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Throughout the 2006-07 school year, select UC student-athletes will share their experiences on and off the field with Bearcat fans through CATSblogs. These student-athletes will take you in to the life of a Bearcat and share their struggles and triumphs. Fans can email questions or comments to their favorite CATSblogger here! Be sure to include your name and hometown.
Nichole Leslie is a junior on the cross country and track & field teams. She is a health sciences major and works as a student assistant in the UC compliance office.
TGIF!!! This week went soooo fast! I worked the entire day at Oxford Physical Therapy. I really enjoy working there-the people are great. I am studying to get my DPT, so I am glad I enjoy doing something that could be my future job. We have another softball game on Sunday, and we have been discussing strategy all week (when all else fails-discuss strategy!!). We do not want another game like the last, so we have prepared for our big second game.
I am a bit tired from the week, but managed to have an awesome run today. It threatened rain all afternoon, so I was hoping for a little to cool me off. It didn't rain, but I did a nice seven miles around and finished with a mile under six at the track. It was a hot one, but a good one. It is going to get even hotter, so the plan is to get up early and run before I have to work at Hollister Saturday morning.
It should be a fun weekend and I am looking forward to hanging with my girl Amy!
"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." Vince Lombardi
Until tomorrow, enjoy today Nic
July 12, 2006
Rain, rain go away! The weather is muggy and rainy and it is going to stick around for a while longer. I did however manage to run twice today and not get rained on at all-which actually would have felt good (so which is it....do I want the rain or not??). This morning I got up and ran an easy four miles and tonight I ran with Amy Schoenfeld to Xavier (in case you're wondering Xavier girls are still ugly - or not as cute as Bearcat girls). It was a nice run, and I know Amy appreciated a push, and of course we got to chat the whole way.
We both can't believe how fast the summer is going. I have invited the team to come up to my house next weekend in to go to Cedar Point and swim. Amy has never been to CP, so she was asking questions and getting excited - we are the rollercoaster capital! I am pumped to have everyone there! We also started preparing for our annual cross country camp talent show. It is still a month and a half away, but we want to be prepared (translated-I don't want to embarrass myself as has been known to happen). You might wonder what we are doing, but I don't want to give it away... yet...so you'll have to check back to see what undiscovered talent I have (nothing like setting myself up!).
Also I was sent a question asking if my boyfriend, mentioned the other day, gave me running advice. My boyfriend is athletic, but has never been a big runner. He likes to be motivating and jokingly gives me advice. If I wanted an opinion other than Coach Schnier's, I would talk to my dad, who coaches a high school team and is currently coaching my younger brother who has tons of potential. I do however appreciate my boyfriend's support, motivation, and effort to understand the sport. If you have any questions feel free to e-mail me and I will do my best to answer them-or I know where to go to ask for help.
"Don't underestimate the value of doing nothing - or just going along - listening to all the things you can't hear - and not bothering."
Until tomorrow, enjoy today Nic
July 10, 2006
Let the week begin! I had a really fun weekend, but now it is time to get back to work. I mentioned before that I had a softball game on Sunday. I work at Oxford Physical Therapy part-time and we put together a co-ed softball team. With little to no practice we were anything but intimidating (if the meek shall inherit the world, we can pretty much count on having land to spare). In our first game the Oxford Physical Terrorists lost 14-0. We only got to play 5 innings because we were getting beat so bad. I did however surpass my goals. I hit the ball (as in didn't whiff out) and didn't get hurt. Not striking out was a pride thing, while I didn't want to get hurt because I know coach would give me a hard time. And I can say I didn't miss anything that was hit to me (of course nothing was hit my way - do ya think that's why they left me hangin' out there?) Coach loves to play sports and always manages to get hurt. Currently he plays softball and has cut his eye open and hurt his back. So I figure I'm doing well, I survived game one, but if I did get hurt my teammates are quite qualified to take care of me - an advantage to working with a crew of physical therapist.
Well my Monday has gone pretty well so far. I stayed up a little late last night, but managed to get in a run this morning before work and lifting. I am going to put in another harder run this afternoon, and then relax for the night. So, all in all another wonderful day - I could get used to this summer life.
So I didn't get to slip any of my witty sayings (admittedly I didn't make them all up) into today's blog, but I'll leave you with this: some people think running is a matter of life and death. I can assure them it is much more serious that that. And one from Pooh that I hold near and dear... When waking in the morning, remember that whether your first thought is "What's for breakfast?" or "I wonder what's going to happen exciting today?" -it's the same thing.......
My boyfriend turns 22 today, so Happy Birthday Steve!
Until tomorrow, enjoy today Nic
July 7, 2006
My Friday started off right, because I got up this morning and did a hard workout on the track. It was a tough one, but I got through and know pushing through a little pain will make me a stronger runner (that's what they say right?! - no pain...no gain - or you can fall back on "that which does not kill me will only make me stronger" - who said those things?!). Then it was off to class, my last one (YEAH!). Karen (Berling) and I lifted again after we were both done with class. We mixed things up a little today and made up our own workout, and it was tough! Call me weird, but I like the feeling of knowing that my muscles are completely exhausted at the end of a workout (here's where you can refer back to those pain quotes above). Then it was off to work for another day.
After work I went to the bank (to deposit money-not withdraw, in case you were wondering), and went on a shake out campus loop run. It was a gorgeous day and working some of the lactic acid out of my body felt good. Danielle Erwin came over and we just hung out and talked. We got ice cream, but we didn't stay up too late. I am pretty wiped out from my trip home and my three day week and want to get to bed early (can't resist - you know early to bed early to rise... or the early bird gets the worm... not that I'm into worms or anything). I want to try to get in a long run in the morning when it is still cool out. Have a great weekend!
Until tomorrow, enjoy today Nic
It's hard to believe it is already July! I am spending my first summer away from home and keeping busy in Cincy. I am taking a class, working, lifting and running....everything is keeping me real busy, but I love it!
I actually just got back last night from my hometown of . I hadn't been home in a few months so it was really nice. The weather wasn't overly gorgeous, but I got to spend time with my family. I made a trip to Cedar Point, went swimming, and got to eat cookout food which I have been craving for months now - nothing like a grilled burger and brats to satisfy my lack of food cooked outdoors. It was also so nice to run on flat roads, people in don't realize how hilly it is here. On my last day home I ran with my brother and dad, of course I smoked them both, okay truth be told not my brother, but I used to (and we won't go into how long ago that was).
Fortunately - unfortunately (food and no work, but I missed the big city), I had to get back to my life back down south. I had a busy yet productive day. I got in a nice run this morning and then headed off to class. After class Karen (Berling) and I met to lift in the weight room. We try to get down there three days a week. I really enjoy lifting and feel that it definitely makes me a stronger runner.
I worked until five and then got in another run. I ran my favorite route, , and threw some swing in. It ended up being a nice day so it was rejuvenating to have a hard run. I am starting to build up my mileage, so I try to get in a few doubles a week. I am starting to feel like I am getting into pretty good shape (minus the brother thing), so it is encouraging.
Now I need to do my homework and get some sleep, it's hard to believe the week is already halfway over!
Until tomorrow...enjoy today Nic