At Marist, we have a baseball and softball team and a baseball and softball field. Basketball teams and a basketball court. Water Polo and swimming teams and a swimming pool. The Volleyball team has a volleyball court. Our football team, lacrosse team and soccer teams, all have our nice new turf field. Tennis players play on our tennis courts and crew rows on the lovely Hudson river. Even our intramural softball team and club rugby team have a field to play on. That covers every NCAA Division 1 team at Marist....
...Except for the Track and Field team.
Running can be hard to understand. In fact, runners can be hard to understand too, but that is a different topic. The main question most people ask is "can't you run anywhere?"
Yes, technically we can. Our "distance runs" can be on a turf field, the roads, trails, or a track. When we do our daily runs from campus we can and do go out on the roads. However, for a track team to not have a track is like a baseball team having a batting cage, but not field. It is like a basketball team having one hoop, a ball and a painted foul line in the parking lot. It's like hockey without a hockey rink. The fundamentals of the game can still exist, but the specifics don't. It's like eating only a piece of chicken for dinner without any sides. It is the sides that complete the meal.
Picture this: You are a Division 1 athlete and each week in order to get the proper training for your sport you have to go a local high school, or a Division III school just to use their facilities. Not only are you wasting your time traveling back and forth, but aren't you also embarrassed? Here you are, a collegiate athlete and you have to practice at the local high school.
How would you feel? Put yourself in that situation. Would you feel appreciated? Respected?
I don't. I am not the only person who feels this way.
Please take a minute and put yourselves in our shoes.
How would you feel?
You have your main athletic resource...help us get ours.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Judgement
I'm not perfect. No one is perfect. In fact, these blog post I write about bettering ourselves are just as much, if not more, for me then they are for others. Yesterday, Saturday, was another example of a moment in my life that helped me learn how to become a better person.
You see, in the running world there are bug track meets. At these bug track meets there are the first few heats, where those runners who are the best of the best run. There are the middle heats, where I like to think I run most of the time. Then there are the last few heats which consist of runners who aren't as quick as those in the first two sets of heats. Often times you wish that the first two sets of heats are filled with people who simply work harder and more than those who are in the last few heats. As life has taught us, often times that isn't the case. Not all, but many in the last few heats work just as hard as the others.
What is my point?
When you watch a track meet you usually lose focus towards the ends of the races. After 5, or 10, or even 15 heats have gone off, you usually stop paying attention. I have seen many people in slower heats either win their heat or run a certain time and throw their arms up in the air or smile and high-five all their teammates. I have sat there numerous times and made remarks to my friends about how their time was MUCH slower than mine and I didn't react like that, or I would mention how they need to realize they won the 20th heat out of 21.
Yesterday however, I was the kid who smiled after the race. I was the kid who received all the high-fives and I was the kid who ran a very mediocre time.
Suddenly I began to realize that my teammates and my close friends and family all knew that yesterdays race was important to me. I didn't run the best time. I didn't even run my fastest time, but I ran. I finished and I couldn't have been happier.
Everyone has their own life story. These are stories that 99% of the people around us do not know about. I thought about all those kids who I judged because they were happy about a time that I believed was mediocre. Yesterday helped me understand that I should NEVER judge someone for accomplishing something they believe is important.
We are often so quick to judge, yet we almost never fully understand the situation. We need to try and remember that everyone has their accomplishments and we should be happy for them.
You see, in the running world there are bug track meets. At these bug track meets there are the first few heats, where those runners who are the best of the best run. There are the middle heats, where I like to think I run most of the time. Then there are the last few heats which consist of runners who aren't as quick as those in the first two sets of heats. Often times you wish that the first two sets of heats are filled with people who simply work harder and more than those who are in the last few heats. As life has taught us, often times that isn't the case. Not all, but many in the last few heats work just as hard as the others.
What is my point?
When you watch a track meet you usually lose focus towards the ends of the races. After 5, or 10, or even 15 heats have gone off, you usually stop paying attention. I have seen many people in slower heats either win their heat or run a certain time and throw their arms up in the air or smile and high-five all their teammates. I have sat there numerous times and made remarks to my friends about how their time was MUCH slower than mine and I didn't react like that, or I would mention how they need to realize they won the 20th heat out of 21.
Yesterday however, I was the kid who smiled after the race. I was the kid who received all the high-fives and I was the kid who ran a very mediocre time.
