One Time At Running Camp: Vanguard XC - Appalachian State XC Camp


Every summer for the past four years I have driven up the southeast to the mountainous terrain of North Carolina alongside my fellow Vanguard Knights as a member of Vanguard High School’s Cross Country team. After an eight hour drive and a 3,000 foot climb we reach our destination and home for the week in Boone, North Carolina, Appalachian State University. With a campus that contains more hills than all of Ocala, even walking to lunch is labor intensive. But that is what brings us back each year. Team Camp 1, as it is called officially, is our chance to run some ear popping inclines, get a taste for college living and food, and, of course, grow as a team, rather than just as an individual.

As far as training goes, the crown jewel of our camp experience is a four mile run up the switchbacks of Flat Top Mountain, know simply and infamously as “Fire Tower”. While I’m not sure of the exact elevation at the top, it’s enough to pull an “Oh thank God,” from even the most seasoned runner once it’s reached. Not only were we rewarded by an unbelievable view of Boone this year, but also by the fact that for first time to my memory every runner on our team made it to the peak, which is exactly what camp is all about. When the whole team achieves something, no matter how easy or hard it is to an individual member, we share in each other’s success, and furthermore the achievements of one become the achievements of the whole. It was this idea that prevailed for the remainder of camp.

Our cheering and celebration at the team games on the second night of camp will not soon be forgotten by the camp directors, counselors, and other teams. Even though we didn’t place (We were robbed!) we managed to achieve the fastest time in four out of thirteen events, and the only way we did that was by working as a team. And as we walked back to our dorms with black eyes and broken fingers (lets just say the tire challenge got the best of us) I don’t think there was one of us without a smile on our face and a little more respect for our teammates. The games reminded us of what makes us Cross Country runners; that innate competitiveness and thirst for competition that unites us as a team.

That competitiveness must be treated delicately though, because if misdirected it can become jealously, something I have struggled with on a personal level, and I’m sure my teammates deal with as well. As much as you may you think you want your teammates to excel and perform, there is always the hope that they won’t surpass your own level. But I don’t think you can really be a teammate until you overcome feelings like this. Being a teammate is sharing and celebrating the success of your fellow team members no matter your own situation, and realizing that their victory in no way diminishes your own.

I dealt with this firsthand this year, as for the first time I was unable to compete in the camp race that draws each session at App State to a close. While first almost hoping that my team would falter without me, I decided to take a moment and think about what that meant. The failing of my team would also mean my own failure. Failure to support those who needed support when I was in a position to do so. So instead I decided to worry about my team rather than myself, and by doing so I was able to feel the joy of those who were happy with their races, as well as the desire to improve that others experienced.

Camp was the catalyst that allowed me to connect to my team on this level, and now, as a senior, I finally understand what it means to be a team. At the end of the day I can never be Vanguard, because we are Vanguard.

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