Germantown Friends senior Nick Dahl has been on the PA prep running scene for a while now. He's now reached the start of his senior year and he's surely got some great expectations. The three-time Friends Schools League champ and reigning state champ in the independent schools division, Dahl took some time to write about his summer of training---one that took him to a number of European countries, XC camp, and back with his team. Read all about his favorite runs of the summer in this countdown!
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Nick included photos from his travels; here's the Matterhorn from his family's hiking excursion
Another year, another summer of training.
It felt slightly different preparing for my final season of high school cross-country than it has in years prior, because there was the looming notion that this is going to be my final shot at accomplishing all of the goals I'd set for myself over the past three years. Undoubtedly, this is a quandary that all senior athletes grapple with at some point during their final year, but the stark nature of running ensures that you know exactly where you size up compared to your peers and predecessors. In some ways, training this summer made everything feel both tangible and intimidatingly imminent, so there was a renewed focus and drive in every workout I undertook. Now, as I stare down the beginning of our season's competition in just a few short days on September 2nd, I feel more prepared than ever to take on the season and showcase all of the work and drive that has taken me through three years of exciting high school racing, and I can't wait to see what my team will be able to accomplish as a unit.
From the end of track season at USATF Juniors in California to right now, I've had a fantastic time training through my summer plans, which took me through seven countries, two state parks, and down countless trails and rivers around the world. Whether I was training with the team in Philadelphia, running the pristine trails of Maryland at Hawk Harrier XC Camp, or getting my own run in during family vacation, I could count on it being an adventure. Every run carried me closer to my ultimate goal of outright success at the end of the season, through FSL Championships, PAISAA States, and eventually Footlocker Regionals and Nationals. Because of this, I've decided to compile a list of my ten favorite runs from the summer, ranked based on scenery, splits, and the overall experience, to highlight a little bit more about what it's been like for me to prepare for my final season of cross-country.
Scroll through to find out Nick's favorite runs of the summer!
