ABOVE: Campers employ different strategies to stay motivated during their journey. PHOTO: Kevin Jantzer FAR LEFT: Forging and athlete is a process of breaking oneself down, finding themselves, and coming out the other side, a wiser, more mature version of what they started as. PHOTO: Kevin Jantzer RIGHT: The Steens Mountain Running Camp has been forging athletes for over four decades and has hosted thousands of high school runners from across the country. PHOTO: Kevin Jantzer
there first and then wait for them. I did it. I
as cross country is, summed up in a week. I’ve
and heart, but it merely becomes part of the
crushed everyone. But that wasn’t the point. I
had the opportunity to coach and mentor
process, and for many of the kids at running
wasn’t a team player. I wasn’t an athlete, yet.
athletes at Steen’s for the past 7 years, and
camp the spark that may lead to a lifetime of
each year I see kids turn into athletes.
perseverance, probably not in running, but in
Steen’s is more of a “mental” training camp
many other aspects of their life.
than a “running” camp. I believe that is one
To forge an athlete they must at some point
aspect that sets it apart from many others.
go through the age-old hero’s journey. It is a
The Big Day, as it’s known, is that forging for
Sure, lessons are taught on stretching, running
process of breaking oneself down, finding
many of these athletes. At one time, Steen’s
form, nutrition, but the overarching theme of
themselves, and coming out the other side,
Mountain was a blank canvas that glaciers
the week is how to better yourself. It’s about
a wiser, more mature version of what they
carved huge gorges in. Starting at just below
how to build yourself into the best person
started as. Now, it’s not as simple as just going
the summit of Steen’s Mountain at 9500ft,
and/or athlete you can be through discipline,
to a running camp and finding that on the
campers travel on foot 10 miles down Big
taking the bad with the good, and accepting
bus ride home with all your new best friends
Indian Gorge, then they make a 180-degree
the hand you’re dealt. It’s all life lessons, just
you’re an unbeatable athlete steeled in mind
turn and hike and run 10 more miles up Little
June/July 2015 racecenter.com
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