By FREDDY GONZALEZ
Staff Writer
The Harlingen High boys and girls cross country teams will be competing at the Region lV meet this morning at the Texas A&M Corpus Christi campus.
The Cardinals’ boys team is led by senior Danny Diaz, and the girls team is led by senior Michelle Medina.
The Valley Morning Star had a chance to talk to the pair and ask some questions before their regional meet.
Danny Diaz
Q: Explain how you train for cross country? How many miles a week do you run?
DANNY: Well, first of all, the most important thing to train is your mind. If cross country was easy everybody would do it. This sport is mostly, mainly, based on your mindset; if your mindset is great, then you will excel in this sport. The mileage we run isn’t too crazy, but it’s just the right amount of miles you need for race day.
Q: What is your favorite sports quote?
DANNY: “Don’t let fatigue make a coward out of you,” Steve Prefontaine. This quote is always in my head during hard runs and even during races. What it means is that you never give up on what you’re chasing, no matter how tired and dead you feel.
Q: What are some goals you have set for yourself this season?
DANNY: Well, starting off the season I wanted to lead my team to glory. I never had goals individually, I was thinking about the team. My goal this season is to take them far into the season.
Q: What are some of your preparations or rituals that you have leading up to an event?
DANNY: Days before a meet is coming up I try to do the basic preparations a distance runner prepares for. Drink water, eat right, and no going out. My personal rituals consist of eating pizza the day before, always. Usually runners will drink beverages with tons of electrolytes. Water is my go-to drink always, nothing special, just plain water.
Q: If you could have dinner with anybody, who would it be and why?
DANNY: If there was one person I would like to just sit down and have a nice meal with, it would be Steve Prefontaine. He’s been an inspiration to me and runners everywhere. To sit and just hear would just be a dream come true.
Michelle Medina
Q: What is the toughest part of cross country?
MICHELLE: The toughest part of cross country would be eventually realizing that it’s a constant mental game of breaking barriers, learning to overcome doubt and fear, and finally going through the pain to reach your “second wind.” Also, having the determination and being committed to go the extra mile to succeed. Another would be being consistent not only at practice but especially at the races, when your coaches expect you to (be at a) certain time for the first miles and then take off the last. Also having to learn to believe in yourself, trusting the process and being confident, but not to the point to where you underestimate others. Lastly, having self-discipline to go out at practices and races and follow through the plan. At the end of the day running is all mental, and learning to master it to become mentally strong day by day.
Q: What are some of your preparations or rituals that you have leading up to an event?
MICHELLE: Some preparations I take for upcoming events would be to go back to past races, revise my total times and splits, as well staying up to date with the times my competitors hit as well. I usually go back and examine my past races carefully to figure out exactly where I need improvement or where mistakes were made. I set short-term goals for the upcoming events and have self-discipline to follow through and achieve them. The main factor is having a set goal for the next races, and (setting) up a plan a week in advance just so I can remind myself what I’m working for that particular week.
Q: This is your senior year. What are you going to miss the most about your high school career?
MICHELLE: For it being my senior year, I will be missing my team and coaches the most since I am the only senior on the girls side. I am very grateful for my coaches, who give us their time and are always trying to help us improve not only as athletes but as individuals. I will definitely miss the times we’ve had and times they’ve been there on the down lows. As for my team, I love working with them and how they have similar goals in mind as I do. They’ve come so far and have had success as individuals; I can only imagine what they will do after I’m gone. We’ve gotten closer not only as a team but as family, and I am very grateful to have had them for my last ride of cross (country). It’s a shame I will be graduating because I would’ve loved to continue to succeed with them and grow our bond stronger.
Q: If you had a time machine and could go anywhere for 20 minutes, would you go to the future or to the past?
MICHELLE: If I had a time machine to travel 20 minutes into time, I would travel both ways, past and future. I’d go the past to tell myself to believe in myself, to not underestimate others, and to make it worth it now because there’s no coming back. Also, to make as minimal mistakes as I possibly could and to let go of the fear of hurting, because that’s what was holding me back from seeing my potential. Then I’d travel to the future just to see if I really do reach all the goals I set for myself and if I’ve turned running into a career.
Q: Do you aspire to run at the next level?
MICHELLE: Yes, I definitely aspire to run at the next level as it’s been my dream since freshman year, and ever since then it’s become a goal. Although, the goal before that is obtaining the times I need to receive a scholarship. I am very hopeful that I continue what I started as it’s become my passion, as I’ve learned many things that I could apply to real-world situations. Running is life, and it’s something I couldn’t live without.