Junior Sophie Bouldin has learned that going easy on some days is the best thing for her. (Centre Athletics Photo)
Her first two seasons at Centre College there was not a lot of extra pressure on Sophie Bouldin because she had older, more experienced teammates to lead the team.
Now she’s a junior and the “older leader” of the cross country team that will next compete in the Angel Mounds Invitational in Evansville, Ind., Saturday before the Southern Athletic Association Championships in Memphis Nov. 2.
“It feels kind of crazy that I am the older runner now. Time goes by so fast,” said Bouldin. “There’s definitely more pressure on me now to show the freshmen what the team is about and how our culture works. I just feel so much older compared to just a year ago but I also know I still have a lot to learn.
“However, last year I did not really always know what to expect but now that I have been to nationals, you know more about what to expect and do.”
Bouldin doesn’t want to say leadership comes easily to her but does admit it feels natural.
“I love demonstrating to people the kind of teammate I would want to have, so I try to be the best teammate I can be and the kind of teammate I want to be next to me,” she said. “At practices or races, I am one of the first to cheer for or try to motivate my teammates.
“We have a lot more girls on the team this year. I am not a captain because we have a lot of seniors but I try to be the best leader I can be. We have to nurture and reassure our younger team members that everything is okay.”
Bouldin says an early season meet when newcomers had to cover a 6K (3.72 miles) and many of them were “nervous and worried” especially after the team had harder workouts to get them ready.
“I have been on the team and gone through what they have so I hope they all do trust my opinion,” Bouldin said.
At the NCAA Pre-National Meet hosted by Rose-Hulman against a loaded field, Bouldin was Centre’s top finisher in 22 minutes, 31.8 seconds to place 45th in the 6K race. But even Bouldin, the SAA Newcomer of the Year in both cross country and track her freshman year, sometimes lets the pressure get to her on race day.
“I will sometimes get in my head and think I am the team’s top runner and I have to prove I deserve to be the top runner. Sometimes I let that affect my performance,” the junior from Louisville said. “A race earlier this year the mental side took away from my performance. I can’t let that happen.”
Bouldin went to nationals in cross country and track both last season and “started listening to my body more” over the summer. She started taking her “easy days easy,” something she has not always done. Her first two years at Centre she tried to match the pace/mileage of older runners and it took a toll on her body.
“By going easy on the easy days it lets me feel more energy for the really hard workouts,” Bouldin said. “I started going to therapy and it opened my eyes to how much I overdo it at times. It helped me learn my limits and know when enough is enough and not to burn myself out like I have in the past.
“My therapist told me it’s okay to go 80 percent some days and you can give your all but not to the point you are dying and have nothing left. If I stay stronger mentally, then the physical part takes care of itself. I have matured a lot with my thinking.
“Whenever I lose sight of focusing on myself and focus too hard on others and my competition, I have trouble. The most important thing to remember is to race my best. When I do, I can be at the top and make it to nationals again.
Bouldin also avoids setting specific time goals because that “eats away” at her knowing every cross country course has different terrain and weather conditions.
“It’s really hard to stay on top if you are not at your best and we know a lot of teams are chasing us because of the success Centre has had. However, that almost motivates me and our team to keep getting better,” she said.
