BREVARD CAMP Local cross-country runners experience a chance to get away from everyday life into the scenic mountains of North Carolina

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BREVARD RUNNING CAMP

Local cross-country runners experience a chance to get away from everyday life into the scenic mountains of North Carolina

STORY BY BOB LABBE PHOTOS BY JOSHUA BERRY

Snapshots of the trip by Coach Drew Bell

TThe experience of standing atop mountain rises and looking out upon the rolls of hillsides and mountainous terrane with the chance to get away from everyday life and the trials and tribulations of being a high school studentathlete is what 29 members and three coaches of the James Clemens and Liberty Middle School cross country program were exposed to in July as the squad attended the Brevard Distance Running Camp in the small mountain town of Brevard, N.C. The camp is more or less a retreat into the pristine wilderness of the 450,000 acres of the Pisgah National Forest in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

“It is a special place,” said Drew Bell head coach of the James Clemens team. “The five-day camp teaches our youngsters to grow and learn to take care of themselves on the road without mom and dad. Each of our studentathletes learn to become a leader and face challenges they are not familiar with.”

Familiarity of the camp is Bell’s forte as this was the 27th time he has attended either as a runner or coach. He said of his annual trek to nature where you can actually breathe the mountain air, “It’s like going back home as the camp is a part of my life. I love going back to see others I’ve known for years through the camp. A sort of family reunion and something I want that same experience for my athletes.”

As many as 400 people from all over the country made the odyssey to the camp hosted at Brevard College, a 120acre campus located in Transylvania County of the Tar Heel State. Campers stayed in college dorms, which do not have air-conditioning. Meals were all-you-can-eat served cafeteria style in the college dining hall. The overall experience is more than a training camp where athletes take to the numerous running trails among the beautiful surroundings of nature.

“I loved it as it was a great way to spend time with teammates and utilize the team building exercises that were provided for us in classroom settings,” said senior and boys’ team captain Tyler Gohlich, who attended his second trip to the mountains of North Carolina. “The camp helped me with my leadership roles and gave me knowledge in that area to help me with my teammates.”

Sydney Freeman, a senior co-captain of the girls squad for the Jets, experienced her first Brevard Camp and said the camp was super fun for her and was a special building time for her both physically and mentally. “This took us out of our comfort zones and the running trails were nothing like we have in Alabama. When you finished a run, you feel

as you’ve accomplished something as we had morning and afternoon trail runs.”

Along with the athletes and Bell, assistant coaches Beth Mattingly and Joshua Johnson also packed their bags for the experience of a lifetime.

The camp included a structured scheduled morning runs or exercise drills followed by breakfast, challenge courses, lunch, free-time recreation, additional challenge courses, an afternoon run along the trails and forest, dinner, and evening guest speakers and group sessions before mandatory lights out at 10:30 p.m. Each camper is encourage to stay away from their personal phones.

“The team building exercises were great as each helped build mental preparation and most of the camp counselors are college runners and they spoke on running in general, college recruiting and just overall college experiences,” said Gohlich who carries a 4.56 grade point average and has applied for West Point where he wants to establish a career in the military after both of his parents who are retired military. “I really liked the discussions on mental imagery.”

The trails utilized by the camp are simply spectacular in natural beauty and challenging to all levels of runners. Bell’s experiences at the camp have helped him lead his squad to special places within the area

that feature magnificent waterfalls. There are two in particular Bell has found to cause attendees to be awestruck by their beauty and complete nature.

“One is Turtleback that is about 30 feet tall and allows individuals to slide off of,” said Bell. “The other is called Looking Glass. There’s about a 20-minute hike before you are confronted with an area that is beyond description. We climb the cliff and jump off into an awaiting pool below where you can swim.”

Within the Brevard town, local residents teach square dancing as they block off the street for a fun-filled event. Campers visited an old fashioned toy store where they got a homemade milk shake. Bell added, “The beautiful trails are some of the best in the United States and the entire experience has a lasting influence on every one of the athletes. I certainly recommend this trip for other programs.”

“We had fun together and more than just running the trails,” added Freeman who has a 3.75 grade point average and looks to run in college where she will pursue a degree in business. “We went through exercise classes, played dodgeball and basketball, listened to special guest speakers and attended an ice cream social.”

The Brevard Distance Runners Camp is about training, learning and experiences within a motherlode of natural resources.

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