Hello!
It has been WAY too long since I last wrote an entry in this thing - and a lot has happened since my last entry, that's for sure!
Exactly one week later, I am STILL on a high about my 10K run at Stanford. I ran a 35:21. It was a 27 second PR, it was my first time ever running an automatic qualifying time, and I was the only DIII runner in the field. It was the best race I have ever ran, period. My whole family was there (including my Grandma!) to witness it, which made it even more of an incredible experience. It was about 53 degrees and there was absolutely NO wind. Couldn't have asked for more perfect conditions. Everything about the night was amazing. The whole trip was an absolute blast.
Last Friday I got to witness a bit of history as well in the 10K heat before me. Lisa Koll of Iowa State ran a 31:18 to break Sally Kipyego's collegiate record! I could hear the announcer over the loud speaker while I was warming up, giving as close to a play-by-play as you can get in the sport of track and field. It was awesome to listen to him get so fired up as she got closer and closer to finishing and closer and closer to breaking the record. She ran that 31:18 absolutely all by herself, which makes it even more amazing! Needless to say, it gave me added inspiration/motivation for my race!
I think what is best about the race at Stanford is the confidence I gained coming out of it. I knew I could run faster than 35:48, but I also was coming off a somewhat disappointing Indoor season in which I was unable to break the 17 minute mark in the 5K and ended up in a worse position that at Indoor Nationals the previous year. I luckily still came away with All-American honors (placed 8th in 17:11), but honestly I just didn't run the way I wanted to. The Stanford race was everything I wanted and MORE. It's like it gave me a whole new slate. My hard work is going to continue to pay off and I know there are no limits to my improvement as a runner. I think I knew that all along, it's just that this race re-affirmed it for me. Now, my Coach and I have full faith in one another moving forward. It's going to be a GREAT outdoor season!! I am so overjoyed for it to begin the way it did and I can't wait for the coming months to finish out my track career running the best I ever have :)
During the course of the indoor season, I lost my beloved Grandpa George. He passed away on the final day of my Indoor Conference meet. We were able to gather as a family (5 kids and 15 grandchildren!) and just being together, reminiscing about what my Grandpa loved (the Badgers, motorhoming, and good Dean's milk) made us smile and be grateful that such a kind, gentle man was such a huge part of all our lives. We will without a doubt miss him so very much, but we know he is always looking down on all of us, and of course Heaven is serving him good Dean's milk, so he's doing just fine. :)
I thought about my Grandpa George in the few seconds before I started my 10K at Stanford, and I know he was there with me through that race. I know he was smiling at his "Jenny Boo" as I crossed the finishing line with a huge smile on my face.
Even though my Indoor Nationals experience was a bit of a disappointment, for my teammate, Emily Schudrowitz, it was a dream come true! She ended up WINNING the 800 meter Indoor title in a school-record 2:09.38!!! It was won by a St. Norbert runner for the 2nd consecutive year, as Ashley Graybill won it in 2:09.95 last March! According to my Coach, it's the first time one school has ever won back-to-back titles in an event with a different runner. It was an incredible race, and after being injured most of last season, it's truly incredible that Em was able to work her way back and WIN a National title. She's amazing and I'm so thankful/honored to have her as a teammate! My other teammate, Dann Schneider, also was an All-American for the 2nd straight year in the 400m dash, so we did manage to come away from DePauw with SNC 3 for 3 All-Americans! And I am blessed to be able to say I am now a 7-time All-American.
After Indoor Nationals, 20 of us from the team headed to San Diego for a training trip! It was perfect weather, as it always seems to be in San Diego -- 72 degrees and perfectly sunny! It's basically the most perfect running weather you could ever ask for. I'm not sure how people can live there with it being the same just about 365 days of the year, but I know there's obviously plenty of people that like that! It's a great vacation spot, that's for sure. We had a ton of fun and my teammates raced well at the Point Loma Nazarene University Invite. Their track was right along the ocean!!!
