July 17-19
Monte and I spent three days and two nights at a cross-country camp that Monte organized for his team. The purpose of this camp was to build strong relationships with each other and to get some intense training in before school starts. This year we based the camp out of Mr. Pleasant. We stayed in the dorms of a private high school – Wasatch Academy. In years past I have always been the cook. This year the school provided all the meals. I don’t mind cooking, but it was really enjoyable this year to relax and just enjoy being with the team. We stayed in Mr. Pleasant so that we could be close to Skyline Drive., which is where we did most of the running.
Some of the highlights of the camp were:

* 5K at 10K race – the athletes all ran in a 5K (3.1) mile race at the end of the camp. The elevation of the race was 10,000 feet.

* Bluebird Trail – first run of the camp on a trail that was breathtaking!

* Pool Workout & College Tour – we went down to Snow College to take a campus tour and to use their swimming facilities for a pool workout. Snow College put on a great tour that ended with everyone getting a Snow College t-shirt. We then had a great time in the pool. After Monte lead a great workout in the pool the athletes all had fun playing in the water.

*Olympian Josh McAdams – Josh and his wife, Whitney (who has helped Monte coach the past two years), came and spend the week with us and the team. It was great to have them both there. Josh gave a great speech to the athletes that was very motivational and inspiring. We will miss having them both around as they are moving to Tennessee after the Olympics. Watch for Josh in the 3000 Meter Steeplechase at the Beijing Olympics.

* Gooseberry Reservoir – Running along skyline drive and ending at Gooseberry Reservoir for lunch and a swim.