Athlete Spotlight: Owen Hintz

BISMARCK – The saying, “the legs feed the wolf,” was made famous by the late Miracle on Ice hockey coach Herb Brooks.

Those words ring true to anyone who understands the importance of endurance.

Distance runners like Owen Hintz do. The Bismarck High standout has been a beast on the cross  country course. The senior has been atop the Class A individual rankings throughout the season and is building for a strong finish.

“It’s hard to say just one thing separates Owen from the rest of the pack, but the one word that comes to mind is consistency,’’ said Bismarck High coach Scott Reichenberger. “Most high school athletes to do not have the mental capacity and desire to work on a daily basis throughout the entire year, year after year, like he does.”

Owen’s talents enabled him to crack into the Demon varsity lineup as an eighth grader, running alongside his older brother, Parker.

However, long term success and growth would require patience, dedication and a good mindset. “It was apparent (early on) that he had some talent,’’ says Reichenberger. “His talent, though, only has gotten him so far. He recognized this early in his running career. He is as dedicated and coachable as any runner I’ve had the opportunity to coach at Bismarck High. He has always had the perfect mindset for healthy racing.”

While distance runners know training is the key to unlocking favorable results on race day, it’s those who dedicate themselves to the sport throughout the year who have the greatest success.

“I have been training year-round, at least six days a week throughout my high school career,’’ Owen said

That level of dedication requires discipline and a healthy approach to running. “Owen lives the life of a distance runner,’’ Reichenberger says. “Owen does all the essential things to be a great runner. 

That includes consistent sleep patterns and good nutritional choices. And properly balanced workouts and recovery times to keep his body healthy and able to bounce back from the grind of distance running.

“I don’t think Owen looks as these sacrifices as sacrifices, but rather opportunities to make himself the best runner he can be,’’ Reichenberger said.

A typical week during the season starts with a long run day on Mondays with the last few miles being up tempo, Owen says. Those runs typically cover 12 to 14 miles over a 90-minute span for Hintz. The length of the workout varies depends on age and experience.  Tuesday is a recovery day with not as much intense training, but running at a relaxed pace. The big work out day is Wednesday which can cover a 10-mile distance, but is broken up into segments. It’s a workout that consists of running at paces slower than race pace for one segment. Then, running at a specific race pace, and then at a faster race pace. These days can build mental toughness as runners work to push themselves and make gains in their running. Thursday and Fridays again provide a time to recover and prepare for race day which is often on a Saturday. Following a race, Hintz said he will put in an easy run on Sunday before starting the schedule all over again. 

Owen has a WDA championship title to his credit, but a Class A crown has had to wait. He’s finished runner-up in each of the past two years.

 “Winning a state title has been a goal of mine for a long time, and after the track season, I knew this was the last chance I’d have to do it,’’ he said. “Having a goal like that in mind really helped motivate training over the summer.”

What also motivates Owen is being part of the tradition-rich Bismarck High program. The Demons have won the past two state titles and a favorite again this fall.  No Class A program has won more.

“There has been a lot of really good BHS teams come through over the years,’’ he said. “And they set the standard for what is expected of us as well.”

Owen has also been setting a commitment to excellence to inspire his teammates. “His relentless consistency is a tremendous example to his teammates,’’ Reichenberger said. “Owen is always at practice and always does what is required of him. Every single guy on the teams, as well as the coaches, know exactly what Owen gives on a daily basis and what he has done for the Demon program over the past five years.”

Hintz is also a standout on the track, but says cross country offers more of a simpler approach. “Times don’t matter as much, and you can really simplify it by just going out and racing to beat other people,’’ he said.

But to do that, you have to have a plan.

 “Going into each race I come in with a game plan of what I need to do, and when it comes time to actually race, the most important thing for me is just focusing on the plan,’’ he said.  It’s super easy to think about how you feel midway through a race, but if you’re doing that, you’re in trouble. By focusing on the plan, it makes racing well much easier.”

Those plans may be more of an emphasis on the opening mile to increase pace and build a lead. Perhaps attacking the second mile. Often the race day approach is determined by the type of course layout, terrain, weather conditions and the competition.

Owen often wins on race day, but he is also winning in other areas. He takes his academics seriously and holds himself to high standards of character and reputation. “I believe that when one “wins’ in these essential areas away from athletics, then one can excel at a very high level as an athlete,’’ Reichenberger said.

Setbacks and challenges are always part of an athletes journey and Owen has endured his share. He had a promising start to his junior track season, posting some of the fastest times in school history. However, a respiratory illness sidelined him for the remainder of the season. He was not at 100 percent while training most of the summer. Fortunately, his fitness has steadily improved as the season has moved along.

Running in college is the plan for Owen, but he hasn’t pinpointed where that will be. His attention right now is on a strong finish to the season.

And no doubt, he will have one.