Many miles before I sleep

TN to TX

2010-08-11T22:35:00.000-04:00

Brevard

2010-08-06T20:40:00.002-04:00

I'm not going to bore you with 4 week worth of log. I'll just say that I had 3 really strong 50 mile weeks and then I took a week off.
I know you are thinking, why a week off? injury? death in the family? getting locked in the cellar with no way of escape? I am going to tell you, it was none of those. I was exhausted. I had spent two jam packed weeks working a running camp in Brevard, NC for high school runners. As junior staff, we are required to run twice a day, monitor the high schoolers and participate in the sports at night against the kids After we put these kids to bed, well it is time for us to have some fun. This involved making smores and waterfalling. The morning run began at 6:30 a.m. So needless to say, I think I survived off maybe 20 hours of sleep that week. I really to make my point, I'm going to have to put pictures in.
Waterfalling @ Midnight
Pointing in costume on the graduation run (notice my knees-roots are hard to see at 5:45)

Dancing at the top of the run

Group of Junior Staff on the top of John's Rock

Austin in 3 days!

Chicago training week 3-Mud!

2010-07-05T00:05:00.000-04:00

Date	Description	Route	Distance	Time	Pace
Mon 6/28/2010	Afternoon Normal Run		5.5 Mi	39:30	7:10/Mi
Tue 6/29/2010	Morning Cross Training/Other		6 Mi	45:00	7:30/Mi
	Morning Normal Run		5 Mi	37:00	7:24/Mi
Wed 6/30/2010	Morning Normal Run		7 Mi	53:00	7:34/Mi
Thu 7/1/2010	Evening Normal Run		6 Mi	44:02	7:20/Mi
Fri 7/2/2010	Morning Normal Run		7 Mi	53:05	7:35/Mi
Sat 7/3/2010	Afternoon Normal Run		6.2 Mi	50:00	8:03/Mi
Sun 7/4/2010	Afternoon Normal Run		9 Mi	1:10:00	7:46/Mi
Totals:			51.7 Mi	6:31:37	7:34/M

This week was what summer is meant to be; beautiful weather, grilling out and seeing old friends. The older I get, the less friends I have back in the Murfreesboro. I was beyond happy to see my best running partner. She had spent a semester in Australia and is now interning as an accountant in Charlotte, NC. The first activity we did was a six miler. Every minute of it was filled with stories and laughs. The pace might not have been the quickest but it was by far the best run of the week.

The worst run of the week is a tie between my long run and the run on Tuesday. The run on Tuesday is by far more humorous. I decided to go do a ladder work-out with the not-so-little sister. This really was not much of a work-out, basically you start out on a soccer field and you sprint one side, then two, then three, then the whole field. It was less than a mile. The first sprint and jogging lap went fine. It was the second lap where it got a bit crazy. So we are sprinting, I in flats and Tori in cleats. We both go into the corner neck and neck. I trying to draw upon my track training decide to take the corner like a track corner. I soon found out that wet soccer field and flats do not mix well. I ended up flat on the ground covered in mud. Tori meanwhile had stopped and had just started laughing. I decided not to let it bother me and just try to take the next sprint easier. Well, slowing down did not help. I fell in the same puddle. At this point, I had to give up. I took off my soaking shirt, tried to towel off, and ran home (little sister did not want me getting her car dirty). Needless to say, I was a bit embarrassed running down the side of the road covered in mud.

This next week will hopefully be a 53 mile week. I am traveling to Brevard to work a running camp and the mileage I rack up there is whatever they want to give me.

Balls..that was just balls-Chicago Week 2 training

2010-06-27T23:59:00.003-04:00

Mon 6/21/2010	Evening Normal Run	6 Mi	45:04	7:30/Mi
Tue 6/22/2010	Morning Cross Training/Other	5 Mi	45:00	9:00/Mi
	Evening Normal Run	5 Mi	38:11	7:38/Mi
Wed 6/23/2010	Evening Normal Run	6 Mi	47:00	7:50/Mi
Thu 6/24/2010
Fri 6/25/2010
Sat 6/26/2010	Morning Normal Run	5 Mi	39:00	7:48/Mi
	Afternoon Cross Training/Other	7 Mi	53:00	7:34/Mi
Sun 6/27/2010	Evening Normal Run	10 Mi	1:15:00	7:30/Mi

Totals:		44.0 Mi	5:42:15	7:46/Mi

“Balls..that was just balls”-Lauren Fleshman. I don’t know if any of y’all (yes I just used y’all) are track geeks like me but at USA track and field nationals, Fleshman made a gutsy move with about 700 meters to go in the 5k and ended up winning it all. Fleshman has been injured and had to learn how to run again (there is a really good article in Running Times this month about her form). When ESPN interviewed her about the move her response was “Balls, that was just balls”. Needless to say, she is my new hero.

I did not have any balls when facing Mother Nature this week. Typically, I do not let weather defeat me. This week I surrendered. I was getting into the routine of running around 7:00 pm to beat the heat and humidity of TN. Two days in a row, I had my shoes laced up and ponytail ready to get out the door and the heavens opened up to huge massive storms. Instead of going to a gym to run on a treadmill, I wussed out and ate ice cream. So I decided to pad the week with some cross training, two cycling sessions with spandex and all. I would have preferred running miles.

I did get a new piece of gear this week and it was only two dollars! It was been a life saver. This great piece of gear is a bug band. This plastic band keeps all those pesky bugs away. Bugs have been terrible here since the flooding earlier in the year. This band works, it is easy and simple and I don’t have to smell like bug spray for several hours. Or even worse, taste the bug spray. I was not paid to promote them, just thought I would pass the word along.

Roommate situation has been resolved. I went with the place that has the pool and is cheaper. I just now have to deal with an agent who does not know the difference between “your” and “you’re” and “yore”. His lack of common grammar rules bothers me just a bit.

This week will be a slight increase in mileage but I’m looking forward to it.

USA TF TV coverage thoughts

2010-06-27T17:22:00.003-04:00

I was screaming, yelling and cursing at ESPN. This was not because the USA lost to Ghana in the World Cup. This was for an entirely different reason, with two laps to go in the men’s 5k, right were Lagat would unleash a mighty kick, ESPN changed to a no-hitter. They gave us a warning and then cut to the talking heads at the baseball game. This took 10 minutes or so. The race was over in three.

I was upset but I do realize that to ESPN a no hitter is going to bring in more of an audience then track and field. Of course, if most track and field fans are like me, we have little to no interest in a no hitter.

This was not the end of the mistakes. I know as an announcer it is not easy to always get the runners right but the following mistakes were just outright awful. First of all, in the final of the 1500, Shalane Flanagan falls. The announcer notices it but cannot identify who it is. She is an American Record holder and medalist on the World scene. Secondly, they flashed a graphic with all the stats on Bridget Franek and pictured Jenny Barringer. Why was this graphic not checked before hand? They also indentified Alan Webb’s record as being set in 1987-he would have been 5 at the time and again this was a graphic.

Then there are just the mistakes of not knowing your audience. The most we are shown of a distance race is maybe the first and last two laps. They continually explain to us how an event is run. There was a two minute segment on explaining long jumping. While races and field events are going on, they cut to fluff pieces. The 800 women’s race was raced 10 minutes before coverage started but instead of replaying during some of the downtime of the broadcast, they play fluff pieces.

It was comedy of tragedies.

I hate to be critical without offering up suggestions. First, track and field needs to look to how other sports cover events. In world cup soccer, never once did they stop and explain how a throw-in works or why it happens. Cut the explanation time. I know track meets do not run quickly (well unless you are at the Penn Relays) so why not schedule the jr. events in between the pro ones? That way cutting to commercial would be easy. Cut the fluff pieces and show the competition or just make sure you show when the moves happen. I know 10ks can be boring but in an instance they turn exciting. Also, if your announcers do not know certain events well bring in guest announcers; bringing in Vin Lanna to discuss the distance events this weekend was a smart move. Finally, double check your facts would be my other suggestion.

There needs to a tighter product and it can be done but first the small mistakes must be avoided.

The curious case of the skunk

2010-06-21T17:42:00.002-04:00

For the past three years, I have worked a running camp in the mountains of North Carolina. Part of our training as staff is to learn how to deal with wildlife on trails. If there is a horse and rider, stop and let the rider tell you what to do. Don't worry about deer for they run away. If there are bees, re route the trail and keep kids from getting stung; the epi pin is only used in the most dire situations. If there is a bear get real big and just hope you are faster then the slowest runner.

I have never been told what to do about a skunk.

To set the stage, I was out on my long run of the week at around 6:45 a.m. It seemed that all the wildlife in the small park was waking up. I really was not quite awake myself and I had to really focus as not to bite it over rock or tree branch. I'm not particularly clumsy but it had been awhile since I ran true trail. I was only about 4 miles into my 10 mile run when I saw it.

Now, skunks are not fearsome looking creatures, in fact they look like some form of a house cat. The Disney portrayal of the animal (flower) in Bambi is pretty right on except for the whole talking part.The skunk was enjoying some sort of greens and minding its own business. I was the one bothering it. I was trying just not to scare it and end up on the wrong end of the animal.

I decided the best idea was to wait till it moved off the path. So I waited and waited and prayed that animal moved the opposite direction. About five minutes later, the skunk was far enough off the trail that I was able to sprint by.

I did not get sprayed but I feel like there might have been a better way of handling the skunk

Week 1 of Marathon Training for Chicago

2010-06-20T13:48:00.000-04:00

Week 1
Mileage=45 miles (after 6 tonight)
Average Pace=7:39

Mon 6/14/2010	Evening Normal Run- VA loop very slow slog	6 Mi	46:15	7:42/Mi
Tue 6/15/2010	Afternoon Normal Run-My legs felt very heavy after a morning spin Class	5 Mi	38:00	7:36/Mi
Wed 6/16/2010	Evening Normal Run-Best run of the week! I love getting caught in a storm	6 Mi	45:22	7:33/Mi
Thu 6/17/2010	Afternoon Cross Training/Other-A little upset that I only got a spin class in that morning due to huge storm in the afternoon	6 Mi	47:00	7:50/Mi
Fri 6/18/2010	Evening Normal Run-Really hot! Run was fine but felt like I had run in a sauna	6 Mi	45:38	7:36/Mi

Sat 6/19/2010	Morning Long Run-Beautiful run through the park. I really do enjoy trail running. I was surprised on how easy 10 miles felt after no longs runs in the past 3 week. I am still pondering proper protocol when approaching a skunk	10 Mi	1:16:54	7:41/M

I still have a 6 mile run to do this evening but we are currently under a heat warning (95 but feels like 104). The heat has been a bit of a problem but I’m slowly getting adjusted. I should be in NC for most of July.

I had not expected to be able to feel so decent coming off of basically a month lay-off. I was running three to four times a week but nothing over 5 miles at once though last week I had made it up to 35 miles. The long run surprised me the most, I thought for sure I would be slogging through the last four but I felt better than ever.

This week has been a week of organizing my life for Austin. I finished financial aid forms and like most of America it appears I will be soon be in debt. I’m looking at apartment and have narrowed it down to two different roommates. One rooming situation is a 4 person apartment with three 20 year olds and is a very good deal. The other is sharing a place with a 25 yr old teacher/runner who it seems I would click with and is about 75 dollars more expensive. I have the money in loans to pay for either but with the more expensive one I would have to work to pay to do fun things. I also applied to every major sporting goods chain in hopes to pick a little more cash besides what Flotrack will be giving me.

Another 45 mile week next week! I really excited b/c of USA championships. I know I will be glued to my computer screen. I was able to go last year when it was Eugene and it is such a cool experience.

Plans

2010-06-12T21:21:00.002-04:00

I will be leaving for Austin in early August (currently looking for a roommate). I'll be work with Flotrack in their sales department, getting another part-time job and going to school. Until then I'll be living in limbo here in Murfreesboro, going to Brevard once last time and trying not to do any harm to my younger sisters. These are not fairly detailed plans but at least they are plans.

