The Current | Vol. 31 Issue 8

September 29, 2020 | nsucurrent.nova.edu 9 Sports Finding Fitness - Virtual races during the pandemic For about three years now, I’ve been an avid runner. Every day at 6 a.m. I get up, change, plug in my earbuds and run the daily three miles almost robotically. It quickly became one of my favorite hobbies, and eventually, I started running races. Even though I might not have been and still am not the fastest runner, you could see me at every local 5k and 10k event as a participant to the end. However, none of these in-person races has occurred since early March. That’s why I’ve fallen in love with virtual racing. Virtual racing is essentially just like running your regular race with tons of other people, just not at the same place or time. This means no waking up at sunrise to find parking and rush to get to the starting line, no crowds and no worrying about bad weather at race time. All you have to do is virtually sign up to one of the many events and take your phone or smartwatch on a run to track the specified distance in the timeframe given in the race rules. Since the pandemic hit, the fate of races across the world became indefinitely uncertain. Virtual races have provided runners worldwide with an incredible outlet to fill that void and keep us engaged, motivated, and maybe, even a touch less worried about the state of our world these days. These races have connected and maintained runners globally, where novice and experienced runners alike have found inspiration and support for their effort -- no matter how big or small. I even inspired a friend of mine to run a mile with me for a By: Isabella Gomez Contributing Writer small charity event back inApril. He had never run for fitness in his life, and that day, he decided to pick up a pair of trainers, lace up and join the global community of running. Since then, he has been running frequently, “feeling inspired by the online community to go farther.”At the end of the day, anything it takes to preserve our sanity and keep us moving in this time is a smart choice. Despite the convenience of these races, I still have to argue that virtual races will never replace the established community, static energy at the start of a race and the exhaustion and exhilaration at the finish line. The atmosphere filled with cowbells and cheering, fellow runners sharing sweaty smiles, the sunrise painting the sky as I near the finish line and my face covered with dirt as every ounce of my body screams for me to stop. Trust me, all of this is worth it for the medal at the end -- it’s the cherry on top. All of this, plus the bonds we create along the way with the community of runners and volunteers, makes racing so much fun. These things shape us into who we, as runners and as ordinary people, have become. “ At the end of the day, anything it takes to preserve our sanity and keep us moving in this time is a smart choice.ting uses the entire body: legs for strides, core for maintaining balance and arms from swinging with the strides. Virtual races are an excellent placeholder. However, in-person races and all the sensations and sights that come with it, are unrivaled. So, during a time like this, where social gatherings might be detrimental to our health, I encourage you to try a virtual race. Regardless of your fitness level, you will have similar individuals all across the world running that same race you chose to run and supporting you the entire way. Here are a few date-flexible races to participate in if you want to give it a try: An athlete’s perspective on Hispanic heritage By: Emma Heineman Features Editor Juan Nunez is a junior from Venezuela on the men’s soccer team. What does Hispanic heritage month mean to you? “There's a lot of Hispanics living in the U.S., so I understand that Hispanic Heritage Month is something important for a lot of people. A lot of people had to leave their countries because of corruption or insecurities and being here in the U.S. has helped a lot of people. Hispanic Heritage Month gives importance to my country where I am from.” How has being a part of the Hispanic community shaped you as a student-athlete? “Knowing my background, we had a lot of issues economically, and so I knew that soccer was a way for me to go away to college. So for me, as a student-athlete, I take the most I can from it and enjoy every minute of it.” What do you hope other students can learn from Hispanic Heritage Month? “A lot of my teammates are from Europe and they don't really know much about what's going on in SouthAmerica and Hispanic countries, but it's a chance for them to see and understand where we come from and to understand that a lot of people don't have the opportunities that others do. It helps out a lot, in that sense, just showing people a different background and views about things. It helps. I talked to my teammates and they don't know about it and they ask questions and they're really interested and they want to know more.” Adan Fernandez is a sport management major from Florida on the men’s baseball team. What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? “Especially for me, my family coming from Cuba, it’s cool to bring to life the traditions that we had back there and be able to share a little bit of everyone’s culture. We can unite as a community.” How has being a part of the Hispanic community shaped you as a student-athlete? “Especially in baseball, which is known for having a lot of Latino players, it’s big because a lot of them had to come over here to make their lives better. So, being able to play a sport and carry on the legacy of where my parents left off is an honor.” What do you hope other students can learn from Hispanic Heritage Month? “I think we can [all] be more understanding of everyone’s background, knowing how they came, from where they came. It’s important because sometimes we judge a book by its cover and I think if we are actually able to look at people from the inside we can see that we are all the same, just from different places.” Daniela Obando is a senior exercise and sports science major from Honduras; she competes on the women’s tennis team. What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? “For me, it means freedom. It’s important, especially in a country like the U.S. that is very diverse, to understand that there are so many people here from different cultures. [It’s about] getting to understand other cultures and respecting them.” How has being a part of the Hispanic community shaped you as a student-athlete? “I can say that the tennis team here at NSU is very diverse. We only have two American girls and we have people from Europe and China. So, at some point, it can be a little tricky to get to know everybody and understand their cultures and their beliefs and the ways they act.” How has the NSU community supported your heritage? “I have always felt the support starting from getting a scholarship from NSU. Especially in my country, thinking about coming to the U.S. without a scholarship, it’s almost impossible because it is really expensive. So, I have always felt supported by being able to get paid for my education and to compete for the school. At the same time, I’m representing my school and my country.” Solana Capalbo is a sophomore biomedical engineering major from Argentina; she competes on NSU women’s swim team. What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you? “It’s a time to remember those who might have been forgotten. Everybody remembers who created the first light bulb, but it’s important to remember the achievements of people from other cultures.” How has being a part of the Hispanic community shaped you as a student-athlete? “I always try to implement my culture into everything that I do. When I am with my team, I am a minority, but I don’t feel like a minority because I feel like it is my job to educate or show the different cultures. It’s kind of cool being the minority or the Hispanic on the team.” What do you hope other students can learn from Hispanic Heritage Month? “Anew perspective and more cultural appreciation. It’s an opportunity to learn something new about someone else and maybe even incorporate that into your own life somehow.” YOU’RE NOT ALONE - the Social Distancing Virtual Race 17th annual Save the Manatees - Virtual 5K Trick or Trot - Virtual Halloween Race Happy running! PHOTO PRINTED PERMISSION BY NSU ATHLETICS