Fall 2008 - Issue 1

The Silversword: Home > Sports > The Passion of the Long Distance Runner

The Passion of the Long Distance Runner

Shane Price, Sports Editor

It may be the forgotten sport, not just on our campus, but also on many others across the country as well. With little peer respect the runners have to find reasons to run.

Being a student is hard enough; doubling that with the hard work of a cross-country runner can’t be easy.

“This sport is highly mental,” Head Coach Masako Sagawa said. “You get sense of accomplishment when you finish.” 

Cross-country is a demanding sport both mentally and physically.  The sport was introduced to the United States in 1878 by William C. Vosburgh, and has been widely popular ever since.  That popularity is only really seen in the running community; coming as no surprise cross-country is forgotten by all but the runners themselves.

“I understand it’s not really easy to see an entire race,” senior runner Tyler Pickle said.  “It’s not a spectator sport.  I probably wouldn’t go if I didn’t run.”

“We have some really good runners here people who are dedicated,” junior runner Rachel Martin said. “We should at least receive Gatorade after practice.”

“Because it’s good exercise,” said Krystal Walthour. “I love running.  “It’s easy to do, so why not do it?”

“I just like it. It’s a natural high,” said sophomore runner Nicholas Ogatta. “You’d have to run to understand. It also forces me to get out of the house instead of being a couch potato.”

“Self-satisfaction,” said Pickle. “Not really any glamour in this sport.  You have to do it for your self.”

“Once you finish a race or a marathon, you have a sense of accomplishment,” said Sagawa.  “Your confidence builds.  You get a feeling of I can do any thing.”

“It makes you feel good,” said Martin. “Almost like your ‘detoxing’ your body.”

Having to push your self to the limit at every moment during the season can’t be easy.  Adding to it school work, what would push a runner forward?

“To get faster,” said Ogatta. “It’s really disheartening when you get passed in a race, but when you pass someone you just get an awesome feeling of OWNAGE! Plus the girls.”

“Running keeps me in shape,” said Martin. “I don’t think I would be in what I am today if I didn’t run,” said Martin.

It might also be what is commonly called to runners a runner high.

“I’m not really a biology—kind—of guy, but it makes you feel like your running on clouds,” said sophomore runner Charles Gumm.

“When you start the race you feel [crappy], but at some point during the race you tell yourself I like this I can go on forever,” said Walthour.

“Feels like the most perfect running you can have,” said Martin. “Everything is fine your form, your breathing, feels like you can run forever.”