Suddenly I began to realize that my teammates and my close friends and family all knew that yesterdays race was important to me. I didn't run the best time. I didn't even run my fastest time, but I ran. I finished and I couldn't have been happier.
Everyone has their own life story. These are stories that 99% of the people around us do not know about. I thought about all those kids who I judged because they were happy about a time that I believed was mediocre. Yesterday helped me understand that I should NEVER judge someone for accomplishing something they believe is important.
We are often so quick to judge, yet we almost never fully understand the situation. We need to try and remember that everyone has their accomplishments and we should be happy for them.
Saturday, January 28, 2012
NY Giants
Wait! Don't exit out of the blog post before reading it because you hate the NY Giants. I promise you this post isn't about them. Well, it is, but I promise it has more meaning then you would expect. You see, I am a HUGE giants fan. If I were to pick a sports team I follow most it would undoubtedly be the Giants.I have been a Giants fan for as long as I can remember. This means I've been there when they were the best and I've been there when they were the worst. Four years ago I even had the lucky opportunity to experience one of my favorite teams win the Super Bowl.
This year I am lucky enough to have that opportunity again.
Now I am not saying the Giants will win the Super Bowl. In fact, I've always been worried about rematches. I feel the team that lost the first time around always has more to fight for and better odds at winning. As much as I hope they win, I understand there is another alternative.
But this blog is not about the giants winning the Super Bowl. This post is about the 9-7 Giants being the third team in NFL history to make it to the Super Bowl. This game is about the 6-6 giants going into Dallas with their backs against the wall. Then about the 7-7 Giants looking at their last two games and knowing they would not make the playoffs without a win. You see, the Giants haven't played three playoff games. The NY Giants have played 5 playoff games. They couldn't lost against the Jets and they couldn't lose against the Cowboys.
What's the point?
The point is whether you like this team or not, they show us what believing is truly about. They even did the same thing in 2007. The Giansts were the team that couldn't. The Giants were the team that shouldn't....
Yet, they were the team that did.
How many times have we been in that position? Back against the wall. No one believes we can do it, but we fight for it anyway because we believe.
No matter how many people doubt us, we hold the true belief. If we believe then anything is possible.
This year I am lucky enough to have that opportunity again.
Now I am not saying the Giants will win the Super Bowl. In fact, I've always been worried about rematches. I feel the team that lost the first time around always has more to fight for and better odds at winning. As much as I hope they win, I understand there is another alternative.
But this blog is not about the giants winning the Super Bowl. This post is about the 9-7 Giants being the third team in NFL history to make it to the Super Bowl. This game is about the 6-6 giants going into Dallas with their backs against the wall. Then about the 7-7 Giants looking at their last two games and knowing they would not make the playoffs without a win. You see, the Giants haven't played three playoff games. The NY Giants have played 5 playoff games. They couldn't lost against the Jets and they couldn't lose against the Cowboys.
What's the point?
The point is whether you like this team or not, they show us what believing is truly about. They even did the same thing in 2007. The Giansts were the team that couldn't. The Giants were the team that shouldn't....
Yet, they were the team that did.
How many times have we been in that position? Back against the wall. No one believes we can do it, but we fight for it anyway because we believe.
No matter how many people doubt us, we hold the true belief. If we believe then anything is possible.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Resolutions
So...this is it. The big December 31st. Midnight tonight will be it is officially the start of a whole new year. If any of you, like myself, saw the New Years Eve movie then you are probably going out tonight with extremely high expectations. But hey, anything can happen right?
All athletes know that come tomorrow, their lives will be made that much more difficult. Starting tomorrow, all new years resolutionists will crowd the gyms taking all of the machines and making a normal 30 minute session turn into a 2 hour session. Do not get me wrong, I admire and respect everyone who tries to better themselves by getting their body into shape. I have raved about the benefits of exercise and believe everyone should try it.
What confuses me, however, is why tomorrow is of such significance. Yes, it is a new year, but in reality isn't it also just the start of another day? What does tomorrow's significance have to do with us attempting to do things differently? Tomorrow, like yesterday and Wednesday, is just another day in our lives. I guess the point I'm trying to make is why wait for the new year to become a better person?
