What was the biggest adjustment you had to make to compete at the college level?
Training through three seasons instead of two (adding indoor track) was tough on me. I had a stress fracture in my tibia the first year for outdoor track and a stress reaction the second year. At least I learned from my mistake of not saying anything and trying to tough it out my freshman year and was able to start treatment and recover faster the second time.
How would you rate your college running career and overall college experience?
Wonderful. I went to Furman University and it was the perfect school for me in many ways. I had hoped to run faster in college than I did, but things don’t always go as you think they will for a variety of reasons. I finally met my goal of making all-conference in my last track meet in college in the 10,000. I’ve run faster since then, but it’s still one of my favorite college races.
As a school, Furman prepared me well for everything I’ve done since then professionally and personally. It was a great fit for me. I’m still in contact with professors and teammates.
Is there anything you can tell high school athletes to better prepare them for the college experience?
It’s been so long since I went to college! However, some of the advice I received still resonates now. When on recruiting visits, it’s always good to listen to the other athletes about the atmosphere, philosophies and general culture of the team. Sometimes you can learn more by the questions they don’t answer or seem to avoid. And remember not to treat every run as a race during practice.
Do you plan to attend South Carolina for any outdoor meets this coming season?
I usually try to make it to Coaches Classic and either the Class AAAA Qualifying or State Meet to support Mauldin. I also follow cross country and track in general through talking to Coach (Delmer) Howell and checking scrunners.com. This year I’m due to have a baby in March, so I’ll have to see how it goes in making it out to the track in person. Hopefully I can find some baby-sized Mauldin gear and bring the baby out to start appreciating running early.
Have you been back to see a meet recently?
I was at the Class AAAA Cross Country State Championship in November 2012. I’m so proud of the Mauldin boys team and what they were able to accomplish this year. They all ran PRs at state, and were second place as Class AAAA team. It was truly a team effort to train and prepare for that race.
What memories from competing in high school stand out the most?
Each of the team State Championships (1992, 1993, 1994), of course. Each one was so different. The first year (my sophomore year), we just were on fire and ran our hearts out. We knew we could win if we just ran like we knew we could. The next two years there was more pressure (that we put on ourselves) to repeat. I also have wonderful individual memories of races when I won individual state championships or ran PRs in a tough race. The team championships mean the most, though.
What do you miss most about running in high school?
The team. I remember Coach Howell and others telling us that it was a special time and to appreciate what we have. I believe we did as much as we could, but with time and experience you come to appreciate those days in a different way. We had a Coach who would do anything for us, and many of us forged a bond that still exists today. I am still in contact with many of my high school teammates 20 years later. Many of us stay in touch and still see each other often. For example, just this past fall, one teammate (Brook Watson O’Neal), organized a benefit (Run for Lilly) this past fall for another teammate’s (Jeanna Avery Clark) daughter. Lilly is fighting brain cancer. 20 years after we started running together, many of us were able to come together again to run and support our friend and her family. The best part was that Mauldin alumni of many years and the current team came as well.
What piece of coaching or advice that someone gave you has been the biggest help?
It’s taken awhile to really learn this lesson, and I still have to work on it. The three key things for me are to 1. Listen to your body. 2. Remember that rest is as important as the work and 3. Balance in life is key.
What are you doing in the present and hope to do in the future?
In May 2012, I finally finished my DrPH (Doctor of Public Health) degree from the Arnold School of Public Health and work as the Associate Director, Outreach and Program Development at the South Carolina Institute of Medicine and Public Health in Columbia. We are an independent entity serving as a convener around the important health issues in our state. IMPH also serves as a resource for evidence-based information to inform health policy decisions.
Since I’m pregnant, I’m on a break from training. I do plan to run and race again. I need to pick something to train for next fall/spring.
How was the adjustment from post-college?
Within a week of graduation, I was in the Peace Corps and living in a village in Malawi, Africa. I was able to run a little (in a skirt, and not a running skirt – the knees really needed to be covered), but with all the other changes of living in an undeveloped country I ended up taking that time off from really running and training. Physically and mentally I needed it after eight years of hard training and competition. After I returned home to South Carolina, I started running and racing again in road races. I’ve been running and racing since.
It was different learning to run and train independently rather than with a team, and to have complete control over the training schedule. I’ve been fortunate to find great running buddies and people to help with developing training plans. While I have the knowledge to develop my own schedule and am confident in giving advice when asked, I’ve learned that I completely lack objectivity in trying to train myself. I really need someone I can trust to talk to and help me look at the big picture. Some years I may train and race more than others, but I’m always running at least some if I’m not injured. Running has and will always be a constant in my life.