Then there’s school.
Then football practice – which generally ends with running – before the Montezuma-Cortez junior finally returns home between 7-8 p.m.
It’s a 12-hour day, but Ramos isn’t complaining.
He’s pursuing his passion by running cross-country and playing football in the same season.
Ramos’ favorite sport is track, and he’s had a great role model in his brother Justice, who runs for the University of Colorado.
But the idea to run cross-country and play football stemmed from his father, Joe.
“When my dad was in high school, he ran cross-country and played football,” Ramos said. “And I like to compete with my dad from his past times and stuff like that, so I gave it a shot.”
Ramos has played football all three years of high school, but this is his first year running cross-country as well.
As a receiver, he leads the Panthers with 11 catches and 128 yards, and has a receiving touchdown.
And defensively, he’s racked up 23 solo tackles on the season and had an interception in last week’s 10-7 win over Pagosa Springs.
As for cross-country, Ramos is one of the top three runners for the Panthers, along with Sonny Boren and Reid Littlefield.
Pulling double-duty has made for long days and short nights, though.
After hauling in three catches for 25 yards and recording seven tackles in the Panthers 26-14 win against Ignacio in September, Ramos didn’t even come home.
Instead, he and his parents stayed in a hotel and awoke early the next morning for a cross-country meet in Grand Junction, where Ramos ran his best time of the season (17:31).
M-CHS cross-country coach Paul Koops noted the motivation and self-discipline it takes for Ramos to turn in early morning running workouts, do well in school and endure football practice after classes.
He also explained that in his 11 seasons as head coach, he’s never had an athlete participate in both football and cross-country.
“I’ve had several other combinations, but never that one,” said Koops.
“I think it takes a special person to be able to do it,” he said pausing. “And I guess that’s Josh.”
