HS Bloggers: Kirstin Sandreuter Greely HS #10

Follow Greely HS distance star Kirstin Sandreuter as she blogs about her senior outdoor track season. Sandreuter was the Class B state runner-up last spring in the 1600 & 3200m,  and is the top returner in 2014. See what it takes to be one of the top distance runners in New England & the Nation.

Happy springtime, everyone! The celebration of this lovely season seems to be a theme with us Maine running bloggers recently, but really, who can blame us? After all the many weeks weʼve worked out either in the stuffy hallways of our high schools or the unpredictable outdoors with icy sidewalks and snow drifts galore, those first few moments we can trade our spandex tights and windbreakers for shorts and t-shirts are nothing short of glorious. Although in just a few short weeks, we may make jokes about the ungodly number of times weʼve taken left-hand turns to traverse the same 400m oval, right now weʼre giddy with the thrill of finally returning to the outdoor track!

Following a solid monthʼs transition from indoor to outdoor season, this vacation week has been an opportunity for me to kick start what will be the very last bout of high school races that Iʼll ever run. What?!? I think itʼs pretty unbelievable for all of us seniors -- I for one feel like just yesterday I wrote my first cross-country blog about beginning this final year, and now itʼs almost over -- wow. At last, weʼve made it to the final straightaway of the track that was our high school experience -- or maybe, for those of us who have the joy of IB and AP exams ahead, it feels more like the final push up the Pain Cave at the end of a cross-country race ;) Even though we will encounter challenges in this insanely busy final month of school ahead, thereʼs so much to look forward to for outdoor track athletes! Here are a few major highlights that are keeping my outlook decidedly positive right now:

  1. Returning to the trails -- After Twin Brooks was reserved for XC skiing all winter, us runners get to finally return there for some long -- and very muddy -- running adventures!

  2. Road trips to meets -- Traip, Sacopee, Lake Region... no doubt about it, our team will be traveling great distances to race this season. But hey, a change of scenery is welcome after spending countless indoor weeks on end at USM, and after all, some of my best memories of high school track have been made on bus rides to and from far-away meets :)

  3. Post-run refreshment -- whatever floats your boat, be it a plunge in the pool or an ice- cold recovery treat... somehow, the chance to revel in the sunshine to relax after a hard spring workout is just so much more satisfying than rushing in to blow your nose and wipe frost from your eyelashes in winter!

Finally, Iʼd like to take a moment to encourage everyone to come and share one more thing Iʼm excited for this spring -- the 10th Annual Esperanza 5k, which is taking place at Greely at 8 AM on Sunday, May 4th! The race is sponsored by Safe Passage, an organization that supports families in Guatemala, and the race was started by a former Greely track star, Hanley Denning, who was tragically killed in a car accident while volunteering there a few years ago. In honor of Hanley, this yearʼs event will be especially exciting with live music along the course, elite athletes speaking, and some great prizes like a Patʼs Pizza party and free training sessions with Ben True! If youʼd like to get involved, just visit < www.safepassage.org/5k > to register as soon as possible! All student entries are just $5, but if you sign up with your team and commit to a goal of raising at least $250 together, you all get in free! Prizes will be given not only to top runners but also to top fundraisers -- it is very easy to set up a page at

registration, which can be shared on social media so your friends and family can donate! Race-day volunteers are still a need as well, so if youʼd rather not run but would be willing to help out, please contact <caitlinmh13@gmail.com> to find out more. Hope to see many of you there!

Whatever your goals and plans are for this outdoor season, I hope itʼs one thatʼs filled with gratitude for what youʼve already accomplished and a fire to go out and conquer even more! And seniors, letʼs give it everything weʼve got to kick it to the finish, while still soaking up each moment and enjoying the last moments of this incredible journey :)

Best wishes, Kirstin