KATONAH, N.Y.—Mahopac resident Ally Zimmerman hit the ground running—literally—as an eighth-grader at the Harvey School in Katonah, where she emerged as the girls cross country team’s No. 1 competitor. Zimmerman helped Harvey win the Hudson Valley Athletic League championship meet while finishing first to take home the individual championship. She also took runner-up in the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council championship race, earned HVAL All-League recognition, and was named All-NEPSAC and All-NYSAIS—finishing 20th among the more than 200 runners from New York State independent schools.
“Ally first and foremost, brings a great, positive attitude that is infectious,” sixth-year Harvey cross country coach Christian Coscio said. “She is always looking at the bright side of things, and that influences her effort level too. When running a workout, she never gives up because she knows that even though it may be challenging, the reward is worth it. Her teammates feed off this energy.”
Coscio said Zimmerman’s combination of running ability, maturity, and uplifting personality makes it “easy to forget she’s in eighth grade.”
“She carries herself like a veteran and is a big help for her teammates,” the coach added. “We are lucky that we will have her for many years to come.”
We caught up with Zimmerman for a post-season Q&A.
When did you get interested in running competitively?
About a year and a half ago. Last fall, I was looking for an after-school activity. My dad was a runner in high school so he recommended cross country. Also, when I started school at Harvey, I started with a lifelong friend, and I wanted to branch out to my own area in hopes of making some new friends.
How did you develop into a race winner? What are the qualities that put you over the top?
Since the start of the season, I already had the championship on my mind. Coach Coscio told the girls that the boys had had an incredible season the last few years, and that the girls haven’t secured a win in a long while. Thinking about my teammates that I have grown so close with, especially the senior girls, I felt it was right that they left the school with a feeling of a victory. I feel that perseverance–getting up and running when I felt like I couldn’t, [or] when I felt tired or cold, made me a better runner. That kind of discipline helped me become the tenacious runner that I am today. Moreover, going into the championship, I knew our team and myself were prepared to defeat the team I had on my mind, Wooster. They have a team of extremely talented girls and one person on their team [who] was always a tough competitor for us. I knew that if I could push through the mental struggle racing her, I gave myself the best chance of performing well. That’s how I was able to contribute to our HVAL victory.
Who are your mentors and inspirations?
My biggest mentors/inspirations are definitely my team, friends, and faculty. A big inspiration for me is simply being told, “Good job!” or “I heard you had a good race!” Making my peers proud just encourages me to want to do my best. The mentor who helped me the most is without a doubt Coach Coscio. Every workout and practice that we’ve done has only brought me closer to the runner I am today. Hearing him scream “GO ZIMM!” during a race, from across a field, gives me the ability to push myself to my utmost level.
What is the biggest challenge you’ve overcome?
The biggest challenge I’ve overcome definitely has to be race anxiety. Every single race, I would dread the suspenseful bus ride. However, I overcame the pessimistic thoughts by simply reflecting on how well the race could go and how I would feel after. For example, instead of imagining, “This race is going to be so difficult and the hills are going to be awful,” I try to believe, “This race may be hard, but I know I can overcome it, and it’s just another practice… but a little faster.”
This small change of mindset definitely improves my perspective of race day.
Do you do any other sports?
Over the summer I participate in horseback riding at Zephyr Farm in Mahopac. I’ve been riding there for around three to four years and I love the community. I’ve always had a love for animals, especially horses. But it is difficult to balance running, academics, and horseback riding during a school year, so I ride during the summer with my friends. When I’m not running, I also enjoy biking and swimming. [They] are important to me because they help me train in another way that isn’t running.
What’s your favorite pre- and post-meet food?
On the morning of race day, I usually have a bagel, which is high in carbs and helps fuel my energy. For lunch, and this is typically before a race, I bring a big canister of pasta. However, I don’t eat much before a race because nerves sometimes get the best of me and I can lose my appetite. But, it is good to have something in your system, so I always bring a pack of pretzels to snack on. For me, pretzels are really easy to digest and I don’t feel them while I’m running.
After a race, when I go home, I have any kind of chicken and maybe some yogurt to fuel my recovery. Food is really important and I make sure to plan ahead so I give myself the energy to have a good run.
What are your interests outside of sports?
Crocheting, drawing, playing guitar, and baking…I got into crocheting about two years ago. I saw videos on YouTube and fell down a rabbit hole. Thankfully, I have a friend who has a lot of experience with crocheting and she helped me with all of my questions. However, I mostly taught myself and I love making stuffed animals and gifts for my friends and family.
I began playing guitar probably four or five years ago. It has always been a passion of mine and I even joined the middle school band. I play classic rock songs from Red Hot Chili Peppers, the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, and more. Once I join the Harvey Upper School, I will be looking into joining their music program as well.
How would you advise a runner considering getting into track or cross country?
I’m going to be unoriginal here but: Just do it. Coach Coscio told us that he joined track because his friends were doing it, and through that, he became quite the runner. It doesn’t matter if you aren’t “fast” or you feel like you can’t run. Everyone can run, it’s just a matter of pursuing it and having a solid mindset to continue. If you do track, it’s easier to find a race/event that you enjoy, and cross country is about finding a pace that you enjoy. Overall, everyone has their own perspective on running, but if you never try, how would you know if you don’t like it?
What are the best things about running cross country at Harvey?
The best thing about being on the Harvey cross country team is simply the sense of community. Some of my closest friends are on the XC team, and everyone one of them are so supportive and kind. Coming onto a team, especially being one of the youngest runners, I was nervous meeting kids that were older than me. Despite my worries, all grades and especially the seniors were kind and compassionate. Over this past season I grew a lot closer to everybody.
Last but not least, this season competing for the Harvey Cross Country team would never have been possible without our assistant coaches, Coach Taylor, Coach Nokes, and of course, the one and only Coach Coscio. Thank you for always putting the team first and inspiring us to do our best. I’m so excited for more years and seasons to come. Go Harvey!
*NYAIS is the New York Association of Independent Schools
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