3:30 AM Wake-Ups, 8 PM Bedtimes. How America’s No. 2 High School Girl Trains

In one year, Hattie Ray Beshears went from just missing nationals to chasing a national title.

In this installment of our Fleet Feet x Brooks High School Cross Country Series, Dominic talks with the Har-Ber junior, two days after her 16:35 Arkansas 6A state title, about the year her 5K dropped from 17:33 to 16:12. She traces it back to a soccer concussion that left her in a dark room for a week, and to her sister, Lilly, now at BYU, who showed her that sleep, food, water and stretching matter.

Hattie Ray explains why her coach told her to back off after she averaged 4:57 for mile repeats in early summer, why she’s kept her mileage around 30 to 35 a week, and what it’s like to run cross country with a grass allergy. She walks through her workout mornings, the 30-minute drive to the nearest open track, and the pillow and blanket she keeps in her coach’s classroom for a mid-morning nap. She’s honest about how hard the weight room is for her, and she talks about the faith that drives her, partly inspired by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone.

She’s still waiting on a Golden Ticket and makes a humble case for one, and Dominic makes a much less humble case for her. Wherever this season takes her, Hattie Ray has already shown how far patience, consistency and a big sister in your corner can carry a runner, and we can’t wait to watch her chase the rest.

Tap into the Hattie Ray Beshears Special.

If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and giving us a five-star review! I would also appreciate it if you share it with your friend who you think will benefit from it.

S H O W N O T E S

-The Run Down By The Running Effect (our new newsletter!): tinyurl.com/mr36s9rs

-Our Website: therunningeffect.run

-THE PODCAST ON YOUTUBE:

youtube.com/channel/UClLcLIDAqmJBTHeyWJx_wFQ

-My Instagram: ?????????????instagram.com/therunningeffect

-Take our podcast survey: tinyurl.com/3ua62ffz

Behind the scenes of The Running Effect: youtube.com/@dominicschlueter

LuminaryThreads: luminarythreads.shop

$20 off your next Attuned scan: attuned.health/discount/TRE20

Instagram: @hadassahbeshears__runs

Fleet Feet Brooks XC Championships Main Page

Regional Dates: Brooks Running XC Event Hub.