As the the sun peeks it's head out from behind the snowy crown of Mount Hood and tries to muster it's way through the early morning rain clouds, the Vikings' track & field athletes swing their legs out of their cozy beds. As their legs drift down to the floor beneath them they remember that today isn't just an average day as a Portland State track and field athlete. No, today is the beloved meet day.

Today's meet is taking place right across the Willamette River at the University of Portland inside the Chiles Center. This is the last of three meets that the University of Portland has hosted at their newly renovated indoor track that goes around the perimeter of their volleyball/basketball arena.

The Viking athletes that are competing today finally stop scrolling through Instagram and Tik Tok to make a big breakfast that will fuel them for their races later that afternoon. Most make the staples of a distance runner's breakfast: oatmeal, bagels with peanut butter, coffee, and bananas all washed down by an electrolyte drink or water. As they masticate on the spread before them, some try not to focus on the race while some start to feel the pre-race butterflies -- that they thought weren't going to happen this time around -- finally settle in.

Before the racers know it, it is time for them to do their pre-race shakeout and to get in the vans to go to the meet. Once at the meet, most of the racers' earbuds, or -- if you are lucky enough to have them -- Airpods go in. The Viking crew begins the process of pumping themselves up for their race. Some runners stare off into space, while others bang their head rhythmically to the music. Some jokes get told here and there but the mood for the most part is focused. They are simultaneously itching to warm up and dreading for race time to come.

Eventually that time does come and groups of Vikings exit the Chiles Center to warm up. Upon arriving back in the facility, more drills are done as beads of sweat start to roll off the crew's foreheads. Soon the warm up gear is taken off and the Vikings' green and black singlets are on display, and everyone takes notice of the emblazoned "Portland State" across the runner's chests. The last few strides are completed, a few thigh slaps are administered, and then the race starter calls them to the line.

Right before the gun goes off, lots of thoughts go through the runner's mind:

Am I cut out for this?

Am I meant to be here?

I wish I could just eat that post-race ice cream already.

Suddenly though, the gun goes off and the runners are pulled from the depths of their own pondering minds. All the pre-race jitters that the Vikings have been keeping in all day are transformed into a controlled attack on the other competitors. Most of the Vikings get out comfortably and wait for the best opportunity to make their big strike past the other competitors. Once past their victims, they use that momentum to get them through the finish. Once across the finish line, the Vikings realize that all those pre-race doubts they had were for nothing. They were ready to race and they are cut out to run with some of the best distance runners the Northwest has to offer.

As runners, we are often critical of ourselves the most. Many of us fixate on aspects of our races that weren't perfect. However, the Vikings soon realize as they start to jog during their cool downs that that's alright. As the constant playful jeering and jokes resume from their short hiatus, the Vikings realize that if they continue to support one another and put in the work through the long track season that their perfect race is just around the corner. All the Vikings have to do is do what they do best: work hard and keep showing up.