The Blue Valley Southwest Cross Country team competed in the Eastern Kansas League (EKL) Championship against Saint Thomas Aquinas, BV West, BV Northwest, Bishop Miege and Gardner. The race took place at Heritage Soccer Park on Oct. 14.

What most people might not realize is that a lot of runners will often pick a song and keep it going in their head while they run.

“You keep a song in your head,” sophomore AJ Lepkinski said. “It helps you keep your pace, and our coach is always wanting us to keep a steady pace.”

Singing songs while running will help your pace, but if the course is full of ups and downs, runners will be affected differently.

Junior Logan Wiehn says straight, flat courses are a lot faster than hilly ones.

“You’re more likely to get a better time on a straight course,” Wiehn said.”It’s a lot faster and you could set a record.”

Lepkinski says the straight courses aren’t as fun as hilly ones.

“Hill affect your calves,” Lepkinski said. “I prefer them though because some of the straight ones are boring.”

Heritage Park is a very straight course that rarely sees any bumps or hills.

“This is a very competitive and hard sport,” Lepkinski said, “but once you find a motivation, you can finish.”

Wiehn finished 19th for varsity, and Lepkinski finished 55th in junior varsity.