Road to Portland: Jessica Molloy - Part 2

My day started super early with a flight out of Birmingham around 6. It was my first time to fly alone! I wasn't that nervous, it wasn't too far...just on the other side of the nation. Made my connections and walked through the airport and I felt like a big girl, holding my Starbucks determined to find my next terminal. A couple hours of anxious waiting went by and I finally made it to Portland, Oregon! It was time to have some fun. I met up with the NXN groups and immediately started making new friends. I meet a girls team from Chicago, Illinois. They wanted to know all about Nike and how it went for me last year. The girls were so sweet, but I missed my team more than anything. So I called them up with track practice just finishing in Bham and Kendall was there to tell me it's okay and I'll continue to meet new people. 

After arriving to the hotel, we were led into a room full with paper work. After signing and reading and signing and reading I got to receive one of my favorite souvenirs, the picture credentials. Next we were off to Nike Headquarters. On the way to I got the chance to get to know some of my southeast team. Logan and Zack got 2nd and 3rd in the boys race and are from South Carolina and Virginia! When we reached Nike it was time for a run. The three of us enjoyed a half hour run around the campus to see the Nike lake and several impressive buildings. Through our run, we ran into the track with complete woods in the infield! I felt pretty legit just to be on it. 

After some strides we were headed back in to the lounge with all the athletes to play ping pong and check out all the incredible Nike technology. Dinner was soon and I caught a quick glimpse of the one and only Galen Rupp, and my teammate, Ryan Kirk would have been freaking out just to be in the same building as him. The elite athletes/runners were just hanging out around the campus and were there to inspire and pump us up! It is the coolest thing to just see them around. The opening ceremonies could have been the best pump up show ever. They introduced the teams and the individuals and started the production with hip hop dancers. And if you know me and my teammate, Kendall Reed we LOVE hip hop so I was practically dancing in my seat! After the opening ceremonies we were headed back to the hotel to get a good night's sleep. It was a great first day at NXN.

Friday's visit to the race course

Today we got the chance to check out and do a quick course run. Portland Meadows is where the race is being held and it is an incredible arena for a cross country race. The course starts off 

with a straightaway with a gradual curve around to another straightaway. Coming around the second curve the water was high and it got dirty. Mud was EVERYWHERE. I'm going to try to find some paths tomorrow to avoid some deep water and mud but it looks like its going to be tough. The woop-dee doo hills are my favorite so I might be smiling going over those tomorrow! Then around the 1 mile, I'll hit the hay bales. I just can't think about them during the race too much and act like its nothing to jump them. The second loop is basically the same and to the finish. Im racing for my awesome Spartans girls and guys from Mountain Brook! I'm so excited for tomorrow, lets do this! I'm ready.

PHOTOS OF FRIDAY

MEET PAGE (MileSplit)

 

MILESPLIT VIDEO OF THE COURSE