Extracurricular activities

Other than studying, eating, and drinking, Jeremy and I maintained quite active in the sports department. I introduced Jeremy to "Wednesday fútbol" where my male classmates will meet after school for a quick game of soccer. I did not play but was the official and sole cheerleader.

At the end of the year, we held an championship tournament (medals and trophies included). Here are the players representing 11 different countries:

And the MVP goes to.....

The tournament champions: Jive Turkeys (4 countries represented)

In addition to soccer, I created a running group that met up 3-4 times per week. The goal: the Barcelona Half and Full Marathon. Despite the stress from classes and from trying to balance group work with 5-6 different work teams, all my runners did exceptionally well. I'm so proud of each and every single one of them!

Partial group picture (don't know where the other runners went...) after the Barcelona Half Marathon

runners and spectators

The 3 brave ones to tackle the full marathon

Pratyush and Aaron still smiling

All 3 finished (first marathon for Yann and Pratyush)

Running group dinner

Jeremy convinced Pratyush and Fabien to do a night trail race (very roughed trail race). Despite Jeremy's and my constant reminders to bring a headlamp, these guys thought it was more important to bring two 2-liter bottles of beer instead. The beer was drank on the train before the race, the guys raced without a headlamp, and we all finished with no broken bones! Also noteworthy, we graduated the night before so have been out partying late. The following day we had a group BBQ and spent all day in the sun drinking and eating. We arrived at the race 5 minutes before because we got lost. Things that one should never do before a race, but sure was the funnest race we've ever done.

Butifarra and drinks provided after the race

enjoying MORE alcohol: red wine mixed with some sort of hard liquor

Amazing that I still got 2nd despite all the crazy things I did before the race. The next day I received an email from the race director - who was shocked that I beat a very well known trail runner - asking about my running history. I mentioned that I've done track, road racing, a few marathons, and some trail races. The following week an article comes out saying that I was some elite representative from the US! = )

The guys decided to put my new trophy to good use