The only detailed plans I have are my marathon training plans that started out like this:

And ended up like this:

Week	Mon	Tues	Weds	Thu	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
1 & 2	6 miles	5 miles Hills	6 miles	6 miles +HS	6 miles	6 miles	10 miles long	45
3	6 miles	6 miles Hills	7 miles	6 miles + HS	7 miles	6 miles	10 miles	48
4	7 miles	4 mile tempo +3 mile warm-up/cooldown	7 miles	6 miles+ HS	8 miles	7 miles	11 miles	53
5	7 miles	5 mile MP + 3mile warm-up/cool down	7 miles	4 mile tempo + 3 mile warm-up /cooldown	7 miles	7 miles	12 miles	56
6	7 miles	4 mile tempo + 3 mile warm-up /cooldown	8 miles	7 miles hills	8 miles	8 miles	12 miles	57
7	7 miles	5 mile @MP + 3 mile warm-up/cooldown	8 miles	8 miles hills	8 miles	8 miles (Fartlek-for 3 miles 3 on 2 off mins)	13 miles	60
8	8 miles	10x800 @ 3:15 pace with 400 jog+ 3 mile warm-up/cooldown	8 miles	9 miles HS	8 miles	8 miles	14 miles w/8@MP	64
9	8 miles	5 mile tempo + 3 mile warm-up /cooldown	8 miles	9 miles-2 aday HS	8 miles hills	9 miles	18 miles	68
10	8 miles	8 miles (Fartlek-for 3 miles 3 on 2 off mins)	8 miles	9 miles-2 aday HS	8 miles	9 miles	20 miles w/15@ MP	70
11	8 miles	8 miles w/5@MP	10 miles 2aday	9 miles-2aday HS	9 miles	9 miles	20 miles	72
12	10 miles 2aday	9 miles with 5 miles @ tempo	9 miles	10 miles 2aday 2^nd work-out 4x1 mile plus warm-up and cool down.	9 miles	11 miles 2aday	15 miles	74
13	9 miles	9 mile hills	9 miles	10 miles 2 aday	9 miles	8 miles	22 miles w 18@MP	76
14	7 miles	8 miles w/5@MP	8 miles	7 miles	8 miles	7 miles	15 miles	60
15	rest	8 miles	8 miles	7 miles w/ 5@ tempo	8miles	7 miles	12 miles	50
16	4 miles	5 miles w/3 miles @ MP	4 miles	5 miles	Rest	3 miles easy	Raceday	47

HS=Hill sprints MP= Marathon Pace (7:20) Tempo=(7:00 or faster)

If anyone has an suggestions with training let me know. I'm still fairly new at this and I'm always opened to some ideas.

I guess I should have explained rest a bit more, I take rest days when I know I feel like I need them-Mondays will morph into rest days or cross training days (I'll do what I believe is about equal to that amount of miles)when I know I'm feeling tired. In my past life as a college runner, we rarely took a rest day but instead put an easy day of mileage in.

This plan is not set in stone, training plans always morph.

Where I am..

2010-06-02T19:01:00.000-04:00

Not literally but in my mind inching closer to the uphill trail.

DNF

2010-05-09T19:19:00.001-04:00

It is weird because I have only had one other DNF in my life; I tend to finish anything I start. I have only never finished one book, Vanity Fair (I even managed to make through Twilight). This week marked a couple of DNFs in my life.

The first DNF was my 3k race. I might have tried to do too much too soon, with 2 laps to go in the race; I simply stepped off the track. My right calf just tightened up. The twelve hours of driving could have not helped either. I was a bit disappointed but not really. I was able to see my teammates and cheer them on. I got to watch a very good 800 race that included Sarah Bowman, Hazel Clark, Phoebe Wright and the rest of the UT Knoxville girls. Bowman won in a 2:02, I think.

The other DNF was my honors project and well it was not if I did not try to finish it. The odds were against me and sometimes, you can’t always overcome them. The project got started late due to my committee of professors just not getting back to me to approve the project the first time. I moved off campus for this last semester which made everything pretty tough. Time was short. No matter how hard I tried I could not learn how to do the statistics I needed to do without a class. I’m upset with it but I’m graduating this week and that makes me happy.

This week looks like a week of rest and planning out the rest of my running schedule till Chicago.

Crazy..a bit

2010-05-04T15:44:00.002-04:00

Am I crazy? I like to think of myself as naïve or maybe a dreamer. Why am I asking this? Well, I’m traveling back to TN this weekend and I trying very hard to jump into a track race either a 10k or 5k after running my first half on Saturday. I looking to leave fairly early Friday, grab a hotel and then roll up to UT Knoxville’s track for race. I’m not quite sure if I’ll be able to get in yet but this seems really appealing. I’m in such good shape it seems like a waste not to try. It would be my first race at either distance on a track but if I can do a half I can do anything right?

First Half Marathon!

2010-05-02T14:34:00.000-04:00

“That was rough” was the first thought that passed through my head as I finally crossed the finish line of the two rivers pikermi (half marathon). I really do not know what I was expecting; I was not expecting the last two miles of the half to make my legs feel like they had been hit by sledgehammers numerous times. In the feeling of pain, the last two miles felt like what I typically feel like in the last two laps of a steeplechase (Though I was a bit less fearful, there is a less of a chance of me falling into a pit of water).

I woke up early after a late night working on a paper on King Lear (first mistake) and I was barely able to stomach a cup of coffee and oatmeal (second mistake). I somehow managed to leave my watch in the locker room at RW (the reason I buy cheap watches). This meant that I ended stopping by Walmart at 5:30 in the morning. There are some strange folks in the store that early in the morning but no lines. Without problems and few strange looks, I was able to purchase a watch ($7.95) and make my way to Danville, PA.

Danville is located about 1:45 away from Emmaus and it is a small town located in the mountains. I was able to arrive in time to grab my race number and warm-up. Warm-up was not great; I should have run a little longer. The chip that was handed out was semi-odd, it was an ankle bracelet with a chip. I felt like I had been put on house arrest like Paris Hilton. Take notice here, that I did not eat anything. The race director ushered us to the new start at around 8:30. The reason I say new start is because they changed the course 2 days before. The whole pack of us walked back and forth trying to find the line. About 10 minutes later, we finally found it. I positioned myself midway into the pack; I did not want to go out too quickly. The race website had told us that chips would start when we passed the start line. The odd bit of this was that there was no mat or sensor near the start. Come to find out the chips started with the gun.

I made it through my first mile without going crazy (7:20) and the next five miles came smoothly over rolling hills. I came through mile six in 43.42 which was about on the pace I was looking for. I just kept repeating to myself to relax and race the mile that I was in. It was a small race but there was enough people for me to catch runners and provide motivation. I was running strong and felt really good. The only problem was that I had the hardest time at water stops, I had practiced taking liquid about every twenty minutes or so. I guess I got too wrapped up in the race and did not notice that I only took fluids maybe twice within the race.

I happily approached mile eleven right at 1:19.55. I was right around where I wanted to be and was quite happy to only have two miles left. The race went into a trail and that is where they decided to build a wall. A wall knocked me flat. No, I’m not talking about a real wall that would just be cruel but a wall for me. I had not eaten/drank enough for the 88 degree day and suddenly my paced slowed to 10 minutes and I was crawling. My feet clumsily found every root and rock possible on the trail and the mile marks seemed further and further apart (there were rumors that course might have actually been long due to course change say closer to 13.6). When we were told that there was a mile left I nearly cried. Within that last mile I reverted to a slow shuffling pace with slight pick-ups. Everyone that passed me was encouraging but I felt like rolling into a ditch to take a nap.

I finally hit the finish line in 1:41 (according to my watch that I started when I crossed the start line). I was covered in salt and needing some water. I finished off two bottles before I even got on the bus.

Overall, I loved the distance and I’m already planning my next. I made some rookie mistakes that I should have known better (interning at RW should have taught me something about this). I still think I can hit that 1:35; I might need to add in some longer runs and maybe some longer tempos. I haven’t done real speedwork in months.

Question is how do I go about my summer planning starting in June (the month of May is about to get crazy!). I would like to race a 10k and couple of 5ks and maybe another half marathon (pikermi) before Chicago in the fall. Any recommendations are welcomed.

I forgot to mention one the biggest mistakes, I forgot sunscreen. Thank goodness I just tanned and no sunburn. I think I will permanently have a sports bra outline on my back.

The past few weeks

2010-04-29T16:33:00.002-04:00

My time at RW is drawing to a close and I’ll be moving on (literally) in about a week. There will be many conclusions written but I’m ready for some new chapters.

First, a quick recap of the last two weeks, I raced the Emmaus 4 miler with a crazy strong field. I ran much faster than I expected PR’ing through the 5k (20:25) in the 4 miler.

The next week was off to Boston where I had my first marathon experience, though not running, and it was quite eye opening. Just to see a city completely taken over by runners was amazing (perfect civilization perhaps? Everyone I met had accomplished this amazing goal and I could not help but be impressed. I sat next to Boston runners on both planes and there is nothing quite like being a part of the fellowship of runners. I might actually have free housing if I ever feel like going out to Bend, Oregon.

I watched the race from the pressroom that had 4 large screens and an old-fashioned wipe board to keep splits. The sound of typing filled the room. There were plenty of mutters of “what is he doing”. I was lucky enough to film the press conferences (the Ryan Hall clip is some of my handy work). By far it was a great experience. Needless to say, I have the bug. I want to go back to Boston but next time I want to be running it.

Wednesday after Boston, I ended up going to Philly for the Penn Relays with Flotrack. Spent three straight days talking on camera about the fast races. My Lady Vols swept the distance relays. It is so odd to think that I race against Phoebe Wright in high school. Virginia’s Robbie Andrews killed in the 4x800 meters.

I actually stood feet away from Bolt (yes, he is really that tall). The fans were so loud. You could not hear the announcer or the gun. He brought the meet to a standstill.

Which brings us to this week. It has been fairly calm considering it is finals week for me. I’m on a bit of a taper before my half (pikermi?) on Saturday. The rest of the web department (yes, we tend to run together) is just getting back into form after Boston.

I’m nervous/excited (nerexcited) about Saturday. I’m really interested in seeing what I can do. Training has been going exceeding well (thanks RW Challenge Plan). My goal was 7:30 pace but the last few weeks HMP has turned into 7:00 flat without much effort. Tempo runs have been going as quickly as 6:30. I did a 15-mile long run at 7:30 pace.

My main goal is not to go out too quickly (Negative Splits as Bart Yasso always suggests). Terrence Mahon (Kastor and Hall’s Coach) told the crowd at the NYC half to start out slower then expected pace-so I think start out at 7:30 and if feeling good start to drop. Goal time is ideally is 1:30, would be happy with a 1:40 and would love to break 1:29. Those all might be lofty goals.

So when do I grow up?

2010-04-16T11:41:00.002-04:00

How do I know when I have become an adult?

I keep asking myself this question. Was it when I turned 18? Was it when I turned 21? Those are just numbers applied to me on how long I lived on this earth. What if we had a different calendar? I could be 456 goblyguck old. Is it when I graduate college and have that diploma in my hand? What if I had been born in a different era when 13 yrs old was the typical marrying age and you were considered an old maid by the time you were 20 yrs old?

Do I know it when my old friends stop coming home for the holidays and move to far off places, get married and have children of their own? If that is the case, then I do not want to be an adult. I still like seeing my old friends and swapping life stories.

Is being an adult mean going to work everyday and having responsibilities? Does it mean going back to an empty apartment and a sink full of dishes? Is it when I travel on my own and people call me “Mam” or “Miss”?

Will I ever know when I am a grown-up?

Boundless?

