As the season nears, Brigid's real work begins

By Brigid Mullen

Ah, training time, the most wonderful time of the year. I have been working out on a regular basis to stay in shape and prepare for the football season. But now things really heat up. Most teams would have conditioning camps in July and August with multiple practices each day, but not us. The members of our team and coaching staff are women and men with full-time jobs and families. None of us can be paid to take off work for a week or two to attend any type of camp. So once practices are in full swing, it is up to each individual to make sure that they can keep up.

	Brigid's military experience (she was in ROTC) will come in handy when she climbs to the top of 14,000-foot Pike's Peak later this week. Mark Kottke
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Up to this point, I had considered myself in pretty good shape. I still do, but not quite as much as I thought after today when we ... (drum roll, please) ... finally got our pads! It might sound kind of silly, but that stuff is not easy to wear. It's just a whole different feeling. After wearing it all for a good three or four hours, I ended up with big red marks on my head, a headache, and a sore chest if you know what I mean. Let's just say that these shoulder pads were not made for women, but I can't really complain compared to some of the other ladies.

Despite all the uncomfortable parts, it was awesome. We were finally able to practice some decent tackling drills and I got over those first day jitters. It is only going to get tougher from here on out, and that is why it is time to really step it up.

I am flying out to Colorado this week to see my family, do a little camping in the mountains and utilize the state's amazing training environment. Have you ever tried running up the side of a mountain at 12,000 feet? Let's just say that it is no cakewalk with the lack of air up there. My week will consist of 7 a.m. mountain  runs, afternoon technique drills at a nearby park and evening lifts. The mornings will alternate between trail runs and a little thing that locals like to call "The Incline."

There used to be a railroad line Colorado Springs that ran right straight up the side of a mountain. All that is left is a mile of railroad ties going up that mountain -- they looking like a big old scar -- and it makes for one of the best "stair runs" in the country. And if one isn't satisfied after that first mile of torture, you can continue on a trail all the way to the top of Pike's Peak at more than 14,000 feet.