Follow senior Aleta Looker of Ellsworth during her season xc season. Looker finished 9th in the Class B meet a year ago, & 41st in the New England Championship. She is known for her 800m prowess on the track where she's run the #2 outdoor 800m in Maine history, 2:14.30.
It's that time of year again - championship season! Ever since I was a little freshman this past weekend has been my favorite time during cross country. For the past three years members of the EXC team have enjoyed the excitement at the PVC Championship on Saturday then cheering on participants at the 
Mt. Desert Island Marathon on Sunday, including our very own coaches!!! Ultimate reasons why I truly love this sport are always emphasized in these few days. The opportunity to lose your voice encouraging your coaches who spend hours a day throughout the whole season doing the same for you is like a real chance to give back. Seeing those you look up to step up to face their own task and show off how it's done, what it really means to be tough, can be more motivational that any pre-meet or post-workout speech.
A supportive and affectionate atmosphere associated with a conference meet is intensified at an event like the marathon. Team bonding takes on a new level. Working like a machine to give water and/or Gatorade to every thirsty runner who passes by Mile 4 is a task that requires team effort, the same effort used to compel each teammate to do their best when they race. Picking up millions of crushed cups, blasting music through car windows, connecting with individuals of all sorts from the "running breed", and sprinting to the finish in time is an experience I urge everyone to have. Next year I'd love to run the half - maybe I'll see you there? Catching up with friends (shout out to EXC Alumni Joey Luchini & Brianne Dunn, ARC's own gracious OJ Logue, and especially John Bapst's Adrienne Carmack) is a perfect way to relax and enjoy being a runner before the season comes to an unfortunate end. Seniors, make the most of all the bittersweet hectic-ness you're enduring.
One of the sweetest xc enthusiasts I know recently gave me this awesome advice: "All of this stress & craziness will be over before we know it, so just go along for the ride and know that wherever you end up is where you were meant to be" ~ Laura Broderick.
Best of luck to everyone. Let's get healthy & ready to explore the outer limits of our potential. Go Maine!
~Aleta Looker
