By Christopher DeMuth
As captain of the New Canaan High School boys’ cross country team, Faizal Hussain enters this season with both personal and team aspirations. With his final season approaching, Hussain speaks about his goals, preparation, and the mindset he hopes will propel both him and his teammates to success. Faizal shares the position of captain with his fellow seniors Ryan Boulanger, Spencer Paine, and Timmo. Faizal has run under head coach Bill Martin for all 4 years of highschool.
Q: What are your personal goals for this upcoming cross country season?
A: I’m hoping to break 17 minutes in the 5k race. If everything goes well, I might even be able to crack 16:30. I’ve been working hard, so it’s a big focus for me.
Q: What goals have you set for the team this year?
A: We have to make it to State Opens this year. We’ve missed it by one place the last two years, and it’s been really frustrating because I know how talented this team is. I understand that everyone can’t have their best race on the same day, but we’ve worked hard all season, and we’ve got to show out at the Class L meet.
Q: How do you plan to balance your personal performance with team success?
A: Cross country is unique because, while it’s a team sport, you’re running your own race. The best way to help the team is to focus on your own running. But it’s also important to support your teammates, especially when they’re struggling, and to make sure you don’t do anything that would negatively affect them, like cutting them off during a race.
Q: How has the team been preparing during the off-season?
A: The summer off-season is the best time for preparation. The team works hard, but we also have fun running together. It doesn’t really matter how fast we’re going; we just try to get as many runs and miles in as we can during the off-season.
Q: Can you describe a typical training day for you and your team?
A: In-season, we have three kinds of training days. There’s a mileage day, where we run longer distances at a slower pace, a speed day, where we focus on different aspects of running like anaerobic and aerobic workouts or hill work, and a recovery day, which is a slow, short run before or after a race.
Q: What specific areas are you focusing on improving this season?
A: I want to focus on explosive speed at the end of my race. If you can finish strong, you can pass a lot of people, and that makes a huge difference in races.
Q: How do you foster a sense of camaraderie and teamwork among your teammates?
A: The team is really like a family. We cheer each other on no matter where we are in the race. During workouts and runs, we help push each other to go farther and stay on pace. It’s about working together to achieve our goals.
Q: What is your approach to setting race strategies?
A: Race strategy depends a lot on the course. Weather is always a huge factor in cross country, especially during the fall in New England. The conditions can change quickly. We usually do a run-through of the course before a race, so we can identify where the hills, tough patches, and different terrains are. That helps us adapt our strategy. It’s also about how everyone’s feeling—whether someone’s injured or not. Our team has a lot of runners who are close in speed, so we push each other and make sure we’re scoring as many points as possible.
Q: Who do you consider your biggest competition this season, and how do you plan to compete against them?
A: We have a few rival teams in the conference that are really strong. It’s about sticking to our strategy, knowing our strengths, and executing on race day. It’ll be a challenge, but I think we’re ready.
Q: How do you and your team analyze and learn from past races to improve future performance?
A: Analyzing races is tricky in cross country because every course is different. The one we can analyze best is Waveny, since we’ve run it so many times. We usually look at our splits and see which parts of the race need improvement, like hills or flat sections.
Q: What inspired you to start running cross country?
A: I watched the marathon event during the Olympics when I was younger, and I thought it was so cool. I wanted to try running myself after seeing that.
Q: How do you stay mentally focused and motivated during a long race?
A: Most of cross country running is mental. During a race, you shouldn’t be overthinking. It’s really easy to get inside your own head and second-guess yourself. I try to remember that the work has already been put in, and I’m prepared. The only thing you should be thinking about during a race is how to pass the guy in front of you and how to maintain your form, stride, and breathing.
Q: How do you balance academics, social life, and the rigorous training schedule of cross country?
A: It’s actually easier to stay on top of schoolwork during the season than in the off-season. I can structure everything around training, which helps me set deadlines for myself. And no matter what, I always make sure Friday nights are free for fun with friends.
Q: Who has been your biggest support system throughout your cross country career?
A: That would definitely be Coach Martin. He’s been there for me every step of the way, and I don’t think I’d be where I am without his help
Thank you to Faizal Hussain for giving his time to share his thoughts on the upcoming cross country season. This year Faizal along with the other cross country captains are aiming for states and FCIAC championships. Over the next few weeks expect to see more interviews with the captains of the New Canaan Rams Varsity fall sports.
