NIRCA Nationals Team Results

NIRCA Nationals Team Results HERE.

NIRCA Great Plains Regional Meet Results

NIRCA Great Plains Regional Meet men's team results  HERE women's HERE.
Men's individual HERE   Women's individual HERE

RESULTS from #NIRCAGreatPlains & #NIRCANortheast Regionals: https://t.co/CR91x990sY #XC pic.twitter.com/xDnhCshvYn

— NIRCA (@nirca) October 31, 2015

Interview with the 2014 NIRCA XC Women's Champion Cara Donohoe

Cara Donohoe finishing first at the NIRCA XC Championships

It took the University of Minnesota Running Club's Cara Donohue three tries, but she won the NIRCA Cross Country Championships on November 15 at Forest Akers Golf Course in East Lansing, Michigan.  

The Minnesota grad student led from start to finish on the mostly flat 6K course building a seemingly safe gap on a  pack of  eight runners. It wasn't until the final stretch that  Illinois’ Emma Grimes broke from the chase group and made the finish unexpectedly close. 

Donohue, the 2013 runner-up and overwhelming pre-race favorite, won with a time of  22:24. Grimes finished in 22:29. Below Donohoe talks about the race, her approach to competitive running, and her plans for the future.

Down the Backstretch:  How did you approach this year’s NIRCA XC Championships?  It was your last collegiate XC race.  Since you were second last year did you think about winning or just developing a race plan and hope for the best?

Cara Donohoe: My strategy for most races is to think about another person or a cause that I want to run my race for.  While it’s exciting to race well and to win or PR, there is always at least one point during races that I want to give up.  I find that I am much more motivated to press on during the race for someone or something outside of myself.  

For instance, one race this season, I decided to run for one of the patients I have been working with at the VA Medical Center that has been inspirational to me.  Having said that, winning NIRCA Nationals has been in the back of my mind since last year when I came in second place.  Over the years, I have gradually increased my confidence in my ability to run my race and my intent was on winning this year.

DtB:  You said it felt good to end your collegiate career “on a high note.”  When did you realize you were going to win it?  What were the feelings afterward?  Big celebration or just another race?

CD: While I haven’t had an especially long racing career, I have had some disappointing seasons due to injury and anemia, which greatly effected my racing capabilities.  Being able to run healthy and calm is one of the best feelings.  

For both regions and nationals this year, I raced alone for the majority of the race, which presents its own challenges.  While I knew I had a significant lead, I wasn’t sure if I had won until I hit the final straightaway of the race toward the finish line.  As soon as I hit that point, I couldn’t help but smile.  Seeing my teammates and strangers lining the course and cheering for me was like nothing I have ever experienced.  It was one of those moments I wish I could capture in time, because it was an extraordinary feeling.  

After the race, I felt a mix of emotions- relief, joy, excitement, shock.  The best part was seeing my teammates’ and coach’s reactions afterward.  I was happy to have made them so proud, and I couldn’t wait to call my parents and family to let them know how I did.  They are my biggest fans and support, and I knew they were anxiously waiting to hear how the race went.

DtB:  What are your plans for track season? 

CD: I plan to continue to race with The Minnesota Running Club for indoor and outdoor track season this year.  I’m a little less experienced with track, as last year was my first year running track races.  We tend to stay in the Midwest for traveling during track season.

DtB:  What are your plans after you graduate?  Any job prospects yet? 

CD: I’ll be finishing up my Master’s for Speech Language Pathology this coming May.  I am currently doing a traineeship at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center where I have the privilege of working with the unique population of veterans while providing assessment and treatment for various communication disorders including TBI, dysphagia, voice disorders, cognitive impairment, aphasia, spinal cord injury, head and neck cancer, and those using AAC.  

I truly enjoy being in this setting, and hope to work in a hospital or VA Medical Center somewhere following graduation.  I am just starting to apply for jobs now.  While I would like to stay in Minneapolis following graduation, I am open to moving to another state if it’s necessary for the job I want. 

DtB: You said last year that you’d like to continue your competitive running wherever you end up?  Is that still the plan?  If so, how do you see that fitting into life in the “real world?”

