The top runners on the men’s cross-country team have displayed high levels of endurance that have acted as motivation throughout the season. But fatigue caught up with the Bombers at their biggest meet of the season, Lehigh’s Paul Short Run, on Sept. 30.
Though he ran cross country in high school, junior David Geary didn’t get off to a fast start in his first two seasons with the men’s cross country team.
After a long summer of outdoor training, the men’s cross country team got some final tips from past Bombers before beginning its quest for a second consecutive Empire 8 conference championship.
In any sport, a week off can give a team a number of positive outcomes. Sometimes it allows time for injuries to heal, while other times it allows more room for game planning and mental training. For many of the athletes, it can be a much-needed break from the rigors of the regular season.
Muscles tighten, expand and contract. Legs flex and bend while tendons stretch, only relieved when the athlete takes his next step. The hammering put on the body during a cross-country run only rivals the pressure put on the brain.
This time every year heavy breathing and constant panting fill the outskirts of Ithaca College as athletes young and old navigate the wooded terrain.
