A week ago I packed up my dad’s car in Minneapolis and drove
ten hours down to Fayetteville, Arkansas to spend two months training with my
coaches and the University of Arkansas cross country team. Rick and Megan Elliott are the assistant
coaches at Arkansas, and they have been doing an awesome job coaching me long
distance since December. I thought we
would have an even better relationship after getting to work together in
person. What better time to quit
everything and hang out in Arkansas than ten months prior to Trials?
Prior to driving down here, I had met Megan once at the
Payton Jordan meet, and I had never met Rick, but they have been gracious
enough to let me stay in the their spare bedroom. Even though I knew they were cool, I was
stressed out about being in their space.
I’m sure it’s hard having me in the house whenever they are home from
work. I have a hard time getting out of
the house at night since I’m usually exhausted, I don’t have any friends to
meet up with, and I really should just be working on grad school applications
anyways.
On top of feeling like I’m hanging out too much with a newly
married couple that probably wants some alone time at the end of long work
days, I know I’m definitely out of place at practice with the University of
Arkansas cross country team. I feel
elderly tagging along to practice with women who are as much as ten years
younger than me. On the first day I ran
with them, one of the freshman asked, “So, how old are you?” When I told her I was 28, she incredulously
replied, “Whoa, I’m 18.” And, while
everyone is considered a legal adult, and my life closely mirrors an NCAA
student athlete, there are big differences in life experience while can make
relating difficult.
On the other hand, everyone has been very welcoming and
tolerant of the random person who decided to join their training group. And I’m so thankful to have a group of fast
women to train with again. Plus, it’s
when differences exist that learning happens.
I hope I can share something of what I’ve gleaned during my running
career, and I’m hoping they can keep my mindset fresh and get my legs fast.