Name: Ashley Golbus
High school: Chapin High School
Event PRs: 5K: 18:54, 3200: 11:51
Hobbies: Running, triathlons
What was your most memorable race/competition?
My most memorable race was the cross-country region meet my junior year. That season, I had a goal of breaking 19 minutes. In several meets leading up to region, I had come seconds away from achieving this goal, which only made me more determined to get it. I felt like I sprinted this whole race, and still remember the pain of pushing myself, my sore legs and tired lungs. However, what I remember more vividly is crossing the finish line and seeing the clock in the 18s. All my practice and hard work had paid off.
Out of all your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most?
I am proud to have signed for Wofford and to able to continue my running career in college. From a young age, I have greatly enjoyed running, and am excited to be able to continue doing what I love.
If you could do it all over again, what would you change about your athletic career in high school?
I would be more proud of, and excited for, each small victory and success. When I started running fast times and placing high in races, I kept expecting more and more of myself. I didn't take the time to enjoy each good race or personal best. Later, I learned to celebrate the small moments, and enjoy the process. However, I wish that I had learned this lesson earlier.
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
I injured myself in the summer going into my junior year of cross-country. I increased my mileage too quickly and hurt my knee. I had to take a few weeks off running to let it heal. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get back in shape in time for cross-country. However, this just motivated me to train hard and push myself when I was able to start running, and I had a very successful season.
What will you miss the most?
I will miss my amazing coaches. I truly don't think I would be running in college if it weren't for my coaches. They furthered my love for running and pushed me to become the best runner, and person, I could be.
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
Work hard and push yourself. Practice how you want to race. If you push yourself at practice, you will be able to push yourself and run fast in races. The hard work will pay off, and is more than worth it in the end.
How have your coaches influenced your performances and your life goals?
Over the past four years, I can't count how many times I have heard my coach tell me "The process is the goal". This mindset has allowed me to be successful; rather than being overwhelmed by a lofty goal, I focus on the next workout or the next race, and give it my all on that day. This allows me to slowly improve, and the goal gradually becomes more realistic and achievable. My coach's guidance allowed me to be successful while still enjoying running. Without this guidance, I do not think I would be able to continue running at the collegiate level.
This mindset of gradually achieving my goals in running has carried over to other aspects of my life. I have a goal of eventually going into the medical field. Rather than being overwhelmed by this goal, I plan to focus on and enjoy each step along the way, slowly achieving this goal. My coach has taught me to enjoy each small success in my life while working to achieve a larger goal.
What kind of impact did you family have on your time as a high school student-athlete?
My family was my biggest support. From a young age, they instilled the love for running in me. I have spent countless hours exercising with my family and have many great childhood memories of this; biking beside my parents as they ran, and later running with them, and running races with my family. They came to every cross-country and track meet I ran, and cheered the loudest for me. They were happy for me when I achieved my goal in a race, and still proud of me when I didn't. Also, I loved running on the same team as my twin sister and two of my younger siblings.
What are your college or post high school plans?
I am attending Wofford in the fall, and plan to major in biology, and eventually go into the medical field. I have committed to run cross-country and track for Wofford, and am excited for what the future holds.
What do you hope to achieve after high school?
I hope to continue my running career, and hopefully improve my times. Running is a part of me that I hope to never give up. I hope to eventually go into the medical field. Regardless of where I end up in the future, I hope to be able to leave my mark on the world and make a positive impact.
Do you see yourself coaching in the future? Please explain and if so, what level and why?
If the opportunity arises, I could see myself coaching. My coaches were amazing and contributed to my love of running. They encouraged me and served as role models. I would love to be able to have this type of impact as a coach.
Shout-outs?
I would like to thank my coaches for pushing me to become the runner and person I am today. I would like to thank my teammates for making practices and races fun, and for their constant encouragement. Most of all, I want to thank my family for coming to every race to cheer for me and for always supporting me.
If there is one thing in the world you could do, what would it be and why?
I would change the idea that to make an impact on the world, you have to travel out of the country. It's great that people want to do mission work or adopt children from other countries, and I by all means support this, however people tend to ignore the issues in America. Although our country doesn't face near as many problems as third world countries, there are numerous issues that are largely ignored. In the U.S., 15-percent of people live below the poverty line, 14-percent of families do not have food security, and one in 200 children live in foster care, without a permanent home or parents. I would like to change the misconception that to make an impact on the world you have to leave the country. I want to challenge people to look around them, and open their eyes and hearts to their struggling friends, neighbors, and fellow Americans. My youngest sister is adopted, and is a different ethnicity than the rest of my family. People often approach us and ask what country she is from, never assuming that she is from the U.S. We adopted her through DSS, and she was born just miles from us. Hundreds of thousands of children are in the same place as she was: in foster care, ignored and forgotten. America's problems are often ignored because solving them is not as glamorous as doing mission work in foreign countries. However, these people and problems are just as real in America as they are across the ocean.