GETTING AFTER IT!

Testing week is here in a big way.

Yesterday the team put down a solid 3000m time trial: a Mr. Jay-Booty busted through the 10 minute barrier - Lucas and Sean weren't far off. Beth set a high bar for the girls, and old times got dropped like bad habits (i.e. lots o' PR's).

This morning the strength test went down promptly at 6:30am. There was lots of agony, and equally impressive numbers - as Martin Benes once said, "We're looking mad swole." The Bobcats are STRONG!

Getting out there, pushing each other, and hurting as a team: what it's all about.

The Grind

At the request of Becky, I am getting this blog rolling again (I'm on the clock as her staff assistant, so I have the dubious privilege of getting paid to write this post).

It's been a good minute since I last posted, so I'll do my best to fly through the end-of-summer/start-of-school recap:

-Trained HARD in August in Truckee. Did some big weeks and had an equal amount of fun. Received a visit from the ever-lovely Sean Woods, and went on a 16-mile run on the Pacific Crest Trail which accidentally turned into a 20-mile run.

-Left Truckee with Lucas and drove across the country. Literally coast-to-coast. Spent a lot of time on my butt but saw a lot of hospitality (from Bates friends, Lucas' uncle, and the McClelland family) and a lot of windmills. Made it to Keene, NY in time to do a time trial with the Burke team. And I'm pleased to say that despite living in the same house and spending 4 days straight in a car together, Lucas and I are still friends. We're essentially finishing each others' sentences nowadays, which is a bit disconcerting (read: awesome).

-Got WFA certified (I'm confident sticking just about anyone with epinephrine now, just so you know). Led a pack of freshies into the woods of Mt. Adams on an AESOP trip - some who had never hiked before, or even slept outside. Enlightening to say the least, but a good time all around.

-Started school...but more importantly GOT THE BAND BACK TOGETHER. It's so exciting to finally be training as a team again - I was starting to get sick of all the Williams/Bowdoin/Midd shenanigans in Truckee this summer. We've got a good pack of freshmen as well, who are definitely keeping things interesting.

It's back to the grind nowadays, with essays on essays to write, testing creeping up (strength test is Monday), and the start of the official training season right around the corner. From what is being said this blog should be more regular from here on out, so keep yo eyes wide open for more (hopefully more invigorating) stuff in the next few weeks.

Jah Blessings,

-Filly (Alex)