~:[CH15 - Day 270]:~ Unforgettable Sights

 
~:[CH15 - Day 270]:~ Unforgettable Sights

We ventured out to Multnomah Falls in the morning and got to see the beautiful signs of the falls. We were debating whether or not to head to the top and ultimately ended up trekking all the way up there. The view up there was somewhat unimpressive, but there were some good views along the way. Still yet, the view around (including the drive) was gorgeous. We wrapped up and headed to the Skibowl where we took the lift to the top of the mountain and sledded down the alpine slide. The athletes truly enjoyed it and I was glad it was something that they discovered on their own. The view heading down the mountain was gorgeous as you could see Mt. Hood in the background. Both moments were filled with sights that you'll never be able to forget. They will forever be engrained in my mind and I hope that the athletes all will have a lifelong memory. It was nice to have this extra day to experience the world around us and I only hope that tomorrow will bring a final stamp that will make this trip a success. For now, I'll look back and soak in the beautiful memories we created in these incredible sights. 

~:[CH15 - Day 269]:~ In Its Truest Form

 
~:[CH15 - Day 269]:~ In Its Truest Form

I think when we experience things in life, we don't always get the truest form of it. Do we get to try the foods we eat in its truest form or has it been adapted to fit the local cuisine? Do we celebrate a certain event the way it was intended? The list goes on and on and one these experiences in cross country. When talking to the Redondo Union coach about the race, he talked about how the course itself is the best parts of this experience. In Southern California, we race on grass and sidewalks, but at this race, we run through fields and forests. The mud and challenging terrain is part of what makes cross country, cross country. The athletes all finish with their jerseys a mess, but that is part of the memories they'll carry with them as they move forward. It's always an experience running this race and while their times are much slower than usual as they course is just that much more difficult, they often leave with smiles on their face after facing cross country in its truest form. We headed around Seaside this time before heading back to Portland, taking the long trek through the mountains and roads to get to Tillamook, before heading back to the city. It was a great experience living on base, but I know we all are looking forward to heading back to headquarters (as the sophomores refer to it), as there is one thing they won't miss, living on a military training camp in its truest form, as I know that we all will appreciate the comforts of the hotel tonight.

~:[CH15 - Day 268]:~ Unexpected

 

~:[CH15 - Day 268]:~ Unexpected

It was the day I was most worried about on this trip as we transitioned from the comforts of Portland to the barracks of Warrenton at Camp Rilea. The athletes are not used to this camp lifestyle, so adjusting to it is not always easy. Did we bring everything we needed? Would they have enough food? With a van, we decided to pick up chicken on the way since one of our athletes loves Jollibee and has been asking for it since we arrived. It was the best decision as after the early dinner, in the middle of the night, they were eating chicken in the parking lot. It seemed like all was good as we got to the camp safely. When going to the pasta feed, I imagined their old school and wondered why the map was taking me a different direction. Little did I know that their campus moved and now sat on the side of the mountain overlooking the harbor from Goonies. It was such a beautiful sight being there at sunset as we took some photos before heading into camp. It's great to have these unexpected moments when you can truly soak it all up. It's even better when it's unexpected as it WOWs you and leaves you breathless. The kids were laughing and smiling as they came back from the ice cream social. They had some funny stories to tell as they adjusted to the realities of being places outside of LA, but ultimately there were good spirits all around and that's all that mattered.

~:[CH15 - Day 267]:~ Changing Season

 

~:[CH15 - Day 267]:~ Changing Season

In places like LA, you barely notice the changing seasons. The color of the leaves don't change much and the temperature stays relatively the same. However, when arriving to Portland, the change was already evident, even though the fall has just begun as the yellows, oranges and reds were all around.  Much is like life as some are consistent while others are constantly changing and adapting. Neither can clearly be classified as the "best" way, however, it truly is amazing to watch, when someone changes, contrasting what they used to be. The Japanese Garden was a beautiful way to kick off this trip, although they were exhausted from the walk. While the leaves hadn't quite turned yet for most trees in the garden, it was still a good reminder that change is inevitable when the seasons of life change.