Many of us will try to be nicer to others, exercise more, do better in school, forgive someone, apologize to someone, give someone a second chance, etc. Tomorrow we will start attempting to accomplish the goals we make for ourselves for the upcoming year. However, instead of viewing each year as a chance to better ourselves, we should focus on each day. Each day presents us with another opportunity to better ourselves. Instead of deciding that next year will be the year you finally begin talking to your mother, or next year will be the year you begin your diet, start today. Start now. Do not wait for each year to pass. Yes, make new years resolutions, but when they are done, make more resolutions.
Each day is an opportunity for us to begin anew. Each day holds the same significance that new years holds.
Make your new years resolutions, complete them, and make more resolutions. Better yourself each and every day.
All athletes know that come tomorrow, their lives will be made that much more difficult. Starting tomorrow, all new years resolutionists will crowd the gyms taking all of the machines and making a normal 30 minute session turn into a 2 hour session. Do not get me wrong, I admire and respect everyone who tries to better themselves by getting their body into shape. I have raved about the benefits of exercise and believe everyone should try it.
What confuses me, however, is why tomorrow is of such significance. Yes, it is a new year, but in reality isn't it also just the start of another day? What does tomorrow's significance have to do with us attempting to do things differently? Tomorrow, like yesterday and Wednesday, is just another day in our lives. I guess the point I'm trying to make is why wait for the new year to become a better person?
Many of us will try to be nicer to others, exercise more, do better in school, forgive someone, apologize to someone, give someone a second chance, etc. Tomorrow we will start attempting to accomplish the goals we make for ourselves for the upcoming year. However, instead of viewing each year as a chance to better ourselves, we should focus on each day. Each day presents us with another opportunity to better ourselves. Instead of deciding that next year will be the year you finally begin talking to your mother, or next year will be the year you begin your diet, start today. Start now. Do not wait for each year to pass. Yes, make new years resolutions, but when they are done, make more resolutions.
Each day is an opportunity for us to begin anew. Each day holds the same significance that new years holds.
Make your new years resolutions, complete them, and make more resolutions. Better yourself each and every day.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Fighting
What do we do when we feel as if we are constantly being knocked down? How can we respond positively when each attempt we create only leads to more failure? Where is the end of the road of struggle?
Running has the ability to bring a "feel-good" attitude into peoples lives. Whether we are competing or not, running is scientifically proven to release hormones that make you happier. Add to that the success that all runners face at some point and the sport clearly has a strong impact on the positive mindset of a person. However, few people outside of the sport and, in fact, few inside the sport, can understand the negative mindset running can instill on its participants.
Running is said to be a sport where the more you put in, the more you get out. There comes a point when this statement becomes obsolete. There comes a point when you are constantly knocked down. There comes a point when each attempt at success leads to failure. There comes a point when you wonder whether or not it is worth it all.
Why is this important?
It is another valuable lesson we have the opportunity to learn.
We will face situations in our lives when we wonder whether the fight is even worth it. Maybe it is a student who struggles to get through school. Maybe it is a woman fighting cancer who struggles to get through the day. Maybe it is a drug addict who struggles to stay clean. We all struggle with things throughout our lives and whether or not these things are small or large they are always worth the fight.
We need to continue to fight. Fighting is the reason we live. We live to battle our weaknesses and prove to ourselves that we can come out on top.
Fighting gives us hope. Hope to persevere. Hope to push forward. Hope for the future.
Running has the ability to bring a "feel-good" attitude into peoples lives. Whether we are competing or not, running is scientifically proven to release hormones that make you happier. Add to that the success that all runners face at some point and the sport clearly has a strong impact on the positive mindset of a person. However, few people outside of the sport and, in fact, few inside the sport, can understand the negative mindset running can instill on its participants.
Running is said to be a sport where the more you put in, the more you get out. There comes a point when this statement becomes obsolete. There comes a point when you are constantly knocked down. There comes a point when each attempt at success leads to failure. There comes a point when you wonder whether or not it is worth it all.
Why is this important?
It is another valuable lesson we have the opportunity to learn.
We will face situations in our lives when we wonder whether the fight is even worth it. Maybe it is a student who struggles to get through school. Maybe it is a woman fighting cancer who struggles to get through the day. Maybe it is a drug addict who struggles to stay clean. We all struggle with things throughout our lives and whether or not these things are small or large they are always worth the fight.
We need to continue to fight. Fighting is the reason we live. We live to battle our weaknesses and prove to ourselves that we can come out on top.
