PennTrackXC.com: Getting a state title in your last high school race has to be the perfect ending. When during the race did you start to think it could happen?
Emily Giannotti: Going into the race, I knew I had a legitimate shot at the title. I felt amazing at the mile mark where I think we went through at 5:23. That is the same time I hit at the mile mark of my district 3200m race so I knew I could come back strong in the second mile. I took the lead at that point and held it until the last lap. All season, I have had some pretty strong last laps in my 3200m races so at that point I really thought that it could happen and just ran as strong as I could until the finish.
PennTrackXC.com: Was it your final high school race?
Emily Giannotti: This was my final high school race. I will not be doing any post-season races. It's so sad!!!! But it's amazing at the same time. I've worked for this since I was a freshman and it was an amazing way to end my high school career!
PennTrackXC.com: What was your strategy coming into the race? You seemed to control the pace and then made a move before the final lap. How did it play out?
Emily Giannotti: My strategy was to simply run my own race. I've had experiences in the past where I get way too caught up in how everyone else is going to run so I simply wanted to run my own race. I went out hard like I always do and found myself in the lead through the first lap. I didn't feel very comfortable there so I let another runner pass me and stayed right with her and let her do the early pacemaking. At the mile, I felt great and took the lead. I still had the lead going into the final lap and I thought, "there is no way I am going to lose an 8-lap race on the final lap." In the last 100m, I kicked it in as hard as I could, I thought I had a little bit of a gap over second, but I was still terrified that I would get nipped at the finish, so I just ran through the line as strong as possible.
PennTrackXC.com: Talk a bit about your year: A 6th place finish in cross country, a 4th place at indoor champs, and the top of the podium in outdoor... did you think that level of success was possible?
Emily Giannotti: After getting 5th in the 3200m my freshman year. I got really motivated to focus on running and running alone. It made me realize that I could be pretty good at it if I worked at it, and just fell in love with running. My 10th and 11th grade years were pretty rough. I got anemia and suffered a great lack of confidence. But this past summer I trained very consistently and got my head together. After getting 6th in cross-country after not placing any of the previous years, I knew it was going to be a special year. Each race boosted my confidence. The 4th at indoors was huge for me. I realized that I could be towards the top. I think it was all about getting my thoughts together and learning how to stay relaxed in pressure situations.
PennTrackXC.com: At the indoor 3000 state meet, you went out aggressively? Was that the plan or just the way the race started?
Emily Giannotti: Honestly, I really didn't have a specific plan going into that race. In the past, I have tended not to be the strongest finisher so I knew I had to do a lot of the work in the beginning of the race and hold on as best as I could. I just kind-of found myself at the front and didn't mind being there that day. I felt fearless. A lot of the attention that day was on Sara and Katie so I didn't really feel any pressure. I love going into races being an "unknown" and I think that really contributed to the fact that I went out hard and ran my own race.
PennTrackXC.com: You've qualified for states every year of high school in the 3200 and medaled in three; nearly medaled indoor last year; but didn't have the same level of success in cross country until your senior year? Did you start cross country later; just get more serious this year; or were you injured your junior year?
Emily Giannotti: Haha, I was mentally injured. My junior year was probably my roughest year. I got anemia in the middle of that cross-country season, and it just kind-of spiraled into a great lack of confidence. It was especially rough to find out in the middle of the season. Looking back, I really wish I would have dealt with that situation in a more positive way. I think I was so drained physically and mentally that I just kind-of shut down that year.
PennTrackXC.com: How has your twin Allison helped you in the sport?
Emily Giannotti: Oh my gosh! Allison is the best ever. She's not as into running as I am but she is my biggest cheerleader. We do practically everything together and I can always trust her to tell it like it is (not just the usual "good job!" after a race). Al is such an inspiration to me too! Just in general, watching her work so hard in school and going after her own dreams makes me want to strive that much more to reach mine. In running, she bikes next to me on long run days and helps make hard workout days more fun because she is so funny at practice!
PennTrackXC.com: What type of workouts and training did you do this year, and this season?
