Courtenay Brown

School started today! I am officially a PhD student! Friday we had all-day orientation, at the end of which I was kind of ready to not hear about how hard and stressful everything would be, but also at the end of which I was really excited about my fellow students and all the classes I want to take. I’ve only got 3 years of coursework, and about 10 years worth of amazing courses available.

Some interesting facts:

~Our incoming “class” is actually called a “cohort”, I guess because we don’t all necessarily finish at the same time?

~Our cohort has 14 people, 3 of us are girls, and I’m the oldest person.

~I’m actually older than 2 of the professors I have this semester! That’s what happens when you dilly-dally away your 20′s

~Today in Data Analysis we played blackjack (I like statistical exercises!), I won a quarter. The biggest winner took home $7 in quarters.

~All my classes are in the same room! I did get lost en route this morning, campus looked way different with students everywhere, but going forward I will be totally fine.

This weekend I got in some great training, with lots of “scenic routes” and “taking the long way ’round”. Saturday I got a bit of a late start, my headless chicken routine kind of hit a high point, and I set off to ride a new route. It looked completely obvious on the map but I missed a turn and spent a long time climbing the wrong way! I went up Sunshine Canyon through Gold Hill, intended to head down from there but instead headed towards Peak to Peak. Le oops, but it was a beautiful mistake! I LOVE riding on dirt roads up in the mountains. Absolutely love it. Then I got home and started my run at almost 8 p.m., tried to follow Dan’s directional instructions, got lost again… Sunday I got lost in the swim set (which is what happens when you’re in the 1:40 lane and coach gives you sendoffs on a 1:30 base!), then headed out for a longish run where finally I went the right way .