“…the first time you are about to finish your race, and you can see the banner at the end, and you think, ‘I’m almost done!’ It’s the biggest relief to know that you have almost conquered all of the monstrous hills and distance,” said Ryan Reiss ’13.
Ryan Reiss, who ran in the cross country team in the championships, could not have captured the feeling better. The great improvements chalked up this year by the resilient Hewitt cross country team was manifested in this final race. Many people often describe cross country as long distance track. However, that is an understatement. Runners must race over natural terrain, including grass and many steep hills. The sport is not only based on how fast you run, but also how smart you run. A typical cross country runner has to plan out her pace for the course ahead. This strategic plan is derived from excessive training over the summer and the school days. CollegianOnline reports, “This form of commitment separates cross country conditioning from that of other sports.”
I commend the Hewitt team and Coach Nancy Gallin for doing so well in the cross country championships and look forward to see them, along with the members of other fall sports teams, recognized at the Fall Sports Awards. Show your support for Hewitt’s cross country team, and come to the Sports Awards this Monday evening on November 21!