Continuing the Tradition

This past week I had the opportunity to listen to a passionate, distinguished speaker about the history of Luther College cross country. This speaker was Coach Kent Finanger, the former cross country coach at Luther who spent 28 years working with the men's and women's teams, getting to know each person on the team and make them the best runner they could be. He is now retired, but his passion for the sport and his will to succeed was still coming through loud and clear- as if he was the current coach.

This wonderful talk took place last Thursday night before the team took off Friday for the Roy Griak race at the University of Minnesota. We had a team dinner at a freshman male runner's house, and it so happens that Coach Finanger is his grandfather. The meal was delicious, beating the caf by a long shot, but the talk by Coach was the highlight of the evening.

I learned that 2009 will be the 50th anniversary of the men's cross country team competing in the IIAC (Iowa Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) and that Coach Finanger has been the only Luther XC coach to have a team win nationals, which was in 1985. That is really something special.

He reminded the current team of our responsibility to run for each other, this family that we have, and that our actions should always reflect well on Luther College and be pleasing to God. He wrote down some of his thoughts and coaching phrases for us to have, and the following quote from Coach Finanger encompasses exactly what I've experienced on the team:

"Luther College Cross Country Family: Our lives are woven together with strands of Respect and Trust, Love and Friendship, Commitment and Family. Each is a Fiber of Strength in a Secure and Lasting Relationship"

The ties that connect Luther runners do feel like those of a family, and it's neat to see that the passion and love Coach Finanger felt when he was coaching is still being felt today. At the Griak meet it was awesome to see and hear all of the fans who were out there supporting Luther-parents, alumni, High school coaches and teams, and people I didn't even know. The support for Luther cross country continues to build. The tradition of hard work, love, and trust is passed on so that more people become part of the family.

Finding Time for Faith

Being in college means my days are pretty full with classes, practices, work, and time with friends. So why is it that some days go by when I get to cross off multiple things from my "To Do" list and enjoy time with friends, but I still feel unfulfilled, like something's missing? I've realized that missing piece has to do with my faith.

Luther provides many opportunities for students to grow in their faith. There are two worship services on Sundays- a traditional service in the morning and FOCUS, a student-led contemporary service at night. Many Bible study groups meet regularly and some even go together to Decorah churches on the weekends. Clubs, like Fellowship of Christian Athletes, also provide a way to meet fellow students with similar beliefs and interests. These options are all outside of the education realm, but Luther also requires students to take at least 2 religion courses before they can graduate. These courses may span multiple religions and eras, and are not like Sunday School.

Plenty of opportunities exist to strengthen my faith, but sometimes it's easy to just let that part of my life go unchecked with everything else keeping me busy. Last year I regularly attended church Sunday mornings on campus and even went with friends to a couple of different churches in Decorah. I also joined FCA and a bible study group that met Wednesday nights, which provided a great place to discuss what I was learning in the 2 religion classes that I took. I enjoyed being able to talk about the differences in what I had learned about the Bible growing up versus what the professors here were teaching. It definitely allowed me to examine what I truly believed.

This year, though, has been a bit of a challenge with a new schedule and new responsibilities. I don't have any religion classes, which I really enjoyed last year and they were an easy way to get me reading the Bible. I've gone to church on campus this year, but find my mind wandering during the service. Often I think that my best connections with God occur during some of my runs for cross country where I can enjoy nature and clearly see His power all around.

So I was thrilled this past Wednesday when I met with my Bible study group from last year and we had a great discussion. I'm also excited that FCA will be starting up again. It's great to spend time strengthening a part of me that is so easy to neglect. It's also relieving to be reminded that no matter what I'm going through, I have a loving God to watch over me and help me through.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
-Proverbs 3:5

Back to the Future

As much as I didn't want it to happen, I knew the day would come. I tried my best to push it out of my mind and not think about it. I told myself to just enjoy the moment and make the most of the time I had left with that special group of ladies...

Last year's experiences running cross country and track were phenomenal. I never wanted to have to say good-bye to the seniors who made my first year on the team so much fun. What would the team be like without them?...

------------------------

My eyelids open, a dull light is coming into the room from the window. It looks a bit hazy and overcast outside. Perfect weather for running. Personally I'm hoping it doesn't rain today, but I know the forecast isn't in my favor. Our cross country course could have some big mud holes if it rains a lot.

I get up, brush my teeth, throw on some clothes and head down to the locker room. Some other runners on my floor are heading out too. The overall consensus is that it doesn't seem like a race day. Since we are hosting the meet there's not the usual bus ride to get our minds focused on the race ahead. Today that focus will come in the locker room, on the warm-up, and on the starting line.

Another factor taking our minds off of the race is the fact that many of us have parents and siblings who will be coming to cheer and spend the day with us. Questions fly about people's plans with their families and what they'll do if it rains.

In the midst of this chatter, I realize another reason this doesn't seem quite like a regular race day. The alumni will be back and they will be running with us! That thought just brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart as I think about seeing Hokie, Mel, Hillary, and Heidi (the ladies who were seniors last year) wearing the Norse blue again. As we continue to the locker room I can just imagine their cheerful voices and welcoming smiles that I was first introduced to a year ago, those smiles that I never wanted to say good-bye to.