CD: I do plan to continue running competitively in the future.  This year was the first year that I felt comfortable, confident, and calmer racing, which made it a much more enjoyable experience.  I have always been a competitive person, I love the comradery of racing with a team, and being a part of the running community in general.  

Many of my life plans are up in the air right now, but wherever I end up, I plan to join a running club.  Throughout my undergraduate and graduate school education, I have been extremely busy and involved in a variety of things.  I have always still been able to find time for running.  It’s about prioritizing things and working to find balance in life.  While I know I will still be busy following graduation once I enter the “real world”, I know I can still find time for running with some planning and prioritizing. 

DtB: You noted that you were still a “relatively inexperienced runner.”  What have you learned about yourself, about running now that you have another year of experience?

CD: One of the things I have realized about myself is that I’m a little non-traditional as far as training goes for runners.  The majority of my workouts this season, I did based on time and how I felt (tempo runs and hills versus mile repeats, etc.).  

I found that I was faster and more rested physically and mentally this season rather than burned out as a result.  In addition to this, I backed off on my weekly running mileage and increased my cross training this year, which seemed to help my performance and reduce my injuries.  I have also learned the importance of mental preparation for racing.  

Like I mentioned previously, I always choose a person or a cause to race for, which greatly inspires me and motivates me during races.  I also tend to briefly visualize how the race will go in my head while I’m warming up.  Lastly, I often choose a Bible verse to think about during the race and always say a short prayer before I’m at the start line.   

DtB:  Are there any experiences involving running that stick out, that are more memorable than others?

One of the experiences that sticks out most to me from running was during my last year of undergrad at the U of MN.  I was racing the NIRCA Regional Meet in Ames, IA and my entire immediate family, and many members of my extended family were there.  My racing season had been disappointing for me that year, and this race was similar.  

I had extreme anemia that season, but I was unaware of it at the time.  I eventually ended up having to get an iron infusion to restore my physical health. I remember my family members cheering for me all over the course during this race, and that my breathing became so labored I wasn’t sure I would be able to finish. 

 It was a humbling experience for me that year, as I raced minutes slower than usual and struggled to just finish races.  While this was a low point in my racing career, I vividly remember my teammates and family being supportive of me during this race and after.  It was a moment where I realized that my performance racing didn’t ultimately matter to them.  While they hope that I do well since it’s important to me, they love me completely just the way I am- whether I race fast or slow. 

DtB:  You also said that you enjoy working with kids.  Are there potential opportunities there?

CD: I do greatly enjoy working with kids.  I have working with kids both clinically as a Speech Language Pathology Graduate student clinician, and in the Fluency Lab and Learning to Talk Lab at the University of Minnesota.  I’m uncertain if I will work with kids as a Speech Language Pathologist initially, since I have appreciated working with adults at the VA Medical Center this year and hope to pursue a similar career next year.  However, I have an interest in coaching middle or high school kids for track and cross-country in the future.  I am also interested in volunteering with the organization Girls on the Run. 

DtB:  Any more trips, like the one to South Africa?  Any planned for the future?

CD: While there are no current trips planned to South Africa or elsewhere, I do plan to go on more trips like this in the future.  My heart’s desire is to return to South Africa and to travel to other countries as well.  Traveling to South Africa a few years ago greatly impacted my life and shaped how I view things today.  Following graduation, I hope to investigate and plan another trip soon.  

DtB:  Don’t know if you’ve been following the career of Annie Bersagel, who won the Medtronic Twin Cities Marathon in 2013 and also works full time in Norway while she’s training to compete in the Olympic trials.  Any aspirations for a busy life like that?

CD: It’s so inspiring to hear stories of other successful runners who lead busy lives! I plan to have a busy life now and in the future.  I have always had a variety of passions and interests, and I plan to continue to pursue them following graduation.  

Currently, I am taking classes and studying for our graduate school comprehensive exam, working at the VA Medical Center part time as a clinician, working in two research labs at the U of MN, teaching yoga sculpt and cycling classes at CorePower Yoga, running with the U of MN running club, and staying involved at my church, Hope Community Church.  

