Meet Brooke Woodruff

2005 OVC Indoor Track Female Athlete of the Year.

A junior at Southeast Missouri State, Brooke is the reigning two-time indoor and outdoor 800m OVC champion. A Southeast Scholar Athlete, Brooke is majoring in Dietetics with the goal of working as a professional or sports team dietitian counseling athletes on optimal nutrition for peak performance.

Brooke sat down with OFF! Magazine to discuss running, life, and vices.

MC: Why track and field?

BW: I got involved with running track the summer of my sixth grade. I ran for the St. Charles Cyclones, and ended up qualifying for nationals in the 800 meter run and placing third in the 4x800 meter relay. From then on I have always wanted to pursue track and field. When high school came around I had to choose between track and soccer. I chose to do track because it was more of an individual sport and I knew if I worked hard I could be successful.

MC: How do you prepare for your workouts and races, both physically and mentally?

BW: I make sure I eat good the night before a hard workout or race, drink lots of water, stretch, and if my muscles feel tired I try to take an ice bath. I prepare mentally the night before a race by visualizing what my splits will be and how I will feel during the race.

When preparing for a race I try and visualize the pace I am going to run and where I am going to pick up the pace. This helps me feel mentally ready for the race ahead.

MC: That leads me into my next question. How do you strategize the race itself?

BW: I strategize the 800meter run by thinking about each 200 meter mark. The first 200 meters I want to get out hard so I am in a good position. Then I try and relax for the second 200 meters. Once I hear the gun I have one more lap left. When I get to the last 300 meters I try and pick up the pace, then for the last 200 meters of the race I give what ever I have left.

MC: You've talked a bit about visualization of the race. How has that technique helped you?

BW: When visualizing a race I stay positive on the way I am feeling and how I am running. I know that if I run my hardest and do my best I will never feel defeated, because I know that is the best I could have done. If I get beat and still had the race of my life, I feel really good knowing that I ran as hard as I could.

MC: Tell us about your running and training routine. How does your off-season routine compare to in-season routine?

BW: Running Cross Country in the fall, Indoor and Outdoor track only allows the summer months for off-season routines. During the summer I work and run on my own time. My coach gives everyone a summer workout routine, and it is more laid back than in-season training. During in-season the training is more intense and consists of 2-3 hard workouts a week with recovery runs on the other days. Full body lifting is done on work-out days, so recovery days are used for just recovery. I try to do core strength exercises 4 times a week.

MC: How do you balance your athletic career, college life, and personal life? Does any of it become overwhelming?

BW: Keeping everything in balance can be hard at times. I keep up with my studies by taking my homework and books to the away meet. Sometimes it can be hard when you have to miss a difficult class every other week because of an away meet, but usually the professor is understandable and takes the time to meet with you one on one. I unwind from being a college athlete by hanging out with my boyfriend, my friends, joking around with my roommates, and watching movies.

I feel being a college athlete has helped me stay focused on what is important, and allows me to set goals to succeed.

MC: What motivates you?

BW: The feeling of accomplishment, when I know that I have worked hard and continue to set and achieve goals.

MC: Does anyone inspire you?

BW: As for inspiration, I draw from my coaches and my teammates, without their dedication and determination training and running fast would be difficult. Having Coach Eric Heins as a coach for the past two years, and making it through his tough workouts has helped me set and achieve many goals. I admire professional middle distance runners like Hazel Clark and Tiffany McWilliams who can run a 2 minute 800 meters.

MC: You mentioned your teammates as inspiration. Although you compete in an individual event, you are part of a team. What does your team mean to you?

BW: My team is the greatest, we all work hard during practice and pull from each other. It is awesome to have such a supportive team that cheers each other on during practice and at the meets.

MC: Proudest accomplishment?

BW: My proudest accomplishment has been to be able to take on both college school work and run competitively at the Division I level. Both academically and athletically

I feel that I have worked very hard to get to the next level.

MC: Any vices?

BW: Vanilla Coke and mint chip ice cream

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Athletic Bio:

2004 Indoor: OVC Champion in the 800m and ran on the second place 4x400-meter relay.

2004 Outdoor: OVC Champion in the 800m and ran on the second place 4x400-meter relay. Regional Qualifier in the 800m. Name First Team All-OVC. Broke the school record in the 800m at Mississippi State. Also ran on the DMR that broke the school record at the Drake Relays.

Ranked #1 on Southeast all-time 800m list. OVC Indoor and Outdoor Champion in the 800m. NCAA Regional Qualifier.

2003 Indoor:Won the 800m at OVC Indoor and ran a leg on the 4x400 meter relay that placed 2nd.

2003 Outdoor:Won the 800m at OVC Outdoor meet and ran on 2nd place 4x400 meter relay team. NCAA Regional Qualifier in the 800m.

2002 Cross Country: earned all-OVC honors by placing 11th at the OVC championships.

-- Info gathered from gosoutheast.com