Kroshus looks to end her collegiate career on a high note this season (IrishRunner.com)

1. You recently won the 6K race at the Iona Meet of Champions at Van Cortland Park with your time of 21:32.3. How do you feel heading into the mid-point of the cross country season?

Heading into the mid-point in the season, I feel so much more confident than I have since being at Princeton. Confident that the training I am doing and the decisions I am making are right for me and that if I am patient will eventually help me reach my goals. The biggest difference for me this year is that I am coming off a moderately respectable junior year and (unlike my freshman and sophomore year where I just had one injury and illness after the other) I am able to build upon that, rather than try to salvage a season off minimal fitness.

2. Also competing in the 10,000 meter final last season, how much do you look forward to the indoor and outdoor track seasons?

Up until this fall, I would have said that I see cross-country as a necessary evil, but I’m having so much fun this season training and racing and improving, particularly with a resurgent Princeton team. Nonetheless, I’m really looking forward to indoor and outdoor track.

3. Originally from Calgary, Canada, how much of an influence have you had on your friends and family from back home?

I think that question should probably be framed in the reverse. Being so far from home, I don’t get to see family/friends from home that often, but my mother in particular has had the biggest influence on me as far as keeping me sane when I had my 2 year series of injury/illness and the accompanying mediocre running. She was a good runner in her own right and understands me so well. When I was home for the summer we’d go nice runs most mornings together. I really respect her opinion when it comes to running. She’s not the kind of parent who thinks that it’s great that you simply finished. She knows what I can do and keeps me accountable to myself.

4. What is a typical training day for you like during the heart of the cross country season and when will you start to taper down in your mileage?

We generally follow a moderate-hard-recovery cycle, so a tempo run with first day, an interval workout (ie: 4xmile on grass) the next day, and then a recovery day. I usually do 5 miles or so in the morning as well. I’m trying to be proactive this year and cross train one or two times a week instead of running as I now understand that the biggest obstacle to not running well is getting hurt and….not running. Further, I am finally listening to Peter (Farrell, coach) and actually letting my body recovery rather than running useless mileage and being too tired to do anything of consequence in workouts. As far as when we will taper for bigger meets, I don’t know. That’s Peter’s domain.

5. Looking ahead to the NCAA Championships, what would you like to accomplish as your collegiate career soon comes to a close?

As far as the cross country season goes, my goals lie largely with the team. I have the rest of my life to work and train and gradually improve my track times, but I only have one more season of cross-country with a group of my best friends. To that end, I want to work hard every day so that I can score the lowest number of points for the team, and hopefully inspire my teammates through an example of hard work. Our top 5 averaged 17:30 at Franklin Park (Boston) this weekend to sweep the HYP meet, without our number 2 runner, so I think Princeton is going to (finally) surprise some people.

6. What is the most difficult obstacle you had to face during the season and how did you overcome it?

As far as this season goes, there haven’t been any major obstacles (thankfully). In past seasons, mono, stress fracture, pneumonia would have to qualify. This year, the biggest “obstacle” would be making the choices that will allow me to keep improving, while living on a campus with many distractions. That’s both the curse and blessing about being a student-athlete at Princeton. You are a student that runs, not the reverse.

7. Considering the distance from your home to Princeton, what was the biggest reason you decided to enroll?

Academics have always been a priority for me, so the opportunity to attend the top undergraduate school in the US was something I could not pass up. Also, Peter was a large part of my decision. He’s a knowledgeable coach, but more importantly, someone I respect as a person.

8. What is the most enjoyable part about being a collegiate student-athlete in the sport of cross country and track & field?

Getting to spend several hours a day with such a multi-talented (one of our teammates last year was a Rhodes Scholar) and diverse group of girls.

9. What kind of training do you expect to get between the cross country and indoor track seasons during Christmas break?

Between cross-country and indoor, I hope to just continue working hard and not doing anything crazy.

10. How important is it to stay on top of your studies and what will you be earning your degree in?

Staying on top of my schoolwork is very important, and grades here are very competitive so you can’t slack off. This year in particular I’m trying not to stay up until 3 in the morning doing problem sets, so it means that I have to be very efficient with my time. I’ll be earning my degree this June in economics and am considering either graduate school in economics or investment banking/equity research type employment.

11. What is the longest run you have ever been on and how much did it benefit for you in your training?

My longest run took about 2:15, but I really don’t think it benefited me in particular. I do a longish run every week, but I’ve finally bought into the philosophy that running faster for moderate lengths of time is of greater benefit than plodding around for hours on end.

12. Do you pay attention to how your competitors are performing during the season?

I’d be lying if I said I did not, but at the same time, I know that all I can do is focus on making the right decisions for myself and working hard everyday.