Lower Merion’s Sarah Hurst is Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week
The Aces’ senior cross country captain finished in first place at the 2020 Central League Championships for the second year in a row, posting a clocking of 19:48.20, the winner by more than seven seconds. In 2019, she qualified for the PIAA state championships for the third consecutive year, and finished 27th at States. Next fall, Hurst will be running cross country (and track in the winter and spring) for the University of Pittsburgh.
Q: What is your most vivid memory of the 2020 Central League Championships? What was the key to your performance that day?
A: My most vivid memory was definitely going up the last long and gradual hill, the final push, to the finish. I had a bit of a lead going into the last stretch, but not a big one. I knew that I had to really drive hard up the hill to secure the win, and prevent being passed at the last moment. It felt really amazing to hear everyone cheering for me on the sidelines as I came away with the win, it makes the moment that much more exciting and special. I think something that really helped me be able to execute, was the plan that I had discussed with my coach before the race. This meet was my third of the year, with the same runner from Haverford up with me each time, and at the same course, so I had a good idea of how the race was going to play out, and what position and time I needed and wanted to be at, at each part of the race. My plan was to start out conservatively and reserved through the first mile, feeling comfortable and relaxed, but not settled. Mile 2 is where I pick up my pace, and mile three is giving it everything I have left through to the kick at the finish. In my other two races, the Haverford runner was able to outkick me at the end, so I knew that I had to pull away from her and the rest of the field earlier than before, which is exactly what I did. Since I went out conservatively, I was able to make a decisive move early to throw her off and continue to push all the way to the end.
Q: Tell us a little about your victory in the 2019 Central League Championship Meet, and how it compared to your 2020 win.
A: My victory at Centrals last year was also super exciting. I had never won the meet before, but had always had that goal since freshman year, so it was really special. I went out conservatively just as I did this year, and let two girls lead over me the first 1.5 miles. I felt comfortable, but fast. I was able to make a decisive move at the 1.5 mile mark and passed both girls. I didn’t want to give up my lead, so I kept pushing, and was able to lead all the way to the finish. I think with my win in 2019, I was more impressed and excited for myself, since my time on the course dropped by almost a full minute from my time in 2018. However, in 2020 my time was 30 seconds slower than my 2019 time. Because of the off year with sports, and having much less meets and in-person practices, it threw me off a little and I wasn’t able to get to the same level of fitness as last year. It still was really exciting to be able to win twice in a row though, that was definitely something I was proud of.
Q: Tell us a little about the biggest challenge you faced as a cross country senior captain in keeping yourself and the LM team motivated and focused through summer training and early in the fall when the competitive season was in doubt.
A: It was definitely challenging in such a changing and weird year to remind myself of what I’m working towards, when a lot of practices and races were getting cancelled. As a captain, I wanted to keep the team motivated to stay consistent and do the miles, and the little things that make you better. The other captains and I relied heavily on online communication through Zoom and email, sending reminders of the importance of summer running, staying hydrated, and holding core and stretching sessions throughout the summer. It was very different from past years, so we had to be organized, plan and find opportunities in things that we were able to do together as a team to stay motivated. Since we were able to hold in-person practices in the fall, it was really nice to be able to run as a team and cheer on and support each other in hard workouts. The sense of community and working together in our in-person practices and meets this year helped make this season feel normal. Losing a normal senior season this year was tough, but the team and I were able to stay positive and make the most of what we could do together. I reminded myself of my goals, and why I run, and even made myself a motivation wall in my room with quotes that have stuck with me in the past. This helped motivate me to be consistent throughout the season to keep getting the miles in.
Q: What are your thoughts about Lower Merion’s abbreviated cross country season (Central League-only competition, no PIAA postseason – Districts, States)?
A: While I am definitely grateful that my school was able to have some sort of season with a few races this year, it was still sad to have to end my high school cross country career with a modified season. At the end of each cross country season, I like to make goals for next year, and write them down so that I am reminded of what I am working towards and stay focused. I had high hopes and big goals going into the 2020 season, coming off of my best year of running in 2019. I was lucky to be able to accomplish some of my goals, since we had Central League meets; however, a lot of my goals involved running a personal best time, which is difficult at Rose Tree Park’s challenging course, and to place higher at the state and district meets. Since I was so close to medaling at the state meet last year, I was really hoping this year could be my chance to do it. I wanted to place in the top 10 at States, something my coach and I were talking about. I was, however, able to find opportunities in open road races and races where I was able to run unattached as an individual, despite the modified season. I was happy that I took these opportunities to race more after the school season and compete against runners outside the Central League. I think there are opportunities everywhere to race, and a modified season doesn’t necessarily have to be a bad one.
