Written by Cheyanne Mumphrey
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Do you have your warmups? Do you have your flats? Don't forget your water! We should go to the bathroom before the drive. I have snacks!
In the same way that one prepares for a road trip the NAU women's cross country team prepares for travel. Whether it's by plane, bus or van, the girls are always ready to take their talent on the road.
It was an early sunny morning in Flagstaff and the team was arriving, runner by runner, in front of the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome. Today's opponents were Arizona runners from various schools in the state, but they had to get there first.
There were multiple conversations happening; there was talk of upcoming tests and uncompleted homework, who was wearing the coolest shoes and what everyone had for breakfast. It was a very casual scene which is unsurprising considering these girls see each other nearly everyday — and it wasn't just the girls.
The men, too, were there waiting to compete in the same meet down in Phoenix, Ariz.
Once Director of Track and Field and Cross Country Eric Heins arrived, the mood remained unchanged. He drove the van up, followed by another van, to where the athletes were waiting and assessed who was missing. As soon as everyone used the restroom, filled up their waters and triple-checked their things, they loaded the vans — boys in one, girls in another.
Normally, the members of the women's cross country team, depending on their individual schedules, were in class studying hard, but today was meet day and they had a competition to win.
There were three rows of seats behind Heins and Sam Lodygowski, their athletic trainer, and each row sat two athletes. They know each other so well that it doesn't matter who sits with who, they are all friends.
Between sleeping, singing songs and sharing the latest social media photos and memes, the van vibes were good. Heins even broke into song a few times.
They were about an hour from their destination when they stopped for food at The Anthem Outlet Mall. Heins waited for all of the girls — and the guys — to exit the vans before giving them money, a time limit and advice on what to eat.
They had enough time to stretch out their legs and get a meal before getting back on the van an hour later to finish the drive to the meet.
It wasn't until they got off the highway and saw the course, the Papago Golf Course, that the game faces were on.
After setting up, hydrating and getting prepared, the race commenced.
"Going out I didn't really feel that good, but then I saw there weren't that many girls in front of me and it kind of motivated me," freshmen runner Caitlin Heldt said. "I saw Miranda [Myers] up there and I felt like I had to help her out, so I went up there. After that I just kept pulling off girls and I felt good. I mean I'm sore, but I felt good."
Heldt finished first for NAU in the women's 3-mile race at 18:28.78 and overall the girls came in third behind Arizona State and University of Arizona.
After a good job from Heins, the vans were loaded and they were headed back to Flagstaff. It was a very similar drive filled with more sleeping than anything else. They stopped for dinner and it was dark by the time they returned.
Traveling is a privilege in the athletic world and being able to compete for your teammates, your coach, your sport and your school is something these Division I athletes pride themselves in — and the women's cross country runners are no exception.
Whether they get there by plane, bus or van, these girls will arrive ready to compete.
