When I Think of Lehigh

When I was in high school, they held the PIAA Cross Country State Championship at Lehigh.  Now, I wasn't any good at running, but they let everyone (thousands) who were on the Cross Country teams run in the race.  Obviously the good runners would win, and the crap runners (me) would just get a good workout out of the deal.  So yeah, that's the background.

Lehigh University is in a beautiful area, with vast fields and trees and the like.  But the Cross Country course is nothing short of BRUTAL.  The start of the race is the absolute worst, and one of the things I remember vividly. It's what I think of when I think of Lehigh.  See, the race starts flat, and there is a huge field where thousands of runners begin the trek to hell.  It's just flat enough for you to think it is going to stay that way, but really the entire start of the race is uphill.  Gradually uphill.  So you are expending energy when you don't even realize it, and at the worst time possible--the start of the race.

The rest of the course winds through corn fields and and other hills, and mercifully the course ends on a downward slope.  But by that time nothing much matters except recovering from the hills you just ran up.

I hated running in high school, although I do it "for fun" now.  Who am I kidding? I do it so I can eat whatever I want stay in shape.  Why did I run in high school?  Because the Cross Country coach was the softball coach, they needed runners, and it helped me get ready for the softball season.  It lasted two years.

The Lehigh upset didn't hurt my brackets too much, as I had Duke losing in the Sweet 16 to Baylor.  It's been pretty fun watching this tournament.

I did rip those Heritage packs last night, and I must say I really like the card design.   I'll scan some cards and reveal the contents later.  Enjoy your Saturday!