(Photo provided by Jessa Hanson)
First of all, how did you first start running?
My family has always been a "running family." Both my parents and my sister were runners, but it wasn't originally my plan to join cross country. I joined in 6th grade after a friend brought me along to a summer practice and I was instantly hooked on the sport. I still remember my first run, only 2.5 miles! It's crazy to see where running has brought me since then.
What are all your personal records, including cross country?
5k - 17:50.5 (school record)
2 mile - 11:15.7
Mile - 5:05.92 (school record)
800 - 2:18.5
400 - 60.8
Do you do, or have you done, any other sports?
I played basketball my whole life until I stopped after 9th grade year in order to continue winter training. We don't have an indoor season in Minnesota so I just do a lot of training and running on my own or with my teammates during the winter (a lot of which is inside thanks to the brutal Minnesota winters).
What is your favorite or most memorable competition you've ever been in?
My favorite and most memorable competition I have competed in was by far Nike Cross Nationals 2016. Not only was it put third time in a row attending, but I was a senior and it was the last race of my high school cross country career. Nike Cross Nationals is such an insanely amazing experience, and to top it all off, we placed 5th in the nation. It is mind-blowing to be able to say that only 4 teams in the United States are better than us. It was an amazing ending to the most incredible running career of my life so far. Crossing the finish line at NXN is what made me decide I wanted to run in college. Up until then, despite the pressure form people all around me, I wasn't sure if I wanted to run in college. However, when I crossed that finish line at NXN and really soaked in the fact that it was my last race ever, the emotions took over and that's when I truly realized I wasn't ready to be done with cross country quite yet.
What has it been like to have teammates like Sophie and Kayla whom you've been running with for your whole high school careers and who have steadily improved each year along with you?
Having teammates that have run and grown alongside me throughout my entire running career has definitely been a factor in why we have become successful as a team. I have run with mostly the same girls for the past 7 years, and through those 7 years I have gained more than just teammates and friends, I have gained sisters. We always continue to push each other, keep each other motivated, and make sure we are all being healthy and smart. It's so nice to have people like that in my life, because they are the only ones who really understand what it's like. They know how sore my legs feel after races, they can relate to those lazy days where I don't even want to get out of bed, they understand the emotion I feel every time I cross the finish line. They just get it, and I love that about my teammates. I wouldn't be the same runner I am today without the wonderful teammates and coaches I have been blessed with for the past 7 years, and I owe so much to them.
Other than your own talented teammates, who are some of your favorite athletes to compete against?
Since Willmar is a pretty small town with not a lot of big towns around us, it is not very often that we get to race against other teams that push us hard during races. I don't really have any specific favorite competitors, but I generally just love being able to go to meets where I know there are girls who can beat me and push me harder during a race. When we go to most local meets, it's hard to find that same competition, so when our team does, it's really valuable to us.
(Photo provided by Jessa Hanson)
What is your favorite, or the most effective,
workout you've ever done?
While they aren't my favorite because of how difficult they are, mile intervals are without a doubt the most effective workout I do. We only do them a few times each year, but it is very obvious to see how much they affect us and that helps me to like them. By the end of the year, our varsity girls were doing 5 one-mile repeats at a sub-5:30-5:40 pace, which was amazing.
What are your main goals for this upcoming season?
My main goals for this upcoming season are pretty simple because I don't want to set too many or have a strict idea of what my last track season should be like. However, I do have some important goals. 1) I would love to re-break my own record in the mile and finally break 5 minutes, 2) I want to break 11:10 in the two mile if I get the chance to run it more this year, and 3) I want my team to advance to True Team State again and I would love to advance to State individually again and add another State sweatshirt to the pile. I also really just want to have fun and soak in the wonderful experience of my last high school track season with some of my best friends.
What reflections do you have about your running career so far, and if you run in college, what are you most excited about?
I am the person I am today because of my running career. It's that simple. If I hadn't stumbled upon the sport back in 6th grade, who knows what my life would be like today. Cross country and track have given me more experiences and opportunities to succeed than anything else in my life. Cross country has taught me skills of motivation, leadership, dedication, and so many more. Cross country has given me my second family and a career of success and joy. Of course, it wasn't always easy, and I sometimes questioned whether it was all worth it. However, crossing the finish line and feeling that rush of adrenaline and seeing the smiling faces of my teammates all around me always confirmed within me that it was all worth it. I could write a book about my reflections on my running career, but one of the most important things I learned from running was that I didn't realize how much I appreciated it until it was done. When I crossed the finish line for the last time in my high school cross country career and NXN, I instantly was overcome with emotion, and so was my entire team. It was in that exact moment that I knew one thing. I was not ready to be done. In that moment I knew I could do great things and I decided that I wanted to run in college after all. If I do end up running in college, I am definitely the most excited to meet new teammates and build another close knit family of friends. Teammates are what add the personal aspect to the sport, and I hope to have teammates as amazing as my high school ones!
Do you have any college plans yet?
College decisions are kind of up in the air for me right now. I'm currently waiting to hear back from a few schools in California (UCSB, UCLA, USC) that don't send acceptance letters until late march, which is so frustrating as an athlete. However, if I attended those schools, I'm not sure if I would run at them (I could at USC). I am also very seriously looking at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, AZ where I would run on the team. Once I hear back from all of the schools, I am very excited to make a final decision and finally figure out my college plans!
(Photo provided by Jessa Hanson)
Lots of southern schools in that list. Are you excited to escape the clutches of Minnesota winters?
I have always been a bit more of an adventurous person, and I have known for a long time that I wanted to get out of Minnesota to go to college. While Minnesota's brutal winters do play a small role in my wanting to get out of the state, it's a lot more than that. College is my time to restart and create something new, and I've always known I didn't want that to take place in Minnesota. While it is super stressful trying to figure out my college choices, I am thankful I have it mostly narrowed down to a few. I'm beyond excited to go to college and experience a new life, but of course I'll be coming home often to see my friends and family!
Do you have any rituals, routines, or superstitions either on or off the track?
I always wear the same socks and sports bra at every single race (washed of course), and I always like to wear my hair in braids of some sort. I also always eat the same breakfast, a health food-packed yogurt parfait, on every race day. I usually race with gum in my mouth, especially during track, because it is so hot in Minnesota during the season that my mouth gets too dry, so I always race with gum! Before every cross country race the team also does a quick little prayer / motivational speech and I always say the same quote to them from Steve Prefontaine before races; "The best pace is suicide pace, and today's a good day to die."
When not accumulating miles or turning left, what might we find you doing?
When I'm not running, I'm usually spending time with friends and family, outside enjoying the fresh air, or doing some sort of creative project. I love keeping busy and doing a lot of things, so I usually manage to keep my schedule pretty full.
Tell me one bizarre fact about yourself.
I'm starting my own business this year which I am super excited about! It's a renewal and reworking business on vintage clothing that creates one of a kind pieces designed and created by me.
What inspired you to start your own business?
I'm starting my own business through a special business class called CEO, where we learn about business and tour them for the whole year. Then, by the end of the year, we have learned enough to actually raise our own start up money and start our own business. I'm super excited about mine because it is something I am very passionate about and something that I love doing! I can't wait to have it fully up and running.
