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Sara Bei Chat Session - Stanford Star Talks
Sara Bei Chat Wrap
Four-time All-American completed two-day chat session on Thursday.
Stanford, Calif. - Senior All-American distance runner Sara Bei will make a special appearance in the gostanford.com chat room next Wednesday, October 6 (11:00 a.m. pt). Bei, a four-time All-American, helped lead the Cardinal women's cross country team to the NCAA championship last year, and a #1 ranking this year.
The two-time defending Pac-10 champion returns for her senior season as one of the top cross country runners in the nation and a major contender for the NCAA individual title. At the recent Stanford Invitational, she won top honors over the 4,000 meter course. She also captured top honors at the Notre Dame Invitational. Last year at the NCAA Championships in Waterloo, Iowa, Bei led Stanford to the national title with a third place finish. For her efforts, Bei was named Pac-10 Cross Country Athlete of the Year. During the 2004 track & field season, Bei captured All-America honors with a second place finish at the NCAA's in the 5,000 meters. Earlier in the year, Bei captured the Pac-10 and NCAA West Regional titles over 5,000 meters. Bei also competed at the 2004 United States Olympic Trials in Sacramento. At the end of the 2004 school year, Bei was awarded the Pac-10 Conference Female Athlete of the Year - presented to a Stanford athlete who distinguishes herself in "Conference competition."
A native of Santa Rosa, California, Bei is a Human Biology major, and has been an Academic All-American the past two years. Bei was a finalist for the Honda Sports Award in cross country, and has been nominated this year for the NCAA Top VIII award.
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Moderator: Sara Bei is ready to begin
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Stan (Santa Barbara): I realize it takes many hours to be a great distance runner. Congratuations on your success at Stanford. Can you tell me how many hours you train each week to prepare for an important cross country race?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Thank you very much! It's nice to hear your support. As far as my post-college plans, I am on track to graduate this year and am planning on continuing running professionally. My experience at the Olympic Trials opened my eyes to how God can be glorified through my running and inspired me to see how far I can take the talent that He has gifted me with. I like to take things a step at a time, and right now I am fully invested in my current collegiate career and my goals for cross-country and track. It is sad to think about not running in a Stanford and possibly leaving all the people I have grown to care so much about, especially the team, which has become my family, but I am excited for what God has in store for me! Long term, I feel called to be a missionary in a foreign country, probably somewhere in Latin America, but I know that I have my whole life to do this, and I want to see where God can take my running before I commit my life to missions.
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Robie Bennet: Running seams like such an intense sport that takes a lot of hard work and enduring pain. What motivates you day in and day out to put yourself through all the demanding training? What words can you share with those of us who struggle to stay motivated to train?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Good question! I find it really interesting to hear what motivates other runners to endure the pain of distance running. For me personally, my faith in God is what drives me through the pain. I often think of Bible verses like Colossians 3:23 "Whatever you do, work at it with ALL YOUR HEART, as working for the Lord, not for men". Often times I think of song lyrics that talk about offering to God a sacrifice. I feel that the pain I endure for running is a sacrifice to God, and I know that He deserves my very best. Often Alicia and I will vocally remind each other to glorify God through the pain we're enduring, and praise Him together in the hardest part of a repeat. It is so amazing getting to work-out with her every day, having her beside me is a constant reminder to keep my focus on gloirfying God since we both are running for the same reason. Today, before this chat, I had to do a work-out on my own, and it was difficult to stay focused without her with me, and I had to constantly remind myself to give my all as an act of worship to the Lord. It is such a blessing having Alicia to train with, and I am so thankful that God has placed us together!
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Chris (Chicago, IL): Hi Sara, You said in an interview that your excellent third-place performance at last year's NCAA cross-country nationals was an important race for you. Did the results of that race boost your confidence for this season? Also, you are open about your faith in God, and how it has helped your racing. Have you received any negative feedback when you discuss your faith, or have the responses been mostly positive? Also, what are your memories of this summer's Olympic trials? Thanks!
