It's a warm bus ride to Colorado Springs for the 2013 Pre-State Meet at Cheyenne Mountain's selected site: Norris-Penrose Event Center. It's a dusty site with lots of dirt, bumpy trails, horse stalls and a hot, hot sun. Today we'll be missing a couple of varsity runners, but it'll be a chance to get everyone out on the course we'll be running on for State in late October. Lots of uphills & downhills on this one!
Merlyn, one of our favorite bus drivers, lets us out and starts opening up the storage area for us. It's time for everyone to pitch in & carry to our site.
In this barn we won't need our canopies. Just the tarp on the ground along with the water, gatorade & snacks.
Those of you who come with us to State will find us in this barn, sheltered from the hot sun. We'll be in the middle of a few hundred hot, sweaty runners and a lot of noise, but we'll be out of the hot sun. There's no air circulation, no fresh air, no scenery and the only smells are bad ones. Ah, the life of the high school cross country runner!
Shortly after we arrive, the girl's JV runners prepare to race. While the girls running JV today do some runouts, the Varsity girls and Coach Andy & Coach Kim wait for them at the starting line. There's still time for a little more coaching and encouragement before the race.
Natalee & Moriah work thru the 1st mile.
Bethany keeps her eyes on her teammates as she completes her first mile & starts up the first hill.
Mikayla, Brittany & Caitlin start mile #2 together. A beautiful day for a jog in the mountains, huh ladies?
Kamie starts mile 2 with a look at the upcoming hill trail. It's not as bad as the one at the High Altitude Camp.
The 'Dogs running JV today stretch, do their runouts and enjoy the heat. Ok, ok, they're not enjoying the heat.........
The guys push off and start their first burst. It feels good to finally get this one underway.
Jack is the first UH Junior Varsity runner to cross the finish line. It's a tough finish with a steep hill just before the final flat run in the rodeo stadium.
Colter follows in with a strong finish to the line.
Bo sprints to his finish, working hard to the end.
David is next. He's glad to see the finish line zooming up close too. This is one tough course.
John looks like he can't quite believe the finish line is near. Yes, John. It's almost over!!!
Jonah is also enjoying his first Pre-State course. Except for that big-time sideache that is.
Wilie can see his finish line coming closer and closer. Gatorade & time off his feet is coming soon!
Head up & closing fast is Madison, finishing his 4th and final Pre-State run.
Tripp is in next. Now he knows what to expect from this course in the future, but this one is in the books.
Brenden finishes with a good closing kick.
Next up are the Varsity girls.
We're off to a good start. Only Jenna & Amie have run this course before, so we've got some discoveries to do today.
Jenna is closing fast. She loves to take out a few runners ahead of her just before the finish.
Gotcha!! Another one bites the dust.
Amie sees the prize just ahead. It's good to get this one behind us.
Emily finishes her first Varsity Pre-State run. It's a tough course but Emily has been up to the challenge.
Morgan is hurting and feeling every inch of this one, but she's not slowing down until she passes that line.
Savannah picks up the pace & kicks out to the end. This is a tough course to figure out your pace on, but you can always finish hard.....like this!
One more race. The Varsity boys are ready to roll.
Dale busts out with the leaders.
Nathan and Bridger get a smooth start off the line.
Uriah, Sam & Robert set their pace.
Sam and Robert scope out the guys ahead of them.....who'll be behind them by the end.
Robert leads Dale into the finish.
Nathan comes driving in shortly after the lead two runners.
Bridger is next to the line. He's feeling the course today.
Uriah brings it all the way to the end. It's been a good learning day for our freshmen.
Sam closes it out for the Bulldogs Varsity Boys.
It's been a good day for the 'Dogs. It's been hot, dusty and dry but a lot of rookies got to see what the State course is like. We learned a lot about ourselves today and what we need to do to get back here & compete at the end of the season. That's one thing you can count on. The Bulldogs will be back. And we'll be ready to run.