Cami Chapus
Harvard Westlake HS
2012
Best times in a 5K and 3 Mile race?
Woodbridge Invitational 2010 - 16:59. Woodward Park 2010 (CIF State Meet) - 17:45
Tell us how your training is going?
Summer training is my favorite because I have lots of time to get in a nice run, and most of my friends are able to come running with me. Beach runs are the best. Lately I've been surfing before or after my runs. The training is going well. I have been building up my mileage/base after such a long track season. My summer has been so fun and I can’t believe it is almost over. My team is heading up to the Big Bear area for our running camp this week. It is going tobe a great trip full of lots of hill workouts.
What are your goals for the upcoming season?
I would love for our team to win a CIF State title. I remember when we won two years ago. It was so great to celebrate together as a team. Since it is my senior year I want to leave the team in a strong place and set a high standard for years to come.
How long have you been running and how did you get started?
Three years. I started running in 9th grade. I love playing all sports and being active. I have played soccer for the over 10 years. This year will be my last :(. To be honest, I backed out of my first track meet because I was so nervous. My first year of cross country I asked my coach if it was ok if I just walked a little on the hills when no one was looking. As every year of experience goes by I am becoming more excited for races and I have adapted to the pre-race nerves. I started out very hesitantly and each year I have grown to love it more and more.
Will you be competing out of state this season?
I hope so. Competing at NXN was a great experience last year. It was the first time I got my feet wet, running in a race outside my local area, but literally I got my feet soaked and muddy at NXN. I really enjoyed the experience of traveling to a race to compete against runners from all across the nation. I ran as an individual from California, but it would be so special to run with my team and share the experience with them. I am really hoping my team will be strong enough to qualify. It is so difficult to qualify, but we have high hopes. Competing out of state is so fun and rewarding because you challenge yourself at a whole new level, as well as meet people from around the country And if NXN isn't an option, I would love to try to compete at Footlocker at the end of the season.
Favorite course to run in California?
I've grown to like Mt. Sac (even though that is the race I was referring to when I mentioned walking up the hills when no one was looking). Mt. Sac is such a challenging course and it has such a history in California cross country. It is a tough course and there is no easy way around it, only over the hills. Many coaches and former runners have told me their Mt. Sac stories; even my mother remembers racing at Mt. Sac when she was in high school. I have run the course nine times now. We run it three times each year: Invitational, CIF prelims, CIF finals. I know the course so well and it is always a memorable race.
Toughest course in California?
Mt. Sac. All those hills are pretty brutal. Its quite the experience to push through.
What is your favorite cross country race so far in your high school career?
My favorite cross country race would have to be the CIF State Meet my sophomore year. That was the first state title I won. During the last mile I was in second place, with the front runner about 300-400 meters ahead. I focused my effort on catching her and gave it everything I had left in my legs. Eventually I caught her the last 100 meters; the work and pain I put in to catch her made crossing the line even better. On top of that win, my team won the state title; so, it was a huge day of celebration!
Favorite Cross Country memory?
My freshman year, up at Big Bear with the XC team, a guy on the boys team, named David Abergel, wrote “XC FA LIFE” with a sharpie on the outside of mine and my friend’s leg. I thought it was such a cool saying and kept it on as long as possible.
Also, my teammates and I plan feasts after each Friday practice and everybody brings goodies to eat on the football field. That’s always a memorable tradition.
Lastly, my funniest cross-country memory was when we were running hill repeats up Dixie Canyon. Each repeat we would hear a little squeaking noise by a particular area. At the end of the workout we searched that area and found a baby mouse! There was a hawk circling above so we weren’t going to just leave it to die or get eaten. After bringing it back to campus, no one wanted to take it home. So I, not thinking clearly, said, “Yeah sure, I’ll take it!” On the car ride home my friend, Christine, started playing with it and making it dance. We named it Gary. The next day she wasn’t at school because she got hives, poison ivy, and felt very sick…I mean, it was not the smartest thing we did, but it was pretty memorable for both of us. By the way, the mouse survived after I brought it to the mountain wildlife rescue center and after my mom helped take care of it and feed it through a small eyedropper for a couple nights.
When you are not running what is your favorite thing to do?
Chill with friends, play soccer, listen to music and hang out with my siblings. I have 3 younger sisters and 2 younger brothers. Also, lately, I've been learning to surf.
Favorite quote?
"The voyage of the best ship is a zigzag line of a hundred tacks."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Which means, life is not a perfect, linear, line, there are many ups and downs, but that’s completely fine because you will get where you want to go.
“Run hard, kick hard, have fun.”
- My daddy ☺