2010-04-13T17:16:00.001-04:00

So much has happened in the last month or so. Of course, I haven’t updated about any of it. Some bullet points would include:
•    Went to New York City! Helped cover the half marathon and had a blast.
•    Went home for Easter and saw the family and Faye Zheng
•    I’m going to the Boston Marathon to help do press conference video with Runner’s World
•    My name appears in the Masthead of the latest issue of Runner’s World
•    Have had about 3-4 nervous break downs about my honor’s project
•    PR’ed in a 4 miler but more importantly PR’ed through the 5k.

All of these are very interesting topics but of course I am going to choose me running faster then I ever have. Personal records are so nice to come by especially when you think you will break a certain time and especially when you had no idea that you were going to break it. Training has been going well but I feel no fitter than I did during XC season. Yet, I was able to blast through the 2-mile mark at 13:00. I did however freak at this point and slow down (note to self just keep pace). I was able still to come through the 3 mile mark in about 20:25-so 5k around 20:35ish or faster. I came back and finished it off with a 7:00 mile. It is just so absolutely astounding to me about how fast/fit I am right now. I never really expected it. I apparently have no idea what my real boundaries are as of late.

It is a great feeling to feel boundless.

Some things that make me laugh about RW

2010-03-17T12:13:00.002-04:00

These are the kind of e-mails we recieve

"I’ve actually been doing this. It could not be simpler (see illustration link). And there’s some evidence it works.

Chair exercise for low back compression. http://bit.ly/9Z9cwz. I've been doing it. Feels good. Illustration here. http://bit.ly/9y6pAl

Amby Burfoot, Editor at Large
Runner's World Magazine"

Tavern Run..

2010-03-15T16:53:00.002-04:00

The tavern was crowded and yet no one was drinking. In a few short moments, the large green group of us hoped to be racing. It was pouring outside as if God and the angels had decided to turn a pressure washer on the Earth. I had signed up for the St. Patrick’s Day theme 5k with a hope of a decent time and I could not really pass up a race that offered free beer at the end. It was a miserable day, I had stayed up way too late the night before watching NCAA track ( I am a track junkie, I watched over 14 hours this weekend) on my tiny computer screen and had forgotten about daylight savings time so my I felt a bit tired. Did I mention, it was pouring rain? As usual, I was dressed for a bit warmer weather.

I sat in the bar trying to scope out my competition, there were two women who looked particularly fit. The race director then shuffled us outside. I had learned from my last road race experience to line up in the front. I did next to a female runner that looked a bit like the current cover girl dressed in Nike. I soon realized that yet again looks mean nothing. The race started and I had left Nike girl before the first mile, well I think. There were no mile markers, there was head wind and hard rain so it was hard to judge my effort. I could feel my pace slow, midway through the race and I attempted to pick it up. I had been left in no man’s land with no one behind and the racers in front of me too far ahead. The race director had talked about a turn-around spot that I assumed was midway through but when I reached it and looked down on my watch it read 16:04. I was way off pace. I continued to run into the driving rain and on the hilly course. A large hill stood in my way, so I tucked in and went for it. I was very surprised to come over the hill and having to break tape. I was the first female and I had run a decent time, the turn around had come much later in the race.

The best part was the post race, free food and drink. I was slightly embarrassed to be congratulated. My time was ok (21:36) but that would have placed me midpack in the races I am use to racing. I have such a hard time just taking a compliment. It was the same time I had ran at conference which is a bit uplifting since I am midway through a half program and haven’t done much speedwork. I do not believe I will be racing a mile any time soon. I was able to bring home a large plaque which I find slightly embarrassing. Hopefully, this summer with a bit more work the old PR of 20:40 will go down, I would love a 19.

As usual, I have no pictures just words.

Ah-Ha!

2010-03-11T16:58:00.000-05:00

I am stressed out.

My best running friend is in Australia and that is not helping my state. I am trying to juggle school, internship, graduate school details and running. I will say that running is the most enjoyable part of my day. I sent e-mail to Nicky about living up to all the standards I put on myself. Her response was;

“This is exactly like when you cried after you got a PR”

I could not help but laugh at this, she was right. I have these high standards for myself that I try so hard to live up to, that sometimes I do not realize all that I have accomplished.

I still have to finish an honors project, finish two more essays, and figure out how I am going to get Austin, Texas. You know what, I’ve made it this far and I can be proud of that.

Training is going well (though I am hating rest days. I just can't figure out why any plan would have two rest days. I guess my mileaholic side is coming through again). I just really need a good fitness indicator, I am longing for the track more and more lately. I even miss 400 meter repeats.

Saint Patty's day race this weekend! I am hoping for a fairly quick 5k.

Not disappearing..

2010-03-03T18:45:00.001-05:00

News in general floats in and out of my mind quickly with maybe enough time for me to digest a few facts (what healthcare bill is getting passed, medal count for the winter Olympics and job loss). News that is important but not vital.

Then there are stories that shake me. My mind continues to come back to it; over and over. The murder of Chelsea King on a running trail outside San Diego is one of those stories.

She was beautiful, blonde, fair skinned cross-country runner for her high school team. She was senior who could not wait to graduate but was also looking forwards to prom. She was active in many clubs and charities. According to all those that knew her, she was upbeat, hard-working and caring.

Five years ago, I was ready to graduate from high school. I was narrowing my college choices down. I was looking for prom dresses and stressing about finding a date. I was very excited about my senior track season and was making sure to make it my best.

Much like Chelsea, I hit the trails at my local park. My parents knew where I was going and for how long. My training partners did not like to run in the winter, I went at it alone. I left my cell phone in my car; I had ruined many during run either due to sweat or dropping them. I put headphones in with loud music blasting. I felt invincible or like that Bob Seager song, I felt like a rock. I was as strong as I could be.

The difference between Chelsea and I was that I was lucky. There was never a sexual predator waiting around the corner for me.

I have become more careful since college. I try to run with a running partner at all times. I always call or text someone where I am running and how long. I make sure that they call me at a certain time to check that I’m ok. I carry my cellphone. I wear my road id. I listen to my music but not loudly.

I still make mistakes; I will rush out the door for a few more miles, alone and sometimes forgetting my cellphone. I will not make that phone call. I make it too easy for me to disappear.

Don’t let yourself disappear.

I’m buying pepper spray this weekend.

Bare legs for All!-B/C I was feeling goofy

2010-02-22T11:02:00.000-05:00

Despite never liking shoes when I was younger (I lived in warmer climates with a grassy yard), I am not qualified to weigh in on the barefoot running debate. I am a communications major with limited knowledge about biology. This debate has made me pause and think about the essentials of running.

I have always thought that all it takes gear wise to run in perfect climates for me is a sports bra, shorts, socks and a good pair of shoes. Some runners will debate that socks are not a necessity and more runners are debating about if shoes are one. Men go without shirts often in the summers. I have questioned at the gym if some women were wearing sports bras under their shirts. So that leaves the essential piece of running gear to be a good pair of shorts.

Lets get rid of shorts too! Lets start a bare legs revolution. I am not going to advocate for the extreme (streaking) but would rather take a minimalist approach. Besides, there are public indecency laws that I do not want to be blamed for breaking. I am suggesting an alternative: bun-huggers.

As you can tell from the pictures below, they cover the essentials. I have raced my fastest in them and have gotten faster since wearing a pair. (There might not be a correlation). One does not see Kara Goucher, Anna Pierce or Jenny Barringer wearing shorts.

( Just a few of the styles ranging in length)
They are aerodynamic; shorts have been adding drag for years. That drag time must be adding seconds to our race time. The extra material is making our legs move in an unnatural manner that I am sure increases torque (there have been no studies so far). Our legs have all the covering they need especially if you don’t shave. Evolution has made it possible for us to be barelegged.

Doesn’t seem odd that clothing companies keep increasing the inseam of our shorts along with the price. Just look at how baggy basketball shorts have become. Bun-huggers are more environmentally friendly; they use less material and less time to manufacture.

Besides, why keep one’s finely toned legs under wraps? Haven’t we as runners worked hard enough for beautiful muscular legs? We have run on when others are warm under covers, on day when we think Mother Nature has hated us and at time when it seems the whole world is asleep. We do all this to make our legs strong and faster.

So my fellow runners, lets raise our voices loudly and declare “Show some leg!”. Now who is with me?

Looks like I am tranversing the country this year

2010-02-20T22:09:00.001-05:00

I GOT INTO GRAD SCHOOL AT UT AUSTIN!

I really doubted I would get in especially with my GRE scores (they weren't great). UT Austin was my first choice and they have a great communications program. I am super excited and 99.5% sure that is where I will be next year (.5% would be if I had a dreamjob offer).

So now how do I move from PA-TN-TX?

Valentine's day race..

2010-02-16T11:38:00.002-05:00

“didn't have a camera by my side this time
hopping I would see the world with both my eyes
maybe I will tell you all about it when I'm
in the mood to lose my way with words” John Mayer 3x5

Starting this post out quoting a John Mayer song which means one thing, it can only get better from here.

I decided to race this weekend and of course me being who I am came to my final conclusion the night before. The race was just a 5k called the Cupid’s chase in Princeton, New Jersey (yes, that Princeton). The race was about 1.5 hours according to my GPS way from Emmaus. I usually never drive that far for a race but I have been itching to race for about month now, especially after hearing my teammates talk about indoor track back at Carson-Newman. I figured since I had no Valentine here there was really no reason not to travel.

I did practically everything wrong before this race.

If you have been following me at all, you know that I am very bad at shoveling snow. So after three days, I finally had to face the beast and shovel the rest of the snow off my car, Nicodemus ( yes, I have a nickname for my car). The only problem is that I failed to build proper time into my schedule for this. I ended leaving at 8:30 for a race that started at 10:00 which gave me very little time in case I got lost. By having to shovel the snow, I completely forgot to eat breakfast unless a cup of coffee and Tasty Kake counts. This time limit also made me forget that to check the weather, so I assumed it would be in the mid-30s which I count as short weather with winter top apparel (hat, gloves, under amour and jacket). The high was only 28 that day.

I found the exit for Princeton pretty easily but what I did not count on was my GPS to go crazy on where the exact location was located. So I pulled up to the race at exactly 9:48. I had enough time to sprint to registration, hand over my 20 dollars, pick up my red (way to big medium) shirt with Available printed across the back and run back to my car to remove my over sized sweat pants.

I made it the start line and tried to figure out where I needed to stand. I guess it comes from my background as a runner on an organized team but I am the worst at guessing where I need to line up. I am so use to lanes/boxes. So I spotted some fast and fit looking women and stood behind them. Looks can be deceiving, I ended up stuck behind a group of people for my first mile. Usually, this isn’t a problem, I am good at bobbing and weaving my way through the crowd. Due to the snow and ice the racers were shepherded unto sidewalk that weren’t very wide. Also due the recent snowfall, the snow was up to my thigh only making my legs colder. Finally, I came off the sidewalk and was able to fall into a good pace, I hit the first mile in 7:45 which is about 45 seconds off of what I would like to run for my first mile.

The race got better as we headed towards the one big climb and I was able smoothly past people. I hit the 2-mile mark in 15:00, which is still off of what I would like to run but at least I was getting faster. I saw another female in front of me and began to focus on passing her before the end. With about a half mile to go I did.

My legs were starting to freeze at this time due to my stupidity at not putting tights on but I was able to open up my stride. I let my mind focus on the people cheering ( “Nice Stride” “If you run faster you can go get warm”) and was able to pick up a few more people before the finish line. I ended up running a 21:51- a full 1:10 off my PR for cross-country but I will take it considering all my silliness.

I was able to go grab my oversized sweat pants and shirt to put on before the award ceremonies and it was still cold! Runners were huddled around the outdoor heaters, getting to know each other almost a little too well (I secretly think this is what the race directors wanted). The top three women overall were not much further in front of me which was uplifting and not one broke 20. What I found funny was that all the top women finishers had Available shirts on while the top men finishers all wore the Unavailable shirts. I ended winning my age group and received a few "good jobs". Unfortunately the only number I received that day was my race number.

My GPS decided to take me home yet a different way of which I came and I ended up touring around most of Princeton. I regretted not remembering to bring my camera but later decided maybe it was best just to have some mental snap-shots.

