Olivia Schwintek of White Bear Lake Class of 2019
Personal Records:
800m - 2:24.76
1600m - 5:22.01
3200m - 11:53.03
4K (xc) - 15:53.30
5K (xc) - 19:26.00
XC State 2016 - 129th place
XC State 2015 - 97th place
XC State 2014 - 130th place
What sports did you play growing up?
I played soccer from when I was five until I was 14 and entering freshman year. I chose to run cross country in the fall rather than play high school soccer. I had been running varsity cross country and distance track since seventh grade, and couldn't imagine giving it up.
Teammates of mine were in the same situation, and on our team this was the dreaded decision; soccer or cross country. Our cross country coaches have a strong dislike for soccer which they refer to as "the s word." Balancing cross country and soccer throughout middle school always proved to be a challenge as our coaches' always feared injury or overdoing it, but I loved competing in both sports at a high level. I also danced, but quit in fourth grade after deciding to focus more on soccer.
What sports do you play now?
Along with running Cross Country and Track, I have Nordic skied since seventh grade. I have lettered four times in Track and Nordic Skiing and three times in Cross Country within my seventh through tenth grade school years.
Who are the top seven for the White Bear Lake Bears this year?
The top seven runners on my team are: Maggie Blanding 8th grader, Natalie Andres 9th grader, Josie Moor 11th grader, Maddie Verkerke 10th grader, Haley Miller 11th grader, Claire Larson 11th grader, and myself.
Tell us a little about your summer training?
Yes we all train through the "Summer Endurance Program" that is run by our coaches along with other programs and activities which vary from person to person. Summer running is always a lot of fun and more laid back than in season training. There is a nice balance between getting solid workouts in, such as hill repeats or interval runs along Lake Ave, and enjoying ourselves by playing beach volleyball in the middle of a recovery run or jumping in White Bear Lake for a swim.
Who coaches the distance runners at your school?
Patti Percival, Sue Whirl, and Shannon Grant have always been my Cross Country coaches with Patti and Shannon also coaching me in the spring for Track season. Gary Wilson, the former U of M Cross Country and Track coach, joined our coaching staff for last track season and this Cross country season and has been a great influence on our team.
My teammates and I are very blessed to have coaches that have a lot of experience and know how to push us, but also remind us that there are more important things in life than running and to make the most of each opportunity we are given to run. A piece of advice that Patti has always given us is that in running "you get out of it what you put into it."
What have been your greatest running successes?
My greatest running accomplishments would be qualifying for the State meet for the last three years with my team, as well as having solid section races the past two years.
What is your greatest disappointment in running?
My worst disappointment as a runner would not be improving as anticipated since ninth grade, as running has become more of a challenge as I've gotten older and my body has changed.
What kind of weather do you like to run in?
I love running in cold weather (possibly because I am a Nordic skier)! The section meet two years ago was the best because it was snowing! The heat is a struggle for me as proven when I had a heat stroke at state last year. It was a very scary experience but I do not let that stop me from running in the heat. I just have to train smart on hot days, know where my limits are, and stay mentally strong.
What is it like running at the state meet versus other meets?
Running in the state meet is a great experience and always a challenge as the race goes out fast. You need to know what race strategy is best for you and execute that to be successful. I improved from my first to second year at Cross Country state, but struggled last year when I had a heat stroke (I don't remember finishing the race, only ending up in the medical tent).
What are your strengths as a runner?
My strengths as a runner include being able to push through discomfort and being a consistent part of our varsity team for four seasons. My weakness would be running flatter courses because I like using hills to my advantage.
What kind of race strategy do you like to use?
Race strategy differs from course to course as well as the competition at each meet. Racing the same meets over the years has allowed me to have a better idea of how to run each race to be successful based off of my experience.
Why do you like to run?
I run because, although some days it is frustrating and extremely hard, I can't imagine my life without it. I value being fit and running is a great way to push myself physically and mentally to become stronger. Lessons I've learned through running apply to many aspects of life and it has made me an overall healthier person.
How do you handle pressure?
I feel pressure to perform to the level I believe I am capable of. I have become less nervous about races each season because I have more experience, but I still feel pressure to perform at the standards I have set for myself.
How do team members at WBL treat each other?
Our varsity team is very close and we are all good friends and enjoy being together. I think that this is our greatest strength; we all work to better our team, always encouraging each other and everyone is happy when someone has a great race or workout.
What advice would you give to beginning runners?
Many new runners expect to improve immediately. I would say that you have to be patient and persevere through the harder days and then you will see positive results. Other times new runners have great potential that they may not realize. I would say that they should push themselves to find their limits, and seek advice from other runners on their team.
How has your training changed over your career?
My training over the years has definitely intensified but the same basic principles and workouts have remained. As we shifted from racing 4ks to 5ks in CC mileage and volume increased but we continue to do a variety of hill, interval, fartlek, and long run workouts along with recovery runs. My summer training has shifted to focus more on skiing each year, so I have learned to balance running, roller skiing, and strength workouts.
Do your coaches run with you in practice?
Our coaches do not run with us. They bike with us on recovery runs and check in with us between repeats or intervals on hard workout days. I think that this is a good method of coaching that works well for our team.
Have you gotten to know runners from other teams?
Yes, it has been really fun to get to know other runners over the years and see how everyone has improved. I have become close with many of the Forest Lake runners because I train with them in the summer for skiing.
What else are you involved in besides running and skiing?
I am involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, which is essentially a student-led Bible study which meets 2-4 times a month. I am a leader along with other students. We take turns writing messages to share at meetings followed by discussions and prayer. I am in a small group at church. I volunteer at my church and volunteer with a children's ski club at a local nature center. My jobs include: working at Pine Tree Apple Orchard; being part-time nanny in the summer; and working as a boat inspector for invasive species at boat launches in my area.
What do you do for fun besides working out?
I love to spend time on the lake in the summer paddle boarding with my friends. I enjoy ham mocking and spending time outside; finding new places to explore. I play the ukulele for fun and love making new smoothie recipes!
How about the team what do they do to liven things up?
My teammates and I have dressed as soccer players for an April Fool's Day practice and for an 11th grade team picture (as I mentioned before my coaches have a strong dislike for soccer). Our coaches got a kick out of it and soccer is always a sensitive but amusing topic for our team.
Do you have plans for after high school?
I am not sure what my college future will look like in terms of sports, but I am open-minded to either running or skiing. I know that I will run and ski all throughout my life because I am passionate about both sports. They are a great source of enjoyment and in my life and they strengthen my relationships with those who I run and ski with.