"The more intensely we feel about an idea or a goal, the more assuredly the idea, buried deep in our subconscious, will direct us along the path to its fulfillment."
- Earl Nightingale
"From Diapers to Scholarships: Carrying the Flag" or...

"How to Avoid TV Commercials" 

Page 1 2      Lilli La Cycliste    Lilli The Traveler

The American Days . NCAA Athletic Scholarship Paradise

My first U.S. destination was Boston University. Jumping on the plane to Boston, I told myself "I will just go over for a year; learn the language, get to know the system, concentrate on running for a year but not give a sh* about academics." So I chose a major that sounded most attractive: Physical Therapy. Training increased in order to secure competitiveness in a system where athletes hail from every corner of the world to enjoy free education and professional athletic conditions. Necessary recovery from training I gained while sleeping in my early-morning psychology class. :p

Running went very well in Boston and I loved what I saw and experienced across the Big Pond. Hence, I decided to stay longer. "One more year!" I told myself and chose to transfer universities to be part of a top athletic program in the nation: The University of Arkansas Razorbacks.

"Wooooooo.... Pig Sooie! RAZORBACKS!!!" It did not take me very long to learn the most important call in the U.S:'s natural state of Arkansas: The Hogcall. I quickly felt like home in Arkansas in its warm Razorback environment where athletes are treated like kings and queens. And of course I was quick to tell myself: "ok, I will stay here and take two university diplomas on the way!". :)

I had the honor to be part of a great Ladyback track/XC generation winning NCAA team trophies, SEC Triple Crowns, and of course we could celebrate many individuals titles and honors of my teammates and myself. Being an Arkansas Razorback engraved memories in my mind and soul that I will treasure forever with a warm smile in my face. It was an unforgettable experience that shaped and changed me as a person, an athlete, and a student. I learned more about team spirit, leadership, and motivation/enthusiasm (among many other things!) as a Lady Razorback than ever before and ever after. 

I could write a book about my 5.5 years of juggling university studies and athletics in the United States: one year in Boston and 4.5 years in Arkansas. It was hard to leave the Razorbacks in February of 2004, very hard... but life had to move on, a new chapter had to be opened. My new chapter had the heading "ESC Toulouse/France", an exchange semester abroad in France. This very semester ultimately led me to my next life adventure: Cycling!

Words cannot justify my American adventure, so here you can find some visual impressions of my Life as a Razorback in the photo gallery.

Back to the Roots - ING New York City Marathon 2008

November 2nd, 2008 I will return to where my path from the running world and into the cycling world emerged: the ING New York City Marathon!

After the 2008 cycling season comes to an end and my life as a cyclist with it, I will lace my dusty running shoes once again to pay my due from 2003: I will return to my roots to run my favorite running race for the second time in my life. In 2003, I was invited and scheduled to run in the elite field of the ING New York City Marathon before injury and sickness made it impossible for me to line up on Verrazona Narrows Bridge. I was delegated to the spectator ranks instead.

I am not going to cruise through the Big Apple by myself in 2008: I will be joined by my fellow German pro cyclists Judith Arndt (Team High Road), Trixi Worrack, and Marlen Jöhrend (both my teammates at Equipe Nürnberger Versicherung). The idea emerged in a conversation with Judith after her marathon debut in Dresden in the fall of 2007. I convinced her that she had to run New York next time she exchanges her heavy cycling shoes with light-weight running shoes. There is simply no better running experience than the New York City Marathon! Hands down.

Having always wondered how top cyclists such as Judith (or Trixi) would fare if they trained a bit for a running event, I thought I could not pass up the great opportunity to see for myself and have the pleasant honor to accompany Judith in New York. At a team meeting shortly after, I went running with Trixi and Marlen and told them about the idea. Trixi, in particular, was ecstatic and so we decided to fly across the Atlantic in November altogether to run the 42.195km. The only issue to take care of was getting the bib numbers... thankfully, I have these old dusty strings to American running, so all it took was an email to ING New York City Marathon's elite athlete manager (David Monti) and a few hours later we had our guaranteed entry with the words: "The ING New York City Marathon would be delighted to have you at the starting line on November 2nd 2008."  We are ALL SET for the Yankees, I would say!

Trixi, Marlen, and I even found a sponsor for our trip: Our team's main sponsor, NÜRNBERGER Versicherung, thought our endeavor was so exciting that he decided to pay our flights to New York. Thank you, Oliver Strathmann! We will carry the blue "N" through the Big Apple faster than you can blink. ;)

 For more "entertainment" about my life you can find a great article here.