I came back that Saturday of the meet and caught up on some school work, went to classes Monday and Tuesday, and then flew out to San Francisco with our assistant Coach, Kristen, on that Wednesday! I still can't believe the Stanford meet was exactly one week ago today. Seems more like a month or two ago. It was such an incredible night - seems like it's frozen in time, I guess!
So... here I am, back from California, sitting at home in Delavan, WI on Easter Break. I write that because I have woken up in so many different places lately I have had to remind myself exactly where I am! :)
It has been an absolutely crazy ride this past month or so, that's for sure. But, with the Stanford race behind me, I see nothing but sunshine and blue skies ahead for this outdoor season! I'll have a couple tune-up meets to run some "speed work" (aka 1,500's and 800's) and then my next big race will be the 5K at the Gina Relays on the 23rd of April. Outdoor Nationals aren't until May 27-29th so while it's awesome to already be automatically qualified, I still have a lot I want to accomplish before then! Time to re-set a few more school records, help my team to their best finish ever at Outdoor Conference, and qualify for a couple more events at Nationals.
This weekend will be great to relax and rest up and spend time with my family. I always love coming home.
And while some parts of the past couple months have been bumpy, I've learned to take the bad with the good, smile and laugh often, and overall just ENJOY THE RIDE.
:)
Some of my favorite quotes about LIVING EACH DAY TO ITS FULLEST... something I have really learned more than ever these past few months:
"Cherish your yesterdays; dream your tomorrows; but live your todays!"
"We only got 86,400 seconds in a day to
Turn it all around or to throw it all away
We gotta tell them that we love them
While we got the chance to say
Gotta live like we're dying..." (from Kris Allen's "Live Like We're Dying"
"When an opportunity knocks, you have to answer the door..."
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." ~James Dean
And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years. ~Abraham Lincoln
and one of my most favorite songs ever... "I Was Here" by Lady Antebellum:
I want to do something that matters,
say something different,
something that sets to whole world on its ear.
I want to do something better,
with the time I've been given.
and I want to try to touch a few hearts in this life.
leave nothing less than something that says,
I was here."
So, what have you done to make a difference in this world? Find your passion and get out there and live each day to its fullest.
I have learned you can't take ANYTHING for granted in this life, so live, laugh, and love and as I said, enjoy the ride.
Till next time...
~Jenny
**For pictures of my amazing race at Stanford, as well as pictures from my vacation in San Diego AND Indoor Nationals, visit http://scherer.smugmug.com OR my Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=59002851
Friday, April 2, 2010
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
It's TRACK season!
Hello! :) It sure has been a while since I've written on here! But I'm happy to say I'm finally back to being in-season and competing -- track season has officially arrived - my FINAL track season as a Green Knight collegiate athlete!
I came back to start up the indoor track season on the 16th of January, a little later than the rest of my teammates due to a horrible cold I just happened to acquire on our family trip down to FLORIDA! That's right, I got a cold down in Florida. It was between 45 and 55 degrees the whole time we were down there - I think one of the coldest streaks Florida has ever had, and we picked that week to be down there on vacation. Oh well! We still managed to have fun - I was still able to run without any ice and snow which was incredibly nice - and luckily we had all looked at the forecast prior to going down so we packed sweatshirts and jeans instead of shorts and t-shirts!
So anyways, now it's officially indoor track season! I ran my first race - a 5K - this past Friday at Indiana University in Bloomington. While I was looking to run a provisional Nationals qualifying time of 17:42 or lower (really aiming for about a 17:25), I think my lingering cold prevented me from doing so as I had a lot of breathing issues throughout the race. I ended up running a 17:44. It was very disappointing but I know I will have another chance on February 13th when we travel to Iowa State (they have a 300 meter track vs. the normal 200 m!), so with a couple more weeks worth of workouts under my belt in addition to getting more rest, I think my cold will be completely gone and my speed will be improved and that should help me run the time I know I'm capable of running!
