Sha-Sha
College is coming along nicely. I think I have a nice balance between hanging out with Springhillians and McGillians still, though I talked to Curt last night and he was telling me all about his million new friends and I started to get a little jealous that I don't have "a million" new friends yet. But I'm meeting new people everyday and today marked a milestone for me: we created a cross-country table. You don't know how happy this makes me.
I really like my team now. I was pretty skeptical for a long time (mostly because Mearn was always badmouthing them and making me think they were a big joke. I badmouthed them for a long time too because of this, and now I wish I hadn't. They're great. Screw you, Mearn... yeah, that's right. I know you're reading this!) We've had 3 practices so far. I wasn't thrilled about it on the first day simply because it was 6am and I didn't appreciate this new style of coaching. We jogged a warm-up, Coach showed us how to stretch (like we didn't know...), and then we ran nice and easy for 30 min. I was just a little mad. I've been running 5-10 miles just about everyday this summer, and I felt like I should be running more now that the season is so fast approaching (our first meet is next weekend). I was even more turned off when he said, "This is supposed to be easy. Don't feel like you have to keep up. If you need to take a break, just stop and take a break." I couldn't believe what he was telling us. It was quite possibly the worst advice I'd ever heard. Then yesterday we were supposed to do 40, but ended up just 30 + 2 golf course hill repeats. Better. I was still not really sure how I was going to get along with everybody. Then Don started talking about Cabin Fever and I knew there was a God. Finally, another "normal" cross-country runner.
I was relieved by the run we had today. 50 min. in the neighborhood. It was supposed to be LSD, but Emily & I ran with the guys for the first couple laps. I was extremely happy to finally be doing a workout that hurt. The guys broke away, I broke away from Emily, and ran the last lap and 1/2 alone. I really pushed myself. I'm starting to feel a lot better about the meet this weekend. I'm not making any promises, but at least I think I won't be running 24:something (at least I hope not...) It also made me feel better when I ran past Coach on the way back to school and he said, "This girl's an animal," in front of his buddies. We'll see about that. I'm glad I have Emily to run with. She's pretty good and cool as hell. We've got 4 decent girls plus 3 others who are all really cool. We only have 5 guys though. Need some more guys here.
After practice I suggested we should all eat dinner together. They were happy to. It was wonderful. We talked for a long time. Everyone else eventually left and I stayed and talked to Alex for awhile. He seems like a pretty cool dude. Telling me about the drunken fun the team had last year. I'm glad I have a team who will get drunk together. And we're supposed to have pasta parties too. This is looking more and more promising.
I slept most of the day. Watched the soccer game & talked to a few new friends like Evan and Jennifer. Went back to sleep. Practice. Dinner. Mellow Mushroom with Justin to see the Dog River Boys. Saw Curtis, John, Lukus Pookus, his brother, Chris Lee, Pat McMahon, & met some new people. Mass at SHC. Hitched a ride with 2 dudes who graduated last year. Talked to some other people in the chapel. Everyone here is really nice. I'm feeling a lot better.
I really like my team now. I was pretty skeptical for a long time (mostly because Mearn was always badmouthing them and making me think they were a big joke. I badmouthed them for a long time too because of this, and now I wish I hadn't. They're great. Screw you, Mearn... yeah, that's right. I know you're reading this!) We've had 3 practices so far. I wasn't thrilled about it on the first day simply because it was 6am and I didn't appreciate this new style of coaching. We jogged a warm-up, Coach showed us how to stretch (like we didn't know...), and then we ran nice and easy for 30 min. I was just a little mad. I've been running 5-10 miles just about everyday this summer, and I felt like I should be running more now that the season is so fast approaching (our first meet is next weekend). I was even more turned off when he said, "This is supposed to be easy. Don't feel like you have to keep up. If you need to take a break, just stop and take a break." I couldn't believe what he was telling us. It was quite possibly the worst advice I'd ever heard. Then yesterday we were supposed to do 40, but ended up just 30 + 2 golf course hill repeats. Better. I was still not really sure how I was going to get along with everybody. Then Don started talking about Cabin Fever and I knew there was a God. Finally, another "normal" cross-country runner.
I was relieved by the run we had today. 50 min. in the neighborhood. It was supposed to be LSD, but Emily & I ran with the guys for the first couple laps. I was extremely happy to finally be doing a workout that hurt. The guys broke away, I broke away from Emily, and ran the last lap and 1/2 alone. I really pushed myself. I'm starting to feel a lot better about the meet this weekend. I'm not making any promises, but at least I think I won't be running 24:something (at least I hope not...) It also made me feel better when I ran past Coach on the way back to school and he said, "This girl's an animal," in front of his buddies. We'll see about that. I'm glad I have Emily to run with. She's pretty good and cool as hell. We've got 4 decent girls plus 3 others who are all really cool. We only have 5 guys though. Need some more guys here.
After practice I suggested we should all eat dinner together. They were happy to. It was wonderful. We talked for a long time. Everyone else eventually left and I stayed and talked to Alex for awhile. He seems like a pretty cool dude. Telling me about the drunken fun the team had last year. I'm glad I have a team who will get drunk together. And we're supposed to have pasta parties too. This is looking more and more promising.
I slept most of the day. Watched the soccer game & talked to a few new friends like Evan and Jennifer. Went back to sleep. Practice. Dinner. Mellow Mushroom with Justin to see the Dog River Boys. Saw Curtis, John, Lukus Pookus, his brother, Chris Lee, Pat McMahon, & met some new people. Mass at SHC. Hitched a ride with 2 dudes who graduated last year. Talked to some other people in the chapel. Everyone here is really nice. I'm feeling a lot better.