Champ Chat with Coach C: Featuring Kinga Parrish '19
1) When did you begin your competitive running career and why?
- After I had raced nationally for triathlons, I realized that running is something that came very naturally to me. I started competitive running in 7th grade at Regents. From there I competed during the summer and have continued to compete year-round since.
2) Was there any single moment or track meet where "the light bulb" went on and you realized "I can be pretty good at this?"
- My parents always told me that I started walking very early when I was younger and that I seemed very athletic; however, everything goes back to triathlons for me. I had many coaches, and after I won the first triathlon I had ever competed in, they all told me that I was a talented athlete and especially good at the running part in triathlons. Ever since then, I knew I was going to be a competitive runner, but I realized that I had the opportunity of competing on the collegiate level when I won my first state championship meet.
3) What other sports did you play when you were in elementary and middle school? When did you choose to concentrate on running?
- The first sport I ever started playing was soccer when I was 3. I played soccer until I was 12. I was also a competitive triathlete and pole vaulter in middle school! I made the decision to concentrate on running alone in eighth grade because I knew that I had a shot in going far in this sport and I enjoyed it the most out of every sport I had played!
4) How many hours a day or week did you dedicate to running?
- During middle school I only dedicated around four days a week to running since I was also interested in other sports at the time. When I started high school, I was running almost everyday year round. I would go to practice five days a week (around 2 hours every day) and during my off days I would either lift weights or take the entire day off depending on how my body feels. In the summer, I usually run with a club or St. Michaels five days a week for 2 hours as well.
5) What has been the most difficult challenge for you in maintaining on track excellence along with academic excellence at a college preparatory school like St. Michael's?
- Managing my time is definitely the most difficult. There are some days where I have to give up either a training day or studying for a certain class in order to get proper amount of sleep. Overtime, my body has adapted to shorter hours of sleep, especially during cross country season.
6) Tell me what it feels like to win state two years in a row?
- Winning state has been a goal of mine ever since I started running track. Winning it two years in a row is definitely very rewarding and shows me how diligence and hard work truly pays off in something you are so passionate about.
7) What is your fondest non track memory of St. Michael’s?
- My fondest memory of St. Michaels is going to the other sports events with friends and being a part of that community spirit. With training, there is not a lot of time that allows for me to be as involved as I would like.
- I used to play the violin
- First language is Hungarian!
- Seriously scared of coconuts… I won’t get near them
- Went on a scuba diving excursion with my cousins without telling our parents... we were gone for 5 hours!
9) What was your most embarrassing moment, ever?
- When I was 11, I was competing in a soccer tournament and missed the penalty kick that would have won my team the game. I was right in front of the goal and kicked it into the woods and we ended up not being able to find the soccer ball after that. Also my dad was the coach so it was extremely embarrassing!
10) If you were stranded on a desert island and you could only bring one person, one item and one thing to eat…what would your answers be?
- I think I would definitely bring my dad since he is the only one in the family that has survivor skills!! I would also take my dog (Bogi) with me to keep me company lol and I would bring beef jerky since it lasts for a while, but who knows if I would even last a couple days on the island.
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