The lane called Hobart can be compared to 15^th and High area in Eugene. It’s filled with college kids, not the cleanliest area, and lots of beer cans. Our new neighbors raged next door until near 5 in the morning. Good thing Jon and I didn’t have a hard time falling asleep. The couch I slept on was about two feet too short, so I was constantly shifting my legs.

At noon I meet up with Ben Sheetz, a 400/800 runner, at the Amherst sports facility for a quick pre race run. Huge thanks and shout outs to Ben for showing me around Amherst. I was able to wear running shorts and one shirt. The high was near 60 for the day. It felt so good to walk around campus with just a Tee and soak up the sun. Can’t wait to get down to the south to get some more rays. After the run I met with Amherst’s head Track and Field and XC coach Erik ‘Ned’ Nedeau for an interview. Jon, Ned and I had previous gone out for a burger and brew and talked about his career, coaching, and challenges with the ladder.

The interview covered everything, which we talked about at dinner the previous night. Jon and I want to thank Ned and the Amherst T+F program for spending so much time showing us around. Greatly appreciated!

Jon’s friend and our new host, Matt, took us out to the Book Mill. It was a decommissioned mill converted into a bookstore, coffee house, and music shop. There was a great view of the small river flowing just below the Mill. I liked the irony of looking over pages of paper in a place where that paper could have been made. The complex was a nice oasis in the middle of Maple Trees and tiny towns. We returned to the Umass campus and watched Matt skateboard with his local friends.

Like every other night, hunger was striking, but this time we had a different answer. Jon thought of a creative way to eat at the dining hall on campus. We stood next to the entrance and asked to buy ‘buddy swipes’ from a student. The first girl who came to eat, Jon asked if we could buy three of her guest passes, but she said she doesn’t use them and she would just swipe us in. She did tell us no creeping around, we obliged. Jon actually was expecting we would be swiped in for free because apparently nobody uses their buddy swipes. I ate my weight in wings, sushi, pasta… cereal, chocolate milk. A balanced meal.

With full bellies we returned to Matt’s house to get ourselves primed for the evening festivities. Late into the night we were invited to a house pretty much in the sticks. We watched Matt and his buddy skateboard in the hallway, kitchen, and barn. Here is a scorecard from the evening: 2 holes in the wall, 1 rolled ankle, 1 tweaked knee, a case of O.E., 3 shirts and a bathroom door and shower curtain.

Tomorrow morning, Jon and I will drive into the Berkshires for a snowshoe race, where I will compete for honor. Wish me luck.

Quote of the day: “Did I just do that??” –man with sweet mustache after he punched a hole in the wall, while celebrating a landed trick