Montecito Peak Hike

The Santa Barbara are is so green, lush, and gorgeous! Today I got to hike in Montecito/Santa Barbara on a 7 mile hike. I was sick and had nasal congestion, but I survived. I can run 7 miles without problems if its flat. Today was not flat it was very steep and very very rocky! Just getting out of Oxnard and being in a place with more trees and fresh air was just amazing! I could not ask for a better way to spend the first day of Winter Break.

The trails were tough as they were beautiful. The Montecito Trail Hike is full of grass and native plants. Wonderful explosions of blue-green, and grey moss covered many rocks and trees. I loved the earthy smell of trail and was happy that most of the hike is shady. The weather was perfect for a hike, not too hot not too cold and there was a gentle breeze. I hope to someday do the hike again. I love being outside and just surrounded by mother nature :)

[Many thanks to Coach Daw, Mrs. Bemus, and Mr. McFayden for supervising the hike and making sure no one got lost!]

PVL #3 Oxnard College Park (The End)

My last XC race took place last Thursday at the Oxnard College Park. It was also my hardest meet ever. I have never been to so focused in my life. I dropped candy for 4 days and I also ate healthy the ENTIRE week. 

The course was new (they would change it my senior year). But it was entirely flat with very few sharp turns. I really loved this race and made sure it would be my best time in high school with a 20:13. I was aiming for to be in the 19 min but I am very happy with a PR. I placed 95 out of 176, so I came in towards the middle. It was fun lots of hard work and dedication was put in the race. All throughout I just had it in my head:

"YOUR A F*CKING SENIOR"

"YOU BETTER PR TODAY OR DIE"

"YOU'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 4 YEARS, MAKE IT COUNT"

"NO REGRETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"YOU DIDN'T GO THROUGH BULLSHIT FOR NOTHING"

And I also had some other things going through my head, but I rather not share those.

All in all, I am proud of myself that I ran for Pacifica's Cross-Country since the summer before freshman year had started. I remember getting the phone call from Coach Daw telling me to go to Arroyo Verde for my first practice ever (that is another story). I have raced every meet scheduled except for two of them. I love my XC family, I miss being a freshman sometimes. I loved getting guidance and running tips from the upperclassmen. I have been running for 4 years now. About a quarter of my life. I have no regrets. XC was the best thing I have joined in high school and it will forever be a part of me.

Thank you Coach Daw, Coach Bemis, Coach Byrne. Without my coaches I would have never imagined to get to where I am today. 

[This is not the front of the race. I swear]

[Looks like I am leading the entire race]

[My greatest finish yet. Too bad you can't see my face. It was priceless]

[I was sitting on the bridge and got some gnarly pictures]

[I have known this gal since 4th grade and I love her to death. She is the sweetest person I know]

[These two goofballs are just perfect. I swear without these two life would not be a party!]

[Jannessa/Karina/Laura]

[Jesus/Karina/Me]

GOOD JOB PACIFICA XC 2013!

FANTASTIC JOB TO THE SENIORS! LOOK HOW FAR WE HAVE COME!!!!!!!!

Ventura County Cross-Country Championships [Lake Casitas, Ojai]

It was hot, dusty dirty, and bittersweet. I did not do well as I hoped. But everything else was fine.

[Here's me after my race. I realized half through the meet that it would be my last time I will ever be at Lake Casitas. No more races here, so I had to take a picture of how gorgeous the lake is]

[Josh is running the sophomore race]

[Varsity girls race]

[Sarah Baxter the fastest girl in the country. She's the greatest runner to have ever run this course]

[The runner wearing the green "P" ran her heart out]

[I saw a squirrel munching on som grass]

I have ran that course twice every year since I was a freshman (4x8=24). I regret to say that I did not finish it with my best time. I was a bit disappointed in myself throughout the rest of the race. I still am.

Freshman year (1st time): 28:01

Senior year (last time): 23:21 (I know I am in tears)

A five minute difference. That's about 3/4 of a mile faster. I gave %100 of what I had.

The bus ride home was nice. My head half-out of the window. The cool breeze and dusk falling in on the Ojai Valley. The sky so clear and crisp I could just make out the Islands across the ocean. Senior year goes by so fast.

One more meet. One last chance to break 20 minutes. 

Last Week [mostly pictures]

PVL MEET 2, Homecoming, and Pumpkin Patch

[Funnel Cake :)]

[Top of the hay stack]

[Those little puff-balls in the corner were soft. Like marshmallows]

[Holding this little ducking in my hands was priceless]

[Ducklings are the cutest little creatures on earth. So soft]

Last weekend was one of the best weekends I had this school year and I look forward to many more :)