Lindsay Farrington-Centonze has been hired as the new head coach of the Pace Cross Country program.  Farrington-Centonze previously worked as a personal trainer for Equinox Fitness Clubs in Scarsdale, NY and expects to use her modern and innovative training methods to significantly improve physical strength. Her approach focuses less on running, and more on weight training, which is a considerable difference from previous coaches.

“I have a lot of experience in training with running,” the former college runner and New York University graduate said. “My instruction is special in comparison to other running coaches because of my knowledge in weight training. Believe it or not, running more than three times a week can be dangerous and increase risk of injury, so I like to incorporate different exercises that work all muscles, rather than training repetitively and risking an unnecessary injury.”

The newly appointed coach faces an uphill battle in terms of recruiting, since the men’s team currently sits at four runners for the upcoming season.

In order to compete in meets, the men and women’s teams will each need to have at least five runners registered. Farrington-Centonze is confident, however, that she will be able to meet those requirements.

“I want to recruit as much as I can, while still being selective. I want good runners and students who are passionate about what they do,” Farrington-Centonze said.

The part-time spin instructor feels that the best to increase team membership is by reaching out to high school coaches to search for talent on their teams.

Farrington-Centonze holds her athletes to a higher standard than that of  2013, when Pace finished last as a team in three meets. She hopes for her team to consistently finish in the top third percentile this season.

Farrington-Centonze described cross-country as a sport that builds up a large amount of self-discipline and dedication. She believes that joining the team can guarantee a healthier life, both on and off the racecourse.

“Cross-country is a team sport, but, at the same, time it’s very individualized,” Farrington-Centonze said. “Your teammates can’t help you in a race or help you improve; only you can.”

Farrington-Centonze is a firm believer that the self-discipline that comes from running transcends the sport. The effort that is put forth by the individual will carry over into other aspects of life, such as academics and social groups.

“In general, running helps create a healthier, better version of yourself,” Farrington-Centonze said.

By the time that the season comes around, it should be clear to see if Farrington-Centonze’s different approach will bring the results that the cross-country team has needed for quite some time. As for now, the interest in the team is growing, and that’s a good place to start.