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Interval Session #76 - Chelsea Ley

By Dave Devine - October 16, 2008

When New Jersey junior standout Chelsea Ley entered Kingsway High School two years ago as a freshman, not only was she an unlikely prospect to be one of the best ever from the Garden State, she was a long shot to even be the best from her own family.  Chelsea's mother, Joanne, had been a star at Kingsway in her own high school years, and her name was still all over the school record books.  Two years later, the daughter has eclipsed her mother's times and stands as the #3 high school girl to ever run Jersey's famed Holmdel course, after her 17:44 at the Shore Coaches Invite earlier this fall.

Last year, during her eventful sophomore campaign, Chelsea was a Foot Locker finalist, where she finished 18th in San Diego, then won her first national title with a 5k victory at the 2008 National Scholastic Indoor Champs.  She was runner-up to Ashley Brasovan in the same event at the Nike Outdoor Nationals.  Now, after a summer of big mileage and bigger goals, she stands poised for an impressive post-season push.

DyeStat senior editor Dave Devine heads back East for a chat with one of the shining stars in the crowded slate of Garden State girls.
1) It’s been a great start to the season for you so far, with probably the biggest breakout race coming at the Shore Coaches Invitational, where you ran that 17:44 for #3 all-time on Holmdel’s course.  Can you talk about that race, and how it felt to run so fast on a course with so much history?

Going into the race my goal was to break 18, and I knew if I did that I would be up there on the all-time list.  I was kind of racing the clock because I knew I wouldn’t have anyone running with me.  I came through the first mile well and the second mile pretty decent, and I knew that on Holmdel’s course it’s all downhill the last mile, so I would be good from there.  The last 100 meters, I looked up at the clock and I couldn’t believe that I was coming in at 17:44.  I was pretty shocked, actually.

2) There have been many great runners who have run that 5k layout at Holmdel.  Is it a course you enjoy running, and why is it such a big course for New Jersey runners?

I really enjoy running there, but it’s always a nerve-racking course to run.  You know how painful and hard it is going to be, but I definitely do love running it. It’s fun, and you know you’re usually going to have a good race when you run there.

3) After your race at Shore Coaches, you mentioned to John Nepolitan that you’d been putting in quite a bit of mileage—up to 85 miles a week over the summer, and maintaining near 70 miles a week into the season.  Is that level of mileage new for you this year, and how is your body handling those kinds of numbers?

Last year I did run quite a bit of mileage, but I increased it this year.  So far, my body’s been handling it pretty well; I haven’t had any injuries yet.  I’ve been trying to keep that mileage at a good average every week, because I don’t want to flat-line—doing all that mileage in the summer and then dropping off. I’ve been still trying to keep it up pretty high and I’m just praying I stay healthy—that’s always a risk with running higher mileage.

4) When you train in the summer, are you pretty much alone or working out with teammates?  Can you discuss the coaching you receive at Kingsway, and how that support structure has figured into your improvement?

Throughout the summer I was training pretty much on my own—doing long runs and building the summer base.  After 4th of July we’d start getting together and the coaches would start giving us direction about what to do.  The coaches at Kingsway are really good; they know what they’re doing and we’re getting pushed in the right direction.

5) Flashing back a bit to last year…you won your first national title at the 2008 NSIC in the 5k.  How did it feel to get such a big win on a national stage, and what were you thoughts as that race progressed and you realized you had a shot to win it?

It was really exciting, because it was the first race that big I’d ever won.  I went into it thinking I wasn’t going to win, and I always race better when I race the clock, so that’s how I went into the race—going against the clock and not worrying about the other girls.  Sometimes when I worry about who’s in the race I get more worked up mentally and lose focus.  I went into the race thinking about my time and where I wanted to be at each mile, and that worked out for me.  I couldn’t believe I won the race. It was definitely an amazing feeling.

6) Can you talk about how you first got your start in running?  Were you a successful age-group runner, or were you someone who got into the sport once you reached high school?  Were there other sports that preceded running?

I started in seventh grade with my mom, who was a very good runner in high school.  As she got older she was still running three miles a day, and I would see her running.  The first time I went out with her for a mile I was dying, but I found out I really enjoyed running.  I ran track my eighth grade year, after playing soccer up through seventh grade, and I was a better runner than soccer player.  Then I went out for cross country, and this is where it led me.

7) You’ve had a chance to participate in some high level meets and do some cool traveling in connection with your high school career.  Is there one meet or event you especially enjoyed, or one you’d love to return to and compete or win at again?

Without a doubt, it was traveling to San Diego for the Foot Locker National Championships.  I had such a good time; it was probably the best experience of my whole life.  It was just amazing—everything about it.  It was one of those experiences that you can’t even really describe to someone who hasn’t been through it themselves.  I would love to get back to San Diego and try to get top five, that’s my goal this year.

8) Anybody who has been following your career the last 2 or 3 years will notice that Chelsea Ley has a new look this season…you’ve rolled into cross country 2008 with a new haircut.  Was that something you did in the summer, or did you decide you wanted a new style for the fall?

Yeah, I cut it all.  I wanted something new, and my mom’s a hairdresser, so we just started tossing around ideas.  I told her I wanted something new, so I said, “Let’s cut it all off!”  Now, whenever people see me, that’s how they know me:  “That’s Chelsea Ley, she cut all her hair off.”

9)  With the Philadelphia Phillies playing for a shot to advance to the World Series this week [which they did, in five games over the L.A. Dodgers], and you living nearby in South Jersey, I have to ask—are you a Phils fan?

This year is the only year that I’m actually watching the games.  I’m definitely not one of those fans that only goes out and buys the jerseys and stuff when they’re winning—I hate that—but now that they’re doing well I’m kind of getting into them.  It’s hard to avoid because everyone’s talking about them..


Photos by John Nepolitan


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