November 1, 2004

The hardest part about last weekend was not that we lost by to Washington University (Mo.) by 14 points, because we all ran great races and gave it all we had. It wasn't the enormous hill we had to run up three times, and it wasn't the inches of mud we slogged through.

We are tough enough to handle anything, so a little mud didn't hurt that much. And it certainly wasn't the Halloween parties we missed out on, because we came back to campus on Saturday night and besides, the race was a lot better than any parties would have been.

No, the hardest part for me last weekend was the fact that it was probably the last race I was going to run with our three senior girls, ever. See, after UAAs only the top seven go on to race at regionals and nationals, so I am pretty much done for the season.

It is hard to believe that I will never race with these amazing women again, and I couldn't get that thought out of my mind all weekend. I know they will go on to do amazing things and lead amazing lives, but right now my selfish mind can't picture them anywhere, except as a central, important part of our team.

Dorothy Boone, Angela Davie, and Erin Manning have taught me a lot in the two short years I've been running with them. They took me under their wings when I came in as a transfer student, and welcomed me to the team. They encouraged me this year as I improved my running to a varsity level. They always provided leadership and demonstrated incredible dedication, and I can hardly believe I will be replacing them as a senior next year.

The race last weekend was bittersweet. The weather was perfect, the course was nice (although extremely muddy), and we all ran our hearts out. Yet we did not achieve what we had hoped we would, and I know some of us were disappointed.

In my opinion, however, the girls did everything you could ever ask for in a runner, they gave it all they had. When we left New York to come back down south, I knew that we had left everything at the finish line, and I could tell by our tired and downtrodden faces that there was nothing left to give.

I could not have asked for a more inspiring and amazing way to end the season, and a second-place finish is pretty dang good if you ask me. As we continue to train and prepare for the final two races of the year, the miles of the season are starting to catch up to us. Yet, I feel as though this team can persevere, and will go on to a great national finish.

Laura Burns is a junior from Lovingston, Va.

October 12, 2004

When I tell people that I run cross country, I often get one of two reactions. Some people commend me for being so dedicated in a sport that is so hard on my body. Others tell me that they could never do such a boring, monotonous sport where you go to practice everyday and do the same thing, run, again and again. If these people would come spend just a short time with the team, they would soon realize that our team has some pretty amazing adventures on a regular basis.

No one usually thinks of van rides as fun or exciting, but when you have Coach Curtin driving, you never know what kind of trouble we can get into. On our way to Kennesaw last Sunday for our long run, the road we usually take was blocked. Coach, refusing to follow detour signs, proceeded to drive into a parking lot where he found a small road through the woods. We drove on it shortly until we found ourselves blocked in on the closed road.

Every single road we drove past was blocked so that cars could not get to the road we were driving on, and we were the only car in sight. All of us were just waiting to see what huge event/disaster had caused the road we were driving on to be closed off.

Trying to get back onto a road that wasn't closed, we started to drive across a cemetery. This was quickly seen as a bad idea, and we turned around and continued on the closed road. Pretty soon we came to a police car and a large blockade, both of which we just drove around, and soon after we were back with traffic on the road we wanted to be on.

Another interesting mishap happened Monday at practice. We went out to Yellow River Park to run on some nice trails. However, the trails that we planned to run on were closed for construction, and we had to run on some different trails which none of the girls had run on before and the last time Coach ran on them, he broke his ankle.

Things started out smoothly on our planned slow 50-60 minute run, and we completed one lap on the blue marked trail in a bit under the time we wanted to go. We continued to run the on the trails some more, but we had planned on doing an out-and-back run because doing the entire loop again would be too long.

When we reached the time to turn around and go back, the front of the team got a mixed message from Coach and continued running back farther into the woods. Soon, half of the team (myself included) realized that Coach and half of the team were missing. We thought we were close to the end of the loop so we decided to just go ahead and finish it rather than turn around.

We soon realized we were very lost, and our slow run in the woods turned into a frantic sprint looking for some familiarity among the numerous fallen trees and ditches which all looked the same. We finally came close to a road that we believed the van was parked on, so we left the trail and made a straight line for the road. Somehow, just as we were coming out of the woods onto the road, Coach and the rest of the girls drove by in the van. Luckily, they saw us, and our exhausting run was over.

These little adventures are all part of the cross country experience. Although they are a little scary as they are occurring, everything always turns out okay, and I look back on them fondly because of the excitement that they bring and how they even help me bond with my teammates and coach. Although it may seem like we do the same thing every day, every day really is a little different and special in its own way..

Jennifer Cronin is a sophomore from Dacula, Ga.

October 7, 2004

Question: What happens when you put a bunch of Southern girls wearing sports bras and buns in 35-degree weather with pouring rain?
Answer: You get the toughest, most dedicated team of ladies out there who will kick your but while you are still standing on the start line in your warmups!!!

Last weekend we flew all the way to Wisconsin for pre-nationals, where we were able to run on the national course and experience competition against top-10 nationally ranked teams. This was the first weekend we had to split up the team, with five of our girls staying home and representing us at the Georgia State Championships.

While the conditions were certainly not what our Southern selves were used to, we managed to pull together and run a great race. Best of all, the men's team stuck around and cheered us on in the rain and wind.

