Jan. 7, 2010
The South Carolina track and field team annually heads down to Orlando, Fla., for a week of preseason training before competing against Denison University in a friendly exhibition. The team trains vigorously throughout the week before getting a chance to enjoy the Disney theme parks as a climax to the University’s winter break. Various members of the team will check in daily with GamecocksOnline.com about the everyday happenings with the sprinters, hurdlers, distance runners, throwers, pole vaulters and multi-event athletes.
Senior distance runner Dani Barnes, an SEC scorer in the mile run and DMR last season, talks about Tuesday and Wednesday down in Orlando.
The distance group started the day Tuesday by lifting weights in the Disney gym. Whilst working on our ‘distance runner guns’ some of the dumbells we used may have even impressed throwers!
In-between morning practice and afternoon practice, we retreated to our rooms and napped in preparation for our first track work out of 2010! In strong winds and cold temperatures, the group got a little over excited and the times were getting Coach Rosenthal even more excited. But once we got our pace judgement on form and settled down into more consistent times, the the whole group put in an impressive effort. Particular mention goes to the efforts of Robert Razick, Sierra Henderson, Laura Pramstaller and Nicole Rheinlander. Great way to start the season.
Tuesday evening saw us trying out the hot tub, icing and stretching in an attempt to recover from our efforts of the day. We are all making the most of this fantastic venue for preseason training and working really hard. We are starting to feel soreness and tiredness setting in but no one is moaning or complaining as we know this is how we will get better.
By today, Wednesday, we have now settled into a good routine training here in Orlando. The morning workout was a shorter one to try and flush out the remains of last night’s track workout. Then a few of us enjoyed a yoga workout in-between morning and afternoon practice to try and stretch out some of our soreness. The distance group returned to the park for a longer afternoon run.
This evening we had an especially motivating team meeting from Coach Frye and Coach Johnson. Their words really get our adrenaline pumping and inspire us to be the best team that we can be. Tomorrow’s workout is where we can put their words into action! Sleep well.
