Thursday, February 16, 2017

ND Runner Interview #2- Lindsay (Anderson) Solheim

This next interview showcases one of the fastest Class B runners in state history, Lindsay (Anderson) Solheim. Her races, beginning in 7th grade, helped set the bar quite high for women's runners in North Dakota, and then she continued her successes into the university level.

Lindsay hails from the countryside of Leeds, ND, a small town of under 500 people about 2 hours west of Grand Forks on Highway 2. In the early 2000s, Leeds produced a couple of powerhouse distance runners, both of whom happened to be related (and comprised the entire team). From 2002-2007, the state cross country champion for Class B girls was an Anderson. Here's an overview of how Lindsay did at her 6 individual state meets:

2002 (7th Grade): 2nd only to her sister
2003 (8th grade): state champ
2004 (9th grade): 2nd only to her sister
2005-2007 (10th grade-12 grade): state champ

So that's 4 state title and 2 second-place finishes. Not bad. The average gap between her time and the first time of a runner other than her sister (because in 2002 and 2004 less than a second separated them, and in 2003 Lindsay won by 15 seconds) was almost 31 seconds! In fact, in 2006 she won by an astounding 65 seconds! That's domination.

In 2007, her senior year, she won the state title by 20 seconds (and more than a minute ahead of 3rd place) and then competed at Foot Locker Regionals. She placed 7th with a 5k time of 17:55, only twelve seconds behind 2nd place. She therefore qualified for Footlocker Nationals (the high school national championship cross country race), where she competed and placed 34th.

As for track in high school, she started off equally strong. In track she competed as Benson County, which Leeds is a part of. 
The Champ!
(Sorry for the old photo
Lindsay!)
Courtesy: BHS Track and Field
2003 (7th Grade):
-STATE CHAMP in the 1600 (5:06.24)
-2nd in the 3200 (10:58.28, only behind her sister, Krista)
-3rd as a member of a 4x8 team, and 9th in the 800

2004 (8th Grade):
-STATE CHAMP in the 1600 with a new Class B STATE RECORD of 4:58.04
-STATE CHAMP as a member of a 4x8 relay (9:45.09)
-2nd place in the 3200 with a CLASS B RECORD of 10:46.27, but her sister actually broke the overall state record with a time of 10:36.95
-2nd in the 800 (2:16.77)

2005 (9th Grade):
- STATE CHAMP in the 1600, breaking her own RECORD by running 4:56.96.
- 2nd place in the 800 (2:16.79)
- 2nd place in the 3200 (11:06.85)

2006 (10th Grade):
- STATE CHAMP in the 1600 (5:04.55- won by 20 seconds)
- STATE CHAMP in the 3200 (11:14.36- won by 35 seconds)
- 2nd place in the 800 (2:16.15)
- 2nd place as a member of a 4x8 relay

2007 (11th Grade):
- STATE CHAMP in the 800 (2:18.08)
- STATE CHAMP in the 1600 (5:06.80)
- STATE CHAMP in the 3200 (11:07.01)
- STATE CHAMP as a member of a 4x8 relay (9:48.05)

2008 (12th Grade):
- STATE CHAMP in the 800 (2:19.46)
- STATE CHAMP in the 1600 (5:12.39)
- STATE CHAMP in the 3200 (11:05.90)
- STATE CHAMP as a member of a 4x8 relay (10:01.82)

So in summary, 14 state championships and 7 second-place finishes out of 24 possible events that an athlete could compete in over the span of six years. Additionally, she did something that very few people have been able to do: win state cross country and 4 distance events at state track in the same year. I've actually compiled a list of those athletes here: The Distance Quad
Wow!

After high school, Lindsay went off to the University of Iowa and ran for the Hawkeyes. She spent two years there, running for a strong women's program. While there, she ran 35:31 for the 10k, one of the fastest times run by a female North Dakotan to this date.

Courtesy: UNDsports.com
After those couple years, she transferred to the University of North Dakota and continued to run there. While there, she became a three-time All-Conference runner in the now-extinct Great West Conference, including an incredible sweep of the distance events at the 2011 Great West Indoor Conference Championships, where she won the mile, 3k, and 5k all at the same meet. She also won the 2010 Great West Conference Cross Country Meet and was named the athlete of the year as a result. In 2012 she ran 4:30.35 in the 1500, which converts to 4:50.3 in the 1600. Additionally, she broke the UND school record in the 5k, running 16:35.91 at the prestigious Mt. Sac Relays in 2013.
After college, she hits the roads, running good times there as well. In 2013 she won the female division at the Grand Forks Wild Hog Half Marathon, running 1:23.27. Then, in 2015 she ran at the Medtronic TC Marathon, almost breaking the 3-hour barrier by running 3:02.41, or 32 minutes faster than the Boston Marathon qualifying time for her age group. In fact, she was closer to the Olympic Trials Qualifying Standard (17 minutes) than she was to the infamous BQ.

