McMillanElite :: Jaime Canterbury
Entry #188 The last few weeks here in Flagstaff have brought me much hope – hints of spring are popping up every now and then. We have had some good days of sun and the massive snow piles are starting to shrink. A few more dirt roads are opening up and I have been able to do a couple of runs in shorts! To me, this means that the trails that I love so much are closer to resurfacing. My teammates assure me that it will be still be a while, but for now I remain hopeful. Hope has come in other forms as well. Workouts have been going well and my teammates have had some really great races. Thankfully, we are able to train in NAU’s dome. I have come to love that 300m indoor track. It feels great to lace up the spikes and get some good work in on the track. Lindsay, Trina and I have been able to enjoy some theraputic “relaxation 300’s”. Since I’ve been here, this is the first time I really feel like I am in the groove of training. It feels good to have some consistency (I traveled a lot in the fall). I’m getting fit and excited to do big things on the track this spring. Along those lines, I have to say thanks to my teammates. Watching everyone do the hard work and then reap the rewards is so inspirational. It is what gets me out the door on the days when motivation is hard to find. Thank you Paige, Alvina, Brett, Jordan, Ian, Emily, Middle, and Lindsay. Each one of them has had some awesome performances in the last few months. Seeing the results themselves are inspiring, but to see the work that goes on behind the scenes is incredible. I feel blessed to be a part of this team. Entry #167 When I first came to Flagstaff, I kept track of how many weeks I had been here pretty easily. My thought was that once I didn’t know how many weeks it had been, it would feel more like home. I am now at a place where I couldn’t tell you exactly how many weeks I’ve been here. While I still miss my friends and family, I do not feel as new here in Flagstaff anymore. As I mentioned in my last blog, I coached cross country at the middle school this year. The season ended on Halloween with the state championships in Phoenix. It was a fun day. I loved watching my athletes run hard and have fun. I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to work with a truly incredible group of students. While their high energy levels can be exhausting, their excitement for life is contagious. Running has been a little bit tough for me lately as I struggle to find my rhythm. Racing on the roads feels much different than racing cross country in college. My performances so far this season have been disappointing, as they have not been an indication of my fitness. Workouts are going pretty well, so for now my goal is to keep putting in the work and hope that something clicks soon. The women’s team is gearing up for Club Cross Country Nationals and I can’t wait for that! Several of my teammates are heading to Japan this week for the Chiba Ekiden! Good luck Lindsay, Jordan, Ian, and Andrew! I know you will do a great job representing the US. Also, good luck to my college team – NAIA cross country nationals are next weekend! Entry #150 As I write this, I am sitting on the floor of the Chicago airport. We are delayed because there is a “foul smell” on the plane. Waiting for them to find a new plane provides a perfect time to write my blog… Earlier today (Sunday), I ran my first post-collegiate race – the USATF 5k Championships in Rhode Island. It was exciting to stand on the line wearing my new adidas uniform, surrounded by some of the best runners in the country. While Providence was beautiful and the trip itself was a lot of fun, the race didn’t quite go the way I’d hoped. After doing nothing but base training since arriving in Flagstaff, my legs didn’t respond when I attempted to run at a faster pace than I had in months. Overall, it was a good learning experience and a reminder of what it feels like to push your body. I am very proud of my teammates Lindsay, Jordan, Lemon and Ian. It is humbling to be part of such a talented team. My parents surprised me and came to watch the race! Mom and Dad, thank you so much for all your support and for making me feel so loved. The weeks leading up to the race have consisted of some of my highest mileage weeks ever strung together. While I didn’t race very well, I am confident that this base training will pay off in the spring. Outside of running, I am settling in nicely in Flagstaff. This weekend marks the eighth week since I made the move. A few weeks ago my friends Jenny, Whitney, Olivia, and Mandy came to visit. We had a blast going to the creek, hiking through the lava caves, and just eating, talking, and laughing together. Girls, I am so glad I had the chance to show you around my new home and I can’t wait for the next time I get to see you all! Last weekend we had a recruit, Kellyn Johnson, come and stay with us. I am very pleased that she will be joining us when she finishes up school this winter! Kellyn, welcome to team! I am the cross country coach at Flagstaff Middle School. I love the time I spend with my team. The excitement they have for running is refreshing. When I was in middle school, we didn’t have cross country. It is fun to see the way it starts out, and to be a part of it. I am thankful for the tremendous support I receive from the administration at Flag Middle, as well as some of the parents (especially Trina, thanks!!). I’d like to give a shout out to my college team. The APU women ran great on Saturday, with 5 girls under 18:00 for the 5k course. Jacky, you are always an inspiration to me and I am thankful for the time we had to train together. And to the rest of the girls, I love you and I miss you, keep kickin’ butt! Still awaiting either another plane or for them to find a way to “de-smell” this one…looks like it might be a long night in Chicago. As I end, I want to say thank you to my family and friends for all the love and support I constantly receive. I love you all, thanks for all you do for me! Entry #136 Hello! My name is Jaime Canterbury and I am the newest member of McMillanElite. My running career began 8 years ago when I was a freshman at Dana Hills High School. After a fairly average high school running career, I went on to run for Azusa Pacific University. I loved the coaches and the team at APU. Under the coaching of Preston Grey, I made sizeable improvements each year. I graduated in May and recently moved from Southern California to Flagstaff. The decision to come was an easy one. I keep saying that this is a runner’s paradise, and it’s true! The gorgeous Flagstaff scenery, the positive team environment that Greg and Tracy have cultivated, and the Adidas gear made it impossible to turn this opportunity down. Not to mention the fact that the McMillanElite athletes have been running so well! After visiting the team in June, I knew I had to come. I have been here for one week and I love it so far. It’s been a busy week of running, team activities, and fun. As soon as my family and I arrived last Saturday evening, we went straight over to the McMillan’s for a sendoff dinner for Paige (she’s off to the World Marathon Championships in Berlin). Sunday afternoon I said goodbye to my family and got settled in. A few days later, the team had a visit from Lorraine Moller. Lorraine won an Olympic bronze medal in the marathon and is a former Boston Marathon winner. It was so great to hear her words of wisdom. She is a powerful and dynamic speaker, I think we all walked away with something valuable. She even passed around her Olympic medal for us to hold! We also had the opportunity during the week to share with the Flagstaff High School cross country team at their camp. I had the pleasure of being on the runner’s panel. It was fun to answer the questions that the team had. Training this past week has consisted of trying to adjust to the altitude. The adjustment is definitely tough, but it is going well. I was very pleased to finish my long run on Saturday feeling good. It has been great to run with such a talented and fun group of girls. Outside of running, I have already gone out to two movies, taken a trip to the creek in Sedona, and spontaneously drove out to the Grand Canyon. My roommates and I also went to the Navajo Festival of Arts where we got to experience the rich Navajo culture. If you’ve never seen Hoop dancing, you’re missing out! I want to give a shout out to my new roommates, Martin, Alvina, and Trent. Thanks for being so kind and welcoming, and for all the great family dinners! Also, thanks to all my friends and family at home for being so supportive, it means the world to me. Thanks Mom, Dad, Jeremy, Paige, Ben, and Jenny! And Preston, I couldn’t have gotten here without you. Thanks! I am so excited for this opportunity and I can’t wait to see what the future holds! 1. What is your favorite movie? Legends of the Fall |
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