SEATTLE – Throughout the summer, the Seattle Pacific sports information team will pose a series of questions to various Falcon athletes. We will feature one athlete each Wednesday. This week, men's cross country / track runner Ben Sheirbon has the mic.
 
Now that things got back to some sense of normalcy, what was the most memorable part of this past season for you? 
"The most memorable part of this past season for me was embracing the process of figuring out where I belong on a collegiate team. We were a small team this year, so from the get-go I was racing to score for our team, which provided some very unique learning opportunities that not all freshmen usually get."

Looking ahead to next season, what are you most excited about?
"I am most excited about using what I learned throughout competing all of last year and applying with a much sharper focus during this next round of competition. I know a lot of things I can easily improve upon and I look forward to seeing how much I can improve both as a runner and as a teammate."
 
What are you planning to do this summer – Work? Vacation? Hang out with family? All of the above? 
"I'm planning to focus on running. I want to get some real solid training in this summer. Cross country is going to be an especially long season this year, as regionals aren't until late November. So it is really important that I get as big of a base under my legs as possible so I can handle the stress of such a long and arduous season. We have some big goals as a team for this upcoming season, and we won't able to reach for them if we aren't healthy when the time comes."
 
What is your favorite summertime way to stay in shape and prepare for next season? 
"Without a doubt, my favorite way to get into shape while having fun with it over the summer is to go to my old high school team's summer cross country practices. They're a really fun time with some of my old friends and coaches, and provide me with some structure so I don't feel like I'm totally meandering around all day, every day. We've got some pretty fast guys on the team as well that I'm close with, so I'm looking forward to re-energizing that friendly competition."

Most athletes went to a summer sports camp of some kind when they were younger. Did you – and if so, what is your favorite memory from a summer sports camp? 
"My favorite week out of the year was always cross country camp. It would be out in the middle of nowhere in eastern Oregon, and some of my best friends and I would ditch the phones (and showers) and run, eat, rest, repeat with a side of ultimate frisbee. This would be one of our biggest weeks out of the year training0wise, but we never realized it because of how much fun we were having."
 
Growing up, what was your favorite thing to do or what was your favorite place to go during the summer – and why was that your favorite? 
"I always looked forward to my family's annual summer trip to Bend, Oregon because of all the amazing opportunities for sport and nature adventures – and the food was always incredible."

Someday – maybe sooner, maybe later – what is one place you'd really like to visit, and why that particular place? 
"I'd love to go visit Yosemite National Park sometime soon because of all the famous hikes and beautiful scenery it has to offer."