Name: Allie Schadler
School: Rio Rico High School
Year: Senior
When did you begin competitive running?
I began actual xc and track training when I was in 6th grade. My mom was the coach at my middle school. I had raced in elementary school but just for fun when my school put on small races. 6th grade was when my real running career began.
What does a typical training week look like for you?
Each week we have two hard workouts (Monday and Wednesday) and the rest of the days are recovery runs and then a race either Friday or Saturday. When I have weeks off of racing, I have a long run on Sunday which is 11 miles.
What is something that helps you mentally prepare for a race?
Before each race my dad gives everyone on my team a race planning sheet where we write our goal for that race on the top of the paper and then write the ways this goal can be accomplished. By having my goal in mind before a race and my plan to execute it I am able to mentally prepare for a race.
What's your favorite XC meet?
I have gone to the Woodbridge Invitational for two years and I think it is an awesome meet! I like it because I get to race different people (since they are from CA) but also because it is a flat and extremely fast course. It's a lot of fun!
(Photo by Ben Crawford)
What's your favorite pre-race meal?
I don't have a specific pre-race meal. My mom always makes really good food so I eat anything!
What's your season goal?
I have many goals for this season. I want to be a four-time state champion and I want to be a National Champion. Both will be hard to accomplish but I am looking forward to the challenge.
Do/Did you have any role models on the team or from years past? What did you learn from them?
Carlos Villarreal was a role model for me. I saw how hard he worked at practice to be the best he could be. He never gave up no matter how hard the workout was and I admired that. I trained with him for two years and he taught me how to never give up at any point in my training or race but most importantly he taught me how fun running - but more so competing - can really be.
You've been the fastest on the team since your Freshman year. Did you like the responsibility of leading the team at first? Or has that changed over time?
When I first came into high school my goal was to make varsity. I soon realized I had not only made varsity but I was the fastest girl on my team. I was scared being the fastest because I was new to the high school xc scene so I had no one to help show me the way. But I loved being a role model for the girls on my team. I feel like each one of them is my sister and I have a responsibly to take care of them and make them the best they can be. It is very important to me.
Your sister is doing very well. What motivational advice of your own do you give to her and other younger athletes?
I was very excited to have my sister be a part of my team. I knew she would make us a lot better and it's fun having her at practice each day. My sister puts a lot of pressure on herself which is good, but I just remind her to have fun and go into a race knowing she is the only one she has something to prove to. You should never join xc or race because you want to show someone else what you are capable of. You should only be doing the sport for yourself. And when you are, that's when it becomes fun!
You said that you take Academics very seriously. What's your favorite subject in school? Why?
My favorite subject in school is probably AP Calculus. My teacher is the best math teacher I have ever had and I feel like I learn a lot. It can get challenging but I still love the class. It has taught me to work really hard in academics just as I have in running.
Will you be racing any post-season meets (NXN or FL West)?
I will be racing NXN this year.
