Rachel Bosco's New Passion
Rachel Bosco has a new passion. The Huntington High School senior has always been a highly visible athlete and fan favorite, playing on scholastic and community sports teams. Now she's headed off in a different direction and is enjoying the experience.
"I started running long distance about a year ago just as a way to stay in shape during the off-seasons for sports, but I soon found running to be more than just a good workout, it was becoming a passion for me," Ms. Bosco said.
As the weeks passed, the teenager started becoming a more serious runner, increasing her distance from five miles to nine or ten miles during a single run. Long distance running requires both physical and mental strength. It can get boring and runners have to continually break through psychological walls to advance in the sport. These are issues that even seasoned pros encounter.
"I generally run four or five times a week, along with doing cross training, such as biking or rowing," Ms. Bosco said. "When I train for a race, I focus more on speed work and tempo runs to build endurance."
The Huntington senior ran her first race this past September, placing tenth in her division at the 10K Cow Harbor Run in Northport. The race features a challenging course, including a steep hill on James Street. Ms. Bosco finished the 6.2 mile course in 50:07.
Earlier this month, the teenager entered the Divas Half-Marathon Series 13.1 mile race that started and finished in Eisenhower Park in East Meadow. Ms. Bosco was one of about 3,000 runners to enter the event, finishing in a very respectable time of 1:59:37, good for sixth place in her division.
"Training for the half-marathon was one of the most challenging tasks I've had to face," Ms. Bosco said. "It was not only physically draining, but also mentally draining. The thought of running 13.1 miles felt like an intangible goal, but it pushed me to train harder. I began to focus more on learning how to run, changing my pace and form and distance to prepare myself for the long race."
The Divas event on Long Island was one of five such races the group is sponsoring. The other locations include North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Honolulu, Hawaii, San Francisco Bay, California and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
"Finishing my first half marathon was one of my greatest accomplishments," Ms. Bosco said. "Crossing the finish line was emotional for me and it strengthened my passion and love for running." She hopes to run the New York City Marathon in the not too distant future.
Ms. Bosco has applied to Penn State, Georgetown, Boston College, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina and University of Miami. She plans to pursue a nursing degree.