Interview with Neely Spence of Shippensburg

Interview by David Bracetty for Trackshark.com

Interview at the Spence home in Shippensburg, PA with Neely and her father/coach, Steve Spence. Their beautiful house sits on 7 acres where they ride their horses, let their cat wander, and kids run. Neely has two twin sisters and a younger brother. Everyone in the family runs.

Neely’s interview:

Neely with father/coach Steve at their home in Shippensburg, PA (David Bracetty)

So what were your goals going into Paul Short?

My number one goal was to help the team. I wanted to focus on doing well. I knew every place counted. I knew there was good competition there and that was very exciting because it helped push me. Going in, I wanted to get top 10. I went out and told myself to just hang on. I remember thinking after the mile, ‘Wow, this hurts.’ It was a hard race the whole time. I was surprised to finish second.

Your girls team is ranked 6th in DII right now. What are your goals going into the post season?

Well, we definitely will take it one day at a time. We want to do well at NCAA’s and are really focused. Everyone on our team is on the same page with this goal. It’s exciting to see us move up. First we were 17th then 12th now 6th. The top 4 teams at NCAA’s get trophies. If everything goes well, we hope to be knockin’ on that door.

So you’ve mentioned your goals as a team, what are your goals individually at Nationals?

First we’d like to qualify as a team. I know that every place I can get will be less points for the team so I’d like to place as high as I can. I’d like to finish top 3.

When moving up in ranks, people tend to look at certain people as ‘the fast people’. After finishing second at Paul Short, do you now look at yourself as one of ‘the fast girls’?

After the mile, I looked around and was like ‘Wow! I’m running with Sarah Bowman, Frances Koons, and Nicole James!’ It was so exiting! After the race, I remember thinking, “Wow! Did I just beat people from the Olympic trials? Thats freaky!” I just like to do my best and if I keep working hard I know I can be one of the best girls. But I don’t see myself as one of ‘the fast girls’ yet.

In high school, I had gotten to the top. My first two years, I use to look at Nicole Blood and look at the her times and think ‘Wow! She’s fast!’ But then as a Senior, I was running the times that she ran. I had to look back and see where I came from. You keep taking tiny little steps then you realize you’re one of the best. I like looking back and seeing progress.

So how has your training progressed since high school?

My first two years of high school, I would run 4-5 days a week. My last two years, I ran 5 days consistently. It’s been very gradual. My long run would go up 5 minutes a week and after a couple weeks I was running half an hour longer than I ever ran.

Nothing’s been too different, except now I have more training partners. In high school we did mostly body weight stuff but now we lift twice a week with free weights and machines. I’ve never used machines before college.

Now, I’m a running a little more mileage and the pace is quicker. After every run, we are either doing strides, cruise intervals*, or one of three ab workouts. The thing I like the most is feeling a part of the team. I love the camaraderie.

*Cruise intervals are basically little drills for 20 seconds then sprint 100 meters to do another drill.

You were home schooled in high school and have been Coached by your father. Did going to Shippensburg just seem like the next logical step for you? What other schools did you consider?

My dad has been coaching at Shippensburg since I was 7 years old. Coaching and running have been our lifestyle. When I was younger, I would do the warmup with the Shippensburg girls as my run and I would bike with my mom on her runs. My parents would hire a babysitter so they could go on a run.

I would do fun runs as a kid but didn’t start training until I was in 8th grade. I remember watching the Footlocker XC tape and thinking ‘Wow, I want to do that!’ My dad explained to me that it’s a very cool opportunity. They fly you out, and you get a lot of cool stuff. It was one of my goals going into high school. I told my dad and he said, “You better start training.” I’m very happy I was able to fulfill that dream.

I took classes at Shippensburg my last two years of high school where I was able to pick up 12 credits. I was nervous and thought, “Wow, I might get called on and I’m going to have to talk in front of all these people.” It was an adjustment. Growing up, I went to a montessori school school for 5 years where it was a collaborative learning environment.

