Trouble in Paradise

My favorite part of the school year had finally arrived (winter break) and my family was going to Mexico for a week...how perfect!

Well, it would have been more perfect if I didn't have to run while I was away.  During break we were all supposed to run just every other day.  That's not so bad, but still.

As I stepped off the plane and onto the stairs at the airport, it hit me.  The humidity was overwhelming and I immediately started sweating.  I was wearing leggings and a long-sleeve because it was snowing back home.  That morning, before the sun even rose, we were trudging in our snow boots through the foot of snow that had accumulated on our driveway to our friend's car.  It was crazy.  Don't worry, I didn't wear snow boots in Mexico, we changed our shoes in the car.

It was an extremely long travel day for us because we had a layover in Mexico City.  Luckily, we took care of the Customs stuff in Mexico City so we could go straight to our condo once we got off our second flight in the small fishing town of Zihuatanejo.  Once we safely stowed our bags in the trunk of the taxi, we were off.  As we turned a corner, about a mile from our condo, there was a loud thunk.  I assumed we just hit a pothole or something so I didn't mention it.  Claire looked out the back window and noticed the trunk was open.  Uh oh.  She alerted the cap driver but he didn't pull over for a while.  The roads are narrow and there are a lot of cars so it wasn't exactly safe to do so immediately.

A map of Zihjuatanejo.  We were on La Madera Beach. 
Photo Courtesy of: Zihjuatanejo Condos

My Brief Stunt as a Sniper (After the Race)

Now let me tell you all something- while I enjoy going to these big races (as described in my last post), the majority of the fun is held after or before the race.

After we got back from the NIKE race, the party really got going (JK it was a school trip so there was NO partying...).  A group of us ended up in this luxurious pool for an hour or so.  It's a high possibility that we ruined someone's wedding day because we were loud and they were getting married outside.  I tried to keep the peeps from gettin' rowdy, but what can ya do?  As they preceded past the pool, probs on the way to the reception, we got some weird looks from the actual partygoers.  This was most likely because us girls lacked proper swimming attire so we were in our racing outfits and because, well, we were rambunctious.  Oh yeah, did I mention that instead of going out the door of our suite, we climbed through the window?  So it really was like a party.  Going through doors is just so not cool anymore.

The swimming was like the cocktail party though.  The real fun had not even started.  Now, you may be doubting that  I was ever actually a sniper, but I most certainly was one (maybe a very terrible one, but still).  We left more than thirty minutes late because guys take forever to get ready.  I mean, come on, throw on some pants and lets go.

To Golfland Sunsplash we go.

Golfland itself.  It is truly a majestic fortress.  Photo Courtesy of: Golfland

Seriously? (The Race)

Knock knock knock!

Guys do not plan well.  The attention to detail is somewhat lacking in their personalities.  So this was how my weekend in Arizona ended, with three of my coaches banging on my door at 6:49 in the morning.  Yes, I remember the exact time.  Things like that stick in my mind when I am oh-so rudely awakened from my peaceful sleep.

Anyway.  Onto the interesting parts of my short-lived vacation...

As I have mentioned previously, I was going to attend the Nike Regional Championship cross country race in Arizona.  This trip came the week before Thanksgiving break and I was stoked because I did not have to go to school on Friday and it was gonna be warm!

Unluckily enough, we had to meet at the park-and-ride at 5:50 in the morning.  For reals?  If I'm not going to school can I at least sleep in?  Ha-ha-ha, funny one Camille.

So our journey started.  As I mentioned before, men don't think about details, so the idea that the airport might be busy did not cross their minds.  This left us running to the other security line so that we would make our flight.

Once we arrived in sunny Arizona, it began.  Being runners, we went to a delicious buffet for lunch then off to the movie theater to see The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part Two.  It was horrible (well, not as exciting as it could be).  After we ran the course to get a feel for it, we waited in line to buy swag.  This took at least forty-five minutes.  It got dark and dropped TWENTY (not really) degrees while we were waiting in line.  That is how long it took!  The thousands of people coming to this race all wanted shirts.  Every single one of them and it seemed like they were all in front of us.  It is quite difficult for me to understand what takes so long to buy a single shirt.  Pick it out, try it on, exchange it, pay for it.  That can all take under a minute, definitely under five, but no.  The freaking people were probably paying with pennies and spelling out their words.  And then some people would have one girl get in line before her WHOLE team hopped right in.  Hell no, get your booty to the back of the line.

Thank you, Mrs. Obama.  Photo Courtesy of: Towns County Tourism

Team Spirit

Being on a team has taught me many things.  Before I joined cross country I had never really been a part of a team atmosphere.  Yes, when I did dance there were other people in the class, but that's different.  We only met a couple times a week and didn't compete or have the same bond.  I don't know, it's difficult to explain.  Joining a team made me nervous though.  I had a desire to be accepted, make friends, and belong, but what if those things didn't happen?

In the summertime it was different.  Although we did train as a team, it didn't really feel like we were all a team yet.  The older girls would run together and the freshman would run together.  That's just how it was.  It took awhile for me to connect with the other girls.  I had become friends with some of the older girls, but not the majority of them.  When we went away to camp I became closer with a few of them, but I still felt kinda isolated.

Eventually, I was able to keep up with them on easy days and I became friends with them.  I learned so much from being a part of the team, things that I could not have learned any other way.  At the end of the day, we were a family.  Each on of us was there to support the other people, regardless of who they were or what they needed.

