THE HEART OF A LION: Erik Peterson Rises to the Top
Bingham senior Erik Peterson recently won the UHSTCA Indoor 800m State Championship after overcoming a potentially career ending condition is recognized as the Milesplit Running Utah Indoor Track & Field Athlete of the Year.
(Salt Lake City, UT) Bingham high school has been renowned for historic athletic achievements for the past 20 years. Producing multiple state and national distance running championships. The miner's of South Jordan continually set the example for coaching and athletic performance for the State of Utah. Recently senior Erik Peterson claimed the UHSTCA Indoor State Championship for the 800 meters. Erik's story does not start with the realization of a first-ever state championship. Erik Peterson claimed the UHSTCA 800 meter championship in an impressive 1:56.70, ranked #12 all-time indoors for the State of Utah, in only his 3rd indoor race of the season.
The Trial of a Life-time
In 2007, during his sophomore/junior year Erik Peterson was diagnosed with Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome involving both legs. This uncommon pathology which results in limping restricts the blood supply often resulting in damage and dysfunction of muscle tissue. In other words, Erik was diagnosed with a potentially career ending injury that would not only prevent him from ever running again but could leave a lasting deabilitating condition the remainder of his life. Erik had two choices, stop running, or try surgery to give him a chance to fullfill his dreams and potentially run again.
The Surgery
Erik chose to undergo surgery on one leg to correct the medical condition. Popliteal artery entrapment syndrome surgery involves cutting out a muscle in each leg and shaving another to provide additional room for blood flow. During Erik's junior season he took time to complete the surgery.
After a brief healing period Erik began running again to test and see if the hoped for results of the surgery were being achieved. It was determined by medical staff that the surgery on his one leg was a success so Erik decided to undergo a second operation to potential correct the problem in his second leg. Erik embarked on the surgery because of his love for running.
“I love running, I love track & field, I love cross country and that is the reason that I had my surgeries. I am extremely hopeful to be able to compete on a college track & field and cross country team, this is my dream. ~Erik Peterson”
(Photo: Erik Peterson Surgically repaired legs after Simplot; stronger, faster, better)
Getting Back into the Game: Making Lemonade out of Lemons
Erik has spent the last year preparing himself for his opportunity and his moment to impress college coaches and achieve his dream of competing at the collegiate level for track and cross country. Losing both his junior and senior cross country seasons due to the surgery and recovery Erik enters the track season with something to prove. Having spoken with Erik, it seems he is proving more to himself than anyone else,
“This indoor season has been a great experience for me, I love going to track meets and talking with my friends from other schools and competing with friends whom I look up to like Franco Montes from Ogden. I love running so much, I still can not believe that I have been able to run the times that I have but my hope is to improve on those times for outdoor. ~Erik Peterson”
When most would have walked away, when most would have found a new hobby; Erik has turned Lemons into Lemonade. Erik Peterson went from a phenomenal sophomore where he ran 4:45 for 1600m, 10:30 for 3200m, 2:03 for 800m, and 52 seconds for the quarter to facing the possibility of never competing again, never running again. But Erik never gave up, never gave in and in the words of Winston Churchill never surrendered. Erik paid his dues, took the time, and after more than a year layoff and recovery has steadily built himself back into one of the top distance runners in the state. On February 6-7, 2009 Erik Peterson claimed the individual UHSTCA Indoor 800m State Championship in an impressive 1:56.7, good enough for #12 all-time. There is a lot to be said for resiliency and heart but Erik’s accomplishments, determination and passion defy rational explainations.
Erik comes from good stock with father Al Peterson a collegiate hurdler and a
mother Julie Peterson a state champion distance runner. Julie was the Utah State 1A mile champion with father Al competing in the hurdles for BYU. Al and Julie Peterson have been Erik’s greatest advocates helping him through the recovery process and encouraging him to follow his heart to achieve his dreams. Erik began running in local 5K races when he was 7 years old because both his parents ran, each of whom play a tremendous role in both Erik’s dreams but also in the development of his character. (photo: Al Peterson, hurdler)
“As parents it has been bitter sweet watching him go through what he has…but we couldn’t be prouder watching him prevail in the challenges he is facing. I do not believe his biggest challenges have come from running. This has been a trial and error process with the leg problems but he (Erik) has learned a great deal about the psychological/physiological side of things and we have worked together. He (Erik) has a great support system from family, friends, and many others who know of what he is trying to do and each is playing a role in his story. ~Al Peterson”
(Photo: Julie Peterson, Erik Peterson, Al Peterson)
Having competed in only three indoor races this season Erik has already drawn attention for his tremendous accomplishments. Erik is coached by Utah coaching legend Jeff Arbogast (Arb) and 400/800 Coach Barnes. Erik Peterson has continually defied the odds, he has risen to the barriers that face him, never backed down and been a true owner of his challenges in life; each a components of a champion and someone with a bright and successful future ahead of him. Look for Erik to be a successful component of a future collegiate athletic program and someone who should be emulated and looked up to as a true warrior.
"High school is a challenging time as we see student-athletes under immense pressures to succeed and succeed immediately regardless of circumstances. When those circumstances involve injury, athletes driven to succeed feel pressures from all sides to continue to step up to the plate. In many cases, frustration mounts and the more talented the athlete, the more intense the frustration becomes. Yet in the face of the greatest adversities, athletes learn their greatest lessons, and many times those lessons are about what they have inside and what they are made of. To sacrifice the immediate for the long-term, maintain motivation despite setbacks, and still reach inside for your ultimate potential represents three of those long-term lessons. ~Jeff Arbogast"
Keep updated on Erik Peterson's progress by visiting the Bingham Track & Field Website
(EXTRA) Interview with Erik Peterson:
When did you first decide to run and who currently coaches you?
I train with the 400/800 crew under Coach Barnes. I have worked with Jeff Arbogast but mostly during my sophomore years before the surgery. The first time I ever ran was with my brother Chad and some of his friends when they were preparing for one of the 5K’s that were held in South Jordan. I loved it so much that I decided to run the race with them. I received my first trophy (which I still have in my room because I liked it so much) and I decided that I wanted to run for Bingham when I was old enough.
You have such amazing talent from 400 meters to 3200 meters; what is your favorite track & field event?
This is my favorite questio, I started track as a 1600/3200m runner. At one of our meets in outdoor during my sophomore year I made a bet with one of my friends that I thought I could beat him in the 800m. We spoke with Arb and he said he would let us do it at a duel meet…I ran 2:03! My first 800m ever, after that I was the new 800m runner and they did not want me to run the 1600m anymore, (Erik ran 4:39 indoors for 1600m as a sophomore), so I wouldn’t get tired anymore for the medley relay. I started running 400’s because my dad thought I could be good. In a duel meet I ran 52 seconds for my first 400m race. Ever since the success of those races I have considered myself a middle distance runner.
What is your favorite training workout?
I love mile repeats when I am training for cross country.When training for track my favorite is our 200m workout where we run 12-16 200’s. Depending on our abilities we get 1 ½ to 1 recovery so for me this year in indoor I have been running 14 200’s in about 28 sec with 45 sec recovery.