Interview
With Mary Proulx
By
Alison Wade
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Mary
Proulx leads wire-to-wire to win the 2002 Penn Relays Championship
5,000.
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Proulx
finishes 11th at the 2002 Beach to Beacon 10k.
Both Photos: Alison Wade/New York Road Runners
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Heading
into her senior year, Mary Proulx of Keene State is already a four-time
NCAA Division III national champion on the track. She won the 3,000m/5,000m
double outdoors in 2001 and followed it up with a 5,000m/10,000m double
last spring. Proulx will attempt to add a cross country title to her collection
this fall; her best finish to date is a fifth place in 2001. Proulx holds
personal bests of 34:46.86 for 10,000m and 16:29.79 for 5,000m, which
she ran in winning the 2002 Penn Relays Championship 5,000 against Division
I competition. We caught up with Proulx at her home in Ashland, NH, shortly
before she headed two hours southwest to Keene to begin the school year.
Fast-Women.com:
Starting off with your NCAA 10,000m win this year, it sounds like it was
a very exciting race, how did it unfold?
Mary Proulx: Well, this was the second
time I had ever run the 10k, I was a little inexperienced, so I ended
up taking it out a little too fast. No one ended up coming with me until,
I think, nine laps to go. Eventually [Nicole Cueno of Grinnell] ended
up catching up and taking off on me. I was was like, 'Oh, this is already
fast enough,' and I think her splits were maybe five seconds [per lap]
faster than mine when she had gone by me. So I thought there was no way
I was going to catch up to her until, maybe, two laps to go, my coach
told me that her lap times were slowing down and that really got me fired
up, just knowing that she was dying too (laughs). Usually I have a kick
at the end, so that always helps. I caught up to her with, I think, less
than a lap to go and she was just dying, so I ended up taking it after
that.
FW:
Was your 5,000m win (two days later) any easier?
MP: It was a lot easier. A girl from
Amherst College (Carter Hamill) ended up pacing us because none of us
really wanted to take it out, most of us [were doubling]. So Nicole and
I decided to just draft off [Hamill] for a while, the pace was comfortable
and pretty slow. I think with about six laps to go, I was getting a little
nervous because I was too comfortable, that if the pace had changed, I
might not be able to go with them, that I might just give up. So Nicole
and I ended up passing her and picking up the pace. I think it was just
down to us two again, I think she was leading with 600 meters to go and
then I passed her. I hated to do that, that's what happened the year before,
because Nicole was a senior and she ended up coming in second in both
events. My sophomore year when I won the 3,000 and the 5,000, I ended
up passing this one girl, who was a senior, twice so she graduated never
being national champion. So I felt kind of mean.
FW:
So why did you move up to the 5,000/10,000 double this year, was it because
you don't do the steeplechase?
MP: Yeah. I like the longer distances,
those are usually my best events, just because I can maintain a pace.
Whereas with the mile, I decided I really hated it after indoor when I
[entered the NCAA Championships] as the number one seed and ended up coming
in third, so I wasn't too happy with that.
I was a
little nervous trying the 10k, I wasn't sure if I'd like it because it
was too far, but because they changed the [flat 3,000m] to the steeple,
I guess that's why I moved up. I wanted to double and that was the only
double that I would have been able to do.
FW:
Going back earlier in the season, were you surprised to win the Championship
5,000 at Penn Relays or was that something you kind of had your eye on
all along?
MP: Well actually, the Penn Relays
is my most favorite track race, I don't know why, it's even better than
Nationals. I get more excited to go to Penn Relays than anything. I definitely
didn't expect to win, that's always been something that I've wanted
to do, but I think that the field wasn't as strong as it used to be, or
has been in the past, I guess. But I was really surprised. Again, I took
it out way too fast, so I guess I learned my lesson this year,
but luckily it ended up working. Eventually there were about four girls
that came back up to me (after she led by a significant margin for the
majority of the race). I definitely didn't think I was going to be able
to stay with them (laughs). With 200 [meters to go], I guess I have my
leg speed at the end of races when I need to, knock on wood (laughs).
FW:
Do you consider yourself to be more of a track runner than a cross country
runner?
MP: Definitely not. Even though I've
been better at track, cross country's always been my favorite. I don't
like having people watch me run... I hate people watching me run.
Being by myself, in the woods, and not having spectators staring at you
the whole time, helps a lot. I really like going up and down, instead
of going around the track all the time.
FW:
We heard the the conditions were pretty brutal at last year's NCAA Cross
Country meet. What was it like for you?