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Wow, where do i start :) Last year's NCAA's was an incredible race, by far a milestone in my running career. It has definitely boosted my confidence as a runner, and was an important stepping stone for me as an athlete, but I believe it was by the grace of God and not my own ability that I was able to feel the way that I did in that race. It was an incredible feeling and I will never forget it! You mentioned my faith in God- that race really helped me to grow in my faith, because I was depending on God a lot before that race. I had not performed to my potential in the past 2 NCAA x-c races, and was depending on Him for the confidence to execute the race He had called me to run. As far as how my vocalizing my faith has been received, I have encountered some negative feedback, which I can understand because i know that not everyone shares my beliefs. However, I can't help but speak about God and what He has done in my life, because it is constantly on my mind. I finish a race and all I can think is "Thank you God! You have blessed me so much, this is incredible!" I know that my talent to run and the desire to race are gifts from Him, and I want to give credit where credit is due instead of taking the glorfy for myself. It would be like a musical instrument taking credit for a symphony. So, hopefully people can understand that. Memories from the trials... oh there are so many! I am so thankful to have had the oppurtunity to run in Sacramento. Although I was physically exhausted from the long collegiate season and really in need of some time off, it was worth it to get to run under those lights with the best in the nation. I will never forget warming up with Alicia and praying with her before the race, and even though I didn't feel great physically and was unable to run as fast as I was earlier in the season, it was incredible to praise God in the race and have a vision for where I could be in 4 years. It was also really special to see all the people who had come to see me from my hometown (Santa Rosa). I will never forget seeing my junior high cross-country coach, Joe Walsh, one of the biggest inspirations in my life and the person that got me to start running, at the starting line right before the gun went off. Also, after I finished, being able to take my spikes off and say "I'm finished!" with the long season was also a highlight :) I definitely enjoyed my time off after that!
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Tom: Is it worth it? You have accomplished so much, is all the time and all the comitment worth the results?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Definitely. I can't imagine doing anything else. I think that no matter what God has gifted you with, the most meaningful way to spend your life is doing that to the fullest and striving for excellence, because that glorifies Him. I know that I won't be competing for my whole life, but I strive to have the same enthusiasm and focus that I have for training in whatever I am doing. I don't think that the accomplishments in and of themselves would make it worth it- to be honest, sometimes it can be kind of anti-climactic when you've anticipated a victory for so long and it finally comes. But I understand that because people win races every day and records are broken all the time- to me, my list of accomplishments is insignificant compared to the ways that God has used my running.
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Keith Conning (Vacaville): You once said that it was the water in Santa Rosa that produced all the state champions. What are the most important factors for your success at Stanford?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Hi Keith! Thanks for all your support! :) My success at Stanford is largely due to Stanford's program itself. I have been given the tools to everything I need to be the best athlete that I can be, along with a supportive coach that knows me better than I know myself as an athlete and is always thinking two steps ahead of me as far as how to prepare me to be the best that I can be. The team is incredible and so crucial because it is such an encouraging atmosphere without inner-team competition. Everyone is striving for the same goals, but everyone also knows how to have fun and it makes practice a lot more enjoyable. Outside of athletics, I have a healthy support network of friends and roommates that know why I run and encourage me while also providing balance when I need a break from thinking about running. I can't imagine having spent my 4 years anywhere else, and I am so thankful that God led me to Stanford. It is my home and I will miss it so much!
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Alexis (Irvine): Why do you feel Stanford is one of the top choices for so many of the top high school middle disatnce and distance runners?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Stanford IS the top choice for middle and distance runners! I'm not biased though :) There are so many reasons why Stanford was a great fit for me, and I know that each person is different so I really encourage people to make sure where they decide to go is the best fit for them, but I personally feel that our team has all types of people and Stanford has worked well for all of them for a number of reasons. As I just mentioned, at Stanford you have access to everything you need to be the best athlete you can be- it's up to you what you how much you want to utilize those tools. The coaches are fully invested in not just creating a successful team, but very in tune with each indivdual athlete, their athletic as well as personal emotional needs, and how to maximize their potential. There are access to beautiful trails to run on, the weather is perfect evey day of the year... you can ask for much more as far as location! And it's just an exciting atmosphere to be around so many people striving for excellence. Also, since we host so many track meets, you get the oppurtunity to compete with and watch world-class athletes. Last year, I had the chance to rabbit the race where Olympians hit their A-standart qualifier in the 5k for the Olympics- you just can't ride your bike down from your dorm and do that anywhere else! And I could go on and on about how fun the team is... And the academics are incredible... but I need to start being more brief or I'll never answer all these! :)
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steve: do you plan on running professionaly after stanford?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: See above question! :)
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Carlos (Mission,TX): How was your experience at the Olympic Trials like?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: See above question too :)
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steve prefontaine: what are your goals for nationals?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: As with any race, my goal is to run the best that I can. I know that is everyone's goal and not very specific, but as long as I do that, that's all that I ask. BUT... it is my last season of cross-country at Stanford, and personally, it is my favorite of the three seasons, so if I were to win an NCAA title this year, I would want to win it in cross-country. There's just something magical that I love about cross-country... I'm definitely going to put myself in the position to win the title, but my goal first and foremost is to score as little points possible so that we can win as a team, and at no point am I willing to jeopradize that and put my individual goals first.
