 Molloy and Wheating take a "Selfie" together. |
Friday -
After seeing the course we were headed back to the hotel. Then off to the Nike Headquarters again! This time we were going to receive our gear as a Southeast Region. Throughout the trip, our region individuals grew closer. It was almost like having a guys and girls full team with us in Portland! So shoutout to my Southeast Seahawks! Kara Dickerson, Carolyn Bethel, Hannah Christen, Wesley Frazier, Zack Langston, Jacob Burcham, Logan Miller, Ben Huffman, and Alec Thomas, y'all rock. When we got to the headquarters it was the moment we were all HONESTLY waiting for. Receiving the Nike gear. The music was playing loud and an announcer said Southeast Region when we saw our new race uniforms. Later that day, elite athletes were there to sign autographs. My personal favorite was the one and only Andrew Wheating. This would have been the fourth time meeting him and I wanted to tell him that. He was super excited and we took a "selfie" together, which my teammate, Sanders "Ders" Reed can relate. Now, Andy and I are on first name/nickname basis...he calls me Jess. This pumped me up for my race so much! I was so excited. After dinner we headed back to the hotel and it was time to actually start thinking about racing the next day.
With a pep talk at the hotel with our Southeast captain, Alan Webb, I knew I was ready to roll. He was so inspiring! As I was getting ready for the next day, laying my uniform out and everything I just had to remembered how incredibly blessed I was to be here. It was an awesome way to end my season of surprises. Before I went to sleep, I read all the letters that my amazing teammates wrote me specifically to be read the night before my race. It was so crazy to read all of them, it made me miss them so much. But I knew they were watching in spirit! Nervousness of the next day was not upon me yet, I was just so beyond excited to be on the start line soon.
Saturday -
It was race day. My goal has already been achieved and this was just the "cherry on top of the cake on top of the ice cream" - shoutout to my girl, Sydney Segal. But I still couldn't believe I was even here, I made it. I had my usual breakfast then I put on the uniform to represent the Southeast. As I braided my hair, I just had to remember that these are the same braids I ran in in the beginning when I started running at age 6...nothing is different about the race, it's just like all the others.
As I headed down the elevator, I needed my pump up music so I turned my iPod to high volume blasting the classic Ignition Remix by R Kelly. I did get some strange looks but I just danced more for them. I was excited and ready to run. When we arrived at Portland Meadows, our region met and stretched a little. I took out my sharpie and wrote some things I needed to remind myself why I was racing today on my arm. My team, my coach, God, and for myself because its what I love to do. Introductions came and running through the fog puts so much hype on the race. When we got to the start, I did my usual strides and just had fun with the music that was playing.
The gun went off and the pace was immediately fast. I tried to get out with that top 30. The mud was insane. It felt like I was racing in quick sand. Within the first 200 meters, I dodged about three or four girls that had fallen and created dog piles after dog piles of girls. My legs were dead within the first half mile but I knew I had to keep pushing. My favorite, the whoop-dee doos came and I embraced it to the best of my ability. The cameras were following us everywhere.
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Is this what they mean by Nike Waffles?
Time was out the window, I didn't even hear anyone shouting splits. I felt like I was jogging the entire time. At one point I looked down at myself and thought this is just sick. I am covered in mud from head to toe and we call it fun. Although I was hurting, we all still call this a sick fun sport. This was true cross country running. I finished in 48th and I was proud. I moved up 81 spots from last year. These girls are so incredibly talented and I was just honored to be racing them. At the end I gave the Southeast girls a big hug! Then my boy, Andrew Wheating waved me over for an interview. I thanked him a million times for that and went off to take pictures. This race was probably the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my life. And it was said to be the muddiest year they've ever had at NXN. Now it was time to celebrate. Karaoke and the dance were so fun! The closing ceremonies were also inspiring to watch and see all the elite athletes for the last time. Nike Cross Nationals 2012 will be an unforgettable experience.
I just wanted to thank all y'all for supporting me throughout the season. I am so happy to be able to represent Alabama this year at NXN. Thanks to my coaches, my teammates, my parents, and my family for always believing in me.
OTHER MEMORIES OF THE TRIP
