Lauren Pappas '19 Recruiting Profile

I have been running both cross country and track since I was a Freshman in high school, and ever since I toed the line for the first time, I have had a passion for distance running. To me, running is about more than times and places. Rather, my ambition stems from: team comradery, pre-race jitters, constant challenges, the satisfaction of getting out exactly what you put in, taking care of your body both physically and mentally, achieving greatness alongside your sisters on the track and in the grass, and acquiring qualities of leadership, perseverance, grit, and so much more.

My love for running has been complicated. During my high school career, I faced numerous stress fractures that plagued my seasons. Despite the setbacks, my drive to rehab in the pool with aqua-jog and swim workouts, ultimately led me to comebacks that deepened both my love for the sport and knowledge of myself. I would not go back and change a thing about my career as a high school runner, because it shaped me to be the athlete I am today: One who works through injuries and comes out stronger. One who becomes the inaugural recipient of the Sue Pariseau Scholarship for Cross Country and Track Athletes -- the highest paying local scholarship an athlete at Glenbard West High School can earn. One who does not let her injuries hinder her collegiate running dreams. One who trains alone all summer to prepare for a tryout she might not be given. One who runs unattached at a meet forty minutes from campus to prove herself worthy of a Division I status, only to run horribly. But, calls the coach after the race to tell him she is willing to do whatever it takes to earn a spot on his team, and that one race cannot define her. One who when given another shot to prove herself, takes it upon herself to train with a team for two weeks, being closely analyzed at every practice, and then who after those two weeks PRs in the two-mile, alone, on the streets of Milwaukee, being watched by 40 men and women, and two coaches. I do not give up after setbacks, and do not shy away from a challenge. Instead I like to use them to take a step back, breathe, reflect on what I want, improve on my skills to get there, and find space within me to stay motivated to be successful.

Specifically, I tend to thrive in longer distance events and workouts. I enjoy mile-repeats, tempo work, and my favorite race is the 5k. I think these types of workouts, and that event, are all perfect ways to test my mental strength and ability to strategize race movement. I feel these are areas where I need to improve the most. Being injured for so long hurt me in the sense that I lost a lot of opportunities to figure out how I race best. In the past year at Marquette, I still managed to PR in the XC 5000m (18:49), 5000m (18:40), 3200m (11:28), 3000m (10:43), and 1600m (5:24). I am looking to be a part of a team that loves to challenge one another and cares for each other outside of the realm of running. And, I am looking for a coach that has experience with female athletes, is familiar with the technicalities involved with running and formulating training plans, who values team camaraderie and structure in order to achieve success not just as individuals, but as a team.

A world where I can have both academics and athletics that I love and that challenge me would be the best case scenario. I put just as much heart and soul into my academics as I do into my running too. Throughout high school I maintained a high honor roll status with a 3.89 GPA for all four years, and was a member of the National Honor Society. At college, I made the Dean's List as a Freshman at Marquette University, and was also recognized as Academic All Conference in The Big East. I currently hold a 3.81 GPA and after this Fall Semester will have 42 credit hours under my belt. However, my interests have changed and I am looking for a school that will better match my academic goals as a Communications major. I hope that a new school will offer me a chance to redefine my college experience academically, athletically, and socially. These are of paramount importance to me, because these colorful years will have a lasting influence on my identity, character, and priorities after college. I am looking for the right fit!