Who is Julia Rudd? Some know her as "Alan Webb's girlfriend," but she is a lot more than that. Rudd, 24, from Oshkosh, Wisconsin, is a member of the Indiana Invaders elite track and field team and 10:15.76 steeplechase runner. Rudd and the Indiana Invaders recently competed at the 2007 USATF National Club Cross Country Championships, December 8, in West Chester, Ohio. Rudd placed 16th at the meet and described the conditions as wet and muddy, which was an advantage for her. "I was pretty confident with my training going in," Rudd said. "The best part was that the weather was supposed to be bad! I have the perfect stride for crappy conditions. Steeplers have the benefit of having their rhythm interrupted." Rudd joined the Invaders when she finished her college eligibility at the University of Wisconsin - La Crosse. She said it was a last minute decision, but joined after her coach, Greg Harger, offered an internship along with her training. Before running for the Invaders, Rudd trained on her own a lot in high school and college. "I like the fact that it's a team setting," Rudd explained. "Post-college running can be just as fun as college running." In 2006, Rudd received her undergraduate degree in exercise and sports science: sport management. During college, she became an eleven-time Division III All-American and set school records in the steeplechase, 3000 and 5000-meter races. In 2004, Rudd was the DIII NCAA National champion in the steeplechase. Despite the success of her 2004 season, Rudd soon dealt with the consequences of overtraining. Due mostly to inexperience (she competed for only one year in high school), she did not realize how much rest she needed. Rudd spent a lot of her college running career sick with anemia and mononucleosis. "I had a lot of setbacks in college," she described. "I wanted to put a lot into my running. I was adding miles all the time." Rudd now eats and rests more, and runs easy on recovery days. To build strength and prevent injuries, she lifts weights about twice a week, runs strides, does corework and stretches. Rudd said it helps to have a good support system and a low-stress job. "It's not easy, but there's a lot less stress now that I'm not in school," she said. After Christmas, Rudd will move to Charlottesville, Virginia, to live with her friend and fellow steeplechase runner, Dawn Cromer. She will stay with her Indiana Invaders coaching, but Charlottesville is a more ideal location for Rudd as far as training and job opportunities. She already has a job lined up at a local running store, but ultimately plans to coach. Rudd will also be closer to her boyfriend, American record holder Alan Webb. She said she met him through a friend last year when he came to Indianapolis and needed a place to run. They continued to see each other at meets and their relationship grew. "We just got along from the start really well," Rudd said. This summer, Rudd wants to join Webb at the US Olympic Track and Field Trials in the steeplechase. Before then, she will focus on the 3000-meter run and the mile during indoor season. She also hopes to run at the USA Cross Country Championships. To learn more about Julia Rudd, visit her blog: http://www.trackshark.com/blogs/juliarudd/ *Photo from sportzbizz.com