By Dan Guttenplan
Sports Editor
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GEORGETOWN — Georgetown High School senior Dan Shores has never worried about wins and losses throughout his cross country career.
Shortly after joining the team as a seventh-grader in 2005, he learned his enjoyment and the team's winning percentage would have to be mutually exclusive. The Royals have posted a combined record of 3-52 in his five seasons with the team.
Despite that record, Shores would argue that he couldn't have derived any more enjoyment out of the experience.
"Losing isn't really a bad thing," Shores said. "The most important thing is improving yourself. Being the fastest runner isn't as important as being a great leader. Being the fastest runner on the team, I typically try to keep the slower runners close to me so I can push them and make sure they improve."
With Shores' approach, Cape Ann League titles and individual victories will most likely not be in his future. However, falling within the parameters of his self-improvement model, he does plan to run the Bay State Marathon Oct. 17. From a leadership standpoint, the senior captain has also set the example for six members of the boys team by accepting two Georgetown eighth-grade girls, who are unable to field a team of their own, into training sessions and team activities.
"I don't even need to talk to the other guys about that," Shores said. "We know we're supportive of them. We feel bad they can't compete on the record books. But they can still run and compete at meets. We support them and push them, and I'm sure they'll have a great time. It's been a positive for all of us."
Shores, who is also a snowboarder and fencing guru, does not believe the increased training mileage he'll log in preparation for the Bay State Marathon will negatively impact his speed in the 5K distance.
"Coach (Brian Masys) and I talked about it," Shores said. "I don't think it will make a huge impact. The training for cross country and the marathon are pretty much the same. I do a lot of extra distance work on the weekends. Perhaps the week after, I'll be sore, but I think it'll make me a stronger runner."
Masys said he would never stand in the way of Shores' marathon goal.
"He's a class act," Masys said. "He has plenty of other hobbies and activities. He's seen this program take shape for six years, and he's been a big part of it the last two. This won't be his last marathon."
It seems only fitting that Shores would like to continue to run in college, but instead of joining a team that puts the emphasis on winning and losing, he'd prefer a club team.
"I've always loved running," Shores said. "That's not going to change based on how I finish a race. I do this for the love of the sport."