It's Heidi who I see and hear first. She comes into the locker room just like old times. I feel like my mind is playing tricks on me. It's like one of those puzzles where you have to figure out how picture 2 is different from picture 1. To me it feels exactly like last year with Heidi still being one of the senior leaders. I remind myself that time has passed and things have changed. But have they really?

Hokie, Mel, and Hillary are all in a pack as I run up to them grinning like a goof-ball. It's so great to see them again and I can't stop smiling! All I can think about is how different (not necessarily bad) the team is without them and how I miss having them around to run with every day. I realize how much these ladies impacted me in my first year at Luther, and how much they are connected to my ideas about what Luther XC is all about.

The gun goes off and the Luther Alumni are right with us, all in a big blue pack. I hear the supportive voices of those Alumni, "Let's go Norse" "Work together now", just like last year. The Norse family and pride still running strong.

------------------------

It was great to run with those teammates again, those ladies who will forever in my mind be the ones who introduced me to the fun family of Norse runners. I realize that last year was something special to be cherished and remembered forever. But now it's time to turn my attention to this season, which calls for all of the same hard work, passion, and love that I experienced last year. It's time to make the most of today and enjoy my time with this special group of ladies.

Potty Talk

Being at college where students' minds are constantly working, being filled with new information and challenged by what others are saying, it is no surprise the diverse and wacky topics that arise at the dinner table, in dorm rooms, or on a long bus ride home from a cross country meet. So I was not at all shocked when last week the discussion at dinner turned toward the new "sweet" toilets that have been put in the new science building.

This fall Luther is proudly opening its new eco-friendly Sampson Hoffland Laboratories building. It will house the biology and chemistry labs, as well as some offices for the science professors. From the outside, one sees beautiful landscaping and many windows showing the comfortable study lounges right inside the main doors. Just glancing at this masterpiece will make any student wish they were a biology major (if only for a few minutes).

Now back to the subject of these new toilets. At dinner some of the guys were raging about how neat these porcelain bowls were. These toilets not only just flush, they have 2 options for flushing! Option 1 is when only liquid waste is present. In this case the handle should be pushed up. Option 2 is when solid waste needs to go down, and in that case the handle should be pushed down. These choices aren't just to make patrons feel more empowered during their bathroom experience. Rather, it is to save on water and electricity. When the handle is pushed up to get rid of liquid waste, less water is used than when the handle is pushed down.

And so after hearing all about these new potties, I decided I couldn't wait until my labs this week to see for myself actually how cool they were. So I wandered across the street and prepared myself to be amazed. I found out that not only are the toilets pretty high-tech, the whole bathroom is aimed at conserving resources. As I tentatively pushed open the bathroom door the motion-censored lights flickered on not wasting electricity when the bathroom is empty. Then I noticed that the handle on the toilet also has a green coating on it to fight germs! I really like that added amenity, hopefully saving students from spreading nasty colds throughout the year. The sinks are also motion-censored and will cut down on wasted water. All of these things will help reduce the mark that Luther leaves on the environment, and that's just in the bathroom! The rest of the Sampson Hoffland building is also very environmentally friendly- special windows, air circulation, and more.

Be sure to stop by and see this new addition to our campus. It is pretty neat (and not just the bathrooms). If you won't be on campus, you can check out pictures here.

One of the guys at dinner that night actually stood in the bathroom and repeatedly flushed the toilet just because it was so cool, which kind of defeats the whole purpose of the new toilets - but I guess the draw of these toilets will at least get people into the new building!

One Year Wiser

I have now been at Luther for one week, after coming to campus a little early for cross country practice. It's amazing how much difference a year can make in how comfortable I feel here. On the drive up to Luther on move-in day I was thinking about how my feelings and knowledge differed from moving in as a freshmen. This year I knew where my mom should park the car in order to unload and move my stuff into my dorm. I knew who my roommate would be and who else would be living on my floor. This year I knew where the track was and where to meet for our first practice. And, best of all, I knew who would be there to greet me when I arrived- my wonderful friends and teammates.

As a sophomore I just feel a little bit older and wiser. For example, this year I actually know where I'm running when people say we are on Dug Road or Van Peenan Trails. The street names and trails are no longer a foreign language like they were at the beginning of last year. Also, I don't need to have my campus map out every time I leave my dorm room in order to figure out which way I should be heading. This time around I have an idea of what to expect from college courses and how much homework is involved. Nevertheless, each semester brings about new classes, new professors, and new challenges.

I am very excited to be on campus and to be running with the cross country team. As an older, wiser student I realize that my role has changed. I am no longer the lost, excited, anxious, homesick, giddy freshman girl of one year ago. Now I get to be the one who welcomes and greets all of the lost, excited, anxious, homesick, giddy freshmen, showing them the ropes, and reassuring them that they will, in fact, survive college life. I get to give out the advice to the new runners on the team and try to convince them that racing in 'buns' really isn't that bad.

I am enjoying the perks of being a sophomore: air-conditioned dorms, free time outside of orientation meetings and paideia class, but with all classes starting this Wednesday, I know my free time will dwindle. Although some thoughts resembling those of last year may cross my mind as the week unfolds, (What have I gotten myself into?!) now I have a little more confidence and experience to know that I'll be just fine.

I hope everyone will keep up with my new adventures this year. I will be trying out a new job at Legends, the fitness center on campus, as well as attempting to teach preschool kids and kids ages 5-8 some Spanish! It should be interesting and entertaining. Comments are always welcome and I'm looking forward to sharing my second year at Luther with you.