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Bakersfield: Sara, how do you keep God as your focus in your running and not get carried away with the worldly success and attention it brings those who are on top, such as yourself?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Wow, I wish I could say that I am able to keep God has my #1 focus at all times, but it is definitely difficult. Each year, I grow in my relationship with God as He refines my heart and my motives for running. Pride and selfish ambiition are so subtle that they can creep into areas of your thoughts and life where you least expect it and contaminate them so easily! For me, it really helps having people to keep me accountable. Having friends and a boyfriend that I am able to be transparent with and share my struggles with keeps me on track. One of these people is Alicia Craig. It is amazing having someone who is going through the exact same things as you and striving to have the same pure motives, and being able to share and be vulnerable with her. Also, it is important for me to be out of the running world and remind myself that there is far more to life than me, my training, and my races. It is so easy to do become self-focused in college, but being involved in different Christian ministries on campus, Bible studies (we just started one on our team this year which has been awesome!), and serving others in the community helps takes my mind off of myself and keep things in perspective.
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Jose (Tulare): What are some of your main workouts that prepare you for a succesful season of cross country, and what is your weekly milage during the season?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: As far as weekly mileage, I alternate between weeks in the 80s and 90 miles per week, often timing the lower weeks on race weeks. As the season begins to taper off, I decrease to 60-70 miles per week, but try to keep it up so that I have a strong base to carry me through the track season. As far as key work-outs... some of my favorites are the long tempo runs that we do (6-8 miles) that are the most challenging training aspect for me. Alicia and I love to try to go faster than we ever have before, and it's great to practice relaxing and running fast. It translates well to a race situation. Other work-outs that prepare us well are intervals on the golf course, which we are SO fortunate to have!! And I especially like repeats that finish with an uphill, I think that the strength that we gain from these will translate well to the long uphill-graded finish in Indiana this year.
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Danny Kung: I just wanted to say hi from San Diego, watching you run at the trials was definitley an inspiration. It's always nice to see good friends making the most out of everything they have been blessed with. Seeing how your career has flourished at Stanford what has been the single hardest thing you've had to deal with in your career there? Thanks for your time, I know you're a busy person and maybe i'll see you back home sometime??
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Hey Danny! It's been too long! :) Single hardest thing... I'd probably have to say Winter Quarter my sophomore year. I had an irritated plica in my knee (this band of tissue that you're born with and will only get worse unless you surgically remove it) and we couldn't figure out what it was and it just lingered on forever, causing me to redshirt the Indoor season. It was frustrating because I had worked really hard that winter and was really excited about the upcoming season. Also, I had never had a real injury before so I had never really had to cross-train and do all of that, and it was hard to be diligent in swimming etc. when I really just wanted to RUN! However, I am so thankful that I went through that experience because it gave God the oppurtunity to get my attention and teach me things that I probably wouldn't have learned otherwise. I grew as a person a lot and it helped to reexamine and refine my motives for why I run. Also, I grew in my faith as God worked a miracle in my outdoor track season. Just a few weeks after I got surgery, I ran a 22 second PR in the 5k in my first race at Mt. SAC, and went on to PR in everything from the 800 to the 10k that season- something I certainly wasn't expecting! It taught me that God often wants to use us in our weakest moments to show up and show His power.
