Hannah Childs, Cross Country Sophomore, Music Education
Grandview Heights, Ohio
I WILL continue to improve upon my PR in track and cross country for the next three years
I WILL show Capital University that it is not impossible to excel in music and running
I WILL graduate in Capital University with the best running and educational memories of my life
One of four freshmen on last year's cross country team, Hannah Childs and her classmates played a key role in the team's success in 2008. Now a sophomore, Childs talked with sports information assistant Bryan DeArdo about the legacy she and her teammates hope to build, her preference in running shoes, and her life on campus outside of practice.
BD: What was your first year of running cross country at Capital like?
HC: I had a really good experience. By the end of the year, both the guys and the girls team's bonded, and I got faster, which was nice to see heading into summer and next cross country season.
BD: Was it challenging getting adjusted to both the life as a college student and an NCAA athlete?
HC: I was always busy, and running on only six hours of sleep was hard at times. But I loved every minute of it, and I always had things to look forward to, like races and spending time with friends. This experience really taught me the value of time management and utilizing the free time you do have.
BD: You also found out this year that you have an iron deficiency. How different do you feel now that you have started taking medication for the deficiency?
HC: I feel so much better. I was always tired after my runs, but I figured that was because running is hard and can make you tired. Now, I feel like I have even more energy and don't feel as tired when I'm done running. I tore my ACL when I was a freshmen in high school, so this wasn't the first time I have dealt with a health issue.
BD: How long did you have to recover from the ACL injury before you were able to run up to your standards again?
HC: It took a long time. When I first came back, I could only run four miles on the treadmill at level four. After a lot of hard work and patience, I began being able to cut and increase my speed. That experience really increased my love for running, because once it was taken away and I had to fight to get it back, I learned how important running is to me.
BD: What is the biggest difference between high school and college cross country?
HC: The biggest change for me was how late the races were. Races in high school were always in the morning, and in college we had some races in the late afternoon or evening. I'm doing more afternoon running now in the summer to prepare for those late races in the fall.
BD: Do you have a favorite memory from last season?
HC: The best time I had was when we all went to Marietta for the league meet. It was fun to go out to dinner as a team and spend the night at Marietta. It was also really cool to hear some of the seniors talk to us the night before the meet. We had great team bonding, and that was when I felt closest to the team.
BD: What are your individual and team goals for the team this fall?
HC: I know we have a couple of strong, promising freshmen coming in, and they will contribute right away. I think that these freshmen will be a solid foundation for our team. We can improve at the league meet as well. I just want to keep getting faster, and would like to break my personal best time of 21:47 (for the five kilometer race).
BD: What is your routine the night before a meet?
HC: One thing that has always stayed consistent is that I want to have something sweet the night before a race, especially ice cream or cookies I always run my best races if I have something sweet to eat the night before. That's really my only routine. I try to stay away from the mental aspects of running, like always needing to know my splits during races, and my pace during workouts.
BD: The All-Ohio and Marietta cross country courses are regarded as two of the more challenging in the state, and maybe the country. After running both courses last year, which one is harder?
HC: I'd say it depends on the weather and course condition on the day of the race. Both are hard though.
BD: You're a music education major here at Capital. What instrument do you play?
HC: The saxophone. I love playing it because like running, it gives me a release and a way to express myself. I've also made some good friends in my music classes, which has made school really fun for me.
BD: What other aspects of Capital are you looking forward to when school begins again in the fall?
HC: I'm excited to see my friends again and catch up with them about how their summers went.
BD: Six of the 10 women on last year's team were either freshmen or sophomores. Do you feel like you and your fellow teammates are starting a new chapter in the program's history?
HC: I definitely do. I feel like Sarah (Trick) and I have a real desire to get better. We've already started talking to the incoming freshmen girls, and they seem like great girls and runners.