Camp Foss, NH

My college coach used to say: "There's no one more selfish than an elite athlete." In many regards this is very true. You are constantly thinking about yourself, what you are doing, what you are not doing, what you need to do. At times you can get caught up in all the nonsense, but about an hour ago I was reminded just how much an elite athlete can give back at the same time.

I am spending this week at Camp Foss outside of Stafford, New Hampshire with the Harvard Cross Country team (at this moment I am typing on the dock of our amazingly peaceful lake. The sun has just passed the hills, the crickets are fighting for attention against a group of the girls who have started a spontaneous sing-a-long and my legs are happily tired from a long day of workouts. There are definitely worse places to be...). We just finished dinner and the subsequent "Thought of the Day" presentation before entering the dining hall tonight was brought to us by one of our Juniors named Bobby. For tonight's theme, Bobby wanted to express the inspiration he has taken from In-The-Arena's own 1500 meter runner Gabe Jennings. Bobby was increibly impressed in that although Gabe may be very serious about running, at the same time doesn't allow that to get in the way of who he is and wants to be as a person. Gabe competed in the Boston Indoor Games this past winter, and I am sure it was either on his way to or from ITA founder Amory Rowe's apartment in Harvard Square that Bobby was able to meet Gabe wandering through The Square. I'm sure the interaction lasted no more than a couple minutes but I could clearly see on Bobby's face that this chance meeting would be with him for the rest of his life influencing not only who Bobby is and will be as a runner, but who Bobby will be as a person as well. On top of which, thanks to our "Thought of the Day" presentation and Bobby's great speach, this chance meeting was passed onto 50 more of Harvard's finest as they romp about in the woods this week and beyond. It's so easy as an athlete to get caught up in fine-tuning the body and razor sharpening the mind but I think Gabe is such an amazing example of the fact that without balance between your goals as an athlete and your goals as a person neither will every reach it's potential. The two do not detract from one another as many might think (I myself have been one of those), but with balance comes strength.


For myself, this trip as it did last year marks the official start of this coming season's training. I've had a great summer taking time off to rest the body and visity with family and friends but now it's time to get back to work. As far as it matters to me, New Years 2009 fell on September 2nd. I celebrated with a 2.5 mile run, some hill repeats, and a very dirty and sweaty strength circuit. I love being up here and there's no better way to start the year off right then a healthy dose of trail running, lake swimming, canoeing, hill runs, volleyball, and card games.

Thanks to last night's strength circuit I've realized that although I may have forgotten a bit of what it feels like to push through the pain, I am also remembering how great it feels to go to bed at night sore and exhausted.

The mosquitos have found me and the camp fire calls, I will post again soon.


2009, here we go.