WRITTEN BY: SAMARA CHAVEZ The Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences has all sorts of sports for students to join. From basketball to volleyball, sports that require equipment encourage students to bring their own ball to school and practice with their friends at lunch. There are, however, a few sports that don’t require equipment, one of them being cross country.
Cross country is a sport in which running is the most important strength. The various teams run outdoors on natural terrain and compete to be first to the finish line. Both speed and stamina are essential to this sport. The VAAS cross country runners practice in the afternoon throughout the school week, strengthening their bodies for the upcoming races. You can spot them running on the track or even running outside the school on special practice days. Food is extremely important for our bodies. What people eat before or after a big exercise can greatly affect how they feel after such a workout. It’s important to eat the right snacks after expending so much energy after a race. The VAAS cross country runners need to make sure to give their bodies the nutrients needed to boost their spirit and energy. After running for five kilometers straight, the runners come back to the VAAS tent to see the tables filled with all sorts of treats and drinks. And of course, the runners have their own favorites on that special day. After interviewing VAAS cross country runners, we discovered all their favorite snacks to eat. Oftentimes, supportive parents will bring the cross country teams fruits and snacks to recover the team’s energy at the meets. These tend to be the ones that disappear first from the table. “I appreciate the refreshing grapes they give us after finishing a race.” shared Lee Boch, a runner on the JV team. The cross country coaches also go out of their way to bring food for the team. Coach Guerra often brings juicy orange slices that runners quickly reach for. “My favorite snack is orange slices because they’re very sweet and energizing.” said Simiya Joneiran, another runner on the JV team. It’s always a gamble in whether the orange slice the members grab is sour or sweet, but sweet is definitely preferred. Coach Gish brings bread, peanut butter, jam, and bananas, letting the team customize their own sandwich. All sorts of combinations are made, like peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, peanut butter and banana sandwiches, or just jam on a slice of bread. While each person has their own preferences when it comes to the available food, they’re all appreciative and thankful for the effort parents and staff put into making sure the runners take care of themselves. |
AuthorSamara Chavez ArchivesCategories |