In the early morning hours, fog consuming the course ahead of them, our Brahma Cross-Country runners prepare to compete. The 25-26 season has started, and our runners have been working very hard. With all this exertion, most runners need something to think about to help them keep up their grind or push them to be better, even when it may be exhausting.
“What keeps me going is just running. I love to run, and I’ve always loved running,” Nathaniel Amador said.
For some, running cross-country is a sport they enjoy; for others, it is a competitive stress reliever that helps them cope with school-related anxiety.
“I want to improve my times from last year… running is a stress reliever for me, and school for me is really stressful,” Faith Garcia said.
Others are looking to be a role model for their team to keep them pushing in times of stress and anxiety.
“When I was a freshman there was a lot of seniors that I really looked up to that competed very well. juniors and seniors that were very competitive and they raced really well and I wanted to be like them. But now as a junior, upperclassmen, I want to be a role model for the younger kids and make them want to keep doing it because running’s not an easy sport so you have to be the motivation for other people.” Junior Elizabeth Felcman Said.
The athletes are having fun at their first practices and meets, but they are also looking forward to the upcoming season and accomplishing the goals they have set for themselves.
“Personally I would love to get back into running by district but right now I’m not really as strong as I’d like to be so just hard work and staying consistent with running and getting back into it. Running is such a mental game and you need more kids to push you and motivate you day by day and push you to be your best.” Felcman said.
For Felcman, this season has not been easy. During the first few weeks of practice to the teams last meet, Felcman has been sitting on the injury list.
“This summer I got put in a boot because I had a stress reaction in my right leg, and I haven’t run for over seven weeks, so that’s probably my biggest obstacle so far this season. I feel out of shape and tired all the time. And it’s been very hard to go to physical therapy 24/7 and not being able to be the runner that I was,” Felcman said.
Although they do not have their top runner, the team is still making their way through the meets shooting for first out of all the competition and looking to make it to region and beyond.
“For me, my goals are to make it to region and possibly Corpus {State},” Amador said.
Some just aim big straight from the start.
“Making it to state,” Bone said.
Come support your Brahma and Lady Brahma Cross-Country runners this Friday, September 5, in Seguin!