I went on several unofficial and official visits, and every time, I would be comparing it (other schools) to Ship in my mind. I considered Baylor in Texas and Colorado. Those were my official visits. I did unofficial visits at PSU and Maryland. I liked Ship a lot. I was use to training with the Ship college girls and now I’m proud that I can wear a uniform with the name Ship on it and contribute to the team that’s helped me train.

Have you declared a major?

I’m undecided right now, but I want to be a coach. I’m taking Communications courses and plan on minoring in Coaching, which I’m taking Human Biology for.

What’s a typical day for you like?

Well, I wake up around 8 am for my 9 o’clock. Then, I either make myself breakfast or dad makes me something. Then, I drive to campus! That was part of the deal- that if I went to Ship, I could have a car.

So no horse and buggy for you?

(Lol) I know how to drive pretty well actually. My basement was also refinished so I have my own space downstairs. After my first class, I have 2 hours in between so I just study. Then, I do lunch with the BF, head to the track office afterwards, and go online for a little. We start practice at 3:30 and that usually goes for two hours. After that, we all roll into the cafe and pretty much are loud and I’m sure everyone thinks we’re annoying. We probably smell too. There’s three tables of us.

So when you not running and living and breathing running, what do you like to do?

Um. (long pause) I like being social with the team, like eating dinner with them. We have study hall hours so studying takes up my other free time. I did ride (horses) for 9 years but when I started training seriously I focused on just running. I like watching movies and would like to go sky diving some day.

Sky diving? That sounds intense.

Yea, I think it would be fun though!

With all the running web sites around, it’s easy to get to know how your competition is doing. Most runners pretty much are online all the time, or don’t do it at all. Where do you fall in?

I’m definitely not online as much as I’d like to be (lol). I do like knowing what my competition is up to but don’t spend too much time on it. I’ll check out the sites to see a couple results during the regular season, but with a month to go in the season I don’t check it at all. I like to focus on what I need to do and not get caught up in how fast so and so has run.

So does that mean no Facebook/ MySpace either?

Well, since we don’t have internet at home, I don’t spend too much time. It’s really easy to waste a lot of time on there.

So do you have a ton of friend requests on Facebook?

After Paul Short, I think I had about twenty. It was a lot of girls from the race and high school girls. I feel bad I don’t accept everyone. I usually accept people I’ve raced against or high school girls but sometimes there’s some people I don’t know. I feel bad but I’m picky with who I let see my information.

What type of shoes do you wear?

I’m training in the Brooks Radius and race in the Glycerin. The mid-distance spike, the Nerve, is my fav. I do some workouts in flats as well. I probably have 5 pairs of Brooks between training and racing.

What is on your iPod playlist?

Wow, just about anything! From kid songs to rap, to folk, to Christian, country, or popular songs. It just depends on what mood I’m in.

Most runners try to live the lifestyle, and be healthy. But we all have a weakness. What’s yours?

(Haha) Chocolate! I can’t have a bowl of Hershey’s kisses in front of me because I will probably eat them all (lol) Oh and Pizza Hut!

Before we finish the interview, can you give me a list of your Personal Records?

High School:
400- 60.5
800- 2:15
mile 4:44
2 mile-10:20- 10:16
17:19 at Van Courtland (4th fastest time on the course according to her father)

College
4k- 13:33
6k 19:57

Neely has been coached by her father, Steve her entire life (David Bracetty)

Steve Spence Interview:

What was the plan going into Paul Short Invitational at Lehigh University?

Leading up, the workouts were going pretty well and she had told me that she felt she could go about 20:30 and her goal was to get top 10. But in the back of my mind, because it was so cool and the conditions were so good, I thought that she could run closer to 20:00 if the race went well. (She ran 19:57 and finished 2nd)

The last thing I told her before the gun went off was ‘Don’t be surprised if you find yourself near the front, and if you do, stick your nose in there and roll with it...Have confidence in your kick.’ At the 3 mile mark, a girl from the chase pack started to make a move and Neely realized no one else was going with her so Neely went with her. With 400m to go, Neely realized she needed to make her move and she did.

