Footprints

by Budd Glassberg

Reprinted with permission from the Zionsville Times Sentinel on October 24, 2007

Because They’re Fun

“Once I learned to love hills as part of my practice, I do not give my power away nor do any external elements have power over me.” - Austin "Ozzie" Gontang

Twelve of us showed up on Thursday. There was no good reason for any of us to be there. The season had ended on Wednesday with our Indiana Derby. The Zionsville Middle School cross-country runners turned in their uniforms. They were free to go on to other pursuits of extra-curricular activities or even just “chill” for a while after school. Why had they given up their first afternoon without cross-country practice to show up at our hill to run more hills?

This strange tradition dates back several years. At the cross-country awards program, the coaches used to give an award for King and Queen of the Hill. That award went to the athlete who, during practice, ran the most hills in our season. After the first year, so many runners vied for the title; we decided to expand the royalty to Prince, Princess, Duke, Duchess and finally Earl and Countess of the Hill. Until the recent deluge of meets, we used to keep Thursdays as Hill day. Unlike other teams who seem to dread hills, Zionsville has always loved hills, looking forward to that day.

Our hill separates Nancy Burton Memorial Park from Starkey Park. We run down the wooden ramp and then run up the steep embankment bordering the 100 foot bridge. As we reach the top, our runners yell the number of hills that they have just attained. Throughout the workout coaches’ chant, “What do we love?” and “Hills!” is the response of the runners. “Why do we love them?” “Because, they’re fun.”

Early in the season, we limit the number of hills a runner might attempt, but as the season progresses, the number is limited only by the time devoted to our practice. A few years ago, we allowed runners the option to come to the hill early on a half day of school. Some would show up when school let out that day and then run the hill until the rest of the team showed up at 4 PM. Then some runners asked me if they could have one more day of hills after the season and allow it to count for hill royalty. It has now become a tradition that anyone who wishes to get in one final hill day may do so after the last meet of the season. I have attended these unofficial practices and found them to be quite revealing.

There is often a mix of runners who show up for this strange workout. While some elite runners come, there are always other mid and back of pack runners who are mesmerized by the routine and able to block out weariness and accomplish incredible feats. Like some secret handshake, I find a shared brotherhood with these runners. They have crossed over from those who enjoy the speed of racing, to those who find the satisfaction and inner peace of endurance activity. The common link among us is the ability to continue forward and upward without regard for fatigue.

Each year, I marvel at the students who will push themselves beyond what the coaches ask of them. It bodes well for them that they do this. They will not need another to direct them after their school days are over. If there were ever a predictor of who will continue to run into adulthood, our optional hill workout would have to be my choice as a primary factor.

It is with great pleasure and respect that I formally announce the Hill Royalty of the seventh and eighth grade Zionsville Middle School cross-country team for 2007: Countess – Mary Neel, Earls – James Alvar and Robert Anderson, Duchess – Madeline Prehm, Duke – Will Coval, Princess – Sophie Stewart, Prince – Sam Berger, Queen – Lauren Johnson, and King – Nick Brown. Congratulations to this group and all of our strong hill runners.

Budd Glassberg is a 23 year resident of Zionsville who works and volunteers in the community. Visit www.runz.com for reprints of all his columns. You can reach him by email at budd@runz.com.