The one very positive thing about traveling the 7+ hours to Bloomington, Indiana was that my teammate, sophomore Emily Schudrowitz, qualified individually for Nationals for the first time by running a 2:15.59 in the 800 meters! It was very exciting and I am so proud of her. We hope to get a DMR (Distance Medley Relay) together to try and qualify for Nationals. With her fast 800 and my pretty fast mile, we just need to fill in who's going to run the 400 and the 1200 and we should be able to qualify. I believe we're running that for the first time this weekend when we travel to Stevens Point, so we'll see how it goes!
Our team has fallen under the injury bug a bit in the early part of this season. I think for many non-distance folks no matter how hard you train in the fall it's just simply not the same when you actually start the real season. I think it hits a lot of people, and specifically, people's bodies, by surprise. It's now less than 5 weeks till our Midwest Conference Indoor Track Championship meet so we're hoping to get healed up pretty quickly and be ready to roll come February 26th! The dominant team in our conference, Monmouth College, seems to be a bit down this year so it's definitely an opportunity for us to do BIG things! The Green Knights under Coach Augustine have always performed at our best when it really matters, so I don't have any doubt we can get it done and finally win the MWC! I know with quite a bit of certainty that no other team in our Conference gets up at 6 am for practice twice a week! We work hard and I think our hard work is really going to pay off at the end of February.
Classes have officially started up here so that means I'm busier than ever. I have to admit I was actually pretty happy classes started up because when we were here for track without class there's A LOT of free time - and at times, TOO much free time. Now, I'd be fine to just go to class and not have to study, but that's not exactly how college works ;) It's weird to only have 2 semesters left of undergrad ever here at SNC. I guess time really does fly by when you're having fun! I've found myself thinking about my future a lot lately. I think as of now, though, I just need to see where running takes me. I sure would love to run post-collegiately, but again, I just need to wait and see what opportunities present themselves. Hopefully I can continue to build on the success I've been blessed to have achieved these past 3 years in the next year or so and then everything will work itself out. That's my hope, anyways!
It's time to go get ready for the day. Hill workout this afternoon in 20 degree weather! Gotta love it! Probably the last day we'll get outside for quite a few days as the 4 day weather forecast shows highs of 15, 10, 12, and 15 - and that's without the wind chill! After having about a week of 30+ degree temps, I think Wisconsin winter is truly back! Oh joy!
Till next time, Happy Running!
--Jenny :)
"The only place where success comes before work is the dictionary."
-Vince Lombardi, the great coach of the Green Bay Packers and one of the greatest coaches of all time. Love this quote!
I came back to start up the indoor track season on the 16th of January, a little later than the rest of my teammates due to a horrible cold I just happened to acquire on our family trip down to FLORIDA! That's right, I got a cold down in Florida. It was between 45 and 55 degrees the whole time we were down there - I think one of the coldest streaks Florida has ever had, and we picked that week to be down there on vacation. Oh well! We still managed to have fun - I was still able to run without any ice and snow which was incredibly nice - and luckily we had all looked at the forecast prior to going down so we packed sweatshirts and jeans instead of shorts and t-shirts!
So anyways, now it's officially indoor track season! I ran my first race - a 5K - this past Friday at Indiana University in Bloomington. While I was looking to run a provisional Nationals qualifying time of 17:42 or lower (really aiming for about a 17:25), I think my lingering cold prevented me from doing so as I had a lot of breathing issues throughout the race. I ended up running a 17:44. It was very disappointing but I know I will have another chance on February 13th when we travel to Iowa State (they have a 300 meter track vs. the normal 200 m!), so with a couple more weeks worth of workouts under my belt in addition to getting more rest, I think my cold will be completely gone and my speed will be improved and that should help me run the time I know I'm capable of running!
The one very positive thing about traveling the 7+ hours to Bloomington, Indiana was that my teammate, sophomore Emily Schudrowitz, qualified individually for Nationals for the first time by running a 2:15.59 in the 800 meters! It was very exciting and I am so proud of her. We hope to get a DMR (Distance Medley Relay) together to try and qualify for Nationals. With her fast 800 and my pretty fast mile, we just need to fill in who's going to run the 400 and the 1200 and we should be able to qualify. I believe we're running that for the first time this weekend when we travel to Stevens Point, so we'll see how it goes!
