CRESTVIEW — Allison Ammons has an unorthodox pre-race routine.
The Crestview runner — a standout both in cross country and track and field — combined two pieces of advice into one perfect snack.
Banana and peanut butter sandwich, please.
“One person suggested peanut butter and another said banana,” she said, “so I did both.”
There is a lot more to Ammons than the senior’s pre-race pick-me-up strategy. Ammons qualified for the Region 1-3A cross country race and runs the 3,200- and 1,600-meter races for the track team. The future Alabama-Huntsville runner also is in the four-by-800 relay squad.
How did you become a runner?
We had the Turkey Trot my fourth-grade year at Northwood Elementary. I did miserable in it. It was bad. I’m very competitive. … It probably wasn’t too bad now that I think about it. Probably middle of the pack. I wanted to be first and my dad said, ‘Well, you get first by training.’ So I trained with him. Then I came back the next year and beat all the boys, too.
When you’re on a training run or in a race and you’re not “pack running,” how do you stay motivated?
I love to pack run. That’s my favorite. Most runners say the same thing. I was at a meet a couple weeks ago and way out in front. It helps to have your coaches yelling at you along the way.
Did you come into this track season with any sort of personal goal or benchmark?
Last year, I finished fifth in the 1,600 and missed going to region by one spot. I also didn’t run in the 4×800 race so I didn’t get to go. So this year I want to qualify for region. There’s also the obvious goal of making state.
How proud are you for how much you’ve improved, not only from your first race in fourth grade but also in high school?
Coming in, I debated whether I should join the team or not. I did, and it became the basis for a lot of my friendships. We ended up taking the team far my freshman year. I think it was one of the few times we’ve had both the boys and girls teams advance to region.
After you finish a race, whether it’s a track meet or cross country meet, what is your favorite post-race meal?
Usually I go to Texas Roadhouse because my dad says if I get a certain time, he’ll take me there. A couple weeks ago it was under 12 minutes (for a 2-mile race) but I got my personal record so he decided to take me even though I didn’t break 12.
Of all the sports or extracurricular activities you haven’t tried in high school, what is the one you wish you could go back and take a shot at?
Theater for extracurricular. If I had hand-eye coordination, I’d pick softball for the sport.
What is your favorite hobby outside of running?
I also play soccer, so that’s one, and I’m into singing.
What is your favorite genre of music?
I like anything but mostly Disney music.
What is your favorite Disney song?
I’d say ‘Something There’ in ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Not a lot of people know that one.
If you could binge-watch any TV series on Netflix in one day, which would you pick?
Dr. Who.
Three favorite pizza toppings?
Plain cheese, pepperoni and I’m fine with sausage. It’s not my favorite.
Favorite ice cream flavor?
Chocolate chip cookie dough.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview runner talks pre-race routine, Disney songs