AZ 2014 Cross Country Watch List - Ben Davis

 

With the 2014 cross country season just around the corner it's time to start our "Watch List" highlighting the top returners.  We begin this season with Desert Vista senior Ben Davis who had some huge PR's in track and is hoping to carry that momentum into the cross country season!  

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: Ben Davis (Ben's Milesplit Profile)

 

High School:   Desert Vista High School

 

Year of Graduation: 2015

 

Best time in a 5K and a 3 Mile Race:

5k: 16:14 (Twilight)

3 mile: 15:29 (Woodbridge)

 

When did you get started as a running:

I ran cross country in middle school, but I only trained a couple days each week because my main sport was baseball.  I didn’t run in high school until I quit baseball during the spring of sophomore year, when I began running full time.

 

Which meets will you be running this year?

I’ll be going to Woodbridge (CA), Desert Twilight, and the AZ State Meet provided my team qualifies.  I think there are some others too, but I don’t know which ones yet.

 

What are your goals for the upcoming track season?  What do you look forward to the most?

My goal is to PR in every race and to do the best that I can to help my team win.
 

How is your summer training going?  Your favorite workout? What kind of summer mileage do you run?

I really love summer training because you have a lot of time to do the little things (sleep, eat right, cross train), which means it’s easier to get into a good routine before the school year starts.  That being said, it is also difficult to motivate yourself to work extremely hard when you know you won’t be competing for another 4 months!  Still, my training has been going well, and I’ve been building a good base of mileage that will help me once competition starts. 

My favorite workout isn’t really a “workout” per se, but it is a race we do up at cross country camp called the “Quest.”  It is a 5k race, but straight up a mountain.  It really pushes you to your limits and reveals how much mental toughness you have.  Although I have only done it twice, I think it has really helped me as a runner.

I run around 50-60 miles per week.

 

Do you cross train (lift, swim, bike etc)?

During the month of June, I lifted with the cross country strength training program that Coach "C" graciously instructs for us.  Now that it’s over, I try to do core circuits and other body weight exercises on my own.

Aside from that, I do extra cardio workouts three times a week.  I usually swim laps, but I also have a stationary bike and rowing machine at my house that I use from time to time.  Our varsity team is also known to show up at Mountain Park Yoga :)

 

Do you follow any kind of nutrition program or watch what you eat?

I am lucky because my mom is a registered dietitian (RD) and has studied nutrition for most of her life, so I always ate really well growing up.  However, now that I am older and prepare more food for myself than I used to, I try to be careful about what I eat.  I use an app to count calories and carbs, fat, and protein.  I find that I usually eat about 2,500 calories for breakfast after I run, and close to 5,000 during the whole day!  My coaches also recommend that about 60% of the calories we eat are from carbohydrates and 15% from protein.

 

Have you ever been injured?

When I first started running in high school (sophomore year) I had some hip problems during the last few weeks of the track season, but I haven’t really had anything else since then.

 

So far in your high school career, what is your favorite cross country race or cross country memory?

I think a lot of people on my team would say this, but the coolest race I’ve done to this point was Woodbridge, for many reasons.  The talent that shows up there is unparalleled, and the race itself produces so many PRs.  The trip to CA and going to the beach afterwards is such a great experience, too.  It really helps the team bond.

 

What is the best part of running?

I think running is really cool, because the amount of pain you feel while running usually equals the amount of relief you feel afterwards.  That makes it a good kind of pain, and when you’re all done you get to feel proud that you finished.

 

Out of all your running accomplishments so far, which stands out the most?

My most memorable running accomplishment is the 1600m in the D1 State Track meet.  I hadn’t really come close to reaching my goals that season, but I put up a huge PR, which made it a successful year for me after all.

 

When you are not running what do you like to do?

I’m really into computer programming, and I’ve written desktop software and scripts using notable high level languages like Java and Python.  I’m continuing to go more in depth with Java this year and would also like to learn to program with up and coming languages, especially “Swift” (Apple has done some really cool things with that).  This fall, I’ll be working on releasing an app on the Android Play Store.  I also want to major in Computer Science in college.

Aside from that, I play a lot of video games on my PC and read in my free time.

 

How have your coaches influenced you overall?

My coaches are some of the most dedicated people I have ever known.  I am astounded at how much thought and work they put into their athletes, and I know that they will be rewarded for their effort, because I and my teammates will carry the same persistence into training and races.  I want to thank them for everything they have done for us, because it isn’t easy for them to have jobs, kids, and still be able to be as involved in DVCC as they are.

 

Shout outs?

I’d like to give a shout out to my parents because I may not always express my gratitude, but I would not be successful in sports or school without their help.  They don’t complain about having to get up at 4:45 when we leave for practice, and my dad even got involved coaching this year, which is awesome!

 

Quick 6:

 

Favorite Post-race Meal?

I don’t usually feel like eating after I run races, but I like going to Jamba Juice after practice

 

Kind of shoes you train in?

Brooks

 

Flat course or hills?

Flat

 

Facebook or Twitter?

I personally like Facebook a lot better, but no one uses it anymore

 

Hot or cold weather?

Hot

 

Favorite song at the moment?

“Car Radio” – Twenty One Pilots