Runner’s Guide to Walnut Creek

Rafael Hiciano

Cross Country course photo

A widely known fact about Papio South is that it’s located next to a highly visited communal spot for residents of Papillion. Walnut Creek provides a welcome escape into nature just next door, whether it’s for fishing, enjoying the scenery, or capturing beautiful photos. 

In addition to its serene environment, Walnut Creek also presents a challenging cross-country running course by the lake near the school, blending the beauty of nature with the thrill of athletic competition. It has lots of different ground, with steep hills and bumpy paths that challenge runners’ strength and balance. While many cross-country courses exist, Walnut Creek stands out for its unique challenges.    

    Senior Grace Baum said she appreciates the course for both training and races.

“We get the opportunity to run there every day, and it’s a really great place for that, and we don’t have to drive somewhere else or run to a different location, we just have it right there, and we can use it,” Baum said.

   Baum’s familiarity with the course gives her an advantage in both training and competition, but even seasoned runners such as Baum face hurdles. 

    One of the most challenging parts of the course is the hill at the end, nicknamed “Speedy” for its steep incline, which proves as a challenge. 

   “Each time I come around, I have to be like; oh ok, I need to put in the surge here, Baum explained, ‘I need to really push up this hill, and then I’ll be done with it.’” 

A standard length of a Cross Country race is 5 Kilometers or 3.1 miles.

The race kicks off on the open field east of dounation field, starting downhill into a winding course that offers two options depending on the race; a 2k loop or a 3k loop both leading back to a hill and on to the finish. 

    Although the course’s twists and turns may seem complex, a guiding white line ensures runners stay on track.                             Due to the unique challenges of the course, runners must adjust their strategies. 

Baum notes, “Each cross-country course is very unique so there’s a different approach to running each one, I definitely say our course we have to be a little bit more conservative in the first mile, because the next two miles can be more punishing with more of the uphills than some of the other courses.” 

Cross-country running tests both physical endurance and mental strength. 

   Senior Micah Lewis, said he believes that cross-country is unique due to it’s emphasis on individuals despite being a team. 

    “There’s no timeouts, there’s no subbing, no one’s really coming to save you during cross-country meets. You basically have to decide that I’m going to run hard for m

y team no matter what, you know, I’m not gonna let something else affect me. I’m not gonna get down because I know I have to do it for my team,” Lewis said. 

    In the end, Walnut Creek is more than just a running course- it’s a test of determination, strategy, and team spirit. For runners like Baum and Lewis, each hill climbed and path conquered brings them closer together as a team, even when they’re running alone.