Q&A: Alex Lundy - Running to relax

No one can figure out when the last Terrapin cross country runner qualified for nationals before this season. The record books are unclear on the history. But one thing is clear: Sophomore Alex Lundy is the first Terp to make the NCAA meet in a while.

Lundy, a Littleton, Colo., native, was joined by head coach Andrew Valmon and distance coach Terry Weir at the meet, where he eventually finished right around the middle of a field of more than 250 runners, in 125th place. He ran the 10-kilometer race in 31:04.9, just more than two minutes behind Oregon's Galen Rupp, who won the event after competing in the Beijing Olympics this past summer.

The Diamondback caught up with Lundy, a biology major and aspiring doctor, to discuss his trip to nationals, how he got there and what keeps him running.

The Diamondback: When did you begin to feel like nationals was a realistic goal?

Alex Lundy: At the beginning of the season, we talked about our goals throughout the season, and coach was saying that we had the opportunity to get to nationals if we run well at regionals. But it really didn't become clear to me what I was running for until right before the regional meet.

DBK: When you first found out you made it to nationals, did you grasp how big this was for the program?

Lundy: I didn't realize it immediately. After, I guess, about an hour or so, coach was trying to figure how long it had been. He told me it was a good 10 or 15 years. It didn't really sink in until a couple days after they told me. It was a really cool feeling. It was nice to confirm all the work we've done.

DBK: What was your experience at nationals like, running against the nation's elite?

Lundy: It was really enjoyable, just being out there with that type of competition. In high school, I was never up to the level some of those guys are at. Just to run against some of the guys that have been to the Olympics ... it was pretty much surreal throughout.

DBK: You run the 10K for meets, but what's the longest distance you've ever run?

Lundy: I probably did a 17-18-mile run just for training. Competition-wise, I've run a half-marathon for fun over the summer. It's an interesting feeling. A lot of people think distance runners are crazy for wanting to run that long or being able to. But really, you don't think about how long you're running.

DBK: What do you think about when you're running?

Lundy: For a lot of people, running is a moment of clarity. A lot of my friends say some of their best thinking comes with running. For me, it's more of a time to just shut my brain off and let my body do its thing and just run and take control.

DBK: How big of an advantage is it, really, to be adjusted to running in the mountains?

Lundy: As far as the altitude difference, I notice a pretty big difference in the first few weeks coming back from home. I think the best part of training back home is running mountains and hills that are really tough on your legs and build strength and help avoid injuries. I think it's more the hills, rather than the altitude change.

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