Document text
- Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card - Place an Ad Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels May 14, 2004 Commentary One tough race; sort of like college Jennifer Squires My little sister, in her first year at Willamette University, decided to diversify her running experience. Although Audrey still ran a handful of 1,500-meter and 5,000-meter races on the Bearcat track team, she focused the most on the 3,000-meter steeplechase. It wasn't easy. After every race, she'd tell me how things seemed to be going so well until about two-thirds of the way through. Then those barriers and, of course, the water hazard, would start to take their toll on her. Inevitably, her final time wouldn't reflect the workouts she'd done or match up to the times she'd posted in other events. One could argue that basically any race in track and field is the "hardest" - it just depends on your perspective. But the steeplechase stands in it's own special personal-torture category. Think about it - forging through water hazards and mastering hurdles during a two-mile race. The multi-dimensional nature of the steeplechase sets it apart from other races, which is why it proved so difficult for my cross country-loving little sister. As Audrey tried to master the steeplechase this spring, I've been trying to graduate. When I say "try," I'm serious. Graduating from college, I've discovered, is just as challenging as the steeplechase. Think about it. Different, but the same In the steeplechase, those first two or three laps are kind of fun. For Audrey, she'd been preparing for it for quite some time and now, now it was really happening. Everyone was stoked to see Audrey conquer that water hazard. That last year of college started with the glory of "It's my last year. Yeah!" complete with a built-in nostalgia to everything. It was exciting because it was the last Halloween in Ashland or Raider football game or winter sledding trip in the Greensprings. Just like that steeplechase race for Audrey, it was really happening - I was on the way to graduating - and everyone was happy for me. Winter term brought this continued glow. Perhaps finishing that senior project or finding one last internship added a little stress, but it was nothing terrible. I was having a great time being a college kid for a few more months. Around the track, yeah, Audrey may be tiring out a bit. Still, her split times were on and she hadn't hit a hurdle yet. But about two-thirds of the way through, just like in the steeplechase, senior year hit me: I haven't finished yet. It's spring term and there's an incomplete I have ignored for three or four months, the prospect of having to repay student loans and, oh yeah, don't forget finding a job that utilizes my degree and pleases my parents when everything's said and done. In the steeplechase, the two-fold requirements of the race - hurdling and long-distance running - mesh well together until fatigue sets in. Then each barrier might as well be a wall and that water hazard, Audrey didn't even want to think about it. During spring term, that last third of the senior year, it feels like everything's pulling on me. The desire to spend time with friends I may never see again and have one-last-hurrah every weekend clashes with finishing senior projects, applying for jobs and mailing out graduation announcements. The barriers to overcome before June 12th transformed from "Oh, I have this one project to do" five months ago to finishing incompletes, writing a thesis and making dinner reservations for the family over graduation weekend. This week, I slowed down, looked around and realized there's a lot to do and so little time. But, no matter what, it has to happen because those announcements are already in the mail. People are going to know if I don't get it all together. In the steeplechase, with 800 meters to go, Audrey would take a look at the clock, knew she needed to pick it up and make up some ground on the girl in front of her, but she was tired. It was hard to imagine finishing, except she had to. All of these people were watching. Audrey pulled through to finish all three of the steeplechases she entered this season. She even recorded a personal record in the last one she ran two weeks ago. I figure, if she could handle those hurdles and that pit of water, I better be able to pump out a 20-page thesis in Spanish, an ethical project, an in-depth feature story, a 10-page paper and finish up my internship. Let's hope, at least. I sent out 35 announcements. And I promise, next week I'll find something other than running to write about. Really. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Click Here Site Search: .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - Mail Tribune News - ODOT Road Cams