When people think of the word ‘running’, some see it as a dreadful task. But for some student athletes, like senior Owen Cummings, running gives them a sense of belonging within a community and a feeling of accomplishment in life.
Year-round runners are athletes in track, cross-country, winter running, and summer running, who are constantly interacting with people in the running community between the practices, meets, and training throughout the year.
Cummings has learned that it is important to have really good time management skills, as there is little room to procrastinate, Cummings said. Having a consistent plan has also helped him stay focused and has helped him from falling behind. Although running may be time-consuming, it creates a community that supports each other and teaches important skills and lessons, Cummings said.
“The biggest lesson I have learned is that success isn’t easy,” Cummings said. “You have to do a lot to be successful, especially in a sport or academics.”
It takes a lot of training and hard work to become an accomplished runner, as not everyone is naturally good at it, Cummings said. Running also taught Cummings many important skills, like perseverance and discipline, which allowed him to learn from bad races instead of giving up or forgetting them. Training can be very mentally and physically challenging, so perseverance has taught him to keep battling towards improvement, Cummings said.
Junior Jack Lyons, distance runner in cross country, track, summer, and winter running, has also learned valuable lessons from the running community.
“Hard work pays off,” Lyons said. “The more you put in, the more you can get out.”
Lyons has been running since the seventh grade and has committed to running year-round. Besides the small break between cross country and track season, he is running almost every day for the whole year, including summer and winter running.
Senior Samantha Ognar, Girls’ Varsity Cross Country Captain, is a distance runner who does winter running, track, and summer running. She enjoys running because of the opportunities of meeting new people, and for the community it brings.
“I really like my team—we are like a family,” Ognar said. “Running gives my mind something to do, and I feel really good when I have success in it.”
Running has taught Ognar about commitment, dedication, and how to be a teammate. The sport has shaped Ognar’s life, and she is looking forward to continuing it recreationally in college and beyond. Cummings also has been deeply impacted by running, and it is something that he wants to take with him further in life, whether that is running individually or joining a school-associated running club, Cummings said.
“Running has definitely shaped my life and my mindset,” Cummings said. “I really want to keep running past high school.”
