Spotlight On: Jessica Hellender

flrunners.com: Is it ringing in your head at all to try for the 1600? I've seen some pretty respectable times from you in that event as well.
Jessica: I have thought about running the 1600m at states, and my coach and I have also talked it over. I decided to just run the 3200m this year, and I will probably double next track season.

flrunners.com: I know you're only a junior, but have you thought about college at all? Are there any schools you are particularly thinking about?
Jessica: I am really waiting till summer or early fall to hear from schools, but I am interested in UF, USF. I am also visiting a few North Carolina schools this summer with my parents.

flrunners.com: How did you get started running?
Jessica: I played soccer when I was younger, so as I started high school, I planned to try out. At freshman orientation I saw some of my soccer friends at the cross country table, so I decided to try it. The funny thing is that I never went back to soccer. After my first cross country season, I was hooked.

flrunners.com: Who or what has been your biggest inspiration in running?
Jessica: My former cross country coach, I would say is my biggest inspiration. Since he was my first running coach, he taught me a lot about training, racing , and sportsmanship.

flrunners.com: How many miles do you usually put in per week: during cc, off-season, during track, and then leading up to state (if you taper)?
Jessica: During the summer I ran twice a day for a few weeks before I went to Brevard Distance Runners Camp. I ended up running about 350 miles. During cross country I ran 40 miles a week, then leveled off to 33-35 miles a week before states. Between cross country and track seasons, I took off two weeks, then started back up in December with distance. During track this season, I have kept at about 40 miles a week, and I have started running longer on my long distance Saturdays, 9-10 miles depending on the week.

flrunners.com: How has your training and working to be a top state-level runner changed your day-to-day life? (diet, relationships, studies, etc.)
Jessica: My diet was always fairly healthy but I do pay attention to what I eat. The main thing that has changed is that it has been hard to keep up with my friends outside of running. Between training and weekend meets, it can be hard to stay in touch.

flrunners.com: What do you consider your greatest strength outside of the running world and what is it that you strive to become?
Jessica: My greatest strength is my family and my boyfriend, Brian. My parents are very supportive, they rarely miss a meet no matter how unimportant it may be. It also helps that Brian runs on the boys team, so he is always there to talk.

flrunners.com: If you could change one thing about yourself what would it be?
Jessica: That I would have more patience. I get frustrated over things easily, and I could use more patience.

flrunners.com: What do you like to do for fun?
Jessica: I go to the movies or shopping on the weekends.