Nease senior Jonathan Jackson is one of the top returners in 3A with a personal best of 15:49.77. Jackson was 33rd last year at the state meet and hopes to improve on that finish in 2015. See how he started out in the sport, how his summer training is going, goals for the season, and more in this XC Spotlight.
How long have you been running and how did you get started?
My senior year will be my fifth year of competitive running. In eighth grade my middle school decided to start their own cross country team so my friend Matt and I decided to join as we were both reigning champs in the PE warm up mile. When middle school ended we both started going to the Nease cross country conditioning practices over the summer to see how we liked the high school level. Naturally, that transitioned to us joining the team and starting to get more serious about running, and the addiction kind of just took over from there.
Do you remember your first real race?
Typically the middle school meets I attended were pretty unofficial, so I’d say my first real race was the Katie Caples Cross Country Invitational my freshman year. Not gonna lie, at first it was pretty scary the shorts were shorter than my boxers, I only knew about 5 people on the team, and at the start line I was packed like a sardine alongside roughly 800 kids in the JV race. It was definitely a huge difference in comparison to my middle school days of racing 50 other kids with about 100 spectators, if that. The race started and I was immediately at the back of the pack watching kids in front of me trip, shove, and trample each other. It was absolute mayhem. By the halfway point I had passed a decent amount of people, but by around 2.5 miles all I could think was, “does this race ever end?” Moments later we entered the loud and spectator filed home stretch, and that’s when I figured out what it meant to finish strong. It was definitely an unforgettable experience, to say the least.
How is your summer training going?
My training throughout June and most of July was the best running I’ve ever done, however towards the end of July I went through a bit of a rough patch due to slight over-training so recently I had to take it down a notch, but this week I’m back to 100% and feeling the most fit I’ve ever felt.
What is your favorite workout?
I’d definitely have to say the fast-finish long run without a doubt. While it does take a lot out of you for the next day of training, I find its worth it to push the pace for the last 5-6 miles depending on how I’m feeling. Its pretty much like getting the benefit of a long run, progression run, and tempo all in one workout. Not to mention it feels great hammering those last miles and testing your fitness.
Which meets will you be running in this year?
Our schedule is as follows: Spikes and Spurs, Katie Caples, Flrunners.com Invitational, UNF Invitational, Ponte Vedra Invitational, Bale-N-Trail, Golden Eagles Classic, and then the postseason.
Do you have a favorite course?
I’ve PR’d every year at Katie Caples and I always love the atmosphere of the crowd and the big finish on the track, so I’d have to go with that.
What do you think is the toughest course in the state?
Maybe its because I didn’t do a lot of hill training last year, but I definitely think the FSU state course was the hardest course I’ve ever ran. “The hill” lived up to its reputation, as it was definitely the hardest obstacle I’ve ever had to overcome on a course.
Out of all your running accomplishments so far, which stands out the most?
I’d have to say my spot as second fastest in Nease history (for now) is definitely the accomplishment I’m most proud of because it shows I’ve come a long way since my freshman year when I was over 2 minutes slower than I am now.
What are your goals for the upcoming cross country season?
My goal for the 2015 cross country season is to break 15 minutes in the 5K and win every race that I toe the line in. While these goals may seem ambitious, I think that my performance is going to improve substantially this year as this season will be the first season that I’ve been able to run a lot of consistent, quality miles over the summer. In previous years my teammates and I have actually gone through 5 different coaches between cross country and track, and for all of cross country my junior year I was only doing about 30-40 miles per week during the season. Thankfully, things have changed this year I’ve been able to build a strong base with Coach Kristine Williams and plan to run twice as much during the season this year as I did the previous one. With all these improvements being made to my training, I’m confident that my goal of breaking 15 is fully within my reach.
What do you love most about running?
The thing I love most about running is the fact that running is one of those things where you get out just as much as you put in. Working hard, and seeing results, that’s what its all about.
Finish the sentence... Jon Jackson is _____.
Jon Jackson is a hard worker.
The Low Down
We wanted to get in-depth and personal with Jon. Check out the low down.
Do you have a favorite quote?
I know it’s the generic runners quote, but “to give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift” by Steve Prefontaine is easily my favorite quote because it’s always been a constant reminder to me as to why I should give it 100%; anything less than that would just be me cheating myself out of my own potential.
Do you have any pre-race rituals or routines?
Typically the night before a race the guys and I will get together and do a shakeout run on our favorite route, I guess you could say its kind of a tradition. Then we wrap it up with a team dinner. It’s a smashing time.
What is your favorite food?
Probably Cicis cinnamon rolls
What was the last movie you saw and what did you think of it?
I watched Pulp Fiction the other night for the millionth time, I’d say its one of the best movies ever made.
What brand of shoes do you train/race in?
I always train in New Balance because in my opinion they make the most durable, comfortable, and best looking trainer around. However, I only race in Nike because although Nikes do tend to fall apart quicker than other brands, their spikes are really lightweight and smooth.
What professional athlete would you like to meet the most?
Philip Rivers, I’m a huge Chargers fan.
What is something most people don't know about you?
As I mentioned earlier, there were multiple occasions where Nease didn’t have a coach in the off-season for cross country or track. We were all in a pretty rough spot for training, for even though we ran everyday, we didn’t have the first clue how to coach ourselves. What a lot of people don’t know is during those times between coaches, my good friend Alek Abate former Nease cross country runner and current rower at Dartmouth was actually spending a lot of time and energy mapping out my season and sending me training regimens for the upcoming season. Without that guy I’m honestly not sure I would’ve been able to run the times that I did when on one else was there to coach me.
Lastly, if you were stranded on an island with three things what would they be?
The only 3 things I’ll ever need: bottled water, some friends to run with, and cold water surrounding the island for post-run swims to cool off.