MP: I actually didn't affect me, it
was hot, I can't really remember cross country. My boyfriend (Mark
Miller) ended up passing out and another one of my teammates had to go
to the hospital, but the men's race was after [the women's] and it was
a lot hotter. Coming from New England, we were running in snow already,
and then we went out to Nationals and it was like 85, 90 degrees. It was
quite a change. I didn't have spikes and the grass was wet because of
all of the heat and humidity. I was trying to play it smart and not go
out with the two that got ahead of me, but I think that I should have
stayed with them because I think I just gave up at that point. I kind
of, maybe, had it in my mind that I was in first or something (laughs),
I don't know what went on. I didn't see them from the mile on, they weren't
even in sight, so I think that if I had stayed with them, I could have
done a lot better.
FW:
So you've already won four national titles. What are your goals heading
into senior year?
MP: My goal has always been to win
cross country nationals. I really thought I had a chance this past year,
because I really didn't think there was any [competition], or anyone really
that great, because I had never heard of Dana Boyle before... I think
she was always coming in and out of injuries, so I had never heard of
her. I knew that Maggie Hanson was always right up there. I think this
year... I'm hoping that Amber Trotter doesn't really come back strong...
That's probably my only concern. I know that any given day anyone can
win, but I haven't been overtraining this summer, I think that I'm just
right. Last summer, I don't think I overtrained, but I think that I may
have peaked too early. So I've been taking a lot of time off... my coach
would kill me. I don't know, I feel like taking time off is really good
for me, like if I peak too early, or, it's not that I get sick of it,
but I expect too much too early, so I'm trying to alleviate that from
happening. Like, 'Ooh, I gotta win the Amherst Invitational...' I think
that I'm going to take it easy in the beginning of the year and not worry
about the small meets.
FW:
So when you say, 'Taking time off,' what do you mean by that?
MP: Well I took three weeks off after
track. And then I take a day off here or there, or a few days off in a
row, whenever I feel like it (laughs).
FW:
So what kind of training have you done this summer?
MP: I've been probably doing about
80-plus [miles per week], because I try to do about 12, if not 15, miles
a day. I might have a day off each week, so that always brings my total
down. I would say probably 70-80, I've been trying. Hopefully once school
starts I'll be doing more. My coach wants me to do about 15 each day.
FW:
Have you done workouts this summer?
MP: No, just running.
FW:
What kind of pace do you do on most of your runs?
MP: Depending on how I feel, If I'm
having a good day I'll probably run like seven minute miles or a little
faster. But if I have a crappy day, usually 7:30 or 7:45.
FW:
What else have you been up to this summer? Have you been at home?
MP: I'm living at home right now.
I was living in Keene for the summer, but I was living with five boys,
so I didn't really like that idea. So I came home and I don't have a job,
I'm just basically concentrating on my training, hanging out with my family
and going on vacation. I did a few road races.
FW:
We saw you at the Beach to Beacon 10k (she finished 11th in 35:29), what
other races have you done?
MP: I did the Bill Luti 5-Miler (she
won in 29:07) and that was about it. I think last summer I did four or
five road races, so this summer I only wanted to do a few, just for fun.
FW:
When you race in the summer, do you run as hard as you can that day?
MP: Not really. I guess I did
at Beach to Beacon because my boyfriend was pacing me and we went out
at 5:10 for the first mile. I was dying after that. I was like, 'Oh my
God, what did you do to me?' And he was like, 'Well you were the one who
was pushing the pace.' [It was] because I saw this girl that I wanted
to beat who was in the elite runners category and I got there late so
I was pretty far behind the starting line. I wanted to catch up with her
before the first mile (laughs), and I did. And then I think she pretty
much stayed with me for a little while after that. That was the only time
I really pushed myself. I'm training by myself this summer. I don't ever
usually run with anyone, which I like.
FW:
Even during the school year you don't run with anyone?
MP: Not really. In the morning runs,
if we're doing three miles I'll run with the girls. But if not, I'll either
train with the guys or by myself. I don't mind it... Since my freshman
year of high school when I started running, I've never had anyone to run
with, so I'm kind of used to it by now. And when I do run with someone,
I don't know what to do (laughs).
FW:
We're very curious about your high school running career because we couldn't
find much information about it. First, what high school did you go to?
MP: Plymouth Regional High School.
FW:
And what kind of times did you run in high school?
MP: I ran a 5:17 mile. For the 3,200,
I think I ran 11:34, and my best 5k time for cross country was 19:54.