Snow Lessons..

2010-02-12T11:37:00.002-05:00

Being a fairly educated person (I almost have the undergrad degree), I figured that I knew the basics of snow. The textbook definition of course is frozen precipitation in the form of white or translucent hexagonal ice crystals that fall in soft, white flakes. Pretty much it is cold and the way to defeat is for it to melt, salt helps the process. After the past few days, my upbringing as a Southerner left me with some new knowledge about this weather phenomenon.

Lets go back to Tuesday; I knew that with word of the Snow-Apocalypse that I should go to the grocery store. We do this in the Tennessee when we get word of an inch of snow. Besides, I had run out of creamer. The lines were long and the store was having to stock up on milk (I prefer soymilk so I had no problem). It was a scene that I had figured. The smart choice of the day on my part was purchasing a shovel before heading back to the confines of my apartment.

The snow began falling like I had never seen before with visibility very low as I looked out my window. I snuggled up with a cup of hot chocolate and settled for a long winters nap. I got awaken at 11:00 P.M. by my advisor from Carson Newman with editing changes for my Honor thesis (but that is a whole different story). By that time, the snow had cover most everything and the offices were closed.

The snow continued the next day; I have never seen such a constant barrage. I decided to go investigate so not to get cabin fever. My first lesson was learned. Sperries, despite being boat shoes are not made for snow. I quickly turned around after maybe three steps out the door and looked through my closet for my fake Uggs. I was never a fan of these boots mostly because I saw no reason for them in the South. I had seen way too many girls wear them with shorts or short skirts and no tights. I had simply owned a pair for after ice baths. After walking around for about 20 minutes I realized that I was not going to be able to get out on the roads and the fitness center was completely snowed in. I skipped on the running. The snow finally stopped around 5:00 P.M.

Thursday, I decided to work from home (mostly because of the honors thesis and another late night editing session with my advisor). Around 3:00, I had decided it look warm enough to go on a run. I dressed warmly though only in half tights and went out. Second lesson learned, just because roads are plowed does not mean sidewalks are. I ended steepling snow piles for 30 minutes. I then got this grand idea to run through an old abandoned golf course behind my complex. Lesson three learned-snow is not solid no matter how deep it is. I, being somewhat stupid, decided to go ahead and “run” (more like high knees) through it until I could get to next sidewalk. Lesson four learned-half tights do not keep your calves warm in the snow.

I decided that I should shovel a bit around my car after my run. It was not easy and after 30 minutes it seemed like I made no dent in the snow. I gave up and figured I would do it in the morning. I woke up and hour early this morning to finish up the job but after an hour I was still not done. I had work in an hour. I gave up and ended walk to work this morning (which ended up being less time then driving?). Lesson six learned, snow does not melt quickly and clearing a car takes a long time.

I am just praying that somehow, that the snow I left clears. I plan on driving to race a 5k tomorrow.

11 Goals for 2010

2010-02-11T13:57:00.002-05:00

Most people put out their goals in the first of the year, I'm a bit late.

1. Visit New York City- I'm only 115 miles away right now, this is a chance in a lifetime.

2. Run a Marathon-I'm signed up for Chicago.

3. PR! I want to explore different distances and hopefully PR.

4. Read more! I want to read for me and not school.

5. Get to know the Bible better- It has been awhile since my college classes..

6. Film a Work-out Wednesday- I know I can do this but it something I have always wanted to do.

7. Travel- What better time then now? I want to atleast make it to Savannah, GA, Brevard, NC and the West Coast.

8. Learn to really cook- I know how to bake but I want to learn how to really cook and well.

9. Develop my writing- I want to write more often and develop my tone.

10. Become better with a video camera- I want to learn angles and editing.

11. Graduate and find out what I am doing afterwards-Whether that is job or Grad. School.

Snow Apocolypse

2010-02-10T12:41:00.000-05:00

More snow then I have ever seen in my life and it is still snowing

Treadmill trouble

2010-02-08T11:34:00.002-05:00

I had my first experience with a real amount of snow this weekend (6.1 inches, not as much as Philadelphia but still quite a bit more then I am use to seeing as a Tennessee native). I could have run outside on Saturday, I am for sure but I did not want to chance. The news had me scared that I would slip, fall and then die a painful long horrible freezing death in a ditch. All that would identify me would be my road id (no, I don’t get paid to promote this).

So I decided to check out my apartments fitness center. I wrapped up in far too many layers of clothes, put on my fake UGG boots and sloshed to center. The center is this tiny room with two treadmills, a stationary bike, a couple of weight machines and elliptical. I felt like the whole time the woman on the elliptical was drafting off of me like in an 800 meters race it was so close. There were about 4 people in the small space and all seemed intently focused on the television that was turned to Animal planet.

I started the treadmill and as usual it starts off at a ridiculously slow pace (crawling for water in the Sahara pace). I bumped up to about 8:00 pace with the intention of bumping the pace up every 5-10 minutes depending on how I felt. 8:00 just felt slow. So I changed again thinking 7:30 would do. I stayed on that for about 5 more minutes before bumping again. Then that felt miserably slow. So I decided not to focus on the pace but rather just what the speed felt natural.

Needless to say, when I finished my run and reviewed the facts, I had run 6 miles at the average speed of 6:10 pace with the last mile at 5:00. If this is the truth, I need to enter some races and maybe find myself an elite coach. I know this has to be far from the truth, I venture to say I most likely closer to 7:00 min pace and maybe 5.5 miles.

I do not know whether to be upset about knowing the right numbers or happy that I actually made it through a treadmill run without worrying about pace.

SNOW!

2010-02-06T14:59:00.002-05:00

A long trip

2010-01-22T20:26:00.000-05:00

So I am here in Emmaus, PA. I start Monday for Runner's World. I have posted pictures from my 12 hour trip below in a video. I hope to have my apartment done along with taking some pictures of the town tomorrow.

2009-12-28T18:35:00.000-05:00

Work-out: 3x(2x200 +1x800)
Time: 200s: 40,38,39,40,41,37-800s: 3:01, 2:55, 2:51
Notes: Felt so slow and could not open up my stride. Long run must have taken some bounce out of my legs.

2009-12-27T16:00:00.000-05:00

Time:1:15
miles: I'm going to badger this and say 8.5 miles

The Battlefield is back!

2009-12-22T20:11:00.001-05:00

Miles:6
Time:No idea
Notes: Michigan trail is once again opened at the Park! This trail has been closed since the tornados hit. It is nothing like it use to be. I suppose everything needs to change eventually.

Work-out for 12/21

2009-12-21T14:58:00.000-05:00

Distance: 4x(2x200+200 jog, 1x400 m, 2 min recover)
Time: 200 meters, nothing faster then 38 and nothing slower then 43 secods, 400 meter, nothing faster then 1:21 and nothing slower then 1:26
Notes: Beautiful day! Felt super stong, a better speed workout then I expected..

How do I get myself into these things?

2009-12-21T12:44:00.000-05:00

So last week or so, Runners World posted a call for Spring Interns. On a whim, I decided to apply. I was able to whip up a cover letter in less then 10 mins and sent in my resume. I thought nothing of it.

I got an e-mail today asking when the best time for a phone interview would be.

The problem, this is an unpaid internship in Penn. I only have 14 hours left till I graduate. I have one more season of track left. I did not think all this through because I did it on a whim.

BUT, it would be worth it to take this internship but the logistics are going to be crazy. I guess I could stay enrolled at Carson Newman, take my 6 hours of internship hours and then do the rest this summer. I would have to find a place to stay in Penn. Also, some type of a part time job.

I am not going to count my chickens before they hatch or worry about this but wow how do I get myself into these thing? Oh, that is right by not thinking..

Running and eating disorders

2009-12-20T22:36:00.000-05:00

I want to preface this blog entry first of all by claiming, I am not a doctor, nutritionist or anything to do with medical. The closet I have gotten to studying nutrition is taking non-major biology and food and people (where we did not eat-go figure). What I am is a female competitive (alright DII) runner. There is something that has been on my mind lately and that is the occurrence of eating disorders in distance runners.

According to the Alliance for Eating Disorder awareness, 1 in 5 women struggle with an eating disorder. 90% of those are between the ages of 12 and 25. Up to 19% of college aged women in America are bulimic. Bulimia often occurs in athletes such as gymnasts, wrestlers, dancers, horse jockeys, football players, and runners. 2% - 5 % of the American population experience Binge Eating Disorder. These statistics are a bit frightening. Basically, every fifth woman you meet is wrestling with some sort of eating disorder. So I suppose it is not surprising that sometimes when I line up, I feel like I am the only one feeling out my spandex shorts.

There is so much pressure in society in general to look like the models on the cover of the magazines. You would think that being an athlete would make us exempt from this pressure, we know that a body should look healthy. There is a pressure to look like the athletes in that sport. My younger sister who is naturally thin is trying to put on weight so she looks like a soccer player and not to get shoved off the ball as much. As a runner, we are expected to look fast which happens to be thin and lean. Sprinters and even middle distance runners have more upper body strenght and larger muscles while distance runners look leaner. It is not just in the head’s of the athletes, they might not know what they are doing but others such as teammates, spectators and even coaches will comment on how much faster the athlete looks.

Most of us know that everyone has a weight that they race better in. Take for example, Lance Armstrong weighs a certain amount before he starts a grand tour and he weighed significantly less this year than he did when he was retired. I have a friend who cannot beat her PRs from high school but all during high school she battled anorexia. Thinner does not mean faster. The body needs some type of fuel to function and eventually without it, the body will fail. Knowing that you run better at 100 pounds compared to 105 can put pressure on an athlete to weigh a certain weight.

Then there is the meaning that we attach to foods. Salads are good foods and cookies are bad foods. We begin to think that there is no way we can eat the bad foods. When in reality, as my food and people Professor puts it, “There are no bad foods just bad diets”. My high school coach always hammered into our heads that “everything is ok in moderation”. One cookie will not make you a minute slower.With all these different pressures it is easy to fall into some form of an eating disorder.

Of course, there is another side of this. Many runners tend to be slight; our bodies were just not made for ball sports. Many of us could be considered runts of a litter. I will use myself as an example; I have always been in the 90% for weight and height. I have never weight more then 106. 106 was when I was out for an injury for over a month. So when my weight is around 102, I know I am normal. During the season, it is not unusual for me to get to 100. But my BMI is healthy. I just eat when I am hungry and try not to pay much attention to what the scale says. It frustrates me sometimes when I see comments on running boards about girls needing to eat a candy bar or that they have an eating disorder. They might not; it might be how they are built.

My point is not to make assumptions either way. If you are a coach or parent or have anyone in your life that is a runner just make sure that they are eating correctly. As a runner, one needs to know how and what to eat. There are plenty of books on the subject. If you see drastic changes in a way a teammate eats ask why. I eat most meals with at least one of my teammates and if we notice that someone does not have enough food on a plate or is lacking protein, vegetables or carbohydrates, we point it. We make sure that each others is healthy so that they can perform at their best. Eating disorders are a real problem and not something that happens to people we do not know.

Long run w/ a semester recap

2009-12-20T17:07:00.000-05:00

Miles: about 7
Time: 60 mins
Notes: Really muddy at Cedars! I have no idea really how long or fast we were going but it really does not matter when you are running with an old friend. Had some very awesome conversation about the past semester.

Brr..

2009-12-19T15:29:00.000-05:00

Miles: about 4.5
Time: 35:43
Notes: Firstcold run (35 degrees) of the season, light drizzle that seemed like it was turning to flurries. Form felt off. It might be the spot on my foot or because my muscles were tight. I hope the grayness of Murfreesboro goes away.

Blog reboot!

2009-12-18T22:39:00.000-05:00

So there has never really been an objective or goal for this blog. Usually, it has been made for my ramblings or when I need to procrastinate.

