Monday started early, 6:00 AM, had to make the bus at SJB. I arrived at SJB at 7:30 and the bus rolled out of the parking lot at 8:00. We had a long 4 and a half hour drive up to Newport Running Camp, in Newport RI.
The camp is put on by the Men of Oregon, Pat Tyson (Pre's Roommate in College), Matt Cetnrowitz (Previous American 5000 meter Record Holder) and many others that I will name drop throughout the week of camp.
The bus ride was surprisingly smooth sailing through New York, into Connecticut and into Rhode Island. According to the driver, David Wood, we made it in record time for a Monday morning departure. We stopped briefly at the last rest stop in Connecticut grabbed a snack and potty breaks.
We arrived at the camp at 12:30, just as camp registration was starting. By One O'clock I have been introduced to Matt Sr, Matt Jr, Pat Tyson and Steve McChesney (Teammate of Pre). While meeting these fine men they are trying to get a bed for me to sleep on. I am hanging out by the registration area and I meet some more running legends, Bill Dellinger (Bronze Medal 64, and Pre's Coach) and Nick Rogers (2000 Olympian 5000 meters). All the guys are very friendly out going people.
Finally at 3:30 I have a room and a bed? well not exactly someone stole the bed in my room so they can use it in a friends room. I quickly found the bed and got my room set up. We were meeting for a run at 4.
All the kids and counselors gather, Pat Tyson welcomes everyone to camp and we get grouped up and head out for a run. I get grouped with Group 1, kids that have run sub 17 minutes for a 5k XC. There is only about 10 of them so it is a nice small group. The kids want to run for 45 minutes, so that's what I do. After running with them for 45 minutes I added on to make it a full 10 mile run.
We are running around the grounds of a boarding school that has acres and acres of fields. So much land that they are able to make an all grass 5k XC course no problem. The loop turns around the fields, up and down hillside and through some wooded trail. Over all it is a very challenging fun loop.
After the run the kids are free to stretch and do strides if they feel up to it. They are also encouraged to mingle with the other campers and get to know one another. I so happen to be sitting next to Lauren Centrowitz, a post collegiate professional runner. I introduce myself, we get to talking about racing and other things. Extremely nice and friendly atmosphere, just like the others.
The evening wound down with a catered BBQ out by the basketball courts. They had biscuits, cornbread, salad, potato salad, Cole slaw, baked beans, corn, ribs, chicken, steak and ice cream. The meal was so good, I would have to argue that the baked beans were the best beans that I have ever eaten.
That led into a meeting with Intros of the staff, counselors and coaches that were with them this week. They even made myself and Coach Wood introduce ourselves. Then Nick Rogers spoke about his running experiences and other things. That prompted them to a video of the 1964 Olympic 5000 meter final were Bill Dellinger finished in 3rd. After the video there was a quick Q&A for Pat Tyson and he described how the next day would work.
Pat then broke all the campers into 12 teams, I was made Captain of team 11. There is 9 Campers and 2 counselors on the team. We tried to break the ice by coming up with a team name. That was very unsuccessful, one kid googled a bunch of names on his cell phone and came back with Buccaneers, Steelers, and Mighty Ducks. One kids spoke up and said Speedy Soles, I came up with We Are Here for the Food. In the end we voted on the name Speedy Soles.
The teams were dismissed to hangout till lights out at 10:15 PM. Woody arranged a SJB meeting at 9:45, it was meant to be "10 minutes". Anyone that knows Woody knows that's not the case. The meeting went more like 20 minutes, we were dismissed from that and I escaped back to my room to fall asleep and type this blog. Tomorrow looks to be a fun day.
**I have photos to add to this blog but have not uploaded them yet. Once I do that I will add them.**
