On the run: McCarthy excels from the start

by Matthew Ondesko: Managing Editor

Photos: Geoff Schneider @gmphoto

You step up to the line and all you can hear is your thoughts.

You don’t notice the other races around you. You can’t hear the crowd as they are on the edge of their seats in anticipation. It’s just you versus you at the moment. You are going over everything in your head, while still clearing your mind.

As time gets closer you look to either side of you, checking out your competition. You wait for the starters gun to go off. You know a great jump off the line would be the best thing that could happen to you, but it’s not the end all to be all.

You have come from behind in the last 200-meters before. It’s not ideal but in your mind you have the confidence of knowing you can run people down.

The gun goes off and everyone sprints off the line. You are exactly where you want to be. You can see those in front of you that you are going to run down. You have been in this position before, and you aren’t nervous at all.

One by one you start passing the other runners. You are gaining on the leader, pushing yourself those final 200-meters. This is what you have trained for, to be the stronger runner at the end of the race.

As the finish line gets closer, you are on top of the leader. She starts to waver as she looks over her shoulder and see’s you gaining. This is the moment you know you have her. You can see it in her body language and you get closer and closer before finally passing her to claim the victory.

Race day is just the culmination of all the hard work that is put in way before the race, It’s the extra time at practice, it’s making sure you are keeping your body right throughout the season.

Mount Mercy Academy track and field’s Abby McCarthy makes sure she is ready both mentally and physically even before race day comes upon us. Her routine is one that is down to precision. She knows exactly what she needs to do the day before her race, and the day off.

“Race day is very stressful and I honestly do a lot to prepare for it. The day before always consists of pasta and lots of carbs, liquid IV, stretching, rolling out, shin stretches, and warm showers to relax my muscles. I try to get as much sleep as possible to utilize my energy,” stated McCarthy. “I start the day off with a balanced carb and protein forced breakfast, followed by many snacks, a filling nutritious lunch, and normally a pre-race banana. I try to go into my races with confidence knowing of what I am capable of, I review a lot of my previous races to see where and I need to be and when, I also focus on where in my race I’m my strongest. Once I’m on the line I just focus on crossing the finish line with no one else in front of me, trying to give myself a mix of confidence and adrenaline to prepare myself.”

That includes making sure she is healthy enough to run. Track and field is grueling at times, and the body will pick up either minor, or major, injuries throughout the year. McCarthy didn’t escape the injury bug, but it wasn’t anything to serious that would keep her out of competition.

If she wasn’t feeling 100 percent, McCarthy made sure to listen to her body and get the treatment if she needed to. Having a competitive nature came sometimes overtake common sense, but McCarthy made sure to rest needed.

“I have faced quite a few minor injuries throughout the season and towards the end I was struggling with an ankle injury, so in order to prevent other injuries I prioritized listening to my body,” stated McCarthy. “If a workout was putting too much stress on my body I would address it with my coaches. Then if I was treating an injury I focused on either taping, wrapping, or stretching my muscles trying to keep from straining other parts of my body.”

McCarthy also needed to account for the Western New York spring. Every day was a different weather day. One day it would be 80 degrees and the next 45. That type of weather isn’t easy for runners as they need to make sure they are properly prepared.

Warner days it’s a lot of hydration, making sure the body feels right with the heat and humidity. When it was cold, which was most of spring, it was making sure she was stretched out and staying warm.

It’s easy to pull something when the weather is cold, and damp, like Western New York has scene all spring.

“Throughout the season the weather was all over, either too warm or too cold. When it was warm I focused on staying hydrated and taking my electrolytes, and staying in the shade, dressed appropriately to the conditions,” stated McCarthy. “When the weather was too cold I tried to stay warm by dressing with long sleeved undershirts, coats, sweatshirts, sweatpants, and even a blanket trying to keep my muscles from getting tight. I was constantly moving either through stretching extra and rolling out trying to keep my body ready to go.”

McCarthy, a two-sport athlete at Mount Mercy, had a breakout year on the track. In the offseason she transitioned from the cross country course to the 800-meter and lower. She utilized IFS performance by doing strength training and using their assault treadmill to work on endurance to help with her 400-Meter time.

That helped her have the type of season where she was named the Most Valuable Runner at the recent Mount Mercy Academy Sports Banquet. Being named the MVP was exciting, and it showed all the handwork McCarthy has put in during the season.

“I was honestly so happy I was recognized as MVP, especially going against so many other great and vital athletes to the team,” stated McCarthy. “I honestly couldn’t have done it without my teammates constant support and our team always pushing each other to hit new PR’s.”

It was at the recent All-Catholic tournament where McCarthy shined the most. On a gloomy, and chilly, Saturday at St. Francis High School, McCarthy placed second in the prelim’s in the 400-meter dash with a time of 104.23. That allowed her to qualify for states in New York City, and it was also a personal best.

All-Catholic’s were just the tip of the iceberg, McCarthy was hitting personal best throughout the season, and had a great Falconer Invitational.

“I believe my biggest accomplishment was placing second at All-Catholic’s day one in the 400m dash prelims. I hit a PR of 104.23 qualifying me for states, and placing me second going into day two. Throughout the season I constantly surprised myself with how much I quickly discovered I was capable of,” stated McCarthy. “As well as All-Catholics I was also super happy looking back at my Falconer Invitational race in the 400m. Even though I didn’t hit a PR I was running in the fastest heat and hit a split PR of around 29 seconds, that was the day I knew I could push harder than I ever expected I was capable of.”

Coach Brian Ferris added to the stable of coaches this year when he brought on Anna Rybczynski. A standout out at West Seneca West, where she earned 17 varsity letters and set seven school records, Rybczynski went on to have a solid career at Wake Forest.

Rybczynski knows all about long distance running and what it takes to be good at her trade. Having her on staff was an added bonus for McCarthy, and someone she could pick the brain off.

“Coach Ferris brought Anna in this year knowing her outstanding background, which I think was a great decision on his part. Working with coach Anna was a great experience, she was and still is an amazing athlete and now coach,” stated McCarthy. “She has taught me so much, from mindset changes, starts, workout, and even new stretches. She has brought so much to the Mount Mercy track team, and I speak for everyone when I say she was an amazing addition to the team.”

As spring turns into summer, there isn’t much rest for McCarthy. She will take some time to heal up and enjoy what summer has to offer before getting back in the lab. She will hit the ground running, so to speak, and get ready for the fall cross country season.

McCarthy will continue to workout and get stronger and faster.

“As summer is coming up, in preparation for the fall xc season I’m going to continue running, and going to the gym to get in some strength training, therefore maintaining the muscle I’ve developed,” stated McCarthy. “Throughout the summer I try to not do too much so I don’t think of running as something I have to do instead of something I get to do and want to do.”