(by Nicole Fegans)
Day 1: The amazing trip to the Foot Locker Nationals began on Thursday, December 8, on a little over a four hour flight to San Diego, California. When I arrived, a few other athletes and I headed through the airport to pick up our luggage where we were greeted by a Foot Locker official and he led us onto a charter bus to take us to the hotel. The bus ride to the hotel was beautiful. We got to go over the Coronado Bridge and see how beautiful the land truly is. Once we arrived at the hotel, we checked in and headed to our rooms. I was roomed with a girl named Page Lester, who qualified 5th at Northeast Regionals, and finished 32nd at Nationals. Once I got settled in, I went on an easy run with Anna Marian Block and Rebecca Story through the town before it was time to get our gear. The gear New Balance gave us was unbelievable. I was given multiple pairs of tops and bottoms, two pairs of shoes, some jackets and an awesome book bag. The uniforms they gave us this year were very individualized by giving each region their own symbol; the south was given a sun. After going through all the things me and my roommate got from our 'New Balance Christmas', we headed down to dinner. At dinner, there were so many different talented athletes present including Molly Huddle, Meb Keflezighi, and Boris Berian. Following dinner and decorating t-shirts, I headed off to bed, excited for what was to come.
Day 2: Friday morning, after getting some breakfast and meeting some other northeast athletes, everyone loaded onto the buses and we drove over to Balboa Park for a preview of the course. Once we arrived, we did a practice run through our intro's and started out jogging around the hilly and windy course to try and get a feel for what was to come Saturday morning. We had lunch at the hotel and then had free time to explore the hotel until dinner time. My family decided to head on over and we walked through the town looking at the different shops for a little before it was time to head back and get dressed for dinner. They served us an amazing pasta dinner that night and gave us instructions for the race which was only a few hours away. Once back at the hotel room, my roommate and I packed our bags for the next day and tried to get a goodnights sleep to make sure we were fully rested for the big day.
(photo by Ckranz)
Day 3: The morning of the race had finally arrived! I woke up full of nothing but excitement. All of the athletes grabbed breakfast from the main room then we went off to the race. As soon as I got there I put on my music and began to get myself ready for the race by stretching and warming up. Before I knew it, it was time to be introduced and line up for the race. Going into it, my goal was to make top 15 to get the all American title but never in my dreams did I imagine making it into the top 10. The race was for sure one of the hardest I had ever done. I finished and went over to see my friends and family who had come to support me. Soon after, we packed up from the race and headed back to get some lunch at the hotel. Following a picnic in the courtyard with the South teams and some interviews, the real fun began. That afternoon, I got to go ice skating right next to the beach, eat the most delicious ice cream sundae with lots of chocolate to reward myself, take some fun photos on the beach and really enjoy my last day in San Diego. At dinner that night, we were served amazing food while everyone was given awards and soon after, it was time to pack all my stuff to go back home.
(photo by Ckranz)
Day 4: The day to go home had sadly arrived. I had made so many friends and became pretty close with my roommate and I didn't want it to end. My trip to nationals is one of the most amazing things I've ever had the chance to experience in my lifetime so far. I am still unable to comprehend the fact I was able to qualify for nationals and finish where I did. Each year you hear of so many top notch athletes to qualify for this meet, and now I am somehow considered one of them. I am forever thankful to have gotten to go on this trip and I wish I had one more chance to try to do it all over again. There is no way I would be here without help from God and my family for showing me what I am truly capable of and pushing me farther than I ever thought I'd be able to go. I cannot wait to see what track season and the rest of my running career brings me.
