omorrow there will be 14 athletes and 3 coaches flying from Chico out to Joplin MO to tear it up. Later that evening there will be a couple dozen crazy fans making the ritual trek across this vast country to make sure that everyone in Joplin knows who Chico is. This is the first time I will be in a rental van instead of an airplane on the way to the big dance (except when it was in CA). 30+ hours of asphalt, gas stations and shifting radio stations are what I have to look forward to tomorrow and Thursday; and I am looking forward to it. We will make it to Joplin on Friday morning/afternoon and there will be a brief lull and maybe a shower before the craziness really begins. I've got my sleeping bag ready for a very cold night, some of my fellow compatriots my not be as well prepared, which is ok because sleep isn't really that important. Saturday is when the real magic happens. IÂ’ve been through it a few times now but it never ceases to impress me. NCAA cross-country championships are an amazing spectacle no matter what division they are. 10k and 6k of drama await and I pray that there is no holding back. My boys are ready and I can't to rejoin them next year. The girls are no doubt ready too, whether itÂ’s the freshman or the seniors: its go time.