I have decided to change things mostly because this blog was rarely updated and blogs become pointless if not updated. During this blog's time, I have also stopped keeping a regular log of my miles. So this blog is becoming my running log. This way I will update everyday with at least what I have ran that day. If I force myself to make a new post everyday, I can practice my writing style. Knowing how I operate, the post will not just pertain to running. There will be more abou my life in my last semester of college.

So starting tomorrow this becomes a running (b)log.

Halloween

2009-10-31T18:18:00.005-04:00

So I have so far dressed up twice for halloween this week-both costumes under the price of 5 dollars..

The Flying Nun-bed sheet $2, Posterboard $.68

This outfit was picked for me by a member of the honors society I was in. The Flying Nun was a 60s sitcom staring Sally Field

Bedsheet $2, Pipecleaners basically free

This is my Nike Goddess of Victory outfit. I used the bedsheet from before as a Toga. I wore all my Nike running clothes underneath and Nike shoes. I had wings in the shape of the swoosh and a head piece with green swoosh shaped leaves.

GRE and other tibits..

2009-10-13T07:21:00.002-04:00

I took the GRE yesterday. For what reason, I have no idea.

Basically, I have no idea what I want to be when I grow-up.

I love my major, communications but the more I try to decide what I even want to attempt to do next year the more options I discover. Being a communications major isn't like being a nursing or education major, you don't have one job that you are best suited for.

Driving back from the GRE yesterday, I realized that I don't know how to use my major. So of course, I decided to make list. The jobs I want range from Sports Information Director, Journalist to Running shoe salesperson. Which presents a problem for going to Grad school; do I go for advertising, journalism or mass communcations? Do I even need to go to Grad school? I do not even know where to start.

So for now, it seems like I am sorting through my future without getting overwhelmed.

Dorm room tour

2009-09-06T22:24:00.002-04:00

I am living on campus this year and finally had a room where I did not feel like there was mold coming down from the ceiling.

Bueller, Bueller, Bueller...

2009-08-06T21:49:00.001-04:00

John's Rock or Cat's Gap in Pictures

2009-08-04T21:31:00.003-04:00

Oddness in Auburntown

2009-08-02T12:30:00.001-04:00

I stood next to the window, drinking my coffee along with a bottle of water. I was waiting for my partner in running crimes, Nicky Balduf. Earlier in the week, she decided that I needed to race a 5k while I was feeling fit. I on the other hand was not quite sure if I wanted to get back to racing so soon. I had just come off of two weeks at Brevard Distance running camp where I was averaging around 55 miles a week. I felt fast. Yet, I have a long cross country season ahead of me at Carson Newman. I decided that I would just train through it and do it anyways. We had searched 5ks on the internet and had decided to run one in Auburntown, TN, mostly because it was close. She arrived on time at 6:00 a.m.

We knew we were going to Auburntown, but there was no specific directions. We figured there would be signs once we got into town. Thomas, my tom-tom, got us safely to Auburntown by 6:30. There was no signs for this 5k. I was not worried, Auburntown is only about 3 miles long. So we continued to drive and soon we are out of Auburntown and still no sign of this 5k. We turned back around and proceeded to do this two more times before finding the park.

We finally found C.S. Hawkins park and in a small pavilion there was a table and a man. We just assumed this is where we would sign-up. Nicky asked the man very politely if this was the place for the 5k.

“I have no idea where the 5k is” he responded. We soon learned that he lived out of his car and well there was something a bit wrong mentally with him. “I am 1-8th Cherokee” he told us and attributed this problems to this. By this time, we were both very hydrated so we quickly found the port-a-potties. We saw a man running by like he was warming up and Nicky tried to get this attention but she was ignored. So we snuck back to the car and tried to follow where the runner went. We noticed arrows on the ground and followed them bringing us to the start.

We registered to the race and looked around noticing that there were very few runners there. As we lined up on the start line, the group did not grow. Overall, there was about 20 runners. The top 5 in both men’s and women’s got recognized at the end. Nicky and I knew we had it made, there was only 4 women. Before the course, the starter who only had one arm, briefed us on the course saying, “This course is certified by the mayor, which is me”.

He began the race and started his watch. The course was nice with rolling hills that brought me through the beautiful scenery of the town. I ended up third overall and first female. Coming through the line, I expected to hear my time only to find out that the mayor’s watch had gone out and I had to keep my own time. Nicky never did find out what her time was for she was not wearing a watch.

After the race, Nicky and I went to go sit in the creek only to be told by one of the locals that ran who had a long grey beard that “The sewer runs into about a half a mile down”. We get this panic look on our faces only to be told, “I’m must kiddin”.

We got out of the creek and changed into our shirts (that depict the one armed mayor) to drive home. As we were leaving we got asked, “Aren’t you staying for the fish fry, it starts at 10:00”. We quickly shook our heads no and told we might be back later. It was by far the oddest race experience I have ever had.

Made it

2009-06-30T18:18:00.001-04:00

U.S. track and field might not have the largest fan base but I am convinced it is the kindest. Most of you that follow me my adventures know I made a plea to get to the USATF championships. Thanks to the Flotrack community I made it. First, a diehard track and field fan decided to pay it forward by western unioning the money for a plane ticket and giving me free tickets for all four days. This was with no strings attached. Secondly, an avid flotrack follower allowed me to crash and was kind enough to let me stay on the couch within walking distance of the track. More amazing is that he was ok with picking me up at the airport at 2:00 a.m.

I will admit that I was super nervous about the trip and I was constantly texting people to make sure that someone knew where I was. Thursday’s flight was super long and I ended up in San Francisco for about four hours. I ended talking to several parents of athletes who were participating. I was glad the flight came in when it did for nervous parents of athletes can be a powerful riot. After all of us finally arrived in routine and I had checked my phone several times for the 10k results (the races can be seen here on flotrack), I was picked up and settled down at my host house.

I arrived the next day at Hayward field around two and found my seat on the first row of the backstretch. The people around me were all knowledgeable about the sport but tended to have an Oregon bias. I had one of those starstruck moments when Kara Goucher came around for her victory lap.

I found the flotrack team (minus Mark there was 5) and was able to gain a press pass. We had a pretty awesome set up with the usual media tent but also the garage next to 1500 meters (where Kevin D. had set the video feed from the electronic boards) and above at what I will call the “important people” viewing area. This was where all the live audio and videos were filmed for the races but going on behind us was a constant who’s who of track including the whole Clark family, agents and Ceo Doug Logan.

The next morning, I covered racewalking (total of 5 hours this weekend) and ended up eating at the hotel. Sitting a table was Alan Webb who had a hard night dealing with air conditioning problems.

The rest of the weekend went amazingly and I ended commentating with Kevin Selby who knows his stuff. I could not have asked for a better way to experience the championships. My next goal is to make it to the Olympics but this time I will earn my own way. One day, I will hopefully pay it forward to the next track and field fan.

RC cola and Moonpie

2009-06-21T13:00:00.001-04:00

At around 8:00 on Friday night, I sent a text message to a friend of mine “I’ll run moonpie in your place”. This is when I should have thought my actions through. The moonpie is a 10 mile race over the hills of bell buckle. It runs like a half marathon. Malorie allowed me to take her place as long as I gave her the shirt. I ended up getting to bed about midnight and leaving the house around 5:00 the next morning.

The race started at 7:00 and as soon as the gun went off, I knew I was going to take this as training run. I rolled the first four miles in around 32:15 and I was comfortable. Then this was when everything began to fall apart by mile five I was at 42:30. By the time I hit six miles, I was just trying to live.

What I learned at this moment was that I am not mentally stronger. I was not feeling terrible but I thought I should be. I started readjusting goals and I hit the eight mile mark, I want to say in 72. At this time I realized I only had two miles left and my legs felt fine. I did the last mile in 7:15-7:30. My overall pace was just under nine mins.

If I do this race ever again, I will get over 5 hours asleep and actually train a bit for it. I would love to be able to run it in below 1:20.
(I have no idea why I am smiling at this moment in time)

Can I do this for the rest of my life?

2009-06-09T16:15:00.001-04:00

Since last week I have done 3 phone interview, 11 video interviews and have written 3 articles. If I could do this for the rest of my life, I would.

I had this conversation with my roommate from last year and she has decided to go to grad. school for public health."This is something I can be passionate about" she said.

I really think this is important in getting a job. You want to be able to enjoy it. I think right now people are just getting a job to have a job. I'm not saying don't work but figure out how to do something you can love. It just happens that I love the sport of running

I am making money on the side by training a few younger runners. It is fun to introduce someone to something I love so much.

Sometimes everything falls through

2009-05-28T12:25:00.002-04:00

The end of the school year was bittersweet. I am excited to be done with my junior year but sad to see my roommates leave. I miss them and thier quirks. They became my best friends and it is weird to know they won't be around next year. They are going on to bigger and better things.

So out of the three internships I applied for I struck out. So I am currently home in Murfreesboro sleeping on a couch. I have applied all over town but the only problem is that I have no real experience in any kind of summer job. I have called several back but was rejected due to lack of experience.

I am interning for a new running website-runtheroads.com-I am enjoying it quite a bit. I am really inline with the mission of the website which is to try to bring the popularity of road racing to the gain followers to the pro end of the sport.

I am slowly increasing mileage starting out with 40 miles and hopefully ending with around 80 miles per week by the end of the summer.

A report of harassment at road races

2009-05-11T12:56:00.003-04:00

Eugene, May 12 (The Cara Fake Newsgroup)- A report from Meet Directors USA is showing a rash of reports of harassment road races. Oddly, the reports are coming from women with the names of Sara, Kara, or Cara. There have been a few reports from women named Tara, Mara and Lara.

“I won Hillbilly 5k and as soon as I was handed my prize, the male winner come up grabs my bum and says ‘I’ll be your Adam if you be my Kara,” explains Cara Hawkins, “ Kara Goucher’s name and mine are not even spelled the same way.”

The only explanation for this odd occurrence is the rash of pro running couples with the female’s name ending in “ara”. These couples include: Adam and Kara Goucher, Ryan and Sara Hall, Brent and Sara Vaughn, and Steve and Sara Slattery. It appears that many male runners are looking for their running counterpart.

“It is a good pick-up line, much better then I like your stride,” said Steve (asked for last name not to be revealed) , “It has gotten me a few girls; numbers and running chicks are where it is at.”

Bad Poetry

2009-05-03T21:22:00.001-04:00

I would like to propose a toast
please raise your glass with me
to a missed opportunity

I saw the door wide open
it was history worth making
it was mine for the taking

The trail last traveled
that I found
turned me around

So, I would like to propose a toast
drinks are on me
to a missed opportunity

Writing my own obituary

2009-04-30T15:43:00.002-04:00

So for my online writing class, I had to write my own obituary; it is below.

Cara Hawkins-Symmonds, known best for her unrelenting efforts in making the sport of track and field one of the most popular sports in the U.S., died Saturday at home in Eugene, Oregon. She was 82.

Her husband, former Olympic 800 meter runner Nick Symmonds, reported to the Eugene press that she died in her sleep after her weekly long run. She had remained active still organizing and competing in local road races.

Mrs.Symmonds spent her childhood in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She graduated with honors from Carson-Newman College where she was a division II runner participating in cross country and the 3k steeplechase. She received her Master’s in sports marketing from the University of Colorado. She began her career working for a sports marketing firm representing athletes while there she met her husband, Nick Symmonds.

From there she moved to Eugene to become one of the original employees of Flotrack, the all running network. She became vice president of communications. While there, she helped Flotrack become one of the most popular sports network with the buying of the rights of all collegiate running events and Olympic track and field events.

Upon retirement, she began the grassroots organization, Running for love. The organization provided shoes and food for needy children from Africa to the U.S. She was active participate in the local running community with organizing road races and coaching along with her husband local high school athletes.

Mrs. Symmonds is preceded in death by her parents Bill and Pam Hawkins. She is survived by her husband, Nick Symmonds; her sisters; Savannah Kennedy and Victoria Hawkins-Beckham; her two daughters, Henley Williams and Emerson Thoreau; her five grandchildren, Aubrey and Jennifer Williams, Laura, David and Henry Thoreau.

