Name: Alex Kellum
Date of birth: March 26, 1992
School: Wren
Favorite runner: Tom Ford
Person most admire: Tom Ford
Coach: Jennifer Bertram
Personal bests: (5K: 19:06) (4X800: 2:20) (3200: 11:55)
Typical training week: Cross country - From Monday to Saturday (without a race): Hills, distance, track/speed workout, distance, track/speed, crosstrain.
Rest Sunday.
scrunners: What made you decide to run cross country?
alex: I liked the people who were running xc, a lot of friends ran.
scrunners: What do you remember from your first race?
alex: It was the Easley Firecracker Frolic, and the hills gave me terrible cramps. My time was 22:53. I liked the athletic atmosphere.
scrunners: Did you both decide to run at the same time?
alex: No, I ran my sophomore year and she started running this year.
scrunners: How has it been to have a twin on the team?
alex: It is cool to have someone who is going through the same thing you are. There is more understanding.
scrunners: Do you seeing having a twin on the team helping your running?
alex: No, our times are different and we run with different people. There is little interaction, and everyone on the team cheers us on, so I really don't notice the support.
scrunners: What has been your biggest challenge with a twin on the team?
alex: We are both brutally honest on how much effort we put in and how our form is, etc.
scrunners: Do you have a specific tradition prior to a race?
alex: Warmup, stretch, team prayer and pump-up, Clif energy shot, water, then head to the line. All with Phil Collins "In the Air Tonight' on the iPod.
scrunners: Do you see you two going to the same college?
alex: No, we will probably go elsewhere.
scrunners: How will you adapt to college with or without your twin?
alex: Well, leaving my family will be tough, but I'm sure we will stay in close contact.
scrunners: Do you have any other family members that run?
alex: No, just us.
scrunners: What do you think it takes to be a cross country runner?
alex: Mental toughness and hard work ethic.
scrunners: What do you want to achieve the rest of this season and the future?
alex: I would like to get into the 18s before my senior year. My senior year I would like to be in the 17s and win regionals.
Date of birth: March 26, 1992
School: Wren
Person most admire: Alex Dixion, 12 years old and ran a 21:15 at regionals
Coach: Jennifer Bertram (best coach)
Personal bests: 23:27
Typical training week: Monday: Speed or hills, Tuesday: Easy three (if meet on Wed.), Wednesday: Meet, Thurday: Speed or hills. Friday: Easy three (if meet on Sat.), Saturday: Meet, Sunday: Rest
scrunners: What made you decide to run cross country?
amber: I took two years off from sports and missed being active, also and my brother ran cross country and track and told me how much he enjoyed the team and running, so I decided to try cross country and loved it.
scrunners: What do you remember from your first race?
amber: I ran a pitiful 27:33. At about the second mile mark I started questioning myself, "why the heck am I doing this?," "how in the world am I suppose to do one of these every week??," then at about the last 200 meters or so I heard my brother screaming for me and I just took off!! It was really cool to have my brother cheer me on.
scrunners: Did you both decide to run at the same time?
amber: No, I ran track back in sixth grade but didn't. I really enjoy it. I was a sprinter and found out that long distance is for me, NOT SPRINTING!
Then in 10th grade my brother decided to run cross country and this year (11th grade) I decided to run as well.
scrunners: How has it been to have a twin on the team?
amber: Motivating. We are both VERY competitive and I want to get as close to his time as possible (I still got awhile to go.).
scrunners: Do you seeing having a twin on the team helping your running?
amber: Yes, again it goes back to the whole competitive nature of ours.
scrunners: What has been your biggest challenge with a twin on the team?
amber: Probaly getting along, we see each other all the time and now at practice as well, but I think that running has made us a little closer because we have that in common.
scrunners: Do you have a specific tradition prior to a race?
amber: Not really.
scrunners: Do you see you two going to the same college?
amber: Most likely not. I want to go to a small college and he wants to go to a big college.
scrunners: How will you adapt to college with or without your twin?
amber: I think it will be good for us if we go to different colleges because it will give us a break from seeing each other all the time and appreciate each other more when we get to catch up.
scrunners: Do you have any other family members that run?
amber: My cousin (he's in his 20's) ran cross country when he was in high school and my mom ran track in high school.
scrunners: What do you think it takes to be a cross country runner?
amber: Determination and focus.
scrunners: What do you want to achieve the rest of this season and the future?
amber: The season is practically over now, but next year I would like to get my time down to at least sub 22:15. I am considering track to help me achieve this goal, I also plan to run with some teammates three to four times a week during the offseason. I am also thinking about doing a half marathon after my senior year. As far as college goes, I really enjoy running and want to continue running so I'm gonna try and be a walkon at whatever college, if I can get my time down to where ever it needs to be.