Berning Sibling Story

Just Another Runner’s Perspective December 2019 By Gale Fischer

Sibling Rivalry at Its Best

“It’s a really hard decision. To pass my sister or not to pass my sister.”                                             ---- Emma Berning

There is no doubt that sibling rivalry exists in families with multiple children born and raised with not more than a few years difference in age. Competition to gain attention from Mom, Dad, Grandpa, and Grandma is nearly impossible to avoid. Brothers and sisters from all walks of life create a measuring stick against one another in pursuit of friendships outside of the family and accomplishments in school at an early age. This animosity can be enhanced when siblings are involved in high school sports. The term animosity may carry a negative connotation but in many cases, the combative side of a sibling rivalry is only a small fraction of the entire relationship. This natural competition amongst brothers and sisters can create a bounty of positive relationships and memories, providing healthy support and drive to enhance excellence and achievement.

Harper Creek High School coaches have seen what the combination of athletic genetics and siblings being siblings can do on the playing field over the last two decades thanks to Gary and Laurie Berning. Gary and Laurie have sent nine amazing children through the halls of Harper Creek as students and out onto the playing fields as athletes. Team Berning has represented Harper Creek athletics well over the years. Although the entire Berning story is intriguing, it is what the four youngest have accomplished for the cross-country teams over the last six seasons that define what sibling rivalries are all about. All four girls have experienced success as runners individually while at the same time pushing the one just behind them in birth order to take their spot in the pecking order.

 

Although Team Berning’s journey with high school running is at its peak with the end of an era just a few years away, its roots can be traced back to the mid-1970s when family patriarch, Gary, was making a name for himself as a Harper Creek track and cross country runner. Gary began his high school athletic career in 1972. He participated in track all four years of high school and eventually joined the cross-country team for his junior and senior years. His primary track events included the mile run, the open 400 run, and the long jump. At that time high school runners raced three miles with Gary’s converted 5K PR coming in at 17:32. Injury claimed the last half of Gary’s junior cross country season. Gary reflects, “I injured my foot midway through my senior season. I tried to run through it but eventually had to abandon the season.” Gary and Laurie would start dating in 1982 and get married a year later. They would start their family a few years later with the birth of their oldest child, Holly, in 1986.

For those who have followed Harper Creek athletics over the years, it would become obvious that the Berning children were natural athletes. Holly ran track in middle school and then joined the Pom team in high school. In terms of running, the rest of their children would pass on the torch with each starting in Middle School. Hope ran track through high school. Zach did both track and cross country. Jordan did track. Quinton participated in both track and cross country. It didn’t take long for the standard to be set for Team Berning that although it was ok to participate in multiple sports, track and or cross country would be a natural part of the sports year. The four younger siblings, Hannah, Emma, Sarah, and Maddie would all become involved in cross country and track starting in Middle School.

Hannah would be the next of the nine children after Zach. Her decision to run in the spring and the fall as a sixth grader and beyond would begin a run of almost a decade with at least two Berning sisters on the cross country team every season with the exception of the 2018 season when Sarah had the team all herself. To most, it would seem that Gary’s love for running would be the catalyst for each of his nine children to follow in his footsteps. Although this has surely been a factor for each of his children to become involved in running, Hannah points out that her decision to run on the cross-country team lies much deeper than following in her dad’s footsteps. “I don’t really have one person as an inspiration. I think the inspiration really came from when I saw my brothers running cross country or track. That’s when I knew that this is what our family did. Our family ran and we were good at it.” Although Laurie has never claimed to be an athlete, this mother of nine would play a major role in her children’s involvement in the world of sports. As a young adult, Hannah recognizes this. “Mom would drag us to all of our siblings’ sporting events. I remember how exciting it was to cheer them on. That’s when I decided that that’s what I wanted to do. I wanted to be a part of that atmosphere. I wanted to be a runner.”

Sporting activities are limited in Middle School. Cross country is the only option for a fall school-sponsored sport and track is the only option for a school-sponsored spring sport. If the Berning girls wanted to be a part of school sports they would have to start as runners. With the family involvement in running it probably wouldn’t have mattered if there were other sports offered. Emma joined the track and cross country teams as a sixth-grade student with sister Hannah one grade ahead of her. Emma’s explanation for choosing to run is simply put. “In Middle School, there were no fall sports for us except for cross country. My siblings were all runners. My sister Hannah was a year older than me and she ran.” Sarah who is three years behind Emma would join the club next with Maddie the youngest rounding it out two years later.

