Athlete: Kara Steinke
School: Methacton
Class: 2014
Profile: Steinke is a three-time PIAA Class AAA cross country championship qualifier and was 26th in 2012. She was 4th in District 1 action in 2012. She also was 13th at Foot Locker Regionals the same year.
So far in 2013:
» 18:18.40 at the 24th Bulldog Cross Country Invitational-Rose Tree
» 18:03.00 at the Abington XC Invitational
» 18:18.38 at the Ninth Annual John Sharp Viking Invitational
XC PR:
» 17:57.00 at the District 1 Championships in 2012
PennTrackXC: How is your fitness now that you are nearing the end of the 2013 season. What excites you most about the meets to come?
Kara Steinke: I believe that my fitness is where it should be at this point in time, but in a couple of weeks I hope I'm a little bit stronger and more well-rested. I'm really excited about the competition in the meets to come and to see where I stand.
PennTrackXC: Which 2013 meet has been the most important for you thus far, and what did you learn from the race?
Kara Steinke: The PIAA Foundation Invitational at Hershey has been the most important race. I did not have the race I was hoping for, but I learned so many things from it. I learned that no matter how awful you feel during a race you just have to push through it and I learned that I should have fueled my body a bit differently the day before. Also, I learned that one race does not define who you are as a runner and you have to just forget about it and move on with your training.
PennTrackXC: What kind of adjustments, if any, have you made this season?
Kara Steinke: The only adjustment my coach and I have made this season is which meets to run as workouts and which to prepare and actually race at.
PennTrackXC: When and how did you get started in cross country?
Kara Steinke: When I was in fifth grade I started running to stay in shape for my basketball team and I ended up loving it. For a year and a half my dad signed me up for road races and then in seventh grade when I was able to participate in sports, I went out for my school's cross country team.
PennTrackXC: Who has influenced you the most in your life and what they meant to you and your success?
Kara Steinke: My middle school cross country coach, who was also my basketball and track and field coach, influenced me the most. He taught me everything I have ever needed to know about running and being competitive. He has helped me tremendously with confidence and character and he made me the person I am today.
PennTrackXC: What are your keys to success when it comes to your training program?
Kara Steinke: My keys to success are rest days and confidence. I never use to take days off because I never thought they would help, but when I finally realized they are a must, I incorporated them into my training program. You need to let your body recover. It's as important as hard training days. Confidence is key as well because anything can happen if you put your mind to it. It's important to trust your training and never doubt yourself.
PennTrackXC: What is your most memorable performance in a cross country race over your career and why?
Kara Steinke: My most memorable moment was placing 13th at Foot Locker Regionals last year in 2012. I was disappointed with my state performance and I wanted to end that year with a decent race. I was so happy to have felt the way I did and perform as well as I did at Van Cortlandt Park. I never thought I would have been so close to qualifying for nationals. That race gave me a ton of confidence.
PennTrackXC: What is your greatest non-running experience in cross country so far and why?
Kara Steinke: My greatest non-running experience is definitely just bonding with my team. We do a ton of team bonding like pasta parties and corn mazes and sleepovers. We are all very close and we have each other's backs no matter what. We also understand each other's pain and we know what to say or do if one of us is having a rough day.
PennTrackXC: What are your goals for the 2013 cross country season?
Kara Steinke: My goals in no order:
- Have our team come in the top 2 at Leagues
- Defend my League title
- Place in the top 3 at Districts
- Place in the top 15 at States
- Have a good race at Foot Locker (we will just see how the end of the season goes)
- Stay injury free!!
- Avoid sickness
Striders:
What's your favorite running related movie?
-Without Limits
Do you prefer Instagram or Vine?
-Vine
What's your favorite jam during a long run?
-Eye of the Tiger
What's your favorite cheat food?
-Molten Chocolate Lava cake
CHECK OUT KARA'S MILESPLIT STATS PAGE | NEWS FEED AND PR'S