Our team has fallen under the injury bug a bit in the early part of this season. I think for many non-distance folks no matter how hard you train in the fall it's just simply not the same when you actually start the real season. I think it hits a lot of people, and specifically, people's bodies, by surprise. It's now less than 5 weeks till our Midwest Conference Indoor Track Championship meet so we're hoping to get healed up pretty quickly and be ready to roll come February 26th! The dominant team in our conference, Monmouth College, seems to be a bit down this year so it's definitely an opportunity for us to do BIG things! The Green Knights under Coach Augustine have always performed at our best when it really matters, so I don't have any doubt we can get it done and finally win the MWC! I know with quite a bit of certainty that no other team in our Conference gets up at 6 am for practice twice a week! We work hard and I think our hard work is really going to pay off at the end of February.
Classes have officially started up here so that means I'm busier than ever. I have to admit I was actually pretty happy classes started up because when we were here for track without class there's A LOT of free time - and at times, TOO much free time. Now, I'd be fine to just go to class and not have to study, but that's not exactly how college works ;) It's weird to only have 2 semesters left of undergrad ever here at SNC. I guess time really does fly by when you're having fun! I've found myself thinking about my future a lot lately. I think as of now, though, I just need to see where running takes me. I sure would love to run post-collegiately, but again, I just need to wait and see what opportunities present themselves. Hopefully I can continue to build on the success I've been blessed to have achieved these past 3 years in the next year or so and then everything will work itself out. That's my hope, anyways!
It's time to go get ready for the day. Hill workout this afternoon in 20 degree weather! Gotta love it! Probably the last day we'll get outside for quite a few days as the 4 day weather forecast shows highs of 15, 10, 12, and 15 - and that's without the wind chill! After having about a week of 30+ degree temps, I think Wisconsin winter is truly back! Oh joy!
Till next time, Happy Running!
--Jenny :)
"The only place where success comes before work is the dictionary."
-Vince Lombardi, the great coach of the Green Bay Packers and one of the greatest coaches of all time. Love this quote!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Reflecting!
Well, it's officially been a week since the NCAA XC National meet in Cleveland and the end of my 3rd season as a Green Knight cross country runner.
I've definitely done a lot of reflecting as the week has gone by. While I was shooting for a top 5 finish, finishing where I did - 10th - less than 2 seconds out of 7th - is something I am trying my very, very best to not be disappointed about. First off, I got horrendously boxed in at the start of the race and fought my way to the front pack for the entire first mile of the race. I really don't know how it happened; last year I seemed to find my way to the front pack instantly, but for some reason this year, I felt like I still got out incredibly quick but yet when I tried to move up actually got stuck. It was pretty frightening, and I know for a fact that had I not run at Nationals twice prior, I would have panicked and probably never worked my way up, certainly not near top 15 status. Instead, I just kept telling myself to stay calm, and eventually I made it near the front pack and was finally able to settle in a little after mile 1. I still wasted more energy in that first mile than I should have, but anyways, that is one of the reasons that I tell myself I can't be disappointed with my performance. It was also a much hillier course than I think most of us envisioned, and it rained the 2 days prior to the meet, making the footing pretty terrible. So, with these things considered, I can handle 10th place. It's not like I'm totally satisfied with 10th -- I WILL move up next year -- but I know I gave my best effort last Saturday and for that I can put a smile on my face!
It was a roller coaster of a season. I was unable to defend my title and course record at our sole home meet in early September, unable to defend my Midwest Conference crown at our meet on Halloween, both times losing to my arch-rival from Carroll University, and yet, when it truly mattered, at the Regional and National meet, I beat her soundly. To me, the coaching says it all. I have a Coach who knows how to peak athletes at the right time. It felt really good to be able to run my very best when it mattered most. Giving up those 2 titles was totally worth it when in the end I was an All-American (for the 6th!!! time!) ... and she wasn't! It wasn't easy to not lose confidence when I was unable to defend my title - it made me question my training and start comparing last season to this one. But, with the help of my Coach, and the book I mentioned in my last post, Inner Gym (by Gary Mack), I was able to realize every season brings new challenges and that it's impossible to compare one season to another. I am so glad I was able to stay strong mentally, and so again this is another reason why finishing 10th is still very fulfilling.
