Running For Recognition

Runners Will Dean and Trent Austin race in a cross country meet. Running is a sport that is much more difficult then it seems. Photo Credit: JOSH EHLERS

BY JOSH COHEN

Running: an activity performed by many people for exercise and to prove to themselves that they can move faster and farther.  While it may seem elementary, the art of running is a very complicated one.  It involves plenty of training, commitment, and skill to succeed.  To run to your full potential, you must push yourself to limits you never thought possible.  At each and every corner, you must push yourself even as you became progressively fatigued throughout a race.  When seeing each mile mark and check point along the way, you need to keep pushing your body to limits that you previously saw as unimaginable.

The first step to becoming a good distance runner is to get into shape.  Many people start at all different points of their lives.  Some start in middle school, some in high school, and some people don’t pick up running as a hobby until they are elderly.

When somebody you know, like a family member or a friend, picks up running, it is easier to get into it with them, as it become more of a social sport.  This is how many cross country coaches persuade athletes to participate in the sport and run for their school’s team.  When given and option of running with somebody you know and running alone, a majority of people would select to run with somebody else in order to keep them motivated, help push them, and just to have a better time.

“After all my time of running and training,” former CCHS student, Andrew Kirk said.  “I finally convinced my dad to start running with me and he has also picked up a healthier diet.”

In order to keep them selves going, distance runners will often set goals to try and reach.  When in pain during a race or during practice, a runner may think of their goals to will themselves to keep pushing harder. They can literally see their goals slipping away with every second they slow down.  A desire to keep improving is what drives many runners through their races.

“I have become a defined leader,” CCHS Junior Will Dean said.  “Along with breaking into an 18 minute 5k (3.1 miles.)”

Although a good amount of people understand the training and techniques of running, some still think it is a very easy sport.  Although the form may look easy to pick up, it can take years to capture perfect form while running.

Also, the longer you run, the harder it is to keep your form because you forget to hold it and you get tired, leading to a loss of focus.  The form of the runner is what will hold them up in a race.  Many cross- country and track coaches spend a lot of practice time focusing on the form of their runners.  They suffer physical pain as they run, and have to fight their brain, which tells them they are tired and should stop and just walk for a little.

“Running is the best thing for your body as it pushes you to your mental and physical limits,” Kirk said.  “While running, you are in pain about 90 percent of the time and then still push harder just to set your goals, regardless of the consequences.”

To keep themselves distracted from the pain, runners will think of anything they can to change their state of mind.  Some will think of former races, some think of things they did during the day or things they will do later, others say things or sing songs in their head as they run, but all runners allow their minds to float as they run.

“During a race, I repeat in my head, ‘never back down and never fold,’ to keep my mind off the pain,” Dean said.

Although these athletes give their best each and every time they go out and perform, not many people come out and watch.  At many cross country and track meets, the only spectators are the parents of the student athletes.  With more support comes more success and the athletes would greatly appreciate the extra support.

“At most of the meets we have, we have minimal amount of fans watching,” CCHS Senior Jonathan Samuelson said.  “I feel if more people came out watched, I would feel obligated to try harder and I would perform better.”

After accomplishing certain goals, runners will typically come up with new goals to attempt to reach and will do anything to reach these goals.

“I want to run half marathons in college,” Dean said.  “Then, after college, I plan to compete in full and ultra marathons.”

After finishing a run, whether it is a casual weekend run, an intense speed workout, or a full race, you will be stunned by how long and hard you were able to push your body through the whole thing.  In order to be a good distance runner, it is helpful to get a motivation, set goals for yourself and gets started with your training.  Although looked at as something easy because many people can participate in it, running should be seen as what it truly is, a difficult activity that takes a lot of time and strength, both physically and mentally.