FMS runners compete in CC meet

The Fishburne cross country team travelled to Woodstock yesterday to compete against the Massanutten runners.

This was the second 3.1 mile race in three days for our guys, so they were not exactly well-rested for the meet.   The rationale at this point in the season is to push the envelope of training stress a little bit, and then recover and be at our strongest for the conference and state meets in late October and November.  Well, that’s the plan, anyway.  The perfect balance between stress and rest is never an exact science. 

Just about every one of our runners was slower than at the St. Annes-Belfield Invitational on Tuesday, which was expected, but they ran with toughness and heart.  Nobody complained, at least not much.  They seem to understand there are no shortcuts to improving.  As Greg Lemond said, “It doesn’t get easier; you get faster.”

Today’s practice will again be a relatively tough day, with 5-6 miles on the road including hill repeats.  No timeouts or breaks.  Water can be consumed on the run.  Nobody stops for water breaks in races.  It will all pay off in the end.

Chip Collins garnered his second win of the year by putting some distance between the Massanutten runner and himself over the last half mile.  He is acquiring racing intelligence.

Twenty-two runners competed in the event.

Name/Place/Time

Collins, 1, 19:23

Knapp, 3, 20:15

E. Schuster, 4, 20:53

Park, 7, 22:12

Vance, 9, 22:45

Mega, 13, 24:45

Granger, 15, 25:49

Adams, 17, 28:20

Landers, 18, 28:24

Waser, 19, 31:15