X Shadyside Boy’s Q&A of the week-Patrick Burgos Elizabeth Forward

Patrick Burgos
Elizabeth Forward
Senior
Favorite XC Course: White Oak Park

How did you get started in cross-country ?
I started my 9th grade year because I quit soccer and I still wanted to stay active.

What is your favorite cross-country workout or training session?
I enjoy doing any kind of repeats. Really anything from 400’s all the way up to the classic mile repeats.

What is your favorite running quote?
“Go hard or suffer the rest of your life”-Paul Chelimo

Can you share any memorable experiences or achievements from your cross-country career so far?
My big jump from my sophomore year to junior year. I trained hard all summer, and it paid off in the end. I dropped my personal record from 17:29 to 15:48 and I went from 42nd in the WPIAL(not even qualifying for states) to 15th at the PIAA state championships.

Can you share any insights on the importance of proper footwear and gear in cross-country running? How do you choose the right shoes and accessories for different race conditions ?
For my every day long runs I like to use a cushioned but responsive shoe(Nike Pegasus 40s), for recovery runs I use a shoe with extra cushion(Nike Invincible 3s), and then for track workouts/faster long runs I like to use either the Nike Alphafly or Vaporfly.

If we were handing out awards for the most awe-inspiring transformation in the WPIAL during the 2022 XC season, it was undoubtedly Patrick Burgos from Elizabeth Forward would be the shining star. He embarked on an extraordinary journey, emerging as one of the top runners in Pennsylvania. In the midst of a fiercely competitive group of AA boys, Patrick’s talent and dedication set him apart, and his journey is poised to become even more exhilarating in 2023. I anticipate that he will consistently achieve times under 16 minutes. With determination, he could very well break the 15:30 barrier or even achieve faster times on a flat course. Patrick is undoubtedly a WPIAL athlete to watch in 2023.

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