It's crazy that it's only been a week since the race. With Thanksgiving Break, it seems more like a month ago I raced in Cleveland! I have been doing my best to take some time off of running and just try and relax. This is an incredibly hard thing for me to do, especially because I think the bottom line is that running just makes me feel SO good. However, last year I jumped right back in and took hardly any time off (against the wishes of my Coach) and ended up injuring my IT band badly within a couple of weeks. I obviously don't want this to happen again so I'm trying my best to go to the pool or elliptical or bike to get away from the pounding for a couple of weeks. I just wish sometimes it wasn't so hard for me to take it easy. Relaxing just simply does not come easily for me! I constantly feel like there's something that needs to be done! I'm going to try my best to shift my focus to school these next couple of weeks -- exams are in a little over 2 weeks from now and my GPA could always use a boost!
Well, I think I've rambled on enough for now. I just wanted to take a little time to reflect before I posted about Nationals. Overall, it was a great experience - as it always is - and I look forward to getting back there next year, perhaps with our entire TEAM! That is the ultimate goal!
Indoor track officially begins for me on January 11th. Finals, Christmas, family vacation to Florida, and then track. The next 6 weeks are going to be very busy, but after finals, it's all FUN, so again, just need to focus in on my studies these next couple of weeks and it's smooth sailing from there! :)
In honor of Thanksgiving, I want to give thanks for some special people that have continued to help make my college running experience the most fun I've had in my entire life. Thanks to all my teammates who supported me so much throughout the entire season -- even had a couple make the 9 hour drive all the way to Cleveland to watch me!! We had 6 seniors this year, and I can't even put in to words how much they'll be missed. Kim, John, Aaron, Benji, Jon, and Mack: you guys are amazing. Thanks so much for your leadership, hardwork, and dedication. You have helped build up this program so much - you are all incredibly talented runners, but most importantly, you are wonderful people. Thanks for your friendship, and for the millions of memories we've made over the years. I love you guys!!
Another thanks to my family- my parents and 2 brothers who are always my biggest fans. They always have encouraging words for me and keep me thinking positively. I know I couldn't have made it through this roller coaster of a season without them! And finally, I also want to give a big thanks to my Coach who puts up with me no matter how high maintenance I may be. He always has my best interest in mind and obviously it can be seen he helped me peak at the right time.
It's been an amazing ride from basketball player to six-time All-American. Never in my wildest dreams could I have predicted myself to be where I am now. No dream could be quite this wonderful! :) I am SO blessed.
Still have 1 more full track & cross country season, though, so buckle up because the ride's not over yet! :)
I'll post with an update on training sometime near Christmas!
Don't forget to check out pictures from Nationals here : http://scherer.smugmug.com/Sports/NCAA-Division-3-National-Cross/10327302_R6iCi#720648731_skKFv
Till next time... happy running! Let's hope the snow/ice can continue to hold off for at least a few more weeks! :)
~Jenny
I've definitely done a lot of reflecting as the week has gone by. While I was shooting for a top 5 finish, finishing where I did - 10th - less than 2 seconds out of 7th - is something I am trying my very, very best to not be disappointed about. First off, I got horrendously boxed in at the start of the race and fought my way to the front pack for the entire first mile of the race. I really don't know how it happened; last year I seemed to find my way to the front pack instantly, but for some reason this year, I felt like I still got out incredibly quick but yet when I tried to move up actually got stuck. It was pretty frightening, and I know for a fact that had I not run at Nationals twice prior, I would have panicked and probably never worked my way up, certainly not near top 15 status. Instead, I just kept telling myself to stay calm, and eventually I made it near the front pack and was finally able to settle in a little after mile 1. I still wasted more energy in that first mile than I should have, but anyways, that is one of the reasons that I tell myself I can't be disappointed with my performance. It was also a much hillier course than I think most of us envisioned, and it rained the 2 days prior to the meet, making the footing pretty terrible. So, with these things considered, I can handle 10th place. It's not like I'm totally satisfied with 10th -- I WILL move up next year -- but I know I gave my best effort last Saturday and for that I can put a smile on my face!
