University of Minnesota Athletics
Freshhman Friday: Sam Baer
9/22/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
MINNEAPOLIS -- A 2017 graduate of St. Louis Park High School, Sam Baer joins the Gopher women's cross country and track & field teams as a five-time track & field letterwinner for Orioles. Also a standout soccer player, Baer was a two-time all-conference honoree who served as team captain and helped St. Louis Park to a conference title as a senior.
Baer reflects on how she began running, choosing running over soccer, transitioning from high school to college, and more as the Gophers prepare to host the Roy Griak Invitational this week.
Gopher Sports: How did you first get into running? When did you realize you'd be able to continue running in college?
Sam Baer: I played soccer for 14 years, so that was kind of my sport growing up. I think it was sixth grade when I started running in junior high. It wasn't very serious for me, I just thought it was fun to be successful in a different sport. In seventh grade, I was told by my strength and conditioning coach to go try out for the track team because she was the track coach. Then in eighth grade, I joined the high school track team and I had a coach, Ms. Yetzer, who actually graduated from the U and ran here. She coached me very well, and that's when I realized I had a lot of potential. She came to me and said, "If you want to do this, you have to go after it, because it's there." I started to focus more on that, but soccer was still my priority.
Up until junior year, I played soccer all year long, through the track season. As a junior, I decided if I wanted to run in college, I needed to give it 100% all season. I stopped playing soccer for that track season but continued playing afterwards, and then I stopped soccer again after my senior year fall season. I pretty much focused on track all of high school but it was my junior year that I realized this is whated I want to do, so it was time to put soccer in the second spot.
GS: Do you consider yourself more of a cross country runner or a track runner? What's your favorite race?
SB: Definitely track since I've never done cross country before now. The 800m is my favorite distance to race, as of now.
GS: What's the most difficulat part about joining cross country for the first time in college?
SB: I think just having super low mileage coming out of high school and kind of staying right there right now. I've never competitively raced a 5K. I've done some road races, but being trained for it and that stuff is new. That, and just the mental game. For me in an 800m, you can only think so much, and you know what you're doing, so you just go do it. I think it's going to be really good for me to have the mental work of cross county, but it is my biggest fear -- how long the race is and how long I have to think about that.
GS: What are you planning to study?
SB: I've gone back and forth a lot, but I keep coming back to sport psychology. I think I'll probably major in psychology or exercise in science of some sort and then go to grad school for sport psychology.
GS: What are you most looking forward to about college?
SB: I think a big part for me is the independence. My senior year, I noticed a lot, I had my schedule and it was mine, but my family had to be incorporated in it in the sense of keeping them updated. I'll definitely still do that, but everyday I can go and do what I have planned. I'm really excited for that, and all of the success that's going to still come. It's exciting to think about what's ahead.
GS: Where is your favorite place to run in Minneapolis?
SB: I have this creek by my house with a boardwalk, but it's really short. I'll incorporate it in my runs. We have the Greenway path, and I like the lakes, too.
GS: What's your favorite motivational quote or running mantra?
SB: A huge one for me is, "The body accomplishes what the mind believes." Everyone kind-of knows that in a way, but the mental side of running is definitely affecting my running, so remembering the idea that whatever I think is going to be how I perform is helpful.
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