You’ve been coaching Neely for her whole life. Was her attending Shippensburg part of the plan all along or is it something that just happened?

I realized very early that Neely was talented and that she also had the desire. We would hold Thursday night runs at our home and she was able to run with the team while she was in high school.

She took classes as a Junior in high school through a competitive program she qualified for. Going into Ship she already had 12 credits. She did struggle the first semester there but she adjusted really well.

How has her training progressed since high school?

I’ve never had to motivate her but I’ve had to hold her back from training too much. We’ve been very careful in progressing her from year to year.

This year in college, she is running a little more volume and her pace is quicker. Neely gets frustrated when she falls short of the goal times and paces I set for her. That’s why we are very conservative with the goals we set.

Where do you draw the line between Neely being your daughter and your athlete?

We have very similar qualities. She’s very good at handling pain and capable of knowing where she is in her training.

She’ll believe anything I tell her and has transitioned smoothly with the team. I don’t ever give her a break though and I don’t train her any harder.

Where would you think Neely would excel more, here at Ship or at Baylor?

If I wasn’t her father and she didn’t have the support system she has now, I would love to see her at Baylor. Their facilities are tremendous and they offer their athletes a lot. They have the antigravity machine to run when injured, they have massage therapists, a chiropractor. They can provide her with a lot. Coach Harper has done a tremendous job there as well.

Here at Ship, I’m her massage therapist so I can really tell how she’s responding to the training. She babysits for a chiropractor up the road and can get adjustments more than once a week if she needed.

Thanks for the interviews! It was great getting to know you and good luck with the rest of your season!

Neely Interview

10:55, 20 October 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

GREAT PICS and ARTICLE! The questions were well thought out and the pics added just the right touch! As a competitive runner, I'd like to see more in-depth interviews like this one. This David Bracetty guy should do more work on this site! Nice job!

Great Job!

11:16, 20 October 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

Great interview and profile on an amazing runner that deserves to be recognized!

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02:01, 21 October 2008 .. Posted by Dave Brez

David Bracetty trackshark columnist of the century? The double interview concept is real nice. Keep um up.

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11:31, 21 October 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

"So do you have a ton of friend requests on Facebook?"

Are you kidding me?

good interview

12:30, 21 October 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

this is very interesting, and thats what i dream of. One day when i get a child, i want her or him to do some sport especially run. but i wont force him or her to do it. but i do pray that he/she chooses runing

Wolf's Bus Lines

03:27, 21 October 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

I drive the bus for them. She is allways nice and Steve calls me uncle George

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04:24, 21 October 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

Sounds like dad has a hard time letting go of the apron strings. And sounds like it's time to let her go.
I wish she'd go to Colorado.

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04:18, 22 October 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

I'm going to hope the "I wish she would go to Colorado" is from another athlete in the sport, not a coach in the sport...

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03:40, 11 November 2008 .. Posted by Heidi

I've known Neely and her family since she was about 3. If Ship weren't the best place for HER right now, she'd be going somewhere else. Apron strings my ***. Steve is a great coach, a great athlete, a great dad, a great PERSON. So great, indeed, that a teenage daughter doesn't feel like she HAS to get away. She's an awesome coach literally in her back yard.

HEY NEELY, great season! How's that Mac?

Mom deserves some mention too!

05:36, 11 November 2008 .. Posted by Heidi

Whenever Neely gets press, Steve is always mentioned. But mom Kirsten deserves some mention too. The Spence kids have been raised in a loving, supportive environment where outdoor exercise is part of the daily routine. Kirsten has a gift for making things like exercise, learning, healthy eating and praying FUN.

In the Spence household people matter more than things, whole foods are the bulk of the family diet, more time is spent running or swimming or caring for horses than watching TV, and friends of different colors, faiths, political parties and sexual orientations are welcome and accepted.

It's no wonder that Neely Spence is a champion. Sure she's got ability, desire, commitment, and mental toughness. She also has family support that gives her the FREEDOM to EXCEL...erate.