The Indicator

After being given a tip from a friend, we traveled to Bellwood Antis to meet with Ben Hatch. He finished 3rd at States in the AA 800, but is a relative unknown in XC. As his confidence has grown throughout the season, that is changing.

Ben is an unique situation. Two days a week he does workouts with a private coach and the rest of the days he runs with his high school team. He is the top returner in the 800 making him the early favorite, but that is months away so I will get back on task.

Bellwood is a small town about 35 miles southwest of State College. Bellwood is similar to many small towns in Pennsylvania where high school football is king. The football team is having a so-so season but the you can still feel the energy and hope that all the townspeople have every Friday night when the stadium lights kick on.

When we arrived at the high school we were impressed by the track facility. The track is situated inside the football stadium and when you walk through the gates you can almost hear how the crowd roars every Friday night, even on this is cool Monday evening. With states a week away, Ben's coach prescribed what he calls an "Indicator" workout. He feels the workout gives an accurate indication of what the athlete is capable of on race day. What was the dosage you ask: 5x1000m with 1 minute rest. And I do agree it is a tough workout and will tell you what you are capable of.

Like so many of the top PA athletes this year, Ben is focusing on the Foot Locker Northeast Regional. But he also wants to have a good showing at states. He knows everyone sees him as a long shot, but he has a shot, and this is why we run the races.

As I am speaking with the coach, I notice some smoke billowing from the far end of the track. The coach notices it as well and says he hopes it doesn't affect the workout too much, but as we can start to smell it, we know it could be of concern.

The 5x1k workout is a great workout will let us know just how far Ben has come this season. The pace for the intervals, 3:05-10, 74-76s per 400. Pretty quick, I know. But if you are trying to be all-state and make Foot Lockers, these are the types of workouts you need to do. As Coach Craighead put it, "Gut-Check Workouts".

Someone is running with Ben to help with the pace. I shadow the coach throughout the workout. First 1000 goes fine, 3:06. It's amazing how short of a time a minute is. Next 1000, 3:04. I am not sure what those people are burning, but the smoke is getting worse. The coach says these next two are key, because he has a tendency to drift in the middle part of the race. It is something he has been stressing to Ben throughout the season. The importance to stay in good position and not to let gaps form, so he can use his speed and strength at the end. Third 1000, another 3:04. The workout looks easy to him. Before the 4th thousand is underway, I can see in his eyes that he is anxious and wants to take off. In the 4th thousand he does just that and cranks the pace down to 3:01. The smoke is becoming almost unbearable by now and I can not imagine what it would be like to run through. In the 5th thousand, he runs 3:15. He said it was just getting too hard to breathe with the smoke. The workout was impressive nonetheless.

Ben and his coach are pleased with the workout and both agree that he is ready to go for the weekend. After speaking with them both, I can tell that the real focus is the 800 and XC is just icing on the cake.

What will happen this weekend in Hershey? Hard to say, the AA boys race is wide open. But based on this workout, Ben will definitely be a factor and he is ready to go. We wish him the best.

Good Luck to Ben and all the competitors this weekend.

There will be more on Ben leading up to the Foot Locker Regional including his workout video and team interviews. So stay tuned to the Road to San Diego.