A pack of about 25 runners relentlessly lumber up a rocky, shrub-filled mountain. Breathing heavily, their legs trudge mechanically up the winding dirt trail. Though physically exhausted from the lack of oxygen in the high altitude terrain, their positive mentality strengthens and pushes them through the dusty path. No, they are not lost; they are members of the Jesuit Cross Country Team running in the cool climate of Park City, Utah.
For two summers, Cross Country Coach Chris Lee has been taking the cross country athletes to Park City, approximately 30 miles southeast of Salt Lake City, to run together and bond as a team. Dr. Doug Crosb
y, owner of a condominium in the area, graciously provided two condos for the team to stay in. Mr. Matt Flanagan, a member of the Booster Club, generously offered his time to help supervise us, not to mention to escape the blistering Texas temperatures. The running experience lasted one week, August 5th through the 12th. The goal of the trip, in Coach Lee’s words, was to “Get some good running up at high altitudes and definitely come together as a team–just to have some team bonding time.” And, without a doubt, we bonded from the difficult twice a day workouts of running up steep, narrow paths, full of loose rocks and high weeds swallowing up the trail.
Our trip consisted of a variety of events, from rugged trails to games of ultimate Frisbee, and even an aerial ski show at the Olympic facilities. When not running, the team played soccer and ultimate Frisbee, and a few of the fifteen movies we watched were Shutter Island, Zombieland, and Superbad. Sophomore Andrew Patterson enjoyed the time when he could relax with his fellow teammates: “I really liked all the down time we had when we weren’t running, like all the games we played.” In fact, he added, “I think it’s just a good way to get to know the team better, and it was a lot of fun.”
The cross country team explored the entire Park City area. On Saturday sophomore at Trinity University, Sal Perdomo ’09 and junior Andrew Rosatto competed in the Jupiter Peak Steeplechase race, placing 2nd and 3rd in their respective age groups. Later that day the team saw The Other Guys at a theater in town. On Sunday the runners had a day devoted to playing soccer on a mountaintop field. On Wednesday we had a fantastic dinner at Pizza Hut, which the Hebigs thoughtfully provided for us. The trip in general was both a great learning experience and physically demanding. Junior Andy McCall said, “I was expecting more hill workouts than we actually had, but other than that it was a lot of fun.”
One of the best aspects of the trip was the cool weather, something we very much appreciated. “I just wanted to get out of Texas and the heat,” Senior Peter Chung said. Mr. Flanagan lightheartedly commented with the same rationale: “I just wanted to get out of the 100 degrees, and whatever else happens is fine with me.”
The energetic trail runs and challenging workouts improved our physical abilities and helped us bond as a team. Coach Lee realized “that everybody got a lot of really good running in and got to run in a lot cooler weather” than in the heat of Texas. And the benefit for the entire team became clear as the week progressed: “I think everybody got to know each other a little better, and when it comes down to racing time, everybody’s going to run for each other a little bit better because they know their teammates are counting on them.” Whether it was a 10 mile workout or a 5 mile recovery run, the team ran together and learned to be a better team. Sophomore Grant Pittman reflected on the trails traversed: “There was a lot of running. My legs are pretty tired, but I feel like I have accomplished a lot…. The workouts that we had were pretty tough and the long runs were fun, especially on the trails.” The high altitude training runs were demanding, crucial workouts, yet the team kept an encouraging attitude and strived to improve their running capabilities.
With the 2010 cross country season in full swing, the team has gained a lot from the Utah trip. Coach Lee shared his thoughts and predictions: “The fact that we are at high elevation, having to run up these steep mountains, really is going to add not only some cardiovascular strength, but it’s going to provide some muscular strength too.” He added, “I think the stronger we are running-wise, the faster we are going to be able to race.” And so, as the district championship grows closer, the spirit of Utah will hopefully carry the team triumphantly across the finish line, perhaps without the dust and weeds of Park City.
