"10 Questions With..." Mackenzie Barry
Only a sophmore, Mendham's Mackenzie Barry has already made an impression on the XC/Track community as well as on those who follow swimming in New Jersey. Last year, as a HS rookie, Mackenzie stormed through her first year of cross country, winning her races at Shore Coaches, the always tough Morris County meet, and her Sectional race. Mackenzie finished off the XC year with a 10th place finish at the MOC (18:35). During the winter, Mackenzie who is an accomplished swimmer opted for the pool and helped her team win MOC Gold in the 400m Freestyle Relay. Back on dry ground, Barry turned in season bests of 10:42.05 (3200m) and 5:02.18 (1600m) during the Spring.
This year, Mackenzie is picking up right where she left off with wins at Roxbury, Bernie Magee and this past weekend at Shore Coaches where she won the "B" Race in 19:13. NJRunners caufght up with Mackenzie Barry and she agreeed to tackle our "10 Questions..."
NJR - How / When did you start running?
I started running in about third or fourth grade when I first moved to Mendham. It was a team called Mendham Magic, a recreational outside of school team. My brother’s friend’s mom told my mom that I should run because my brother had just started running and i just came to some of the practices and watched. I guess she just saw potential in me. Originally I did not want to run and I was bribed by my brother’s friend’s mom to just do one race. She said she would give me a king sized Hershey bar. Of course as little kids are, they love candy because their parents don’t feed them candy often. I was quickly on board with this idea. I don’t remember how i did that first race, but I don’t think i ever ate that Hershey bar. I was just hooked because you can’t be bribed to run it’s just a joy that can’t be fulfilled any other way but by the pure joy of just running with your friends.
NJR - Tell us about your Summer training
My training was mostly swimming in the mornings, six in the morning til eight in the morning five days a week from the week school let out. I had time to do both swimming and running until august 16th. After practice I began to run while my dad was coaching the next practice. I was stuck there anyway so i just decided to go for run with my ipod just out of the pool and running because I knew it was going to get hot soon. I do not know the mileage. I just ran for about an hour per day without the stress of how many miles I was doing just for the pure joy of it.
NJR -Do you get nervous prior to a race?
Not really. I just go out there to race and have a good time. The best part is being with some of your best friends in the entire world and just relaxing and running with them while still enjoying the ride.
NJR - What is your favorite post-race food?
My favorite post- race food is probably an apple because apples are my favorite fruit and it just helps me rejuvenate after a race. Also i drink lemon water because i hate water. I’m not sure why. It just tastes plain to me and all my friends think that I am crazy, but the lemon water is just the refreshing hydration I want after I have finished a race. Granola bars are really good afterwards to because they just give me sudden energy after a race to go and do a cool down run with my friends.
NJR - Swimming or Running?
Everyone seems to ask me this question, but I never seem to have a definite answer. I guess it depends on the season that I am in. Right now I would probably have to say running because I feel that I am way out of swimming shape now then I was in the summer. But I have the best of friends in both. Friends make the sport or any activity that you play or do fun. With swimming and running it is no different. I have some of my best memories in both and I really want to continue forever in running and swimming.
NJR - Do you have a pre-race routine?
I eat pasta and protein the night before a meet and peanut butter and jelly before the meet for lunch. I also listen to music before I run so I can have a song stuck in my head that I can sing while I run. Then I warm up and stretch that’s pretty much it.
NJR - What are your goals for this year?
My goals this year are to do better than I did last year. This year at Footlocker in Sunken Medow on Long Island I want to be top ten in order to go to Nationals in California. I haven’t been to California ever and it would be amazing if I got top ten as a sophomore because last year I was twenty-first. I would like to run faster then last year it would make me ecstatic if i got top ten.
NJR - When you’re not running or swimming?
When I’m not running I enjoy reading, cooking with my dad, baking, listening to music, going to NYC, seeing Broadway shows with my dad, hanging out with my friends, and traveling. I also enjoy visiting my family.
NJR - Who is the one person you’d like most to meet?
I would probably want to meet Taylor Swift because I love her music and my friends all went to a concert. She is a very inspiring person both through her songs and things she overcame.
NJR - One word which describes you?
Determined.
Thank you Mackenzie
Photos:
Cover - NJCTC Bernie Magee Class Meet
by:Dave Folsom
Article - Shore Coaches Invitational
by: MaroonNews