Preseason week redux: Memories of a new beginning

As preseason week comes to an end, here are a few random memories from what was a busy but great week with our big cross country squads:
--Early-morning grocery shopping at Stop & Shop in Hyde Park -- astounding the check-out person with carts filled with bananas, apples, Gatorade, bottled water, Granola bars, etc. This was done in an effort to feed the team with breakfast food without having our budget fleeced. It worked out well!

--Getting an extra large coffee from Stewart’s (where else?) on the way in each morning, for sophomore Brie Vess. This technically counts as “supplying our athletes with breakfast” in the morning. Don’t worry, we were keeping score and we fully expect this second-generation Vess to hook up this old man with some coffee in the future this semester and beyond.

--Chillin’ with No. 1 XC and Marist fan “The Kleecker” in the Stop & Shop parking lot, as I loaded the groceries into my hopelessly cluttered trunk. Everyone knows The Kleecker, and he truly is our #1 fan.

--The return of the team relay – in this case, for 6 hours. We stationed ourselves at Foy and enjoyed a great day of relay running – and Frisbee, wiffleball, video games, etc. -- on a sunny Friday. Kudos to the team captains who came up with the idea of reviving this great tradition.

--Later on Friday, we had a preseason ending team BBQ – similar to our summer BBQ – down at the Marist boathouse. This was an excellent idea by Coach Chuck, and a nice way to put a bow on a great week.

--Two trips to Minnewaska for some great mountain running. This has become standard fare for many years now.

--Introducing the new guys to the joys of pool running. At first, it is awkward, but I think the guys have taken a liking to it.

Overall, it was a great week as we embark on a new season with a new team. There are a lot of new faces here, and hopefully they feel a bit more at home in Poughkeepsie than they did just a week earlier.