Sunday, October 28, 2012

Spectator Point of View

On this final off weekend before our championship meet I found myself not at a sporting event as an athlete, but as a spectator.  I wasn't watching a cross country race, nor was I watching my beloved football, or a hockey game: I was watching my very first water polo match! On Saturday, Mercyhurst beat Gannon 18-5 in the second game of the title contest for the 2012 Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA) Division II Eastern Championship- defending their title from last year.  It was awesome to view a new sport and watch such a great team.  I have total respect for the water polo team: swimming back and forth back and forth, treading water, shooting a ball with soccer-like speed etc. Though I was confused for a good amount of time on why the refs blew their whistles when they did, and all the specific rules, I was completely wrapped up in the game.  I love my sport, I love competing, but sometimes it is refreshing to sit back and just become a spectator for a moment.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

What it Feels Like to Lose

This weekend's past race was not the highlight of our season, it was a rough one.  PSAC's is the toughest field: elite runners on the best of teams, on the hardest course in Western PA. We are very lucky to run in this talented field, it is an experience for sure!  All we can do is learn from this race experience and use it to become stronger: we have one more race to kill before the end of the season.  Bad races offer an important lesson though: get back up and try it again.  They can be used to motivate you to do better and work even harder, it is all we can do.  The Mercyhurst team is amazing in this manner, never ever giving up.  I'm so grateful to be surrounded by these people, for I am notoriously negative- but my teammates are slowly changing that.  It feels terrible to lose, but will feel even better coming back stronger and rising above one bad race.


Sunday, October 14, 2012

Never Truly Off

"Off Weekend"= no scheduled practice, no race, no travel time...a break.  The term "off weekend" is a welcome rest time for the cross country team as we get into the final weeks of our season, and are beginning to feel the miles on miles of pounding our bodies into the ground that we put ourselves through.  
Though we have the option and opportunity to go our own ways and do somethings separate for a few days, I find myself still running and eating with my team- even out to eat for a birthday dinner.  Now don't get me wrong, we all have friends outside of the team and spend a lot of time with them and away from cross country...but a special bond is created with teammates who we spend everyday with, a bond that brings us together even during rest periods of no organized practice or events.  I'm in love with this aspect of team, I know my teammates have my back and are always there....even on off days.


Monday, October 8, 2012

Hurst Takes Boston

Home for a few days, home-cooked meals, your own bed, family, friends, relaxing: this is the typical fall break for most Mercyhurst students.  This is NOT the break the Mercyhurst Cross Country team experienced this year.  Instead, Mercyhurst XC took to the road and traveled to Boston, Massachusetts! The 7 hour bus ride was well worth it, the Hurst truly did take over Boston.
Our race was at Westfield Univeristy on Saturday: a course around a wicked field and back into the woods, stiff competition, and hot weather all made for less-than-ideal racing conditions.  Both our Men's and Women's team hung tough and gained great results! The Women's team finished 17th out of 43 and the Men's team finished 19th out of 40, each race had about 500 runners!
After the points were counted and awards given, the team headed into the city.  Quincy Market was our destination.  Here were split into groups and explored, and ate, our way through Boston.  We ate at an Irish Pub, with live music and amazing food, and ran through the rain to the famous Mike's Pastry in the "Little Italy" part of the North End-of course we got delicious cannolis (we run to eat remember!) and decadent hot chocolate.  From here our group, I should say all girls, ventured back to Quincy Market were we spent the rest of the evening shopping of course!  Other groups walked the Freedom Trail, ran through fountains, and ate more delicious food.  Boston did not disappoint, even though our time frame was small.
Riding back to the hotel Saturday night, everyone was smiling and laughing....it was an amazing fall break, XC style.

 The lovely XC ladies of my group at the Irish Pub
 Beginning of Men's race
 Beginning of Women's race
We love food...

Monday, October 1, 2012

Our feelings after the race....MUXC 2012

Fall Down

Running is a sick sport: we go out in the woods, race as fast as we can, push ourselves till we can't go anymore, and then keep on going. Runners, as all athletes, test the limits everyday. When your mind and body don't click, however, it can be detrimental.  Legs weak, body moving in slow motion, mind screaming either to go or quit: this was me the first three races of the season.  It took some time off and me centering myself to get back on track, but it paid off.  This weekend I almost ran my Personal Record and can finally say I am happy with my racing performance. I felt it, I felt strong and fast: I was confident in my training and racing ability.  Sometimes it takes falling off the rails a bit to get you back on track and in gear.  You can say our football team has even done this:  they started off with a loss for the season-opener, but are now on a 4 game winning streak! (Congrats Boys!) The Men's soccer team also had a rough start, but have since then put some wins behind them (including a win this weekend over Millersville).  The Mercyhurst Women's Soccer and Volleyball teams should soon enough get back on track.  Its not all about the win, but the way you get there as well- falls, bad races, bad days, rough practices and all.