-Athlete Name: Zach Bussard
-School: Valley View High School
-Year of Graduation: 2015
-Best time in a 5K race and in which meet: My best time is 16:06 at the 2012 State Meet
-Tell us how your summer training is going?:
My summer training has been going great. I took a short break from running after the past track season and I'm back to running, feeling more motivated than ever. Spending less time on the track and more time on the trails has been a great change of pace.
-What are your goals for the upcoming season?:
My personal goals for this season are to continue improving as the season progresses and to remain healthy and injury free. I also want to be able to walk away from every meet knowing that I had nothing more to give. As a team I would like to place higher than last year at the Regional Meet were we placed our highest ever at 9th overall. It would be an amazing experience to qualify as a team to the State Meet this year and I believe we have the team to do it.
-How long have you been running and how did you get started?:
I started running in 7th grade. I became interested in running cross country during my 6th grade year. When the time finally came the following summer I decided to give it a try. I loved it from our very first practice and I've been running ever since.
-Will you be competing anywhere out of state this season?:
Unfortunately, no. My team tends to compete at smaller meets and invitationals around our area.
-What is your favorite course to run in Ohio?:
My favorite course to run is Eaton. It is everything I believe a cross country course should be. It has woods, hills, bridges, various terrains, and my shoes always end up with just the right amount of dirt on them.
-What is the toughest course to run in Ohio?:
I think Mason is the hardest course. Aside from the hay bales, the creek, and the giant mulch hill, it is my team’s first big meet of the year and I always find myself a little awe struck by it.
-What meet during the regular season do you put extra emphasize on to compete well at?:
I always put extra emphasize on our League Meet (SWBL). It is my last chance to see what I'm capable of before the post season. Also we have many strong runners within our league that I have gotten to know after years of competing with, which always makes for a fun race.
-What is your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career?:
My favorite race so far was the 2012 Regional Meet at Troy. My brother Kyle and I had both set the goal to qualify to the State Meet at the beginning of the summer. I was very nervous the day of, as I knew neither one of us was a sure bet. I was thrilled as I crossed the finish line and turned around to find my brother cross moments behind me. We had worked hard all season and achieving our goal was an amazing feeling.
-Favorite cross country memory?:
My favorite cross country memory is messing around with my team before each race. We perform our signature move of reeling in our teammate like a fish and we all hold him up. This became a tradition over the past year and has become notoriously known by teams within our area.
-When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?:
I enjoy pond parties at my friend’s house and playing disc golf and table tennis (ping pong) with my friends.
-Favorite quote?:
"There are two pains in life; the pain of discipline and the pain of regret." – Bill Miller.
-What shoes do you train in?:
I train in Nike Lunarfly+.
-What shoes do you race in?:
I race in my Nike Victory XC spikes.
-What's on your Ipod when you go out for runs?:
I typically only listen to my Ipod on road runs and track work outs but when I do it has to be something that keeps me motivated and has a good beat to run to. Bands like Cage the Elephant, Imagine Dragons, or Foo Fighters.
-What professional athlete would you most like to meet?:
I don’t really follow any professional athletes...
-What is something that most people don't know about you?:
I’m a total ladies man. But in all seriousness no, I’m just a kid with a dream.