Fighting gives us hope. Hope to persevere. Hope to push forward. Hope for the future.
Friday, November 18, 2011
It's only the end of a chapter
Ten years ago I started something in order to be involved and make friends. I joined my middle school track team in 7th grade for the simple reason that my parents forced me to get involved. The fall of that same year I decided that it was time for me to abandon my less than mediocre soccer career to join the Cross-Country team. I joined because I was a weak and thin-skinned 12 year old who liked the warm, loving nature of the cross-country coach more than the emotionless, stoic personality of the soccer coach.
I never would have thought that that decision would have shaped my life immensely.
Flash forward almost 10 years. Tomorrow, I will toe the line for my last collegiate cross-country race.
I have been with this sport for 10 years, almost half my life. To say that tomorrow will be an emotional day for me is a HUGE understatement. It will probably be a day I will remember forever, but not only because of the fact that I stuck with a sport for 10 years.
Tomorrow will be a day to remember because of the blessings running has bestowed upon me.
I found my passion and it has provided me with more smiles then I could have ever imagined.
Find your passion and realize that it will never be perfect, but it will be yours.
I never would have thought that that decision would have shaped my life immensely.
Flash forward almost 10 years. Tomorrow, I will toe the line for my last collegiate cross-country race.
I have been with this sport for 10 years, almost half my life. To say that tomorrow will be an emotional day for me is a HUGE understatement. It will probably be a day I will remember forever, but not only because of the fact that I stuck with a sport for 10 years.
Tomorrow will be a day to remember because of the blessings running has bestowed upon me.
I found my passion and it has provided me with more smiles then I could have ever imagined.
Find your passion and realize that it will never be perfect, but it will be yours.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Defining
I don't know where we went wrong. I'm sure my 8 teammates who were with me along with my coach are all thinking that same thought. The truth is, none of us know where we went wrong. We felt ready and we felt determined. All of us had the same thoughts going into Saturdays race. We were returning 4 of our top 5 from last years 10th place team and we were coming off a solid performance at the conference meet the week before.
We felt like we were the team.
I guess we weren't.
The truth is, this blog post has been written and deleted numerous times. I just don't know what to write. I want to write, but cannot think of what to write. I don't want to talk about everything working out for a reason or you win some you lose some. I don't even want to talk about how running isn't everything or how you cannot define yourself by one moment. I don't want to write about these things because it would be shallow of me to write about something I did not firmly believe in.
Do I think we are good? Yes, I think we are great, but 10 years from now no one will care about what I think. Ten years from now people will only look back at the results and those results say we weren't good.
There are many different variables that go into racing. Variables that to the outside eye are non-existent. Variables such as the 40 mph winds we ran into or the pancake flat course we ran on. Yet none of these variable matter. We did not show up when we needed to. Do I think we can bounce back? Absolutely. We're too strong to not bounce back, but do I think it stings? Hell yes. This will sting for a very long time. This is be in the back of our minds for a very long time.
This will define us until we prove otherwise.
I guess that's how life works too. You are defined by your failures until you have enough success to prove to people otherwise.
We are allowed to be confused. We are allowed to question why, but above all, we must look ahead and prove to those outsiders that we are capable of much much more.
We felt like we were the team.
I guess we weren't.
The truth is, this blog post has been written and deleted numerous times. I just don't know what to write. I want to write, but cannot think of what to write. I don't want to talk about everything working out for a reason or you win some you lose some. I don't even want to talk about how running isn't everything or how you cannot define yourself by one moment. I don't want to write about these things because it would be shallow of me to write about something I did not firmly believe in.
Do I think we are good? Yes, I think we are great, but 10 years from now no one will care about what I think. Ten years from now people will only look back at the results and those results say we weren't good.
There are many different variables that go into racing. Variables that to the outside eye are non-existent. Variables such as the 40 mph winds we ran into or the pancake flat course we ran on. Yet none of these variable matter. We did not show up when we needed to. Do I think we can bounce back? Absolutely. We're too strong to not bounce back, but do I think it stings? Hell yes. This will sting for a very long time. This is be in the back of our minds for a very long time.
This will define us until we prove otherwise.
I guess that's how life works too. You are defined by your failures until you have enough success to prove to people otherwise.
We are allowed to be confused. We are allowed to question why, but above all, we must look ahead and prove to those outsiders that we are capable of much much more.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)