The legend goes like this…
The year was 490 BC and the Persians had invaded Greece and were on the way to Athens. The Athenian army, vastly outnumbered and lacking the aid of the Spartans, took on the invading horde of Persians. Using unconventional methods the Athenian army won the field and forced the Persians to the sea where they made a dash for the famed city-state. In order to warn the citizens of Athens and to announce their victory, a young warrior Phidippides (or Philippides depending on sources) was ordered to race back to the city. Phidippides ran approximately 40 kilometers back to the city-state and announced the Athenians victory on the plains of Marathon after which he died of exhaustion.
Thus was born the famed race and the future of our sport. The intriguing part of the story however is the fact that Phidippides was a warrior and a runner. Since the beginning of time warriors and runners have been one in the same. The ability to fight on a battlefield and run when commanded has been a hallmark of armies through the ages. It’s that ability to suffer when needed that still calls millions of runners to the starting line every year.
Our two Boulder Running Company athletes of the week, Nicole Hahn of Ralston Valley and Gus Waneka of Thompson Valley, epitomize this warrior mentality. Both use their running as a way to prove their toughness both in and out of the cross country season.
Sophomore Nicole Hahn of Ralston Valley High School is relatively new to the sport of cross country. She only started running in her freshman year but had a solid foundation of training from her years as a soccer midfielder. Even though Nicole is a relative novice to the sport she has earned her place among the elite in Colorado.
Nicole ran a personal best time of 18:27 at the 5A Jeffco Championships to be league champion. This time currently ranks her 7th in a very stacked 5a girl’s field. Nicole is a tough competitor that relishes in the more difficult aspects of the sport. According to Nicole, “I actually really enjoy courses with hills, water crossings (Horizon Runner's Roost is one of my favorite meets), and courses that have some form of ‘obstacles’ in store for me. On tougher courses I feel more relaxed because instead of feeling like I'm competing against other runners, I feel like I'm competing against the elements and obstacles in front of me.”
Nicole has used this fearless warrior mentality to claim a string of victories and runner up finishes this fall. Perhaps, though, the toughest finish for Nicole this year was her 2nd place run at the Warrior Dash in Copper Mountain on August 21st. For those of you unfamiliar with the Warrior Dash, it is a race where the athlete runs over obstacles, under barbed wire, over fire, and through mud. All of this is done at approximately 10,000 feet in elevation. Nicole also celebrated her 16th birthday with a trail race in Vail (see photo, left).
Nicole’s competitors at the state meet should serve notice that Powerline Hill is not a major concern for her. Because of the warrior that she is, Nicole will be a force to be reckoned with on October 29th.
Just like Nicole Hahn, Gus Waneka of Thompson Valley High School is a fearless runner that exhibits all of the same attributes of a soldier.
At the Northern Conference Meet last week, Gus paced his teammates with a 16:22 first place finish to lead Thompson Valley to the championship. Gus’s personal best for the year is a 15:47 which ranks him fourth in the 4a classification.
Gus is as competitive a runner as you will find in Colorado. His race to the finish with Fort Collin’s Griffin Hay was legendary as was the tie to the thousandth of a second at the end. In true warrior fashion Gus toed the line with Griffin to settle the victory once and for all with an arm wrestling match. Unfortunately though, Griffin got the better of that match.
Gus is also no stranger to tough conditions; he is a monster when it comes to hilly races. According to Gus, “I am a powerful hill runner and I have had a lot success in hilly races”. This was most evident this summer when Gus participated in the Wild West Relay. This run is a 200 mile relay race from Fort Collins to Steamboat Springs in 36 legs. The elevation starts at 5000 feet and peaks at over 10,000 feet. Gus and his Thompson Valley teammates finished 3rd with an average time of 7:26 per mile.
Gus is grateful for an injury free season and is ramping up for regionals, state, and NXN.
Nicole Hahn and Gus Waneka run and race like the warriors that they are. They are fearless competitors that won’t back down no matter what the conditions. Be ready for them to toe the line at the Arapahoe County Fairgrounds ready to do battle with all that are assembled. And maybe, at the finish line you will hear in the air the whisper of Phidippides crying “Nenikékamen”.
“We are victorious!”