Big thanks to all of the ladies on the Katy DMR for joining together for the Q&A this week. They are coming off a succesful weekend where they crushed their season opener DMR at the Bubba Fife Relays in a new US #1 of 12:32.
Christie Terhune - 800m | Athlete Profile
Abby Brudnick - 1200m | Athlete Profile
Mallory Morgan - 400m | Athlete Profile
Emily Voss - 1600m | Athlete Profile
1. Thanks Ladies for taking the time to answer some questions. First, congrats on the successful day at Bubba Fife Relays where you took top honors in the DMR. How does it feel to start your season with a result like that?
Christie: It was a relief to know that all the hard work we put in in the off season was worth it. That we did the hard stuff and now it's time for the fun part. I'm very excited to see what this season has in store, and putting out a nice time like we did makes me hopeful of what's to come.
Abby: It felt fantastic to finally get to race again and get all of my nerves out, and winning gave me confidence for the rest of my races that day.
Mallory: I feel like we're off to a great start! I can't wait to see what the rest of the season has in store for us and we will definitely have more victories.
Emily: It feels great to start out with a race like we had it feels almost rewarding and it sets a positive vibe for the upcoming races!
2. Take a second to talk about your individual legs. What was your goal at the start of the day, did you have a strategy in mind for how to approach it, and how did you run during the race?
Christie: My top goal in any relay is to not be a burden on my team, as long as I help in some little way then I feel like I accomplished something. I don't have much experience running the 800 so I tried to get out fast because I knew that even if I couldn't go faster I could keep the pace.
Abby: My individual goal was to hand it off in first and also just to not run scared or nervous and have confidence in every move that I made. My strategy was originally to lead and compete with anyone who went with me, but I decided to sit and wait when I saw 2 other people go out hard.
Mallory: Every time I race, my goal is to get a faster time than what I've run before. For this race I just wanted to run the hardest I could and to not let my team down. I think I had a great race, but there is always room for improvement.
Emily: My goal was to break 5:20 in the mile, my strategy was just to stay positive through the 1st and 3rd laps and just to use my heart for the 4th lap. I did exactly that when I actually raced, I wish I would have pushed myself a little harder on the third lap.
3. The DMR isn't really a race that athletes train for. It isn't run very often, yet you still placed 3rd last year at Texas Relays. For a race of that size, do you do any special prep for the DMR?
Christie: Honestly, we don't do anything special for it. The DMR for us is just a combination of our girls who would usually run that race in the open or on another relay. Although, a couple of us move up and run longer distances then we usually do. Abby steps up and runs the 1200, she's usually our 800 runner and I go up to the 800, which I don't do regularly. But other than that we just go out there, try to do our best and compete.
Abby: Throughout the year I just train for my individual races and don't really do any special prep for the DMR.
Mallory: I just do my normal training and work on hand offs with my teammates.
Emily: We have been doing more speed workouts to help us run the faster races I think that has helped us train for the DMR.
4. When do you feel the most pressure/nerves, when you're toeing the line for an individual event, or about to receive the baton in a relay?
Christie: I feel the nerves more on an individual event because I'm alone. I know in a relay that my teammates have my back. We share the pressure and we'll help each other out. It's always comforting to hand off the baton to one of your friends knowing they would never let you down.
Abby: I definitely feel a lot more pressure in individual races because it is just you giving everything you have, but in a relay you can rely on your teammates to help get back into the race if you don't do your best.
Mallory: I feel more nervous toeing the line for an individual event because I feel more pressure and I start worrying about my start.
Emily: I usually feel the nerves throughout the whole day of the meet. I feel the most nerves when I'm toeing the line, I usually have to talk myself into actually getting myself to run.
5. For the DMR, what are your goals this season in terms of a place/time? And in order to meet that goal what do you each need to run individually in your leg of the relay?
Christie: I would love to see our DMR up in the national rankings throughout the season. There is still a lot of work to be done but I feel like we have a great start this season. It'd be awesome to keep dropping time in my leg of the relay. I PRed this weekend with a 2:17 so I'm going to see just how much time I can drop before seasons over. The 800m is something I'd like to continue to improve in and if I drop time in that then I can only help our DMR.
Abby: My goal for the DMR this season is to break 12:00 and possibly get first at Texas Relays. My individual goal is to either run a sub 3:40 1200 or a 5:00 1600 depending on which leg I run.
Mallory: I would love for us to get a faster time as we go through the season and hopefully finish first in every meet. I definitely hope that we get 1st in the nation this year. Personally, I need to work on a faster 400 time in order to improve my part in the DMR.
Emily: I think we could all agree on breaking our own record which is 12:05 I think that would be a great goal to set and reach!
6. Outside of the DMR, what other events do you run on the track, and which individual event or relay is your favorite?
Christie: I also run the 300H and the 4x4. I love the 300H, it's exciting and stressful all at the same time. There's something about the hurdles that just makes you fall in love with them. They're my favorite for sure, but the 4x4 is nice because it's suspenseful and thrilling. Sometimes it's up to the 4x4 for whether or not the whole team wins. That pressure just ups the adrenaline level, which ups the fun.
