University of Minnesota Athletics
Warm-Up Lap: Q&A with Madeline Strandemo
2/8/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Track & Field
By Jordyn Anderson, Athletic Communications Student Intern
MINNEAPOLIS -- Madeline Strandemo, a redshirt junior, is moving herself up in the record books after clocking a 4:38:88 mile at the Meyo Invitational last weekend. Not only did she set a new PR by improving her mile time by three and a half seconds, she also now ranks second in program history in the event. Strandemo's time was only 0.08 seconds off the program record, held by Heather Dorniden who ran a 4:38.80 mile in 2009.
Gopher Sports sat down with the Gopher co-captain and Fargo, N.D., native to talk about her performance last weekend, training, and why she loves being part of Minnesota's cross country and track & field team.
Gopher Sports: How have the first few weeks of practice and school been going for you so far this semester?
Madeline Strandemo: Pretty good, we've been doing a lot of the same sort of things that we did for last indoor season, so it was kind-of as expected. We have thrown in a little bit of extra speed work this season, which I think has helped me a lot, especially in the mile. School and everything is good!
GS: What are you most looking forward to this season?
MS: Well, I love running the steeple, so I'm really looking forward to running that outdoors. Big Tens are always really fun and exciting, so I'm also really looking forward to both indoor and outdoor Big Tens.
GS: What have you done since your redshirt season in 2014 to improve yourself as a runner?
MS: I think just consistency for me, I haven't changed up a whole lot year in and year out. I kind-of do a lot of the same things. What's really helped me over time is that I have just become more consistent about not only the big things, but also the little things too, like getting into the training room, getting my sleep, and getting the right nutrition.
GS: Do you have any pre-race rituals, if so what are they?
MS: I have race socks that I wear, and I like to paint my nails. Other than that, I try not to get into too much of a routine because if one thing goes wrong in my routine then I might think about it too much.
GS: What was it like to be named a captain and what does the role mean to you?
MS: Obviously it is a huge honor to be named a captain, especially of a team that just won the Big Ten title last season. I think that role means to me at least that I need to be really mindful of not only what i say, but how I act in practice. When you are in this role people notice you, so if you come to practice with a bad attitude then some of the younger girls might look at that and see it more so than in the past when I wasn't really in this role. I think I try to be mindful of my attitude and my actions and exemplify what I want other people on the team to be doing.
GS: What are some goals you have set for yourself this season?
MS: Ultimately I want to make the national meet for both indoors and outdoors and improve upon my Big Ten performance from last year. I was third indoors for the mile, so ideally I'd like to improve upon that. I didn't run the 3K at the Big Ten meet last year, but scoring in that event too would be awesome.
GS: What was your race plan like for the mile at the Meyo Invitational, and did the race go as planned?
MS: The race had a rabbit that took us out, and she wanted to go out in a 2:16 through 800m. That is on pace for a 4:32 or so in the mile, and that's faster than I have ever gone out in the mile. I think the plan was just to stick with the top group that was going out that fast and see where it went from there. I don't think it went out quite that fast, but it still went out faster than I have ever gone out before so it was cool to know that I can do that and still finish a mile.
GS: What was going through your head after you finished the race and found out that you ran the second fastest mile in program history and set a great PR?
MS: I was really excited about the PR. It hurt a little bit that it was just 0.08 off the school record, but overall I was really excited about the PR and the race in general. It was just a really great opportunity to run fast because I was in a great heat to do that. I didn't have to do any of the work myself, I just went with the group and was able to do that. I was really happy I was able to be in that competitive of a race.
GS: Your coaches mention how you have a great attitude. How do you manage to stay positive with all of the ups and downs of being an athlete and a student?
MS: Probably because my teammates are awesome, they make it really fun so even if I have a bad day or practice isn't going well, it is still fun because I am surrounded by the greatest people ever. The coaches are always supportive if something goes wrong or doesn't go my way; they help me get through it. They are also really accommodating for school, so that isn't usually an issue for attitude.
GS: What is your favorite part about being a member of the Gopher cross country and track & field teams?
MS: It is really fun to travel with my teammates, they make it really fun. I love racing, it makes it worth it when you can work so hard at something and then see it actually pay off in a race situation.
GS: Out of all the events you run, which one is your favorite and why?
MS: I love both the mile and the steeplechase.
GS: What's your favorite restaurant of coffee shop in the area?
MS: I love going out to eat. I really like going to Wakame Sushi, which is in uptown. I love sushi, and they have good deals if you go during their happy hour. I love to try new coffee shops as well. I'm a fan of Spyhouse, and Penny's downtown is really good, too.
GS: In your opinion, which city has the coldest winters, the Twin Cities or Fargo?
MS: I think Fargo technically has the colder winters, but it feels colder here just because I spend so much more time outdoors in Minneapolis in the winter. In high school, I didn't run in the winter, I played basketball, so pretty much the only time I was outdoors was when I was walking to my car. Here, I have to walk to class and I run outside all winter, so Fargo is technically colder but I experience more of the cold with my lifestyle in Minneapolis.
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Players Mentioned