~:[CH15 - Day 266]:~ Floodgates

 

~:[CH15 - Day 266]:~ Floodgates

We flooded in to Tapioca Express as we had a good run. It was our final team run for the week as we'ee headed to Oregon tomorrow. it was a special food run as we had our adoptions which connect to our family tree which has existed for over 15 years. While I need to update the tree, it's still cool to see all the connections that have been made over time. By night's end, I had the mass amount of work roll in, but I managed it well by controlling the flow just like they handled our crowd today. It feels a little weird that we'll be leaving tomorrow, but with all the work I've had lately, it will be nice to get away to save myself by drowning in all of this work. Close the floodgates ... for now.

~:[CH15 - Day 265]:~ Welcomed

 
~:[CH15 - Day 265]:~ Welcomed

It's nice to see the new athletes bond together and connect, especially when they're freshmen. This group has been exceptionally spirited as they painted themselves up at the meet. Each group tends to create their own story, which allows them to continue the story, but write it in their own way. It's not a forced carbon copy, rather a natural transformation that begins by simply being welcomed. We're never going to be 100% success, but we try our best to be as successful as we can. So many obstacles have come our way, but we do our best to adapt and survive.

~:[CH15 - Day 264]:~ Better Together

 

~:[CH15 - Day 264]:~ Better Together

Celebrations happen often in life. Some people prefer to do so in private, but even if that's the case, it's nice when the people around you are there to uplift you and celebrate together with you. Personally, I don't like grandiose celebrations and being the center of attention, at the same time, it feels good to celebrate alongside others. With birthdays aplenty in cross country, it's always great to celebrate together. We try to establish a structure where the upperclassmen connect with the underclassmen and they support each other as it helps pass the torch each and every year. It doesn't always work, but we'll do our best to make this experience one that is better together.

~:[CH15 - Day 263]:~ Just Winging It

 

~:[CH15 - Day 263]:~ Just Winging It

Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) used to be one place that cross country frequented a lot. It was a little challenging at times since it was crowded, however, there were some great memories such as our mango habanero challenge. Today, a few alum gathered together to watch today's 10am games. It was a bit early, but it was fun to enjoy the wings while enjoying the game. There was a nice slate of games as a few came down to the wire, but the game we came for, went to overtime. It looked like it would end badly at first, but the turnaround made the afternoon even more exciting. I had a lot of work to do today, however, the time away allowed me to catch up with the alum, while enjoying my first day off in a quite awhile. It's been busy lately and I look forward to some time of peace and tranquility, however, the schedule also allows me to better appreciate these special moments of peace. 

~:[CH15 - Day 262]:~ Let Them Fly

 
~:[CH15 - Day 262]:~ Let Them Fly

When I thought of this year's theme, I thought of the many colors of Rio. Throughout their events, birds were also part of the presentations. As I wandered around the campus, I thought about all of these students and the freedom they felt as they danced around together, took photos together, and simply enjoyed the evening. I think many times in life, these students have so many things they have to take care of and sometimes, they also need an opportunity to let loose and fly. I always am appreciative of the effort that my MUN students put in as it required a lot of them to get their work done, so it was nice to see them dancing around and enjoying the evening without the worry of the work they had to do. I'm excited for where they will all head in the future, but it's moments like tonight that help me appreciate what is lost without the full high school experience. While going to a good college and getting a good job is important, the best way for them to learn to fly is to experience life, bot the good and the bad. The students were jumping around as I took one final glance at the quad, and I was happy to see them smiling and laughing during this wonderful and joyous evening. 

