‘High-Energy’ Judge Is Still On the Run

John Judge, a 2015 graduate of San Marino High School, told The Tribune he is spending the summer working in a “High-Energy Physics lab” at the University of Chicago, where he is working on “improving photodetectors.”
We have no clue as to the latter, but Judge has always been “high-energy” in our estimation and nothing seems to have changed.
While at SMHS, Judge ran the 800 meters, 1,600 meters, 3,200 meters and handled one of the legs of the 4 x 400 meter relay. He was also one of the stars of the Titans’ cross country squad, which is contested at three miles.
The distances have changed – Judge now runs the mile, 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters during the indoor track season; the 1,500 and 5,000 meters during the outdoor campaign and cross country, which – at the collegiate level – is contested at 8,000 meters.
Aside from the distances, Judge has identified another difference between the high school and collegiate experiences.
“At least as it seems in my case, in college the runner is in charge of his own training to a greater extent,” said Judge. “My coach and teammates are an integral part of my running experience and progress, but in the end I feel responsibility for every piece of my training. For me, this freedom only adds to a large part of what I enjoy about running in general: the freedom of cutting loose on the open road. I also enjoy the challenge of and bonds formed training with my teammates, many of whom are my close friends.”
Judge has run a career-best 16:04 in the 5,000 meters during his freshman year and has hovered around 26 minutes in the 8,000 meters.
Among his many fond memories at the University of Chicago, where Judge is majoring in Physics, are “the many long training runs on weekends with teammates.”
“Each fall, we hop in alongside the Chicago Marathon and run about half the course with the race,” he said. “The energy from the crowds is exciting and makes the distance feel effortless.”
Judge said he enjoys working towards a goal as part of a team as well as “the excitement of exploring the surrounding neighbors on the weekly long run.”
“The thrill of racing and competition, and the challenge of testing limits in difficult workouts,” he added. “I’m definitely very grateful to have teammates who have made me feel welcome on campus and who love to run as much as I do.”
When asked to dispatch advice to new runners, the rising junior said “Start slow and always keep running enjoyable.”
“For runners hoping to run in college, I recommend searching for a team culture and coaching staff that fits and supports the runners’ specific needs and goals – competitively, socially, academically, and otherwise.”
John is the son of Emelyn and Robert Judge. He has two sisters; Juliana and Louise.