Athlete of the Week: Elsa Chinburg

Rows of Deerfield and Exeter runners are lined up at the starting point of the race. With the fire of the gun, the runners start to push forward, trying to pull ahead of each of their competitors. While all the Deerfield runners scramble and struggle to push through, senior Elsa Chinburg runs ahead, already distancing herself from the rest of the crowd.

Co-captain of the girls’ varsity cross country team, Chinburg has been an avid runner ever since she first tried cross country at the start of sixth grade. She quickly developed a passion for running that inspired her to pursue it at Exeter. “In middle school, it was clear to me that running was something that I was good at, and I had a lot of fun doing it. So I never considered not doing cross country when I came to Exeter,” Chinburg said.

“In middle school, it was clear to me that running was something that I was good at, and I had a lot of fun doing it. So I never considered not doing cross country when I came to Exeter.”

Since joining the Exeter cross-country team, Chinburg has become close friends with many of her teammates and appreciates that, although serious, they also have fun together.

“I love our team,” Chinburg said. “Especially this year, our team has been really fun to be on, and it’s been so much fun to be captain. In general, I just love running. I hate racing, because it’s a lot of pressure, but I love the sport and I love doing it.”

As a co-captain, Chinburg not only promotes a fun atmosphere, but also helps unify the team and foster team spirit. But, given how close team already is, Chinburg found that she doesn’t have to work to further bind the team.

“It didn’t really require a lot of effort for me this year to try to unify the team,” Chinburg said. “As a captain, over the summer, we had captains’ practices, so we got to know few of the new girls that way.”

The team has also bonded over ‘adventures runs.’

“[Head Coach Gwynneth Coogan] gives us one day every season called ‘Zen day’ and everybody in the team does whatever she wants to do that day,” Chinburg said.

This year, the team went to a twisty trail called stepping stones, where they took a break from their run to go on a short adventure. “During the run, we all stopped and went swimming in the river, which was freezing but fun. We also do long runs in Fort Rock. We get lost everytime we go there, but it’s always a lot of fun,” Chinburg said.

Coogan commented on Chinburg’s ability to maintain composure and confidence during her races and her unparalleled ability to lead the team.

“Elsa is tough, positive, very coachable. She is a terrific role model; she is committed to running, but also a balanced person. She enjoys winning, gets disappointed when she does not run well, but manages both with grace,” Coogan said. “She [also] brings the team together, she likes to play games like the games you would play on a long car ride while running long runs in a group, and her natural instinct is to hurtle barriers that get in her way.  She is a very grounded person and easy to be around.”

Co-captain Claire Hobbie commended Chinburg for her ability to make workouts fun and motivate the team. “Elsa is really easy to work with because she's enthusiastic about doing stuff for the team, is flexible and listens to everybody,” Hobbie said.

Hobbie also described her as “humorous” and “compassionate,” and remarked on her inspire teammates. “She is often cheering others even during the middle of the workout and she never complains. She is such a hard worker and simply by working so hard she sets an amazing example for the rest of the team.”

Upper Anna Barnes, another member of the cross-country team, emphasized that Chinburg’s leadership and motivational skills are impressive and admirable.

“Elsa is a great teammate; she works really hard and pushes the people around her. Even when things get tough Elsa stays positive and encourages us by putting things into perspective.”

Barnes also praised Chinburg for organizing the team and bringing them closer together. “As a captain Elsa has made this season really fun, she’s organized a lot of team bonding activities like scavenger hunts and dress-up Fridays. Also, during the summer she helped organize training runs for the other local day-students,” she said.

Lower Sarah Brown appreciated the way in which Chinburg accepted and encouraged everyone on the team. She added that Chinburg is a pivotal part of the team that the team will greatly miss after she graduates.

“She is very inviting and everyone on our team loves her. She brings our teams on runs together no matter who are friends with each other. When I think of cross-country I think of Elsa. I don't know how we will manage next year,” shesaid.

Brown also found Chinburg to be an excellent leader and unwavering captain. She emphasized that Chinburg always accompanied every team members in their runs and “never missed one day” of practice.

“Elsa is a great leader; she is always positive and knows what to do. She has been an amazing captain, never missed one day and always ready to run. She doesn't complain and training with her is always fun,” Brown said.

Barnes credited the success of the cross-country season to the hard work and dedication of the captains. “The cross-country team has had a great season, not only because we’ve all improved our times considerably but also because we have such good captains,” she said.