The 2013 Cross Country Arizona Watch List series continues. As the season gets underway new athletes will be added to the list. Good luck to everyone! See you on the course!
Journal Questions:
Name: Nicole Hicks (Nicole's Milesplit profile)
High School:
Desert Vista High School
Year of Graduation: 2014
Best time in a 5K and a 3 Mile Race:
3 Mile: 19:38
5k: 19:14
What are your goals for the upcoming season:
This season, I hope to break 18:30 in a 5K. I’m also looking to place in the top 5 at the state meet.
How is your summer training going? Your favorite workout? What kind of summer mileage do you run?
My summer training has been going really well. I’ve been running between 50 and 60 miles a week. My favorite workout is pretty much anything that we do on the track or our Saturday long runs at ASU.
How long have you been running and how did you get started:
I’ve been running since I was in 6th grade, when my best friend encouraged me to go out for cross country with her. Obviously, I loved it, and I’ve been running ever since.
Which meets will you be running this year?
We’ll be running in the usual Arizona meets: Sole Sports, Chandler, Doug Conley, Twilight, City, Sectionals, State, and Nike Southwest. We’re also going to California to run at the Woodbridge Invite.
What are your favorite and toughest courses to run in State and out of State?
My favorite course to run in state is Twilight, because it’s such a fast course. Out of state, I love running the Mt. SAC course. The toughest course I’ve run is Doug Conley.
So far in your high school career, what is your favorite cross country race or cross country memory?
My favorite cross country race was my freshman year, when we traveled to Portland, Oregon to run at Nike Pre-Nationals. This was my first big race of my high school career and I really surprised myself with my performance. I’ve also had a ton of great memories from the past 4 years of going up to camp with my teammates.
What do you look forward to the most this season?
This season, I’m really looking forward to drastically dropping my 5k and 3 mile times. I’m also looking forward to making the most of my last high school cross country season, and spending some quality time with my teammates.
Out of all your running accomplishments so far, which stands out the most?
Placing 1st in the 4x800 at State (and breaking the school record) with some of my best friends
When you are not running what do you like to do?
When I’m not running, I love to spend time with my family, my friends, and my teammates. I also spend a lot of my time volunteering for the Arizona Humane Society.
Do you cross train (lift, swim, bike etc)?
I swim or bike 3 times a week.
How have your coaches influenced you overall?
My previous cross country coach, Coach C, has influenced me by teaching me mental toughness. He really helped to initiate me into the program and help me to feel part of the cross country family that we have at DV. My current coach, Coach Messer, has really helped me by teaching me to train smart and focus on all aspects that contribute to my performance.
Are you considering running after college?
I’m definitely going to run for the rest of my life, hopefully competitively. I honestly couldn’t imagine my life without running!
Shout-Outs?
I’d like to give a shout-out to all of my teammates. I love you guys so much and I’m so excited to see what we can do together this year!
Quick Six:
Favorite Pre-race Meal?
Oatmeal, Banana and Gatorade
Kind of shoes you train in?
Asics GT 2000
Favorite athlete (running or otherwise)?
Ryan Hall
Favorite song?
"Let her go" by Passenger
What time of day do you run?
5 AM, bright and early!
Favorite quote?
"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy" ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.