It was a roller coaster of a season. I was unable to defend my title and course record at our sole home meet in early September, unable to defend my Midwest Conference crown at our meet on Halloween, both times losing to my arch-rival from Carroll University, and yet, when it truly mattered, at the Regional and National meet, I beat her soundly. To me, the coaching says it all. I have a Coach who knows how to peak athletes at the right time. It felt really good to be able to run my very best when it mattered most. Giving up those 2 titles was totally worth it when in the end I was an All-American (for the 6th!!! time!) ... and she wasn't! It wasn't easy to not lose confidence when I was unable to defend my title - it made me question my training and start comparing last season to this one. But, with the help of my Coach, and the book I mentioned in my last post, Inner Gym (by Gary Mack), I was able to realize every season brings new challenges and that it's impossible to compare one season to another. I am so glad I was able to stay strong mentally, and so again this is another reason why finishing 10th is still very fulfilling.
It's crazy that it's only been a week since the race. With Thanksgiving Break, it seems more like a month ago I raced in Cleveland! I have been doing my best to take some time off of running and just try and relax. This is an incredibly hard thing for me to do, especially because I think the bottom line is that running just makes me feel SO good. However, last year I jumped right back in and took hardly any time off (against the wishes of my Coach) and ended up injuring my IT band badly within a couple of weeks. I obviously don't want this to happen again so I'm trying my best to go to the pool or elliptical or bike to get away from the pounding for a couple of weeks. I just wish sometimes it wasn't so hard for me to take it easy. Relaxing just simply does not come easily for me! I constantly feel like there's something that needs to be done! I'm going to try my best to shift my focus to school these next couple of weeks -- exams are in a little over 2 weeks from now and my GPA could always use a boost!
Well, I think I've rambled on enough for now. I just wanted to take a little time to reflect before I posted about Nationals. Overall, it was a great experience - as it always is - and I look forward to getting back there next year, perhaps with our entire TEAM! That is the ultimate goal!
Indoor track officially begins for me on January 11th. Finals, Christmas, family vacation to Florida, and then track. The next 6 weeks are going to be very busy, but after finals, it's all FUN, so again, just need to focus in on my studies these next couple of weeks and it's smooth sailing from there! :)
In honor of Thanksgiving, I want to give thanks for some special people that have continued to help make my college running experience the most fun I've had in my entire life. Thanks to all my teammates who supported me so much throughout the entire season -- even had a couple make the 9 hour drive all the way to Cleveland to watch me!! We had 6 seniors this year, and I can't even put in to words how much they'll be missed. Kim, John, Aaron, Benji, Jon, and Mack: you guys are amazing. Thanks so much for your leadership, hardwork, and dedication. You have helped build up this program so much - you are all incredibly talented runners, but most importantly, you are wonderful people. Thanks for your friendship, and for the millions of memories we've made over the years. I love you guys!!
Another thanks to my family- my parents and 2 brothers who are always my biggest fans. They always have encouraging words for me and keep me thinking positively. I know I couldn't have made it through this roller coaster of a season without them! And finally, I also want to give a big thanks to my Coach who puts up with me no matter how high maintenance I may be. He always has my best interest in mind and obviously it can be seen he helped me peak at the right time.
It's been an amazing ride from basketball player to six-time All-American. Never in my wildest dreams could I have predicted myself to be where I am now. No dream could be quite this wonderful! :) I am SO blessed.
Still have 1 more full track & cross country season, though, so buckle up because the ride's not over yet! :)
I'll post with an update on training sometime near Christmas!
