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.
Wow, what a weekend -- the best way I can think to describe yesterday was a freezing cold celebration of the major distance running talent that’s developed in New England over the past few years! I was amazed by the incredibly fast times posted by so many of the athletes there, and I had a great time racing at Manchester, a favorite course of mine. But I’d actually like to devote this blog to pay tribute to one of my other favorite courses, which happens to be my own -- I meant to write this last week right after my final race at Twin Brook, but better late than never :)
My first experiences at Twin Brook were playing soccer every year from the time I moved to Maine until the fall of seventh grade. At that point, I knew nothing but the open, grassy playing fields -- the closest I’d come to exploring the woods was the occasional visit to what we now call “the treeline,” where I built forts with my friends during my brother’s soccer games.
I clearly remember the first time I actually set foot on the infamous Twin Brook race course. It was the summer before my eighth grade year, and I had finally been convinced to give cross- country a try as my fall sport. In preparation for the season to come, my older brother Stefan agreed to take me out for a tour of the middle school course, which was only two miles but felt like eternity! As we passed through “A”, “B” , and finally “little C” loop, I wondered how I’d ever find my way around those twisting, turning paths. Now the only thing I wonder is whether I will ever a way to run an hour without repeating at least one of Twin Brook’s loops :)
Since that first run with my brother, I have formed so many memories of running through the very same sights, sounds and scents with many a different companion -- from the big, slow group warm-ups before home meets to the grueling interval workouts, the scorching hot mornings of preseason to the frigid sunset runs of late November, I love it all.
It was actually one of my old assistant Coaches, Greg, who brought it to my attention the week before the State meet that I was approaching what would in fact be my very last opportunity to race on the trails that I call home. That realization hit me pretty hard, but Greg advised me just to really focus on each moment and enjoy the whole experience. I tried my best to do that, and I couldn’t have been happier with how the race turned out :)
The other day, I went out for a nice relaxing solo run at Twin Brook. It was a wonderful opportunity enjoy the beautiful afternoon and reflect on how lucky I am to have had these trials to train on as I’ve grown up through my running years. My friend Emma Mason happened to be stopping by Twin Brook as well, and she sent me this awesome picture she took before leaving. Each time I look at it, it reminds me that wherever I end up next year, I will always return to captivating trails of Twin Brook, calling me home.
