Dartmouth's all-important winter season is in full swing, but cross-country runner and Nordic skiing all-star Ben True '08 is noticeably missing from the Big Green scene.
True has decided to spend the Fall and Winter term intensifying his Nordic training schedule at the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation in Sun Valley, Idaho.
This is the first time that True, who is currently training with Dartmouth ski team alumnus Mike Sinnott '07, has dedicated himself solely to his skiing.
True believes that he will be able to achieve significantly more in skiing without the academic pressures of Dartmouth. He praises his new training routine and attributes his improvements to the absence of college life.
"This has been a whole new eye-opening experience," True said. "When you have your whole day to train, not only are you able to train more, but you are able to rest more. In college you can't rest because you have schoolwork and other things that wear you down and hurt your training. So this has been huge for my training."
This past week, True competed in the 2008 U.S. Cross Country Championships in skiing, finishing 10th, immediately behind Sinnott in the 15k classic event. True also finished 19th in the skate race.
Although both of his finishes were impressive, True was not satisfied with his results.
"The U.S. Championships went alright, but not great. I've been struggling with fatigue because of overtraining," True said. "I got fatigued and had to rest. I'm starting to feel good again and hoping to peak at the U-23's in Poland."
True will train and compete in cross-country skiing events through the end of February. In early March, however, he will return to the Big Green, joining Dartmouth's track and field team for its annual preseason training trip in Arizona. True will compete on the team while training for the 1500m event for July's Olympic track trials.
True is the first Dartmouth runner to have broken the four-minute mile. He accomplished this life-long goal last season, cracking the four-minute mark in 3:59.99 minutes at the 2007 USATF New England Championships.
"It's important that we get him back in March this season," Barry Harwick, the head coach of Dartmouth's men's track and field team, said.
"This year we have a long season planned for Ben ending up with the Olympic trials in July, and he'll need time to adjust. Normally, Ben shows up the day we get back from our trip. This way, the transition will be easier for everyone."
True agrees that it is important for him to start running earlier this season.
"By starting at the beginning of March instead of the end of March, I think it will pay off at the end of June in the big races," True said.
True is also excited to reunite with fellow members of Dartmouth's track and field team.
"I'm real excited for the running season," True said. "I'm going to have great training partners on the team and that should help a lot."
According to Harwick, most runners on the U.S. Olympic team are four or five years older than True, so qualifying will be a difficult task. But Harwick remains optimistic.
"I think Ben has the physical abilities to make the U.S. team," Harwick said. "He will be a contender this year, and I have no doubt he has the ability to make the team in the long term.
True, on the other hand, believes it is too soon to gauge his chances.
"It's way too early to know what my chances are," True said. "I know most of the guys trying out for it and they're all really talented runners. It's going to be really tough. The [1500m race] will be especially hard. Allen Webb is the world-record holder and will be the top guy to go, and Bernard Legatt just won the world championships in Japan, and [the U.S.] team only takes three [runners]."
"So, there is really only one spot open," True said. "And there are about 15 guys who have a shot, so it's really going to come down to the day."
Having excelled at the two sports since high school, True is unsure of which sport holds more promise for him in the future.
"I have no idea which sport I have a better future in," True said. "I'm just going to see where each one takes me."
