Maret Elgren
Chanhassen High School
Personal Records:
5k (xc): 20:13.98
3200m: 11:36.07
1600m: 5:28.19
800m: 2:29.78
How did you get started as a track or cross country athlete?
I was introduced to cross country in fifth grade when my oldest brother joined the team as a high school freshman. I was fascinated by the sport and went to watch almost all of his meets, but I didn't take up the sport until my own first year of high school, when my parents finally encouraged me to join. I reluctantly joined cross country and later joined track my sophomore year when I finally decided to quit softball, leading me to quit basketball my junior year to focus solely on running. I later joined indoor track through Park Flyers Track Club my senior year to run year-round.
What was your most memorable competition?
My most memorable competition was the Section 2AA cross country meet in the fall. As a sections alternate my junior year, this was my first time competing at the section meet. I knew it would be tough competition on an even tougher course, but I wanted to do all that I could to help my team and to end my season on a good note. I ended up having the race of my life as I ran a PR to finish 20th overall, and missed qualifying for state by two places! It was a great way to end my senior season, and I am proud of myself for holding nothing back and leaving it all out on the course for one last race.
Who were your biggest competitors in your track/XC career?
Running in the Metro West Conference, our girls team has always been neck and neck with Bloomington Jefferson for the conference title, specifically in cross country. Jefferson is a talented team with smart racing strategies that we have learned from. They have won the title two years in a row now, so I hope our girls can reclaim the title next season.
What was your greatest accomplishment as a track/XC athlete?
My greatest accomplishment over the course of my track and cross country careers is the amount of time I was able to drop from when I started. I was a sophomore when the distance for girls cross country was changed to a 5K, and my season PR was 23:05. When I first joined track, my PRs were 14:36 for the 3200m, 6:31 for the 1600m, and 2:54 for the 800m. I have worked very hard to drop my times down to what they are now, and I am very proud of the improvements I have made.
If you could do it all over again, what would you change about your high school track/XC career?
If I could do it all over again, I would have given in to my parents' begging and joined cross country and track sooner. If I would have started running in middle school rather than in high school, I would have had even more time to grow as a runner and to make memories with my teammates. It would have been hard to take focus away from my other sports, but it would have been worth it in the end. Now, cross country and track are the two sports I love most, and I regret not having more time to develop and not taking it as seriously when I first joined as I do now.
How have your coaches been an influence to you as an athlete and as a person?
My coaches have played such an important role in not only the runner I've become, but also the person I am today. They have been incredibly supportive on and off the course and the track for the past four years and have always believed in me. My coaches have shown me that I can do anything I set my mind to, and that no goal is out of reach. I've learned to embrace the pain and to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, and that running is just as much mental as it is physical. This philosophy can also apply to aspects of life outside of running, and I am thankful for everything my coaches have taught me, and I am incredibly grateful for the endless support they've shown me through the years.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
When I ended my sophomore season of cross country, I struggled with the fact that I wasn't as fast as I thought I could potentially be. I finally joined track later that spring, and after another unsatisfying season, I started to really develop a passion for running. I wanted to get faster, and that not only meant putting in the extra miles, but it also meant fixing flaws that I thought were slowing me down. One of these flaws was my weight, as I struggled a lot with body image throughout high school. I knew I needed to be in better shape if I wanted to drop time, but I was careful, as I had read numerous horror stories about female distance runners developing eating disorders that stripped away their love for running. So, I started making an effort to eat healthier, track my foods, and safely increase my mileage. I started to see results my junior year, when I ran varsity in both cross country and track for the first time. This trend has continued throughout my senior year, and I hope to continue getting faster.
Another tough obstacle to overcome was the cruel winter we had this year. I had made it through a long, cold, and hard winter of training that was mainly done on my own, and when indoor track ended, I was so ready to finally race on an outdoor track again. However, Mother Nature had other plans, as our first five meets were cancelled, leaving us with limited opportunities to compete. With some improvisation, we were able to eventually hold a team time trial when our track was mostly free of snow and we rescheduled our home meet, but none of the other competitions were ever made up. It was so frustrating to have such limited racing opportunities, but our team made the best of what little season we had. This spring has taught me that some things are out of my control, and that I should never take any racing opportunity for granted.
What will you miss about high school track/XC?
I will miss so many things about running for Chanhassen High School, but what I will miss the most is the community. From my very first cross country practice as a freshman, I immediately felt a sense of belonging. Underclassmen could talk to upperclassmen, guys could talk to girls, and that was something I hadn't experienced before in any other sport. Our boys and girls teams operate as one, so we are all super close and it's an awesome group to be a part of. My teammates are like family, and I would give anything to be able to spend one more season running and growing alongside them.
What advice would you give to younger athletes?
I would advise younger athletes to get into running sooner than high school, because running is a lifelong sport, so you should do it for as long as you can. I would encourage all young athletes to give running a chance even if you don't think you would enjoy it, because you never know when you might fall in love with the sport.
What are your post-graduation plans?
I will be attending DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois in the fall to continue my cross country and track careers. I plan to major in the Communications field in hopes of eventually becoming a journalist.
Who would you like to say 'thank you' to?
First and foremost, I would like to thank my parents, because without them, I would not even be writing this. They were the ones who convinced me to join cross country in the first place, and for that I am eternally grateful because it allowed me to discover my passion for running. I would also like to thank my coaches for being incredibly supportive of me and for the lessons they have taught me along the way. I have not only grown as a runner because of them, but as a person, and I knew I could always trust in them. Finally, I would like to thank my teammates for being my second family. I've never been part of such a close-knit community full of positivity. No group of people has ever brought me so much joy, and I always looked forward to seeing my teammates at practice after a long day of school because seeing them never failed to put a smile on my face. Running for Chanhassen High School has been the time of my life, and I have the entire program to thank for helping me find my passion in life.
