By Gail Wood
He was certain he was going to be a soccer player, maybe even kicking a few game winners into the back of the net.
But Alec Temple bumped into a startling discovery while turning our for cross country his freshman year at Capital. He’s got wheels, blessed with a knack for running long distance.
“I really thought I was going to be a soccer player,” the Capital senior said. “Running cross country was originally just a way to get in shape for soccer.”
Not any longer. Temple, now a lanky, long-logged senior, is the accidental runner who’s become a champ.
Last year, Temple was the 3A Narrows League champ in cross country and is favored to repeat this fall. In spring during track, Temple was a triple winner at the 3A Narrows League meet, placing first in the 3,200, 1,600 and 800. He went into the 1,600 race with an ambitious goal of breaking Capital’s school record.
It didn’t matter to Temple that the record was 4:15, 13 seconds faster than he had ever run.
“I think part of Alec’s strength as a runner is he’s fearless,” Capital coach Jerry Miller said. “I think he’s willing to press the boundaries when he’s racing.”
That’s why Temple bolted out and ran the first lap of the 1,600 in a sizzling 60 seconds. If he had continued that pace he would have become the first high school runner in Washington to run a four minute mile. He ran the next quarter mile in 63 seconds and had opened up a huge lead, matching his winning time in the 800 that day. Yet he still had two laps to run.
“I’m obviously not a very experienced runner,” Temple said. “I’m horrible about pacing, which is really important in track.”
On his final lap, a leg-weary Temple slowed and ran that last 400 meters in over 70s seconds. Yet he still finished in 4:23, 100 meters ahead of second. It was a personal best by five seconds.
“Honestly, a lot of what makes me a good runner is passion,” Temple said.
That passion is what pushes Temple past the pain threshold runners endure. A lot of runners play it safe, keeping a familiar pace that they know they can handle. Temple is willing to push beyond that.
“Most runners have a fear that if you run too fast you’re not going to be able to finish and you’re going to look real bad,” Miller said. “I don’t think that troubles Alec a whole lot.”
Over the summer, Temple’s weekly workouts ranged from 30 to 60 miles. During a running camp at the University of Washington, he chugged 80 miles in a week, testing his endurance. He ran six days a week over the summer as he hopes to improve his time and place at state. He finished 22nd at the 3A meet with a time of 16:18 on a hilly and challenging course in Pasco.
For fun, Temple recently teamed up with 11 other local high school runners and ran the 127-mile Portland-to-coast relay.
Temple ran two legs in that relay, both coming past late in the night. He ran 5 miles at 11 p.m. and 7.7 miles at 4 a.m. But the crazy hours were all part of the fun for a fun-loving kid.
“It really was a blast,” Temple said. “The next day I pretty much slept all day.”
Temple’s attraction to running is twofold. First, there’s the athletic challenge. Then there’s the social side to cross country. Gregarious by nature, Temple likes the chatting and camaraderie on meet days.
“That’s the neat thing about cross country,” he said. “After the race we all get together and talk. It’s fun. Track and cross country are two different sports. Track is intense. Cross country is fun. The meets are all day long. You just get to hang out and have fun the whole time. The race itself is more of a workout. You just go as hard as you can.”
It’s a winning formula for Temple.
Top 10
Here’s a list of the top-10 runners returning with their times and place at last year’s state meet.
- Alec Temple, Capital, senior, placed 22nd at 3A state with a time of 16:18.
- Dallas Snider, Chehalis, senior, placed 24th at 2A state with a time of 16:32.
- Lucas Graham, Northwest Christian, senior, placed fifth at 2A state with a 16:52.
- Dakota Phillips, Black Hills, senior, placed 54th at 2A state with a time of 16:54.
- Danny Robertson, Chehalis, junior, placed 75th at 2A state with a 17:08.
- Josh Miller, North Thurston, senior, placed 95th at 2A state meet with a 17:25.
- David Griffith, Capital, senior, placed 102nd at 3A state with a time of 17:36
- Aaron Michael, Northwest Christian, senior, placed 26th at 1B-2B state with a 17;38.
- Ben Hansen, Rainier, junior, placed 61st at 1A state with a 17:45.
- Ty Bowe, Elma, junior, placed 78th at 1A state with a 17:59.
