It's October Break, and Vassar is kind of deserted right now. We had the option of going home for part of break, but about half of the team elected to stick around for practices. In addition to doing workouts with teammates, being at Vassar makes it a lot easier to cross-train, get treatment for injuries, and just makes getting through a workout a little bit easier. We're approaching the end of our regular season, with one more race before our two championship meets. Thus, it's that much more important for us to stay focused on training, with the end of our season in sight.
Last weekend's race came against some very difficult competition. Racing against a number of Division I teams, we had nine of our top ten runners all break their personal bests, yet we still finished in the lower half of the team scores. The Albany course lends itself to faster than average times, and combined with the cool temperatures and decent footing, it was a day to shine for many of my teammates. I, however, was the lone runner in our top ten who didn't set a new personal best.
While I know the conditions and course presented an opportunity for a fast race, I was just happy to run five continuous miles. Due to a host of injuries, I've gone from running around 70 miles a week in September, to running a combined 60 miles the last two weeks, with the rest of my aerobic work either on a bike, aqua-jogging in the pool, or on the elliptical. Needless to say, I really miss being able to run every day.
So while last weekend's race didn't look particularly good for me on the statsheet, compared to what I've done in other races, nor did it feel particularly comfortable, I was just happy to feel the ground under my feet with each stride.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Time For "Prospie Season"
It’s getting to be time for something I like to call “prospie season.” As college application deadlines approach, a steady stream of high school seniors interested in running at Vassar are going to be visiting campus and meeting the team. Some of them might even be lucky enough to spend a night with one of us, and get to sit in on a couple classes. I didn’t take part in this experience when I was a high school senior, instead, I waited until I had been accepted to schools to visit with cross-country coaches, and I never met any of my future teammates before I arrived on campus in the fall of 2006. That said, I’ve seen a lot of prospies visit practice, tour the facilities, and waste a couple hours in the library at night, and even hosted a couple of them. I’d like to offer a bit of advice to any prospies out there who are thinking about visiting Vassar (or any other school) as a potential runner.
#1) If you’re going to come, don’t come empty-handed. Bring some homework, or at least a book. Vassar isn’t an easy school, and yes, we do a good amount of homework. So if you’re going to be staying with one of us, we’re probably going to have to spend a couple hours doing work. Since a good amount of the team congregates at the library at night, it’s likely you’ll go there, partially so your host can get some work done, and partially so you can meet some other runners. One of my prospies went to the bookstore, bought a copy of Machiavelli’s “The Prince,” and read it cover to cover. He ended up coming to Vassar, is now on the team, and is nicknamed “The Prince,” for obvious reasons.
#2) Be social with the team and ask them questions. We don’t know what you’re making your college decision based on, but we can probably answer your questions about your potential Vassar life better than a student who works in Admissions can. Your life is going to be more structured than most Vassar students, with practices and classes, and you’re going to spend a significant amount of time around us. We can offer perspective on both athletics and academics. Finally, we know it’s intimidating to be around a bunch of people you don’t know at a place you don’t know, but at the same time, we’re judging you as a potential teammate, and you have a golden opportunity to make a great first impression. There are some prospies who stand out in my mind for being particularly pleasant; they didn’t even decide to come here, and I still remember their visit fairly well.
#3) Don’t ask to sleep in our bed. This is probably the best way to irk your host, and I’ve heard of it happening multiple times in the last few years. Your host may even take the floor and let you have the bed, but it’s not going to score any points.
#4) (optional) Bring us a present. I once had a prospie who brought me a huge cookie he bought at Grand Central on his way to Vassar. Nothing says “thanks” like a huge cookie.
#1) If you’re going to come, don’t come empty-handed. Bring some homework, or at least a book. Vassar isn’t an easy school, and yes, we do a good amount of homework. So if you’re going to be staying with one of us, we’re probably going to have to spend a couple hours doing work. Since a good amount of the team congregates at the library at night, it’s likely you’ll go there, partially so your host can get some work done, and partially so you can meet some other runners. One of my prospies went to the bookstore, bought a copy of Machiavelli’s “The Prince,” and read it cover to cover. He ended up coming to Vassar, is now on the team, and is nicknamed “The Prince,” for obvious reasons.
#2) Be social with the team and ask them questions. We don’t know what you’re making your college decision based on, but we can probably answer your questions about your potential Vassar life better than a student who works in Admissions can. Your life is going to be more structured than most Vassar students, with practices and classes, and you’re going to spend a significant amount of time around us. We can offer perspective on both athletics and academics. Finally, we know it’s intimidating to be around a bunch of people you don’t know at a place you don’t know, but at the same time, we’re judging you as a potential teammate, and you have a golden opportunity to make a great first impression. There are some prospies who stand out in my mind for being particularly pleasant; they didn’t even decide to come here, and I still remember their visit fairly well.
#3) Don’t ask to sleep in our bed. This is probably the best way to irk your host, and I’ve heard of it happening multiple times in the last few years. Your host may even take the floor and let you have the bed, but it’s not going to score any points.
#4) (optional) Bring us a present. I once had a prospie who brought me a huge cookie he bought at Grand Central on his way to Vassar. Nothing says “thanks” like a huge cookie.
