Marianne Thomas is a junior at MCHS. She runs on both the cross country and track and field teams. This interview for Nook News has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: What events do you run in track?
A: I run the 400 meter, the 4×400-meter relay, and I long jump.
Q: Do you like cross country or track more?
A: I like both, but they’re really different. Track is shorter distances, and cross country is longer. I get a mix of both short and long distances.
Q: How did you hurt your ACL at the end of eighth grade?
A: I was doing a long jump drill at track practice where we had to jump over a hurdle and land in the sand. When I landed funny, there was a pop in my leg.
Q: How did you recover from when you tore your ACL?
A: After surgery, I did a lot of physical therapy and slowly easing back into it. I also ran a lot of sprints and slowly worked my way back to where I was.
Q: What challenges did you have with your physical therapy and were there any frustrations that went along with it?
A: I would say I was frustrated with the amount of time that it took for me to overcome my surgery and bounce back to where I was before getting injured. I was also frustrated that I had to take extra time out of my schedule to go to physical therapy.
Q: Why do you still long jump?
A: I like to long jump because I like to prove to myself I can do it still after getting injured. I also think it’s fun because you get to jump in the air.
Q: What’s your favorite warm up?
A: I like to run a lap, go through some line drills, and stretch. I also like to do a lunge matrix, which is a series of different lunges.
Q: How long have you run cross country?
A: I started running in fifth grade.
Q: Why did you start running?
A: I started because my dad used to coach cross country, and I was always somehow involved in the sport. So I started because I saw people doing it.
Q: Do you do any other sports or clubs?
A: I mainly run cross country and track. I did do basketball in middle school, but now it’s just running.
Q: What’s your favorite pair of running shoes?
A: I like the Brooks Ghost. They are good for your feet and provide a lot of support.
Q: Why do you run long distances?
A: I like to run because I like to prove to myself that I’m able to do it. It is also mentally and physically challenging, but it’s very rewarding in the end.
