Feb. 17, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -
By Wade Endress, GoPSUsports.com Student-Athlete Writer
This blog concludes my third trip to Seattle. Each trip has its distinguishing memories, but our team chemistry defined the success of our first meet out west. Despite a new coaching arrangement and a few new teammates, nothing changes the familiarity of a high-performance indoor meet. With an emphasis on distance running, the Husky Classic creates a championship-like atmosphere. Whether we were competing for an NCAA bid, a conference seed, or simply a personal best, the team feels the sense of urgency associated with the latter part of a season.
I did not improve on my personal best, but I witnessed phenomenal performances from fellow teammates. Ranging from the young freshmen learning to compete to Robby's school record in the 3000m, Seattle lived up to expectations. Compared to the outdoor season, indoor facilities provide an intimate-like feeling. The Dempsey (Washington's facility) housed a lot of people. Thus, large crowds cheered for every heat of every event establishing a feeling that is rather indescribable to the average person.
Enough about the monotonous cycle of running and competing, the Pacific Northwest was beautiful. Our hotel fell in the middle of the University District, rather than the hustle-and-bustle of downtown Seattle. Similar to State College, the area surrounding campus contained a large variety of deli's, coffee shops, and restaurants. We tend to indulge in the food and culture aspect of the trip more than preparing to race, but let's not share with Coach Gondak. (Joking of course) Who doesn't enjoy a change of pace?