Melissa Grelli KWIK-E

October 26, 2007

Georgetown Hoya Melissa Grelli was one of the top finishers in blue race at Pre Nationals this year. She and the Hoyas have the Big East Championship this weekend.

How is your training going this year?
Itâ€™s going really well. We had a pretty good workout yesterday and now weâ€™re taking it easy before the Big East Championships. I started off with lower mileage than usual because our approach right now is more long term. We recently brought up my mileage but we are staying pretty consistent right now, which is about 60 miles per week. Itâ€™s a lot lower than it was last XC season and last winter. Iâ€™m not going on mileage like itâ€™s a number, I go more on feeling. I want to be in this sport for a while.

You placed 32nd last year at NCAAâ€™s, what are your individual goals this year?
I would be happy with a top ten finish; it would be great it could be top five. But, I really just want to improve my time and progress.

What are your team goals?
I think it would really be awesome if we could get on the podium. The team is really enthusiastic and itâ€™s fun to see how excited everyone is with the level of training that weâ€™re doing.

Are you happy with your recent 11th place ranking (10/23)?
We donâ€™t really concentrate on the rankings. Itâ€™s going to come down to November 19th and what happens then. Itâ€™s exciting to see what people think about our program. Thereâ€™s a bright future for Georgetown running, the teamâ€™s young and weâ€™re all enthusiastic.

What does Melissa â€œGrelliâ€ bring to the table?
I hope I can be a leader in my training and my whole approach to running. I hope I show that Iâ€™m strong, tenacious and Iâ€™m a team player. Thatâ€™s what I bring to Georgetown track and XC.

What is the hardest workout youâ€™ve ever done?
It was more of middle distance workout. I really like
aerobic workouts, so whenever it gets fast, with less rest, it becomes difficult for me. But the hardest Iâ€™ve done is split 800s last season. I did it with the middle distance runners and it was one of the hardest things to finish up, I think the goal was to hit 62 or something; the buildup of the lactic acid was so painful. You need some of those days though. I think we did five sets or something. It was kind of ridiculous. It was difficult but a good challenge.

Did you have immediate success in high school?
I went to Presentation High School in San Jose, California. I won the state championship my junior year for Division III. I went to Footlocker Nationals and placed 15th, the last spot for All-American status. Those are my two accomplishments Iâ€™m most proud of from high school.

Why did you pick Georgetown?
I wanted to pick a school that would be academically difficult to get into as well as having the athletic environment. I think it had a good balance of both of those things that I was looking for.

How do you and your teammates pass the time going to meets?
Work. Lots of homework. After Pre Natâ€™s we were at the airport and we were jealous because we saw other teams looking at magazines and having a good time and we were like â€œwe have midterms on Mondayâ€. When we donâ€™t have exam to study for we hang out and listen to music and stuff.

Youâ€™re a senior this year, what do you have planned for after college?
I hope to run professionally. If that opportunity presents itself, I plan on grabbing a hold of it. I plan to do one year of graduate school and still run in college because I still have some unfinished goals I want to accomplish. I have another year collegiately and then we will see how it goes.

Do you have an all-time favorite pair of shoes?
I really like the Mizuno Wave Riders, thatâ€™s what I train in. I think itâ€™s a good fit, theyâ€™re light yet that have enough support to be durable.

What does your diet consist of?
Itâ€™s pretty balanced. Iâ€™m seeing a nutritionist to make sure Iâ€™m putting in what Iâ€™m putting out. I live off campus but I go to the cafeteria sometimes. I eat a lot of red meat to get iron, vegetables, fruits, sweets and desserts occasionally.

How do you think Georgetownâ€™s program differentiates from other programs around the country?
What I really like about this team is our team unity. I feel like in previous years there was a distinction between the womenâ€™s and menâ€™s team. We wouldnâ€™t practice together, so I wouldnâ€™t feel like we were together like a team. But this year weâ€™ve done some team bonding stuff. We went to a meet on a Saturday, for the race, then we stayed that night. We all went to get pizza. Then on Sunday we all went on a long run together and rode back on the bus together. I feel like itâ€™s helped with the men caring about how the women do and vice versa. Hobbies outside of running? I enjoy reading and spending time with my friends, both on and off the team. We go to movies and have our Greyâ€™s Anatomy night. I like spending time with my family too. I like the outdoors a lot so I like to bike and do anything that involves being active.

Do you think thereâ€™s a lot of pressure being a top runner in the country and still trying to maintain a good grade point average?
Itâ€™s hard. But at the end of the day youâ€™re like â€œthis is all I can doâ€. You can do your best. When I was a freshman and sophomore I would let it get to me. But last year I realized it was just wasted energy. I can only do what I can do. I try to focus on that.

Anything else youâ€™d like to say?
Go Hoyas!

Post a Comment

#6	Anonymous Coward October 26, 2007 at 3:36pm go hoyas dork reply
#5	Mike_x October 26, 2007 at 10:48am i think something like 80-85, she was running a lot. reply
#4	Anonymous Coward October 26, 2007 at 10:03am how many miles was she doing before? reply
#3	Anonymous Coward October 26, 2007 at 3:06am I really like her response to the rankings question--she is so right that it really comes down to november 19th, way to go to mel! reply
#2	Ryan_x October 26, 2007 at 3:01am wow she seems really down to earth and cute too! reply
#1	Cara Hawkins October 26, 2007 at 2:16am I like her..good questions.. reply