Meet Finn Roberts, a 13-year-old cross country standout from Richmond, Vermont, who’s already making a name for himself as one of the fastest middle school runners in the state. Between conquering hilly trails, skiing fresh powder, and biking big mountains, Finn embodies what it means to stay active, positive, and hydrated.

In this Plinkerview, Finn shares how he discovered his love of running, the mindset that keeps him going when things get tough, and what it’s like to be part of a team that made school history.

Read on to get inspired by Finn’s drive, sportsmanship, and love for the outdoors.

Who is Finn Roberts?

My name is Finn Roberts. I’m 13 years old and currently in eighth grade. I’m proud to be among the fastest middle school cross country runners in the state! I live in Richmond, Vermont, with my mom, dad, my younger sister, and my dog Poppy. My dad ran cross country in high school, and his experience definitely inspired me to join the team. I had stopped playing soccer and baseball when I was younger, and by middle school, it felt too late to go back to those sports. That’s when I decided to give cross country a try — and it quickly became the sport for me! 

What brings you joy these days (on or off the trails)?

Two of the things that make me happiest are skiing through fresh powder in the winter and crossing the finish line in first place at cross country races in the fall.

If you could plan a perfect day with your friends, what are you up to and where are you going?

In the winter, my perfect day would probably start with waking up early to go skinning and getting first tracks, then spending the rest of the day skiing with friends. In the afternoon, I’d want to hang out and mess around on the ski jump we build in our backyard every year, and then relax with a movie as it gets late. In the summer, my perfect day would definitely be lift-serve mountain biking with friends at a big mountain, followed by a run—and, of course, it would have to end with creemees!

You just finished an amazing cross country season — recap it for us!

The best moments were definitely crossing the finish line in first place. Also, in the twenty years our cross country team has been around, the boys’ team has never really done very well. But this year, we ended up being the second-best team in the state, which was pretty awesome. Additionally I had a bunch of friends join the team this season which made it super fun and a great last middle school cross country season.   

When your lungs are burning and your legs feel like jelly, what helps you keep going?

During races, I remind myself that I’m doing my best — and that the faster I get to the finish line, the sooner I can stop running. 🙂

What’s something running has taught you about life?

I think running and competing has taught me that it’s not always about you — even if you don’t have your best race, you can still help your team, and that’s something to be proud of.

What’s your “training secret”?

On race day, I try to eat good foods that’ll help me run my best. When it comes to hydration, PLINK! is my go-to — I usually have a tablet or two throughout the day, and maybe another one after the race to rehydrate. Additionally, I participated in the catamount summer trail running series which I think definitely helped me during the season in terms of strength.

What advice would you give someone who’s thinking about trying running but isn’t sure they’ll like it?

I think running is a great sport to try, no matter when you start. The cool thing about it is that you really get to run your own race — it’s not like some other sports where everything depends on how the whole team performs. And even though it’s a pretty individual sport, there’s still that team side of it that keeps you motivated and competitive. 

Who do you look up to — in sports or outside of it?

Someone I really look up to is my old cross country coach. He retired before my eighth-grade season, but he still came to our meets to cheer us on. It meant a lot to see how much he still cared about his athletes, even after he wasn’t coaching anymore. I also really look up to my current coach who stepped up when no one else would and coached us in an incredible season. 

Cross-country in Vermont means running through forests, fields, and mud — how does being outside affect your mindset?

I love running, but I just love being outside too. I’m really lucky to live in a state as beautiful and wild as Vermont. If I’d trained only on a treadmill, I would’ve missed out on running hills to get stronger and figuring out how to handle roots and rocks while running at full speed. 

And finally… what’s next for you?

I’m already a few weeks into dryland training for ski season, and it’s coming up fast. I’m planning to keep running through the winter to stay in shape for spring track, and hopefully by the time freshman cross country starts, I can just step in and go without too much struggle. It’s kind of cool seeing how much stronger I’m already getting, and it feels good knowing all this work now will make the season easier later.