Abby: This season I will be running the 800, 1600, and 4x4. My favorite is definitely the 800 because it is what I have run since middle school and always have the most fun racing it.
Mallory: Besides the DMR, I run 300 meter hurdles. Although I don't get to run it often, I love the 4x400!
Emily: I usually run the mile, 2 mile, steeple chase, and 4x8. Steeple chase is my absolute favorite race.
7. As individuals, what are your time/place goals in your different events this season? Which goal do you want the most, and which do you think will be most difficult to achieve?
Christie: I'd really like to make it to state this year! I went my freshman year but in Oklahoma, while I am very proud of that I want to make it in Texas. That won't be easy though, Region 3 is an incredibly fast region. But I'm ready to give it all I've got, the great competition only means I'll get faster running against them!
Abby: My main goal this season is to make it to state for the 800 and to run a 2:12. I also want to run a 57s split for the 4x4 and a 5:00 1600. I think making it to state in the 800 will be the most challenging because there are a lot of good 800 runners in my region.
Mallory: My personal goals this season are to beat my personal records in 300 meter hurdles and the 400. I like 300 meter hurdles, but I really love the 400! I think both times will be a challenge for me to beat, but I'm willing to do everything I can to become the best I can possibly be!
Emily: My goal is to break 5:10 in the mile, 11:20 in the 2 mile, and around 7:00 in the steeple chase.
8. What has been the best running advice you've ever received?
Christie: I was worried about a race last year and one of my coaches told me to “trust my training". I'm pretty hard on myself and have to constantly remind myself that I've put in the work and my legs are prepared for this race. It helps me to relax and focus on the job at hand when I have a little faith in what I've been doing since last season.
Abby: The best advice that I have been given was from my brother that even when you have bad races it's important to treat them as a learning experience and use them as an opportunity to improve.
Mallory: The best running advice I have ever received is to know that your race is going to hurt, but to be at peace with that. Just run your race.
Emily: The best advice I have received is "if you want to be great you have to do great things" and that was from my coach.
9. Go through your pre-race routine. How do you physically & mentally prep yourself for a race, and do you have any rituals/superstitions?
Christie: I have a pair of socks that I've worn in every single race I've ever been in. Middle school to junior year, track to cross country, they've been through it all. There are so many holes in them that all of my toes stick out. They hardly even qualify as socks anymore but I refuse to race in any other pair.
Abby: I always eat pasta about 2 nights before and drink a lot of water throughout the week and the day of my race. I usually get super nervous and have to calm myself down before and usually don't talk a lot right before. And I always wear the same light grey headband for every race.
Mallory: To prepare myself on a race day, I normally listen to music that puts me in a good mood and makes me feel confident. I drink lots of water and I'm cautious about the amount and what I eat that day. I also have the idea that I have lucky socks that make my nerves go away so every race day I wear them!
Emily: I usually prep myself for a race by thinking Positive the day before, I mentally image myself doing great, I think about how great I will feel crossing that finish line and contributing a win for my team, I listen to music to help me get in a more upbeat vibe. And right before the race I pray and ask that I give my best no matter what and to help my teammates out no matter how hard it will be.
10. Who has been an inspirational figure in your running career?
Christie: I have a lot of people in my life that I can look up to. My team is my family and every day they inspire me to better myself. All of my teammates and coaches are such a blessing in my life. All of my coaches work extremely hard and I'm so thankful for them. They inspire me to better myself and be the best I can be. I have no idea what I would do without my crazy track family!
Abby: My biggest inspiration has always been my older brother who ran the 400 hurdles and 4x4 for the University of Texas. He always worked super hard and never gave up in everything that he did.
Mallory: My teammate Christie, who ran the 800 in the DMR, has given me inspiration to always strive to be positive and do my best. LoLo Jones has also been a person I've looked up to since before my track career.
Emily: My coach has been my biggest inspiration, he was the reason I started to run cross country and track and he has been the one to push me the hardest through my high school career he has taught me to be the runner I am and leaving him in the fall will be one of the hardest things that I will have to overcome!
11. Random question as always to wrap it up. For the other 3 girls in the relay, if you could choose ANY event on the track for each of them, that they would have to run, what would you pick?
Christie: I think Abby would rock shot-put since she's always throwing things instead of walking over to hand them. I've decided it's a long term side effect of her basketball days. I'd like to see Emily in the 4x2, because her scrappiness and fighting spirit will propel her to new heights. Mallory I think needs to try more relays with me because she's usually my partner when we practice handoffs and I really like our handoffs together.
Abby: If I could let Christie try any event it would be pole vault because she has always wanted to try it, I would let Mallory do 100H because she is a good hurdler, and Emily on the 4x4 because she has some speed and always will do anything to help her team and win.
Mallory: I would make Abby try the 100 meter dash! She has always been great at everything she runs, but I think that would be an interesting race for her! I would love to see Christie run the 200, she always has so much energy! For Emily, I think it would be riveting to see her try hurdles considering I've never seen her try them before!
Emily: I would pick Abby to do the 100 meter dash, Christie do the 2 mile, Mallory to do the 2 mile