Friday Focus: Emily Infeld

Friday Focus: Emily Infeld

Sep 10, 2015 by Giovanni Reyes
Friday Focus: Emily Infeld


For this week's Friday Focus we caught up with Bowerman Track Club's Emily Infeld after her bronze medal finish at the World Championships. We asked her questions about her training and coming back from injury.

Take us through the 10k in Beijing, and what was going through your mind as the bell lap went off.


I felt really good at the bell lap. I was surprised no one had made a super big move at that point. I think there were still about 8 of us in a giant pack. I felt great and got excited I was in the hunt for a medal!

What was your immediate reaction once you realized you out-leaned Molly Huddle?

I was in shock just because of the lead up this season. I was beyond thrilled to be running in Beijing and though my coach, Jerry, had told me I had a chance to medal I really was just hoping for a top ten finish. I didn't think a medal was completely realistic.

You’ve had an incredible comeback from injury in the past year. What are some of the factors that led you to a World bronze medal?

It's been a long road, I have been with Jerry and the Bowerman Track Club for almost 3 years and have had 2 major injuries which has sidelined my the majority of track in 2013 an the entire track season in 2014. I have put in my best training it just hasn't been consistent. I was able to start running again this February and maintained lower mileage than I had previous (no more than 80 miles a week). I incorporated a ton of cross training, mostly swimming and Aqua jogging. I also started seeing a chiropractor religiously and he has gotten my hips and back to proper alignment through training. Basically was focused on good workouts and doing anything else to keep me healthy and running! This is probably the longest stretch of uninterrupted training I've had in 3 years.

What are some things that helped get you past the low points of dealing with injuries?

Have a great support system! My friends, family, and teammates have been amazing to me as I was in a pretty low place for awhile. I wasn't a great person to be around for a good while. Having my teammates and coaches as well as friends and family listen and support me has meant the world. I honestly don't know what I would have done if I was I a different situation. I am really lucky to have the support that I do!

If you could give one piece of advice to any runner, what would it be and why? 

To have fun with it and make sure you still love what you're doing! It can be a tiring, terrible, amazing, depressing, wonderful relationship so you have to make sure you are ready for that and be happy with the ups and downs; or more so know that it's worth it and that regardless of outcome you do this to give yourself an opportunity to reach greatness and your own specific goals and potential. 

What is your go-to tune-up workout before a big race?

A few days before a race we normally just do some paced 400s, 1ks, and then some fast 200s. It's always hard because I'm used to doing so much more volume in workouts so it always feels weird to just be doing so much less, especially if it's at 10k pace. But the point is to get your body to feel good, Jerry always says we already have the fitness now just need to rest an feel good before the race!

Take us through your average daily routine.

I get up, have coffee and breakfast. Then go for a run (either at Nike if I'm in Portland or some trail wherever we're training--was in park city for the majority of the track season). Then stretch get a snack and will head to the gym to go through core/weight routine with Pascal (3 times a week). Come back eat and rest. Then head out for a double or some sort of cross train. Then make dinner and head to bed pretty early. I'll get chiro and massage work twice a week and normally like to do this after big workout days.

Describe your fondest race memory.

I'm not sure if it was because it was so recent but definitely thinking after the 10k in Beijing. I was with Shalane and we were both so emotional. Then Evan and Dan ran over and both lifted me up in a giant hug right before their race. I had so many emotions in those moments and I'm still having a whirlwind of emotions now!

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

Probably sleeping in. Would love to go to the beach and relax, explore, and grill out with friends and have some wine. 

Dinner with three (living or dead) who and why?

Taylor swift, I would love to be in her Bad Blood squad.
Amy Poehler, I think she is hilarious and just finished her book, would definitely want to be friends with her.
Ryan gosling, I would convince him to love me.

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

I almost killed Shalane on an escalator when we flew to park city after usas. We were both so spacey and tired and she was trying to help me with my bag and fell over on her bag and slip down the escalator. I was terrified I actually had killed her. Then she started laughing and I did and everyone looked at us like we were insane. (We were trying to retell this story and no one thought it was funny and again everyone thought we were insane)

What is your cross training regimen?

I love the pool! I mean I am terrible at swimming and sometimes it takes me 20 min of debating in the locker room before I get in but my body just feels great after. I know it must be good for me because it is still so hard to swim!

What is your main goal for the rest of the 2015 year moving into 2016?

I am unsure about the rest of the year I may be done racing or so a couple shorter races more so for fun, beyond met my goals this year and am still giddy! I want to do everything I can to stay healthy and bring my best self to the trials in June 2016!