After finishing fourth with a time of 26:29 in the Men’s 8K race at the Plansky Invitational hosted by Williams College on Saturday, October 17, sophomore Doug Wright was named the NESCAC Men’s Cross Country Performer of the Week.
At the conclusion of his rookie season last year, Wright was the third best runner for the Camels.
His intense summer training schedule is proving effective as he has been the top finisher for the Connecticut College men’s cross country team in his first four races this season.
VOICE: How long have you been running competitively?
WRIGHT: I have been running competitively since freshmen year in high school. In eighth grade, the high school track coach heard about my mile time, 5:28, in the annual fitness test and he suggested I come out for cross country.
VOICE: What first inspired you to run cross-country?
WRIGHT: I was inspired to run cross-country because to be quite honest, I had never excelled in any other sport up until then. My stints in lacrosse, tennis and soccer were all unsuccessful and I never received much playing time or achieved anything.
VOICE: Do you have a role model that you look to for motivation?
WRIGHT: I often think of my high school and college coaches and my current teammates, who have always believed in me, and how they have always inspired me and pushed me to be best runner I can be.
VOICE: How do you prepare yourself mentally for races? Do you have any pre-race rituals?
WRIGHT: Usually before a race I typically relax and talk to my coach and teammates about different strategies and the best way to approach this individual race. I always make sure to eat well and to get plenty of sleep in the days leading up to the race.
VOICE: What goes through your head when you are on the starting line?
WRIGHT: At the starting line I usually quickly rethink my race strategy and realize the importance of not running the first several miles too fast. I also tell myself the inevitable pain that begins to occur midway through the race is only temporary and that through my training I can handle it.
VOICE: Runners often have different dietary needs than other athletes, how do you ensure that your body stays fueled while expending so much energy during workouts and races?
WRIGHT: I ensure my body stays fueled by eating three large meals a day and I usually eat an energy bar before practice and after dinner. Even though it is important to eat healthy before races, the nights before I have ran my two best races of the year have been burger night in Harris, which I would never turn down. It is more important that you eat healthy the actual day of the race in order to make sure your body is properly fueled.
VOICE: I live in Harkness and one early Saturday morning a couple weeks ago I saw your team running around the green in the pouring rain. How do you stay focused and motivated during hard workouts?
WRIGHT: Longs runs and workouts, such as sprinting up hills, doing mile repeats on the track and fifteen mile runs every Sunday, are really what develop you into a better runner. These workouts are conditioning you to be a good racer and even if the weather is bad it is very important that you push yourself and remember it will pay off come race day. It is sometimes difficult to motivate yourself but you always have to keep your long-term goals in mind.
VOICE: How has your coach influenced you throughout your career at Conn? Has he given you any memorable advice?
WRIGHT: Both my coach and I are avid runners and this can be both very good and very bad. He always stresses the importance of taking care of your body to avoid injury and fatigue by doing plenty of stretching and getting plenty of rest. He also stresses the importance of balancing out your day and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
VOICE: Did you prepare yourself differently for this season than prior seasons?
WRIGHT: After my freshman year I understood the type of training I needed to do in order to advance to the next level in running. This summer I ran 900 miles to condition myself for the fall season. Running high mileage is crucial to building up your endurance and strength if you want to be a competitive cross-country runner.
VOICE: What has been your greatest accomplishment in running thus far?
WRIGHT: My greatest accomplishments are winning my class state championship in the 3200 meter run my senior year in high school and in college finishing 3rd in the NESCAC 5K to earn All-Conference honors my freshman year.
VOICE: Do you have any goals you would still like to achieve?
WRIGHT: This season I would like to earn All-NESCAC and All-New England honors and hopefully advance to the national championship in Ohio.
