Interview with SHS Runner Cara Mooney
Welcome back to the Fall Edition of Off the Reels! This week, I interviewed one of Springboro’s runners. I loved talking to this athlete and hearing about how she sets goals for herself and works to be better every single day.
Meet SHS Cross Country Runner Cara Mooney…
Cara started cross country in junior high at the request of her parents. She never had any interest in giving it her all until she realized her potential. There was a race in junior high in which the top 50 runners medaled. When Cara finished 49th, she started setting goals for herself and seeing how much further she could go. She competed at state with her team as a freshman and then again individually as a sophomore. She won districts her sophomore season and won the Milford race this season. I can’t wait to see how far Cara goes in the post season!
How Cara pushes herself:
Cara is motivated to improve from the ambitious goals she sets for herself. While running, she challenges herself to see how many people she can pass. She’s thinking, “do I want this more than the other people who I’m racing with?” In Cara’s mind, a huge part of winning comes down to how bad she wants it and works for it. With that in mind, Cara emphasizes her mental strength as much as her physical strength.
Cara’s pre-race routine:
This might surprise you, but Cara gets very stressed before races. The night before a race, she doesn’t want to talk or even think about it. She still makes sure to prepare, though. Cara always eats pasta for dinner the night before a race, and she prioritizes hydration and sleep. The morning of a race, Cara fuels up with toast with peanut butter, bananas, and cinnamon. Then, she puts her hair in the same hairstyle and slips on the same socks as she does for every race. When she arrives at the race, Cara focuses on getting in the zone with her team during their stretches and team huddle. Finally, it’s go time!
Cara’s favorite cross country memory:
Cara’s favorite memory from the past three seasons was finding out Springboro qualified for state in her freshman year. Regionals was cold and rainy, and the girls were all huddled up, trying to stay warm after their race. Cara’s coach brought cookies to share with the team; moments later, they got the news that they qualified for state!
Cara’s favorite thing about competing for the Panthers:
Cara’s favorite thing about competing for the Panthers is her teammates and coaches. She told me that the team this year is super close and connected. She loves how much everybody pushes each other and cheers for each other. Not only do her teammates challenge her to improve, but Cara’s coaches also set goals for her and truly want to see her succeed. Cara loves the family that is Springboro XC!
The most difficult thing about cross country:
The most difficult thing about cross country for Cara is maintaining a strong mindset. She told me there have been times where she thought about how easy it would be to slow down or even give up. Cara knows it’s easier to slow down, but she wants to reach her goals. The only way to do that is to push yourself. When it’s tough to stay mentally strong, Cara remembers that “every single run will make you stronger.”
Cara’s favorite race:
Cara’s favorite race was in Terre Haute, Indiana during her freshman season. Cara and the varsity runners travelled four hours for a night race on a perfect course. Cara raved about the course and how it was essentially land made for cross country. Cara has always found night races to be tons of fun, and this was no exception. She also loved the opportunity to race against different competitors than normal.
Cara’s goals for next season:
Before I tell you where she wants to be, you need to know where she is… Cara’s personal 5k record is 18:40! Cara’s primary goal for her senior season is to get her PR under 18:00. That might sound crazy, but after talking with Cara and hearing how motivated and driven she is, I have no doubt she can accomplish her goal.
Cara’s advice for runners:
Cara has great advice for runners (and any athlete!): “you have to have a reason to believe that you can do today what you were incapable of doing yesterday… be committed to the sport and believe in it.” To be a better athlete, it’s so important to commit to hard work and improving yourself everyday. Cara lives by this, proving through her hard work that she can be better tomorrow than she was yesterday. To reach your potential, Cara advises you to ask yourself, “how much are you willing to give and how much do you really want it?”
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