A race will be held in her honor May 15, 2069 at Hayward field. Memorial services will follow in the infield. Visitation will be from 3-7 at Evergreen Funeral home on May 14, 2069. The spreading of her ashes will occur at a later date.

All is well

2009-04-27T19:09:00.001-04:00

Project got passed….now I have to just worry about finals

Nerves

2009-04-26T22:44:00.001-04:00

You know that feeling where your tongue swells and you feel like you might puke out your guts.

I have that feeling, honors hearing tomorrow!

Bucket list continued...

2009-04-23T09:31:00.002-04:00

2. 60x400ms....

Bucket List so far

2009-04-20T22:24:00.001-04:00

1. Run the Boston Marathon….

More to come later..

Tag, I’m it

2009-04-18T22:47:00.002-04:00

The rules are:
1. Respond and rework: answer the questions on your blog, replace one question that you dislike with a question of your own invention, add one more question of your own.
2. Tag other un-tagged people.
What is your current obsession? Twitter, yes I have fallen completely in love with it. I love keeping track of all the news and having all on one page. Oh, and HULU!
What are you wearing today?
Well currently sweats and a runnersworld t-shirt. But earlier, spandex shorts and top in navy blue and orange
Do you nap a lot? I sleep a lot but no times for naps
Why was today special?
I came in dead last in a race for the first time I think in my life..though I think that just makes today depressing
What would you like to learn to do? Ohh, this is kind of like that Made show, though I know how to do everything I like to do- I guess mountain bike or to pole-vault
What's for dinner today?
Leftover pita sandwich from last night
What's the last thing you bought?
Besides food? Sunglasses
What are you listening to right now?
Like what is on my playlist-b/c right now my roommate being loud with her boyfriend-so playlist-Ben Kweller
What is your favorite weather?
Upper 60s, sunny with slight sprinkling showers
What book have you read the most?
Once a runner
What's your style? I prefer preppy/boho but lately it has been complete jock look or well, I have to wear running shorts and tops b/c I have practice after this class
What is your most challenging goal right now? 12:30 3k steeplechase
Connections?
Say something about the person who tagged you:
He was the first friend I made in Murfreesboro which is pretty cool if you think about it
If you could have a house totally paid for, fully furnished anywhere in the world, where would you like it to be? Colorado or maybe New Zealand, I’m not really certain
Favorite vacation spot?
Brevard NC!
Favorite meal of the day?
Breakfast-coffee and eggs or cereal-love it
Name a memory from childhood that sticks out in your mind: When my youngest sister was born and I got to go to Krystal
What celebrity would you like to punch in the face?
Ann Coulter is she a celeb?
What would you like to get rid of?
Sunburns
If you could go anywhere in the world for the next hour, where would you go? Well, it is night here so lets say London
Which language do you want to learn?
Russian, b/c I think I could pull off being Russian
Which countries have you visited?
None
Which would you go back to? Not applicable?

What is the one issue you wish you could talk to President Obama about? I would like to talk about college loans and higher education funds..

I will tag Faye and Sarah!

STEEPLE CHASIN!

2009-04-06T13:48:00.001-04:00

I have not written much on here with substance but with April, school and track just picks up like crazy. I have already turned in my honors prospectus and just waiting for the honors hearing. I figure if they reject me, I’ll just drop the program.

Track is going well, pr’ed in the 1500m in the first race of the season but I think I have I have found my new love.

That is right, steeplechase-a 3k race which involves hurdles/barriers and a water pit. I had so much fun, and laughing after clearing the first the one. I hope to keep working on it and taking up to a minute off.

2009-04-05T14:43:00.001-04:00

Sometime post secret speaks to me

Pearlington Trip-Newspaper style

2009-03-25T22:00:00.006-04:00

Barren land, wind ravaged homes, washed out dirt roads, sulfur water and swarms of gnats that attack every bit of showing skin; sounds like the description of a third world country. But this is not a third world country, a group of 18 (16 college students and 2 adult leaders) found out. This place is Pearlington, Mississippi.
“I had no idea there was a place like in American” said Stella Sang, an English as a second language student from Korea. Pearlington is located in Hancock County right along the coast and is one of the poorest counties in Mississippi with 18.7% of families below the poverty line. On August 29,2005 the eye of Hurricane Katrina made direct contract with Pearlington leaving the town devastated. It has been nearly three years since that devastation and the event has faded from public consciousness. Many people have assumed that the after effects of Katrina have been fixed but as the Carson Newman bus rolled thru the town littered with bright pink M.E.M.A. (Mississippi Emergency Management Agency) it was apparent it takes longer than three years to repair what it seems like a forgotten community.
The first thought in most of the members’ minds after a long twelve hour bus trip was what I have gotten myself into. As soon as those pesky gnats started biting, thoughts about how they were going to make it thru the week began to surface. Upon arrival at the job sites, these thoughts disappeared. It became more about working to improve the lives of those of Pearlington. Work they did and every day at 11:30 stopped for the best free meal around. Missionary Baptist Church provided some the best southern food around for the volunteers. Different dialects echoed thru the small one room church with volunteers coming from all around the country ranging from Pennsylvania to Wyoming. The minster and his wife made sure to say thank you, even if the food was enough.

There seemed to be someone saying thanks every time one turned the corner. Rather it is Josephine whose house one part of the group put siding on or Larry Randall whose porch the other group completed or the Missouri high school students volunteering who needed bug spray there were plenty of thank-yous and bless yous to go around. Along the way, a lesson in perseverance was learned. If the spirit of the community could survive then surely so could the S.P.O.T.S. group. If Pearlington had hope so could anybody.

"What I found amazing was how every time a citizen of Pearlington told me, 'Thank You," I always felt compelled to say, "No, thank YOU," back to them. In a lot of ways I felt like the impact left on me by the people and the situation down there outweighed the impact of my service done for their community” said junior, Heath Trentham. In the end, a thank-you should be offered to the community of Pearlington and what they taught about hope.

M-I-SS-I-SS-I-PP-I

2009-03-11T21:20:00.002-04:00

Well I am off to a mission trip at 6:45 tomorrow morning! I will be back in a week!
I might use some more exclamation points!!!!

If you want to follow me- I will be twittering and there is a sidebar on here to that..

Coaching myself with the help of Jack Daniels

2009-03-08T22:21:00.002-04:00

I was a walk on to both Cross Country and Track teams here at Carson Newman and I was just so excited to run on a college team. I could not wait to be part in a team that traveled all over and compete. I could not wait to bring my running to the next level. Cross Country lived up to all my expectation and I have managed to drop about a minute off my high school cross country times. I even raced three miles in high school on flat course where as now I race 5ks over hill and dale.

I can't say the same for track. My PR in high school was a 2:26 and I consist raced 2:30s for 800 meters. I had different Coaches every year for track and did low mileage. Speed work was good but not at the collegiate level.

I have not raced faster than a 2:33 in College. The work-outs were lacking, I do not think I ran repeats over 400 meters last year. One of my Coach's favorite workout was to have me run the turns. I was a middle distance runner doing work-outs that never totaled over a mile.

After my freshman year, I asked to move up in distance. This asking only meant that I raced more events. I race up to 4 events including 4x400 meters. I have only raced the 1500 meters once. Then again, our Coach only took us to three meets. I ended up at tears at the end of last year.

I went to the Coach and asked him basically what I needed to do. He did not know but he finally agreed with me that I needed to move up to the 1500m, telling me that I had gotten too slow for the 800 meter. I also voiced my concerns for the lack of the indoor and outdoor season. He promised me more meets.

This year, Coach has basically handed the program over to the G.A. and he is focusing all his attention on his football players. The G.A. does a good job but she has no idea how to coach distance but at least she came to me for help. I have put Jack Daniel's training guide to good use, dog earring, highlighting and carrying it with me at all time. It might be more worn then my bible. I also have most the distance squad on it too. They come to me for work-outs. I am glad the G.A. has allowed me to do this.

I have been training hard and I was ready to race this indoor season. We had four on the schedule, we raced one. There were several different excuses for why the others were canceled but it seems like the head coach just did not try hard enough.

Recently, I have become frustrated with having to do this by myself. I have my teammates who have supported me so well. I don't have someone yelling splits out for me. If a work-out is not working out for me, I don't have someone telling me to tough it out. I don't have that cheerleader. I don't have that second opinion.

I don't regret coming to Carson Newman, it has been a wonderful college. I do not regret running on a team full of great people. I would never trade the memories I have with my teammates. I do regret wasting two years of eligibility in track.

If I know now what I knew then, I would have started coaching myself a long time ago.

Water treadmill work-ot

2009-02-20T20:46:00.002-05:00

So this is what I did today...

Did not realize I had been tagged

2009-02-03T22:17:00.002-05:00

Faye actually tagged me in this several days ago. Go to your fourth photo album, select the fourth picture, post it, and explain it.

This is my current roomates and I last year when we were still living in the dorm. The picture before this was way too funny. We were going out, I am not quite sure where but I am sure we had a good time.

So I tag:

Sarah
Brian

So where's that shining star, did it ever get you far?

2009-02-02T14:05:00.001-05:00

It is snowing today-go figure..TN weather is nuts!

Over hill, over dale, I'll run with you!

2009-02-01T22:08:00.001-05:00

Today, was suppose to be my day off.

But, it was 60 degrees and beautiful. Thus I ended up at Panther Creek for a 40 minuate run.

Oh, how I love days like these.

Some say more with their hand. I'm running as fast as I can.

2009-01-31T20:18:00.002-05:00

It has been quite awhile since I have written any type of updates on here.

Everything is going pretty smoothly, which is very surprising. I had expected by now some major craziness. My schedule is pretty nuts with 1-3 classes on MWF and T/R I go straight from 9:30-4:00 with judo at 6.

Speaking of which, Judo is pretty amazing. I really thought it would be more about kicking and fighting but it more about throwing and play fighting. I am able to throw people to the ground which can be pretty empowering. It works so well on the core. I am having so much fun with it.

Newspaper is another one of my interesting classes. I had my first two stories published already but I can't really decide if I like it or not. The topics seem dull and editors do not take enough charge. I need to begin to brainstorm for my next two stories.

Running is going well. I feel physically fit but the speed endurance is coming slowly. I did 4x1000m today and it just felt so slow. I taking tomorrow off just to rest.

I am also going to a Bible study on Thursdays, I am really enjoying. It is just great to be around different people.

OH, and internship applications are in, all there is left to do is wait and pray.

Cara

Here is the RR link

2009-01-28T09:39:00.002-05:00

Here is the Runners World link

Fifteen is funny

2009-01-27T23:15:00.001-05:00

My fifteen year old sister sent me a text today that said,

"Boys pay more attention to you if you wear a bereat"

Back in the swing..

2009-01-07T21:45:00.002-05:00

I am back at Carson Newman and classes started today. I am back into my usual routine, wake-up, drink coffee, get ready , go to class, sit thru class ( rather I pay attention or not is a different question)-repeat, go back to the house and run. Tomorrow will be a bit different, I am going to have to get my running in, in the morning and I am expecting it to be super cold! The weather has been gross; rain, wind and chilliness.

I have been filling out applications for internships this summer. I had forgotten how hard it is to put oneself down on a piece paper. It is just so difficult to convey who you are thru stats and essay questions. I almost wished I had Mrs. Cain around from High School again to walk me thru the steps. I just hope USA Track and Field or the Olympic Committee find me worthy.

Oh, I am quoted in Runner's World ( again) this month.

Anew

2009-01-01T13:40:00.001-05:00

Opened up my running log and it is all blanks:

Monthy mileage-0

Yearly mileage-0

How it is wonderful to start anew

Running Resolutions

2008-12-26T23:36:00.002-05:00

Last Saturday for 8.5 miles, I averaged 7:52 pace. I truly think that I might be faster then I think. I am going to work my ass off to try to qualify for Nationals. I have never thought it possible for me to and that might be part of the problem. I am fast and I need to acknowledge that.

