Funkerstation » r Heels can do is win the rest of

NEW YORK -- Can serenity come from suffering?For that matter, can serenity be found in New York City, specifically, in this case, the Bronx?Those are the questions I pondered as I ran the back hills of Van Cortlandt Parks famed cross-country trails. I was in the middle of a race put on by the Van Cortlandt Park Track Club, a 5K run that began with a sprint across the flats and a dash into the hills of New York Citys third-largest park, which sprawls for more than 1,000 acres across the northeast corner of the Bronx.Looking out to the edge of the park from some spots, you can see tall apartment buildings. But in other places, youre running on trails that seem so green and wild, lined with so many trees, that you might as well be in the woods.The park has been a mecca for cross-country runners for over 100 years. Its courses opened in 1913. Famed athletes whove competed here include Alberto Salazar, Alan Webb, Edward Cheserek, Marty Liquori, Shalane Flanagan and Matt Centrowitz, who won the gold at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in the 1,500-meter race.I first raced here in high school, a skinny lad unaware of the suffering and false rabbit tactics of rival teams. I soon learned to embrace the suck -- just deal with it! -- and with time I also learned to fly. Theres a trick to cross-country, you see. Of course you have to have the strength to power up and defeat your opponent on the ascent, but the race can be won on the downhill. If you can give in to gravity, to almost fall, youll fly down. With arms out for balance, you can speed away from even your toughest opponent.The courses are the same as in my heyday, with flats, a cowpath, a bridge and back hill loop, as well as Cemetery Hill (also known as Vault Hill), which is part of a route used for college races. Race distances are 5K, 8K or 10K. For hill training, Van Cortlandt is a must. For runners and racers, it should be on your bucket list.But take your cue from metal signs along the courses depicting the turtle and the hare. While I like to try to race fast here (and re-live my youth), I suppose the hare suggests that you can also take it easy. You can run or jog, but you can also stroll or just meander through a park that is one of New York Citys emerald treasures.The Van Cortlandt Park Track Club sometimes gives winners carrot cake muffins from Lloyds Carrot Cake shop (6087 Broadway in the Bronx), across from the start/finish line. Whatever your pace, you can seek your rewards there as well.Mark Carrier Jersey .com) - Following a late-game loss to the reigning NBA champs, the Toronto Raptors will look to sustain their recent high-level play as they travel to Indiana to take on the Pacers. Steve Fuller Jersey . 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The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August.CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- No. 21 North Carolina doesnt have much room for error anymore.The Tar Heels (6-2, 4-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) emerged from a week off spent getting ready for Georgia Tech and knowing they need a perfect November -- and a loss somewhere by No. 23 Virginia Tech -- to earn another league title game berth.As much as you want to worry about what (the Hokies) have going on and who theyre playing, you know that you cant let up on whoever youre playing against because one more loss for us and were out of the hunt, no matter what happens to them, North Carolina cornerback Des Lawrence said Monday. At the same time, as bad as we want them to take a loss, we have to be able to prepare and focus on what we have to do in order for us to stay in the hunt.During the first two months of the season, the Tar Heels claimed four ACC victories -- including a sweep of the leagues Florida-based schools, both of whom were ranked at the time -- to earn a share of first place in the Coastal Division.But they continue to be haunted by their lone conference defeat.That rainy 34-3 loss to the Hokies on Oct. 8 sure looks like it will cost North Carolina a trip to Orlando, Florida, for the league title game. Yes, Virginia Tech (6-2, 4-1) was beaten once in ACC play -- Syracuse sprung an upset a week after the Hokies stunned UNC -- but it took care of Miami and Pittsburgh on consecutive Thursday nights to remain in controol of the division race.ddddddddddddCant control what happened in the past, coach Larry Fedora said. Its all about this week. ... It wont be about what happened. Its about, what are we going to do? We have to take care of our business.Even that may not be enough.The Hokies figure to be heavy favorites the rest of the way. Their three remaining ACC opponents -- Duke, Georgia Tech and Virginia -- have a combined league record of 3-10, and theyre 10+-point favorites this week against the Blue Devils.So all the Tar Heels can do is win the rest of their league games -- beginning with this weeks visit from Georgia Tech and continuing through games against neighborhood rivals Duke and N.C. State -- and root for the Hokies to lose, as they did last week against Pitt . Fedora cracked a wry smile Monday when the coach said he was pulling for them.All that matters is, were in a position, going into the month of November, of reaching our goals, Fedora said. Theres a lot of teams out there that dont have that opportunity. ... Theyre in a position right now where we can still reach all of our goals, and thats pretty good.---Follow Joedy McCreary at http://twitter.com/joedyap. His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/joedy-mccreary---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '