Arizona CC Journal - Daylee Burr

Hey Milesplit!

My name is Daylee Burr and I am a senior at Xavier College Prep. I have run all four years for both cross-country and track at Xavier, and it has been an AMAZING experience! This may sound kind of strange but I started running in the 7th grade after watching the Rocky movies for the first time, and I just felt really motivated to go work out I guess! I started with sit-ups every day but that got really boring after a while, so I just tried out running to see whether or not I liked it! Apparently I did so I have just kept it up ever since! Not until high school did I start competitive running. Nobody in my family had done it before, so it was new for all of us when my parents saw that I had a legitimate interest in running! 

(Photo right: Daylee finishing at the Sole Sports Scottsdale Invitational)

I started out my freshman year as very focused and made it to state in XC, and then in the 1600 and 3200 meters in track. Then sophomore year came, and I discovered that over training is not the answer! My summer from freshman year going into sophomore year I ran a little too hard since I was still learning how to train, and believed that one must run hard every day to get better. (Don't worry, I know better now) That ended up badly, as I ran the Scottsdale Distance Classic and then realized I had a stress fracture in my leg. That led to INTENSE cross training for two months. Two work-outs a day, and I was getting up at 4 AM to do the EFX machine, and then work-outs in the pool after school. Unfortunately, during that time my cousin was murdered, and that definitely took a toll on my family and me. It led to the self-realization that I cannot control everything that goes on in my life.  On a lighter note, my team and coaches provided me with so much support during that time!  It was a priority check for me. I came to the conclusion that running is not everything, and that all one can do is try. Nobody succeeds at everything, so the best we can do is deal with what we have! Therefore, I figured that God gave me the ability to run so I might as well use it! I continued training hard until Nike Cross Regionals where I ran a PR on the Kiwanis Park course, and all of my training paid off! 

Next came sophomore track season, it went pretty well and I gathered more PR's in both the 1600 and 3200. However, I'd say junior year was my best thus far. I learned that balance was key. Friends, family, God, running, school, etc. are all part of life, and I should take advantage of all of them! I made major improvements due to my disappointing sophomore season and the same went for track! With balance, it was easier to maintain fitness and have fun. I finally realized that one does not have to be super intense all the time to do well, or else we would kill ourselves from overworking it! It's all about taking time to appreciate everything! And here I am, a senior now, and the past three years seem to have flown by! 

Onto the present day, I run/cross-train about 50 miles a week, and do some general strength training on the side a few times a week as well! The only thing that makes these work-outs manageable is the wonderful team at Xavier. Each girl is so personable, and we honestly have a fun time at practice! With practice at 5 AM every morning, we try have fun, so we often bring breakfast to school for everyone! Sarah Fakler, our #1 runner, is known for her amazing food actually. :) In fact, over the summer there was a XC camp held at my cabin up near Flagstaff for more fun and team bonding! It was a time for all of us to just mess around, so that when racing comes, we are all prepared to work for one another. I feel that racing is more mental then physical, since all the work is completed during training. If you just trust your fitness then there's nothing to be afraid of! But that is much easier said then done! Anyway, I'll make sure to keep all of you in touch! Thanks for reading!!!

~Daylee