Photo courtesy of Marketing and Communications department
Kristin Zielinski, a senior, has been running Cross Country since she was in the seventh grade.
She feels that her strongest quality as a runner is that she has a strong base on distance. She works primarily on the 800 and gets a “fast kick in the end.” What keeps her motivated to run is the team. According to Zielinksi, she loves their company and has a great sense of unity with them.”We all work hard and stay together,” Zielinski said.
Zielinski runs the 800. Her best time was 19.16 in the beginning of this year and it was done at Arcadia College. In the Belmont Classic, she placed fourth out of 105.
Zielinski prepares for a race with what she calls a “normal warm-up.” She tries not to think too much about the race and to keep a clear head and to stay focused.
She practices two times daily. The first practice usually consists of a three-mile run. The second practice of the day varies with distance and speed. The distance run ranges from four to six miles a day during the week and totals up to 25 to 35 miles per week. Her Sunday long distance run is eight miles long. The speed work consists of intervals and repeats.
There are many long, hard hours behind Zielinski’s accomplishments.
