Logan Kruse: Training Abroad

Logan Kruse didn't train like most Florida runners this summer. The Dr. Phillips senior literally traded mountains for  the "mole hills" of Central Florida. He traveled from Orlando to Colorado and then to Panama in a journey that was both a running and cultural experience.

"The first part of my summer I ran with Team Prep USA  in Gunneson and Crested Butte, Colorado. I enjoyed the trails and meeting all the runners from around the country. I learned all about competing and mental toughness. We also talked about college running  and the application process. Workout wise it was tough everyday due to the elevation. We did tempo as our hard workouts, but the 12-15 mile days  were grueling especially at 10,000 feet."

Aside from learning from legendary coach Trent Sanderson, who he calls an inspiration, Kruse was able to run with fellow Dr. Phillip's standout Bridget Blake. Blake had previously been to the camp and sold the senior on the trip out west.

"Bridget had told me it was an amazing camp and it was. I loved having her out there because she introduced me to a lot of the runners and we could talk about training. She was a great person to talk to about anything."

After camp in Colorado was finished Kruse wasted no time traveling to the next destination, Panama. He went to the Central American country for a one month study abroad to help him get immersed in the culture, take classes, and help him learn and practice his Spanish. While there the Panther senior took advantage of Panama's altitude.

"The mountains were pretty tough. The angles were like rock climbing so some days it was just funny how hard it was to run. They were much steeper than the ones in Colorado, however, the elevation wasn't as bad. They were so steep that I would struggle to break nine minutes going up. It first it was aggravating because I felt like I wasn't going anywhere, but by the end they felt normal and I was able to break eight minutes on the steepest of hills."

Dedication. It's a word that Kruse learned very quickly. Unlike Colorado, there were no teammates or fellow runners to join him on workouts. It was a time to explore the country and all it had to offer, all on his own. He says it was tough, but he eventually made it through.

"I tried to see if there was a running program at one of the Panamanian schools, but martial arts and baseball are really the only sports the kids did in this town. There were a few roads and trails to run on, but the first few days were for total exploration. After a while I found some paths that I liked and stuck to those most of the time."

Kruse rode the momentum of a successful summer into his senior season at Dr. Phillips, but maybe a little too fast. He says academic wise things are going great, but when it comes to running, not so much.

"I have been injured for the last two weeks with a stressed hip flexor. I was in excellent shape coming back from Colorado and Panama and I think when I came back I tried increasing the mileage and intensity a little too quickly. I haven't been able to race this season and it's been extremely hard to watch my fellow teammates and competition continue to train and race."
 
The injury has also caused setbacks in training methods. At first, Kruse was working his cardio on the bike, but that was only making the hip flexor hurt worse. His physical therapist suggest he stopped with the cardio. Swimming caused the same effect, so all cross training was out of the picture. That left core workouts for the senior to do the past week and a half.

"I have been doing planks, pushups, abs, stretching, and breathing exercises. I know it's not ideal, but it's the best I could do while I recovered. I plan to start workouts in two weeks. I just need to build my base back for a few days. "

Despite missing the beginning of the season, Kruse still travels to meets to support his teammates and give them racing tips to help them succeed. The senior is optimistic for a quick return and hopes to be ready for the flrunners.com Invitational and definitely for the state series. Two words that have helped the Panther stay on course are commitment and determination.

"Those words are often overused, but as I have learned this summer you won't always have your best friends or team to run with you every day. You have to push through and what matters is doing the work when nobody else is watching. My goals this year are simple. I want to win a state championship and make it to Foot Locker Nationals."


Personal Bests
 

  • 1600 Meter Run4:15.08

  • 3200 Meter Run9:32.37

  • 5000 Meter Run15:17.97

 


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