Meet the Athlete: Tessa Stoltenburg
Name: Tessa Stoltenburg
Age: 25
Place of Birth: Watertown, South Dakota
High School: Watertown High School
College: South Dakota State University
Major/Minor: Majors in Exercise Science and Human Biology
Where do you currently live?: Sioux Falls, SD but moving to Omaha before August!
Occupation/Degree you are working towards: Physician Assistant
How long have you been and LRC-Nebraska member?: I recently joined on June 4th!
How long have you been running competitively?: 1+ years
What excites you most about being an LRCN athlete?: I have really enjoyed becoming part of the running community in Sioux Falls, so I am most definitely looking forward to connecting with other runners in Omaha/Lincoln. I find it motivating and invigorating to be part of a team of runners with different goals but equal passions. I have trained for my last two marathons 99% solo, so I’m looking forward to being able to catch some runs with others and share the miles!
What does a typical training week look like for you? Walk us through your daily routine (training related and otherwise): A typical week for me is running 7 days a week with 2 days of strength training (usually Tuesday and Thursday after my hard workouts). I prefer to run my long runs in the morning over the weekend, but a few of my easy runs and workouts tend to fall more in the afternoon. I consistently run mileage in the 70’s and 80’s, with my peak weeks hitting the 90’s. I am very consistent with a hip/glute exercise band routine to keep a strong pelvic core. I try to stay on top of the “extras” in order to stay healthy through my mileage. I especially am very focused on my nutrition!
We all approach training and racing differently, so tell us what your short-term and long-term goals are with running: My short term goals are to stay consistent with my mileage and routine as I build up to the Chicago Marathon in October, where I hope to qualify for the 2020 Olympic Marathon Trials. My long term goals are to continue racing and building my resume, as I have not raced a lot of road distances. I want to continue to run for as long as I can, so I am just focused on enjoying the ride!!
Where are your 3 favorite places to do long runs at the moment?: The Sioux Falls 19.3 mile bike trail loop, around Lake Kampeska in Watertown, SD, and any custom mapped Garmin route with my boyfriend biking alongside me!
After a solid race or long run, what is your favorite meal to demolish and replenish those calories? Please use details and give recommendations!: If it is morning, I’m all about making an egg scramble with every vegetable in the fridge + a side of sourdough toast + a extra hot cup of coffee. If it is in the afternoon or evening following a race, I’d call for a bison burger & a cold beer with olives!
Share a crazy training or racing story, or simply an interesting moment in time: I attempted running in college, but I suffered a stress fracture in the shaft of my femur which recurred 3 times in 15 months. I took a year off of running, ended my collegiate career, and crazy enough when I returned I was racing half marathons at a faster pace than I had raced any of my college races. Long story short: running will always be there for us… be patient, consistent, and listen to your body! I wrote in my Junie B. Jones journal when I was in 2nd grade that I wanted to run a marathon, so I’m pretty pumped to have stuck to my goal and making it happen today!
What book are you currently reading or TV show are you binge watching?: I am honesty the WORST at sitting and watching TV or reading a full book…. However, if I am watching Master Chef or Chopped or reading a cook book… I AM SOLD!
You’re the star of a running movie, and the opening scene is you running on a winding dirt road, with a beautiful sunrise. What song is playing in the background?: Girl On Fire – Alicia Keys (this song on full blast has powered me through SO many hard workouts…)