I plan to stay involved with many of these activities following graduation and to start volunteering more in the community again with organizations such as Girls on the Run and Breaking Free.  At some point, I also hope to find balance with my busy life and a family of my own.  In the meantime, I look forward to the challenge of finding new balance and rhythm with my life next year with all of the changes I will undergo in the next few months.

Cara Donohue Wins NIRCA Women's Title

University of Minnesota grad student Cara Donohoe won the woman's A race 6K at the NIRCA Championships in East Lansing, Michigan on Saturday in  22:24.8.  Full results are HERE. The University of Minnesota women's team finished seventh.  Full team results are HERE.

The U of MN men's team was fifth in the A race(full team scores HERE).  Peter Hoganson was the top finisher for the men in seventh for the 8K course in 26:05.2(individual results are HERE.)  Results for all the races are HERE.  The event concludes on Sunday with an Open 5K.

CORRECTION: In an earlier version I said she was defending her title. Donohoe corrected that error: "It was an exciting race.  Last year I actually came in second place, so it was fun to win this year!"

News: NXN, HS, Jacob Gerhartz; NIRCA; Bersagel; Animals/Michigan/Bates

List of Start Box assignments for this Sunday's NXN Heartland Regional meet are HERE.

Stillwater Gazette story on boy's team third place finish at State meet HERE

Duluth News Tribune on Esko's Kailee Kiminski and MSHSL's Eve Graves' views on the DQs at the State Meet HERE

Park Rapids Enterprise story on Park Rapids HS's Isaac Overmeyer HERE

MIAC Student Athlete snapshot of St. Thomas' Jacob Gerhartz HERE.

Post NIRCA Nationals group run scheduled for November 16 HERE

Forbes article on Annie Bersagel HERE. Stanford Law School mention HERE.

Writer Charles Pierce gives his views on sportsmanship HERE.

The University of Michigan women's team's animal rescue mission HERE

Emma Bates' duck tweet:

If you don't think a duck running into your leg midstride is the most awkward thing ever, you're wrong #whatjusthappened #mustbeonquack
— Emma Bates (@emmajbates) November 5, 2014

News Clips; UPDATE: Hamline Inv. US lists, Mile, Gustavus XC Ski

NIRCA 2014 Half-Marathon/track Championships site is HERE

WSJ on why runners can't eat whatever they want is HERE.

Toni Reavis on USATF and Gordian knots is HERE. 

Shakopee News report on the Shakopee High teams at the Northern Badger Invitational is HERE.

Sun Sailor story on Wayzata girls track team preparing for outdoor season is HERE.

Sun Current story on Edina boy's team is HERE.

Minnesota Daily story on pole vaulter Zach Siegmeier is HERE.

Gopher women split team to meets in Florida and California HERE.

T&F News Top Ten list for HS outdoor season is HERE(boys) and HERE(girls). Minnetonka's Mia Barron ranked in both the LJ and TJ.

Suggestions for USATF from Larry Eder are HERE.

More on Gustavus dropping XC ski program is HERE.

Spikes interview with Nick Willis, John Walker, and Will Leer on the mile HERE.

T&F News men's HERE and women's US lists HERE.

Hamline Invitational rescheduled for April 9 HERE.

USATF statement on "recent athlete issues" is HERE.

Cara Donohue Second in NIRCA XC Championships

Kind of lost in the shadow of the high school and college championships were the NIRCA XC Championships held November 15-17 in Hershey, PA.  The National Intercollegiate Running Club Association is an umbrella group for collegiate running clubs.   "The grassroots organization promotes networking and friendly competition amongst collegiate running, cross country, and track clubs," is its description on their website HERE. "NIRCA coordinates many events, including a fall cross country season, Cross Country Championship Series, Road and Track Nationals, and all-club conferences. NIRCA is more than just running.

"The mission of NIRCA is to promote club running for students at the collegiate level. By serving as the governing body for running clubs, we provide competition, support, and networking opportunities for our member clubs."

