Covering High School Track & Cross-Country in the Redwood Empire
The Course in Photos
Michael Lucid has been taking photos at Spring Lake meets for me and you since 2010.
I have gone back and picked a few of the 100,000, not kidding, photos he has up on his flickr page.
Below I will try and take you around the course using his shots.
There use to be a joke about what is in the water in the Redwood Empire shortly after we had our third National Champion in seven years. Well maybe you are looking at it.
But first lets just enjoy this wonderland of this place.
It is a place to view all kinds of beautiful wildlife.Who hasn’t strolled out onto the dock?Lawn care provided. One way to enjoy the lake.And yes there are fish in there.If your not there to race it is a beautiful place for a walk.So peaceful.Nature wonderland.It’s just a little over 2 miles to walk all the way around the lake.The mountains surrounding.As a footnote I got to swim in the lake once while competing in a triathlon.We love the park to run in but cyclist and horseback riders enough the trails just as much.Don’t forget to look up.SailingWhether it’s a sunny day or a foggy one this is a great place to be.
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Now onto the course.
First thing we have to do is get all the coaches together for a meeting.This is the time for the coaches to make sure the team they are running against isn’t using members who have aged out.Then the officials take over.Make sure the crowds have been moved out of the running path.Then the rooting sections can start up.
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The start
Starter gets them on the line.Final instructions are given.On your marks.They are off.And the herd moves forward.They slowly start to spread out.Keep your footing.So many colors.And if someone goes down in the first straight away they go back and try again.
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It’s early on and the pack starts up the first incline.
Parking lot first incline.A lead bike is nice to have to keep the runners on course.
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More of the first mile.
Starting around the water towers.Back down by the water front at about the one mile mark.
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The second mile.
Area after the first mile can be very wet.Or it can be bone dry.Or even have a layer of extra padding on the ground.On rare occasions you might find that no one has broken away yet.Then the runners break out of the forest for the first time for the crowds to see.Finish/Start area is to the right of this photo.Heading around the south side of the lake.Almost to the turn off to head up to top of the south dam.Up we go.At the far end of the dam will be about 1.75 miles.Turn down this trail to head back towards parking lot.Watch your footing on this section.Crossing the 2 mile mark around here.
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The third mile.
Steep downhill ahead and a crowd waiting to cheer you on with less than a mile to go.Just past the 2 mile markerAnd the crowds go wild. Back onto the path on the west side of the lake.2.25 miles with one more hill to get over.Your so tired now but this is real cross country and if you don’t watch your step you could go downLast uphill.All downhill from here.
Finally the finish line is in site.Finish line.
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The after party.
Meet is over. Was it a good day boys? You bet.Time to announce the awards.If the top ten would please line up over here.OK team lets line up for one last big group shot.
