IU opens with Indiana Community 5K

These guys don't believe in easy days. \nIn the grind of everyday practice, the IU men's cross country team has only one way to train since its equipment consists only of running shoes. Running 70 to 100 miles per week with a seven-day training schedule, the Hoosiers hope to put their training to use in this weekend's Indiana Community 5K, which begins Friday at 6 p.m. at the IU cross country course.\nWith only one senior and two NCAA qualifiers on the roster, the Hoosiers will rely on many of their younger runners to step up and keep the team in contention, assistant coach Stephen Hass said.\n"The fact that we're young and inexperienced this year is definitely a disadvantage," Haas. "However, the new guys are excited about getting into a real race, and we want to see what they can do with this kind of exposure." \nAt the head of the pack this year is senior Marcus Aguilar. One of the last remaining runners with both national and Big Ten Championship meet experience, Aguilar finished his junior year by placing 212th at the NCAA Championships. \nOn the heels of his senior predecessor is Tucson, Ariz., native Tim McLeod. McLeod is young as a sophomore, but he nabbed third-place honors in the 8K at the Indiana Intercollegiates his freshman year. Haas said McLeod is a high-mileage runner and a strong example of what continuous training can do. McLeod's success came despite having sustained an injury last season. \nFor this relatively rookie squad, Friday's 5K run is the team's first shot to test the waters and the coach's first glance at the future of IU collegiate running. \n"Basically this race is just a preparation for the younger guys, not an all-out race," Haas said. "It's more about jumping into the season and feeling things out, and we (the coaches) are going to walk them through it." \nHowever, most of the more experienced runners won't make the meet. \nMark Fruin, a sophomore from Elmhurst, Ill., said tonight's absence was a result of strategic planning. \n"There are two groups on our team; one runs for longer distances, and the other goes harder but for less miles," Fruin said. "The guys with more experience are typically better suited for the longer runs." \nDespite the loss of its graduated seniors, the younger athletes \nare making up for lost time. Everyone's stronger and more mature, Haas said, knowing they had to be ready to fill a large gap.\nFruin said the emerging leaders have earned their share of respect for the challenges ahead of the young fledglings. \n"We're a different team this season, and it's a good change from past seasons," Fruin said. "We're more extroverted, and everyone's got their own style and approach to training"