Danielle Evans Posts Her Thoughts From Mammoth
(August 21, 2008) - We just made the long journey up the 395 and into Mammoth Lakes California. We were greeted by the familiar fresh air and beautiful scenery that Mammoth always promises. Despite the translucent blue skies and the endless number of trails to choose from, the first run was a bit difficult. The short recovery run that usually comes effortlessly in Riverside suddenly became a battle for oxygen. The altitude is an excellent environment for training, however the first moments of adjustment are often times challenging.
After we returned from the evening run it was time to settle into our new home and prepare mentally and physically for the four weeks ahead. That night we gathered around the dinner table and ate as silence fell over the entire group. We knew that this was the team of ten women that would need to unite and encourage one another to overcome not only the challenging workouts in Mammoth, but also the season. A few inspirational words were said by the leaders of the team to gain focus and make sure we understood what was in store - we had a lot of work ahead of us.
As a way to create a positive mood and begin the team bonding we decided to have a dance competition. There were five styles of dances: swing, hip hop, salsa, techno, and interpretive. Each team of two had to choreograph a short routine and assemble a creative costume. It was a one night extravaganza full of laughter, excitement, and fun. There were no official judges, but in my opinion Jenessia and I ruled the dance floor in our techno routine to the Night of the Roxbury soundtrack. The next morning we ran to Shady Rest, a beautiful park two miles from our condo. There we did drills, flexibility exercises and sprints on the grass. Although we were still short of breath, our lungs did seem to adapt. For our aerobic run we found a friendly trail and enjoyed the fresh outdoors and soft surface that cushioned our legs.
The next week would be a very busy one. With two hard workouts and a race, we had our work cut out for us. First was Tuesday’s threshold: a six-mile threshold down Sherwin Creek Road. The road is a long stretch of asphalt and then rocky turns and twists that wind up and down hill. The different terrain is perfect preparation for races. Our next workout was mile repeats on Thursday. The workout went very well and all of us felt strong and ready for the race on Friday. For recovery we ran a few miles in the evening and did some active recovery in the pool. To load up on carbohydrates for the race we ate an excellent meal of pasta and vegetables on Thursday night. We then did some last stretching and went to sleep-full and content.
We ran a few miles Friday morning for a quick shake-out. As we ran we chatted excitedly about the race strategy. By ten o'clock we were on the road to Reno, Nevada. We arrived at the Nevada Twilight, hosted by University of Nevada, Reno, at seven p.m. As we walked the course and cheered on our men's team we tried to contain the nervousness by reassuring ourselves that it is just another workout. Our top two girls would not join us on the starting line and this would be a new unfamiliar course. On the starting line, between strides, we grabbed hands and prayed quickly for strength and courage. This would be a first race for our new season and our very new team. Under the bright spotlights we felt as though all eyes were on us as we dashed across the course. The end results were very disappointing. We went into the race with first place in mind, but fell short, with five girls finish in the top 20. With this minor set back we knew our next move was to overcome this defeat, stay optimistic and look forward to the serious training ahead.
That evening we dined in a restaurant at the hotel and later enjoyed its colorful lights and music. This was a nice way to lift the sprits of the girls. In the morning we would return to Mammoth for three solid weeks of training where we could maintain our strengths and improve our weaknesses not only as individuals, but more importantly as a team, because that is what truly matters on the day of a race. With these positive thoughts in mind, we slept peacefully after an exhausting day.
Saturday morning we made our way through the Sierras to Mammoth where we would spend three more long weeks of running, fellowship and learning. This trip would sadly be the last of its kind for many of us on the UC Riverside womens' cross country team. We would have to treasure this experience for we may never venture this way again. As one of the six graduating seniors on the team I didn't understand just how different this camp would be. The hardcore training, memories and true friendships formed in Mammoth would soon be only a distant memory for Lisa Lopez, Cristina Olivas, Brenda Martinez, Jessica Hogan, Ashley Williams and myself, but until then we will enjoy every moment of it.