5:05 is the qualifying time for the mile-76.4 seconds per 400 meter lap. I can do that.
2:17 is the 800 meter qualifying time-68.5 seconds per 400 meter lap. I will have to work on that.
Plus I am learning to pole-vault.

Taylor Swift songs make me want to fall in love

2008-12-19T22:56:00.003-05:00

I remember ( maybe incorrectly) that December has one of the highest suicide rates for a month. I can not help but think it is because one is constantly reminded of what one does not have. Advertisers constantly throw their message at their audience all day in a number of ways. Of course having the best or the most is usually equaled to self worth. Thus the have nots start feeling like a looser or non important. Add on top of that the constant reminders of love by family or a significant other that one should be receiving, the "have-nots" are feeling pretty crummy. It is sad to think that the most wonderful time of the year can be so saddening to others.

The thing is, God will always be around to give one love.

It is great to have friends and family ( and a significant other I would assume but I would not know) but if those have abandoned you, God is there. He does not care if you have the best, the most or the newest. He does not judge you on what material possessions you have, he has unconditional love for you, and that is pretty awesome.

____________________________________________________________________

Being back in Murfreesboro has been great. I have gotten to spend some time with old friends and continue my track training. Weightlifting, I have discovered hurts but I already feel stronger. The sun finally came out today and it was 73 when I ran today. I am trying to build mileage the next two weeks before speedwork begins, I will be up to about 45 ( average pace-8:18 - thank you flotrack)I think for this week. I ran a 21 flat for a 5k last weekend which I was impressed with due to lack of training. I can't help but wonder if I am faster then I think I am. I will figure out my craziness before racing again I hope. I suppose I am only as fast as I think I am.

Life is going oh so well ( would be better if a certain boy called but that is a different tale that might be told later on) and I find myself with a smile upon my face more often then not.

If I find vampires I will be convinced..

2008-12-18T11:29:00.001-05:00

I think Murfreesboro is turning into forks..I haven't seen the sun since I don't know when...

Break is going well.

Right more later

Home

2008-12-10T21:06:00.002-05:00

"We carry our homes within us which enables us to fly.." John Cage.
I am back in the boro. So far two As and I am waiting for the rest of the grades. I have a feeling that Spainish might have killed me this semester but I am still holding out for a high B. It is sad ever so slightly, that once I have hit college, I really could care less about GPA as long as it is a 3.0 or above. I just want to take classes that will challenge me or interest me and that I learn . Though really, I have never been overly concerned with G.P.A. Though I might freak out if I make a C in anything.
Class schedule next semester is a bit mad, 17 hours that include: Media Law and Ethics, Faith and Freedom, Honors Writing, Speed training, Judo, Newspaper Practicum, Track and Field, Spainish 202 and Writing for Online media. It seems like a bit much but I should be able to do it.
I am glad to be home but I am already missing college just a bit ( might be due to the bickering sisters).
Cara

Like leaves and Kings, all things must fall..

2008-12-02T21:10:00.002-05:00

The wonderful fall leaves have left their branches and are now worm food-at least I think that is how decomposition works. It snowed yesterday, so I suppose winter is back. Which means indoor track season, I can not wait to be speedy.

I have a week left of school till I am back in the da boro. Which seems weird since I got back two day ago. Finals do not look like they are going to be too bad, only three in Spainish, Persusaion, and Video Production. I will have to study Spainish nonstop but I should be ok.

Christmas in 23 days!

Yes, I am listening to Christmas music!

My problem with Twilight..

2008-11-30T20:37:00.002-05:00

I went with my sisters to Twilight, you know the cheesy movie filled with teen angst about vampires. I will also admit that I have read the whole series. The story is just as filled with angst and cheesy lines as the movie but there is something in the plot that kept me reading. Whatever that was is gone with the movie but that is not my problem.

My problem is that Bella never completely freaks out about Edward being a vampire.

I know it is a fiction series but I expect for there to be some realistic emotions. I do not believe there is a girl out there who would be OK with any boy that said, "I'm a vampire". Even if I had fallen in love with said boy, I would first think that a) he was mental , b) he is pulling my leg, or c) I was dreaming. Then after I finally accepted the fact that he was a vampire and not crazy, I would freak out a little. Here is a boy that could kill me and quite painfully for that fact. Even if I trusted the boy, I would be slightly nervous all the time, if I was Bella I would wear alot of turtle necks and scarves. I suppose it is the fact that Bella just excepts it so very easily.

Thanks!

2008-11-23T20:53:00.001-05:00

I have alot to be thankful for but tomorrow I will be thankful to go home!

That was so Barbaric

2008-11-17T22:19:00.004-05:00

"Peter said to Paul you know all those words we wrote. Are just the rules of the game and the rules are the first to go "

I often think that sometimes I look like a wild woman when I emerge from one of my trail runs. My hair is usually falling out of my ponytail and is going every which way. Any make-up that I put on that day is gone. Mud covers my calves and is caked upon my shoe. In other words, completely barbaric. Yet, it is at these times I feel most like myself.

The Celts would go to battle in the buff. A bit chilly, I believe. The Romans never defeated the Celts. Perhaps, it was because the Celts were so barbaric, so intuned with themselves and completely confident that the Romans just did not even bother.

I believe that we all need to be Barbarians to be so utterly confident in ourselves that we can be who God created us to be. Civilized people that wrap up everything in neat little boxes will never be brave enough not to care what others think or brave enough to be completely naked and vunerable.

Christianity is not about being safe. It is about being brave enough to be naked for all the world to see, and not caring.

Just so that I remember years from now..

2008-11-16T18:05:00.001-05:00

My personal records this year were:
20:45 for 5k
26:26 for 6k..

Paul said to Peter you got to rock yourself a little harder

2008-11-13T18:02:00.002-05:00

I do truly believe I am addicted to running. I have a week or two of off-season but yet I am still running. I have reduced myself to running only 4 days this week. On the days I don't run, I feel like a caged animal. I will be back to building some base mileage next which will be great.

I am already starting to miss the team as a whole, despite basically seeing them everyday. It is just weird not running with everybody every afternoon. Here is my team below, we are nuts.

So to deal with running withdrawals, I am going to go see some of my Brevard friends run DI regional and also cover the meet for flotrack! Oh, yeah press pass! Then next week, I'll be roadtripping to Slippery Rock to cheer on my teammate/roommate at Nationals. Oh, running how I love thee.

One season over...

2008-11-08T20:53:00.001-05:00

Ran my last race of the season today. It is sad to see this season go, I'll most likly write up some highlights later on.

Cara

2008-11-04T23:09:00.001-05:00

Are you ready for this?
I am

Watching history..

2008-11-04T20:36:00.002-05:00

Red, Blue, Red

being colored in on the map

dividing the country into neat little regions

Red, Blue, Red

they talk about stategy

what state will go what way and who will win

Red, Blue, Red

it is history either way

will it be a history that we want to repeat

Fire, fire, burning bright

2008-10-29T20:04:00.000-04:00

You might get what you're after

Cool babies

Strange but not a stranger

I'm an ordinary guy

Burning down the house

When trying to fry french fries, it would be better to bake them especially if your name is Cara Hawkins. I started a grease fire pure and simple. In this house there is no fire extinguisher. Thank God for my quick thinking roommate or else I would be without anywhere to stay.

Watching the fire made me think of the spiritual fire within believers. It will grow quickly but when cut off it will die just as quickly.

Cara

That's my sister..

2008-10-29T08:38:00.000-04:00

Taken from the dnj-"For 57 minutes, Siegel had trouble solving the Shelby Lamb riddle.
The junior Shelbyville keeper had turned away shots, knocked down crosses, deflected headers and stopped surges until Siegel freshman Tori Hawkins got an inch of freedom, settled herself in the box and ripped a left-footed rocket by Lamb."

That's my sister and I'm so proud!

Conference XC 2008

2008-10-27T18:33:00.000-04:00

I have never experienced a race weekend as odd as this past one and that is saying something considering that my high school cross country team use to spray glitter on ourselves and rub our "fat" coach's head before we ran.

We arrived in Newberry, SC around 2:00 on Friday, the trip was rather uneventful besides driving thru rain. As we got nearer to the course the rain came down harder. The team slowly got out of the van and listened for it felt like hours to the race director describe the course on this map that looked nothing like where we were standing. "You will run the white arrow loop, then the B-green loop, the purple loop then back to the white. Girls don't pay attention to that, it is only the boys race." We jogged our way slowly to our box and began to run the course and the rain came down harder our shirts getting wetter and longer. Much to our chargin, the course was 45% concrete. The rain had washed away most of the markings so it became a find the arrow game. We somehow sucessfully navigated the course except we could not figure out where the end was, so another 45 mins later the course director had walked us thru it.

We got back to the hotel room and had 2 hours to shower and change for the conference banquet. We all actually were ready ahead of time (even the preppy Hardy boys) and we loaded the van drove to the banquet. As we drove to the banquet, the sky was an odd orange pink color, one that was very familar to me. I asked if a tornado had come thru and my coach responded with a yes. Trees and limbs were scattered across the road. We arrived at the church for the banquet and walked in to a completly dark building. The power had gone out and we ended up eating by candlelight. The food was buffet style but the servings were extremely small leaving many of us with empty stomachs. The food tasted off to me but I could not see what I was eating. Needless, to say I ended up throwing it up later that night.

Fast forward to the day of the race, the course and the markings had been destroyed so the boys race started late. The boys finished and told us that the course was completly trashed and not to step thru the puddles and that you needed spikes. We had decided to take the spikes out of our spikes to run with just the waffle, only to find out that in the wooded part we really needed the spikes for the muddy parts. We decided to stick with our idea. Our race began 15 mins late. I raced decently, only 6 places off of being all conference but the course was miserable the concrete was slick and the mud was deep. Needless to say we all ended up covered in mud and totally tired.

Cara

The mile is a play in 4 acts

2008-10-22T19:00:00.000-04:00

I was tagged by Lexie to do this survey!

4 Things I Did Today:
Took a persuasion test.
Spent 3 hours editing a 1 min. music video to Weezer’s everybody get dangerous
Went on a 30 min run and did 4 hill repeats
Visited Flotrack to check on comments on my article.

4 Things On My To Do List:
Try to find a stupid human trick for a youtube video
Start arranging my class schedule for next semester
Get my secret pal for xc a gift
Clean my room and pack for conference xc meet this weekend

4 Guilty Pleasures:
Perezhilton.com
Gossip Girl
Jonas Brothers/Miley Cyrus
Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility (the movies and books).

4 Random Facts About Me:
I have put more miles on my shoes this week then my car.
I was in speech class till I was in 6th grade and I still can’t say the word Sorority.
I hope to one day be an adventure racer.
In 10th grade I went by the name of Byrd for the first part of the year. I now have a lot of random nicknames including: Caralynn, C. Hawkins, Coach Cara and Eager Beaver.

4 Bloggers That I Am Tagging:
http://sarahsdailystuff.blogspot.com
http://littlepreacherswife.blogspot.com/
http://bkkenobi.blogspot.com/
http://fayezor.blogspot.com/

YEAH!

2008-10-21T19:29:00.000-04:00

I was approved!

Honors project..

2008-10-20T21:57:00.000-04:00

There are certain requirements to be in the Honors program here at Carson Newman. I have to attend two honor's events a semester and take 12 hours of honors classes that are duel taught. I also had to take Honors English 101 and Honors New and Old Testament. I am fine with all of these.

The biggest requirement is the Honors Project which is like mini grad paper. One can choose any subject within one's major to write on. I have decided to do study of viral video and brand identification. I have written up the proposal and tomorrow I go to my honors hearing.

I will present my proposal to a committee and they will either approve or not.

I am nervous.

Cara

9:00 Speedwork really?

