Christina Campbell is November Athlete of the Month

Christina Campbell (HFC Striders) is the USATF-New England Athlete of the Month For November 2021.  Closing up the fall cross country season, she was first 40+ year old and second overall master at USATF-NE Cross Country Championships on Sunday, November 7, and followed that performance as the top 40+ finisher at Rachels' Run on November 20, the final race in the USATF-NE Cross Country Grand Prix.  That capped a five for five sweep of 40+ division wins in Grand Prix races.  In the final series standings, she was Women's 40+ winner, third female overall, and sixth masters age graded scorer.  USATF-NE spoke with Christina about her running and life outside the sport. 

USATF-NE: How did you initially get into the sport? You were successful at the collegiate level for Stonehill College. What elevated you to succeed while balancing college work and training?
Christina Campbell: I initially got into running when I decided to join my high school cross country team with some friends - I don’t think I had ever run more than a mile or two! I was kind of a “middle of the pack” type of runner in high school and had not planned to run at Stonehill but ended up joining the indoor track team as a walk-on. I think the combination of having a strong connection with my coach, Karen Boen, and running with women faster than me enabled me to improve with time. The busy schedule of a college athlete actually helped me structure my time and kept me on track academically.  

USATF-NE: You had great success across the whole USATF-NE XC Grand Prix. How were you able to keep your body in racing shape over the entire series, and what motivated you to stay committed to the series?
CC: I think my main goal was to get through the whole series while staying healthy. In the spring, I was dealing with a meniscus tear and then recovering from the surgery to repair it. I’d normally run a bunch of road races in the summer and fall, but decided to focus on the XC series to stay on soft surfaces as much as possible. I also love the team camaraderie that is unique to XC and that was enough to help keep me motivated through November and commit to all of the races in the series.

USATF-NE: Knowing where you stood in the standings, what was your plan going into the NE Championships to hold your high spot? Same for Rachel’s Run, what was your plan that lead you to another victory?
CC: I went into both the NE Championships (probably my best race of the series) and Rachel’s Run (probably the biggest struggle) with the simple strategy of running a smart race. For me, this means having the confidence to go out conservatively and try to reel in runners in the second half. Plus, running with a team of women who count on each other pushes each of us to fight for every spot. I think my own standings were largely a result of that.

USATF-NE: What has allowed you to compete so well in the open class and age grade as a 40 year old?
CC: It’s hard to say - there were so many strong women in the series. It was probably partly due to staying injury-free throughout the fall. I also focused almost entirely on the XC series so was able to fully recover between the races.   

USATF-NE: As a mother, how do you balance elite running and training with family time and your personal life?
CC: It is not easy and I’m sure other running moms can relate! It usually means getting up to run before everyone else is awake, or bringing my kids along for a run in the double stroller (although they’re getting too big for me to push them!), plus working out logistics so I escape for half the day for a race. And often it means just less training overall. But I think that having kids and making my family a priority has given me a healthier perspective on running and its role in my life. 

USATF-NE: You're a member of the HFC Striders. How do you like running for a club team in XC?
CC: Yes! It is awesome. In XC, running for and with a team adds so much to the experience both in terms of motivation and in terms of community and friendship. The HFC Striders, in particular, are such a fun, supportive group of men and women, each adding something unique and valuable to the team. 

USATF-NE: Any other fun facts or hobbies from your life outside of running?
CC: I teach reading and comprehension to students with learning challenges. I also have a one-year old Rhodesian Ridgeback who is as big as me. I am hoping to turn him into my training partner in 2022!

See the final 2021 USATF-NE Cross Country Grand Prix Standings