By Caitlin Cole – @DHSCCTF
Week 2 of Team Blogs! Within the last week we had a meet at Portsmouth and one at
Timberlane (girls won both)! Getting back into the racing season is like jumping into a cold pool—
you just have to get it over with, and it’s uncomfortable at first, but soon enough you’ll be okay.
I feel like I can say that for the most part, the rust has been busted.
And, after a few smaller meets, we are prepped and ready to go for the Manchester Invite this Saturday! I feel like everyone has a love-hate relationship with Derryfield Park (some hate it far more than they love it). It’s a course that we give a lot of sweat and a few tears to every year (twice a year for some!) but I will say that we really did have a lot of fun at Manch last year, and I personally cannot wait to do it again. We’ll leave Dover at 7 a.m. (I do not love that part) and spend almost our entire Saturday at Derryfield Park, spending way too much money and time at the merch tent and Kona Ice Truck.
Our team is big enough that we can split up our runners into different races. Manch has the
Freshman 2 mile race, the JV 2 mile, the JV 5k, and then small-school and large-school 5ks. From my
perspective, it’s so awesome that we are able to put our runners into so many races because then
you’ll have something to look forward to every half-hour instead of just waiting until it’s time
for your race. Dover will have runners in the Freshman race, both JV races and the large-school 5k.
In order to give more insight into our mindsets going into Manch, here are a few individual
thoughts from the girl’s team. Alyson is a veteran going into her 6th race at Derryfield; Anique is
one of our stars but is a cross-country newbie; I (Caitlin) have run both courses but am in the
2-mile this year; and Izi is an injured veteran who will spend her day spectating.
Alyson: “Even before my first race at the Derryfield Park course, I had already been told stories
from the upperclassman about the daunting course. How many giant hills there are, the sheer amount
of competitors in one race, and how good it feels to cross the finish line there. The mention of
running up a ski hill terrified me as a freshman. For me, running at the Manchester Invite the past
few years was my first time realizing I loved being able to compete and I enjoy being in an
environment where everyone else loved it too. The countless tents, infinite line for sweatshirts,
and the constant cheering from parents excite me to my core every time I’m there. I know the course
is demanding, but I also know I have so much faith in my teammates, and we’ll always be proud of
each other no matter what.
I’ve seen this course through snow, rain, mud, sun, and heat, making the experience unique
every time we’re there. Because this is my senior year, I only have two more chances to race at
Derryfield before college. I’m focusing less on being nervous, and going into race day trusting my
training, turning nerves to excitement, and being grateful I get to run with my
best friends.”
Anique: “Since this is my first cross country season, I have never ran at the Manchester Invite
before. Even so, throughout past seasons I have heard countless stories from my teammates about
their personal experiences at this meet. Through their stories, I have gained an understanding of
what to be excited for, and what to anticipate when racing at the Derryfield Park course. I have
been told that this course has many hills and is more challenging than some of the other races we
will compete in throughout the season, but I feel as if my teammates and I are ready to take on
this challenge together. Our coaches have instilled confidence in us through training and helping
us prepare for this event throughout the season. Even though this is technically our fourth meet of
this season, it’ll be the first meet where it will truly feel as if we are all full out racing a 5k
course. I’m looking forward to competing with lots of other teams that we haven’t seen yet this
season. I’m also excited to watch my teammates compete in their races throughout the day, and to be
competing at a meet with such a high energy atmosphere.”
Caitlin: “It’s proving to be hard to come up with things to say about Manch, because I have so many
mixed feelings about Derryfield Park. My sophomore year, I ran the first part of the 5k course but
had to drop out because I (stupidly) decided to race while injured (that came back around to bite
me. Don’t do that). So my first experience was not great. But last year, coming out of a rough
summer and still getting back into things, I decided to do the JV 2-mile. I had so much fun. Legitimately! I never got to do it as a freshman. The race is early enough in the day so you can get it over with, but you still have enough time to prepare, and the course, despite still having that huge hill after the 1-mile mark, goes by so fast. And the second mile is almost all downhill, which I love. So I’m doing it again. I can’t wait to see all of my teammates run— the freshies, our varsity squad… I love it all. I love how you can see the runners multiple times during the race. I’m very excited to bring home some more Manch swag and hug my teammates (and my mom) at the finish line. The Manchester Invite reminds me why I love running.
Izi: I have a love-hate relationship with the Manch course. The first part of the course is
practically all uphill but the last mile is mostly downhill (which is my favorite part). And then
comes the thrilling ending where everyone is lined up for the last 400 meters cheering you on as
you feel seconds away from wanting to crawl to the finish line. The Manch Invite is a good preview
for states every year and although I won’t be racing it this year, I am hopeful that I will be back
to run it at states. I am still very excited to watch all the races this Saturday because it is
such a fun atmosphere to be in when there are so many teams with various talented runners. I am
also so excited to see how the team does since this is their first invitational of the season and I
know that even though I’m not racing, I will still feel as nervous and eager to race like the rest
of the team.”
I don’t know if you can ever really prepare yourself for Derryfield… at least we’ll try. The team
Spag is already scheduled for Friday and will hopefully help to calm some nerves. For now, we just
have to trust our training, because the hard work is done— all we have to do on Saturday is
execute. No matter what happens, I know that our team is all here for each other, and that we are
going to be coming home with a lot more Manchester Invite merch than we left with.
