Running track and cross country may appear to be one of the most individually centered sports out there.

You must stay in your own lane for many events, and there’s no real sense of defense or legal ways to impede on your opponents’ abilities – you’ll be disqualified for blatantly cutting off or knocking over your competitors. Like golf, swimming, and tennis, many distance runners spend a significant portion of their days training, stacking repetitions, concerned with their breathing, tempo, and other factors within their control.

Though it can certainly be an isolating sport, the story of Madison native Caleb Easton provides young runners extremely valuable advice in terms of dealing with the adversity that exists in the sport, whether injuries or the inherent nature of comparison and self-doubt – especially at the highest level.