~:[CH15 - Day 261]:~ At the Speed of Light

 

~:[CH15 - Day 261]:~ At the Speed of Light

Woodbridge always tends to be the athletes favorite race. Great competition, fast PRs and a lot of ways to enjoy the day. Despite how chaotic it can be, I always enjoy seeing these athletes chase their PRs and run their best times of the year. It can get a little chaotic at the end of the night gathering everyone together, however, it's always fun to pause and remember some of these great moments. We snapped a shot of the team and also of the seniors at the meet and I was glad to have captured this moment. Time continues to pass year after year and it seems to speed up. However, for each class that passes through, many of these moments will be a freeze frame in their lives. Whether or not they PRed here, they may or may not remember, but they will remember the laughs they had, the memories together, and simply the time they spent together. 

~:[CH15 - Day 260]:~ Introducing ...

~:[CH15 - Day 260]:~ Introducing ...

Our cross country "rally" became an assembly this year. As difficult as it was to have an early rally and also to have two since it was an assembly, it was fun and memorable as usual to have the athletes get the attention they deserve. These students work hard and it's always nice when they get a chance to be spotlighted for their efforts. It was fun to introduce them, although my voice was left hoarse at the end of the day. The homecoming game later that evening was canceled, so a cloud hung over the day as the students were disappointed, but I know that this assembly still helped lift some of their spirit at the end of the day. It was the amazing efforts of the students that made today a successful one and I was glad that they could get their well-deserved time in the spotlight.

~:[CH15 - Day 259]:~ Comforts of Home

 
~:[CH15 - Day 259]:~ Comforts of Home

It was a very productive day as I caught up on a number of things. The day seemed to speed by, however, I took a break to grab a drink in the middle of all the madness. A lot of things happened right out of the gate and trying to navigate through it all was quite the challenge. While the warmth at the end of the day (as I talked about yesterday) is soothing, the ultimate comfort is when you solve all of the problems that lie before you. It can't always be the case, but when the opportunity arises, I like to seize it. I did what I could today and rolled to the next. I found some comfort when I stopped by Tapioca Express and took in my favorite drink. It helped refresh me, recharge me and ultimately, helped me find some peace in the midst of this chaos. Ultimately, despite it all, I felt comforted and because of it, I kept my focus and stayed motivated for the busy days ahead. 

~:[CH15 - Day 258]:~ Let's Warm Our Heart

~:[CH15 - Day 258]:~ Let's Warm Our Heart

It was raining. Scratch that, pouring. I had three bags with me that weren't completely covered by the umbrella. It was a struggle, but I made it. I arrived to the train on time, but when the doors open, there was no room. I scrambled and made it on the train. In the end, I made every transfer and comfortably enough, made it to my destination. I sat down and wanted nothing more than something warm and that's exactly what I got. A warm bowl of ramen. Life can be tumultuous, but at the end of the day, I think all we want is something warm to come home to. A comforting home or a warm embrace, there are things that can help make our challenging days better. Sometimes things work out and at other times, they don't, but no matter how things turn out, I hope we can find some warmth at the end of the day. It was a long and exhausting day, but in the end, there were many things that brought my happiness and because of that, I felt warm inside. Aside from wanting that for ourselves, I hope we can be the warmth that others need at the end of a long and exhausting day, week, month or year. Let's lean on each other and shield each other from the challenges of life. 

 

~:[CH15 - Day 257]:~ No Pearl, No Problem

 
~:[CH15 - Day 257]:~ No Pearl, No Problem

Enjoying the cheaper prices abroad, I indulged just a bit and it didn't hurt the wallet at all. However, as stated many times before, the good food paled in comparison to the enjoyable moments I had throughout the day. I actually had an easier morning as I got to catch up on some work. I headed out with a lighter load than most days and ran some errands. As I did, I saw a Pokemon snack and decided to play the game. "Let's get a snack," I thought. Well, 200 yen later, the pile of all the prizes came tumbling down into the prize shoot. Just over $1 netted me 13 bottled drinks and ten Pokemon cookie snacks. Good news, the prizes; bad news, my light load was no longer. I lugged around the bag to a locker near my final meeting, knowing it would be the smartest place to leave it. I finished up what I had to before my meeting as I enjoyed our dinner even more, knowing I got a break from the "workout." We laughed as I shared the story of my winnings. I didn't end up with a pearl in my oyster, but the gem of the day was the connections and quality time I spent both in my meetings and ending with my friends. I closed it all out with a memorable evening and although my body was sore, my heart was once again full, leaving me with a treasure that nobody could ever take away.

