Each Friday, the Alaska Nanooks will publishing blog posts from one or more newcomers from each of Alaska's 10 varsity sports throughout the preseason. More sports will join the blog once their first official day of practice has begun.

Cross Country
By: Logan Mowry (Fr. | Fairbanks, Alaska)

"First week of Nanook camp was a big success! Whether it was getting sore or getting to know each other, we did it all! We started the week off with some team building and BRUTAL testing: a flat, 3,000 meter running time trial and strength test that put the "men" in freshmen. After the tests, we sought out some more volume-orientated workouts that included two hour skis, followed by a two hour run in the White Mountains.

We ended up finishing the long, seven-day week in Denali, running across the Triple Lakes Trail and up Mount Healy. While this four-hour workout was quite the monster of an "over distance," our coach helped us get through it with copious amounts of pizza at the end.

That's how the whole week! Even though the training hurt, it was easy going through it with a supportive coaching staff a team that knows how to make each other laugh. So watch out, because the Nanook ski and running teams just made a big week of gains and were gunning for some fast results this fall and winter!"

Volleyball
By: Markie Miller (R-Fr. | OH | Brewster, Wash.) & Emily Moorhead (Fr. | MB | Chugiak, Alaska)

"Hey Nanook fans, guess what! Your fave Nooks finally got to go to the beach after rolling through the weekend with a record of 4-1. Monday morning started with a practice in the sauna of a gymnasium, which made the Athlantic feel that much better. At the beach, Nooks saw many different sea creatures, the first being some pelicans, a pod of dolphins jumping out of the water but the most fascinating was definitely the mermaid thanks to Gabby Lerma. After spending the whole day body surfing and laying in the warm sand, the captains, once again, braced the walk downstairs in "Dad's Dream" to ask the coaches if they would take us to Ben & Jerry's. Of course, Brian and Robbie couldn't say no to us. When we got the word that it was a go, we piled into the vans and rolled out. The night may have ended there but the rest of the trip was just beginning. Did you know Coach Robbie's birthday was the 2nd of September? No? That's okay, because neither did he! Em & Markie have his back. We took upon the responsibility of reminding our server at Texas Roadhouse. Thankfully, he got his birthday, "YEEHAW!"

The next morning the Nooks and the macho-Nook men got into their vans once again and rolled to Washington D.C. where we went to the Holocaust Museum and met some survirors and we also stopped and took some pictures with Abe Lincoln and the Washington Monument. After touring around the city, it was time for the macho-Nook men to return their minivans and the Nooks started the trek back to the West Coast. When we got to San Francisco, the Nook men got MORE minivans that screamed macho… it never ends with them (gotta love 'em). Once the Nooks recovered from the dramatic time change, we headed to the gym and got back to work. The Nooks swept Holy Names University and then battled with Hawaii-Hilo yesterday. We are up for another good weekend of volleyball.

This is great preparation for when we return to the motherland of Fairbanks and take on our rival UAA at 7:00pm AKT at the Patty Center on Tuesday. WE'LL SEE YOU THERE, Roll Nooks!

XOXO,
Em&M"

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