By Kate Niehaus
South Regional
Friday, November 29, 2002
At about 1:30 on Friday afternoon I settled into our car in Columbia, South Carolina. In less than two hours, we arrived at McAlpine Greenway in Charlotte, North Carolina, the site of the Southern Region Footlocker Race. I had been apprehensive for several days, but I knew that in the morning I would begin to be really nervous. I knew this course fairly well; I had raced here once and come up a few weeks earlier to practice on it. Today I would be able to see it once again before racing tomorrow. Because this was my first year running cross-country, I had begun completely inexperienced. As I improved throughout the season, I realized that my one pair of "running shoes" would not suffice: they were cross trainers (not running shoes), I wore them to school, I had been practicing in them for several months, and I wore them to meets. As a result, I soon was showered with shoes. My family bought me two new shoes to practice in and a nearly-weightless pair of "flats," and I also received a pair of spikes.
However, the spikes had only arrived in time for this meet, so I had never run a race in them before. After trying the spikes and flats out on the course, my coach and I decided on "spikeless spikes:" we took the metal spikes out of the spikes. I then jogged the 3.1-mile course, noticing any changes, before I left the park with my mom to check into our hotel. Because it is flat and has only one hill, McAlpine is a relatively fast course. I liked it because I could get into a rhythm on the long even areas. After checking into our hotel, my Mom and I drove to the host hotel, where we picked up my number and the race information. A pasta dinner was available at the host hotel, so we ate there (the food was ok, but not great). We decided to skip the speeches afterwards, choosing instead to go back to our own hotel, which was on the other side of the city, closer to the course. After watching some TV and getting ready for bed, we turned off the lights, although I was far from falling asleep. I lay there for a seemingly endless period of time, thinking about the race ahead. I had trained for the whole second half of the season (ever since I knew such a race existed) with my goal being to qualify for the trip to San Diego. Everyone had told me that I had a good chance to qualify, but I had no idea what to expect. Eventually, I must have fallen asleep because I woke up several times throughout the night and once again a few minutes before our alarm went off at 6:45.
Saturday, November 30, 2002
My mom and I went down to the hotel lobby for breakfast. Today my breakfast was the same as it had been before every other race: a toasted sesame seed bagel with nothing on it, and a small amount of orange juice. However, today I was especially excited. After finishing our breakfast, we headed back up to our room, where I got ready for the race. I felt good and confident that I could race any of the other girls. Soon we arrived at the park, which was crowded with runners, coaches, and spectators. After a short "wake-up" run, my ten-minute warm up run, stretching, and drinking water and Gatorade (resulting in trips to the port-a-potties), I was ready for the race. I did several strides and talked to my coach once again, although we had already discussed my race plan several times in the preceding weeks. I was going to run "my race" and try to stay in the lead pack. My dad and sisters had arrived, along with several of my teammates. This was a gratifying surprise because I had not expected so many people to be there to cheer for me and the other runners from our team. Nervously I took my place at the starting line, aware that everyone would support me, no matter how I finished. After a few short minutes the gun went off, and the race started. Luckily, I had chosen a good spot from which to start, and the path ahead was clear of other runners. Within a few moments I had positioned myself right behind the lead girls, and I felt great.
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"As we came to the mile point, I still felt fresh; this race was going perfectly. Cheers accompanied us as we came to the hill (the one large hill at McAlpine), and a new runner took the lead."
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As we came to the mile point, I still felt fresh; this race was going perfectly. Cheers accompanied us as we came to the hill (the one large hill at McAlpine), and a new runner took the lead. After the short downhill I moved into second, but as the race continued I began to feel a cramp forming on my side. I tried to ignore it, but as we entered the woods, I fell back into the pack. For the remainder of the race, I was in agony. Several times I was nearly ready to stop, but the thought of not qualifying compelled me to keep going. I hadn't known that I had wanted to make it to the finals so badly until that point. I thought of everything I had done so far to prepare for this, and somehow my aching body responded. Finally we neared the finish line. I was battling with another runner for second, but as the end got closer, two other girls passed us both. As I crossed the finish I was extremely relieved, and I realized that by placing fifth, I had made it! Barely able to walk, I moved like a zombie through the shoot. Soon the other nine girls and I (the eight qualifiers and two alternates) were ushered to a tent, where I completed a few surveys and information sheets. My family, friends, and coach were ecstatic, but the realization of my accomplishment still hadn't hit me yet. The thought of going to San Diego for the National Championships had seemed like a far-off dream for so long that it did not seem that I could actually be going. After quickly completing the forms so that the boys could come in, I joined my family, coach, and teammates outside. Still partly in shock, I tried on the spikes that would later be sent to me by Footlocker. Everyone was so happy for me, and I was proud of myself, yet the whole experience seemed surreal. Eventually my family and I left the park, and my mom, sister, and I headed to the mall to go shopping!
