Deer Valley's Randy Espinoza is ranked #1 in AZ right now. He has run a 5K best of 15:09, which is 19-seconds faster than his PR from 2019 (15:29). This year he was third overall in The Desert Twilight Sweepstakes race and has also won the Western Equinox XC Festival for his session at 15:44. Randy has been a great runner for years now and his senior year has shown, so far, no different.
What are your XC goals for this season?
What has been the strangest thing about training for XC during the pandemic?
Not having the team aspect as much being kinda separated from other people and having to do a lot on your own.
Who is your toughest competition?
In the state, it would be Xander Black but in my division, it would be Dayton Carlson
How are you liking racing in these waves at meets this season?
What is the biggest difference you in racing last year to this year?
Definitely not as much people in the races, or fans in the big meets but I feel stronger in my racing ability this year than last year.
Who is your biggest fan/supporter? How do he/she/they show you this support?
My mom for sure because she comes out to all of my events and races and cheers me on every part of the course she can and helps me to become a better runner.
How was your summer training affected by Covid this summer? What was similar from previous years? What was different about it?
It wasn't as affected by Covid thankfully because for the majority of my summer I was in a small town in Colorado so I didn't have to worry so much about Covid. I still got in my summer miles and got what I needed out of my summer training.
How long have you been running? What do you enjoy most about running/xc?
I have been running for 4 years starting in 7th grade. What I enjoy most about running is that it's all on you to become the runner you want to be and have to be willing to put in the work and get the miles in.
Is there a song, movie, show, or saying that motivates you or keeps you focused on your goals? If yes, what is it and why?
A bible verse I like to look back to is Philippians 4:13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It gives me hope and confidence that in my belief through Jesus Christ that he will help me through the good and through the bad and give me the strength to persevere.
What's your pre-race meal?
The night before a race I have spaghetti and salad. If the race is at night or mid-day I usually have oatmeal for breakfast and a sub sandwich for lunch
Do you have any superstitions before the night of a race? (Any clothing you have to wear? Song you have to listen to? Food you need to eat? Etc.) If yes, how did this start?
I would probably say that eating spaghetti is a little superstition of mine because I don't want to change what I normally eat before a race and doesn't feel right if I don't have it. It started freshman year when I started learning more about what I need to eat before races.
