Interview with 2-Time XC NCAA Champion Sally Kipyego

Interviewing Texas Tech’s two-time NCAA Cross Country National Champion Sally Kipyego of Marakwet, Kenya: the little Red Raider with fire under her feet and a heart of gold

Kipyego won her first national cross country title in 2006 at Indiana State (Kirby Lee)

So what’s it like being on a team where you race 51 seconds ahead of the #2 girl on your team—do you have people to train with during practice?

 Sally Kipyego: Actually, our #2 girl, Lilian Badaru, she and I have the same strength. She and I train together and I also train with the guys on the team. It is not often that our team is divided. Our men’s team is really supportive and they help me out: Eric, Zach, Chase, Jeremy…sometimes they even sacrifice their own training or sleep to help me! Being in the nursing program, sometimes it’s really hard to manage a normal training program and stay on the same time schedule as the rest of the team. I often have to train by myself or keep late hours and it’s challenging when you’re doing a track workout by yourself so late at night all alone. But if brings out the best in you as well if you can do it. Luckily, I have great teammates, and they get me through the rough spots.

How so?

SK: For example, this one time I reallllly really needed to do this tempo workout and I needed to hit pace. I also, due to nursing program constraints, had to start the workout at 5:30am. The boys really supported me and got me through that workout, running with me that early in the morning, and I appreciated every moment of it. I’m incredibly blessed to have them. 

Tell me what you’re excited about this season:

SK: This weekend was the most exciting weekend ever. WE WON the BIG 12 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY!!! A lot of that was due to Asia Diaz and Michelle Guzman’s performance for Texas Tech. I work with those girls all the time and I see how hard they work in practice. Michelle and Asia…they really put their hearts out there. I’ve never seen them race like they did that day—they just wanted the championship title SO BAD—as much as I did. It was great to see that happen, to be a part of this team on that day.

Your season opener was the Chile Pepper Festival, which you won with flying colors…Do you wish you had raced pre-nationals in order to have more competition?

SK: No, I don’t regret not opening my season with pre-nationals in the least. The choice was made by both myself as well as my coach (Jon Murray) based upon what would be the best for me as well as what would benefit the team. It was my third year running the Arkansas course, so the purpose was to compare both my times as well as how I felt running the course to past years in order to assess my progress and improvement. Afterwards, I had a better picture of where my body was. It was a decent race with decent competition.

So you essentially run against no competition until you get to the national meet, most always beating your field by about 45-60 seconds or more. Do you wish you had more competitions to practice racing mentally, or does having less pressure races maintain that you peak properly?

SK: Races are important and definitely help but I use each and every workout to practice mental toughness. There’s good competition in the Big 12 as well.

Do you feel a lot of pressure to win the NCAA title or do your past successes simply fuel the fire? How do you respond to pressure?

SK: It’s a big deal to me—to win that title. But there’s a price that it comes with. I want to go out there on race day, and really give it my best. Until then, I have to take it one day at a time. On that day, I’ll see how my body feels.

Your favorite part of a 6,000m race:

SK: The middle. The middle of the race is the best part because the adrenalin has died down and once the adrenalin is gone, the race becomes real. When it’s real, your concentration is all that is there…

Where are you more confident: track or XC? Which do you like more?

SK: I love cross country more, it’s more challenging. You have to persevere and concentrate.

Tell me about the recruit process: why Texas Tech?

SK: It didn’t even matter where in the US I was; I just wanted to be in the US. I had friends who were going to Texas Tech and so I wanted to go there with them. .

Hero?

SK: My mom. She’s the complete package. I admire how she raised me. I don’t take it for granted. I see her once a year now…the last time I saw her was last July. I get homesick sometimes, but its part of life. I have a community here, a family here (at Texas Tech)…everyone is very supportive and they make me feel like I am home.

What little things do you focus on to be the best—especially with the demands of nursing school?

SK: Rest. I can go all day if I’m rested.

Do you believe in days off or is a “rest day” a 4-6 mile easy run?

SK: I don’t run on Sundays. I rest. Relax. Do homework.

So then would you consider yourself a high or low mileage athlete? You used to run 15 miles a day growing up just to get to school in Kenya…has your mileage dropped since then or risen?

SK: I don’t know what high or low mileage is. My mileage has decreased in terms of I don’t run 15 miles a day anymore. Now it’s about intensity and quality focus. At the beginning of my season I will run 75-85 mile weeks. Once I did a 90 mile week. But now, my mileage just keeps going down, I don’t do a lot of strength training, but I run faster. I do a lot more core, drill, and circuit training with the team.

And when you were running 75-85 mile weeks, were you still taking Sundays off? Was that mileage out of 6 days versus 7?

SK: No, at the beginning of the season, I ran a light 6 mile run on Sunday evenings, but the core of my mileage was done during the week.

In past interviews, you’ve mentioned that part of your inspiration to attend nursing school was a pivotal moment where you saw your brother’s best friend Elias die in his and your arms in Kenya when you were very young…is Elias your motivation for running as well? Is that what you think about on the race line?

SK: No, but certain moments in your life transform you. Elias shaped who I am. I don’t take things for granted. I appreciate everything. I see it as a blessing to get a national title. There are opportunities presented in life and to be able to take them is a gift.

How did you start running?

SK: I have 2 brothers who run professionally…but mostly because in my country (Kenya), there are a lot of people to look up to (who run).

Do you find this environment in the US less fostering of running than Kenya? How do you feel about that?

SK: Running brings my country a lot of fame, so the country acknowledges it. How a sport plays a role in its community directly affects people’s reactions to it. Being in the US, I’ve become a football fan. I love it, haha!

Are you a diehard Texas Tech football fan now?

SK: YES! Last weekend was very exciting—we beat Texas!!!

Texas Tech was the right choice for you then?

SK: YES. My coach, Jon Murray: he’s amazing. He makes me run fast. I respond well to his workouts and he’s so supportive—so’s my entire team. Coach Murray, he works around my schedule SO MUCH! I don’t know if ANYONE else could or would have done that. Working with him truly is a great opportunity…I am blessed.

The Trackshark Staff would sincerely like to thank Sally for agreeing to take some time aside of her incredibly hectic nursing program and cross country training schedule in order to conduct what was one of my favorite phone interviews yet. This is an athlete who is truly humbled to life, inspired by her teammates, and who is serving as a prominent motivating face to runners everywhere. Best of luck at Nationals Sally, and never stop shining that strong character that epitomizes your success both on and off the course.

great get!

01:50, 6 November 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

This is a great get for an interview. Interviewing the soon to be 3 time champ is great for your track resume!

Great Interview

04:56, 6 November 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

Just wanted to say good luck at Nationals and in your studies. Your story is very inspiring.

wow

03:58, 7 November 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

awesome interview, I'll be rooting for her come race day.

get it!!

04:28, 7 November 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

thanks for mentioning me in there. good luck at nationals. I know you will do well!!

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01:52, 7 November 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

This article made it to the front page of Letsrun.com!
It's under Recommended Read For All People Who Think Kenyans Shouldn't Get US Scholarships: "Sally Kipyego Staying In Shape By Training With The Guy's Team... The guys will even get up at 5:30 so she can do tempos prior to her demanding nursing schedule."

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11:43, 7 November 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

Great interview of a great athlete and an even better person! As a fellow Big 12er, I have truly loved watching Sally compete over the past few years. More importantly, I have always been so impressed by the way she interacts with her teammates, coaches, competitors and fans. She always carries herself poise, grace and humility. What a class act! Good luck this year, Sally! The Big 12 will miss you when you are done!

Sally

03:27, 14 November 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

inspiring, valuable!