Big River Interview: Mary Nothum

Mary is a senior at Washington High School in Washington, Mo. Despite choosing soccer over track the past two years, Nothum has burst onto the track scene this spring and is coming off an outstanding district meet at which she qualified for sectionals in four events (4x400, 800, 1600, 3200). Most notably, she ran neck and neck with Merideth Snow over the final 400 meters of the 1600, just losing out to the nine-time state champ.

BR: First off, congrats on your district performance. What was your take on the meet?

MN: Getting through in four events was exciting. In the mile I pretty much knew anything was going to happen. I was in the opposite alley of [Merideth] Snow so I couldn't even see her out of my peripheral vision. I just got behind the Rolla girl [Kimi Shank] and waited. I knew she [Snow] had something up her sleeve. When she went by I just tried to stay with her but I had three more races. I'm not saying I could have caught her but I just figured I'd take it in. She ran 63 seconds for her last lap and I ran 65. I felt great.

BR: When you go into a qualifying meet and you know you are running four events how do you go about preparing yourself. Do you take it one at a time or do you just aim to qualify and save energy?

MN: At districts in the mile I wanted to stick with Snow. After that I just wanted to get through in the other events.

BR: So as we move on to Sectionals have you and your Coach worked out a plan?

MN: Well, it's tough. Should I go after the mile or just get through? I love the mile. The mile is my race. I do want to make it through in all four events.

BR: Things certainly look good on paper for that to happen. If we could jump ahead what are the goals for the State meet?

MN: Running against Merideth Snow is amazing. She is amazing. Getting second to her is almost like getting first. I really think the mile could be anyone's race though.

BR: Obviously, things are going very well for you. Tell us a little bit about your training and what Coach Figas has had you doing.

MN: We haven't really started tapering. I guess you don't really do that much in track. We're still working hard. We've been doing stuff with really short recoveries. He's killing me with that stuff. Like Monday we did 6 400s. We are out of school now though so I have been on a really weird schedule, staying up late and waking up late. Yesterday, I didn't eat lunch until 2 o'clock and practice was at 3. I have never thrown up from running but I threw up yesterday. I was supposed to do 75,75,74,74,72,70 but I hit the first one in 72 and pretty much just stayed there. I was all alone on this one. The boys were doing something else. Coach was supposed to run with me but he's too fat [laughing]. He says he can't keep up with me.

BR: If 400s aren't your thing what is your favorite workout?

MN: I really like fartleks. I also like longer repeats like thousands. I like workouts where you keep going and keep your heart rate up.

BR: Well, with only two weeks to go in your high school career a new step is right around the corner. Tell us a little bit about your decision to attend Utah Valley State College.

MN: I knew I wanted to run and I wanted to get away. I got some letters from schools around here but I really love Utah . I have family there. I wrote letters to Utah , Weber St. , and Utah St. Since I didn't do track for the past two years, I did soccer, the coaches weren't sure about me. The coach from Utah Valley State College replied right away. People say that liking the Coach is really important and that is so true. I flew out in October and I fell in love with it. They are the only school in the country to go from being a Junior College to Division I. They have been DI for three or four years now. The team is really young. I'm hoping to build with them.

BR: One last question; as you leave and move on to the next level what is your advice to young high school runners?

MN: Well , this is going to sound boring and unoriginal but going out and running hard in practice. A lot of young girls don't try hard. My freshman year I was talented but I didn't work hard. My sophomore year I just started running my hardest at practice and look what it did for me. Just believe in yourself.

Thanks for a great interview Mary and good luck at sectionals and state!