1“My daily routine consists of waking up, going for a short run, followed by class, practice and running some more,” Vanderbaan said. “Then usually I am back to class, and five days a week I go to work, then study, then finally bed by around 10 because I am so tired by then.”

For these three athletes, distance running is their specialty. However, that does not mean that it is always easy.

“My freshman year was harder, but eventually it just became what I do,” Maceratini said. “If you take it one season at a time, you are training for cross-country, then indoor track, then outdoor track. As I was coming into the program and watching older people go with it, I remember a fifth-year senior who studied nursing, also my field of study, who told me it was nothing I couldn’t do if I put my mind to it.”

The life of a distance runner means competing from September through December schedule for cross-country, then the indoor track season runs from January through March, finished off by the outdoor track season that spans from April through May.

“My advice to underclassmen would be to never give up,” Burgess said. “Sometimes your sport may seem hard, and it may seem like you aren’t getting anywhere, but you just have to believe it will all pay off in the end. Plus, you always have teammates and coaches who will listen to you.”

The long season distance runners face is a grind accompanied by its academic rigors.

“I approach everything the same way because with school, I obviously have to put forth the best effort for grades to get into nursing school,” Maceratini said. “I feel like being disciplined in athletics and finding time to enjoy specific activities was how I was brought up. We must be disciplined as it is easy to not do certain things. We just have to put forth that good effort.”

The biggest goal is a National Championship, a title the GVSU women hope to bring to Allendale this season.

“I absolutely love to run, it is such a huge part of my life,” Vanderbaan said. “I have been running competitively for 10 years, so running and going to practice every day is just a part of my life. Because all the other girls on the team are doing the same thing, it makes it easier. So the season really doesn’t feel that long because it just feels like part of my life.”

While running seems to be in the blood of these three talented individuals, school also takes priority.

“We were taught to be students first and athletes second,” Maceratini said.

The indoor track and field season has just begun, and the athletes will compete this weekend at home at the Mike Lints Open.

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