Determination. Stamina. Hard work. These are just some things an all around athlete needs to be a top-notch competitor. Performers spend countless hours preparing for events and trying to stay injury-free.
Piper, a varsity cross country runner and All-State swimmer just finished out her fantastic running season with the ‘Newcomer of the Year’ Award, not to mention a personal record of 16:33 in the 4K category. Some would think that Piper has been working up to this for years, but in reality, she just started the endurance sport this year.
“I decided to run cross country last May, during P.E. class which I had with my friend Ellie,” Piper said, “She suggested it to me and said that she was going to do cross country so I decided to do it as well.”
Both of Piper’s parents did running sports in high school and were excited to hear that she was going to begin cross country to pair with swimming. The decision seemed to pay off because Piper said, “I had no idea that it was going to be as fun as it was.”
Not only was it fun, but Piper made a tremendous addition to the team.
“It’s always great to have new runners who are competitive and want to get better,” Head Coach Rich Wilson said.
Starting in June the cross country team began summer conditioning. Going all the way through the season until November, the team ran quite a long time. During that time Piper jumped up to varsity very quickly. For being a swimmer turned new coming runner, Pipers determination and competitive nature helped her move up. However, disaster struck towards the end of the season.
“I got injured the week of EKL; I hurt my achilles tendon really bad,” Piper said.
Her tendon became really tight, the result of high impact and building up lots of mileage in a short time.
“Swimming is great, but it doesn’t mean you’re ready to run, because there is nothing on your legs,” Wilson said.
On a Monday, what the runners would call a distance day due to the heavy mileage – usually 7 to 9 miles covered — Piper felt the pain in between her ankle and calf.
“It was during practice that I was running down a really steep hill and I felt something tweak in my leg.” Piper said, “For the rest of that day, I was able to finish it, but I had to limp while walking.”
The injury came at one of the worst possible times; EKL was two days away. Piper had a major decision to make.
“I decided to run at the meet because I thought it was fine, but I really messed it up pretty bad then.” Piper fought until the very end, making it through the race and bumping the team into the top 4.
“I’m always really proud of Piper,” Wilson said, “but the way she battled during the EKL League race; I just thought that was amazing.”
Unfortunately, her injury kept her from running in Regionals, the race that could possibly qualify the team for State.
“As badly as I wanted her to be able run, I didn’t want to get her hurt any worse than she already was,” Wilson said. “It was hard for the team, because she was our second or third best runner.”
When Coach Wilson delivered the news to Piper, she was very upset, despite the fact that she ‘pretty much knew the whole time’ that she wasn’t going to be able to compete.
Knowing she had to stay off her leg, Piper asked the coaches what she needed to do to recover quickly and effectively.
“The coaches both just tried to do everything they could to help,” Piper said. “They gave me stretches I could do, and told me to ice and heat it everyday, several times a day and just to say off it. Even with all of that I still wasn’t able to run because I was having trouble even walking.”
Luckily, with rest and recovery, Piper will finally be up and running again before track starts up, followed by the much anticipated new year of cross country.
“The thing I’m looking forward to most next year is getting to be a second year runner and that will be great because I’ll know everyone on the team and I hope I get to provide leadership to the freshman and sophomores on the team.”