Emily Giannotti: Over the summer I did around 50-55 miles a week. I'm a big mileage person. The longer the better. During this track season, my coach, Coach Klingaman, had me do a lot of 400 and 800m repeats at race pace or faster. I remember one workout where I did two 1600m repeats at race pace. It was one of the hardest workouts I had ever done, but it gave me so much confidence after I did it. Also, we do some shorter stuff every once in a while, such as 200m stuff. That kind of stuff isn't really my favorite, but I think it really helped me improve my finishing speed a lot from indoor to outdoor.
PennTrackXC.com: What has been your most memorable race in your high school career? Why does this one stand out?
Emily Giannotti: Definitely, that last one at states. Going into that race I was thinking a million things. I really wanted to make my town proud and go out with a bang. I wanted to make my coach proud. I wanted to prove to myself that I could stay relaxed and run a good race in a pressure situation. I had worked so hard on being more mentally sound in races, and the fact that I was able to do it at states was amazing. The race went by so fast and I was just so happy that God chose me to win the race that day. It was pretty cool.
PennTrackXC.com: What are some fond non-running memories from high school that you will carry with you as you graduate this year?
Emily Giannotti: Oh man. A lot of my great memories are from running! Just crazy stuff with the team. But as I graduate, I will definitely never forget all the friendly faces at Coudersport High School and all the crazy little things we did. Intense gym class dodgeball, football games, powderpuff, being a calculus nerd, random trips to the movies, school dances,4-H, youth group. Oh, and cutting my friend's hair after we made a bet that I could do so if I won states. His parents weren't too pleased.
PennTrackXC.com: What do you like to do with your time when you aren't competing or practicing? Hobbies? Activities with friends?
Emily Giannotti: When I'm not running I like to do anything involving being active. We have two horses 
and I love to ride and just be outside. I love traveling with my family, eating good food and laughing a ton. Some hobbies I'm not too proud of: wasting time on the computer and watching pointless TV shows. My friends and I do pretty much anything: movie nights, bonfires, just hanging out. We can pretty much make a fun time out of anything... which comes in handy when you live in a town that consists of only two traffic lights (that's the description I use when people wonder why they have never heard of Coudersport before).
PennTrackXC.com: When did you first get into running? Was there a particular event or person that influenced you?
Emily Giannotti: I first started running in 8th grade. After I realized I was halfway decent at it, I began taking it more seriously and found out that it is actually very fun to run long distances. I would have to credit this to the wonderful Mrs. Connie Brown. She was a 800m state champion from Coudersport and told me that I was going to be a runner. I didn't believe her, but tried it nonetheless.
PennTrackXC.com: What role models do you have in running? Why?
Emily Giannotti: I think I really look up to Kara Goucher. I've always been a fan and read an article about her once and her past struggles with confidence and a positive mentality. That really struck a chord with me because I have been through the same type of stuff. The fact that she has learned to stay positive and confident and is a hugely successful runner is really motivating for me. I admire any runner who runs without fear and leaves it all out there.
PennTrackXC.com: Who do you look up to outside of running? Why?
Emily Giannotti: Definitely my family. My mom is pretty awesome. She has helped me so much in various ways in running and in life. We have been through some pretty tough times as a family lately and she just keeps on keepin' on. I want to be as strong as her some day. And my dad is pretty much just a really cool guy. His attempts at pep talks before races are hilarious and somewhat effective at the same time (haha). But seriously, he works harder than anyone I know and I think that has really contributed to the fact that I want to work hard at everything I do, too. My sisters, Allison and my little sister Natalie, are also big role models. And of course God. Where would I be without Him?
PennTrackXC.com: Where are you attending college? Is running going to be a part of your college life?
Emily Giannotti: I am going to attend Penn State next year majoring in kinesiology. I will be running for them, which I am super excited about because the team is awesome, I love the coaches, the kinesiology program is very strong and pretty much Happy Valley is going to be a great new place to call home.
PennTrackXC.com: What are your long-term goals in the sport?
Emily Giannotti: My long-term goals in running are definitely to run competitively as long as I can and just keep on running after that. People always ask me why I like to run so much, and it's pretty much because it makes me feel good and I just love it. All you need is a pair of shoes and you're good to go, just put one foot in front of the other. Repeat.