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SANTA ROSA: SLATER SWEPT RINCON;SLATER HAS 100 KIDS ON THEIR ROSTER THANKS TO YOU.
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: That's great! So good to hear! They are in good hands with Coach Walsh- go Spartans!
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Crossman (detroit): Sara, Great running at ND! Is there an NCAA title in your future??!
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Thank you! That was a fun race. As far as NCAAs..I'm going to prepare myself the best that I can, and do what I can do, and I'm excited to see how it turns out!
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Steve Loughlin (Palo Alto): If you had to take a flight to a meet in Boston, would you rather sit next to Andy Powell or Louie Luchini? Good luck the rest of the season!
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Durham, NC: Do you plan to compete beyond college? Who are some of your favorite track athletes?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Haha... that's a tough one. I'll have to go with Louie because he could help me with my HumBio (human biology) homework... alterior motives! :) Hope you're doing well, Steve!
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Durham, NC: Do you plan to compete beyond college? Who are some of your favorite track athletes?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Haha... that's a tough one. I'll have to go with Louie because he could help me with my HumBio (human biology) homework... alterior motives! :) Hope you're doing well, Steve!
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Greensboro: Are you still dating ryan hall
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Yes
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: I've got to go, but I will answer the rest of the questions and get them up on gostanford.com as soon as possible. Thanks!
Moderator: Sara will be back in the chat room tomorrow (Thurs., Oct. 7) at 9:30 a.m. to answer some more questions.
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Cindy (San Diego): Congratulations to the Stanford women's cross country team and continued good luck in 2004. I would like to ask you how you are able to combine your training work with your school work during the course of the week at Stanford.
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: It's definitely difficult at times to balance the two, especially if you are involved in any other activities/groups that meet during the week. I think that each year I get a little more use to having to manage my time well and maximize little breaks in my schedule. One thing that athletes often worry about is getting behind when traveling since we are always in season and always traveling on weekends. However, this actually is one of the times I get most of my school work done; long plane flights, uninterrupted time in the hotel.. there are a lot less distractions than in your dorm room. So that is where I do the majority of my school work during the week. Other than that, I just try to fit it in when I have little blocks of time that I could just as easily waste checking e-mail or something else.
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Tess/New York: Hi Sara... What is your diet like? How precise are you with it? Thanks! Tess
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Well, I think like any other serious athlete I try to fuel my body the best I can so that I have the energy to train and race effectively. You can't do 90 miles a week without paying attention to getting enough fuel throughout the day. I'm majoring in Human Biology, and have gotten to learn a lot about nutrition while here at Stanford, and it's been really neat to learn ways of optimizing your performance by improving the quality of what you eat, and eating frequently throughout the day and not just 3 meals. However, I'm a big proponent of balance as well (I definitely have a big sweet tooth!)- nutrition is only one aspect of preparation, and it can be blown out of proportion and overemphasized, especially with female distance runners. Also, a big aspect of social life especially in college revolves around food, and so I think it's important to be intentional about eating well when it's convenient, but being flexible as well.
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leon , boston MA: what do you do to get your confidence up if you have a poor race? I just have some horrible races where i can't breathe, and i just feel awful and want to drop out. I do poorly in these races, others i feel great the whole way. does this happen to you?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: I don't know if I've ever experienced that exactly, but I have definitely experienced some poor races where I physically felt very abnormal. It can be difficult to bounce back from hard races, but I think I always remind myself to keep that race in perspective. Not to say that it's ok to settle for mediocrity, but as you said, you don't want to hurt your confidence. I instead like to try to identify what went wrong in the race/ training leading up to it, and how I can improve in those areas to make sure it doesn't happen again. Ultimately, my confidence is restored by my faith that in the Bible, Christ promises to "make all things new"- there is no reason to let past failure affect you negatively, but only as an oppurtunity to learn from them.
