As a student-athlete at Wake Forest University, Janelle Kraus was a four-time All-American and a nine-time ACC champion. She holds personal best times of 16:06 in the 5k and 33:31 in the 10k. In 2004 she ran a marathon debut of 2:40:08 to place eighth in the Twin Cities Marathon. At the 2006 B.A.A. Half Marathon, she was the top U.S. female (fourth overall) and set a new personal best of 1:16:47. She qualified for the 2008 Olympic Team Trials in just her second-ever marathon when she ran 2:42:44, to finish fourth at the Saint Jude Memphis Marathon. In 2007, she ran 2:41:24 to place 13th overall in the Boston Marathon and just recently lowered her personal best in the half marathon to 1:13:51. A former school teacher and coach in Providence, RI, Kraus has recently relocated to Port Jefferson, NY where she is an assistant coach at Stony Brook College.
Below, Kraus shares her thoughts as she prepares for the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials.
Q:I guess we can start with the basics: how old are you and what do you do for a living?
A: I am 30 years old and I am an Assistant Coach at Stony Brook University(NY).
Q:: How long have you been running competitively and when/where did you get started?
A: I always enjoyed jumping in little road races, I did my first one when I was in 3rd grade. I started to focus on it as my primary sport once I got into high school (Shelter Island H.S.)
Q: Did you have immediate success or did you have a breakthrough race that convinced you to continue to pursue the sport?
A:I always did well. Once I got into high school I was able to improve upon my times every year.
Q: Were you recruited to run in college?
A: Yes. I decided to attend Wake Forest.
Q: How did you end up in Boston/NewEngland after college and why did you decide to join the B.A.A.?
A: I wanted to stay on the East Coast, and eventually decided upon Providence. Many of the girls in my training group in Providence were also members of the BAA.
Q: How is the Trials different from other races?
A: I think the fact that you will have the best American women on one starting line to compete for three spots says it all. The Olympic Trials only happen every 4 years, so there is just more at stake in this race. That said, I have tried to approach my preparation with the intent to get the very best out of myself on race day.
Q: How have you maintained your focus on the Trials since qualifying?
A: I’ve tried to break up the training with a few races. I have also done quite a bit of training with my boyfriend (Bill Nadeau), he has helped keep me on my toes.
Q: How have you been able to stay healthy?
A: Well… there have been a few bumps along the way, but I’ve tried my best to stay positive throughout. Lately I’ve been seeing a chiropractor and massage therapist to help with an alignment problem, but everything seems to be doing much better now.
Q: How do you balance work and running?
A: Thankfully my job allows me some flexibility to fit training in when I need to. I just try not to stress if something comes up, and my training has to take a back seat for a day.
Q: What are your goals for the race?
A: I would like to run a personal best, and hopefully crack the top 10.
Q: How much training have you been able to do on the Trials course?
A: Our team had many meets up in Boston this indoor season, so I took every opportunity I could to get out on Memorial Drive.
Q: What do you think of it? Does the course suit your running strengths/style?
A: I think the course is very spectator friendly. I also think the wind may affect how the overall race plays out, and I do fine in windy conditions.
Q: Do you have a race strategy mapped-out?
A: I have ideas, but I have to talk to my coach before I will have a final plan.
Q: Do you have any pre-race rituals that you will follow?
A: I like a big breakfast the day before, and a pasta dinner the night before.
Q: What are your post-trials running plans?
A: I don’t have any right now.
Q: What is your favorite distance to race?
A: The marathon.
Q: Do you have a favorite race (or races) that you enjoy competing in?
A: The Shelter Island 10k (my hometown race).
Q: Do you have any runners that you particularly admire?
A: I admire any runner who is able to overcome adversity to reach a goal.
Q: What would you consider to be your greatest accomplishment in the sport thusfar?
A: I’d like to think that I haven’t reached it yet.
Q:What is your advice to other marathoners?
A: I think it’s important to be patient early on, and to take in fluids throughout the race.
