POCATELLO - Dallin Farnsworth's favorite part of running cross country is "the feeling after a race that you accomplished something big."

Highland's junior cross country runner recently added a win in the 5K Elite Varsity Boys Division of the Bob Firman Invitational to that list of accomplishments, but that may not be the most important of his achievements.

Three years ago as an 8^th grader, Farnsworth had a tumor in his neck.

"It was really scary," Farnsworth said. "They couldn't find out what it was at first. The doctors thought it was mono."

A month-and-a-half later, doctors diagnosed him with caseating granuloma, a potentially life-threatening disease which inflamed his lymph nodes and nearly closed his airway. 

After successful surgery and a full recovery, running gained more significance in his life. 

"That whole time I was just dying to run, and once I had my surgery I couldn't wait to run again," he said.

Running provides him with an escape from the daily routine, allowing Farnsworth to relax and let his mind wander without the health concerns he once had. It also gave him a chance to get closer with his older brother Taylor, who now runs for BYU and ignited Dallin's love of distance running.

"After I got home from school, my brother used to say 'Why don't you go for a run?' [but] I never really wanted to," Farnsworth said. "I'd maybe run a mile or two miles, but it was not my favorite thing to do. My brother really taught me to love it." Once Taylor returned from a mission earlier this year, the brothers spent nearly the entire summer running together.

"My brother is really supportive and he always wants me to do my best," Farnsworth said. Occasionally those runs turn competitive, but they always remain cordial. Farnsworth wants to run on the collegiate level after going on a mission, and dreams of running with his brother at BYU once he returns.

While Farnsworth's primary goal during a run is to "stay in the present," his victory in the Bob Firman Invitational meant much more with what he has overcome in the past.