Rising Stars: Spencer Elliot

Some athletes tell you how badly they want it. Spencer would rather show you.

At just 10 years old and in fifth grade, Spencer has already spent 3½ years with Elevated Distance Training, becoming one of the most consistent athletes in our program. He is a runner of few words, but that is part of what makes him special. Spencer lets his hard work, grit, and steady improvement do the talking. There is something else that tells you a lot about him: when given the opportunity at school to write a paper, he chose to write about his running journey. When a young athlete chooses running as the story they want to tell, you realize this isn't simply an activity they do after school. It has become an extension of who they are, what they value, and how they see themselves.

CONSISTENCY COMPOUNDS

Year after year, Spencer's improvement has been remarkably consistent. Each season, he seems to turn the previous year's race paces into his new training paces, which is exactly what you hope to see in a developing distance runner. Spencer remembers when running an eight-minute mile was difficult. Today, that is around the pace he can run on an everyday distance run. His current PRs include 2:40.61 for 800 meters, 5:39.79 for 1600 meters, 7:45 for 2K, 11:45 for 3K, and 19:55 for a road 5K. Most recently, he dropped about 20 seconds from his 3K personal best in a single race. That kind of improvement doesn't happen by accident. It is the result of thousands of small decisions made correctly over time.

One of our favorite qualities about Spencer is what happens when a race doesn't go exactly the way he hoped. He asks questions. He wants feedback. He wants to understand what happened, what he could have done differently, and what he should work on next. That curiosity is exactly what you would expect from someone who is truly a student of the sport. Spencer doesn't simply want a better result; he wants to understand how to become a better runner. When asked what makes him strong, his answer was simple: he works hard every time he gets an opportunity to train or race with his team. His advice to a beginning runner follows that same mindset. You don't have to already be fast to be good. Try your best, stay confident, keep working, and eventually you will improve.

LEADING BY EXAMPLE

At EDT, we talk about having precision and purpose in our actions and giving our best effort regardless of the circumstances. Spencer demonstrates those qualities daily. He is kind, positive, coachable, and an incredible example for his teammates. He has also become a role model for his younger sister, who eagerly waited several years until she was finally old enough to join EDT herself. Now she gets to train alongside a big brother who has already shown her what being an EDT athlete should look like.

For Spencer, though, running is about much more than getting faster. Cross country is his favorite season because no two races are quite the same. He loves exploring different places to run, racing on grass, having longer races where he can make moves and, in his words, the fact that it isn't "500 degrees outside." But one of the biggest reasons he loves running is his team. Spencer says some of his favorite EDT memories are simply the countless times he has been around his teammates. His friendship with Caleb has been especially meaningful, and he describes EDT as having the perfect balance between working hard, competing, and still making running fun. Of course, there is another part of racing Spencer enjoys quite a bit: winning. He freely admits, "I love to win."

BIG GOALS AND BIG DREAMS

That competitive streak has given Spencer plenty to chase. His immediate goal is to break 11:30 in the 3K this season, with an even bigger goal waiting at the end of the year: earning All-American honors at Nationals. Looking toward next season, he already has his sights set on breaking 5:30 in the 1600. Those are big goals, but Spencer has already shown that he is willing to put in the work required to chase them.

His dreams extend much further than his next PR. Spencer would someday love to become an elite runner like Cole Hocker, one of the athletes who inspires him most. His teammates are another major source of inspiration, with their energy and team spirit helping motivate him to keep going. Outside of running, Spencer excels academically and attends Challenge School. He also loves skiing and has been on skis since he was two years old. Someday, he could see himself becoming a teacher because he loves learning and likes the idea of helping others learn too.

And, of course, no athlete feature would be complete without some of the important stuff. Spencer's favorite ChicknLegs design is the chicken nuggets, his preferred pre-race meal is pasta with meatballs, and after racing he actually prefers a healthy meal because it makes his stomach feel good. There is one notable exception to his pre-race nutrition plan: before one of his sub-12-minute 3Ks, he somehow ate spicy ramen the night before. When it is time to get hyped up, his playlist includes "Whatever It Takes," "Stained," and "Lose Yourself."

JUST THE BEGINNING

Spencer's running story actually started long before EDT. He remembers participating in short community running races when he was only three or four years old. Eventually, those little races weren't enough. He asked his mom to find him a "real running team," and she found Elevated Distance Training. Three and a half years later, we couldn't be happier that she did.

Spencer is proof that development doesn't need to be flashy. Keep showing up. Keep listening. Keep learning. Keep working. Eventually, yesterday's race pace becomes today's training pace, and goals that once seemed enormous become accomplishments you can look back on with pride. We are incredibly proud of the runner Spencer has become, but even more proud of the young man behind those times. He is kind, consistent, hungry to improve, and cares deeply about his teammates. He leads by example every day.

And at only 10 years old, his story is just getting started. We can't wait to see where it takes him.