Junior, Cocoa Beach – 9th place at Foot Locker Regional
What kind of hill work have you been doing to prepare? “I've trained hills over the summer. For our long runs in Clermont, we would do 10 mile runs on rolling hills so that was basically all of my hill training. Also during the season we sometimes went to this place called River Road, which had some good inclines but this week, it's a measure of how hard you've worked all year, so this week was regular runs and workouts for me.”
What are your strategies for the course and the race? “For this course, I'm planning on hopefully going out in the mid-pack, close to the front. I know that if I am going to place high I need to hang with one of the top five girls who finished in my region or whoever from any region that day in the race that is up front. I love hills, so I want to keep a steady pace the whole race, but be able to surge up hills and pass people because many runners don't like hills or sometimes die on them. That's where I will need to pass people, and then go steady again on the downhill, maybe a little faster.”
On the prestige of the event: “I am so ecstatic words can't really describe my excitement. The idea that I was one of the top 40 girls in the United States never really hit me until yesterday, when i realized hey, I'm going to San Diego with some amazing people to race with the best of the best. This race is probably the most prestigious in the States for high school, along with Nike Nationals. I am so honored to be able to represent Florida in a race like this. I can't wait!”
What are your goals for the race? “It'd be super amazing to be recognized as an All-American runner would be so surreal. I don't think it would settle in until way after the race just like how making nationals took a while to settle in, I would probably cry if I finished top 10. To be a Foot Locker national champion would mean being the best runner in the nation, 52 states (including DC and Puerto Rico), and you are the best of the best. I mean how cool would that be? Your name would be known everywhere and there would be so much press, and recruiting, and so many awesome opportunities would come of it. It would be fantastic.”
On the trip to San Diego and bonding with other runners: “I have never been to San Diego, but I have been to San Francisco. From people like Kayla Hale and Brittany Koziara who I’ve talked to about their trips, they have told me it is the best experience of their lives. All of the people and the race, and the hotel, and the entire thing is just unforgettable. I'm going to make sure I breathe it all in and have fun most of all. I’m most looking forward to just running the race, and really getting to be good friends with the other top 39 girls and 40 guys in the nation. Running and socializing, now that is the life."
More about Shelby
Shelby Davidson: Finding the Strength to Go Faster
Interview after Foot Locker South
Interview after 2nd Place at 2A State Meet
