With the 2014 cross country season just around the corner it's time to start our "Watch List" highlighting the top returners. Senior Nathan Thomas from Salpointe Catholic is our next Watch List athlete.
As the season starts we will continue to add athletes to the list.
Keep checking back as we highlight some of Arizona's best. Good luck to everyone - see you on the course!!
Journal Questions:
Name: Nathan Thomas (Nathan's Watch List)
High School: Salpointe Catholic High School
Year of Graduation: 2015
Best time in a 5K and a 3 Mile Race:
5k: 15:52 at State
3 mile: 15:25 at Rattler Invitational
When did you get started as a running:
I eagerly joined the track team as soon as I was old enough in 5th grade. It wasn’t until my 8th grade year, however, that I fell in love with my life long partner; distance running.
Which meets will you be running this year?
This year, my team and I will be competing in the Peaks Invite, Desert Solstice, the Stanford Invite, Rattler, and of course, State.
What are your goals for the upcoming track season? What do you look forward to the most?
My goals for this season are that my team and I stay healthy/injury free all season long and that we train with the utmost desire so that we can be the best we can possibly be. I’m looking forward to racing my heart’s desire to see how much I’ve changed and grown among my three years of running cross-country.
How is your summer training going? Your favorite workout? What kind of summer mileage do you run?
My summer training this year was awesome. I met my team at different locations daily and we tried to rack up as many miles as we could. My favorite workout would have to be running Agua Caliente, a 2200-foot elevation change, 9-mile trail run.
Do you cross train (lift, swim, bike etc)?
I enjoy biking, especially to practice.
Do you follow any kind of nutrition program or watch what you eat?
I do not follow a strict diet plan, but I do watch what I eat and drink very carefully. The difference between the good and bad food can mean the difference between delight and misery while running. As a wise runner once told me, “take everything into moderation.”
So far in your high school career, what is your favorite cross country race or cross country memory?
It’s so hard to narrow it down to just one race, but I’d have to say the Peaks Invite in Flagstaff is my favorite because the course is gorgeous. It’s even sometimes hard to race through Buffalo Park because the beautiful meadows are such a distraction.
What is the best part of running?
The best part of running is being able to pursue individual ambitions and to achieve them. This is so great because just about anyone can work towards a personal goal, and the satisfaction of reaching that goal is extraordinary.
Out of all your running accomplishments so far, which stands out the most?
Attending the Arcadia Invitational in California stands out the most because of a couple things. It boosted the confidence I have in my ability to accept challenges that may seem daunting or overwhelming at first, and it also broadened my perspective of the running world.
When you are not running what do you like to do?
When I am not running I enjoy being with the family, especially playing with my two younger siblings. Also hanging out with friends is a great thing.
How have your coaches influenced you overall?
My coaches have influenced me since day one and as a result they’ve structured me into the athlete I am today. They are the people who sometimes know me better than I know myself. I can always count on them to give me genuine advice, on both running and in my own personal life. I think a lot of people overlook how special it is to have a strong relationship with their coach, and I am very grateful to be a part of their program.
Shout outs?
I would like to shout out to my mom and dad, because they’ve been to every one of my races. And also my teammates, you guys are the inspiration that keeps me going when I don’t want to keep going.
Quick 6:
Favorite Post-race Meal?
Anything and everything
Kind of shoes you train in?
Right now, Saucony's
Flat course or hills?
Hills for sure
Facebook or Twitter?
Neither
Hot or cold weather?
Hot
Favorite song at the moment?
"Man of the Year" by School Boy Q