Ava Warner makes running look effortless, but balancing school and the mental side of it all can have its challenges.

Warner grew up with a love for running and started to embrace it early. In fifth grade, she ran for the “Girls On The Run” nonprofit group. Warner never felt confident about herself, but she discovered her passion for running, which helped her gain more confidence. She joined her track and field team in middle school, where she did sprints, but she realized it wasn’t for her. However, she later realized that distance running suited her abilities and switched to that instead, which was the best decision she could’ve made.

She started to perfect her craft, pushing herself to be in the front of her running pack. Her love for distancing running came from wanting to challenge herself. Warner believes that repetition is the key to success. 

“When you tell yourself you can’t do it, then running becomes twice as hard,” Warner said. ”The more a person does it, the better they’ll be.”

Success is the only thing that Warner wants to focus on when it comes to Cross Country and Track and Field, as the motivation to improve every time she runs is a routine. But you may wonder, “How does she manage her stress and struggles?” 

“A huge part of distance running is mental,” Warner stated.

Taking care of mental health is vital while on the road to success. It could lead to distress if one doesn’t care for themselves mentally. There have been times when Warner felt like she couldn’t do it, feeling as if giving up was the only option. 

Warner had a stress fracture in her tibia right after she ran effortlessly at a meet. She discussed how her injury made her feel like quitting was the only choice. 

“I was at my peak when it happened,” Warner stated.  

Being injured while at the top of her game was a trial for her. It was like a test of strength. During this time, Warner needed to find ways to keep her mindset intact. Hobbies such as jogging around her neighborhood watching Gilmore Girls or simply catching up on some “me-time” were just some ways Warner improved her mindset. 

“When running and just in life it’s important to try your best and be patient with yourself because everyone has struggles and you just have to stay positive,” Warner said. 

The most important part is her support and sense of community during Track and Cross Country. All the runners uplift each other and give kind advice when practicing and during meets.

Her advice to all runners and people reading is never to back down and keep going even when things seem too tough.