 "Photo: WU Photo Services")
Vital Facts From: Okemos, Mich. Born: Sacramento, Calif., Aug. 22, 1985 Year: Junior Major: Architecture Minor: French Height: 5' 3" Hair: Blonde Weight: 115 lbs. Eyes: Blue Nicknames: "Harkema," "Lindzbinz"
After an hour-long interview I learned everything there is to know about women's cross country. During the interview I may have also sketched out one of the top runners on the top team in the nation.
Student Life: What made you want to do an activity that most people hate (i.e. running)? Lindsay Harkema: Well, when I was in eighth grade they started this running program that I really got into, and then when I was in high school our coach really focused his training to prepare us for college. Running on the cross country team is really more than just a physical or competitive activity. It's also a good social group, because the girls and guys are so close.
SL: This may be a tough question. Do you have a certain favorite runner whom you idolize? LH: Hmm, let me think… Prefontaine? Well I guess the generic answer is Prefontaine, but women don't really have that many because it's still a fairly new sport. I think it started getting big in the early to mid-'80s. Now that I think about it, Marla Runyan. She suffers from Stargardt's Disease (slight blindness), so it's really inspirational to see her do so well. Also, in light of all the steroid issues today, she is a really good role model.
SL: OK, I guess that is inspirational. During your races I know that there are sometimes as many as 1,000 people running at once, and during the beginning of the race everyone is clumped together. Have you ever spiked anyone during a race? After? LH: Well, I don't try to spike people but you definitely try to keep your elbows out and take short quick steps when you are packed in with so many people. I actually fell at nationals last year. A bunch of girls fell on top of each other; it was within the first mile and it was a tight turn. It was still so crowded, but I got up and kept running.
SL: Wow, but you mentioned a lot of girls falling on top of each other. Were there people that laughed at this pile of girls? LH: Actually, yeah, I still get jokes about it from the team.
SL: I know baseball greats like Wade Boggs used to eat some form of chicken before every game. I am pretty the Red Sox took shots before some of their playoff games. What do runners do before a race? LH: We begin warming up an hour before a race, starting with a five-minute walk, then a 15-minute jog to get to know the course. Then we put our spikes on and run to the bathroom. SL: Yeah, that would slow you down… Oh… sorry, continue… LH: We also do drills such as skips, high knees (15 minutes prior to start), and a three-minute extended run at a faster pace to get our hearts beating fast. For the last part of our routine we do striders (long strides of 50-100 meters) on the starting line, a team breakdown and then our coach has a three-part question cheer.
SL: Wow, a question cheer? LH: Yeah, our coach is great; he never pumps us up by telling us we are going to win or kill the other team like most coaches. He asks: who is the most prepared; who is the prettiest; who is going to have the most fun? Yeah, it really motivates us to have fun and I think we all run better when we are having fun.
SL: What kind of shoes, shirt and underwear do you wear on a race day? LH: Spikes—Nikes for shoes. Usually they come with crazy neon colors, but this year I have a pair of navy blues. Bright colors can be intimidating or annoying. Our team jersey is a sleeveless tank top type, and we wear buns for bottoms.
SL: Please go into detail about these "buns" of yours, team uniform and such. LH: They are basically swimsuit bottoms. Our legs are as free as possible, and there is no extra fabric flapping around; plus, it makes us look hardcore. SL: And probably makes spectators buckle a little at the knees. LH: [Laughs.]
SL: Do you tend to think that the better-looking guys here at Wash. U. run or play other sports like baseball? LH: Well, I think girl runners tend to be attracted to guy runners. In the past I have dated or been attracted to runners, but it's pretty much because we spend a lot of time with these scrawny boys, so we like them. But then we see baseball or basketball players, and we think, "Oh, that's what guys can look like." Overall, the guy runners are very sexy, though.
SL: If you were a fruit, what kind would you be? LH: Is this one of those deep sexual innuendos? SL: Nothing is too deep with me. Wait, that's kind of sexual—but seriously, I find nothing deep about this question. LH: It's just a random question, I guess. Strawberries.
SL: How are you as a driver? Do I have to be afraid of you on the road? LH: Well, it is true that I don't like being passed by other cars and I do tend to push the speed limit. But I have never gotten a speeding ticket. SL: Any accidents? LH: Um, well, I did back up into my ex-boyfriends car in high school. It was a '67 black Camaro that he and his dad had restored. But I am not a bad driver. [Explains with a long story that took at least 15 seconds.]
SL: Boxers or briefs? LH: Boxers, although most runners wear briefs, so actually I change my answer. Boxer briefs—the best of both worlds.
SL: Favorite food? LH: Broccoli! SL: No way! Me too! LH: With ketchup. Yeah, steamed, with ketchup. SL: Well, I prefer Dijon mustard but I guess we—I mean, I could try ketchup.
SL: Do you like chocolate? LH: Yes. I like milk chocolate. SL: If I brought you a Hershey's bar would you consider going on a date with me? LH: Um, is that a pickup line?
SL: Last question: current team MVP? LH: Well it would be MVR (most valuable runner), but we really don't have one because we never single anyone out. SL: Except you right now in this interview. LH: Yeah, but we would have a most valuable grunter: Lisa Sudmeier. She is very sexy and has a great grunt that she makes when it is appropriate for different occasions such as doing hill workouts, sprinting at the end of a race and everyday occasions, like greeting a friend.
Lindsay and the rest of the No. 1-ranked women's cross country team will be in action with their "buns" at the Border States Invitational in Edwardsville, Ill., this Saturday.
