Although many students develop their likes and dislikes over time, senior Doug Daniel says there is no reason for his love of running, but was born with his passion for track.

“My mom remembers that when I was in a walker and couldn’t walk on my own, all I would do is run in circles all day,” Daniel said. “So I guess I’ve just loved running since before I have memories. What first got me to love running I don’t fully know, but I think that’s what got me into it, running in circles. I was probably born with this.”

In addition to Daniel’s walker adventures, he says in preschool all of the kids would go on a walk, and he strove to always be the fastest.

“The teachers would always take all the preschoolers out for this walk and I’d think about it all day because we’d race in the parking lot from one end to the other,” Daniel said. “I’d think to myself, ‘I wanna beat all the other preschoolers!’ So I’d start running on my own to beat the other kids. This probably was one of the things that got me to love running.”

Daniel says running relieves stress and bad moods, but the ultimate reason for track comes down to the “love of competition.”

“If I was in a bad mood or something I’d go run and it would handle it,” Daniel said. “It also may be the love of competition and the challenge of staying on pace and running a perfect race.”

Many people claim to hate running, but the fellowship on the team and sense of achievement make it worthwhile for Daniel, as well as for less enthused students, he says.

“I love running, so that makes track fun for me, but if you don’t love running, the team itself will make it fun the camaraderie,” Daniel said. “That and it’s fun to work hard for a goal. People act like they don’t enjoy working hard, but really I think most people do once they do it because there is a feeling of accomplishment.”

Since Daniel’s first year of track as a freshman, he has improved greatly. His first mile time was 5:30, and his best two-mile time was 11:51. After the meets, he says his calves burned for two weeks.

However, with training in the off-season and joining soccer this year Daniel says he’s in the best shape of his life.

“I felt pretty good coming into my first race, but then I ran it and I said, ‘Wow these people can run,'” Daniel said. “This year though my mile is down to 4:54 and my two mile is at 10:44. I hope to run a 4:40 mile and a 10:10 two mile this year.”

To reach his goal, Daniel says the key to his success is determination.

“I’m gonna get there by hard work and running the perfect race,” Daniel said. “To run the perfect race you gotta pace it right, stay mentally ahead of everyone else and smarter than everyone else.”

When coach Steven Kruckenberg first met Doug he found him to be very different than many others, but had no idea of his running abilities.

“I first met Doug at the high school group at Peoples Church and I thought he was a very interesting and outgoing character,” Kruckenberg said. “I first just thought he was a recreational runner, but he’s actually a great runner.

“He improves weekly and breaks his own mile and two mile record at almost every meet. If he keeps making these dramatic improvements, a college career in track is definitely obtainable for him.”

Freshman Austin Maddux runs the 1600m and 3200m with Daniel and says he is amazed with his work ethic and strength.

“Doug is best at distance,” Maddux said. “He can go for miles on end with no stop. When he runs, he puts himself through pain so he can go faster than he did the last time. His best quality is being able to push himself to the point where his body is maxed out and feels like he cannot go any farther.”

While running, Daniel says he uses music and Mr. T sayings to enhance his endurance.

“A lot of the time I put Mr. T-related stuff in my head like some of his mottos or scenes from his shows,” Daniel said. “I’ll put the theme song of the A-Team in my head, or Rudy or Superman songs. If I’m feeling pretty bad, I’ll pray and say, ‘God help me, I feel like I’m going to keel over and die. Give me strength.'”

Although Daniel says he loves track unceasingly, there was one situation when his passion wavered.

“Last year coach [Ericlee] Gilmore had us do ice baths,” Daniel said. “He got his daughter’s kitty pool and filled it with ice and water. We had to sit in it and it was terrible. I asked [coach Mick] Fuller once about what it was and I guess it squeezes out all the lactic acid, just like squeezing water out of a towel. But it’s hell. There is ice water in hell and this proves it.”

For more information, read the Track and field sport shorts, 2010 or e-mail Krukenberg.