The following is an original interview from B-Fit Newsletter
in Fall of 2000.
To what do you attribute
your longevity as a competitive runner?
I have 10 brothers and sisters, and we’ve always been
involved with running and all kind of sports.
It’s always been a part of my life.
I love competition. I love seeing
what develops. It is a wonderful progression. It’s just the positive
experiences that I’ve had, that I desire to continue.
Out of your 23 years
of running, do you have a favorite memory or race?
I would have to go back to that race [in 1982] in Oregon
where I ran 9:10 in the 3000. The day
before, my older sister came to visit and I gave her my bed, so I slept on the
floor. I got up the next morning feeling
like my back was not quite right and wondering how I’d do in the race. But it just all came together. It was so easy. It was one of those few instances that you
have when it just feels easy. That was
just a wonderful thrill to be running that fast, especially as a freshman.
What happened in
college?
I had bursitis in the hip and knee, and I had problems with
the IT band. I think a lot of it was
overtraining. At Oregon, at that time,
there were some great runners. I felt
pressure to perform at a high level.
When you’re trying to reach your highest level, you get caught up in
‘more is better.’ I started to feel the
effects by having injuries.
What kept you coming
back?
I truly love to run.
I’ve had so many wonderful experiences through running. Even through the bad; even through the
injuries. Those were some hard times,
but they were also great learning experiences.
I feel blessed to have gone through that. I feel like I’m a better runner, a better
person through it all.
How were the injuries
a blessing?
I believe that my decision-making and training now is
better. I try to listen to my body more.
I don’t try to get into a routine and just go, go, go. If I need to take a day off, I’ll take the
day off. That’s different for me. I used to just get into that routine, and I’d
go whether I was tired or not. This time
around, I’m getting a sense of my body and responding to it.
What other injuries
have you faced?
In ’93, I started having some problems with the para formus
ligament, deep down in the hamstring. It
was just some achiness, so I continued to race and train, but my times were 2-3
minutes slower. I was getting
frustrated. I was just off and on from
’93 to ’95, racing here and there, training here and there.
But you still ran the
Trials in ‘96?
In 1996, I ended up doing the Olympic Trials in the marathon
while still having this problem, while still having the injury. After the Trials in 1996, I decided, ‘I need
to take a break. This is just too
much. If I’m ever going to do anything
with running, I just need to get away.’
So right after the Olympic Trials in 1996, I took time off. I stopped training at the high level. I was just running 5 miles a day and just
doing it for health reasons.
How long did this
last?
2 years. It was a
good thing. I’m so grateful that I did
that, because I realized that running isn’t my life. I can have fun and enjoy life without
running. I didn’t know that I could do
that. [Running] has been such a large
part of my life for so many years, that I didn’t think I could come to a point
where I could give it up and be OK. Now,
I know that when it comes time to give it up and to move on, I can do it.
How did you make this
transition?
During those two years, it was difficult. I think it’s like an addiction. As long as you’re in that environment, you
have a tendency to keep pushing. So, I
no longer went to San Antonio Park and did training runs; I no longer went to
the track. I was basically running the 5
miles at a new park, at a new place.
That was good therapy for me. It
was important to get myself completely out of that environment so that I could
just see a different light, see a different way of living that I hadn’t been
used to before.
How was your life
different?
I was having a lot of fun doing things for other
people. The running and the training
takes so much time, and the focus is on self.
I had an opportunity during those two years to focus on other
people. That was just a wonderful,
wonderful experience and joy.
What got you back
into running?
I had come to a point where if I needed to give it up, then
I was willing to do that. I had such peace
in my heart that things were okay whether I had running in my life or whether I
didn’t. I just prayed about it and had
other people pray about it. I basically
said, ‘Lord, if this is Your will, if You want me back in running, then I’m
there. If it’s not Your will for me to
be in running, shut the doors.’ Probably
a month later, I just sensed that I needed to be back out there. For different reasons. Not so much for myself, but this time for
helping others. There’s so much knowledge and experience that you can share
with others that can help them in some way.
That’s the bigger picture.
This was a major
change?
Oh yes. Before, I was focused on myself. I didn’t talk to people. It was ‘isolate myself and get focused and
get prepared.’ Now I try to be more
open. If it’s just a ‘hi’, if it’s just
a smile, if it’s just a pat on the back, if it’s just sharing an experience or
knowledge about running– if it motivates and encourages other people– then I
feel like it’s a good thing.
How is your outlook
different?
This time around, after my injuries, running isn’t
everything. Running is not more important than my family. If something comes up with my family, I’ll
drop everything with running and do whatever I need to do for family. God is number one in my life. My faith in God, my trust in God, that’s my
desire. To go out and do what I do– the
running, the training, the teaching– to help others. That’s my focus now.
Who’s
coaching you?
