This was Mr. Dinuzzo’s first year coaching cross country. I interviewed him to find out the challenges he went through and how his first year coaching cross country went.
Mudassir: Hey Mr. Dinuzzo, how are you doing?
Mr. Dinuzzo: I’m doing good, thanks for asking!
Mudassir: To start off, why did you want to be a cross country coach for our school?
Mr. Dinuzzo: Well, I wanted to try something new. I also wanted to help students get better at something they love.
Mudassir: That is good. What do you love most about running?
Mr. Dinuzzo: Mostly, it is a sport that almost anyone can do. It also tests your mind and your body.
Mudassir: Speaking of that, what is your favorite workout to give the team?
Mr. Dinuzzo: Definitely bleachers. Running the bleachers makes your legs strong and helps you run faster.
Mudassir: How is coaching cross country different from coaching soccer?
Mr. Dinuzzo: Actually, it is not that different. However, cross country takes more brainpower and moves very fast.
Mudassir: Since it takes a lot of mental strength, how do you help runners who want to quit during a hard race?
Mr. Dinuzzo: I try to cheer them on. I also try to help them build up their mental and physical health.
Mudassir: On the physical side, what do you do when players get hurt or are too sore to run?
Mr. Dinuzzo: First of all, they need rest. If they are hurt, they should not run at all. Also, if they are just sore, they can take a break. It really depends on the runner and his/her body.
Mudassir: Looking ahead, how should a middle schooler get ready for their very first race?
Mr. Dinuzzo: Most importantly, get good sleep, eat healthy food, practice hard, and drink plenty of water.
Mudassir: On the other hand, if someone is a slow runner, how can they still be a great teammate?
Mr. Dinuzzo: Just keep trying your best, practice hard and cheer for the rest of the team.
Mudassir: Changing topics a bit, what is the best advice a coach ever gave you?
Mr. Dinuzzo: To keep pushing myself and I learned to always listen to my coaches and teammates.
Mudassir: Looking back, what is your favorite memory from coaching so far?
Mr. Dinuzzo: Seeing players get better. For example, some runners cut five minutes off their times. That is really good and of course, it gets harder to drop time as you get faster.
Mudassir: But what do you say to a runner who is sad about a bad race time?
Mr. Dinuzzo: I tell them to keep going. You will see good results sooner or later. Don’t worry and don’t let one bad race get stuck in your head thinking you’ll do worse next time.
Mudassir: Finally, what is the best snack to eat right before a race?
Mr. Dinuzzo: To wrap things up, go with a granola bar or something light, like an apple.
