Endurance Driven
Noah Walker’s passion is long-distance running. As a member of Tipton High School’s cross-country and track team, he has pushed himself hard during his senior year. It is evident that his diligent training has paid off; he was able to improve his times when he competed in the 5K, one-mile relays, 3,200-meter and 4×800-meter relay. To train for the events, which range in distance from a half-mile to 3 miles, Walker varies his workouts.
Each day he might do a different kind of run, focusing on speed one day by running a fast 2 or 3 miles versus a slower, easy 7 to 9 miles the next. Or he might do a long 13-mile run. His goal is to improve aerobic fitness and thus improve the cells’ ability to deliver oxygen while he runs long distances. Another goal he must address is the challenge of keeping his blood sugar levels stable.
“I have type 1 diabetes, which makes it difficult. It’s hard to manage and a challenge to overcome every day. I’m always trying to balance my blood sugar before running; it can’t be too high or too low. It can be unpredictable; a lot of complications come with it,” Walker says.
“I got the diagnosis in eighth grade. I wasn’t sure how to manage it. My high school cross-country and distance coach, Ethan Worthington, has always believed in me and helped me push through. My mom helps a lot figuring out what foods I should eat,” Walker says.
Walker started out the season with a couple of good runs, but after a dental procedure, his times dropped by a minute or two. He had lost blood during the oral surgery, and his mom concluded he might be anemic. She researched ways to increase his iron levels by eating fortified cereal and spinach, plus taking multivitamins. He slowly built his times back up and had a huge personal best at sectionals, where he, along with two other teammates, qualified for regionals.
Workout distances for Walker are approximately 70 miles per week, about an average of 10 miles a day. When he isn’t training, he is involved in several clubs and activities with an emphasis on community service. A member of Key Club and student council, Walker is also a freshman mentor as well as an Extreme Mentor in the sixth-grade mentoring program. In addition, he participates in youth meetings at Trinity Wesleyan Church and is a 10-year member of 4-H, focusing on genealogy and food.
After graduation, Walker plans to pursue an education degree. He will attend Bethel University in Mishawaka, Indiana. He has already committed to be on the cross-country and track teams there.
“Long-distance running gives me the opportunity to be fit, exercise and be healthy. It puts me in a great mood. It gives me something to look forward to,” Walker says.
