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Eric Nordgren
Falcon Senior Ran 70 Miles a Week During Summer
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By Keighla Schmidt But for senior cross country runner, Eric Nordgren summer was spent running an average of 70 miles per week. Falcon cross country Coach Don Glover said running that much is unusual for runners, it is something that very dedicated Div. I runners commit to. Nordgren also had a full time job over the summer to work as well. For three summers he's worked for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls grounds crew. During the school year Nordgren works towards his degree in English education. He said he would like to teach English and coach cross country in a small rural town in northern Minnesota or Wisconsin, since that is the type of community he is from. He also wants to be about to get more involved and help young people grow and mature. "Mostly, I want an excuse to be able to run with the team," Nordgren said. His running career didn't start until his football one stopped. Nordgren said after his sophomore year of high school he realized being 6-0 and 140 pounds did not give him the best body for football. So he gave running a try. "I got a later start than most," he said. But he broke away from the football tradition his high school had and joined the cross country team. Ever since then he has focused on running. Nordgren also runs the distance races for the Falcon track & field team. Nordgren said he could do very well in marathons because he is "in the best shape of my life," and he could out-endure other runners. Endurance was built up through cross country skiing during the long Midwest winters. Competing in skiing races is one of the many things Nordgren enjoys doing in the great outdoors. He said he likes to canoe, backpack, and participate in all other outdoor recreation. "Getting out in the woods," he said was one of his favorite parts about going up to the Boundary Waters for the past 16 years. His parents started taking him there for vacations when he was young. Even though he is a distance away from his family back home in Lake Nebagamon, Wis., Nordgren doesn't feel like he is without a family. After their first month of freshman year, four members of the team bonded and now feel like they are each other's family he said. "Everyone cares about everyone else quite strongly," he said. Kevin McDonough, Mark Hartwig, Matt Olson and Daniel Kessenich all live together in a house off campus. "It just feels like it's a family," he said. Nordgren thought about taking a year off and not running cross country to save a season of eligibility since his education major requires more than four years of college. He decided against it because of the team chemistry. "It's a close team, very close," he said. "I didn't want to leave that." He is glad that he chose to stick it out and finish with the guys that he has grown to love. He said it's been a lot of fun to work with teammates that are faster than he is and on their way up. "This has been the most enjoyable [season] of the four years," he said. "I felt obligated to go out with them, we're a tight knit group." In those four years Glover has not only seen Nordgren grow taller, but watched as he learned and became "very knowledgeable about running." Glover thinks he'll continue to run post collegiate because it is an interest of his and "he cares about his sport." Last year, as a captain Nordgren has earned the respect of the team. This year he isn't a captain, but he helps the other captains as part of a group that leads the team. He highlighted qualities of the two captains that he appreciates. "Mark (Hartwig) is a great inspirational leader," he said. "Kevin (McDonough) is a leader on the course and in practices." Even though this is his last year as a runner, Glover hopes that Nordgren will help the team next year and be a student coach. If he decides to leave and focus on teaching Glover said "we'll just miss him, he's just the kind of kid you want around." Nordgren said he would also miss things - "the team atmosphere, being as close as it is." |
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