Chelsea Johnson Wins Nationals

Chelsea Johnson running away with the
title at the Griak Invitational. Photo
by Gene Niemi

Chelsea Johnson focused on one goal this cross country season, win Nationals.  Last weekend she did what she set out to do.  Below she talks about her triumph, the season, and the future.

Down the Backstretch:  You seemed to be really prepared for having a good season this year.  Did you do things differently over the summer?  Were healthier this season, injury free?  A combination of those things? What made it all come together this cross country season?

Chelsea Johnson: I was determined to have my best season yet and after struggling with injuries last track season, I began strength training specifically designed for runners with the help of Jeremy Sartain and Tony Christopherson. This made me strong and able to endure all of the mileage I was doing. Along with this strength and determination, I had a great group of coaches who worked together to tailor workouts specific to my needs and lead me to peaking the end of the season when I needed to.

DtB:  When I first saw you this year at the Griak meet you had your only defeat of the year the week before, yet you went at it at Griak.  Went right to the front and ran away from everybody.  Were you not prepared for the St. Olaf race the week before?  Just a bad day?  Was the Griak meet a turning point in the season?

CJ: I was having some stomach issues during the first Olaf meet of the season. It was bothering me during the race and mentally drained me. That made me motivated to do well at Griak, and knowing I placed sixth the year before made me want to strive to place better! Griak was definitely a turning point for me. Winning such a big meet proved to myself that I was where I wanted to be and made me want to keep improving.

DtB:  After Griak you went on a roll of fast times, getting down to 21:04 I believe, then the final two meets prior to Nationals you ran high 21s.  Were you holding back a bit in those meets or was that simply all it took to win on those days?  Were you consciously conserving energy for Nationals?

CJ: I ran the 21:04 at Oshkosh, a quick flat course. I was hoping to break 21 after that, but the next race, conference, was a very hilly course with soft footing and many tight turns. Regions I was close with a 21:10. I can't say I was holding back, but I wasn't going my absolute hardest.

DtB:  You seemed very composed and self confident when I talked with you after Griak and after the Region meet.  There was an air of satisfaction, but also a feeling that the real job was yet to be done and all these other races were merely stepping stones.  Didn’t see you at Nationals, but you said you raised your arms when you crossed the line.  Was there more emotion after the nationals win or just an exhausted satisfaction at achieving what you set out to do?

CJ: The feeling crossing the finish line and knowing I had just won, knowing I achieved my goal and one of my biggest dreams was just incredible. There were so many emotions happening all at the same time, but mostly excitement and joy!! I accomplished what I set out to do and that was the best feeling in the world knowing that all of my hard work had truly paid off.

DtB:  Looking at the times from the other Region results there were about a half dozen of the women with comparable or better times going into Nationals.  It looked as if you were not going to be running by yourself for most of the race as had been the pattern.  Did you mentally prepare yourself for running in a pack?  Was it a big adjustment or just a small one?  Did you do any surging early in the race to test out your opponents or attempt to break away?  Any “crisis of confidence” or moments of doubt at nationals or did you just stick to your plan of being up front and going for the win at the 5K mark?

CJ: I was nervous before the race knowing that other women had run faster times than me, but I didn't let that affect me mentally. It was different running with the pack for most of the race, as I hadn't all season. The pack pushed my at some points, and I pushed it at others, then with 1k to go I began to pick up the pace, figuring the pack would follow, but nobody latched on and I ended up making a gap. I didn't realize I pulled so far ahead, I thought they were about ten feet behind me so I sprinted as hard as I could at the end because I wasn't going to lose!

DtB:  Did the soggy footing have any impact on your mentally or physically?  When you made your move did you break away quickly or did it take several surges.  Did you know coming down the finish straight that you had the race won or didn’t you give yourself that luxury?  How did it feel once you crossed the line and were national champion.  Did it hit you right away, did it come in waves, are you still adjusting to it?

CJ: When I was checking out the course on Friday there were a couple of slick muddy turns back in the woods and I was nervous for those because I didn't want to fall, but when we got to the course on Saturday I headed straight back to see if it was still muddy and saw that they put sand down to grip over the mud. That was a relief.

Like I said above I didn't know I had won until I was literally at the line. The feeling was amazing and terrible at the same time. Terrible because I was exhausted from running so hard, and yet amazing knowing I had run so hard and was a national champion.

I still can't believe it's real. It has come in waves and every time somebody congratulates me I believe it more and more each time.

DtB:  What’s next, aside from some “down time” to recover and enjoy what you’ve achieved? 

CJ: Definitely going to take a little break and then get back into training for track! Hoping for a great track season as well!

DtB:  Any grand plans for track, post collegiate running, or will the latter depend on how the track season goes?

CJ: Well now I want to become a national champ in track too! And my dream is to become a professional runner!! Running is my life now, and I can't imagine not doing it, and competing after college is definitely on the radar. I'm hoping to be contacted soon by a running team or the like!