Nationals
Thursday, December 12, 2002
At 4:30 AM I awoke to my blaring alarm clock. Within a few minutes, I had stumbled into our car and fallen asleep again. Even the excitement of the trip could not keep me awake. After a thirty-minute drive we (my Mom, Dad, and me) arrived at the Columbia airport in plenty of time for our 6:05 AM flight. However, after saying good-bye to my Dad, checking our luggage, and waiting for a while, we were informed that our original plane had a hole in the cargo area. Needless to be said, we had to find a different plane. My mom franticly tried to reserve different seats, and I waited anxiously to find out whether we would make it to San Diego. Unfortunately, this predicament meant that I wouldn't be able to meet the other South runners in Atlanta, as planned. Rather, my mom and I had to fly by a different route, and we arrived in San Diego before the rest of the South team (we were lucky, however, because we could have been stuck at the Columbia airport all day). Throughout the plane ride I intermittently dozed and did homework (exams were the next week). Once in San Diego, my Mom and I shed our coats and jackets, which were unneeded in the warm, sunny Californian climate. It was pleasant to have a change from the chilly weather I had left behind. A driver from Cloud Nine (one of San Diego's bus systems) drove my Mom and me to the hotel, informing us about the city along the way. Soon we came to the beautiful Hotel del Coronado, where representatives from Footlocker welcomed us and I received a bag and my room key. Once in my large and luxurious room, I found a multitude of items in my bag. Later in the day there was a group run, and I was able to meet several of the other runners. After a shower and a short team meeting, I went down to an enjoyable dinner with the other members of my team. We ate outside on the sundeck, and although the food was good, we soon found out that the temperatures in San Diego drop significantly after sunset. Luckily, there were several outdoor heaters that we crowded around. Since our entire South team was exhausted from the long day and time change, we did not linger in each other's rooms long after dinner was over. My Midwest roommate felt the same way, and as a result, we were both in bed by 8:30 PM.
Friday, December 13, 2002
Like many other runners from the South whose bodies had not yet accustomed to the time change, I woke up at 5:00 AM Friday morning. After lying in bed for a while, trying to fall back to sleep, I went downstairs to the Grande Hall for breakfast. The hall was gorgeous, with huge chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. At about 7:30 AM the thirty-two girls and thirty-two boys all loaded the buses, destined for Balboa Park. Once there, we practiced our introductions and jogging down to our spots, and then we (and many spectators, coaches, and media people) walked the first loop of the course (since the two loops are identical). We soon became acquainted with the long, big hill and the steep, woodchip-covered down hill. Although this rolling course was different than most of the other courses I had run, I was looking forward to the change. I jogged the course with other girls on the South team, and then split off to talk briefly with my coach. After a few strides and stretching, I met back with the other South girls. We sat and talked on the side of the course in the balmy weather until it was time to leave. Once back at the hotel, most of the South girls and I decided to have our lunch at a cute, cozy caf
By Kate Niehaus
South Regional
Friday, November 29, 2002
At about 1:30 on Friday afternoon I settled into our car in Columbia, South Carolina. In less than two hours, we arrived at McAlpine Greenway in Charlotte, North Carolina, the site of the Southern Region Footlocker Race. I had been apprehensive for several days, but I knew that in the morning I would begin to be really nervous. I knew this course fairly well; I had raced here once and come up a few weeks earlier to practice on it. Today I would be able to see it once again before racing tomorrow. Because this was my first year running cross-country, I had begun completely inexperienced. As I improved throughout the season, I realized that my one pair of "running shoes" would not suffice: they were cross trainers (not running shoes), I wore them to school, I had been practicing in them for several months, and I wore them to meets. As a result, I soon was showered with shoes. My family bought me two new shoes to practice in and a nearly-weightless pair of "flats," and I also received a pair of spikes.
However, the spikes had only arrived in time for this meet, so I had never run a race in them before. After trying the spikes and flats out on the course, my coach and I decided on "spikeless spikes:" we took the metal spikes out of the spikes. I then jogged the 3.1-mile course, noticing any changes, before I left the park with my mom to check into our hotel. Because it is flat and has only one hill, McAlpine is a relatively fast course. I liked it because I could get into a rhythm on the long even areas. After checking into our hotel, my Mom and I drove to the host hotel, where we picked up my number and the race information. A pasta dinner was available at the host hotel, so we ate there (the food was ok, but not great). We decided to skip the speeches afterwards, choosing instead to go back to our own hotel, which was on the other side of the city, closer to the course. After watching some TV and getting ready for bed, we turned off the lights, although I was far from falling asleep. I lay there for a seemingly endless period of time, thinking about the race ahead. I had trained for the whole second half of the season (ever since I knew such a race existed) with my goal being to qualify for the trip to San Diego. Everyone had told me that I had a good chance to qualify, but I had no idea what to expect. Eventually, I must have fallen asleep because I woke up several times throughout the night and once again a few minutes before our alarm went off at 6:45.