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Big A: Do you have a boyfriend Sara?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: See above
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Linda (San Anselmo): How did you learn to run within your own limits and not compete with other Stanford athlets on your team during workouts?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Good question. Personally, I've always been someone who didn't like to compete in practice. I trained with boys in high school, and had to deal with plenty of competitiveness :) So I was really looking forward to running with other girls, and it hasn't really been difficult to not be competitive. I think the personalities of the girls on our team are similar, and as a result, we naturally encourage each other and work together in work-outs. However, one trap that can be easy is comapring yourself to others. I mentioned that I (and Alicia) run 90 miles a week- this is the most that anyone does on the team. We have people on all sides of the spectrum, and training in a way that is uniquely beneficial to them. Our coach, Dena, always tries to emphasize not comparing ourselves to others, but being focused on what works best for you and doing that the best you can.
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Chris (Ankeny): Aside from running, what are some of your other hobbies?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: At home, I live across from a big beautiful State Park and have always grow up doing things outdoors. We are really close to San Francisco, and I loving exploring big cities. We also go to Santa Cruz and Half Moon Bay for beach trips a few times a quarter. Besides that... just the usual hanging out with friends. I like to cook/bake, scrapbook and do craft-y things, and actually I really like to rollerblade but try not to during the season :)
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Gavin (Ames): Do you do any high altitude training in the summer?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: We go to Mammoth with the team for pre-season training for 2-3 weeks in September. Besides that, not unless I'm visiting people or on vacation.
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Bernadette: Does John Dye still stop by your house for dinner?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Not to my knowledge
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Lewis(jacksonville): First of all, thanks for taking tome to chat. You are really an inspiration to a lot of us. I was wondering waht are you favorite workouts you do for cross country.
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: See above
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Sean (New Jersey): Are you dating Ryan Hall?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: See above
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Kristin K. (healdsburg, CA): Hey, Sarah. I just wanted to let you know that you've been an inspiration to me ever since I was a junior high trackster and watched you tear up the NorCal running scene. Not only do I admire you as a phenominal runner, but I also admire the way you carry yourself and your values. I wanted to ask you what advice you would give someone on deciding whether or not to compete in college. I would also like to know how you stay patient with training (especially after injuries/setbacks!). Thanks, and my best wishes go out to you.
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Thank you! As far as running in college, I would definitely encourage it for a number of reasons, but keep in mind that it is a big time commitment. College is an incredible place with so much neat stuff to get involved in, and you will definitely be limited by the time commitment as well as needing to go to bed at a reasonable hour, etc. unlike the general student population. However, there are many reasons why I love collegiate running- it is so much fun to be on a team and have a community right away when coming to school. Sometimes it can be overwhelming a a freshman to come in to a place where you don't know anyone and find your niche, but in the team you have an immediate family. Also, it really helps you to feel a sense of connection to your university and excitement about being there. I hope that whatever you choose, you enjoy college!
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Ryan (Hampton): Sara, What tupe of music do you listen to when you're getting fired up for a race?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: It definitely changes, but I have always loved the Chariots of Fire and Rudy soundtracks, as well as some contemporary Christian songs that keep my focus on why I'm racing (example, one song called "Audience of One" which talks about performing solely for the pleasure of the Lord)
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Tyler (Decorah, IA): Hi Sara, I was wondering if there are any pre-race routines you go through before competition? Also, how do you recover mentally after not having your best race?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: I'm not a superstitious person, so I don't have any rituals really, though I had many quirky ones in high school that my team often makes fun of me about :) But I like to spend some time in prayer and refocusing myself on why I'm racing so that I can have the right motives going into it. I like to just be with people and hang out with the team... I don't usually get very nervous, but if I am, it helps me to not be alone. See above about post-race-recovery.
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Matt (Pleasanton): Running the marathon doesn't mesh with collegiate competition so we can only guess at how well you would do in this event. Do you foresee running any marathons and road racing after you graduate or are you going to focus on track/XC?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: I'm not sure, I haven't done anything really competitive on the roads. The thought of the marathon doesn't really appeal to me, my favorite event is the 3k- I like the faster events. However, I'm open to anything and seeing where my potential lies. I was definitely inspired by watching Dena and Meb run it!
