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: Jack Hovland (Jack's Milesplit profile)
High School:
Notre Dame Preparatory
Year of Graduation:
2014
Best time in a 5K and a 3 Mile Race:
5k: 16:20
3 Mile: 15:51
What are your goals for the upcoming season:
To get a 15:45 or lower 5K personal record, and to get first in the state for Division II.
How is your summer training going? Your favorite workout? What kind of summer mileage do you run?
My summer training is going well. My mileage goes from about 35 to 45 miles a week. I topped out at about 46 miles this summer. My favorite workout would have to be the interval training.
How long have you been running and how did you get started:
I started running non-competitively in eighth grade, but I started running cross country and track competitively my freshman year of high school, so I’ve been running for about 4 years. I started running, because after I got cut from a junior all-American football team in Newport Beach, I felt that running was my next sport of choice. I thought that if my dad could run cross country and track in high school, so could I.
Which meets will you be running this year?
I will be running Sole Sports Invitational, Desert Twilight, Doug Conley, Sectionals, State, Nike Cross Regionals, possibly Foot Locker Western Regionals, and hopefully Mt. Carmel in San Diego, California among others.
What are your favorite and toughest courses to run in State and out of State?
My favorite courses are Mt. SAC in California and Desert Twilight, and the toughest courses to me are the sectionals course at Skunk Creek, Doug Conley Invite, the state course at Cave Creek Golf Course, and Mt. SAC, even though it is my favorite course.
So far in your high school career, what is your favorite cross country race or cross country memory?
My favorite cross country race has been, and always will be, Mt. SAC. Going out there with the team last year was also my favorite memory. I also ran there my freshman year when I was going to high school in Irvine, California.
What do you look forward to the most this season?
I look forward to possibly going to Mt. Carmel this year or getting a PR at Desert Twilight
Out of all your running accomplishments so far, which stands out the most?
I feel like placing 5th in state last year was the accomplishment that stood out the most, even though I did not get my best time.
When you are not running what do you like to do?
I like to go camping if I have the chance, play Xbox, surf in California, listen to music on my iPhone, and have good times with my family.
Do you cross train (lift, swim, bike etc)?
I don’t always cross train, but when I do I do lap swimming in the community pool. I also like to hike sometimes when I get the opportunity to do so.
How have your coaches influenced you overall?
My coaches have influenced me to encourage my teammates more and to work harder when I feel tired in a workout
Are you considering running in college?
I am considering running in college.
Shout-Outs?
I would like to give a shout-out to my dad for supporting me throughout my entire cross country and track career whenever I did well or when I felt discouraged. My coach also deserves one, because he has taken over the cross country program to help each and every person on the team to achieve their goals, and it helps that he is also dedicated to his running. Because of this, I have also become a more dedicated runner.
Quick Six:
Favorite Pre-race Meal?
My favorite pre-race meal is spaghetti with tomato sauce cooked with sausage and garlic bread on the side. This is what I have the night before. I usually do not each much the morning of a race. I’ll maybe have half of a peanut butter sandwich.
Kind of shoes you train in?
I train in Asics Gel-Cumulus 14 shoes.
Favorite athlete (running or otherwise)?
Steve Prefontaine
Favorite song?
With Led Zeppelin being my favorite band, my favorite song would have to be “Rock And Roll.”
What time of day do you run?
I usually run in the early morning (around 5:30 AM) for practice, and when it is nice outside or if I need to put in some more mileage, I like to run in the evening before the sun goes down for a double workout.
Favorite quote?
“Today I do what others won’t, so I can do tomorrow what others can’t.” -- Unknown