Jeff Johnson (of the Farm Team) did the workouts for the
[Olympic] Trials; I’ve felt like I have benefited tremendously from it. I believe in his program. The women on the Farm Team have also helped
me tremendously. I just really feel
blessed to be there and have the opportunity to train with some very talented
women
How did you train for
the Trials?
I was putting in 90-100 mile weeks every week. I was weight-lifting, swimming 2-3 times a
week, and doing spin-bike 2-3 times a week.
I felt that I got so strong doing that.
At 20 miles [into a marathon], when things feel like they’re shutting
down, and the legs are getting tired and fatigued, I can still hold on because
of the strength that I have in my legs.
A big part of this is the cross-training.
Tell us about the [2000] Olympic Trials.
I felt confident more than ever before in any other
Trials. I felt like I had a good chance
of making the team. I went for it. And I was 16th place.
I was frustrated and disappointed at the time. But now that it’s over and I can reflect and
look back, I’m just very thankful. I’ve
had my struggles with running, and just to be healthy and strong and to go into
that race feeling like I was in the best shape of my life– what more could I
ask? It didn’t come out the way I wanted
it to, but that’s the challenge of the marathon. I’ll just try again. I’m tired of hearing people say, ‘You’re
getting up there; you’re getting older.’
As long as I’m healthy and having fun and the desire is there, I’m going
to continue to pursue it.
So 2004 is on the
agenda? [Editors note: The original interview was done in 2000, Rosa has since competed in the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Trials]
Definitely. I feel
like I haven’t given the marathon the chance to see what I could really
do. So I’m going to focus more. This last year I’ve run marathons every 3-4
months. I did Twin Cities in the fall
[2:41], the Trials [in February], and
I’m going to do Grandma’s next month.
I’m just going to try to do more and get more experience. With more experience, I will know what to do
when something comes up– when this is hurting or this is not quite right– and
I’ll be able to make the adjustments that I need to make.
What’s your training
like now?
For this marathon, I’m only running once a day. I’m trying to get the mileage on my interval
days. Twice a week I do the
intervals. I’m trying to do a long
warm-up and a long cool-down; basically, getting anywhere from 18-20 miles on
those interval days. I feel like this is
going to better prepare me for the marathon.
When you get out 20 miles for the marathon and you’re tired and
fatigued, that’s the same feeling I get when doing a hard workout and then
going out for another hour to run.
How do you balance it
all, with training and working full-time?
It’s very difficult. During the intense times when I’m focused
on training and racing, it’s pretty much teaching and training and going to
church, and that’s about it. Sometimes I
do get really, really tired; I get exhausted working with kids. So I make adjustments along the way. I think that that’s where the change has
been; normally I would just keep going, going, going. This time around, I’m really sensing my body.
Have you made many
sacrifices?
Yes, I think that in the beginning I sacrificed a lot. In
the past, I didn’t do a lot of things with my family because I felt like it
would affect my training and racing and performance. Also, there are some young
people that I could have helped through coaching that I didn’t because of
running. I’ve spent a lot of time with training.
Do you regret that at
all?
No, I don’t, because this is the time of life, right now,
when I’m focusing on that. That doesn’t
mean that I’m going to do it the rest of my life. When I was taking time away
from running, I was able to help others and that was a wonderful experience;
I’m not doing that as much because of the commitment that running is taking
even now. But I believe that there is a
time and a place that is for running and a time and place for those other
things. Right now, I just sense that
this is the time [for running].
What advice do you
want to share young women out there?
To listen to your body.
If you’re feeling tired, to take
a day off. To not get caught up in the
miles, in a routine and schedule. To be
flexible with training. You’re the only one who really knows deep down what is
right and what is wrong; listen to that.
Sometimes, when you’re training and racing and doing
everything, it seems like you have to do it [all] on your own. But there are people out there who can help
you. The Runner’s Factory, for instance;
they help me with shoes and clothing and things. If you
look for it and you sell yourself, there are opportunities out there. I think too, just to keep your dreams alive
with running. To never give up, to
continue to pursue it as long as you’re having fun and as long as that desire
is there. Not only will you benefit, but
you will allow others to benefit from it as well through sharing and through
your experiences. Sometimes it’s just
your presence that blesses others.
What’s the future
looking like?
I’m looking and seeing good things. I’m looking to run better times. I know that in the Trials I was in the best
shape of my life. I’m excited because I
don’t know what to expect. If you had asked me a couple years ago: ‘Where
are you going to be in two years?’ I
would have said, ‘Well, maybe running, but I don’t know how seriously.’ If you would have said: ‘Do you think you’ll
run the Trials in 2000?’ I couldn’t have
given you an answer. If you had asked
me: ‘Do you think you’ll be in the best shape of your life?’ I would have said ‘I don’t think so.’ And yet it all happened. I’m here.
I would encourage you, if you love running and desire to continue, never
give up. Your days ahead may be your
best. Keep the faith.
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