e whid recent blogs Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:57:44 +0000 ross@runnerspace.com (Ross) 60 e whid recent blogs http://www.runnerspace.com/members/avatar/1637.jpg Blog - Turkey Trot So my friend, who recently began running in his efforts to complete a half marathon, told me he can run 5-minute mile pace for 3 miles.  Not to be a doubter, I'm not so sure if he can.  Especially at this moment in time, I know I cannot do that, and I don't think he's faster over the distances as me. 

I am not exactly in any sort of racing shape, or any sort of shape to be wagering bets with boys - let alone young men in their mid-twenties - but I feel like I ought to be able to beat this one in particular.  And this is not because I don't like him.  Rather, I consider him a great friend, not just because he's one of my boyfriend's best friends.  Snobbishly and competitively, I just feel, mid-way through my 11th year of running competitively, like I ought to put this male running novice in his place.

How could he just come fancy-footing into "my" thing - the thing that's made me definably different in this social circle - and whomp me?!  What about the Trials of Miles and long years of arduously compounded training and thorough dedication?  And, Oh, what of the sacrificial lifestyle choices and resolve to outlast yogging trends of mediocracy; the aim to tremendously outdo the predominately male couch-sitters and their assumptions which pervade the world!?Don't be such a Turkey.

Persist, I must.  I feel as though i ought to carry the intentions of female runners everywhere, who may chuckle to themselves when stocky, muscular, fat, skinny boys and men alike chug, sprint or otherwise hurl themselves past any sports-bra-clad wearing runner - be she cooling down, running 10 more miles, or simply fighting the odds.  This is like a battle of the sexes.

Maybe I got fired up by some dumb, bigoted posts on LetsRun.com last week which one of the other assistant coaches pointed out.  Regardless of those posters' ignorance and ridiculousness, their prevailing myths prevail: we find countless "reasons why females can't run faster and compete harder after puberty or in college."  I see these myths manifested, I hear of their perpetration from older women and high schoolers alike, and I want to dash them.

Maybe I am feeling combative; JJ - the friend new to running - did not even say "I can beat you."  I just did the math insinuated by his words and cried "Fallacy!"  Regardless, I could not resist saying, "we're finding a race over Thanksgiving when I'm visiting home and Portland and It Is On."  Frozen turkey prize or not, I want to throw down at some local 5k, to pick off men's masters champions at a community fundrasing 5-miler.

So, I found a Turkey Trot.  I have 12 days to get my sleep-deprived, lackadasically running mileaged self into shape.  That is, in order to defend - more than embarass - my cause.

]]> Sat, 15 Nov 2008 16:02:00 +0000 Blog - Persistence As the cross country championship season takes flight, we're called to toe a line or two, or three.

So we open our competitive selves up to vulnerability; so we learn to let the inevitability of each day be. 

As Zel Brooks - someone who could not participate on any high school or college running teams because she was female and ran events that were not yet sanctioned for competition for women; and someone who's faced tremendous adversity but still opted to follow difficult courses over decades - reminded us yesterday: Winners keep running because nothing can take the place of persistence.

 

 

]]> Sun, 02 Nov 2008 03:51:00 +0000 <![CDATA[Blog - Headin' Down the Road: Pac-10s]]> So the forecast says "showers" but the mild Corvallis day instead offers flurries of colorful leaves.  Students are scurryng around campus as usual, but the XC ladies are getting ready to take off - and heading south to Eugene in preparation for tomorrow's Pac-10 Conference meet.

Come cheer on the Beavers, who'll toe the line to race at 2:25pm on Friday, Oct. 31st. (HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! ...but who needs another reason to wear black and orange?!)

Directions to    90333 Sunderman Road, Springfield, Oregon 97478

 

·         Take Exit 105E/126E off of I-5 and stay on 126E for 7 miles.

 

·         Take the 42nd Street/Marcola exit and make a left on 42nd street for 0.4 miles

 

·         Take a RIGHT on Marcola for 4.4 miles until you reach the intersection of Marcola and Sunderman Road – there maybe parking available at Golf Course if you get there early enough

 

]]> Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:23:00 +0000 Blog - Lowdown on Beavs OSU Beavers XC took the spectator-lined, well-manicured Mike Hodges Invitational course at Clackamas Community College in stride - even without their top three and four other teammates.  Orange- and black-clad friends and family cheered on the ladies as they raced with several of the regions' top teams - including the nationally-ranked Oregon Ducks (2) and University of Portland Pilots (33) - to a third place finish.

Stoddard Reynolds captured some awesome shots of the ladies on Saturday - an epitome of the Northwest's temparate autumn.

Thanks to all of you who came out to provide support!  The ladies are now looking forward to next Saturday's BEAVER CLASSIC at Avery Park, hosted by the Corvallis Running Project. 

]]> Sun, 19 Oct 2008 19:33:00 +0000 Blog - Meet this Weekend Fall is in full swing in Corvallis, as evidenced by the trees ablaze with autumn hues as the nationally ranked OSU Beavers XC team tears up the trails around campus. 

After an awesome trip to Alabama, where the ladies finished strong to finish 2nd at the Auburn Invitational, and another week of solid training, the Beavers are looking forward to competing this Saturday, Oct. 18th at noon, in the Mike Hodges Invitational at Clackamas Community College in Oregon City, Ore. 

 

Family, alum and other Beaver Believers are encouraged to cheer on the ladies!

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