Ben True

Ben True. An amazing running specimen.

I have had the opportunity to follow my ITA teammate's running progress since we graduated from college through Facebook, Twitter, and Google Searches.

A good friend of my dad asked me three years ago, first, if I knew Ben True, and second, if I wanted to be put on his email list for track and field results. It was the best mass email I have ever signed up for. Never have I seen such a following of a track star that he, even, isn't aware of.

I met Ben in college while he was attending Dartmouth and I was attending Bates College. Ben was consistently beating me my freshman year (he was a sophomore) despite racing on the sidewalls of his skis, which our mutual friend, Roger Knight, always joked about. Bottom line, whatever went on his feet, he was gonna make it work and make you look slow. I will still never forget the first race I beat Ben. Please see below for proof. I was ecstatic to say the least.

We kept battling it out for years after. Then he took a break from skiing my junior year and I think I was one of his greatest decisions. While we missed the competition and him helping push the eastern skiing and college skiing scene as a whole, it was probably one of the best decisions he ever made (I don't actually know that, just a hunch).

Our senior year Ben retired from skiing and while I was sad he wasn't continuing, I knew the road he was about to take was going to be a great one. He also gave me all of his old skis, which I wasn't going to complain about.

It has been a privilege to see Ben's successes over the past couple of years. I will honestly say that when things feel tough for me, I look at the perseverance he has, and try to embrace my inner Ben.

I look up to him.

This coming season will be the most important in my Nordic skiing career. I am excited for the road ahead no matter how it turns out. But you can assure I will be pushing as hard as Ben did on those sidewalls all those years back.