To many, running has the reputation of being a repetitive and boring cycle of just pounding one’s feet on the concrete for many miles at a time. However, many find recreational and competitive running enjoyable and appreciate the supportive community that comes with it.
Though the post-race meals and scenic runs sound enjoyable, it is a sport where one must participate in grueling workouts and excruciatingly long runs to improve both speed and endurance. Most of the time, running is a mental game and those moments where races or workouts get especially painful can always be difficult to push through.
Many NDB runners began participating in the sport during middle school or at the start of their freshman year of high school. Running is typically not a sport that people start at an early age and athletes commit more time to it after deciding to spend less time and effort on other sports.
Running does not always have to be competitive and can just be a method of exercise. Contrary to what some may think, one does not need to run extremely fast to be considered a “runner.” Taking just half an hour to clear one’s head and go on a quick run around their neighborhood helps with mental clarity and forces one to spend more time outside.
Junior cross country and distance track team member Lauren Zerella decided to join both teams in her freshman year to meet people and try something different from soccer, her other sport.
“I really love the running community because I feel like it’s just so special to have a group of people that I can always … talk to and always hang out with,” said Zerella. “It’s good because it helps me get through harder person runs … I also think that just running in groups can also be so beneficial because it helps me understand that … we’re all experiencing the same workout, so it’s like all going to be fine.”
One downside to competitive running is that it has a high impact on one’s body and can quickly lead to injuries if weekly mileage is increased too quickly or strength training is not implemented into a runner’s routine. Injuries can be detrimental to one’s mental health as they force one to find other forms of exercise, such as biking or swimming, for weeks or even months at a time. Aside from this, the idea of losing access to such an important aspect of their life can cause runners to struggle mentally and the journey to becoming physically healthy again is difficult.
Senior sprinter Perry Stevick has been running on the track team since freshman year. Although she enjoys the support of her teammates at practice and meets, she has also had to push through obstacles during her time as a sprinter.
“The hardest part of sprinting is working through injuries … I have had my fair share of injuries in these past four years so I am familiar with the process,” said Stevick. “It’s hard for a sprinter to take time off because each practice is important and you want to put in the work all the time. For me, the way I push through is remembering that the season is long … the team helps [me] through everything.”
Also, most runners experience pre-race nerves as they are concerned about their race’s outcome or the thought of pushing themselves to the brink of exhaustion. Athletes cope with this in various ways, but regularly attending practice and reminding oneself of the difficult workouts they had to complete usually does the trick. The close-knit all-girls running environment of NDB’s cross country and track and field teams have contributed to the athletes’ love for the sport.
Sophomore cross country and distance track team member Ella Oldendorp joined both teams in her freshman year and enjoys spending time with her teammates.
“I really like how everyone on the team is very excited to run and even when we’re having a bad day, we can still get through the run together,” said Oldendorp. “I [also] recommend going to a running store to get the right shoes because not having the right shoes can cause a lot of pain in [your] ankles.”
Running can be an enjoyable sport to compete in or just participate in for fun if one goes into it with an open mind. The community is extremely supportive of each other and having people to run with makes the painful moments a little better.
