Spartanburg Day’s Nora Duesterhaus achieves goal at SCISA state meet

Spartanburg Day senior Nora Duesterhaus talks about the SCISA Championships and future plans. 

Name: Nora Duesterhaus
Personal bests: 5K - 19:02
Hobbies: I like to read, travel and spend time with my family.
Academic interest: Political science/law

How did you get involved in the sport and why? 
I started running my freshman year just to try it. I ended up being better at it than I thought I would be, and it turned out that running just makes me really happy. 

What does it mean to finish second in the SCISA Championships Saturday? 
It still seems a little surreal, to be completely honest. It had been my goal all season to take state runner-up as a senior, but I knew that I was going to have to earn it. Logan Morris (Spartanburg Christian Academy) has been running two and three minutes ahead of the rest of us for years so usually my competition is with a group of girls around me all racing for spots two through ten. However, this year I kept Logan in my sight for a lot of the race and made staying with her my goal. The fact that I came in less than a minute behind her shocked a lot of people, including myself!
 

SCISA Championships: Race videos

Photos: SCISA Championships

How did the race unfold?
I actually went out as the early leader, which was a bit of a confidence boost, and I didn't feel stressed. I started strong and knew this was going to be my pace for the next three miles. I kept the leader in my sight as much as possible throughout the race and always assumed that someone was right behind me. This allowed me to maintain my turnover on top of my stride, and in the end, I guess I just had that senior drive to bring it home. When you don't have a chance for redemption, you're much more motivated to meet your goals.

How did you prepare for the meet? 
Nothing special really. The preparation that actually affects your race isn't what you do the night before or the week before. It’s what you do the entire season and preseason. I trained through the winter last year, ran track in the spring and was consistent in my mileage during the summer. I eat healthy foods and drink A LOT of water. Cross country isn't like other sports. You have to be fully committed at all times. What you do out of season will affect your performance.

Do you have any family members involved in the sport? 
My mom ran in high school and my brother ran for SDS and now runs at McDaniel College. Their experiences definitely changed how I ran and viewed running. When your brother led the boys’ team and set the school record, you can't help but be tempted to do the same. Also, having him and my mom to give me pointers was super helpful. I knew when my mom was cheering and giving me tips during a race they would actually be helpful.

What roles do you have on the team this year? 
This year I not only led our team as the first runner but also as a captain. I loved being there for the girls as a friend and a mentor because I have been where they are. When someone has a hard race, it's much easier to pump them back up if you can be your own example.

Do you have any post season cross country meets planned? 
Not this year. I originally planned to run in the Foot Locker Regionals, however, I will not be in town. I am looking to run a few longer races in the spring, though.

Do you have a specific race strategy that works best for you? 
Go out strong and stay strong. I have always been fascinated by runners who can get faster as they run a 5K. I just set a pace and push myself to keep it as long as possible.

What do you enjoy about the Spartanburg Day team and being on the course with them daily? 
We're all kind of a family at this point. When we are out running and someone passes you, there is always a "good job" or "keep it up" even if they have to puff it out. We are all there for each other and want to push each other to our highest potential, and that, in my opinion, is the best possible dynamic a cross country team can have. No one else really understands that we aren't crazy just because we want to run.

What plans do you have for the future?  
I am applying to schools in the northeast, and I am considering attending law school after earning my undergraduate. I would like to go into politics, law or nonprofit work.

Are you looking to run at a college? Please explain. 
I do plan to run in college. At what level, I am not entirely sure yet. Cross country is a love, but I also don't plan to run professionally, so if I end up attending a Division I school I might run on a club team.

Do you remember your first race? 
I actually don't. A lot of runners talk about their first race or their first practice, and that is their big memory of how they started. In my case, the first race I remember is state my freshman year; I finished second on the team and 12th overall. It showed me that the fear I had of underperforming could be put behind me. I had done what I was supposed to do and was only getting faster. Now I run a 19:02 and I’m only looking ahead.

How did summer training go? 
Overall, it went really well, but there were of course some bumps along the way. I was training at a higher level than I had been at the end of the previous summer, and I got shin splints at cross country camp. I made sure to take care of them and got back on my feet pretty quickly. Getting ahead before the shin splints allowed me to have a cushion and be where I needed to be to start the season.

What do you remember the most from being a runner? 
Running is a mental sport. Everyone at state ran the same course, but, generally, the harder you were willing to push yourself, the better you ran.

Do you have a pre-race tradition? Please explain. 
I eat eggs and toast with a big glass of water three hours before my race. Then, right before the race I give myself a pep talk and jump four times on the line. It's weird, I know, but it works for me!

How do you balance academics, athletics and other responsibilities? 
It took me some time to figure out how to balance everything I wanted to do, but once I figured it out, it became habit. I also swim in the fall, as well as gear up with theatre, community service and my church activities. In order to make sure everything gets done, I put EVERYTHING on my calendar. If it isn't there, it isn't happening. I make sure to do things in a timely fashion so they don't pile up at the end of a grading period or a due date.

What challenges or injuries have you encountered in the sport? How did you stay motivated during this time?  
There are a lot of ups and downs in running. Sometimes, if I had a bad race I would let it get to me a little, and I didn't train as well for a couple days. I had to learn to bounce back and train harder so that I wasn't disappointed with my next race. 

If there is one thing in the world you could do, what would it be and why? 
I would make sure every child in the world has one pair of running shoes. A lot of people don't understand that running does so much for you as a person. You can stay in shape and learn perseverance, and more people will know about the sport.

Favorite runner(s): Bill Rodgers, Mo Farah
Favorite food: Anything…I really just like food.
Favorite bands: Fitz and the Tantrums
Favorite quote: "If you want to win a race, you have to go a little berserk."
Favorite training shoe and racing shoe: Saucony Guide/Saucony Shay XC4
Inspirational person in your life: Coach Shawn Wilson