Meet Alabama Cross Country Freshman Rachael Reddy
10/12/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
What brought you to Alabama?
When I first started my college search, Alabama was not even on the list. I was uninterested in staying close to home or even in the state. Once I got to Texas though, I quickly realized how hard it is to be one of the few out of state students and very far from home. Family is really important in my life, so transferring to Alabama allows me to be closer to those I love most. When I came to visit Alabama, I was blown away by the campus, athletic facilities, the coaches, and how friendly and welcoming everyone was to me.
In your opinion, what is your best distance race and why?
I'm fairly new to distance running in general, but I find the 5k to be a comfortable distance for me where I can set a pace and try my best to keep it consistent the whole way through.
What is your favorite distance race and why?
My favorite distance is probably the 5k as well. It's been really fun to race it on the track and in cross country because it's just long enough where I feel I can keep confidence in my pace and finish strong.
Are you competing in any new distance races that you did not train for in high school?
I was a soccer player for years before picking up running, so I never ran cross country in high school. Cross country in general has definitely been an adjustment! I've run a couple 5k races on the track over the summer, but other than that most of the events I'll run in college will be completely different than the shorter distances I've trained for before now.
If so, what has been the biggest challenge?
The biggest challenge has been getting used to the volume of training that comes with cross country. Coming out of high school I had never heard of a "long run" or "doubling." The workouts for cross country are always intense, but those hill workouts get me every time!
What has been the biggest challenge in training as a collegiate athlete overall?
Overall the biggest challenge in training for me is knowing when I need to recover or take a day easy. I used to try to go hard every run, but I now see that is physically impossible when training at this level for cross country. Sometimes it's hard for me to accept that my body needs a break, but when I give it time to recover, I'm always happy with my performances after some rest. I think it's true that the most gains are made in training when you are taking time to recover your body.
What has been the best part about training as a collegiate athlete?
Without any doubt, the best part about training as a collegiate athlete is having a team of a girls who are all just as dedicated, determined, and driven as I want to be. My teammates push me day in and day out to be the best I can be whether that's in running, the classroom, or as a person in general.
How would you describe the cross country team's chemistry?
Simply put, I couldn't ask for better teammates. Coming into a new team as the "new girl" was a bit nerve-racking, but the team was more welcoming than I could have imagined. I would describe our team as not only teammates, but as best friends and as close as sisters. I feel like this kind of chemistry can be hard to find, so I feel unbelievably thankful to be a part of this close-knit team and family.
What is your favorite part about practice?
My favorite part about practice is when we crush a workout that we may have had doubts about going into it. It's so awesome to see what all of these girls I get to run with are capable of. There's no better feeling than finishing a hard workout and knowing we just improved as a team.
If you could compete in any event, what would it be and why?
If I could do any event I'd choose to compete in the hurdles. When we do hurdle drills I struggle just walking over them, yet the hurdlers fly over them like gazelles! I think it's a really cool event because you have to be super fast but also very technical. I don't know how they do it, so I'll just stick to watching and cheering them on!
What are you looking forward to most this cross country season?
This cross country season I am really looking forward to seeing how far our team goes. It's my first cross country season, but I really feel like this team has what it takes to make it to the top in November. We've worked really hard everyday, so I think the best part is still yet to come!
What are some of your goals for this cross country season?
My main goal for this cross season is to just enjoy the experience of cross country and being part of a collegiate team as we travel and compete for big titles. It would be awesome to come away with personal records or a top place at nationals, but my main goal is the same as it has always been with running, which is to have fun and see where it takes me.
What motivates you?
The biggest motivation for me is knowing God is always on my side and has brought me along every journey in my life for reasons only He knows. For races, I write "Isaiah 40:31" on my wrist where my watch usually is. Whenever I start fading or doubting myself in a race, a quick look at my wrist and I'm reminded God gave me this talent to glorify Him, and that helps me finish strong.
What is the greatest part about being a student-athlete for The University of Alabama?
The best part about being a student athlete at UA has been getting to know so many phenomenal athletes in both my sport and other sports. It has been really cool to see how the sports teams at Alabama support one another and make up one big family regardless of our differences in sport.
What are some of your hobbies outside of training?
Outside of training, when I'm not studying for school, I love to make cards and write letters to friends and family. I have an embarrassing collection of sharpies and ball point pens that I love to use and attempt to get artsy with. I find it really rewarding to see someone smile when they read a little note showing them they are loved!
