Blue Devil Runners Train, Learn at Vermont Camp

Westfield High School boys' cross country team's trip to the Green Mountain Running Camp in Vermont wasn't so much about mileage, but education.    The Blue Devils, the state's defending Group IV champions, were represented by 15
runners and longtime head coach Jack Martin, who was also one of the camp's lecturers.   

"It's a camp about education, learning around running, hill training, the whole
package,'' said Martin. "You're not going up there to run 100 miles, but to learn about the sport and get some runs in.   

"It's about bio mechanics, fitness, different workouts and nutrition. It's a good
experience.''   

The camp is based at Lyndon State College in northeast Vermont and is held on three separate weeks. Westfield spent the first week at the camp that also included cool dips in a local stream, dodgeball, volleyball and swimming.   

"I liked it,'' said Westfield senior tri captain Andrew Kirna, who was joined by
younger brother John. "It wasn't just running the whole time, but there were breakout sessions on nutrition, hydration and racing technique.''   

Kirna said he thought the best thing he learned was about hydrating better.   

"I learned a lot about it,'' he said. "I knew it was important to hydrate, but also
about more technical stuff. How much you should be drinking at certain periods of
time.''   

He added that he learned about running form.   

"It gave you something to think about,'' Kirna said. "When you are running uphill