By KEITH WILSON

School’s not in session, but Wood River High School’s cross-country team has begun their training. Afternoon practices arrive with school, but in the meantime it’s 9 a.m. on weekday mornings.

The young runners gather by the two sheds on the field across from Silver Creek High School and the Community Campus. 

It’s that time of day when the grass is wet and mist from the sprinklers is just shy of pleasant. However, one quick warmup lap around the grass fields is almost a mile and enough time for the sun to intensify. The athletes chuck their sweatshirts to the side and get in a line, shoulder to shoulder.

“Heel-toe!”

Emmett Stouffer, a senior, begins calling the warmup drills and dynamic stretches. They step onto their heels, roll to their toes, and push off for the next step.

“Scoops!”

The team steps with a straight leg in front while they swoop their hands beneath them.

“Frankensteins!”

The runners resemble 10 very flexible toy soldiers marching onto the field, and they know today will bring discomfort. The team is small but mighty, and they know they’ll be stronger and more resilient for what they are about to endure.

They hop on one foot down the field, and then they switch feet. They perform jump squats, standing squats, split squats, and lunges, each repetition burning more than the last. Their breaks are quick jogs between sets. No one says a word. All 10 kids are determined enough to get through it. They know the finish line is coming.

In the end, they perform three 100-meter sprints, envisioning that finish line--the color of the chute, what the crowd is shouting, the way the ground blurs beneath their feet. It’s different for everyone, even when it’s the same line in the dirt.

They’ll be ready soon.

THIS YEAR’S MEETS:

8/24     Jerome Invite at CSI

8/31     The Dam Run at Lake Walcott

9/08     Wood River Invitational at Quigley Canyon

9/15     Dani Bates at Twin Falls High School

9/23     Bob Firman Invite at Eagle Island State Park

9/29     Salmon Invitational at Salmon High School

10/05   Bob Conley Invitational at Pocatello High School

10/10   Doug Root Invitational at Mountain Home High School

10/19 District Cross Country at Lake Walcott

10/28 State Cross Country at Portneuf Wellness Center