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Carlos (Mission,TX): Besides running and being called to the missions field, what gifting do you believe or already have, has GOD placed on your life? (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher)
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: I feel that God has gifted me in the area of teaching. Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a teacher. I would hold school in my house for neighborhood kids and teach them how to read, give them spelling tests and write them report cards. I even turned my playhouse into a library :) Right now, I really enjoy tutoring, and teaching vacation Bible school at my church. The most inspirational people in my life have been teachers and coaches, so I would like to do the same- I think the most rewarding thing is inspiring another person. I would like to get my teaching credential sometime after college and teach in a foreign country one day.
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Andrew (Oakland): You've had an incredible college career, and I can see that you'll take it to the professional level in the next few years. Is there a certain career or job you are going to persue after you graduate and will you be sticking around Stanford to train, or will you move on to another area?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: see above
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Kat (Philadelphia): I understand that you're a Christian. How does your relationship with God factor into your racing?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: It definitely affects my running and racing- see most above questions :)
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Michael, Chicago: Do you have a boyfriend? Seriously, what do you eat as part of your training program? Any special diet that gives you better performance?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: See above. Specifically about nutrition... I think as I mentioned before, eating multiple meals, and getting plenty of good fats (nuts, etc.) and good carbohydrates (whole grains, fruits, etc.) With the whole Atkins craze, I think athletes need to be careful because not getting enough carbohydrates will dehydrate you and deplete your energy
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Florida, Jax: When is Stanford gonna race on the East Coast?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: I'm not sure. We definitely won't be coming for cross-country, and it seems as if we've been staying West Cost (Seattle, Boise) for indoor. Maybe Penn Relays- that is, if we don't go to Drake Relays this year. I'd love to get over there, my sister lives in Boston!
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Matt Nolan (Pleasanton): I read some place you were interested in doing missionary work. Is that something you are interested in pursuing on a full time basis after graduation? Have ever you considered setting up a charitable foundation as a means of funding such an endeavor.
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: See above about future plans. I have never thought of setting up a charitable foundation- that will give me something to think about, thanks!
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Alicia Nugent (San Diego): What do you belive has been your single most important factor in helping you to become a National Cross Country Champion?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: I'm not sure if you mean in High School or in College, because I am only a national champ in high school... I'll answer both... If I had to choose one factor from high school it was not giving up/ keeping my faith alive. At the beginning of my senior season, I was running terrible. I had gone to Holland on a missions trip and not been able to do the training I needed to do- long story short, I definitely battled to still keep that goal of winning Nationals when I was losing my local league meets, but I trusted God that He would be faithful since He called me to Holland. In college, my single most important factor will be minimizing my extra-athletic pursuits. I have a tendency to overcommit in different volunteer activities/ team functions/ social things, etc. and it definitely took a toll on my body last year and made me unable to handle the training. I am trying to be specific on the things God has called me to do this year and not stretch myself too thin.
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Bruce (Florida): Do you try to win every race you run in, or do you try to peak at specific times during the year?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: We definitely try to peak for the end of track season, with mini peaks for NCAAs in cross-country and in indoor track, followed by short break periods. Different races have different objectives, so the win isn't always the goal- however, I don't think I've ever gone into a race and intentionally allowed a non-Stanford runner to beat me, that isn't usually a plan my coach would give us.
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Mark Rowe (Campbellville, KY): Hey Sara! Good job thus far this season. Are you graduating this spring? If so, what are your future plans? Do they include Christian mission work of some kind?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: See above I am on track academically to graduate, but I do have a year of eligibility in indoor.
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PAUL BELMONT: SARA I HOPE YOU IN GOOD SSHAPE IN CROOS COUNTRY RUNNING AND PAUL WILL ENJOYED YOU COME OUT WITH SPECIAL OLYMPICS CROSS COUNTRY RUNNING IN HALLMARK PARK IN BELMONT AND GOOD LUCK SARA AND TO NATIONAL TITLE
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Hi Paul! I really look forward to hanging out with Special Olympics athletes at our clinic at Stanford!
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Albany: What would you say is the most difficult part of being both a student at one of the top academic institutions in the country AND an outstanding athlete?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: see above
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Derek (San Francisco): Congrats on all your many accomplishments Sara! Where is your favorite place to run for fun? GO CARDINAL!
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Thanks! Favorite place to run for fun around here is Huddart Park in Woodside and Castle Rock trail which runs along the ridge of the Santa Cruz mountains. I definitely miss my trails at home too!