Don't forget to check out pictures from Nationals here : http://scherer.smugmug.com/Sports/NCAA-Division-3-National-Cross/10327302_R6iCi#720648731_skKFv
Till next time... happy running! Let's hope the snow/ice can continue to hold off for at least a few more weeks! :)
~Jenny
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Off to Cleveland! :)
Well, it's official: I'm off to Cleveland for the NCAA DIII NATIONAL XC Meet tomorrow morning! The race isn't till Saturday the 21st, but I get to leave a few days early to run the course ahead of time and get mentally prepared :)
Regionals was my absolute best race of the season (thus far), and it was so nice to be able to smile after my race. Previously, that hadn't happened much this season. Basically I realized I had been too hard on myself, trying to compare this season to last season, and just overall getting myself stressed and worried a lot more than I should have been. I went in to Regionals incredibly relaxed and focusing on the reasons why I love to run, and this mental outlook on the race obviously helped a lot as I PR'd for the season (21:31, good for 3rd place) and beat out a rival who had trounced me by over a minute at Conference just 2 weeks prior. It felt great.
So, now it's off to Cleveland, Ohio. I'm in the midst of packing and it's overwhelming me as usual. So many layers to pack, and when we went to Ohio for track, I nearly went over the 50 lb. weight limit, so I have to be careful with that as well! The airlines charge a ridiculous fee for going over 50 lbs, so I really am going to have to try my hardest to pack lightweight. Anyone who really knows me knows it's going to be very difficult! I'm still really glad to be flying vs. driving, though! Saves the legs SO much!
Any of you runners out there or anyone involved in competitive sports, I highly recommend reading "Mind Gym," by Gary Mack. It's another reason I was able to turn around my season and get my "mental edge" back. Mack is a sports psychologist and really helped me see that I need to think more positively and that confidence is the key to succeeding, especially in running where mental preparedness is easily just as important, if not more so (especially for elite athletes), than physical preparation. I also want to thank my parents for their unending support. Through thick and thin, good times and bad, they are always there and always have good advice to keep me headed in the right direction. I honestly have no idea what I'd do without them!
I'll end with a couple of quotes that my Coach has repeatedly sent me throughout the season, reminding me that I had to be patient, that our "plan" was designed for me to peak at the right time (as in, on November 21st!) and that even though it may get frustrating, that I must continue to stick to the plan we set forth. I reaped the benefits of this plan last Saturday, and there's no doubt in my mind I'll be ready to run at my absolute best in Cleveland this Saturday.
"The height of your success is determined by the depth of your belief..."
“When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it, but all that had gone before.”– Jacob A. Riis
This race is an accumulation of all the hard work I've put in since track season ended last Spring. This is what those 80+ mile weeks during the summer were for! I relish an underdog role, and I can't wait to surprise a lot of people with my performance on Saturday.
Bring it on, Cleveland! :)
Regionals was my absolute best race of the season (thus far), and it was so nice to be able to smile after my race. Previously, that hadn't happened much this season. Basically I realized I had been too hard on myself, trying to compare this season to last season, and just overall getting myself stressed and worried a lot more than I should have been. I went in to Regionals incredibly relaxed and focusing on the reasons why I love to run, and this mental outlook on the race obviously helped a lot as I PR'd for the season (21:31, good for 3rd place) and beat out a rival who had trounced me by over a minute at Conference just 2 weeks prior. It felt great.
So, now it's off to Cleveland, Ohio. I'm in the midst of packing and it's overwhelming me as usual. So many layers to pack, and when we went to Ohio for track, I nearly went over the 50 lb. weight limit, so I have to be careful with that as well! The airlines charge a ridiculous fee for going over 50 lbs, so I really am going to have to try my hardest to pack lightweight. Anyone who really knows me knows it's going to be very difficult! I'm still really glad to be flying vs. driving, though! Saves the legs SO much!
Any of you runners out there or anyone involved in competitive sports, I highly recommend reading "Mind Gym," by Gary Mack. It's another reason I was able to turn around my season and get my "mental edge" back. Mack is a sports psychologist and really helped me see that I need to think more positively and that confidence is the key to succeeding, especially in running where mental preparedness is easily just as important, if not more so (especially for elite athletes), than physical preparation. I also want to thank my parents for their unending support. Through thick and thin, good times and bad, they are always there and always have good advice to keep me headed in the right direction. I honestly have no idea what I'd do without them!
