Dick Fosbury Track Camp at Bowdoin College and Panther Pond

Cross Country camps & Track and Field camps are integral to the performance of an athlete. The summer is a very important time for athletes especially cross country runners to begin their practice before the season begins. I went to a track and field camp "Dick Fosbury Track Camp at Bowdoin College." It was an amazing experience. For anyone who does not know, Dick Fosbury was the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Champion of the high jump. Before 1968 jumpers would use the scissors technique or the western roll. By winning the 1968 Olympics, his high jump form called the "Fosbury Flop" became the high jump form that is used today.

It is an amazing honor to be able to learn from the man who invented the style of high jump. He is very kind and extremely knowledgable. He is someone who will work with every jumper individually to make sure that they become the very best. I had the honor of learning from him for 4 years and I may be his only jumper to ever decide to switch jumping legs.
The Dick Fosbury track camp is not just for high jump, they have a wide range of events (not limited to): hurdles, distance, middle distance, javelin, hammer (which is unique because most camps do not teach hammer), shot put, javelin,  pole vault, and many more. Even for people who are decathletes or heptathletes, the camp will design a specific schedule for these particular athletes so that they may get the most out of the events.
The coaching staff is top notch at the Dick Fosbury Camp at Bowdoin College. I have learned so much from them. There are two work out sessions a day which are broken up by the amazing food of Bowdoin college. (My favorite day was when we got mussels for dinner) There are game times like a very fun track trivia night, water racing, dance with the band "the party killers" featuring Dick Fosbury singing and playing the guitar. The college also features beautiful spacious dorms.

Head Coach Peter Slovenski who runs the entire camp, is very knowledgable and works as a head coach at Bowdoin College. He also runs other camps like the cross country camp and a middle school camp at Panther Pond in Raymond, Maine.
The track camps at Panther Pond in Maine give the camper a more "summer camp" experience. Where campers can sleep in cabins, play in the surprisingly warm lake, eat food provided by the camp's chefs (it's really good) but to get dessert everyone has to use the SAT word of the day in a sentence. Like every good camp, there's of course a camp fire with sing alongs accompanied by the Slovenskis on the Cello and guitar.

For any running athlete using the resources of a summer camp is extremely helpful. But to help get a step ahead of the pack, the Slovenski Track Camps: Cross Country camp lead by Bowdoin College Coach Peter Slovenski, Middle School Track Camp, and The Dick Fosbury track Camp, are a great asset. I would definitely say this was integral to my success as a high school athlete and would rate my experience a 10/10.

The Dick Fosbury Track camp is ages 12-18 including high school graduates.

-Atalanta Iasus
For any questions on reviews or business inquires please send to Atalanta.Iasus@gmail.com

Saucony Shay XC Running Spikes

I never really thought of wearing spikes during cross country meets during high school. Most of our meets were on the street and having spikes in would be way more difficult. Now that I'm in college our meets are through trails and on grass, I decided to start wearing the XC spikes that were given to me.

I really enjoy the Saucony Shay XC 2 spikes. They are a great color, they are very light, and fit my feet perfectly. The only problem with them fitting perfectly is that I can only wear my thinnest socks with them, and I can barely fit in my team's thicker socks that we decorated together for Nationals.

I do enjoy the light feeling of the shoes. It is almost like they are an extension of me. The bottom of the shoe is thick enough that I don't have to worry about sharp rocks but the shoe is light enough it's like it's not even there. I even enjoy wearing the shoe after the meet is over, when most athletes throw there shoes to the side.

Since I am a forefoot striker I feel like the shoes allow me to be a forefoot striker. The shoes have stayed in really great condition even through the muddiest and hilliest courses that I have been on. I love how the underneath of the shoe looks like a foot and that the forefoot spikes. There doesn't seem to be much of a cushion in the shoe but I've never felt that the shoe was too tough or that there wasn't enough cushioning. Saucony's website says that the shoe has, "the first sole-based ability and cushioning system" which would explain why when you look at the shoe you don't see the cushioning.

A weird side note: The color inserts for the sides of the shoe were confusing and was unable to figure out how to put them into the shoe.

I would give the shoes a 9/10 since I am only able to wear the shoes with thin socks but all other aspects of the shoe are phenomenal, and I would buy them again. I love wearing them during meets and they have great traction when running on wet slippery surfaces.

-Atalanta

As always any business inquires should be sent to Atalanta.Iasus@gmail.com