This summer really went by quickly and I had a lot of motivation to step it up a notch to do the best I can in my last season of Cross Country while in high school.

At the beginning of the summer I was so excited for cross country to start. I was a little nervous because my training plan involved things that I have never done before such as developing a meal plan to help me get the proper amount of calories from the right foods and working to improve my form so that I can perform my best at practice. I am a firm believer in the phrase “You race how you practice”. I have been doing a lot of strength conditioning this summer, including medicine ball workouts and core exercises. I also complete a full injury prevention routine every day.  

Our team looks like it is shaping up very nicely. We recently just lost our number two runner, Theresa Duncan, who transferred for her junior year, but we have a sophomore, Christina Shultz, who is really stepping it up to fight for our number two spot.

I have some pretty big goals this year and in order to accomplish these various goals, I will continue to train with purpose every day.

Well this is my summer wrapped up, I wish you all the best in your cross country season and happy running!

Mary Kate

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ABOUT Mary Kate Ponder:

I have been running for four years and love it more than anything. I never thought I would end up loving running as much as I do, but I have been so lucky to have had so many people in my life that have encouraged me to use my gifts to their fullest potential.

I started running the summer before my freshman year in high school after being asked by some high school runners to join the team. They had come to my middle school looking for anyone who had an interest in running. My parents had always encouraged me to have an extracurricular activity and since I wasn’t doing anything at the time I chose to try out for cross country.

 I was born just outside of Nashville,Tennessee and moved to Jacksonville when I was in 3^rd grade. I played soccer and was on a swim team in elementary and middle school. I was pretty decent at both but never really loved either one. My sister was on the swim team in high school, and my dad played soccer in college, so our family has always been very competitive.

I plan to continue running in college and beyond, and I am looking forward to compete at a higher level with brand new goals to try and achieve.

Editor's Note- Mary Kate will be keeping a blog for us this year as she sets her sight on some pretty high goals. Last year Ponder went 4:59 in the 1600m and is coming off of a monster summer. Click here to follow all of her blog posts.

More Mary Kate Ponder:

Hagerty Invitational 2010 Post-Race Interview