Running For Glory and Good Health

The members of the cross-country team here at Pahrump Valley High School put in effort and energy throughout the season to make the school proud. The cross-country team is a large source of athletic pride here at PVHS, and many people do not see the benefits of being on the team. Running is a simple, yet effective, way to keep both the mind and body healthy throughout the season. 

Joshua Gent, a freshmen and cross-country runner who just started running this year, loves this opportunity to stay physically active. When speaking about his love for the sport he said, “I think cross-country is fun because you’re able to like get a form of exercise and get a form of joy from that but also you’re able to push yourself and see you get better”. He puts an emphasis on determination and setting long term goals. Gent states that being able to see yourself grow over time and accomplish things you couldn’t do before is an important part of the sport. “It keeps you really healthy. It might not be fun at the moment but it definitely has some good after effects”. 

The team’s training usually keeps them set on their goals, though some people may not only rely on their training to keep their eyes on the prize. Gent stays motivated during the season by focusing on the grand moment of glory for any school cross-country runner, winning the state championship: “I mean it’s hard at times because running is not fun, but I think it’s just through our coaches and if you just have to keep a big perspective that end goal is the state championship and that is what we want to go out and win”. He focuses on the bigger picture: not letting the smaller things bring him down.  

Others like freshman Joshua Flores, a cross-country runner since last year, find other methods of keeping calm and staying mentally strong during and before races. “There isn’t much you can do because you just have to not think. That’s the whole thing during the race- no thinking”. Using this interesting tactic, he stays focused on the smaller goals and pushes forward.

Both runners aspire to get better at the sport they have chosen and have some advice for newcomers. As Flores stated, “My advice towards anyone considering doing cross-country is don’t do it alone. It is much easier to do cross-country if you are running with someone else”. Just like any other club or sport, a large part of it is having people you can rely on. Having people beside you to help motivate you or comfort you through shared experiences can make a big difference. Echoing this team oriented mindset, Gent adds, “If you’re showing some interest in joining cross-country, I would suggest go out, do it, meet the team and try and have as much fun with the team and involve yourself as much as possible”.

Overall, cross-country takes perseverance and friendly people to lean on. It can be a fun and fulfilling sport as well as a very good pastime that will keep your body and mind healthy. So if you are interested, don’t hesitate; reach out and join the cross-country team to make friends, stay fit, and get involved!