I was actually fortunate enough to be teammates with her for two years, and I can say confidently that she's simply an awesome person as well as runner. SO without further ado, here is my interview with Lindsay (Anderson) Solheim:



ND Runner: I recall you once saying that your high school cross country team was consisted of yourself and your siblings. Could you tell me a little more about what brought about the success of your high school program and what motivated you to keep going? Did it help to have a lot of family support? 

Lindsay Solheim: Yes, our high school cross country team was very small. It started with my older brother and sister, and then once my brother graduated it was just my sister and I. Once my sister graduated, it was just me. My dad coached us, so we trained out on our gravel roads outside of Leeds. Even though it was small, we had a great time as a family. My parents were very supportive of my running goals, and were willing to travel to give me the opportunity to compete against some of the best runners in the state (and even the nation).

NDR: You obviously had a lot of races that you won- including state championships- but which race still stands out to you today as the most memorable?

LS: It’s so hard to pick one race that is most memorable, as there are several that meant a lot to me. The first time I ever won a state championship title was the 1600 meter race when I was in 7th grade. I remember being very excited and in dis-belief after that race. I was not expecting to win, so I felt so excited and happy. That was one of many races that stand out.

NDR: Growing up, did you have any runners in North Dakota (and elsewhere) that you looked up to or enjoyed following?

LS: I would always follow all the best high school athletes on the website dyestat.com. I found it so much fun to see the times that other people around the United States were running, and it gave me the motivation to do better and get faster! I always admired Ryan Hall & Sara Hall as they were so humble and always gave the glory to God.

NDR: You ran at the Footlocker Cross Country Championships in 2007. By a quick count, it looks like there were at least 7 girls in that race who now race professionally (editor's note: for example, Jordan Hasay and Emily Infeld). What was that experience like? Did being from a small town in a small state against girls from large towns in large states intimidate you at all?

LS: I LOVED running in the Footlocker Cross Country Championships. Every year I could not wait until November when I got the opportunity to compete in Kenosha, Wisconsin for a chance to make it to the championships in San Diego. My main goal was always to make it to the championships, and once I got there I just wanted to have fun with it all and soak it all in. It was a great experience that I am so thankful for.

NDR: After high school you went to Iowa University for a few years for cross country and track. What led you to decide to be a Hawkeye?

LS: I was drawn to the University of Iowa for a number of reasons. I had been in touch with the track and field coach there, Layne Anderson, and he was a very kind man who I felt would be a great coach to have! Also, my sister (editor's note: the sister was the same one who broke state all-time 3200 meter record in high school) was attending the University of Iowa at that time. In addition, they had a great program for the major that I was considering to pursue, Speech-Language Pathology.

NDR: I remember you once saying how hard the work was at Iowa in order to make the travel squad. What was it like to go from being a multiple-state champion to being with girls at-or-above your level?

LS: Yes, running in North Dakota was quite different from running at the University of Iowa. It was a humbling experience as nearly every race I was racing against some of the top runners in the United States. It was a big change, but also fun to have awesome teammates to train with. Most of my best friends have been made through track/cross country. There is no better time to bond with others than while running! 

NDR: Eventually you ended up at the University of North Dakota for a few years, breaking the school record in the 5k in the process. What was UND like compared to Iowa? Did you enjoy your time there?

LS: The University of North Dakota was initially a pretty big change from Iowa as I didn’t really know anyone at UND, had a new coach and teammates, and was at a much smaller university. At first I was a bit nervous about the transfer and didn’t know how I would feel about the change. It ended up being a wonderful decision. I was able to spend more time with my family, met a wonderful group of people, received a good education, and had an excellent experience with track/xc. I felt very blessed by the doors God opened.

NDR: After college you moved up to the marathon and had a successful first race. What was that first marathon like? Did you want to keep running much farther distances like that?

LS: Thanks! My first marathon was awesome until about mile 22! The first 22 miles felt like a breeze, and then I realized that “the wall” that everyone talks about is actually true(editor's note: many marathoners will say that miles 20-26 feel about the same distance as miles 1-20). Miles 22-26 were pretty painful, but I made it through and crossing the finish line was the greatest feeling. I think that someday I would like to run a marathon again, but I have no races on the agenda as of now.

NDR: What is your biggest running-related regret?

LS: I honestly can’t think of any big regrets that I have. I think if anything, I would tell the old Lindsay to have more fun with it all and try not to get so nervous.

NDR: What is your favorite place in North Dakota to run? 

LS: My favorite place to run in North Dakota is on the gravel roads near my family farm. My dad used to drive my sister and I out on the gravel roads and follow us so we could have the wind on our backs. It was very helpful on those cold, windy days. The gravel was much softer on the legs than pavement, and the roads by our family farm go for miles with very few cars. It was great!

NDR: If you could give any advice to future North Dakota runners out there (especially those from small towns without great programs), what would it be? 

LS: I would say that when you really put your mind to something, you can accomplish more than you ever know. The nice thing about track/xc is that even if you don’t have a team to compete with, it can also be an individual sport that is very inexpensive. All you need is a pair of running shoes and you’re set! If you make the time, the miles will be worth it!:) 
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Thank you Lindsay for agreeing to do this interview! I hope all of your readers were able to gain something from it. Until next time!

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