 3:45 hits and it is a little strange not waking up in the morning for a dark morning run or lifting. I've taken up swimming and have a new found respect for those who glide lap after lap in the cool blue, even as a distance runner controlling your breathing in the pool is an acquired skill! I haven't been swimming too long but the minute I struggled with it I knew I'd found a new challenge to keep me going, even if not competitively. Who knows, swim bike run?  Regardless, it feels great to be active again.

Retirement

Running has taught me so much about myself over the past five years, I spent most of my high school career dreaming of running as a cornhusker when I reached the next level, and I am glad I experienced it, but I have grown as a person immensely since high school and have realized that being a competitive runner isn't what I want at this point in my life, I will now run simply for the joy of running (and possibly for the leukemia and lymphoma society). It was hard to hang up the spikes and walk away from something I've done so competitively for six years now, but it was time and I have never been happier with myself as a whole person.

To all who have endured alongside me these past years, for all the memories I will never forget, thanks to all it was a great run.

Cheers, (first post of 2012), to many more runs to come and best of luck to all in the 2012 seasons

Dusting off the Flats

Our first meet was two weeks ago at the Creighton/UNO Classic in Omaha. Our women won again with a great 1, 2, 4, 5, 6 finish good job ladies! Individually, despite a lingering foot injury I finished the first race of the season- and my first race since March! While the time is anything but blazing, I had a lot to battle physically and even mentally. Needless to say, training has been going a lot better- I think yesterday's workout is the first thing I've completed and been truly proud of in awhile, the kind of proud that you finish a repeat and smile :) Tomorrow is a sort of shake out "speed" workout to get our legs ready for the race on Saturday, our solo home meet at Pioneer's park, the Woody Greeno Invitational; and the last home meet for our coach Jay Dirksen who will be retiring in December. This weekend should bring many spectators as some of the team's alumni will be returning to their "alma mater course" to support the Huskers for our meet and a retirement ceremony for Jay. The weekend is feeling promising, and without too high of expectations I am hoping to run well and continue improving along my comeback journey as an elite runner! GO BIG RED!

http://www.huskers.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=205273029

Day 1

It's the first day of class today! Click this post's title for a great article courteous of Flotrack!

Firsts and Lasts

We're about one week away from our first cross country meeting of the 2011 season, first meeting as a Big Ten team, as well as the last meeting with our current coach Jay Dirksen. After twenty eight years as a coach for the Huskers and a frightening heart attack, Jay will be retiring at the end of this cross season. While I have only had him officially as a coach for one year (despite being in frequent contact since my 2007) things will not be the same at Pioneers Park, the Devaney, or Ed Weir without Jay around. While it is a loss for us as a team it is also a gain because we know its Jay's time and best for him and his family. Assisting Jay this upcoming season will be our new distance head coach Dave Harris, former head coach at Emporia State and previous Husker assistant coach from '85-92. This coming season brings a lot of firsts and lasts, it will be Nebraska's first appearance in the Big Ten Conference including the Big Ten Cross Country Championships which will be held October 30th in Champaign, Illinois; including the last time Nebraska's home meet will be presented by Jay who was there from its start in 1990.

So here's to new beginnings and pleasant endings.

At this hour

It's 11:00pm and there is just something special about running through Lincoln in the dark. I started running late at night with a few friends from classes and its become the way I spend my summer nights lately, getting in a few extra miles. Nothing lengthy or super speedy for that matter, but rather a run to simply enjoy running. Therapeutic if you will.  I think this is something competitive runners forget to do, I know personally I can get so caught up in the distance or pace of my run or workout that I just focus on what I "need to do" and forget what I love to do. So yes, at this hour I could be sleeping, but its at this hour in the day that I can relax my mind and reacquaint with how much I enjoy the casual late night stroll.

Welcome to the "B 1 G"

 

I remember walking through the stadium a few weeks ago and noticing the names on the wall, "Penn State, Iowa, Michigan..." and it hit me, we're now in the Big Ten. With roughly a month left of summer and Nebraska's admittance to the Big Ten Conference official as of July 1st, I am really excited for the start of my sophomore year. This season brings new opportunities for running and academics as well. I will be starting down my path of Psychology this semester with a fifteen credit load as well as the list of new meets on our schedule like South Dakota and the Big Ten Championships. Included in the Big Ten are some prominent distance programs, four of which qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championships in 2010 including six individual Big Ten athletes and three All-Americans.

Summer has been quite the experience for me, regarding running it has been enlightening. I rolled my ankle again about a month ago which was very frustrating but I took the necessary time off to rest and heal up and I am back to training and feeling strong. I've also spent most of my summer fixing up my new home which included completely gutting the place, we're talking tearing down walls, taking out carpet, painting, the whole deal. It is finally feeling like a home to me, especially with the news of the three roommates I will have in the fall who are future teammates from Serbia. As the journey of collegiate running and life continues I will keep you posted with the new adventures I face in the 2011-2012 seasons.

Bring on the B1G TEN