USATF Junior Olympics Nationals journal: Riverside's Carly Howell

 

Seventh grade Riverside runner Carly Howell shares her experience at USATF Junior Olympics in Reno, Nev.

 

Editor's note: photographs coming over the weekend from Howell's trip. Current photographs from Region III meet.

 

Today I awoke at 5:30 a.m. to get ready for the flight to Reno, Nev. for the USATF Junior Olympic Nationals. Just my dad and I are going.  Last night I was extremely anxious about the air travel and race. Total time in the air is about seven hours.  The flight was slowed by high 150 mph headwinds, but we made it and as we descended saw the entire ground covered in snow.  I met Alix Lambke, who also was traveling to run. She is from Texas and in the seventh grade also.  She sat right behind us with her dad.

 

We stayed about a mile from the course at a hotel called Circus Circus, because of the many circus events throughout the day there.  Huge snowflakes continue to fall. We ran down Sierra Street to the course and around the course. Deep snow at least six inches made this pre-race run difficult.  We went back to the hotel, took showers and to the all you could eat buffet.  There were lots of vegetables, pasta and dessert. 

 

We went to evening race packet pickup and looked at all the t-shirts, sweats, etc. for sale. Opening ceremony assembled and walked into the auditorium with other runners from Region III of Ga., N.C., S.C. and Va.. Music was playing and most parents were taking pictures.  University of Washington runner Mel Lawrence spoke, along with Ryan and Sara Hall. I enjoyed talking to other runners and hanging out with them.  Emily Shuler from Summerville and I remembered each other from the region meet Nov. 21.

 

I was fighting a runny nose and cough. It was very cold outside, still snowing.

 

Today is the  big day. Numbers are pinned, gloves and hat are ready. Snow is deeper and my nose and cough make it difficult to focus on running.  I've never run when sick and it is cold and snowing.  I plan to run, though.  The course had been partially cleared with a bobcat machine so it wasn't too bad to run on.  I arrived at the course early. I had a one hour delay so a lot of time huddled under a thermal blanket with friends Alix and Emily.  

 

From the right end where Region 3 started there was a long hill to get to the first left turn. It was very tiring. I should have warmed up better. My time was horrible and I finished 153 out of 228.  My goal was top 50. Maybe next year!

 

Later in day, we watched Santa Claus 2 movie and took it easy. I also did a little gift shopping. We ate again at a buffet restaurant.  My dad then said we were going to bed on eastern time so that ran the clock ahead three hours. 

 

We woke up early to catch the bus and go back to airport.  The plane was deiced and off we went to Dallas, then back to Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport.  

 

The trip was amazing, a fun experience and learned a lot,  mainly that there are a lot of great runners out there. Don't run in the cold rain the week before a race cause you will get sick as I did, warmup really well on cold days, and train really hard if going to nationals. I look forward to trying to qualify for Nationals in Birmingham, Ala. next year.