The Varsity Boys had an off week from racing, as they prepare to head into the championship part of the season. I caught up with Sophomore John Greenberg and asked him a couple of questions about the season etc. John recently ran a huge pr at pennypacker. He dropped 2:39 from last years time on the same course. His mile pr from spring track is 4:56. John shared some thoughts about his breakout season.
Tim Malloy: What did you do differently this year between freshman year to sophomore year?
John Greenberg: "Coming into my Freshman year I did no summer training whats so ever. Heading into this summer I was sure to train really hard. I had some good mentors to run with this past summer like Ben, Matt & Timmy. They pushed the pace which I think really help me out. As the summer went on I got stronger which has really help me race this season"
TM: Did the coaches give you a plan on how to train this summer?
JG: At the end of track season we had a meeting about XC and we were given a summer calender, but I really wanted to step it up and I felt confident that I could step it up. The days I felt good I tried to run as many miles as I could.
TM :What do you like best about XC?
JG: Nothing is better than getting a PR. I also like helping the team win a big meet like in NY when we won the NYC XC carnival.
TM: Talk about what its been like following in the foot steps of some of the great XC teams Haddonfield has had in the past.
JG: We definitely felt it (pressure) and coming into this season we all knew we had a lot of hard work to do. I think if we continue to work hard we will be right there with some of those past teams in the coming years.
TM: Whats your favorite class?
JG: Accelerated US History 1 with Mr Miller. It's my hardest class, but its also my favorite.
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John Greenberg=Hard work |
TM: Do you have any pre-race superstition?
JG: Before dual meets when we do our warm up we never go through the chute at the finish line.
TM: How did that come about? Was it passed down from previous teams?
JG: I am not sure, but Greg Halla (captain) told us at the beginning of the season that we could never do it.
TM: Do you have any personal superstition?
JG: I have two pair of trainers. A light pair and a heavy pair. On meet days I warm up in my heavy trainers.
TM: Special pre race meal or food?
JG: I like to eat Italian before races.
TM: If I stole your I-Pod what would I be listening to?
JG: Most likely Rap & Bruce Springsteen. I like to listen to Jungleland by Bruce Springsteen before races.
TM: If you weren't running for the bulldawgs this fall what would you be doing?
JG: Playing soccer
TM: How did you get interested in running? Did you run on Mrs. Baker middle school xc team?
JG: Yes, but I would only show up once every two weeks. I'd played soccer for Mr. Earhardt and he would tell me, "you two look pretty quick". I went out for middle school track and ran the half mile and I liked it. Erin Donahue was my coach and told my parents that I would be good at running and that I should go out for cross in the fall.
TM: This time last year your season was over. As you head into the championship part of the season do you have any team &/or personal goals?
JG: Team wise we would like to get on the stage @ MOC & personally I would like to break 17 minutes at Holmdel.
TM: Your mile pr is 4:56, you went out last week in 5:02. What was going through your mind when you heard your mile time & it was only 6 seconds slower than your open mile pr? Did you panic?
JG: Coach Baker said it was going to go out hard & I knew it would. I went out with Patrick Shea who has done a good job of pacing me all season. He knows what he is doing and I trust him.
TM: Were you surprised by how well you ran last week at the All Star meet?
JG: Yes. At camp this summer one of my goals that I wrote down was to break 16:45 at Pennypacker. I knew I was capable of doing that. The summer training and hard work carried me through to my pr of 16:15.
I want to thank John for taking the time to answer my questions. John is a perfect example of what makes XC so great. No if & buts or candy & nuts. Its not as hard as Mr. Miller's accelerated US History class. Do the work and results will follow. We wish John & all the other Dawgs to stay Healthy, Happy & Hungry as they head into sectionals next week
Look for my sectional preview next week.
Lastly, I wanted to thank everyone for reading my blog. This week my blog registered its 1,000 visitor. I wonder how many Courier Post subscriptions that would equal if they still covered XC?
See you on the course.