Sophomore follows father’s footsteps in running

Photo by Timothy Wei

Timothy Wei and his father run in the neighborhoods during weekends. 

The track has always been a popular place in the community. From school athletes completing workouts to locals jogging, walking and chatting, many, including sophomore Timothy Wei and his father, choose the school as an ideal spot to exercise together. 

As a cross country and long-distance track athlete, Timothy said a major reason he chose running as a hobby was the influence from his father. 

“Normally, I run with my dad during the off-season,” Timothy said. “Even when cross country starts, I am happy my dad still runs with me during the cross country weekend runs.”

Timothy’s father, Zile Wei, has been running an hour daily for the past four years, originally starting the habit because he wanted to become healthier. Knowing the various challenges of running, his father often reminds Timothy that “running may seem easy, but it is really not. Making the first step and further holding onto it is really tough for many people.”

Running is different from many other sports like tennis, Timothy said. Although runners compete against their own personal bests, their ultimate goal is to lift up the entire team during races. Aside from the larger tight-knit community, Timothy has found that running requires mental toughness. 

“Running is a lot more draining than other sports both physically and mentally because there’s nothing you can focus on; you’re just moving your feet back and forth for an hour,” Timothy said. “Running by myself isn’t as fun as running with friends where you can talk and motivate one another.”

To mitigate the chance of knee injuries, Timothy and his father have made it a routine to ensure they use ice packs and have enough rest after long runs. 

“Knee supports and ice packs are always your friends,” Timothy said. “Honestly, I was injured almost every season so far, but [the injuries] are not as bad as people would normally think. The numerous benefits [of running] outweigh these minor injuries.”

Timothy often looks back and appreciates all the unforgettable memories running with his friends had brought him. 

“Last season, the JV cross country runners were supposed to run a short pre-race warmup run around 3 to 4 miles, but took a wrong turn and ended up running 10 miles the day before a race,” said Timothy, grinning. “It’s a good thing I was injured.”

To Timothy, running is not only a beneficial fitness activity, but also a means of cultivating strong connections with friends. He is also grateful for the bonds he has created with his father through their shared passion for running.

“I really appreciate my dad for making me run with him even though I resisted it when I was young,” Timothy said. “I’ve been through hard times when I wanted to quit, but my dad and friends have helped me and encouraged me to keep running with them.”