In our weekly Q&A segment we asked Shelby Houlihan a few questions about life on and off the course. We caught up with her before she won Roy Griak.

Take us through last year's Roy Griak and what we can expect during this year’s race and the rest of the XC season.

My race at Roy Griak last year was my first big XC win. Going into the race, it was really cold and raining but I absolutely loved it and was so excited to race. It felt a lot easier than I had expected it to and I was really happy and proud of myself. Going into this weekend, I am again, really excited to race. My training has been going very well and I am arguably in the best shape of my life right now so I’m really excited to go and see what I can do.

Describe your childhood dream.

I really grew up around running and started running when I was 5 years old. My childhood dream has always been to be the one of the best runners in the world and to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games.

Describe your fondest race memory.

I have a tie between my fondest race memories. Obviously one of them is winning the National Title in the 1500m. Crossing the finish line and realizing that I had just won was one of the best feelings. Even though I knew I could do it, I was shocked that it was actually happening and was very happy. The other race memory that I’ve always loved was racing the 1500m at the Iowa State meet my senior year of high school. I was racing against the clock to try and get the Iowa All-time record and on my final lap, everyone in the stands stood up and cheered me on. I ended up being about a second off of the record but to see the support from everyone and feel the energy from the crowd was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had.

If you weren't running, what would you be doing and why?

If I didn’t have running, I would have probably tried to go to college on a music scholarship. I played the trumpet and French horn in middle school and also took piano lessons for about 5 years. I think I could have been pretty good but I thought it was nerdy when I got to high school so I stopped playing and focused on sports.

Describe your worst habit.

Impulse online shopping. Last week I bought a tent but I’ve never been camping.

Describe the kind of kid you were in high school.

In high school, I was very shy and focused on running. Once you got to know me though, I was pretty loud and outgoing.

You had an amazing end to last years outdoor season, take us through how this past summer was for you in and out of training / races?

This summer was the longest racing season I’ve ever had but I had a lot of fun. I went to USA’s and made it to the final in the 800m. I ended up finishing 7thin a personal best of 2:01.12. I really wanted to get that 2:00 but I know I’ll get there eventually. After that, I traveled to Canada, which was really cool, and raced in the 1500m and mile where I ran personal bests in both races of 4:10 and 4:33. After that, I took a week off and started training for cross country by building up my mileage. In the beginning of August, I went back to Canada to race the 800m in the NACAC meet. I was a little nervous on how I would do since I had been doing only cross country training since July, but it went well and I won in 2:03.

If you had a day off from your everyday responsibilities, describe how you would spend it.

I’d like to say I would go on a road trip to somewhere I’ve never been before and just be a tourist for a day but I may just end up sitting at home playing video games and eating junk food.

Describe your most embarrassing moment as an athlete.

I actually have two but they’re kind of the same. It would have to be falling in the 800m my freshman year in the prelim at Regionals and falling again in the 800m my sophomore year in the prelims at Indoor Nationals.

Tell us about your favorite memory with one of your current or past training partners.

One of my favorite memories is doing a track workout last year with my teammate Adriana Olivas. We were doing mile repeats and were on the last mile. I went out and she was about 50m behind me 200m in. Thinking that she’d fall off after a couple laps, I used her to visualize a race. With a lap to go, she was actually starting to catch me so I started picking up the pace. With 200m to go, she was still closing in on me and so I started sprinting towards the finish. Going down the homestretch, I could feel her getting closer to me and she ended up running me down and almost catching me at the line. We ended up running a 4:51 mile with it being her new personal best. I was so excited for her and couldn’t stop smiling.

Describe the perfect post-race meal in detail.

Is it bad if I say ice cream?

Describe your favorite workout?

I don’t have a favorite workout but I really enjoy doing repeat 400’s, 200’s or progression runs.

Dream place to run or train and why?

I don’t have a specific dream place to run; it really depends on what type of mood I’m in. I love running on country roads with cornfields on both sides. I think it’s very peaceful and relaxing. I also love to run through neighborhoods I’ve never seen and just looking at all of the houses. I love running on trails in wooded areas. I would just like to run somewhere that’s beautiful and secluded.

Who is your childhood hero and why?

Batman because he’s an awesome superhero. 

Describe your guilty pleasure.

Jelly beans and snow cones.

If you could give one piece of advice you think every runner should hear, what would it be and why?

You’re body can always do more than what you’re mind thinks it can. Running is such a mental sport and people are always limiting themselves because of what they think they can’t do. I’ve always been the type of person to say, “I can do that” even if it’s something I’ve never done before.

If you had to listen to 1 song in your head every time you ran for the rest of you life, what would it be?

Gorilla by Bruno Mars

Dinner for 3 (living or dead) who and why?

Bruno Mars, Phoebe Wright, Betty White. I love Bruno Mars so he’d have to be there. I read all of Phoebe’s blogs and tweets and I think she’s hilarious and a great runner so she’d keep the conversation entertaining. Betty White because who wouldn’t want to have dinner with Betty White? 

Describe your pre-race ritual.

I don’t really have much of a pre-race ritual but I do like to ice bath 2 days before my race.

What does racing look like for you in the next 6 months?

I’m really looking forward to this cross-country season. I want to win every race that I run in and win the National title. After cross-country, I’ll take a week or two off and start training for indoor track. I haven’t put a lot of thought into track yet since I’ve just been focusing on cross-country but I know I want to win an Indoor National title and defend my title in the 1500m outdoors.