MIAMI (July 20, 2017) – FIU track and field standout Gabrielle Rains will spend this week at the Pan-Am U20 Track and Field Championships in Trujillo, Peru as a member of the 54-member contingent representing Canada.
 
A native of Sherwood Park, Alberta, just east of Edmonton, Gabby will give Panther fans a little behind-the-scenes look at her journey. During her time with the team, she will write a daily blog that can be accessed on www.FIUSports.com. Check back frequently and follow Gabby on her priceless journey.
 
2017 Canadian Pan-Am U20 Track and Field Championships Roster
 
Monday, August 17/Tuesday, August 18 (Edmonton-to-Houston-to-Trujillo)
I have traveled to many countries for track and field, but for some reason, on this trip, the airplane gods were out to get me. My flight from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, to Houston Texas, could not have gone smoother. Arriving in Houston, I noticed a scratch in my throat. Not giving it too much attention I grabbed some cough drops and waited for my fellow teammates to find me at our gate to go to our second destination, Lima, Peru. My three-hour layover in Houston went by very fast while sharing introductions with new athletes and greeting my old friends. The flight From Houston to Lima might have been the most treacherous ride of my whole life. I seemed to have contracted strep throat and was stuck 40,000 feet in the air with no sign of Advil to numb the pain. I was eventually unable to speak or swallow. If any of you have ever had strep, you know that even the slightest movement feels like you have tiny shards of glass stuck in your throat. Not fun. I have never been so excited than when we landed, and I was able to choke down about seven extra strength Advil in hopes of being able to swallow in the near future. Just as things were looking up, I realized our seven-hour layover in the Lima airport had only just begun. We landed there at 11 p.m. (Monday) and were supposed to meet up with the rest of the Canadian team and coaches when their flight from Toronto came in, but as 4 a.m. rolled around and no sight of the sea of bright red Team Canada jackets, we realized something wasn't right. Not a single Peruvian airport worker spoke English to give us information on their flight arrival time, so we decided to begin hibernating in the only place familiar (and with WiFi) … Starbucks. Finally, the rest of the team arrived, and we got on our last flight to Trujillo Peru, at 6 a.m. and arrived at 7:30 a.m. We then began the bus ride to our hotel. Our coaches/fairy godmothers granted us our only wish – SLEEP! We were able to nap for four hours before our team meeting and shake outs at the track. My coaches and teammates all told me to stay at the hotel and rest, and I wasn't going to argue with them.
 
This is my third time representing Canada at an international meet, and I can honestly say the first time walking into the stadium at these types of track meets is the most exciting feeling. Picturing myself competing with the stands full and everyone cheering is riveting. I wasn't going to miss that! So I got up out of bed and ran down to catch the last seat on the bus to the track. So, to everyone reading this, the moral of the story here is, don't pack your Advil in your checked luggage. Oh, and also take advantage of every opportunity given to you when on a trip like this because even if you have strep throat, when you're home looking back on this experience you're going to regret staying in bed resting.
 
Talk to you soon!

Gabby

Fans are encouraged to follow the team on Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUTrackXC) for all the latest FIU Track and Cross Country news.
 
Follow all of FIU's 18 athletic teams on Twitter (@FIUAthletics), Facebook (Facebook.com/FIUSports), YouTube (FIUPanthers), and Instagram (FIUathletics).

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