2008-10-18T13:24:00.000-04:00

The thing about a voluntery practice is that it is never really a volunteer thing especially when your two roommates also are on the team. So I volunteered to run 1600, 2x800m, 2x400, and a 200 this morning. It hurt.

This weekend was our first weekend off in 6 weeks where we did not have a race which means that the work-outs were difficult this week. I feel stong physically but engerywise I feel a bit rundown. It might just be because of a billion test and things I seem to be having as of late. After te 21st of this week I should be good for quite awhile.

Oh, and conferance is this upcoming weekend. It seems like this season has flown by ( or perhaps sprinted is a better word). I will really miss my team once the season is over but I am not going to look that far ahead.

I haven't done anything to my hair yet.

I was thinking

2008-10-13T22:38:00.000-04:00

So I have never ever done anything really crazy to my hair...so I was thinking perhaps a teal or purple strip on the underneath of my hair that you can only see if I pull my hair up in a ponytail. So kinda secretly different?

Not so good..

2008-10-11T16:30:00.000-04:00

5k race sucked this weekend...
Everything seems not to be going so well.
I'll just keep praying
God never promises tomorrow
so I will enjoy today
John the Baptist did end up beheaded.

Can you let me catch by breath please?

2008-10-07T23:16:00.000-04:00

Midterm time is awful. I feel like I am running behind even though I am actually ahead of where I need to be.

More later when I am not suppose to be studying.

Oh, I ran a 20:45 this weekend for a 5k.

I love new PRs.

Sick?

2008-09-29T19:16:00.001-04:00

So half my XC team is sick with a stomach virius and keeping with team unity it just keeps spreading. I can only hope I am not next.

It has been awhile old friend

2008-09-28T18:57:00.000-04:00

It has been quite a long time since I have posted about my life. So much has happened so I guess reviewing some main points would be easiest.

*I turned 21- Drinking is not nearly as glamorous or fun as shown on tv. Perhaps, it is just the type of drinking that is done here which is binge. Binge drinking seems very popular but there are so many downsides. First of all, it isn't healthy. Binge drinking usually leads to stupid mistakes that make you look like an idiot. Needless to say, I am sticking with the mantra "Everything is moderation".

*I haven't broken 21:00- I have ran as low as 21:14 for a 5k but have failed to break the 21 barrier. It is getting late in the season and I want to do it this year. I keep thinking that there has to be some type of secret. According to the book "Once a Runner"- well the secret is there is no secret. I am just going to continue to work hard and pray that I will be able to break it. There are only 3 more meets to do left in the season. Despite the setback of time, I am having a wonderful time. I really enjoy the team with Cross Country. The team enviroment is so lacking in track due to different events. We might get annoyed sometimes with each other but we all love each other on the most basic level. Oh, xc does have some more perks, we raced in Charleston yesterday and I got to enjoy an hour or two on the beach.

*I have no water- So the Landlady is nuts pretty much. Both pipes have either busted or leaked in both of out bathrooms. The first one happened about a week ago and she said it was not top of her list to get it fixed. The other one happened yesterday, we have contacted her yet she has yet to contact us. Due to this lack of communication, I had my Dad call her ( yes, I pulled the Daddy card). She chewed him out and then hung up on him. He waited an hour or so and called back. She said he had no "horse in this race" since his name was not on the lease. Considering, he is the one that pays the rent, he was convinced he did. She told him the plumber would be out tomorrow at 9 but she has yet to talk to us. She is just so disrespectful. The plumber just better be here tomorrow.

So that is where I am right now.

We are all Roman..

2008-09-24T22:39:00.000-04:00

Are we Rome?

Perhaps

Will we fall?

Perchance

Will history repeat?

Perhaps, perchance it won't

So what has been happening

2008-08-24T20:40:00.000-04:00

Well, my goodness so much has happened.

First thing first, I am happily moved into May Manor with my wonderful roomates. We all get along and we are like a little family. The soccer boys from last year finally picked up their stuff today so the house finally feels like ours. It is not without its quirks, like the women downstairs who plays her music loudly or the bitter landlady. Sometimes, it feels like I am living in a sitcom but atleast it is funny.

The season is going well, we look to have a very strong team and everybody is meshing together well. My running is going decently and I will see how strong I am this weekend.

Classes are interesting but it is really too early to tell how they are really going.

Oh,and I am 21 in twoish weeks.
Cara

Ahh choo...

2008-08-03T17:29:00.000-04:00

I have a cold. I am sneezing and just feeling miserable for myself. I did not realize I had a cold till I went on a bike ride yesterday and nearly died because of being sick. I hate being ill. On top on being ill, I go back to school by next sunday for preseason. I am not quite ready to go back to classes. It is a bit of a scary thought that I only have two more years left of college. The real world with a real world job is approaching ever so quickly.

That is really the only update, I have for now..

Oh, and after reading the Twilight series, I'm going back to Harry Potter

Boredom or waiting for the heat to go away

2008-07-31T14:27:00.000-04:00

So I am bored waiting for the heat to get a little less for I need to put some major mileage in today and I decided to steal or rather borrow this survey from Lexie..

WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING? Jack Daniel's Running Guide and no it is not the whiskey, though that would be pretty entertaining .
WHAT TIME IS IT NOW? 1:33 p.m central time of 2:38 p.m. rinker time.
WHAT'S ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? I have a touchpad
FAVOURITE BOARD GAME? Taboo
FAVOURITE MAGAZINE? It is a tye between Runners World and Time
BABIES? Adopted..14 Kenyan.. I want to have two cross country team
FAVOURITE SMELL? The woods after a rain or Chai tea
WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD? dissapointment in one's self
FIRST THING YOU THINK OF IN THE MORNING? Where are my running shoes?
HOW MANY RINGS BEFORE YOU ANSWER THE PHONE? As quickly a possible which isn't too quick
FUTURE CHILD'S NAME? Alright for girls, Emerson or Henley and for boys William (called Liam) and Christopher (called Topher)
FAVOURITE COLOUR? Pink or Green
WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IN YOUR LIFE? I actually had a discussion about this with a guy who was trying to date me and here is my list: 1. God, 2. Family and friend, 3. Grades, 4. Running, 5. well everythig else
FAVOURITE FOOD! FOODS: My goodness, I do enjoy eating..lets go with sushi
IF YOU COULD PLAY AN INSTRUMENT, WHAT WOULD IT BE? Piano
DO YOU LIKE TO DRIVE FAST? Yes and I like passing people
SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? Well, I have this star pillow that I sleep with.
WHAT TYPE WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? Infiniti J30 and I am still driving it
WHO IS THE PERSON FROM YOUR PAST YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK AND TALK TO? My dead Grandfather
FAVOURITE ALCOHOLIC DRINK? I'm 21 in less then a month
WHAT'S IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR? A safety kit, car cover, three pairs of running shoes, spikes, whiteboard calendar and I think that is it.
DO YOU EAT THE STEMS OF BROCCOLI? of course
IF YOU COULD HAVE ANY JOB YOU WANTED WHAT WOULD IT BE? A pro track and field coach
EVER BEEN IN LOVE? nope..but I have hadsome serious crushes..but I guess I am a bit cold hearted
GLASS HALF EMPTY OR HALF FULL? Half full.
FAVOURITE MOVIE? Dogma
DO YOU TYPE WITH YOUR FINGERS ON THE RIGHT KEYS? Yes, I was raised with computers
WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED? I am sleeping on a pull out couch
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST AMBITION? To be satisfied with my life
WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST WEAKNESS? I'm not good with the whole emotion thing
IF YOU COULD BUILD A HOUSE ANYWHERE WHERE WOULD IT BE? Boulder,CO.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE ARTICLE OF CLOTHING? Brightly colored sports bra
BEACH, MOUNTAINS OR CITY? Mountains, lots and lots of mountais
TECHNOLOGY OR ART? Both?
COMEDY OR HORROR? Comedy.
FAVOURITE PHYSICAL FEATURE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX? calf muscles..
FAVOURITE TIME OF DAY? 3 pm
THE LAST CD YOU BOUGHT? The newest Weezer..kinda dissapointed
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO BE MASSAGED? legs
WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT, STRONG IN MIND OR STRONG IN BODY? Strong in body.
WHAT TIME DO YOU WAKE UP IN THE MORNING? well, not on a set schedule right now, last week it was 5:55 a.m.
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE KITCHEN ITEM? microwave.
WHAT MAKES YOU REALLY ANGRY? When people act snotty or above other people or treat me like I am stupid.
WHICH DO YOU PREFER, SPORTS CAR OR SUV? Sports car.
DO YOU BELIEVE IN AFTERLIFE? Yes.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SEASON? Cross Country season
IF YOU COULD HAVE ONE SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE? super speed
DO YOU HAVE A TATTOO, WHAT IS IT? No, but when I break 21 mins, I am getting one
CAN YOU JUGGLE? No.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE DAY? Fridays
WHICH DO YOU PREFER SUSHI OR HAMBURGER? Sushi!
WHAT'S YOUR FAVOURITE SOAP? don't have one
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEAL? dinner
IF YOU COULD TAKE A VACATION ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD IT BE? France in July or Australia

Brevard

2008-07-27T15:21:00.000-04:00

I was planning on having some great video to post on this blog of my time in brevard but due to lack of internet and some camper jacking my video disc ( no idea what they were trying to accomplish) there is no video.

I love Brevard distance running camp and this year was just as great as last year. I arrived safely on Saturday and had a two hour long training for being on Junior Staff. Shelly my roomate from last year was back, and looking as fit as ever. She has graduated college and working as G.A. for Cumberland College. Her running was going well but did not improve on 2:11 pr in the 800m. Also, in traing I met Rachel who was also from TN ( Clarksville) and runs for a school in St. Louis that I can't spell and teased her constantly that it was made up. Other then that Saturday was pretty dull.

Sunday was a mass of chaos due to the number of camper (432). Having this large amount of campers caused some problems mainly due to the fact that about 120 did not have transporation. The usual schedule for a camper is morning activity at 6:30, then team building activies till the afternoon run at 3:00. They get a choice of runs. Well, since transporation was short we ended up having an early and late run leaving from the same place in the park. Junior Staff sometimes had to go on two runs which meant a bit more mileage. Our jobs on the trail is to point or lead runs and make sure no one dies or gets lost. Also with this amount of kids, there is always someone doing something stupid like kicking a freshman around in a traffice cone.

I guess the big event of the second week was one of the Junior staff got a little too intoxicated and ended gettig himself kicked out of camp. Needless to say the rest of us were scared to do anything the rest of the week.

Also, during the second week, I met this Coach from the Cottage School and this guy might be my new hero. The Cottage School is first of all a school for those with mental disablities and he has enough patience to help these kids and bring up to a running a camp. He is also an adventure racer. Which is like extreme orienteering. One is a team of 4 and you try to be the first to find all the points this often times involve climbing, mountain biking, swimming, rowing, and trail running.

The week flew by and I really enjoyed getting to know the campers. It was great to be able to share advice. At the end of the week, the campers left and the JC decided to go waterfalling. Now, the Junior Staff is all well a bit of risk takers. So we ended up bruised and battered coming back to camp but sliding down the rock was worth it.

In the third week, we had about 50 less kids and more transporation making everything a bit more chill..well besides having a new JC who thought she was God's gift to man. She( I will call her Texas) was very young and had not realized that she was no longer camper. She complained about everything too. Needless to say most of the JC avoided her. Being a more chill week it meant that we were able to interact with the campers more. It also meant that the Jc was able to have a bit more fun. We ended making smores and diving off dark cliff after putting the campers to bed.

The night before graduation run ( the whole camp runs a trail to the top of John's rock). The JC decided to camp out at the run. Everything was going great we untill we started hearing things fall besides us. Well, it up being the other JC egging us. A huge egg fight began and most of ended up with egg on us pointing up the trail the next morning.

Overall, camp was great and I wished my disc had not been jacked.

Cara

Brevard Day 1

2008-07-12T08:21:00.001-04:00