Beyond The Lawn Articles

Art generally refers to aesthetically pleasing principles ranging from interpreting tangible masterpieces to the eloquence of purposefully flowing works of genius. Some see the Mona Lisa as the epitome of beauty and pure magic drizzled from da Vinci's fingertips, or Beethoven's Fifth Symphony as rhythmic depictions of what would be a breathtaking vision. Regardless of the canvas, artists share in the pursuit of beauty and attainment of perfection however varied the method. Although I can essentially guarantee Leonardo and Ludwig's image of perfection to be drastically different than Roy Halladay's, it is inarguable that pitching is also an art. READ MORE

2012 is a huge year - and saying even that is an understatement. It's the first year I'll be able to seriously participate in the Olympic Trials. It's a big year for me after competing for Team USA at the Track and Field World Championships in Daegu, South Korea last August. It's a big year for women's steeplechase, as 2012 will only be the second Olympic Games to have women's steeplechase as an event. READ MORE

Through my tenure as a Cavalier, never have I witnessed more emphasis on the inner struggle between greatness and contentment. As a coaching staff, and ultimately a program as a whole, passion and dedication to greatness is law; an acquired characteristic every fortunate alumnus departs with embedded in his soul. Amidst reassuring and motivating methods, the one particular event in the culmination of our fall workouts that coaxes out courage is the Iron Cavalier. READ MORE

I am the least technologically savvy athlete out there. I never run with my iPod. A running watch? I didn't own one until well into my first year at UVa. Then this fall my coach broke the news to me: I needed to get a heart rate monitor and wear it for every single run. Don't forget, I'm the girl who didn't even own a running watch throughout high school. The thought of having to strap a device onto my chest every day and having my runs tracked via satellite was more high maintenance than I ever expected to be. READ MORE

While the differences between a collegiate baseball experience and a professional career appear most obviously in different sounding bats, aged men with classic facial hair (most notably Brian Wilson's beard), and constant media exposure, the most trying adjustments for a player in transition occur behind the scenes. READ MORE

Now, it may seem crazy, but it's true - to be an elite athlete (an elite runner), you have to learn how to take a break. A long, glorious, don't-even-think-about-running break. Just once a year, but still. To some people, it may seem absurd - why would you want to voluntarily get out of shape? Trust me. When you compete eight or nine months straight over the year, plus training the other three to four months, taking two weeks off is barely a blip in the grand scheme of things. READ MORE

Transitions are traditionally accompanied by a period of discomfort, a period whose length is determined by one's willingness to accept its inevitable changes and adapt to a new method of attaining success. The college endeavor is one defined by "leaving the nest" and making it on our own. It's time to use our gifts and acquired endowments to become a unique individual, hopefully full of dreams and aspirations to not blend in. Through my experiences in athletics, academics and life in general, I have learned that just blending in can destroy dreams. READ MORE

It's been a long time since I was a freshman, a newbie, a fresh face in anything. Having spent five years as an elite UVa athlete, I was making NCAA Championships and winning ACC races from my first year on and I had experience racing and placing at levels before some of my teammates. But this summer I had the opportunity to go back to the basics and be the new kid on the block as I ventured into the professional world of track and field. It wasn't my first time in a USA uniform, but it was my first World Championship experience. I didn't know what to expect. READ MORE