Perhaps what makes the high school running careers of Hannah, Emma, Sarah, and Maddie so unique is as impressive as each of them are as runners, the younger sister would eventually leave the older one behind in the dust. Emma would start this trend early on in the seventh grade. Emma beat Hannah in one of her first Middle School cross-country races and did not look back. Hannah would never cross the finish line ahead of Emma after the duel in sixth grade. The realization that her younger sister was a faster runner than her became a hard pill for Hannah to swallow through Middle School but once Hannah and Emma became High School cross-country teammates Hannah’s attitude would change. Hannah’s response when asked about her thoughts of her little sister outrunning her is heartfelt. “The first time Emma beat me in cross country was in eighth grade. I remember right after I finished that I was so embarrassed. Emotions definitely run high in our family and I couldn’t hide my frustration. My Middle School coach thought that I had injured myself because I was crying and was so surprised when he found out that it was just because Emma beat me.” Hannah’s embarrassment would fade soon enough. “Once we started running together in high school, I was no longer embarrassed when Emma would beat me. I wanted her to succeed and make our team better just as much as I wanted to succeed. But there were definitely times that I was frustrated in myself for letting my little sister beat me.” Hannah admits that Emma helped to make her a better runner with Emma pushing her to a PR of 20:34. “If it wasn’t for the competitiveness between us and her pushing me, I don’t think I would have run the times that I had.” Emma felt bad when she first started leaving Hannah in the dust. When the first opportunity came to pass Hannah in a race Emma felt torn in the middle. She questioned herself. “Should I pass my sister or shouldn’t I?” But just as Hannah eventually got used to it so did Emma.

As satisfying as beating her older sister was, Emma would eventually experience the same frustration as her older sister when Sarah became a member of the cross country as a freshman. Emma would go on the make a name for herself as a Harper Creek cross-country runner. She ended her career with a PR of 20:00 and would punch her ticket to the state meet her senior year, qualifying as an individual. When Sarah finished ahead of her the first time, Emma’s accomplishments as a runner helped to ease the pain but it still put a chink in her running armor. Fortunately for Emma, Sarah was a freshman during her senior year so she would only have to deal with the stigma for one year. Emma and Sarah would quickly get over the uncomfortable feeling of a younger sister challenging an older sister. They would become perfect training partners for Emma’s senior year. Emma considers a 400-repeat workout that she and Sarah completed together as one of her most memorable running moments.

Emma would go on to define her legacy as a runner after high school running as a college freshman for Kellogg Community College. Emma does not lack for confidence when it comes to running. This confidence would force her to go after a bucket list goal sooner than what she may have wished for. Emma talked about her experience as a marathon runner. “Last Thanksgiving I told my older brother Jordan that I was going to run a marathon. Jordan agreed to run it also. We decided to train for the 2019 Kalamazoo Marathon. My time was around five hours. It was the hardest thing that I have ever been through but I couldn’t quit. If Jordan was going to finish a marathon so was I.” The running accomplishments of the four youngest Berning sisters are comparable but for now, Emma has separated herself from Hannah, Sarah, and Maddie with her marathon finish. 

Sarah, who probably has the greatest raw athletic running ability, in her family would have her entire sophomore year to claim the Berning glory for herself with Emma off to college and younger sister Maddie still in Middle School. With her overall athletic ability, Maddie’s future as a cross-country runner was something that her mom Laurie seemed unsure of with her comments during our interview. “Maddie had played volleyball outside of school athletics in Middle School. She was good at it, enjoyed it, and had developed great friendships with other girls that she had played with. If she wanted to play volleyball in high school she would have to give up cross country. I was surprised that she chose cross country but happy with her decision.”

Maddie would find herself in a position to take the baton from her sister of two years just a few races into her junior year, finishing in front of her at the Lakeview Invitational. If it was difficult to pass her older sister.  Maddie’s opportunity to claim bragging rights would come early on in her freshman season in the all–city meet. She and Sarah found themselves alone in the lead early on. They ran side by side pushing each other each stride. With a tenth of a mile to go Maddie felt an extra gear. Although she questioned challenging her sister for the gold after running stride for stride with her the entire race, she would out-kick Sarah to claim all-city champ. What made this accomplishment so impressive for Team Berning was Maddie and Sarah finishing one, or two at the all-city meet, a memory that the family can cherish for years to come. Maddie admitted to Laurie after the race that she felt bad for leaving her sister behind for the final stretch.

As difficult as it was for Hannah and Emma to have a younger sister challenge them it seemed to take on a whole new level of turmoil for Sarah when Maddie challenged her. Maddie and Sarah became great training partners and were Harper Creek’s top two runners the entire season. They would take turns in the lead and take turns finishing as first Berning but it still remained a mental challenge for Sarah. She would become so stressed about the race between her and Maddie before every competition that she would often throw up before the race began.

