2011 World Jr Mountain Running Championships (Day 2-Settling at Hotel in Albania)

Paul Kirsh (USA Jr Team Leader) with the 2011 USA Jr Mountain Running Team at dinner in their resort hotel in Albania.  Team members arrived and got in a short run before dinner.  (R-L) Paul Kirsh (USA Jr Team Leader) with Junior Team members Oliver Bear Don't Walk, Ryan Lee, Clare Moretz,  Krisztina Dearborn, Lara Shegoski and Billy Fayette. (USMRT Photo)

Here are the locations people can follow along the USA Team:
Coach Taylor’s Twitter go HERE
US Mountain Running Team (USMRT) Twitter go HERE
Coach Taylor’s Blog go HERE
US Mountain Running Team (USMRT) Blog go HERE
US Mountain Running Team (USMRT) Facebook page go HERE

Dinner on the flight from NYC to Milan. (Ryan Lee Photo)

Milan Airport (Ryan Lee Photo)

While in Milan they got a little gelato...It was not as good as DeLuca Gelato here in Richmond. 
(Ryan Lee Photo)

"Hello Tirana, Albania"...we have touch down. (Ryan Lee Photo)

Billy Fayette walking into the hotel where the 36 national teams competing will stay. (Ryan Lee Photo)

The swimming pool at the hotel/resort the team is staying in Durres, Albania. (Ryan Lee Photo)

View from the hotel beach...(Ryan Lee Photo)

View towards the Adriatic Sea from the hotel as the sun sets. (Ryan Lee Photo)

Here are photos compliments of the USMRT Staff:

Ryan Lee (center-USA shirt) and Lara Shegoski, Krisztina Dearborn, Kasie Enman, Jared Scott and Megan Lund-Lizotte at the 1st USA team meeting (USMRT Photo)

View from the hotel towards the beach. (USMRT Photo)

Sunset view of the Adriatic Sea from the hotel beach. (USMRT Photo)

Joe Gray previewing the course this morning. Start / Finish will be here at the Botanical Garden in Tirana. (USMRT Photo)

The course is very dry. (USMRT Photo)



The beginning of the big climb. (USMRT Photo)

 

View from the uphill looking down on Tirana. (USMRT Photo)

Women's Team Manager Ellen Miller on the uphill. (USMRT Photo)

Another view of Tirana. (USMRT Photo)

Old house ruins along the course. (USMRT Photo)



Steep and long... (USMRT Photo)



The final steps before cresting the top of the course. (USMRT Photo)



The beginning of the downhill. (USMRT Photo)

The descent... (USMRT Photo)

USA Jr Team Leader Paul Kirsh had some dusty legs after previewing the course. (USMRT Photo)