~:[CH15 - Day 256]:~ Celebrating Together

 
~:[CH15 - Day 256]:~ Celebrating Together

My scheduled got a little switched around with an event being canceled. It allowed me to move a meeting earlier in the day so I didn't have such a tight schedule later in the day. It was nice. Although I had a heavy load to lift through the day because of everything I needed for various moments, it was worth it. After a meeting that turned our well, I had a few moments to wander, before I headed out to the evening event. It was a birthday celebration performance and what I like about idols is that they create an event where they can celebrate together. You see the love and energy they put into these performances, as they are doing if for someone they love and appreciate. There was so much good energy in the crowds as while I wasn't tasked with anything specific for this event, I still enjoyed the celebration and captured so many wonderful moments. It's challenging when in these special moments you turn around and don't have anyone cheering you on, so I do hope that we surround ourselves with amazing people who will be there for us when we celebrate moments such as these, as well as in moments that can be tough to bear. I hope it's also a reminder to make an effort to be that person for someone else, especially when we know, there are few who are there for them when it matters most.  I sat back a bit and enjoyed the energy and truly know that she had an amazing birthday celebration, one she'll remember forever, knowing it all happened because of those who were alongside her in this very moment - celebrating together.

~:[CH15 - Day 255]:~ When the Light Shines

 
~:[CH15 - Day 255]:~ When the Light Shines

I love working with artists who bring hope and joy to others. I worked with two who did it in their own ways. I was a bit crazy to think this schedule would work out, but I trekked a bit over three hours out to Chofu before crossing back over four hours to Shibuya. It was a challenging day, but in the end, it worked out. Even amongst the shadows casts inside the train in Chofu, one artists lit up the moment. Her always cheerful and energetic energy was shared with all those in attendance. It was also great to see her family supporting her during the performance amongst the many fans there. It was a bit of a challenge finding the right spot in a limited space, but there were many moments when the light shone just right and made a moment magical. I guess that's life. We'll have to work and weaver ourselves through various shadows cast in our lives, but those moments when the light shines in our life are magical. They stand out compared to those other moments and truly are incredible. I always hope that this light is everlasting, however, I know that the challenging moments are also awaiting. As I trekked back to Shibuya, it was strange that the contrasting view was casts, a performance themes "After Tears." I think that darkness in life helps us appreciate the shining light and when the tears flow, it also helps us bring more meaning to the happiness that follows in life. Sometimes the sadness lingers, but at some point, the hope for better things brings sunshine into our lives. I was once again exhausted, but filled with joy and hope that the light of the world would shine on my path ahead. Even when shadows were cast and challenging moments required me to endure, the hope of what shined ahead and I hope that this perseverance could continue as I trekked on this journey ahead. I've endured the ups and downs in life and I only hope that these experiences will help me to continue to appreciate the light that shines like it did today. 

~:[CH15 - Day 254]:~ Nice Meeting You

 
~:[CH15 - Day 254]:~ Nice Meeting You

I had a bunch of meetings lineup right away. I enjoyed meeting people from various field from stylists to designers and more. We enjoyed good food and conversation. For those I knew, it was nice to reconnect and for those who I just met, it was great to learn more about them. As we chatted, the topic of 9/11 came up, which was a bit of a surprise to me while I was abroad. A little sadness entered as I thought about all the lives that changed. It reminded me of just how fragile life can be and how something so sturdy can be gone in an instant. I guess that's why I cherish these opportunities to meet people. I genuinely want to make connections and memories and I was able to do that today. You never know what life will throw at you on any given day, so cherish each moment. Disasters, pain, and suffering will happen, but no matter what happens in your life, keep building and focusing on surrounding yourself with people that will help you build (or rebuild) a world you want to see. From the ashes of 9/11 came many stories of heroism amongst the tragedy, connection amongst the lost, and hope amongst the pain, as it serves as a reminder that we can endure, especially when we do it together. 

