With the 2014 cross country season just around the corner it's time to start our "Watch List" highlighting the top returners. Sophomore Mandy Davis from Desert Vista 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: Mandy Davis (Mandy's Milesplit Profile)
High School: Desert Vista
Year of Graduation: 2017
Best time in a 5K and a 3 Mile Race:
5k: 18:42
3 mile: 18:15
When did you get started as a running:
I first began running as a 6th grader. My brother was doing middle school cross country too, and it was one of the only sports available to me as a 6th grader.
Which meets will you be running this year?
I don’t know exactly what meets I will be running in this season, but two main ones will be Woodbridge and Desert Twilight.
What are your goals for the upcoming track season? What do you look forward to the most?
My major goal for this season is to break 18:00 in the 5k. I will also be working hard to finish top 30 at Woodbridge. In general, I just want to perform at my highest level so that I can contribute to our team success.
How is your summer training going? Your favorite workout? What kind of summer mileage do you run?
I have never had an opportunity to get as much mileage in as I did this summer. I can’t quite come to a conclusion on what my favorite workout is, though. I love our Wednesday steady runs on Warpaint because the trail has a lot of hills, and then a nice gradual downhill at the end. I also enjoy the mile repeats we have been doing almost every week. Instead of doing them on the track we do them on a dirt path, so it makes them go by faster. Except for when the season first starts, I pretty consistently run 40-50 miles a week, year-round.
Do you cross train (lift, swim, bike etc)?
Fairly recently, we have been given the option to start cross training as supplementary work several times a week. This week we are doing two doubles, and will soon build up to three doubles a week. I also cross train every Sunday to give my legs a break after a long week. I either bike, swim laps, or aqua jog. I only lift in the beginning of the summer for our cross country weight training class. When that is over though, we consistently work body-weight training into our training plan.
Do you follow any kind of nutrition program or watch what you eat?
I don’t try to change my diet, but just simply eat when I feel I should, and try to stick to healthy foods.
Have you ever been injured?
I have not ever been injured *knock on wood*, and hope never to be!
So far in your high school career, what is your favorite cross country race or cross country memory?
I would say one of my favorite memories of last season was finishing 3rd in the JV race at Woodbridge. Although I wasn’t able to run in the championship race, it was such a fun experience to come in 3rd at a meet with an atmosphere so big.
What is the best part of running?
There is no better feeling than blowing a PR away or reaching your goal.
Out of all your running accomplishments so far, which stands out the most?
Although this is from track, I would say my biggest running accomplishment was my Chandler Rotary 1600. I hadn’t run the mile since 8th grade conference, so I had no idea what to expect. I had one of those races where you are completely in the zone, and a 5 minute race seems to go by in 5 seconds. I won my heat with the time of 5:04, over 20 seconds faster than my PR. When I walked off the track, I got so many hugs and congratulations. It is the race that brings back the happiest memories for me.
When you are not running what do you like to do?
When I have free time, I love to shop with my friends, discover new music, and read. I would say my favorite pastime is watching movies. I have to admit I am a little obsessed with Pinterest, but I just love admiring art, design, photography, and fashion.
How have your coaches influenced you overall?
My head coach, Coach Messer has completely shaped me as an athlete, and person. He preaches commitment and determination, which has given me my mental toughness and ability to strive in other aspects of my life. Runners can be born with their talent, but it takes an amazingly selfless coach, like Messer, to give all their time and intellect so that their athletes can reach their goals, and then some. I am unbelievably lucky to have Messer as a Coach, along with our large handful of assistant coaches who make our program seamless.
Shout outs?
Shout out to Madi Bucci for putting up with me and being an amazing running partner.
Quick 6:
Favorite Post-race Meal?
Ice cream, duh!
Kind of shoes you train in?
Saucony Guide 7.
Flat course or hills?
Not quite sure… I haven’t raced enough hilly courses to form an opinion. But it sure is nice to have a flat course so that you can speed up the pace a little bit!
Facebook or Twitter?
I don’t like either… I haven’t had a Facebook for years, and I do have a twitter, I just rarely go on it because there are way too many tweets to keep up with!
Hot or cold weather?
COLD!!!
Favorite song at the moment?
Oh goodness, I honestly can’t decide, so here’s 3:
First Things First- Neon Trees, We are Done- The Madden Brothers, and Pumpin Blood- NONONO