One way that we were all solidified together as a team was through our buddies.  Each underclassman was assigned an upperclassman buddy on the team.  This helped to bridge the gaps between the different ages and grades.  My buddy was Haley, a junior who was also on the Varsity team.  Haley and I quickly became friends.  She always knew what to say to me when I was feeling down or didn't have the best race or workout.  I could comfort her when things weren't going well, too.  She was my person on the team that I knew would always be there for me.

Julia, me, and Lauren.  Aren't we a happy bunch?  Photo Courtesy of: Savannah N.

XC Takes Halloween

At the top of Main Street after our running escapade.  Photo Courtesy of: Maddy Lee

I very much dislike Halloween.  I will not say that I hate it because I do enjoy some aspects of the holiday.  Like candy and candles...that stuff is good.  However, I actually do abhor dressing up.  I just don't understand the point of it.  Why would I want to spend money on a costume, and make myself look appealing when I am just going to cover it all up with a big winter jacket because it is freaking cold in October?  Hhhmmmm good point, Camille.  It does seem like a waste of time now.  Thank you, I realize I make a wonderful case regarding this holiday.

In fact, ever since I was a mere sliv of a girl I dreaded the last day of October.  I would cry the night before our school Halloween parties because I didn't have a costume and didn't know what I wanted to be.

That's Right, I'm Buff

It's over.  I don't mean life, I am not that dramatic of a person.  I mean the cross country season.  The State championship race was several weeks ago in October and we all took a week off after that race.  All of the team had become so close over the last three months, it'll be weird not seeing everybody every day.  Luckily for me, there are post-season meets!  Woo, let winter training begin...

When the Varsity girls were literally squad goals.  Photo Courtesy of: Me :)

Anyway, I made so many wonderful memories with the cross country team this season that I get all happy inside just thinking about them.  Sometimes I will be with the team and I'll think of something that someone did and I just start smiling.  Don't worry, not in a creepy way.

Woo Region

Well, I had my last race today.  The season went by extremely fast and I have made a lot of new friends, found something I am passionate about, and I have had a lot of fun.

Me and Haley before our last race. Photo Courtesy of: Claire Breiholz

Today we were back at Cottonwood.  This course I have mentioned multiple times if you've been paying attention.  I took the previous race off for reasons I have also previously mentioned, so this was my first race since Bob Firman.  The last race that the team went to was our very own Park City Invite.  All the girls rocked it at this race.  The people I run with in workouts and at practice ran two minutes faster than the previous race and some girls cut off even more time.  It was awesome...but I was scared because I did not know if I could run that fast and I didn't want to be behind that many people.

Boise Bound (Part Two)

As I explained at length in my last blog post, I really wanted to go to Bob Firman.  So, when the week of the race rolled around I was quite excited.  Another plus about going to this race was that I didn't have to drive down to Roosevelt on a school bus to race with the other JV peeps.

Anyway, we drove to the high school and sat around in Steve's room until our Le Bus arrived.    Three of our four coaches came, and our team brought six boys and fourteen girls to race.  As you can imagine, the bus was quite the party.  Just kidding.  We watched movies, played cards, and tried to sleep.  The sleeping part was difficult because of a loud buzzing noise that would not go away.

We stopped for lunch in some town in Idaho.  While driving to the parking lot, a group of us spotted a Noodles and Company.  Yes!  Who does not love pasta?  Once off the bus, the majority of us walked toward the noodles that were awaiting us and we actually started running.  We ran into the restaurant and realized that it was under construction and would not be serving us noodles anytime soon.  Dang it!  Don't get too worried, we did find other food to eat after much ado.

Before going to get dinner, we swung by the race course at Eagle Island State Park.  The purpose of this visit was to pre-run the course so we knew what to expect and the coaches could give us tips.  However, it was ninety-four degrees!  That's HOT.  Needless to say we all struggled.

After changing on the bus, we drove to the Olive Garden.  The cross country team is super classy.  This was actually a lot of fun.  It is a tradition for the team to pretend that it is someone's birthday.  This year we picked Alec, one of the twins on our team.  He doesn't talk a whole lot, so when everyone pulled out their party hats and horns then started to sing, he was very confused and a little bit embarrassed.  It was great!

At our quaint little hotel, we got our room assignments, I roomed with Haley and Daisy, then went swimming.  We neglected to bring swimsuits, so we went in our running garments (that word was for you, Hannah).  These two little girls were very intuitive and told us that we must like the boys that we were with.  Hahaha, we definitely don't.

Bedtime.

The next morning, we got dressed, ate breakfast, and shuffled onto the bus.  My race was the last one, so we sat around and cheered on our teammates for a couple hours.  Let me tell you something, this race was huge.  The lines for the portapotties was insane!

After we warmed up, laced up our spikes, and grabbed water, we made the trek to the start.  I was not necessarily nervous because this was a fast-paced race and a new, interesting course.  Of course, our start was delayed so that the previous race could finish.  Our teammates had taken our waters back to the tent, so I could not drink anymore water.  Luckily enough for me, the coach for the team next to us brought his team a few water bottles.  Naturally, I asked the Davis girls if I could have some water.  They gave me a weird look, but kindly shared.  Thanks!

The Bob Firman race course
Photo Courtesy of: RunnerSpace