Most runners before leaving on an overnight trip for a meet will do a few simple bag checks: spikes (check), uniform (check), trainers (check) warm up (check) extra clothes for dinner (check), basically the same stuff that every runner makes sure they don’t leave behind. Well I guess you could say I’m not like most runners. My list has a few peculiar items that most others don’t.
When packing for a big meet I make sure I have my measuring cup and individual packet of oatmeal included with bowl and sugar packets, my Cookie Monster, my cape, and my lucky running socks. All of these are extremely important in my pre-race ritual. Every morning, before a meet I wake up, eat my oatmeal complimented with some OJ, then I suit up in my Bulldog uniform along with one short purple sock, and one tall knee high black sock, courtesy of my friend Adam Peters. Then to top it all off I tie my cape tight around my neck and I’m off to the buses.
On the way to our meet I like to take after my sister and jam out to some Katy Perry. Boy is it quite the treat for coach and the team as they practically get front row seats to my awesome concerts I perform on the bus. I know they all just love to hear my singing voice at 7 in the morning. Before the bus ride comes to an end I must have my hair in braids otherwise things get pretty disastrous. I’ve never been one to care for my hair or how it looks, I tend to just throw it up in a bun or a ponytail, but come race time it has to be in braids! I even have my own personal hair stylist on the team S/O to Makenzie Kleist, without her I’d be a hot mess at the starting line! Previous hairstylists S/O Kelsie Wujek, Anna Keys and of course my one and only sister Ellen. Without you guys, I sure would have struggled. Love you guys.
This takes us all the way to warm ups, right before we begin I always eat a banana; ALWAYS. Then after we complete the warm up and our form drills we take to the line. From there we do our run outs, circle up for a pep-talk and prayer. We break as coach yells “Saint Teresa” we then respond “pray for us”. We then head back to the line wish each other good luck; I give the sign of the cross and point to the sky in honor of my loved ones in heaven. The next thing you know *BANG were off and running. It’s funny to think that I do all that preparation for what’s roughly about 18 minutes. As they say “running is 90% mental and 10% physical.” As silly as all this may seem, without it I would not be on my game at each race. So far it’s done me justice; we will just have to see if that continues!
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