Illinois high school cross country team trains in Hurley

HURLEY - The Hoffman Estates (Ill.) High School cross country team are training in Hurley this week.

For the past 10 years, assistant coach Matthew Ihms said the team has traveled from northwestern suburbs of Illinois to Wisconsin to train during the summer.

In 1970s, head coach Kirk Macnider's father participated in the Paavo Nurmi Marathon and won.

Macnider said his father inspired him to bring his cross country team to Hurley.

Sixteen team members made the trip this year. The team consists of 25.

Over the upcoming week, Ihms said they will run between 65 to 90 miles.

Every morning, Macnider said they run about 6 and a half miles. In the afternoon, he said they run along trails. While running, Ihms said the team comes together and bonds.

"This is a big part of our team development and growth," he said.

Ihms said "getting away from home" is important for the runners while training.

"You get away from the distractions of home," he said. "All they have to focus on is training and running."

Ihms said he likes to come to the area because it's "beautiful."

"You just breathe in clean air," he said. "Everybody is friendly. That's always cool, too."