Name: Adam Whitehead
School: Arete Preparatory Academy
Q: What does your training look like right now given the current situation?
A: Right now I am trying to get the hang of really listening to what my body is telling me about training, and having fun with every run I do. As for the main goal with the running I am doing, it is to build aerobic strength and maintain fitness for the upcoming Cross Country season at Dallas Baptist University!
Q: What are you doing to stay busy other than run right now?
A: I have been receiving school assignments online, I have been hanging out with siblings more, watching lots of movies, playing a lot of games, and I have been able to put more time into playing the piano.
Division IV Section IV XC - 2019 - Adam took 1st.
Q: What was your most memorable race/moment?
A: I have had several great races and PRs, but I have five moments that really stick. The first as a freshman was running my 1600m season-best of 4:40 and also breaking the school record in the 3200m. The second was watching my teammate Weslan Lannuier win his race at the Nike Desert Twilight Invitational this season. The third was placing second as a team at Sectionals this past cross country season, I am very proud of how much my team has improved from last year and just making it to state. And last but not least, was my track team winning the Barwick Superstition Invitational in my sophomore year. I remember working really hard that day by running three events and coming close to winning all three. It was such a great moment taking that victory lap with the boys and the trophy.
Q: What was the funniest thing that happened during your running career?
A: Getting roasted by NPXC's Coach Curtis after NXR for nonchalantly eating a whole pizza myself. Not to mention the fact that both my team and NPXC had no idea we would pick the same spot to have lunch that day.
Q: Who would you consider your biggest competition over your four years?
A: Definitely Jordan Black! We have had several great races together, and I wouldn't be the runner I am today without him. We have been friends and competitors since middle school, and I have loved every race! He has always kept me on my toes to train harder and race faster to be the best we both can be!
Division IV State Meet XC - 2019 - Adam took 2nd overall.
Q: What was your greatest accomplishment?
A: Winning state in the 3200m in my sophomore year, it was a super fun race, and I was even late to the box assignments. I think a close second is getting a nice gold medal double at the Rattler Booster Invite in my junior year in the 1600m and 3200m, which qualified me for the Arcadia Invite in the 3200m.
Q: If you could do it all over again what would you change about your running career in high school?
A: I would run more over the summer and winter, and more consistently at whatever weekly mileage I wanted too. I also would have tried to build the habit of getting more sleep before midnight.
Q: What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
A: Obviously a difficult obstacle for me was having this track season canceled when I had just begun to get in a good confidence and training groove. Another is that I really think that I lost a lot of confidence before the state meet last year; that was a tough time for me.
Q: What will you miss the most?
A: I will really miss all the friendships I was able to make through running and doing fun things outside of practice with my teammates! Another thing I will miss is competing at the state meet.