Follow Greely HS distance star Kirstin Sandreuter as she blogs about her senior xc season. Sandreuter was the Class B state runner-up last fall, and is the top returner in 2013. See what it takes to be one of the top distance runners in New England.
Thereʼs nothing like experiencing autumn in Maine. Although I generally count summer as my favorite of the seasons, I always tend to find myself excited as the leaves change, the temperatures get cooler and all the simple joys of fall begin -- among them of course is fact that cross-country season is finally in full swing!
The Manchester Invitational last weekend definitely encompassed many of the best aspects of XC season. Everything from the trees ablaze with vibrant colors to the high- energy music contributed to what was once again a memorable racing experience and all-around fun event! The performances by Maine athletes were incredible to say the least... itʼs so great to see everyone improve from year to year! And as all of us interact with each other before and after the races, I love feeling like Iʼm part of not only my high schoolʼs team but also the whole community of runners from around my home state :)
Volunteering at the Maine Marathon this morning was another reminder of the incredible community that constitutes our sport -- itʼs hard not to be inspired by the infectious enthusiasm of the runners who gratefully accept water and Gatorade en route to accomplishing their lifelong goals! The huge variety of racing opportunities is another thing I love about fall... after long, grueling summers of training, runners of all ages and abilities get the chance to reap the benefits of their hard work.
Right now for me, the only little wrinkle in this glorious season is a nagging pain in my right heel that was officially diagnosed as Achilles tendonitis last Tuesday. That means that biking, aquajogging and low-impact strength training will make up the brunt of my training until I can comfortably walk without pain.
But even in the short few days since Iʼve known of this injury, Iʼve been so amazed and grateful for all the support and encouragement Iʼve gotten. The stories Iʼve heard and advice Iʼve been given continue to remind me what a courageous and determined breed us runners truly are -- though the path to our dreams may not always be as linear as weʼd like, a little creativity and lots of heart are all it takes to get through the rough spots even stronger than we were before!
Hope everyone is enjoying all that autumn has to offer for XC runners here in Maine :) And no matter what your circumstances may be at the moment, keep dreaming big and working hard because thereʼs so much you can accomplish if you never stop believing.