Hopefully, it is in the cards for Maddie and Sarah to get over the uncomfortable feelings that come with this precious sibling rivalry. Both girls have cemented their legacy with Harper Creek Cross Country with Sarah already finding her place on the Harper Creek Alumni Top Ten board and Maddie just behind. Both girls ran times in the nineteens this past season. They have one more season together as teammates. With both of them pushing each other the potential is there for an unforgettable season next fall.

All four girls share a love for the sport that they hope keeps them running into adulthood and beyond. Hannah talks about what draws her to the sport. “I love that running is something that you can always improve upon. You’re going to get faster or you’ll build endurance and be able to run longer.” The social aspect of the sport is something that Hannah also discussed. “There’s also a social aspect to cross country that I love. While training in high school, I would train with the same girls five to six days a week, running six-plus miles with them. We would see each other at our worst and our best, building a relationship that made us a second family. ”Running is not always a cake walk Hanna explains. “One of the worst feelings is when you train so hard and you feel like you prepare to the best of your abilities, just to fall short. It’s also difficult coming to terms with not being where I used to be. I peaked at my fastest time in my junior year. I was nowhere close to where I used to be time-wise. It’s a hard thing to accept that sometimes you’re not able to do what you used to be able to do.”

Hannah found it hard to keep up with a running routine after high school. She missed her running comrades from high school which made it difficult to find the motivation to run. She took a break for a while but the excitement generated in the Berning household after Zach and Emma finished the Kalamazoo Marathon last May has her back on track. “My entire family went to cheer them on and it reminded me of that atmosphere that got me into running.” Hannah has set a goal to run a half-marathon in the spring and her competitive side doesn’t want to let Emma be the only girl in her family to complete a marathon.

The success that Emma has experienced with running is what she loves most about the sport. She is good at it and her confidence motivates her to keep working. She would like to run another full marathon someday and try to create a better experience as well as running some half marathons. Sarah loves how running fuels her competitive side. Finishing a race or workout gives her a great feeling of accomplishment. What Maddie appreciates most about running is the family atmosphere that it promotes. Her siblings are her inspiration.

Even at such a young age, these four sisters have words of advice for other runners or those interested in trying it for the first time. Hannah advises others to not let the distance or the thought of not being good enough discourage you from running. “I can remember that before my freshman year, I almost chose golf over cross country. At the time I could never imagine myself running three miles, let alone running them fast and being good at it. But I decided to give cross country a shot; it was the best decision I ever made. Everything about the sport I fell in love with.”

Emma recommends to others that if you like it just do it. “You just have to get past your wall and find cruise control for longer runs.” Sara reminds other competitive runners to keep themselves calm mentally and emotionally. She recognizes this flaw in herself from last season and knows how important but how difficult it is to not get nervous before a race. Maddie talks about never giving up as a runner. “If you are behind in a race and think you can’t catch up just keep pushing.”

Harper Creek cross country coach, Ryan Renner has enjoyed his years coaching this group of Berning kids and will miss it when Maddie graduates. He has many positive words for the girls and their parents. “Gary and Laurie are very supportive parents with Gary bringing with him a background as a cross-country runner. They both help to ensure their kids are always given every opportunity to perform their best. They are always there at every single race to support the teams.”

Coach Renner has seen the benefits that this sibling rivalry has created through the years. “I think that each of the kids has prospered from those coming before. For example, Maddie is the sixth Berning that I have coached. She had five older siblings who have talked about running, who she has been able to watch, and who have had successes and failures that I’m sure have been talked about at home. The in-family competition has helped the kids find a little extra motivation.”

Laurie and Gary are nearing the end of an era. The years spent watching each child participate in all sports particularly cross country have provided many joyful memories for them. Gary sounds like a former cross-country runner with his analysis of the sport. “It’s the kind of sport where you know where you are at and you know what you need to do which can dictate your training.” Laurie is and never has been a runner but as a spectator has the same passion for the sport that many runners have. “I love watching cross country and track. I love the fact that you can get better without waiting to get in the game. There is no bench. We have been in the bleachers for over 18 years. I love the whole atmosphere. All runners are cheered for first and last place. As a coach, I would think that it would be the best thing to coach.”

Any parent who has watched a son or daughter perform as a high school athlete for multiple years knows the joy that comes from watching a child succeed on the playing field but more importantly, grow and mature as a person. Gary and Laurie have been blessed to experience this with nine children. The sibling relationships and interactions that athletics has enhanced amongst all of their children have been able to add another element to what they have witnessed as parents. Team Berning is a great example of how athletics can benefit children as students and as human beings.

Everyone has a story.  Stay tuned next month for another runner’s story.