Currently Browsing: Sports
Going the Distance
Photo Credit: Steven Buri
Senior Carlos Santin
Written by Amber Mallory, Staff Writer
Boys’ cross country trains harder physically and mentally than any other team. Pushing the body to the limit to reach the goal. Thinking about every step, every obstacle ahead. Cross country running doesn’t just make an athlete run, it presents them with a mental challenge.
Athletes involved in cross country learn how to endure the effects running takes on their bodies. The sport involves speed, pace and endurance.
“Probably the hardest thing about cross country is the practice schedule,” Boys’ Varsity Cross Country Coach Keith Wagner said.
The team holds practices at 6:30 a.m. everyday with Sunday optional to the students’ discretion. This year, formal practice started in early August. Athletes could show up expecting to run three miles and could end up running far more.
“You got to love to run,” Wagner said. “It’s a different mind set. It’s a mind game. Distance running is nothing but what’s up here.”
Physically a runner feels the distance in his or her body. Cross country runners experience a mental fight. They push their minds to go farther to make the distance physically.
“You have to keep going even when your body tells you to stop,” varsity senior Matthew Piper said. “Two miles in 12 minutes just means you’re in good shape but not ready for competition.”
Wagner uses the standard of two miles in 12 minutes to determine whether or not an athlete could become a part of the team. Running the miles in time shows Wagner the fitness of a potential athlete.
The boys’ varsity cross country team will participate in its next meet on October 10.
“I think that everyone thinks it’s boring and it’s just running, but it’s more than that,” Piper said. “It challenges you and tests your mental toughness as well as physical toughness. Not many people can do it. It’s not just plain and boring, it’s exciting and fun.”
Email This Post
Print This Post
Leave a Reply