Running Personified - Janssen takes sports tenets into personal life

Running isn't just a discipline to Tyler Janssen. It's a source of calm and centering in his life.

"There's something so, so delicate about it," the Mustangs senior noted. "It's tough but also sacred. It reaches into so many other areas."

"Going out and just running for 20 to 30 minutes builds character," he added. "It's fun being fit and feeling good. Being honest, I've never really met a super angry distance runner. To do what we do takes being level headed and incorporates patience and grace."

 That light-hearted approach to his favorite sport will take him a long way as a leader for first-year head coach Frank Wallace's men's cross country squad.

"Hey things happen in life," Janssen admitted about a new coach coming in during his senior year. "We've got a seasoned program and, while most of us know growing pains will be experienced and certain areas may be a little less efficient in the beginning, I and many of my teammates are still very excited about what lies ahead. I went through something similar with a coach in high school when I was a senior, so I have some idea of how best I can help out."

"We have two former runners Cassie Chilton and Garrett Ehlers as assistant coaches, so there is some knowledge about where Morningside cross country has been to help guide (first-year head) Coach (Frank) Wallace," he added. "Each of the returners are prepared for a lot of things falling on my shoulders this year." 

That group won't have to reinvent the wheel as it were when it comes to getting their teammates focused.

"We know the things that worked when (former head) Coach (Dave) Nash was here," he reflected. "There will be a need to keep the culture right on both teams that we've had towards success. Our upperclassman and upperclasswoman group needs to have the freshmen feel the way we did when we came in - sharing the little things and the disciplines that work best in and out of competition."

Janssen, who's background in competitive running can easily mirror the rest of the Mustangs in regards to being from a small town and gaining miles on country gravel roads, has a family member who is an inspiration to him. His brother, Alex, was part of a Nebraska High School Athletic Association Class D championship.

"Without Alex, who knows what I might have done," Tyler admitted. "I was in choir, theater and speech but wanted to give a sport a try. Because of him pushing me, I got into Hershey meets and, despite running an extra mile during my first junior high cross country practice, he was always right beside me helping me in any way he could."

His high school career turned out to be nearly legendary. Tyler has impressive listings on several event record charts which includes being just off the pace for the top 800 time. He also competed for head coach Gail Peterson who's cross country teams put the town on the map with their successes.

Being around the tutelage of Peterson, Nash and now Wallace has given Janssen an idea of coaching along with teaching following his graduation this May. 

"It's a possibility," he noted. "However, I'm not sure if I just want to be in sports exclusively. There are a lot of opportunities out there."

A lot like a running career that's led him to four top 75s in cross country and 27 top 10 marks in track and field - being patient and having character to succeed at each of life's turns.