Blogs : NCAA Division III Blog

Interviews: Hailey Harren of Gustavus Adolphus

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself (where you're from, how you got started running)?
            I am from Cold Spring, Minnesota—small town of about 3000 people.  I went to ROCORI High School where I ran Cross Country and Track, and played basketball.  Right before 7^th grade my best friend, Gretchen Wenner, asked me if I would join CC with her.  I knew I did not like volleyball so I decided to give it a shot.  Ten years later, I can’t imagine what my life would be like now if I had not made that then, relatively small decision, to join CC.

What were your PR's in high school (cross country and track)?
In high school my cross country 4k PR was 14:57.  For track I think my 1600m PR was 5:24 and my 3200m PR was 11:24.

What are your current PR's (cross country and track)?

            Currently, my 5k PR for cross is in the 17:30s and my 6k is 21:36 earlier this year—on a relatively easy course.  For track my PR for the 5k is 18:20s I believe and my 10k PR is 36:54 I think?  (sorry, I am not positive on those—don’t really keep too close track!)

What made you choose Gustavus Adolphus?
            I chose Gustavus because the “Liberal Arts Education” really appealed to me.  I went into the whole decision process thinking BIG—U of M “big.”  However, after actually looking into it, it came down to Loyola in Chicago and Gustavus—two relatively different schools.  In the end, just went with gut feeling I guess.  I did not really take running into too big of consideration when deciding but I knew if I went to Loyola I would have had to try and walk on the team and try out and at Gustavus, being DIII, I would be able to run.  Also, its perfect distance from home—2 hours.  Close enough but yet far enough away!

What was your training like this past summer?
            This past summer I started out in a different place than the past years.  I had not competed last Spring in track due to studying abroad in Germany.  Not competing, I also did not hold to a training regime while abroad and really did not run too much.  I had more of a base of slow easy miles and thus started to incorporate workouts into my running only in the middle of the summer.  I increased the length of my runs a bit each week while throwing in some threshold and pickups every now and then.  I also tried to keep track of miles my first few weeks in June, but hating being a slave to numbers, I threw out the running log and stopped keeping track.  I still hold to the training theory of running how much I feel is right.  When I am curious of how many miles I put in, I’ll go and measure or ask one of the guys, but rarely am concerned with it—I think it bothers my coaches a bit!

What is your favorite workout(s) during the cross country season and what does it include?

          Favorites of mine are probably long threshold runs.  I’ve never been one with quick speed, so repeats of any kind usually don’t go as well for me.  I feel the most fulfilled by long thresholds of 20-30 min with a steady state, shorter interval after a few minutes rest.

What are your goals for this cross country season?
            I have been asked this question a few times this year as you can imagine, and still don’t have a concrete “outcome” goal.  Some of the process goals are to have a fun season and stay injury free.  My worst fears would be to end my cross career with an injury.   As for nationals, I want to go and try to have as much fun as I did last year where I had a blast traveling and spending time with my teammate Kourtney Joyce and our coach.

What are your plans after college?
            After college I hopefully plan to go onto law school.  I just took the LSATs this past Saturday, and I guess it depends on the outcome of that score as well as the application process. 

Who has been the biggest influence in your life and/or running?
            There has been a great number of people who have been my influence and support.  My parents have shown me what balance is needed in life and because they are the strongest characters I know, I have tried to take after them in that respect.  My mother has missed maybe 2 running meets since 7^th grade, even through college and thus has been my race day support no matter where I may be.  My friend Gretchen Wenner is the one who I attribute to have fostered the love of running within me, and to her I am extremely grateful for getting me out there as a 7^th grader.  Most recently, it has been my coach Dale Bahr who has influenced my running the most. 

On the day of a race, is there anything you do to mentally prepare yourself (i.e. pre-race routine, listen to music, read a book, etc.)?

            Pre-race I listen to music and just try to relax.  Going over the race in my head helps and just trying to free up my mind of anything else but the race at hand.

Does the women's team have any team bonding activities on the day of a race (i.e., gift exchange, motivational quotes, etc.)? 

            Right before the race we jog out about 50m from the starting line and sing the “Gustie Rouser” and pump one another up to race.  Other than that we don’t have anything in particular that we do.  We’re all just there for encouragement and to pump one another up.  There is one rule we laid down for race day however, and that’s no negativity! 

What do you like the most about Gustavus Cross Country?

          The fact that it has allowed me to be the person I am, with running being just something I do.  It does not demand that it controls my life, and thus has become my stress reliever of the day instead of making my life focus only on athletics.  Also the amazing people that I have met—I currently live with two fellow teammates and a former teammate, and without cross country who knows if I would have ever been able to meet them!