Minnesota has a team that participates in the NIRCA events.  At this year's XC championship, Bloomington Kennedy grad, former Bethel collegiate runner, and grad student at the University of Minnesota Cara Donohue finished second in the women's 6K race in 22:42.  Below she talks about her sports background, the NIRCA, South Africa, her faith, and future running plans.

Cara Donohue striding into the finish at the NIRCA XC]
Championships.

Down the Backstretch:  Sports have been a big part of your life.  You were a multi sport athlete at Bloomington Kennedy, ran for Bethel as a freshman.  Now you’re continuing on with the NIRCA.  How have sports impacted your life?

Cara Donohue: Sports have been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember.  When I was growing up, there were few sports that I didn’t try for at least one season.  Throughout high school, soccer and lacrosse were my main sports until I broke my jaw playing lacrosse, which led me to try cross-country running for the first time.  

My parents always told me I was a hyperactive child growing up, and athletics continue to be a great way for me to get my energy out.  Sports have been a way for me to have fun and stay active while also being able to connect to other people and learn life lessons.  For instance, having various injuries has taught me determination and how to choose joy despite my circumstances. 

DtB:  Do you do other sports now or just running?

CD: While I miss playing contact sports, my mom jokes that I can’t as long as I’m on her insurance, because there’s been too many medical bills!  When I get the chance to, I play a variety of sports for fun in my free time.  I also tried the rowing team at the U of MN when I transferred here a few years ago, but I missed running way too much!  I also enjoy doing duathlons and cross-train by doing yoga and biking.

DtB:  How did you get involved with the NIRCA?  What role does running play in your life right now?

CD: I first became involved with NIRCA two years ago when I transferred to the U of MN.  I was looking for a running community, and I find the University of Minnesota Running Club to be a great fit.  It has proven to be a great social and support system for me throughout my undergraduate education and now when I am in grad school.  I have the best teammates.  They are so supportive of me in a variety of ways.  I wouldn’t’ be nearly as successful if I didn’t feel so loved and supported by them at the startline    .  Running is both something I’m passionate about and a stress relief for me.  Life can be busy and overwhelming at times, and it’s something that helps me to keep my sanity and a positive perspective on life.  Running is a good analogy for many situations in life, and as a Christian, it helps bring Biblical concepts and my beliefs to life.

DtB:  Why go the NIRCA route other than the NCAA system?

CD: I enjoyed competing on a college team at Bethel, but transferring to the U of MN for my major  (speech language hearing sciences) did not allow me to join the U of MN team, although I would have liked to.  It's hard in some ways to be on the club team, because I primarily train by myself (often times at 5:00 a.m.) due to my class and work schedule.  I often run with boys on the team, because I seldom have teammates that can train with me.  

But on the plus side, I have a lot of freedom in my training and competing.  I also feel like I can achieve better balance in my life, and that I have more opportunities to be involved in a variety of things that are also important to me including volunteering, working in two research labs, tutoring, and my church to name a few.  The other thing I appreciate about running for NIRCA is there is no pressure on me from other people to run; it is pure self-motivation.

DtB:  Don Hurley mentioned recently that sports have changed since he was an athlete in the 1970s, early ‘80s.  He believes that today’s high school athletes (his son runs for Perham) is that the kids display more “sportsmanship,” socialize more with athletes from other teams.  In his day, Hurley says, those you competed against were treated in a more “military” fashion.  They were the “enemy,” to be defeated, not to get to know.  

My wife believes that one reason for the change might be women’s athletics.  That the opportunity for women to be participants in major sports programs has resulted in a breaking down of those values.  That the top athletes socialize with one another.  Compete hard, but once the competition is over bond with their competitors because they are all involved in the same activity.  It brings them closer together as people, rather than as rivals.  Any thoughts on this theory?  The role of social media, possibly, in accelerating it?

CD: I noticed a marked difference in the running community and the way people interact between teams in comparison to when I played contact sports.  When I played soccer and lacrosse in high school, while I displayed sportsmanship, there was no friendliness between teams before or after games.  It was a strange shift for me to make when I started running competitively.  However, it has become one of the things I value most about being part of the running community now.  