Q: Tell us a little about your running shoes, the type of shoe you favor and why.
A: I actually wear two pairs of running shoes each season. I think it’s really beneficial to alternate between two pairs of shoes during a season, especially when we run so many miles. In a typical cross country season I probably run 500-600 miles, which means a lot of pressure on your joints and legs. My shoes are two different brands and types, so that when I alternate them, my body is running on different parts of the foot, and putting pressure on different muscle groups. Currently, and during my 2020 cross country season, I alternated between the new Nike Pegasus 37s, and the New Balance Freshfoam 1080s. While I have tried several other brands before like Saucony and Brooks, my favorite shoes have been the Nike Pegasus 37s and the New Balance Freshfoams.
Q: What’s your favorite local running venue and why?
A: My favorite local running venue would probably be the cross country course at Lehigh University. Many college cross country races are held here, and it’s cool to watch them run and compete before us, like at the Paul Short Invitational every year. They have a very well-marked and relatively flat course that runs around corn fields and the football stadium at the university. I have always had so much fun racing there, and have made a lot of amazing memories. Due to the flatness of the course, I have been able to run some of my best times ever. I also have always found that area and course very pretty and rural, which I like.
Q: What aspect of your running are you working on most recently?
A: An aspect of my running I have been working on recently is probably racing smart, and staying in the race mentally until the end. Sometimes in races where I don’t start out as planned, or am feeling out of it since the start, it’s easy for me to dwell on the negative mindset I have at that point, instead of saying to myself that the race is not over until it’s over, and I can still turn this around. I have good speed and a good kick at the end of a race, but sometimes I will let competitors, or a group, get too far ahead, and I end up not being able to close the gap by the end. I am working on hanging on to a group and not letting them get away from me so that I can race fiercely and pass them. A lot of people think running is just running; however, there is a lot of strategy and mindset that goes into going from a good runner to a great runner.
Q: Tell us a little about your pre-race preparation on the day of a race.
A: The day of a race, I like to wake up at least 2 1/2 hours before racing, if it’s in the morning, and make myself a bowl of oatmeal. I typically top this with fruit, peanut butter, and honey. It has always sat well with me the day of a race, and gives me the nutrition and protein I need to energize my performance. Before even driving to the venue, if I have time, I will go out on a slow 15 minute shakeout run to loosen up. I pack my race-day bag which consists of a water bottle, a protein bar and other snacks, layers to put on if it’s cold, and some sort of recovery drink, either Gatorade or Bodyarmour. On the way to the venue, I listen to my pre-race pump up playlist to get excited and motivated to race fast. While I listen to music, I visualize my race going really well and give myself positive self-talk.
Q: What do you think you would like to major in at the University of Pittsburgh? Is there a particular career field that interests you at the present time?
A: Pitt is known for its biology majors, and I want to study general biology during my undergraduate years at Pitt while taking some of the required pre-med courses. Since I will be running and traveling a lot in the coming years, I don’t want to overwhelm myself too much with a full-time sport and all the pre-med courses. However, I plan on taking some sort of gap year to get the required internships for medical school after undergraduate school. Although I am not exactly sure what exact route of medicine I want to take, I want to study something in the medicine field, and hopefully find what area is my true passion along the way.
Fun facts – Sarah Hurst
Favorite TV show: Gossip Girl or Friends.
Favorite movie: Pitch Perfect.
Favorite athlete: Emma Coburn or Katelyn Tuohy.
Favorite pre-meet pump up song: Guilty Pleasures, or Without You.
Favorite team: Philadelphia Union.
Favorite place to visit: Europe or Colorado.
Favorite pre-meet meal: Oatmeal or a smoothie.
Family members: parents Richard and Jutta, older brother Jayson, younger brother Kai, two cats.
(To be selected as Main Line Girls Athlete of the Week, a student-athlete must first be nominated by her school.)
