Aiden Lee ('28)
The SMIS Team Prepares for the Race
The Ikego course is often regarded as the “normal” course of the cross-country season, but according to team captain Mughil RK, it presents its own set of challenges. While flatter than other courses, Ikego is filled with uneven terrain and tight U-turns, making pacing the most important strategy.
Mughil explained that many runners go out too fast, only to struggle in the later stages of the race. His advice is to stay controlled early and finish strong. To prepare for Ikego, he reduces training slightly to stay fresh, but he also emphasizes the mental side of racing. “Usually, most runners feel really nervous going into the race, and the best piece of advice I can give is just to have fun. When they think too hard about it, they’ll come through the finish line pretty unhappy with themselves,” he said.
Looking at the season so far, Mughil believes the team’s greatest strength is in its depth. With all varsity members running under 19 minutes in the 5k, he sees a strong chance of winning the team title at Kanto Finals and API. At the same time, he pointed out pacing as the area most in need of improvement. “We came third last year, but this year we have a much stronger team, and if we are able to compete as well as this first meet, we have a really strong chance,” Mughil said.