So I didn't have very good times in high school (laughs). I had a great
coach, but I think by going to Keene, Pete (Thomas) really... I don't
know if he saw the potential, but at most track races I would be doing
four or five events and then he narrowed it down to maybe doing like one
or two at a meet. I think that helped a lot, being able to concentrate
more on one event, instead of four or five.
FW:
So did you start improving immediately when you got to Keene?
MP: Yes, I think my freshman year
I dropped like two-plus minutes off my 5k time and about a minute and
a half on my two-mile. That was just my freshman year, and now it's going
down in like 30-second increments... For the mile, I think I took 10 or
15 second off my freshman year.
FW:
Do you have any idea how you did that, what happened?
MP: I think probably the training,
more than anything. I think I slacked off in high school, maybe. If I
would run with the girls, we'd run downtown, get an ice cream and walk
back.
FW:
Oh, you were one of those girls.
MP: Oh yeah (laughs). But it didn't...
I don't know, I thought that was fine because I was still kind of number
one from around my area. So I was like, 'Ooh, these are really great times.'
But compared to Amber Trotter in high school or Laura Zeigle, it's like,
'Okay, maybe not.' Because they obviously trained a lot more than I did.
FW:
Does it bother you that Division III gets less attention than Division
I, or do you use that as an advantage somehow?
MP: For me, it seems like I'm getting
a lot of press. It doesn't really bother me because... I can't say that
I don't like it when I'm interviewed or anything, but I get nervous, like
if someone comes up to me after a meet, I never know what to say. It really
doesn't matter if people know me or not.
FW:
It seems like the Keene State team has improved a lot since you first
went there, is that true that it's improved a lot?
MP: Definitely. Coming into my freshman
year, I had only heard of the boys' team and I was thinking, 'Ooh, the
girls team is going to be just as good.' And I remember, like, Scott Jensen,
he was married to one of the girls on the team, so I figured she had too
be fast too. But my freshman year, we didn't even really have a team,
that was kind of frustrating. But I think after that, Pete tried recruiting
more. Also, my freshman year was Pete's first year as full-time coach
for both girls and boys, so he wasn't even the coach. I think his name
says it all. A lot of people have heard of him and what he's done with
the men's program and what's going on with the women's program. We have,
I think, 10 freshman girls for cross country and 18 freshman boys for
cross country. And I think like 24 girls for track. So it's definitely
improving, not even just in distance events -- in throwing and all the
field events too.
FW:
Once you started running really well freshman year, did it ever occur
to you that you might want to transfer and try to get a scholarship to
a Division I school?
MP: No, because I really can't say
that this was my doing. I give all my credit to my coach. He is amazing...
After knowing me for one week, he told my parents everything that I was
going to accomplish within the four-year span. So far, every single
thing has come true. I'm not joking. He told them times, he told them
I would win national titles in this and that... He knows exactly the training
for me to do. He doesn't push me as hard as I think he could, which is
perfect. We have the best relationship... I could never leave him after
what he's done for me.
FW:
So have you thought beyond this coming year, do you want to try to run
professionally after college?
MP: Definitely.
FW:
Do you have a plan?
MP: I was planning on going to grad.
school, because I'm doing an individualized major in coaching at Keene,
so I was going to do a grad. assistantship. But I've been talking with
Erik Nedeau, Bruce Bickford and Sarah Hann and they all said it's probably
the worst thing you can do if you want to run professionally after college,
because of the time constraint and everything. They've all tried it and
they said it was probably their worst mistake. What I'd like to
do is be sponsored right away so I don't have to work... Then go to grad.
School a few years after I've run for New Balance or Nike (laughs) or
anyone who will take me.
FW:
Has anyone advised you about what times you'll need to hit this year if
you want to get sponsored?
MP: Yup, my coach. He's told me exactly.
Because his goal is to train me for USATFs and then get a qualifying time
for the Olympic Trials in the 10k...
FW:
So you're going back to school tomorrow (August 18)?
MP: Yes.
FW:
Is this for running, or do your classes start soon?
MP: We have a week of training camp
and then school starts... Pretty soon, too soon. I'm enjoying being home.
FW:
Any closing thoughts?
MP: My dad, Paul Proulx, is just the
most wonderful man on this whole entire earth. He comes to every race,
no matter where it is. I just want to thank him for all the support, and
joy that he has given to me! I love him more then life itself! I just
can't explain how perfect and wonderful he is. He would drive to the bottom
of the ocean for me, and I would for him too!
(Interview
conducted August 18, 2002, Posted August 28, 2002)
Nothing
contained herein may be reproduced online in any form without the
express written permission of the New
York Road Runners Club, Inc.
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