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Sarah (Portland): What are your running plans after college?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: See above
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Los Angeles: How many miles do you run per week?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: See above. This is definitely on the high end for our team, and for college runners in general. I got to this point gradually, I did a lot of miles in high school simply because I loved to run in the trails. My body has always endured the mileage well. However, different people are different. We have people on our team running 30 miles a week, and many run around 45-50.
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Carlos (Mission): What are your plans after college? Have you thought about getting into the ministry?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: See above
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Sarah (Portland): With all the intensity and time devoted to the training you do, how do you manage to stay healthy?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: I have definitely gotten a lot better about prioritizing my sleep, and I drink a lot of water, which really helps your immune system. Other than that, trying not to relax if I start to feel stressed, because when your body is sympathetically stimulated, your immune system is weakened.
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Tim, Washington D.C.: Congratulations your win at Notre Dame! I have a quick question for you. How do you keep your faith first with your running pursuits and rigorous academics?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Thank you! See above
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Simo: Who do you go out with Sara?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: See above
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Jose (tulare): I was wondering why Ryan has not ran this season. I would like to see him win nationals this year. Good luck to both of you and your teamates!!
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Thanks! Ryan was out most of last track season with a hamstring injury, so he has been getting consistent training in since then, but I'm pretty sure will be opening up soon.
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Pandre (Singapore): hi sara! you have really been a HUGE inspiration to me. you mentioned colossians 3:23 earlier in the chat...what are some other of your favorite Bible verses (and why)?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: I really like Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart" and Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed". These verses can be twisted to make it seem like you can use God to get whatever you want, but I know that it is when I'm delighting myself only in the Lord that He changes my desires so that they are in line with His will, and I want the things that are in His will for my life.
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Lewis (jacksonville): First of all, I want to say thamks for the opportunity to chat with you. Sara you are a major inspiration to a lot of us. Do you think that you will go pro after your sucessful college career?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Thanks! See above.
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Big A: Can you ever picture youself not running anymore?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Yes, I can actually. I try to hold onto everything in my life losely because I know that God has given me all of it, and so if He wants, He can take it back at any time. However, I think running would definitely be one of the hardest things for me to give up! I have always loved to run, and will continue long after competing as long as my body holds up and it fits into the rest of my life.
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Pierre (Kingston, Ontario, Canada): Although XC is very much a team sport, from an individual performance perspective, do you think that the NCAA Championship title will come down to a two person race like last year? (ie. Between you and Kim Smith instead of Kim Smith and Shalene Flanegan last year.)
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: I have no idea what this year will look like. I have a lot of respect for Kim Smith, she had an incredible year last year and is Olympic-calibur. I'm going to do my best, and we'll see where that takes me!
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Leslie (Santa Rosa): Sara, I've always followed your career; I want to be as successful as you are. I run the mile in about 6:10 and I have a goal of winning CIF's. Do you have any advice??
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Well sounds like you're on your way! I would encourage you to trust your coach 100%. Make sure to really maximize the work-outs that you do during the season because I know that it can be difficult in California, having to race twice a week, to have many quality training sessions. Consistency is key, so if you have something that may seem like it could become an injury, it's better to take a day off right away then having to take 2 weeks off later. And enjoy it, that's the biggest key to success! Good luck!
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Linda (San Anselmo): How have you handled the transition from prep star to a competitive college program without getting injured or burnt out and continuing to improve for 4 years?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Alicia Craig once shared with me a key to training that she had once heard: "Don't be greedy". I think that this is wise advice because so often, runners can get too ambitious early on in their careers and allow running to take an unhealthy role in their lives. Often this can cause them to sacrifice their health, both physical and emotional. This can leave you unable to physically train consistently without getting injurred, or mentally not having the desire to run and race. Fortunately, I think my faith has kept me from letting running get too out of balance in my carrer, and has allowed me to keep it in perspective. I still love running just as much as I did when I first started, and that enjoyment is key to continuing to improve each year.
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Tony (Oakland): Are you single?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: no
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Rob Schulze: Hey Sara -- how's your faith and the spiritual dimension of you life impact your running and perspective? FYI-- WE HAD OUR 3RD BABY GIRL ON SAT!!
