GRANTS, N.M. — As a new school year begins, the Grants High School cross country team is already putting in the work. Although the team has not competed in its first meet yet, runners have been practicing, building endurance and getting ready for the season ahead.
For Coach Cody Hayes, running became serious later in life. He started getting more involved with running around the time he was hired at Grants High School. He became an assistant coach in 2018 and became the head cross country coach in 2019 after the previous head coach retired.
When asked what made him want to coach cross country, Hayes explained that the opportunity came at the right time.
“I thought it sounded like fun,” Hayes said.
Although coaching can be rewarding, it also comes with challenges. Hayes said that one of the hardest parts is “managing egos at all times.” He said coaches have to find the right balance between pushing their athletes and maintaining their trust.
“You have to ride that balance between pushing an athlete hard enough to get the most out of them without pushing them so hard that you lose their trust in you,” Hayes said.
Hayes also has memories from coaching that have stayed with him. One of his favorites happened about four years ago, when two runners he had coached since their freshman year competed at the state meet as seniors.
“It was like the first full cycle I had been through,” Hayes said. “I think that’s probably something that I’ll never really forget.”
For new runners, Hayes believes patience is one of the most important things to learn.
“Stay patient,” he said. “It takes a lot of time running, especially distance running. You gotta build an aerobic engine, and there’s no shortcuts to that.”
The runners themselves also have their own reasons for being part of the team. Alana, a Grants cross country runner, has been running since she was five years old.
“I’ve been running since I was five and it just made me want to continue running,” Alana said. She added that running has given her “a lot of love and support” for the sport.
For Alana, one of the hardest parts of running is not always the physical part, but the mental side.
“You always have to have a strong mentality,” she said. “You can’t have a weak mindset.”
Preparing for a race is also important to Alana. The night before a race, she eats spaghetti and makes sure she drinks enough water. She also focuses on having a good mindset, prays, and hopes to do her best.
One of Alana’s favorite cross country memories happened at a Zuni meet when it was raining. Instead of letting the weather ruin the experience, the team used the time to have fun and bond. “We all were just hanging out, having fun, team bonding and stuff,” she said.
For anyone thinking about joining cross country, Alana’s advice is simple: “Just do it.” She said running can help clear your mind and is “a great way to help you stay in shape.”
With the season just beginning, the team still has plenty of practices and meets ahead. Their first meet is scheduled for September 5 at St. Pius. Until then, the runners will continue building their endurance, strengthening their headspace, and preparing for their first chance to compete.