Shannon Murakami spent her summer running 100 miles a week.
1,200 miles total.
Someone should tell her to ease up a little bit. The distance from UCLA to Springfield, Ore., the site for this year’s NCAA West Regional Championship, is only 850 miles.
But second-year coach Forest Braden won’t tell her that. He expects nothing less from the Bruins’ No. 1 runner who led the team in every race last season.
Her teammates won’t tell her, either. The work ethic is contagious.
And Murakami, as she enters her final season, wants to build off her performance last fall when she competed as an individual in the NCAA Championships for the first time, recording a 21:24.5.
For the women’s cross country team, this is a year for continued development. Every aspect, from conditioning to injury prevention to overcoming mental hurdles, looks to be improved as the team aims to advance higher in the Pac-10. Last season the team went from 10th to seventh in the conference and 17th to 11th in the West Region. The fundamentals are what will carry them forward.
“We are going to make every day count, every race, every practice,” Braden said.
With their team now ranked 13th in the West Region, Murakami and redshirt senior Kelcie Wiemann look to lead a group that has focus and, more importantly, fresh legs.
“In the past we usually start off well, but as the season progressed we get hit with injuries,” Murakami said.
Needing added depth and a solid foundation for the future, Braden and the coaching staff made recruiting a priority.
“The coaches are all together … working hard to bolster the women’s squad. A big desire (is for students) to go to UCLA,” Braden said.
The team has since reaped the rewards. With a recruiting class ranked fourth in the country by Flotrack, what was once a weakness is now the group’s biggest strength. Freshman runners Melissa Skiba and Sierra Vega have already made solid impacts, finishing second and third, respectively, at the Fullerton Season Opener.
Wiemann feels optimistic going into the season as freshman runners outnumber the rest of the team, 14 to 10.
“It’s going to be really exciting. We molded as a team right away. I can’t wait to see what we can do,” Wiemann said.
While some may question the experience with such a young team, Braden is comfortable in knowing that he can depend on Murakami and Wiemann.
“With this group we can now really take charge,” Braden said. “Shannon will go after it. As one of the top girls in the Pac-10, she’s ready to finish with a bang. Kelcie is a battler and is in better shape than ever in her life. She can be a leader.”
But part of the successes and fortunes the team now finds must be attributed to coach Braden.
“Our attitude and performance are based on Coach’s attitude and performance,” Murakami said. “We have a stronger work ethic. … Everyone wants to work at becoming the best because we’re representing the school and the coaches.”
For the team to grow and continue making strides, the runners will have to look inside themselves and each other. In a sport based on endurance and intrinsic motivation, they will push themselves simply because they know no other way.
“You’re constantly asking yourself, “˜What are you willing to do? How much are you willing to give?'” Murakami said, in reference to the drive her teammates go through each time they step on the course.
As the group comes together and embraces this concept, improvements will be made and a strong mentality will be bred.
While winning is always a sought-after goal for any athlete, it is this drive that will be the gauge for true success.