Name: Emma Borowicz
Date of birth: April 23, 1991
School: J.L. Mann
Favorite trainer: Nike Haywards or my new trainers the Luna trainer
Favorite racer: Jana XC racer
Person most admire: Kate Borowicz
Coach: Jackie Borowicz
Personal bests: 5k- 19:05, 1600- 5:19, 3200- 11:33, 800- 2:23
Typical training week: Easy mileage Monday, Speed work/intervals/hills on Tuesday, Easy mileage Wednesday, Speed work/intervals/hills on Thursday, Easy mileage on Friday, Race on Saturday, Long run on Sunday.
emma: I was never actually a runner because I played soccer. When the cross country coach found out that Kate had a twin, he figured that the genes should have been shared between us, so he came to my house and asked me to run. Even though I wanted to quit every race, I found it in me to continue through the year, and I just stuck with it.
scrunners: What do you remember from your first race?
emma: Haha. I actually remember my first mile. My coach yelled out 8:15, and I was so tired. I remember that I would walk and keep turning around backwards until I saw one of my teammates and then I would start running again.
scrunners: Did you both decide to run at the same time?
emma: No. I thought she was insane for wanting to run. I didn't want to quit soccer.
scrunners: How has it been to have a twin on the team?
emma: It is of course a challenge for me because of the fact that my sister is faster than me. It's very difficult for me to constantly hear that question of "When are you going to beat your sister?" from my friends at school. It also is very rewarding to have your best friend with you all the time.
scrunners: Do you seeing having a twin on the team helping your running?
emma: I do my best to train with Kate on hard days because I do look up to her more than anybody. She has really helped me improve over the last year.
scrunners: What has been your biggest challenge with a twin on the team?
emma: My biggest challenge has definitely been the time difference between the two of us. It is hard having your "little" sister beat you. Haha.
scrunners: Do you have a specific tradition prior to a race?
emma: I do have a specific tradition actually. I usually eat the same things for dinner the night before and for breakfast the next morning. I also have my certain dynamic stretches and lucky tactics that shall remain my little secrets, haha.
scrunners: Do you see you two going to the same college?
emma: Sadly, no. It is definite that we will be going to different schools.
scrunners: How will you adapt to college with or without your twin?
emma: It is going to be very challenging since we have not left each other for 17 years. We did get our own rooms this year so I am a little used to not having her there at night. But, not having her around all the time, especially when it comes to running will take some time to adapt to because I have never been on the team without her.
scrunners: How does your coach tell you two apart?
emma: It's mom. Of course she knows us. Haha, especially because I am always the one getting fussed at or getting in trouble.
scrunners: Do you have any other family members that run?
emma: My mom is an avid runner, and my older sister runs in her free time. My dad also used to run track in high school.
scrunners: What do you think it takes to be a cross country runner?
emma: It definitely takes a lot more than people think. It takes dedication, perseverance, passion, determination, and courage to be a runner. Other athletes who don't run as a sport think that anybody and everybody can run. I believe this to be false because the definition of running as a sport is much more complex than a lot of people can handle. You have to really love running in order to have success. I have also come to know that being a cross country runner takes a lot of sacrifice. I have had plenty opportunities so far in my senior year to be with my friends and go out and have fun, but the truth of the matter is, running comes first.
scrunners: What do you want to achieve the rest of this season and the future?
emma: I definitely want to come in the top at state as well as finish will a sub-19 time. I am really looking forward to the track season so that I can take my senior year out with a bang.
Name: Kate Borowicz
Date of birth: April 23, 1991
School: J.L. Mann
Favorite trainer: Nike Skylon 11
Favorite racer: Nike Streaks
Person most admire: my twin (Emma).
Coach: Jackie Borowicz (mom)
Personal bests: 5:02, 10:56, 17:55, 2:20
Typical training week:Monday-Easy
Tuesday- hills/intervals
Wednesday- Easy/longer
Thursday- speedwork
Friday- Easy
Saturday- Race or tempo
Sunday- long run
scrunners: What made you decide to run cross country?
kate: I decided to run cross country the summer before the eighth grade at a church retreat at Kanuga. There was an open race one morning and since my mom was running it I thought that I would try.
scrunners: What do you remember from your first race?
kate: I remember that is was a little below 50 degrees. I had never run a day in my life and when the gun went off I found a man who I could run with. I talked to him the whole time about how cold my legs were and how purple they looked. Before I knew it the race was over and I finished in 19:57 for three miles. I was ecstatic and ran to my dad's cabin to tell him the news. He told me,"Kate maybe you should be a runner."
scrunners: Did you both decide to run at the same time?
kate: No, I started running about a half of a year earlier than her.
scrunners: How has it been to have a twin on the team?
kate: It's a bittersweet kind of feeling. Your always going to have sibling rivalry, but its all friendly competition. Its awesome having someone who knows you so well though.
scrunners: Do you seeing having a twin on the team helping your running?
kate: Surprisingly, yes I do. She's helped me through hard times and kept me motivated by always reminding me how strong I can be and that she is always there to stand next to me.
scrunners: What has been your biggest challenge with a twin on the team?
kate: The biggest challenge is when we get off the track/course. At home we may argue about anything from who did the workout wrong, who talked back to the coach, to who was too bossy at practice. Even though it's tough, the next day, it's all over with.
scrunners: Do you have a specific tradition prior to a race?
kate: I do. I wake up four hours before my run and eat a bagel with peanut butter and a banana. I wear my blue and white striped pants and pink slippers. I listen to "Harmony" by Billy Cerveny and "Soulja Boy" :). I always do a special prayer for the team and recite a bible verse and we put our right feet in a circle. I then scream, " PATRIOTS ON THREE, 1, 2, 3..PATRIOTS. then right before the gun goes off, I slap Emma a high five and scream good luck down the line.
scrunners: Do you see you two going to the same college?
kate: Honestly, no. I'm looking more for a new opportunity somewhere other than S.C., and she wants to stick around.
scrunners: How will you adapt to college with or without your twin?
kate: I can't really answer that for it will just be a rollercoaster. I feel now that I can handle myself pretty well on my own, but I can't imagine
the fact of waking up in the morning and looking across the room and not seeing her there. :(
scrunners: How does your coach tell you two apart?
kate: Mom...enough said.
scrunners: Do you have any other family members that run?
kate: My mom runs casually with a group of women and my great aunt (a breast cancer survivor) runs 5K up to marathons.
scrunners: What do you think it takes to be a cross country runner?
kate: It definitely takes mental toughness and a lot of heart. You can't go into it thinking that it will all be easy. Running is not only a sport, but a lifestyle. if you don't commit to it and don't have the desire to succed then you will get no pleasure out of it. Running, for me, is just a fancy word for "livin large."
scrunners: What do you want to achieve the rest of this season and the future?
kate: The rest of the season, I would like to run sub 17:55, win an individual and team state championship, and make Foot Locker Nationals. I want to run for a college on a full scholarship and then see where it can take me.