Monday, October 6, 2008
A Trip To The Liberty League Championships
This weekend, I’ve spent enough time riding a bus to last me for awhile. We had Liberty Leagues at St. Lawrence University this weekend, which is located “practically in Canada," as many of my teammates eloquently put it. We left Vassar at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, and drove as far as Utica before stopping for dinner, then climbed back aboard the bus, on which we stayed until reaching the hotel just before 11:00 p.m.. On the plus side, I got a lot of homework done on the bus, but by the time we arrived, I was definitely ready to do something besides economics or watch Gladiator. Due to our late arrival, we didn’t preview the course until the morning of the race, and I was definitely impressed with what I saw. The course was comprised of loops around the athletic fields and a wide trail between a river and woods, and the footing was excellent. By race time, it had even warmed up enough to be considered comfortable. My family even made the three hour drive from Vermont to see the race, marking the first time my younger brother has seen cross country.
The course was excellent for spectators, which meant the women’s team had plenty of opportunity to notice that my stride was off, due to the shin problems I’ve been battling. While I didn’t feel great, I still ran a time I’m happy with. It was a fun race to be in, however difficult, just because we were so familiar with the competition. As a team, we didn’t meet our ultimate goal of beating RPI, but we made it close, and many of their runners had excellent races. For many of our freshmen, it was their first 8K, and as a whole, they performed very well. Anthony (Lucero)also showed that he was one of the best runners in the region with a second place finish.
Since the men raced first, I had the opportunity to watch the women’s race. It’s hard not to be an active spectator at a race, especially on a course that lends itself to seeing the field at multiple points throughout the race. Instead of going to the hardest hill, we tried to see the women as many times as possible. Whether it’s a reminder to focus on form, to stay with the pack ahead, or to just give a split, there’s always something constructive to offer to a runner. While I think the women achieved their 2nd place finish on their own merit, I bet you just might be able to attribute someone moving up a couple spots specifically to a helpful piece of advice. I know some Vassar supporter (I’m not even sure who, thanks in part of my level of focus and in part to total fatigue) told me to just close the gap between a bunch of St. Lawrence runners who passed me at mile 3, and I ended up catching one of them in the wide-open sprint to the finish.
We ended up getting back to campus just before midnight on Saturday, and while I definitely didn’t have a normal Vassar weekend (minus the copious amounts of homework and sports-watching on Sunday), I think it was a weekend well-spent.
The course was excellent for spectators, which meant the women’s team had plenty of opportunity to notice that my stride was off, due to the shin problems I’ve been battling. While I didn’t feel great, I still ran a time I’m happy with. It was a fun race to be in, however difficult, just because we were so familiar with the competition. As a team, we didn’t meet our ultimate goal of beating RPI, but we made it close, and many of their runners had excellent races. For many of our freshmen, it was their first 8K, and as a whole, they performed very well. Anthony (Lucero)also showed that he was one of the best runners in the region with a second place finish.
Since the men raced first, I had the opportunity to watch the women’s race. It’s hard not to be an active spectator at a race, especially on a course that lends itself to seeing the field at multiple points throughout the race. Instead of going to the hardest hill, we tried to see the women as many times as possible. Whether it’s a reminder to focus on form, to stay with the pack ahead, or to just give a split, there’s always something constructive to offer to a runner. While I think the women achieved their 2nd place finish on their own merit, I bet you just might be able to attribute someone moving up a couple spots specifically to a helpful piece of advice. I know some Vassar supporter (I’m not even sure who, thanks in part of my level of focus and in part to total fatigue) told me to just close the gap between a bunch of St. Lawrence runners who passed me at mile 3, and I ended up catching one of them in the wide-open sprint to the finish.
We ended up getting back to campus just before midnight on Saturday, and while I definitely didn’t have a normal Vassar weekend (minus the copious amounts of homework and sports-watching on Sunday), I think it was a weekend well-spent.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Athletic Training Room Brings Athletes Together
Spending time in the athletic training room is an expectation for most athletes at this point in the season. On any given day, about half my team is either receiving treatment for minor aches, having their arches taped, doing rehab work, or huddling together in the ice bath, which averages around 48 degrees. Without these services, it's doubtful that so many of us would be running at all at season's end, let alone putting up improved times.
While I value the athletics training room for the services provided there, it's also really nice to be in a room with just athletes. I often hear people on campus talking about "the athletes," like there's some sort of secret club we all belong to. In reality, I wish I had a lot more contact with athletes on other teams than I actually do, but due to the differing schedules of all the teams, combined with my workload, this isn't easily accomplished.
This is where the athletic training room comes in. In terms of physical ability or venue and style of play, we have very little in common with, for example, the basketball or baseball teams. That said, it's kind of neat to walk into the training room on any given day, sit next to a member of the women's rugby team, look across and see a baseball player doing a balance exercise with a men's basketball player, while I'm getting my arches taped by a lacrosse player.
It's always nice when athletes support each other at games, but it's also pretty cool to think that, in a small way, we're helping each other just get into the game, either through active participation, or the silent camaraderie of knowing that other Vassar athletes in different sports are pushing their limits as much as I am.
While I value the athletics training room for the services provided there, it's also really nice to be in a room with just athletes. I often hear people on campus talking about "the athletes," like there's some sort of secret club we all belong to. In reality, I wish I had a lot more contact with athletes on other teams than I actually do, but due to the differing schedules of all the teams, combined with my workload, this isn't easily accomplished.
This is where the athletic training room comes in. In terms of physical ability or venue and style of play, we have very little in common with, for example, the basketball or baseball teams. That said, it's kind of neat to walk into the training room on any given day, sit next to a member of the women's rugby team, look across and see a baseball player doing a balance exercise with a men's basketball player, while I'm getting my arches taped by a lacrosse player.
It's always nice when athletes support each other at games, but it's also pretty cool to think that, in a small way, we're helping each other just get into the game, either through active participation, or the silent camaraderie of knowing that other Vassar athletes in different sports are pushing their limits as much as I am.
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