Hello everyone! My name is Eric Tallbacka and I am entering my senior year at Stanton College Prep. DistancePreps contacted me recently and told me I could periodically blog about my final season of XC as a high schooler. I immediately accepted! Thank you, DistancePreps.

Running has been a passion and a way of life for me since the glory days in 7^th grade when I could get away with winning a race as a 5:30 miler. My bud Kendal Williams and I had humble beginnings and high aspirations to become great runners as middle schoolers at Darnell Cookman. Little did I know, a few years later he would be in the Dream 100! I now hold a few school records for Stanton, and needless to say, so does Kendal. Last XC season I PRed in the 5k by 21 seconds with a 16:00. Last track season I PRed in the 3200m by 28 seconds with a 9:31. I placed 5^th in the state in the 3200, and 4^th in the state as a leg of our 4x800m relay!

The summer has treated me well here in Jacksonville. I have really enjoyed the high mileage and nice weather. A couple weeks ago, my team and I visited the Brevard Distance Runners Camp in North Carolina to tear up some mountains and to learn more about running in general. It was a great experience and it saddens me that I cannot return next year! I cautiously ran 90 miles total for my one week stay, and it surprisingly felt comfortable. I’ve always enjoyed high mileage running, which is why I’m looking forward to college so much. I’d like to thank my coaches for the trip, my teammates for the fun, and all the counselors for the tips and the daily whooping some of them gave me a couple miles into the run.

As my summer is swiftly coming to its conclusion, I must focus on the upcoming season and do everything in my power to achieve the goals I set for myself after track season. After placing 5^th in the state meet in the 32, my goals have changed drastically. I hope to lead my team to a strong finish at the state meet, and I hope to earn a top 5 individual finish. I’m not worried about time as much as a high finish, but if I had to throw one out there, a 15:29 would be great!

I’m going to work harder than I ever had before this season, so keep an eye out! Thanks for the opportunity and good luck to everyone this season.