I'll end with a couple of quotes that my Coach has repeatedly sent me throughout the season, reminding me that I had to be patient, that our "plan" was designed for me to peak at the right time (as in, on November 21st!) and that even though it may get frustrating, that I must continue to stick to the plan we set forth. I reaped the benefits of this plan last Saturday, and there's no doubt in my mind I'll be ready to run at my absolute best in Cleveland this Saturday.
"The height of your success is determined by the depth of your belief..."
“When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that last blow that did it, but all that had gone before.”– Jacob A. Riis
This race is an accumulation of all the hard work I've put in since track season ended last Spring. This is what those 80+ mile weeks during the summer were for! I relish an underdog role, and I can't wait to surprise a lot of people with my performance on Saturday.
Bring it on, Cleveland! :)
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Preparing for Regionals!
Well, Regionals are just a couple days away. I'm really excited, and a little bit nervous for what's to come.
I feel like I haven't had a GREAT race yet this entire season, but this week I have felt an energy, a rejuvenation of sorts, unlike what I've felt for much of the season, so I am confident Saturday will be one of 2 great races in the next 2 weeks. I'm ready to do what I need to to get back to the National level.
As a team, we'll be looking to improve upon last year's 19th place finish. I really think we should be able to easily be top 15, and that is our goal. All five of our runners - me, Mandy, Brianna, Kim, and Kali - have a realistic shot at being on the All-Region team - that's top 35. It's also a flat course at Winneconne Golf Course in Oshkosh, so PR's are definitely a possibility, almost a guarantee. Kim wants to go under 24:00 in the last race of her career, and this course gives her a great chance to do so. I'm excited to see what we can do! It's been a very solid season so far and we really want to close it out on a good note!
For 5 out of our 7 guys running at the Regional meet, this will most likely be their last cross country race EVER. It's a bit scary to imagine life without them next year, but I guess that can't be our focus right now. Just hope that they, too, can end their XC careers with PR's and that can put an exclamation point on what they have all accomplished as Green Knight athletes.
I think that's all for now. It's time to go finish up some homework. I've got to continue to work hard to improve in the classroom!
Glad to be back writing! :)
Here's an appropriate quote for this weekend's big Regional race:
"Life's battle doesn't always go
to the stronger or faster man (or woman),
but sooner or later,the man (or woman) who wins,
is the man (woman) who thinks he/she can."
Till next time,
~*Jenny*~
I feel like I haven't had a GREAT race yet this entire season, but this week I have felt an energy, a rejuvenation of sorts, unlike what I've felt for much of the season, so I am confident Saturday will be one of 2 great races in the next 2 weeks. I'm ready to do what I need to to get back to the National level.
As a team, we'll be looking to improve upon last year's 19th place finish. I really think we should be able to easily be top 15, and that is our goal. All five of our runners - me, Mandy, Brianna, Kim, and Kali - have a realistic shot at being on the All-Region team - that's top 35. It's also a flat course at Winneconne Golf Course in Oshkosh, so PR's are definitely a possibility, almost a guarantee. Kim wants to go under 24:00 in the last race of her career, and this course gives her a great chance to do so. I'm excited to see what we can do! It's been a very solid season so far and we really want to close it out on a good note!
For 5 out of our 7 guys running at the Regional meet, this will most likely be their last cross country race EVER. It's a bit scary to imagine life without them next year, but I guess that can't be our focus right now. Just hope that they, too, can end their XC careers with PR's and that can put an exclamation point on what they have all accomplished as Green Knight athletes.
I think that's all for now. It's time to go finish up some homework. I've got to continue to work hard to improve in the classroom!
Glad to be back writing! :)
Here's an appropriate quote for this weekend's big Regional race:
"Life's battle doesn't always go
to the stronger or faster man (or woman),
but sooner or later,the man (or woman) who wins,
is the man (woman) who thinks he/she can."
Till next time,
~*Jenny*~
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