12.09.07
Thanks CAC!
It has just been 7 hours since we returned from X-C nationals, and I wanted to write this down while it is still so fresh in my memory.
What a great weekend! From the take-off at Joan’s house on Thursday to the early a.m. return last night in the vans, this was an experience I will not soon forget. I have not gone on a group running trip or participated in a cross country race in 17 years, which made the whole adventure even more meaningful. In the two-day buildup to the race, I got to talk with several teammates in an unrushed, unhurried atmosphere that is not typical of my day-to-day juggle between job, family, and sport. This made me feel the impact of being part of this team.
Driving out and seeing the course the day before the race was also a unifying act. Seeing the wet, cold, muddy, and slow conditions was not discouraging to me, but rather enforced the idea that we had trained and sacrificed for this together, had come to this venue together, and would face the brutal conditions together.
My favorite part of the entire trip was the warmup run we did before the race. Running in our pack, passing other runners from all around the US, I felt the overwhelming impact of being part of this group. Call me sentimental in my old age, but it gave me goosebumps. I have not felt that kind of comradery since college; in fact, I am not sure I felt it that strongly in college. To have a group of runners, from 20 to 45 years of age, who each have a different focus and direction in their lives, but who have a unifying goal of being part of this team is one incredible force to experience. I felt it during the entire trip, but especially during the warmup.
I ran as hard as I possibly could, as did my teammates. I did not run particularly well, but left it all out there. As I thought about that race on the trip home, I realized that, if someone asked me if I would trade that feeling I had during the warmup for a much better time in the race, I would have refused the offer.
Thank you CAC!
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Tyler said,
December 9, 2007 at 10:52 pm
Rob, I came to the site thinking I would try to say something similar to what you have written here - how awesome the trip was, how much I enjoyed being with everyone all weekend (despite my car sleeping habits), and just how good it felt to be on a trip as part of a team again. You said it all too well though.
Thank you Rob, and thank you everyone else, for helping make the trip a wonderful experience.
Victor said,
December 10, 2007 at 5:18 am
I came to the posting board to also thank everyone for an amazing experience. Sharing this experience not only brought me together with my teammates but also became closer friends. Even though I had one of the worst races in a long time…I was blessed with a learning experience that I will never forget! My performance only fueled the fire of desire to come out this spring and kick some butt! I’m super excited to get healthy and run fast. Rob and Brent, thanks for the grad school interview advice. Joan, thank you for this amazing opportunity!!!
I hope everyone has a fantastic holiday and I’ll be seeing everyone soon!
Thanks again everyone,
Victor
Tori said,
December 10, 2007 at 2:54 pm
I must say these are the exact feelings I had. I was really nervous about the trip to begin with - I’m not a loooong car ride fan, but just gave in to the wonderful experience of being surrounded and hanging out with team/friends. It was great getting to know my amazing teammates a bit better and not just on a running level, but a family and occupation/life level. I really enjoyed the car stories and mutual laughter at various comedians - the gas stop pit-stops. It was great.
For someone who has been really struggling with life and my place in life right now and asking about what I’m doing and where I’m going - this weekend really helped me to feel that I have found and have a safe place - amongst my team. I empathize with Rob’s being with a “team” feeling. Wearing that red warm up suit and having CAC emblazoned on my back really made me feel a part of something again and was something I have been sorely missing since graduating college. Thanks everyone and especially Joan
I look forward to future experiences with ya’ll.