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
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.
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| The Champ! (Sorry for the old photo Lindsay!) Courtesy: BHS Track and Field |
-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.
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| Courtesy: UNDsports.com |
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!