Because I couldn't exactly feel my body during the race, the worst part had to be afterwards when the biting cold started to sink in. After our cool down, we fled to the vans where the guys were already waiting with the heat on full blast.

That night, after we all took very long, very hot showers, we drove back to Minnesota and the Mall of America for a team dinner. I got to see the largest indoor theme park in the world! We ate at the Rainforest Café, to the sounds of falling water (that thankfully was not falling on us) and chirping birds, and surrounded by wall-to-wall aquariums and gorillas hanging from the trees.

While we may have been slightly disappointed with our third-place finish, I am proud of how our entire team ran, from the girls back in Georgia to all nine of us at pre-nationals. Our captain, Dorothy Boone, had an especially great race, and continues to be a leader and inspiration for us all.

Hopefully this coming weekend as we all stay at Emory for fall break we can really pull together as a team and run hard in our last 5K of the season at Furman. After Wisconsin, however, I have a feeling we can pretty much handle anything!

Laura Burns is a junior from Lovingston, Va.

September 20, 2004

The highlight of last week had to be the team dinner we shared Friday night before our big race in Clemson, South Carolina. It was our first overnight meet, and I was a little nervous about being away and sleeping in a strange hotel bed the night before a race.

However, one of our runners just happens to be from Clemson, so Friday night we all piled into her house and were treated to a real, home-cooked meal! The southern hospitality was amazing, as always, from the sweet tea to the delicious strawberry shortcake and brownies. Yet, beyond the food, there was an indescribable friendly atmosphere and the feeling that we were finally a team.

The threatening hurricane managed to recede for the night, and the sun was shining as we took the start line Saturday morning. We ran an amazing race, with only 35 seconds in between our first girl and our fifth. Not only did we win the invitational, but we beat some Division I schools, which is pretty impressive for a Division III team.

It was exactly the kind of race we needed to run, with our lead pack sticking together and encouraging each other. As we get ready for pre-nationals this weekend, which will be a great preview of the national course, we all have the same goal in mind.

Laura Burns is a junior from Lovingston, Va.

September 14, 2004

It's been nearly a month since our team came back together after the summer. Because I am a sophomore, this was my first time returning to the team.

My feelings about the beginning of the season and upcoming school year were completely different from last year's. Last year I was anxious, nervous, and scared about being thrown into a completely new life and having to make huge adjustments. This year, however, I felt extremely excited about returning to the people who have become my family away from home.

It really is true that without cross country, I would have a completely different life at Emory. Many of my most memorable and favorite moments have come from being on the team. Racing together is enough to bring a group of girls close together, but our team does so much bonding outside of practice and meets.

One definite highlight of my week was our trip to IHOP. After finishing a long morning run, we all stuffed our stinky, smelly selves into a crowded IHOP and gorged on omelets, pancakes, biscuits, and even a milkshake, all of which were on Coach's tab. It's amazing how just a simple breakfast can become such a great experience when I am with my favorite people.

I spend so much time with these girls, but somehow, it never grows old. There's an amazing feeling that comes from knowing that you are exactly where you belong, and I know that my whole team belongs together. Each of us has our own personality, but when we are together, we have a collective energy that is stunning.

As we continue to work towards our goals this season, we know that our team is there for us and that by working together, anything is possible. My team is my family, my friends, my inspiration, and my motivation. This year I looked forward to returning to them, and next year I will look forward to it even more. They are an awesome group of girls, and I am so lucky to be part of them.

Jennifer Cronin is a sophomore from Dacula, Ga.

September 8, 2004

Today I ran through a hurricane. I mean that quite literally, because the tail end of Hurricane Frances had just hit Georgia, and the rain and wind of tropical storm swarmed around me. It was one of our hard workout days, and we did our interval workout on the track, because the fields we normally run on were flooded.

As I ran 600 after 600 around the unforgiving sphere, pushing myself against the biting rain and my legs screaming at me to stop, I realized that every day, I am essentially running through a hurricane. Here at Emory, I have to constantly push myself against nature and what it dictates are the limits for my body.

Every day I run in the ultimate battle against nature, the only force humans have not yet mastered. Yet when I attempt to tame the dragons of doubt in my mind, or when I feel the wind working against me in a race, I am not alone. I am fighting with the best, most talented army I could ever dream of -- my teammates.

It occurred to me the other day that, because I was a transfer student, this year was my first year returning to a team since high school. The feeling that I had when I walked in the door this summer for pre-season was indescribable. Suddenly all my long, lonely runs this summer seemed worth it. My team had motivated me all summer, because in the back of my mind I knew I had to be ready to run with them in August. I knew I had to be ready to fight the battle with them.

We are often lonely soldiers here at Emory. We have to be a lot more disciplined than your average college student, and practice can consume our day. Yet out of this solitary sentiment comes a powerful and inspiring bond with your teammates. After we ran through the hurricane today, my teammates and I were exhausted, but we were also amazed with one another.

I know there is nothing this team can not accomplish this season. After our first victory at Sewanee last weekend, where we ran some of the fastest times ever for that course, I know we have the talent. And from my past year with this team, I know we have the dedication. I am excited and ready for the battles and races to come, and I know my team feels exactly the same..

Laura Burns is a junior from Lovingston, Va.