X Shadyside Boy’s Q&A of the week-Alaa-Eddine Guetari South Fayette High School

Alaa-Eddine Guetari
South Fayette High School
Senior
Favorite XC Course: Legends Course

How did you get started in cross-country ?
I started running with my freshman year of track, when Coach Winans found me in the lunchroom and convinced me to join distance track, after he saw what I did in middle school track. After that I started to love running and signed up for cross country in the fall, along with soccer, which might not have been the best idea.

What do you enjoy most about cross-country?
I enjoy the courses the most, how it’s not just a flat round track, it challenges your ability to think ahead to different parts of the course and adapt as you move along between hills and changes in terrain.

Do you have a favorite cross-country memory or race?
My favorite memory so far was making states with the team this past season, being able to hug my collapsing teammates as they crossed the line and scream in their faces that we qualified. Overall, one of the best moments of my sporting career ever.

What advice would you give to someone who is new to cross country running?
Don’t worry about the distance, it goes fast when you have the adrenaline and atmosphere of the race to occupy you. This doesn’t mean don’t prepare, do your workouts, get good sleep, fuel properly for the race, so when the day comes, you’ll be ready.

What is your favorite cross-country workout or training session?
My favorite workout is the 5, 5, 5. Basically you start at a tempo pace for 5 minutes, increase the next five, until you end up at about race pace for the last five minutes. After a few minutes rest you do it again, totaling 30 minutes of running. It may seem long, but I like to take advantage of the longer time to be able to adjust to running at that speed, calming my nerves, becoming comfortable going fast, and it is also a great aerobic workout.

How has cross-country running impacted your life outside the sport?
Well one of the biggest things is my time management, I must learn how to budget my time in school and out better to work around practices and meets. It’s also forced on me a constant desire to sleep, which might not be a bad thing for a highschooler. But really, it’s given me a great group of friends I can spend time with, a group that I can feel proud on being a part of, that I can push myself to succeed for.

What strategies do you use to maintain a positive mindset during a race?
I think the main thing I use during a race to stay positive is a sort of “hype”. I usually describe it as feeling my blood boil throughout my body. I guess it gives me a feeling of power in a race where exhaustion creeping in can be such a problem. If I’m tired, I think of my time, and if not for myself, I’ll run my best race for them instead, and that keeps me going.

Can you describe the bond and support you share with your coach? How does their guidance influence your running journey?
I’m convinced that Coach Winans has to be one of the best high school coaches to grace the sport of distance running. In a word, he’s incredible. He knows exactly what he’s doing all the time, every part of our practices is there to make us better in a specific area of our physique, and he spares no expense when collecting data on his runners to help project their growth (which is usually pretty accurate). He’s also just someone you can talk to, as a friend for support or a coach for motivation. No matter your skill level if you’re there to try he’s there to help you and I don’t think my running experience would be even remotely the same without him. Thanks Coach!

Alaa-Eddine stepped up in 2022 at the WPIAL finals when South Fayette’s top runner went down with an injury. Alaa-Eddine went on to lead the team with an amazing 9th-place finish and helped his team qualify for the PIAA Championships in Hershey. This season, Alaa-Eddine kicked off the 2023 season at the RWB Classic, finishing in 15th place, which is 4 places higher than he did the previous season. Alaa-Eddine has the potential to place in the top 10 once again at the 2023 WPIAL Finals and stand on the podium with a medal around his neck at the PIAA Championships.

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