The Grind & Intensity of a Pro Runner’s Day: Eat, Run, Repeat
“How you deal with the low days determines your success in this sport. It makes you who you are.”
From Runner's World / adidas
Every runner knows that you stand on the podium alone, but getting there takes support. Nikki Hiltz aspires to stand there one day as a top-3 American Miler, but the former Arkansas Razorback by way of the University of Oregon, who recently placed fifth at the USATF Indoor Mile Championships, is no lone wolf. After graduating last may, Hiltz sought out Terrence Mahon and adidas' San Diego-based The Mission Athletics Club to launch her pro career.
"I was like, 'Yeah, it'll be more intense, going from college to pro. But it’s more than I ever thought. It’s everything I imagined, amplified."
Hiltz, 24, credits her consistent routine for allowing her to handle the rigors and challenges of professional life. Here, she gives Runner's World a glimpse at how that routine unfolds.
8:00am Rise & Stretch
I wake up and get into my morning routine: coffee and toast or bagel, read the news on Twitter, open the windows, let the natural light in, stretch, roll.
On workout days, I might do a meditation session, which is probably two minutes long.
9:00am Pack & Go
I get my stuff ready, pack all my adidas gear in my backpack. The Ultraboost 19 saves room there when I’m packing for the track. I can just bring these and my spikes instead of three or four pairs of shoes because it's versatile.
9:30am Workout #1
Another great thing about San Diego (besides year-round sunshine and warm weather—ideal for training!): there’s so many cool spots with good trails and views so we can go anywhere we want. So I’ll meet my teammates, my coach and we all run together.
Monday, Thursday, Saturday are easy training runs, 5-7 miles. Sometimes drills after. Wednesday, midweek long run. Like two miles further than a normal training run.
Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday (long run) are big workout days at University City high school or UCSD track. Straight to the weight room after. Terrence’s system is you make your hard days hard and your easy days easy.
That’s why I love being part of a group. Teammates can lift me up and vice versa. We deal with the hard moments together.
Continue reading at: runnersworld.com
NOTE: On April 13, 2019 in Boston, Hiltz edged MAC teammate Emily Lipari to win the B.A.A. Mile in 4:40.1, her first professional title.
