The Cross Country Footlocker Trip

Thursday: My alarm went off at 4:50 a.m. and off I went on a 4.1 mile run in 31.40 (7:42 pace). It was a nice recovery run and a nice run before the long bus ride to California with the HS cross country team. I got back around 5:30 to help get everything (kids, lunches, backpacks, Corom and myself) ready… The bus leaves by 7. We took the girls to a neighbor and off Corom and I went!

48 kids and 6 adults (chaperones and coaches) on the bus… It was fun… Is that sad to admit? 🙂 We did play the game I-Pod ideal. You put headphones in, turn the music all the way up and sing. You can’t hear yourself sing… Yes you sound horrible. Even the good singers didn’t sound that good. Me… I am a horrible singer and doing this made it even worse. I started off to “set the tone”… Yep not high standards but I made it so everyone else felt comfortable.

I really wish I could put videos up but I can’t so you don’t get to hear it. 🙂 Feel blessed! Once we arrived to our hotel, we went on an “adventure” run. Corom led the pack. Not a good idea. He took them over walls, dumpsters, railings, through neighborhoods-with Christmas caroling to a few houses-, though garage parking lots and side roads up the ally’s… 🙂

The kids loved it. I hung back with the kids in the back… It felt good to do a run after being on the bus. The jumping over things wasn’t part of my workout tonight. 😦 We later went to dinner (the adults)… I have no self control when it comes to food…

Carbs, veggies and salt, right? 🙂 Bed checks were at 10 in the hotel and off to bed I went.

Friday: We (the team) woke up early and went to check out the race course and to pick up packets. There were areas on the course that were too muddy so we had to talk them through the course.

It’s a tough but fun 5k course! I was able to pull away for a 5 1/2 mile run as they were getting their packets. I ran the 5 with 6 x 100 strides. My miles were way too fast (a 6:45 average pace). What do you do… tomorrow will be extra easy!!! The kids filled their time while waiting in line…

After, we all headed to the beach. We have a few kids that have never been to the ocean before. They were all sorts of excited! The day was fun. I did not get into the water for the sake of the marathon and because it was cold!

Once we got back to the hotel… We went to dinner…

… Then bed checks and bed!