University of Minnesota Athletics
Warm-Up Lap: Q&A with Ally Smith
9/14/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
MINNEAPOLIS - As the Golden Gopher women's cross country team prepares for next weekend's Roy Griak Invitational, redshirt sophomore Ally Smith recalls how she first got into running, discusses her academic pursuits at the University of Minnesota, and more.
Gopher Sports: How did you choose the University of Minnesota?
Ally Smith: I originally decided to come to Minnesota on an official visit after talking to Coach Hopkins. It was my last visit. I looked at a lot of schools on the east coast, too. Something struck me about the team atmosphere here. I think the one thing I'll always remember is that I was staying with a group of girls who were mostly juniors or seniors, and they stayed up until almost 3 a.m. talking to me. I felt a little bit more of a closed off atmosphere at the other schools, and I felt at home at Minnesota. I knew this was where I was meant to be.
GS: How did you first get into running?
AS: I grew up in Stoughton, Wis., and it's very Norwegian. We have an event called the Syttende Mai, and my dad would always do the 20-miler. Starting when I was really little, I would always do the two-mile kids race starting when I was three years old. You would do it to get to the t-shirt. Sometimes my mom would carry me on her shoulders, like when I was three.
I was a swimmer growing up, and I found that some of my favorite parts were dryland training. We would have circuits where we would swim 200m in the pool and then run out to the track and run a lap. I noticed I was finishing the lap around the track faster than everyone else. My brother did track in middle school and high school, and I decided I wanted to try it. I started out as a 100m/200m sprinter and long jumper, but then I slowly realized that I liked the longer distances more -- and I was better at them.
GS: Do you consider yourself more of a cross country or track focused runner?
AS: In high school, I was definitely more of a track person because I didn't do cross country until my junior year since I had always swam in the fall. Even then, I was doing it mostly to get better at track. I've come to really enjoy cross country in college. My high school cross country experience wasn't that great because I had Lyme disease one year and a hip injury my senior year, so in college I really came to appreciate cross country. I want to be really good at cross country, but I know it can also help me on the track.
GS: How did you choose to major in Genetics and Cell Biology?
AS: I knew I wanted to study in the College of Biological Sciences (CBS). I have always been fascinated by genetics. When I was in high school, I took a class called biotechnology, and it was really interesting. One of the main things in CBS is that you have six majors to choose from, and I thought Genetics and Cell Biology would give me the most interesting undergrad class experience.
GS: What's your favorite class you've taken at the University of Minnesota?
AS: Even though I'm a science major, for the MCAT, I have taken both sociology and psychology and I've really enjoyed them. I want to go into medicine, but I do have a side of me that enjoys English. I love reading and I love learning about people. This summer I took psychology, and that was probably one of my favorite classes so far. It was so interesting learning about the science part of how the brain works and then how you can apply it to daily life. Sometimes it became overwhelming because my roommates would say something, and I would be able to refer to things I was learning. It was really cool.
GS: What career do you want to pursue?
AS: I want to go to medical school. Right now, I want to be an obstetrician. I'm open to that changing with residency and different things, but I think I want to work with moms and babies.
GS: Where is your favorite place to run in Minneapolis
AS: This summer I kind of discovered the Luce Line Trail with one of my teammates. It's beautiful, and I like the soft surface. I also like the Stone Arch Bridge with that beautiful view and running around Mill City and downtown.
GS: Do you have a running mantra you use?
AS: When I was younger, I would always refer to the Isaiah 41 bible verse that I really liked. That was one of my favorites, but then this past summer, "Like it's the last," has been my mantra in my head. Everything I go into, I want to appreciate it and not take any race or workout or run for granted. Having had injuries in my past, I know how much I miss running when I can't do it.
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