Emilie's PG Fantaski. (Pun intended, as usual.): Back to it!

After successful, but nonetheless delayed, travels back east, we had a few days to spend at home. It was nice to see family, catch up with friends, eat home food and sleep in my own bed. I even got to take part in some classic high school fun in watching the homecoming parade and going to the football game (the NAHS float was the best, and we lost to North).

I drove back to school the following Sunday for a quick dorm change and a great week. Sometimes the first week back after break (or being off of campus for about a month) can be a little bit rough but it was not bad at all. We jumped back into classes and it was just like we’d never left. The one thing that makes a place like Burke really work is the teaching staff, because they understand how demanding the athletic schedule is and are committed to making it work for each student. It was also fun to get back into workouts at sea level. The fall training block is generally the most intense in preparation for the ski season, so we are doing a lot of intervals and speed work, and so far it is feeling good! My favorite workout from last week had to be a hike up Burke Mt. Even though it was cloudy and even drizzled a bit, the view, combined with the foliage was spectacular. We finished off with some sprints and penalty kicks!

Last week was also spirit week. Festivities included gender switch day (pick someone of the opposite sex that looks like you and swap clothes), twin day, and color day.

Here are some twins!

This weekend, I ventured back to Concord with my friend Jenna for my Mom’s birthday (22, I think), and to watch my sister race in the Head of the Charles. It was a beautiful day for the regatta and we had a lot of fun poking in and out of the vendors tents and acquiring all sorts of stickers and other swag. The Concord Crew girls rowed an amazing race and finished up 26^th/75- achieving their goal of placing high enough to auto-qualify for next fall. 26^th out of some the best high school crews in the country!