“My main advice [to high school runners] would be to have confidence in yourself, especially at their age, they don’t even know their potential. Not to be scared of working hard and committing yourself to the sport. Continue to enjoy it. In a race, don’t be afraid to say, ‘What can I do today? I just want to leave it all out there.’”
“I would say the biggest difference between high school and college running is, in college, everyone wants to be there. You’re doing it because you love the sport. Also, one advice I’d give to high schoolers is, even if you don’t think you can make a team, just try out. D3 running is so much fun; it’s the best decision I’ve made for college. Just being on a team, continuing my athletic career, it’s not much of a time commitment compared to like a D1 program. I can still do what I love and get my degree.”
Left: “On the bus rides back, [the Trap House Runners] are hanging out, sitting with each other, talking about our race, giving each other advice, talking about injuries you might have, soreness. It’s kind of like a family among the team. … Couple of guys on the team, this is their first year, so it was the older guys giving them advice; don’t go out too fast your first mile, or make sure you have small steps going up the hill, or how to navigate a course that’s really tough.”
“My advice for someone who wants to run in college is the importance of doing the little things right. It’s something we talk a lot about here. The importance of getting good sleep, of eating well, stretching—those little things can really help prevent injuries, and they can really help long-term create your season and kind of help mold the runner you are. It also gives you more confidence knowing you did everything right. You don’t doubt yourself like, ‘Oh, well maybe I shouldn’t have eaten that before I raced today, or maybe I should have slept more.’ You know no matter what, you left everything out there.”
“What advice would you give to a high school runner who’s considering running in college?”
“You have to have that mindset that you’re not going to be the best on the team. You might have been the best on your high school team, but you’ve got to go in with the mindset that it’s going to to be a lot harder—the mileage, the intensity, everything is going to be tougher. But you have to have that mindset that, Let’s just push through it. My freshman year might be a tough year, but it’ll be worth it sophomore, junior, senior year. You’ll put in that work, put in that mileage, and it’ll be rewarding by the end of your career. … One thing to look for in a college program is having a good group. I was in the mid-distance group, and one thing that I experienced and was blessed with at both Hope and Grand Valley was the sense of unity within our workout groups. We all were great friends—basically brothers—but when it came to workouts, we were pushing each other and wanted to get after it and get the most out of that workout.”
“What’s the best piece of running advice you’ve ever received?”
“A few years ago, my dad told me to run for myself—not for him, and not for someone else’s goals, but to fulfill my purpose. That sounds self-serving, and both my dad and I hold humility in high esteem. However, since then, I’ve built my training philosophy around that mantra—running for myself. Constantly I’m finding new motivations, new records and new allurements to push myself as I run. What my dad instilled in me is an ability to set a goal and strive resolutely to achieve it.”
“What’s the best piece of running advice you’ve ever received?”
“You’re only as good as you let yourself be.”
“What’s the best piece of running advice you’ve ever received?”
“Never slow down when you’re getting near the finish line.”
“Are you confident in your kick now?”
“Very much so. That’s what I rely on.”
“What’s the best piece of running advice you’ve ever received?”
“However fast you’re running, run faster.”
I asked this group of eighth-graders to tell me (1) the best piece of running advice they’ve received and (2) what they love about running. A few answers for each question…
(1) “Don’t eat right before you run.”
“Pace yourself. Don’t sprint at the start.”
“Don’t give up, just keep running.”
(2) “You just go out and run, and nobody’s judging.”
“Staying fit.”
“It’s all you out there. It can be peaceful.”
Hooray Run 