Like many of the other runners participating in today's "Speak Up for Kids" 5K CASA run, Matt Neid is dedicated to the sport.
The Stephen F. Austin State University junior trains virtually every day of week to participate in area and regional half marathons and triathlons, and he looks at today's run as an opportunity to support a good cause.
Andrew Rogers/The Daily Sentinel |
Matt Neid, Stephen F. Austin State University junior, trains at the Student Recreation Center for the 'Speak Up for Kids' 5K CASA run taking place today at 9 a.m. in Pecan Acres Park.
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"I'm hoping to get in the top five, but I don't know who all is going to be there," he said. "So, we'll see."
Prior to a recent run around campus, Neid said he trains for these types of events almost every day.
"A couple of buddies and I will run four or five miles every day, and then on Tuesdays and Thursdays, we'll do sprint works," he said. "Sundays we'll go on a 10- to 15-mile run, and Saturday is kind of our biking days, so we do a little cross-training."
Neid has been running for about three years and often looks to professional marathon runners to see how he can improve his time and speed.
"There are online sources that tell you things, and then there's also a non-runner's guide to marathon training that my girlfriend actually has. It says to do 30- to 45-minute runs everyday, and then go for a long run on the weekends."
Neid was a swimmer in high school, "so I sort of already had kind of an endurance." But he said running has been a big change.
"I hated running in high school, but a couple friends wanted me to go run with them. I kind of liked the adrenaline and the endorphin rush that I got so I just kept doing it," he said. "I like to push my limits, and since I teach at the (student) rec center, there is a certain requirement to stay in shape for the classes that I teach."
Neid likes to say that once a person starts running, they can't stop and go back.
"You might as well finish it out," he said.
Danielle Christian, a Central Heights seventh grade student who came in second at last year's event, has also been gearing up for today's run at practices with her cross country team.
"We run about one and a half miles at practice," she said, noting that school meets have also given her the opportunity to spruce up her running skills. "When I find a pace, it's easy for me to go longer."
Christian said during last year's CASA run, which she agreed to participate in with her grandmother who was visiting from Florida, she did a pretty good job, considering it was her first time to run, but she hopes to improve her time at today's run.
"I just like to do my best," she said.
Today's walk/run gets under way at 9 a.m. in Pecan Acres Park. There will be a .6-mile route and 3.1 mile route, in addition to booths with food and drinks, games and health education information. Congressman Louie Gohmert will start the race and singer/songwriter Kasey Lansdale will perform.
