BLEACHER FEATURE

Laura Brindley ’16 hails from the same Seattle-area school as the last Athlete of the Week, Kara Lungmus ’13. Brindley is part of a strong group of first-years making their mark on Wellesley cross country this fall. She took first place in the Wellesley Invitational on Oct. 20.

Brindley is a Type I diabetic who has to monitor her blood sugar carefully before every practice and meet. She sat down with me to talk about how she stays healthy, and why she admires Olympic gold medalist Allyson Felix . 

Emily Bary (E.B.): Why did you choose to run cross country at Wellesley?

Laura Brindley ’16 (L.B.): I really liked the team dynamic when I visited. I knew that the school would push me enough so that I could improve as an athlete while also letting me focus on getting a good education.

E.B.: What is a typical practice like for you? What is your training like?

L.B.: On Mondays, we do a long distance run. On Tuesdays, we do a speed workout. I’m injured so I like to do mine on the elliptical just to be safe. Wednesday is our off day, and Thursday is a medium distance run with 30-second bursts of speed. Friday is pre-meet practice, so I usually do 20 minutes on the elliptical. Saturday is the meet, and Sunday is post-meet practice. I like to do an eight-mile distance run then.

E.B.: When did you start running?

L.B.: I started in the seventh grade just for fun. I was not the most gifted runner in middle school or the beginning of high school, but I started working harder and getting better.

E.B.: What’s the hardest thing about running?

L.B.: I’m a Type I Diabetic so managing that is a challenge sometimes. When my blood sugar gets low, I have to stop so that I can drink juice and eat something. I have to make sure that my blood sugar is on the high side before a race or distance run.

E.B.: How did it feel to win the Wellesley Invitational?

L.B.: It was exciting! I’ve never won a cross country race before. The team is always out there supporting each other, even in the muggy weather. We were all exhausted so that means we pushed our hardest.

E.B.: What do you eat before a big race?

L.B.: For breakfast, I’ll eat a banana and a bowl of oatmeal, with a glass of water or orange juice. If the meet is later, I’ll have a peanut butter sandwich, a cup of fruit and a small dessert.

E.B.: What’s your pre-race ritual?

L.B.: Just getting a solid warm-up, and making sure I’m as relaxed as I can be.

E.B.: Who is your favorite runner?

L.B.: I am a fan of Allyson Felix because of her work ethic and how she looks when she runs—when she runs the 200, she just glides.

Brindley finished in 40th place at the New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference championship on Saturday, Oct. 27, where the Blue took second place as a team.