Runners compete against their own records
Inside the unpredictable world of cross-country, pursuing a personal record in every race is tiring and relentless. Students put in countless, strenuous hours of training to help maintain the endurance needed to be a cross-country runner.
Cross-country runners are not likely to beat their personal record [PR] or fastest time in every race, but they have to continue to have a mentality that allows them not to overthink and instead, highlight the positives.
For the first time seven years ago, Isabella Steiner, sophomore, stepped onto the line for the first time for Newbury Park Track Club where she acquired many races under her belt and experienced the positive and negative aspects of running. Steiner understands the struggle when it comes to attempting to get a PR in every race. “Getting a PR can be heavily dependent on the course and the track you’re running and as you gain speed, overall PRs become less frequent,” Steiner said.
Since discovering cross-country in sixth grade, to running varsity for the NPHS boys’ cross-country team, Graham Reynolds, sophomore, has experienced several races where he did not get a PR. Reynolds has learned to take away positives from every race and to stay optimistic even if the race was not his greatest or up to his capabilities. “When I don’t PR in a race that I should have, the frustration motivates me to work harder in training to make sure I get that PR next time,” Reynolds said. Instead of giving up, all runners exhibit growth, resilience, integrity and tenacity [GRIT] while also having a Growth Mindset. Runners who set forth having GRIT, stay positive no matter what, and even during tougher races, they do not give up.
Although it is not common for cross-country runners to get a PR, every race, it is not impossible. Runners are constantly working hard to improve and beat their PR’s each year by training. Cross-country runners spend many days of the year running and building the endurance it takes to potentially achieve beating their PR and improving their run times. The feeling of getting a PR is very rewarding and a feeling that runners will never get tired of. “When I get a PR I always feel very accomplished, and it’s so exciting to see all of my improvement and my hard work pay off,” Steiner said. After runners improve and beat their PR they continue to work to beat their new fastest time.
Having only started running to stay in shape for soccer, Sophia Grant, junior, quickly fell in love with cross-country, independently. Grant is constantly working towards getting her PR and said the best way to get a PR is by training. “During workouts, I just really try and focus on what time I want to run and how much I want to run it… and that keeps me going,” Grant said. She said she trains and works hard to beat her PR but it is not common for her to get a PR every race. “It’s really hard to PR sometimes, but normally every year, I’ve gotten better,” Grant said.
Running cross-country can be a rewarding sport, while also arguably one of the most difficult, as it requires lots of practice, endurance, strength and GRIT. “If I continue to push hard even when I think I can’t, I know I will feel more accomplished and happier with the faster time,” Steiner said.
