Ethan Abbs put himself in the record books last season when he ran a 15:80:32 5k which was the third fastest time in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference history.
The redshirt sophomore cross-country athlete has continued to produce running times that rank him amongst the best in school history. In Abbs’ first race this season, he placed second at the Mountaineer/Cowboy Invite, running the 8-kilometer race with a time of 26:04.5.
From a young age, Abbs was seemingly destined to be a long distance runner. Growing up in Colorado Springs, his mom would take him on runs in elementary school. After falling in love with long distance running, he met his biggest mentor, Lisa Rainsberger.
Rainsberger is one of the most decorated cross-country athletes of all time. In 1985, she took first in the Boston Marathon and was the only American woman to win the race for over 30 years. Her accomplishments have landed her a spot in the Road Runners of America Hall of Fame.
“Coach Rainsberger has been the person that has helped me make my decisions from fourth grade, all the way to college. She runs a cross-country organization in [Colorado] Springs that is pretty big. My friends, [as well as] knowledge I have [about] running have come from that club, and I feel like I know people everywhere through the sport,” Abbs said.
Abbs’ high school coach was Chuck Schwartz, who was an All-American runner at Adams State. Schwartz pushed Abbs to run in college, specifically in Colorado.
“When I came here to visit, I thought the team and the program were awesome. The people I stayed with are still the seniors on our team now, and I have a great bond with them. They made it easy for me to commit here.” Abbs said.
The practice schedule for the cross-country team is intense. On Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, the team has scheduled workouts. These workouts include sprints, hill climbs and weightlifting. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the team has scheduled runs, called ‘mileage days’. Abbs estimates that they run ten miles on those days. Sundays are the big run, where they run between 12-16 miles. Even though there aren’t team runs on some days, Abbs individually runs an additional 20-plus miles a week.
Staying in peak shape is the only way to be successful in cross country. During the season, you have to run on your own almost everyday to keep up with everyone else. They also have to be mindful of their diets. By running so many miles, they burn a ton of calories, and it is essential to eat the right things. Cross-country is a sport that requires around-the-clock attention.
This summer, Abbs and his teammates spent their summer in Grand Junction.
“It was a good group of us that just stayed here instead of going back home. I don’t think there was one day this summer where I didn’t run or work out. It was really motivating being around the guys everyday, but we were also having fun, and I think that was a huge part of it,” Abbs said.
The team’s first race, the Mountaineer/Cowboy Invite, was held in Gunnison, Colorado. The elevation is over 7,500 feet there. In order to run long distances at an elevation like that, preparation is crucial.
“The race is always hard there, with the elevation and the extended course. Going into the race, I knew that I race my best when I’m confident in my fitness and my training, and I was confident going into it. I went in with the strategy of just letting everyone go out, and that guys are gonna die out, and I’m going to pick them off in the middle of the race. I think my strategy was super good, and I’m gonna use it again in the next race.” Abbs said.
Abbs finished the race with a time of 26:04.5, and his average mile was 5:14.7, good enough for second. He was less than six seconds behind first place. Redshirt senior Tony Torres took 3rd for the Mavericks with a time of 26:06.3.
The CMU cross-country program is projected to be on the rise, with their biggest freshman recruiting class in years. Abbs and the cross-country team’s next meet is the Gig Leadbetter Maverick Stampede held here in Grand Junction at Lincoln Park, at 9:00 a.m. Saturday Oct. 8.
