Athlete of the Week: 10 questions with Nick Falk, New Trier runner

Nick Falk is a rising senior for the Trevians boys cross-country and track and field teams. He was a major contributor to New Trier’s cross-country sectional championship and finished eighth in the 3,200 meters state track meet.

1. Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

I usually try to wear the same exact outfit over my clothes and basically do everything the same as I do every time. It’s just easier not to change things up that way. I don’t do any meditation. Just try to stay calm.

2. What is your favorite area restaurant? 

I like Larsa’s, a Mediteranian place in Skokie. It’s pretty small but I would go there for my birthday. I usually get a chicken kabob plate.  

3. What is your favorite sports memory so far?

State cross-country this year. That was not technically the IHSA state meet because of COVID-19. …. It was fun to end the year like that. I thought we did well. It was just such a great end to a long year and a really fun year too. I’ll always remember that. 

4. What is your favorite thing to do off the field?

To watch sports and talk sports with my friends, not running, but basketball and football. I’ve always liked watching that and getting the stats. Playing sports, I just like that type of stuff.

5. What is your dream job? 

I think it would be to work within a professional sports franchise, preferably an NFL or NBA franchise. It could be really any sort of job, but being a general manager would be amazing, that would be super fun. 

6. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go?

I would probably want to go to Patagonia. I’ve never been there but it seems amazing and beautiful.

7. Do you have a favorite athlete?

In track, it’s Donovan Brazier. He had a tough Olympic Trials but he’s super talented, always so smooth and he really cares about doing stuff well. Overall, I think Kawhi Leonard (NBA-Los Angeles Clippers); he’s a great athlete. 

8. If you are in Walgreens with a couple dollars, what are you buying?

I would get a granola bar because any time that I’m in Walgreens it’s on a trip. 

9. What is something people don’t know about you?

I don’t come off as super competitive, but when it comes to running, I think I’ve developed a strong sense of competitiveness. 

10. What was it like competing in this unusual, challenging year?

I really liked it. In terms of the running world, everyone had a lot more time to train and get really fit. It was just so much more exciting to race with different opportunities that wouldn’t have come because of COVID-19. It was more condensed. I didn’t really have much other than running because there wasn’t much going on. I thought it was really fun. It was never really a hindrance on the running side because everyone was going through it. It was just a process and once we were all gone, there was tons of competition because everyone wanted to compete.

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