Wednesday 24 October 2012

First Post Ever - Trials and Tribulations of our Four Years


            I find it quite ironic that today is the first blog posting ever… This blog was actually created at least a year ago, but as you see nothing ever really got going. The blog has simply been stuck in the files of interweb for 365+ days. A few days ago I was musing around some running blogs and I though it was time to get one going for the UBC cross country and track (distance) team. As I came to the blog site it seemed as though the one I created last year was still around, so I though what the hakmenyadmadinijhad, this one should be good enough to use.

            To this date the team has been together, training for nearly eight weeks. It began up at Whistler with training camp (and a certain half Japanese man puking enough for a small village) and now up to this point has brought us through our four required meets prior to regionals. Most would say the four meets ran by the team this season were successful. We won the open sections at both Sundodger (Seattle, WA) and The Charles Bowles Invitational (Willamette, OR). Several of our runners ran exceptional at these meets, especially Tim Huebsch ripping up the field in Oregon. At our third meet of the year, a 10km hosted by Western Washington, our team was beat heavily by UVIC. Though it looked bad on the score sheet, several members of the team ran a conservative race, so as to save themselves for the final meet at Santa Clara. I think the team being rested an going head to head with Victoria, we would give them a run for their money. The last meet of the ‘regular season’ saw the team run on a fast course, The Bronco Invitational hosted by Santa Clara University. The team averaged 24.55 on the course, as well as setting a school record for overall time, 2.04.38. This all seems very good, and is, however some members of the team didn’t have their best races, as well some of the guys had missed a bit of training due to minor issues. Needless to say I think the team is even better than we showed at Santa Clara. 

            The conclusion of the meet in Santa Clara brought a new confidence to the team, as we beat the then number two-ranked Cal State San Marcos team. For the first time I think we all, even coach Marek, realized that we have a legitimate shot at winning NAIA’s (knock on wood). We moved up to the second rank in the National Polls, as well as garnishing several first place votes. Though we seem to be facing a bit of adversity with a few members of the top five having minor set backs, it seems that everyone is putting in the necessary work. Most of the team members are in the best shape of their career, come November 17 (NAIA) and the following week at Canadian XC Nationals, the men of the UBC cross country team will be making a splash in the water.


Coming Soon… Regionals team bios

Au revoir and  crystalnacht to everyone

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