For instance, I was so grateful for other teams and individuals that cheered for me during the Nationals race last weekend.  I couldn’t have done as well without so much support. I think running is unique in that during a race you are doing it on your own, but after you can bond with people over it because you experienced the exact same things and you can appreciate what they did.  It’s like so many other things in life that bond you together with other people because of shared experiences. 

Donohue on the course in Hershey.

DtB:  You say that two of the things you like are running and traveling.  Does the NIRCA program feed into this? 

CD: For the most part during our season, we stay in the Midwest in Minnesota and Wisconsin.  While we typically do travel further distances for NIRCA Regions and Nationals, I hope to do more traveling in the future related to running.  In the summer 2012, I went on a track and field trip to South Africa with the organization Athletes in Action. It was a life-changing experience and I hope to go back someday in the future!

DtB: How does sport fit into your academic pursuits?  Your life in general?  An outlet for your competitive instincts, social life, a bit of both?

CD: I graduated a year early this past spring and I am currently pursuing a MA in Speech language pathology.  Academics and athletics have both always been important aspects of my life.  I’m a learner and I’m passionate about the field that I’m going into, but running is something that helps me to achieve better balance in my life.  Graduate school can be intense at times, but running is both a stress relief and a tool that teaches me that I can get through things even when they are hard.  It has taught me both mental and physical toughness.

Running is a way that I have grown in my Christian faith as well.  I recognize that my talent comes from my God and I hope to use my abilities to glorify God and impact other people’s lives.  While I enjoy running and set goals for myself to achieve, I always choose a Bible verse, a person, or a cause to run for other than myself.  I experience God’s presence when I run and learn from him in so many ways through training and racing.  When I’m doing workouts, I learn that I can’t do them on my own strength, but with God I can.  I learn that I can pray myself through races.  I learn that I can calm my nerves at the start line by imagining God is right next to me holding my hand (Psalm 73:23).  

I learn to trust that I can perform well race to race.  This year was a big year for me, because it was a comeback year.  Last year, I was having an awful year racing and was feeling exhausted all the time.  I could barely get out of bed in the morning and could hardly complete my studying.  I finally found out that I was severely anemic and I was devastated.  It took me over six months to stop feeling dizzy all the time and to start feeling normal running again.  While last season was a big disappointment to me, it taught me humbleness and that God is strong even when I am at my weakest point.  It was amazing to see how God has restored my health.  He has restored the joy of running to me.  The Joy of the Lord is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10) has been one of my mantras this season.

DtB:  Do you view running as a permanent part of your life?  Something you will do once you’re involved in your chosen profession, or merely a hobby that you are pursing right now?

CD: Running is something I don’t think I could give up permanently if I tried.  This week I’ve been forcing myself to take a week off of running and I can’t wait until the week is over!  I hope to continue to run competitively for as long as I am healthy and able to do so.  I often run in road races during the spring and summer too.  Last year, I also helped coach cross country at Kennedy high school.  I hope to have the opportunity to do this again in the future as I enjoy working with kids and I realize the importance of investing in young runners! 

Donohue crossing the finish at the NIRCA XC Champs

DtB:  Do you have any ambitions in running aside from participating?  Desires to see how far you can take your talent or is the sport more a piece of your overall life plan?

CD: I plan on running with the University of Minnesota Running Club this spring for track for the first time and again next year during my last year of graduate school.  After that, I would like to continue to run competitively with a club team in Minnesota or wherever else I may end up.  This was my first full season of cross-country that I was healthy for and I’m still a relatively inexperienced runner, so I’m excited to see how fast I can become.  Running is something I love to do and I hope that other people are able to see how passionate I am about it.  While I always have goals about how fast I would like to run races, my bigger goal is that my running can positively impact other people in some way.  I mentioned before that I enjoy working with kids and also took a trip to South Africa to work with them.  I hope that I have more opportunities to do things like this in the future. 

NIRCA Championship Results

NIRCA Championship results for all six races are HERE.