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Jody
Hawkins Jody Hawkins, 42, is the former U.S. women's record-holder in the half marathon. During her road racing career, she has set won six U.S. titles at distances ranging from the 5K to half-marathon. She currently holds the Masters 3,000-meter indoor record, set in 2008. Jody is the 2008 NCAA Division III women's cross-country coach of the year, achieved at the University of Dallas. She is among the women’s favorites in the U.S. Masters Half-Marathon Championship. |
| The
Melbourne Marathon.com: The bulk of your racing has been at distances
of 12K or less, but you did set an American record in the half marathon
in 1998 and have run well when you've raced the distance. What are
the factors of a half marathon that you like? Jody Hawkins: Well, I really never focused on the half because I loved the shorter stuff. I set the AR off of long runs of only 10 miles. After running a 1:11.47 I new that somewhere along the road I would focus on the longer races. Unfortunately I got osteoporosis in 1999 and that dream was over for me. The Melbourne Marathon.com: How does your success at lesser distances suit you for the half? JH: Well I don’t think the shorter distances suit me for the half, but I do think that my strength is pretty good. The Melbourne Marathon.com: What is your basic training regimen? JH: I do a lot of tempo runs in the hills and love to crank my MP3 player and gut it out for 10 milers. I’ll do that at least once a month. I also do a lot of reps with short rest year round that keep me feeling invincible. The Melbourne Marathon.com: In 1993 and 1994, you won four national titles, shared in a world (relay) championship, and finished sixth in reader voting for both Runner's World and Running Times' Runner of the Year. What were some of the key ingredients to this great string of performances that you have since utilized in your training, or race prep, or racing, or coaching? JH: I have always been very consistent as an athlete. I have maybe had three or four bad races in 30 years of racing. I very realistic in my training and know exactly where I am. My husband would often ask me, "What do you think you'll run at the race?" Most of the time I could tell him within 15 seconds for 5k and 30 for 10k. I just know my body very well, and wear I am in my training. I love to train alone and I feel it has been a great advantage for me. I know when I can push harder and I know when I need to rest more. I don't have to go when I'm not ready physically to do so. I would say that my success on the roads in the 90's was due to consistent, year round training, a young body, passionate heart and eager mind. A great combo!! TheMelbourneMarathon.com: A recent survey by Road Runners Club of America said that people over 35 favor two distances over all others – 10K and the Half. Why would masters runners favor these over, say, a 5K? And why do you feel people over 35 are so well suited for the longer distance races? JH: I would say if your lucky enough to train without injury, year after year after year than certainly a 35 year old will be stronger at 35 than they were at 30. Look at Colleen (De Reuck); she is a beast! However, the older you get the slower you are to recover, which is why the 5k is such a draw for me. I can race one this week and think about racing one the next, where in the half I will be sore and tired for a couple of weeks before anything feels good again. TheMelbourneMarathon.com: When you're preparing for a national championship like that in Melbourne, on a mostly flat course with likely fair weather, what are some of the considerations in your training? JH: I will hydrate well leading up to the race and take fluids at every opportunity given. I'll continue to train in the hills as that will make the flats feel sooooo much better. I'm a heat runner, always have been. Just love it. Once in Puerto Rico I ran the Pepsi 8K, we raced a 2pm, it was 90 degrees outside. The Kenyan's went out at an insane 4:43 pace, I went out in 5:05 and by two miles the heat ate them up and I was able to pull off the win. I love the heat! TheMelbourneMarathon.com: What has your training been like in the last 2-3 months? JH: It has been good. Since training for the marathon at Twin Cities I've picked up two a days, something I never did as an elite back in the day. My mileage was very mild in the 90's I would say 40-55 miles top with an occasion 60. Now I average 50-70, but I enjoy the second runs a lot, it brings my miles up. My family just moved back to my hometown of Blooming Grove, population 843. We wanted to raise our boys in a great little town, where everybody knows you and knows your kids. The move was tough on my body, my ankle swelled up a lot, but I think it will be fine in a couple of days. I ran 10 miles on it this morning at 6:05 pace, so all is good. I love Blooming Grove running, rolling hills on dirt roads that go for miles. If we had altitude, we would be full of Kenyans here. TheMelbourneMarathon.com: Who are some of the women you expect to give you the most competition in Melbourne? JH: There are two masters that are just heads above the rest, and one is at Melbourne — Colleen De Reuck. She is truly the cream of the crop. After her, I think I have a great shot at anybody else. I hope I can run around 1:16:15 to 1:17:15 which should do pretty well. TheMelbourneMarathon.com: You've been a top-line racer for 20 years. How has your approach to races changed? How do you balance the champion's competitive drive with the natural inclination of the body to slow a little as years pass? JH: I just take it one day at a time. I train, I think I'll always train and when I feel like I'm in great shape I'll find a race. People who don't know me probably think I'm crazy to keep doing what I do, but those who know me well know that running is a part of me, I love it, I don't want to be without it, but it is not what is most important. Family is my driving force. The reason I get out of bed each morning. I love my husband and boys with all my heart, there just happens to be enough space in there for running too. TheMelbourneMarathon.com: Like so many great competitors, you've broadened your career to include coaching – in your case, college runners. How much of an advantage to the athletes is it to have a hands-on coach who gets out there and runs and does intervals with them, versus a from-the-sidelines coach? How much does it help their times? Their passion for the sport? Their motivation on race day – or on training days, for that matter? JH: I think that it helps a lot. I have coached many teams over the years. Getting in there on a hard tempo or fartlek run, and showing them how to push harder and go places they've never gone before, as far as pain levels, is amazing. They grow so much as athletes and people. The pure feeling of knowing anything is possible if you work hard enough for it is priceless. TheMelbourneMarathon.com: You had quite a debut at the University of Dallas as a cross-country coach this past season. JH: The girls team won the North Eastern Athletic Conference in New York, six of them were voted All-Conference and I was also voted Coach of the Year for NEAC as well as NCAA Division III Independents Association … pretty cool for my first year. Most of the kids set PR’s , which really helps build the team dynamics and shows they trust what you’re preaching at them. I love it! TheMelbourneMarathon.com: What are the three most important qualities or lessons from your own racing career that you impart to your U of Dallas runners? JH: I tell them that you have to do the work—long runs, tempo runs, fartlek—as well as recovery when needed. You have to have consistency. Most important above all, you have to love it, or it just isn't worth doing. TheMelbourneMarathon.com: What are the three things about distance running, racing or the community of runners that makes it impossible (at this time) for you to stop competitive racing and being a central part of the sport? JH: I could stop, but why? I love what I’m doing. It doesn’t take away from my family, which by the way is all runners too and it keeps me healthy. Running is just simply a part of me. You just can't take it away. I know one day it may just be over, and believe after having osteoporosis I know that running could disappear at any given moment. Having struggled for 3 years with a career ending disease I have come to peace with who I am and where my running is taking me. Everyday I just simply lace up my shoes, thank God for the hour that I about to get and enjoy the moment that I'm embraced by. |
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