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Matt Nolan (Pleasanton): One of the reasons I have always admired your running game so to speak was your ability to pace yourself during races and move up throughout the race. I've wondered if deviating from that strategy contributed to your less than stellar perfomances at NCAA XC championships your first two years. Were those first two NCAA performances disappointments? Had you gotten sick or were you having injury concerns?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: I was definitely disappointed with my performances. It was very difficult to know that if I had performed to what I was capable of in 2002, we could have won the team title. It is always hard to look back at a race and analyze what happened, and I'm not sure I know exactly what took place, but I wasn't sick or injurred at the time. I think that strategy that I used in that race was the right strategy, and the one my coaches had given me. It took some adjusting learning to run that way after high school, but I think that it is the smarter way to run in college because as I saw with my freshman year at NCAAs, it's very easy to get buried in the race. However, I am finding ways of utilizing my strength of my strong finish while still going out hard.
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Sarah (Portland): As a female high school and college runner, I saw numerous athletes struggle with eating disorders. How did you avoid that and stay healthy when pressures to be thinner plague many runners?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: My family is definitely very supportive and instilled in me a healthy outlook on food and having balance both in eating and in life in general. Also, my faith is probably the biggest thing that affects me. Having an eating disorder is allowing something else to be the focus of your attention, and essentially, your god. As a Christian, you long for the Lord to be the one filling your thoughts and as a Christian you are controlled by the Holy Spirit. There is a verse that says "Don't you know your body is the temple of the living God? Therefore, glorify God in your body". I try to make choices that will glorify God when it comes to how I take care of the body He has given me.
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Andy: What classes and how many units are you currently taking, are you enjoying them? And how do you deal with your injuries (if you've had them) without getting upset or frustrated with the time it takes to get back into form b/c this is one of my current problems. Congratulations to you on your season and good luck the rest of the way.
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Fortunately, I will be able to take lighter loads all three quarters this year as far as units needed to graduate, however often I get enticed into fascinating classes that I don't need for my major just out of interest, which I'm going to try to resist! I have loved my classes at Stanford. As a Human Biology major, I've learned so much that I apply to life daily, everything from health care to child development to AIDS in Africa. I took a lot of exercise physiology classes that I have applied to my training and taught me how to be a healthier individual. Currently, I'm taking a class on elementary education where you go and practice by tutoring in classrooms in East Palo Alto to underpriveledged children that are multiple grade levels behind. I always wished I had more time to take more classes during my time at Stanford! As far as injuries, I have only really had one, which I talked about earlier. It was a challenge not to get frustrated with all the cross-training and doctors appointments, etc. Also, it was hard to be disconnected from the team- I really missed just talking with everyone one runs and traveling to meets. But God really gave me a peace throughout the whole injury that He was in control, and in the times I got anxious about whether I'd be able to run outdoor track, I prayed and put my trust in Him. I found ways of making the cross-training fun too so that it wasn't so much of a chore. And it really helped me to hang out with my friends that weren't athletes and be involved in the Christian groups on campus at times when I needed to not think about running anymore. I think that if you let it, the period of being injurred can be a blessing and you can learn so much and grow in areas that you wouldn't have otherwise.
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Mikey (Palo Alto): Heya Sara, I'm training for a marathon! I eat tons of junk food, and I know I need to start eating healthier. Any favorite foods or dietary tips? Hope to see you soon!
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Mikey! You're running a marathon? Wow! Well, a book I would really recommend for basics on sports nutrition is written by Nancy Clark. Favorite foods.. well, healthy ones include soy nut butter (I'm allergic to peanuts, so it's a tasty alternative) and vanilla soy milk.
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Felicity, Los Angeles: How do you do it all? What's going through your head as you are racing?
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: What's going through my head while racing... well, otten times the lyrics of a song that I listened to beforehand. I like to pray while I race too. One saying I think about a lot is "Relax and roll". I just try to focus on relaxing and wait until the end to get excited. Often Bible verses on God's strength come to mind too.
Cross Country Standout Sara Bei: Thank you for all your great questions and your support of Stanford cross country. Have a great weekend.
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