Athlete Name: Aleta Looker
School: Ellsworth
Year of Graduation: 2014
2012 State Meet Finish: 9th in Class B 19:58 
Best time in a 5K race and in which meet:
I'm pretty sure my best 5k race time is a 19:17 from the Manchester Invitational last September.
Tell us how your summer training is going?:
Training throughout this summer has been an absolute blast! I am really proud of my consistency and the progression of mileage I've been able to successfully experience.
What are your goals for the upcoming season?:
I can't believe it's my senior year already! Ever since I was a freshman I have worked to break 19 minutes in the 5k. A large PR this season would be a great confidence boost to be prepared for competing at the next level. I believe this goal is realistic and will be adjusted as necessary.
How long have you been running and how did you get started?:
Running has been a meaningful part of my life since I joined the Cross Country team back in sixth grade. I remember a significant experience that helped me get interested in the sport. The house I lived in as a little kid had a long hilly driveway that was perfect for riding bikes on. My legs were always too short to reach the pedals so grudgingly I would watch as my brother and friends zoomed back and forth without me. One day I got frustrated and decided to run after them instead of struggling with my bicycle, realizing that I could keep up on foot! Ever since then running has made me feel in control!
Will you be competing anywhere out of state this season?:
Hopefully the Ellsworth X-C team will be competing at the Manchester Invite again this year! I would love to compete at New Englands as well.
What is your favorite course to run in Maine?:
The course at Belfast has everything a XC course needs from the woods to the rolling hills, and all the mud!
What is the toughest course to run in Maine?:
I think Ellsworth is definitely one of the most challenging courses because of the two steep back to back hills, but it is also one of the most rewarding!
What meet during the regular season do you put extra emphasize on to compete well at?:
The Ellsworth Invitational is on my home course so naturally I try to race even harder there.
What is your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career?:
My favorite Cross Country race so far was the Manchester Invitational last year. It was a perfect experience. There was even an ice cream truck at the finish line!
Favorite cross country memory?:
Ah this is a difficult question. I think I would have to say every one of the team-bonding EXC traditional mud runs or sign runs. Or when the EXC girls team slid in the mud after the Eastern Maine Championships!
When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?:
My favorite thing to do when I am not running is to eat Italian food.. or to go hiking up mountains!
Favorite quote?:
"Muscles... pieces of rubber. All that I am, I am because of my mind." - Paavo Nurmi
or
"Some people create with words or with music or with a brush and paints. I like to make something beautiful when I run. I like to make people stop and say, 'I've never seen anyone run like that before.' It's more than just a race, it's a style. It's doing something better than anyone else. It's being creative." - Steve Prefontaine
What shoes do you train in?:
Lately I've been training in a pair of Nike Lunarglide 3s.
What shoes do you race in?:
I'm excited to race in a new pair of Nike Victory XCs.
What professional athlete would you most like to meet?:
It would've been awesome to have met Steve Prefontaine, but speaking to any professional athlete would be beneficial. Someday I'd like to meet a professional cyclist like Chris Froome or TeJay Van Garderen.
What is something that most people don't know about you?
Hmm.. Most people probably don't know that I only like to wear matching socks when I race.