~:[CH15 - Day 253]:~ Simply Enjoy

 
~:[CH15 - Day 253]:~ Simply Enjoy

I tried to finish up some work, but ran out of time, as I headed out. Instead of worrying about the pile of work, I tried to simply enjoy the break I had. It was kind of nice being restricted from doing things as I finished up what I could do, they used the rest of the time to search through the choices of food available. I grabbed my meal and then headed on my way, wondering what adventures awaited ahead. I know the worry of things that need to be taken care of will swirl around in my mind, however, they'll just have to wait as there's not much I can do about it now. Enjoy your here and now, but sometimes it takes your inability to do something to help you realize how much you truly needed a little delay in your schedule. While I will hit the ground running, at least I was able to hit pause for just a moment before the sprint ahead. 

~:[CH15 - Day 252]:~ A Little Heated

 ~:[CH15 - Day 252]:~ A Little Heated

By 6am, we were already at the park setting up. The gate to the park wasn't open yet. It's a lot different than our previous league, but it was nice to work with someone to setup since I don't have to carry the full load of work. However, with a super conference can sometimes come super problems. With the heat climbing much higher than anticipated, we already knew that we probably couldn't make it through all the races, at least not without adjustments. The coaches met and we seemed to be on the same wavelength, trying to figure out what the combine when another coach comes in and says, "we're not chaning the schedule." We looked at each other thinking, "what?" He called his admin over who said the same thing. At the very least, we could have run the varsity teams first, instead we started as normal, then they tried to combine races at the last minute to try to get the races done. I was pretty heated. It may have simply been the heat, but over ten coaches were ready and willing to make the change so we could get the main races done. We devised a plan based on common sense after a coach went over the projected timeline for the heat index. A majority of the coaches seemed to be on board, yet a single coach stopped it. It got dismissed, only for them to try and revert back to a similar plan that we proposed earlier. It wasn't a great start to the new conference. While we cannot control the weather, we can control our plan to prepare for the worst. We can think of ways to solve what's ahead of us and often, we can come across something that works. However, we will also come across those who try to get in the way, who can get you a little heated as they impede progress or at least how much progress you're capable under the given circumstances. Do what you can, but at the end of the day, you may have just go back to the drawing board and find a way to maneuver around those obstacles. Life is a puzzle, but not just any puzzle. It tends to change all the time, ever being the same. As time passes, sometimes it gets easier, but often, a new wrinkle is thrown in to throw us off. When that wrinkle comes, iron it out. Take some time to assess and figure it out before you figure out your next steps and often, you'll find yourself a litlte more clear headed and ready to face what's ahead. Who knows what will help next meet, but all I know is, we left today knowing we need to step up a bit more to overcome those who may simply be there to make it harder for us all. Wish us luck!

~:[CH15 - Day 251]:~ Final Prep

 

~:[CH15 - Day 251]:~ Final Prep

In a new conference, it feels a little weird getting ready for our race tomorrow. Very little info and also not as much work today. With other coaches taking the brunt of the work, I no longer have piles and piles of work, however, there are still things to do. It also keeps me out of the loop a bit, so at times it's a little unnerving as I don't always know what is going on. Regardless, I can still prep my athletes by going over the course and various race strategies. The benefit of 6th period is there is an opportunity to meet with them and go over things. With a lot of other things going on that I'm getting ready for, this was one of many things that would lead me to this late night, trying to squeeze everything in. Let's hope I'm ready as tomorrow is a new experience and you never can predict how these types of moments will go. Wish me luck!