After a successful workout and race over the weekend, the men and women's teams had their sights set on the next big race. This weekend, the top nine on both sides will travel to the University of Minnesota to compete in the Roy Griak Invitational. Having competed at this invitational last year, we have a better idea of what the course is like and look to do better than we did a year ago. The men and women both placed 9th last year in a stacked field and hope to be a presence in the front of the pack this year.
This will not be an easy task, as many of the top teams in the nation will be there. What we need to do is pack up and never stop fighting. Fighting for position and fighting the pain. Not only will it be a very competitive field, but also the course is as challenging as any I've raced on. Being mentally tough and having teammates there to push each other every step of the way is what is going to get us in the mix with the top teams.
We will head out Thursday morning and travel for a good part of the day. Once we arrive in Minnesota we'll get our run in and then relax. What's nice about this weekend is that because we leave on Thursday, we get all of Friday to chill out. I personally really enjoy getting a full day before competition to not stress, clear my mind and prepare for the task at hand. There is also a little extra perk being in Minnesota for the whole day on Friday.
While this weekend is very important for us, there is also time for a little bit of fun. Minnesota is the home of the Mall of America. If you haven't heard, it's kind of a big deal. Rollercoasters, aquariums, adventure golf, a mirror maze and over 400 stores are just the beginning. Now, we know we are not traveling all the way to Minnesota for the mall, but what would the trip be without a little bit of shopping? We have a little block of time Friday to stroll around the mall and maybe make a few purchases.
Being in Minnesota brings back a lot of memories from my middle school and high school days. In 2002, when I was a 7th grader at Argyle Central School, I was a part of a club team (the Argyle-Lites) with a group of six or seven other 12 year olds. Providence All-American Hannah Davidson and Albany Great Dane Emily Fung
just to name a few. Even though we went on to win the youth national championships in Iowa that year, the thing I remember most was our trip to the Mall of America. Being a 12 year old, what more could you ask for than a mall with rollercoasters? It is always nice to travel to places that bring back such great memories. Those few years I spent at Argyle were some of the best I've experienced.
Not to be outdone by the memories I've made at Penn State, this weekend at the University of Minnesota promises to be a meet I'll remember. Whether there is mud up to my ankles, like last year, or the sun is shining, I want to make this meet and the rest of the season one I'll never forget.
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