Name: Erica Gleason and Caroline Gleason
Date of birth: Oct. 16, 1993
School: Eastside
Person most admire: My mom and dad
Coach: Ed Boehmke
Personal bests: Caroline 21:41, Erica 21:32
Typical training week:
Intervals, Distance four to seven miles. Short distance, Thursday three to four
scrunners: What made you decide to run cross country?
Caroline: I always enjoyed running but when my friend told me that she was going to start running cross country, I decided to try it too.
Erica: Actually, Caroline, Chloe Morgan, and my mom got me into running. I had never before thought of doing this sport, it just didn't seem intersting to me. But once I started it, I found I enjoyed it.
scrunners: What do you remember from your first race?
Caroline: I ran in the Fracker Frolic in Easley. I had already hurt my leg from practice during the summer but I wanted to run the race anyway. The race was okay until the very end. I completely gave up and stopped like right before the finish line and my friend had to get me to go and finish the race. I really did feel like I couldn't go any more, but I did finish it.
Erica: My first race was interesting. I remember running at Byrnes Academy, where me and a few other teammates actually went the wrong way. It was fun, exciting, and I loved it.
scrunners: Did you both decide to run at the same time?
Caroline: No I decided to do it first, then my mom had to make Erica go and run because she didn't just want her laying around the house all day.
Erica: No, not at all. Caroline had been wanting to run forever. Me on the other hand, well, I didn't care. I just wanted to stay home and lay around the house all day and eat but I guess my parents and friends had a different plan for me.
scrunners: How has it been to have a twin on the team?
Caroline: it has made me try to be better because I just want to beat her.
Erica: Having my twin on the team actually makes me try harder. I love having her on the team with me, but I do admit. Sometimes it can be annoying, and you have so much pressure put on you. But, I don't mind most of the time.
scrunners: Do you seeing having a twin on the team helping your running?
Caroline: Yes, because it pushes you to do better because you don't want your twin being better than you, you want to be better than your twin.
Erica: Yes, it does. Because you want to be better than your twin, you don't want them being better then you. So it basically just works both ways and pushes you to try and do more.
scrunners: What has been your biggest challenge with a twin on the team?
Caroline: I really haven't had much of a challenge with Erica on the team.
Erica: I'm not sure, I haven't really had much of a challenge with Caroline.
scrunners: Do you have a specific tradition prior to a race?
Caroline: No, not really.
Erica: Nothing other than the usual warm up and stretching.
scrunners: Do you see you two going to the same college?
Caroline: I am not sure yet. I really have not thought about all that stuff yet.
Erica: Yes, I kinda can. But, I haven't really put much thought into that.
scrunners: How will you adapt to college with or without your twin?
Caroline: Without her... just fine. I need some time away from her.
Erica: I think I'll adapt fine. I need some time away. But, I know it would be hard since I spend more than most of my time with her. Being without her for so long would be hard.
scrunners: How does your coach tell you two apart?
Caroline: I have blonde hair, Erica has brown hair. And we don't look alike.
Erica: Well, it's not that hard. Caroline has blonde hair, I have brown. Caroline has blue eyes I have brown. We look nothing alike so it's not that hard for him to figure out who is who.
scrunners: Do you have any other family members that run?
Caroline: No, we don't.
Erica: No, we were the first that I know of, but our older sister, Elizabeth, now runs.
scrunners: What do you think it takes to be a cross country runner?
Caroline: It takes determination and dedication.
Erica: It takes endurence, determination, and dedication to be a cross country runner.
scrunners: What do you want to achieve the rest of this season and the future?
Caroline: For the season, to be able to run state. For the future, to be able to run in the 18's.
Erica: Well, I am out for the rest of the season sence I'm now injured, but, my goal for the future would be about the same as Caroline's, to try and get my time in the 18's and just do and be the best I can.