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Kai Wilmot shares his tips for being successful at NXN - DyeStat

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DyeStat.com   Dec 5th 2014, 4:57pm
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Wilmot shares tips on finding success at NXN

 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor


Kai Wilmot said finding balance and staying relaxed are two of the keys to finding success at Nike Cross Nationals.


The Wisconsin freshman was the 2013 NXN boys race winner at Portland Meadows and a four-time participant in Nike's championship event while competing for North Spokane XC Club.


"Especially the first time you go (to NXN) it's easy to get swept up by the ping pong and video games and everything and start having too much fun," Wilmot said. "You can lose focus."


It's not easy to act like you've been somewhere before even when you haven't -- but Wilmot suggests that it's OK to have some fun, but also said it's important not to take your eye off the ball.


A couple of years back, Wilmot said he and his team went to the starting line on race day and the team in the next box over was talking aloud about how it didn't matter how they did in the race, that by making it there they had achieved their goal.


That could be the case for some teams that come any year. In order to find success at this meet, though, a lackadaisical attitude won't cut it.


"There is so much quality in the field that you have to maintain your focus without getting stressed out about it," Wilmot said.


Following what has become a custom in the North Central WA program, Wilmot, and presumably other runners graduated from last year's team, wrote the current team a Pre-NXN letter.


Wilmot shared the gist of his message to his former teammates: Don't let the opportunity to do something great slip away. Embrace the pain on race day. Soak up the experience and revel in the moment with teammates.


Conversely, Wilmot believes that non-stop focusing on the race and game plan can also be detrimental.


"There's no need to be hyper-focused on the meet for two days if you haven't done that before any of your other meets," he said.


As for being successful in the race itself, Wilmot's only frame of reference is Portland Meadows. On that course, he said, it was important to shove off the starting line hard and gain a good position by the first turn. From there, hold it. And then in the second half of the race, try to push forward and pass people.


It sounds easy, but with so many other bodies running similar paces, it's not.


Staying grounded, positive and connected to teammates all helps in that final mile.



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