Track & Field

How do you stay motivated on days when you don't feel like running?

Find motivation in accountability, playlists, and discipline.

Yeah, sometimes as athletes it's hard to wake up every single morning and feel like super motivated to get out the door, but I would say there's three things that really helped me get motivated on those days is one, just having someone to rely on. You know, whether that's your training partners or your teammates or if you can call a friend and put in some air pods. I think having people to be on that journey with you and help keep you accountable and help motivate you, I think that's really important. The second portion would be I love making playlists, so I will make a playlist or I'll find a playlist that kind of, you know, fits my vibe for the day and helps me enjoy being out and just enjoying the prettiness that my state has to offer. And then the last thing is just remembering discipline and knowing that what I do today will affect the next six months and the next year.

To stay motivated on difficult mornings, I rely on people to keep me accountable, make playlists to enjoy my surroundings and remind myself that discipline can help me in the long run.

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As an athlete, there are days when it's challenging to feel motivated for a run. However, three things have helped me stay motivated in such situations. Firstly, having someone to rely on, whether it's training partners, teammates, or even a friend you can call and listen to music with. Having people on the journey with you keeps you accountable and provides motivation. Secondly, creating playlists that match my mood for the day or finding existing playlists that enhance my enjoyment of being outdoors and appreciating the beauty of my surroundings. Lastly, it's important to remember discipline and recognize that the effort put in today will have an impact on the next six months or even a year.

What is your favorite part of the steeplechase race?

Thrilling Hurdles and Water Jumps Define Steeplechase Joy

My favorite part of the steeple honestly would have to be... I love the hurtling part of it and like going on the water jumps. I really get a lot of joy and I have a lot of fun when I, you know, I'm in a big pack and I'm, you know, going over a barrier and I love to like challenge myself to see how much faster I can be over the barrier or out of the water pit faster than someone else. I love that portion but I love the races in entirety too. I think it's so much fun and it challenges your body in a way that I, no other event quite does and I can't really explain it unless you do it but I think yeah it's fun it's fun seeing how good you can get at the tiny details of the race.

I love the hurdling and water jumps of steeplechase because it's a fun challenge to see how fast I can go over barriers or out of the water pits. It is also fun to see how good I can get at the tiny details of the race.

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My favorite part of the steeplechase race is the hurdle jumps and water jumps. I find great joy and have a lot of fun when I'm in a pack, challenging myself to clear the barriers and water pit faster than others. It's thrilling to see how much faster I can be with each jump. However, I also enjoy the race as a whole. It's a fun event that pushes my body in unique ways, unlike any other race. It's challenging and hard to explain unless you experience it firsthand. Overall, I love the steeplechase for the excitement it brings and the opportunity to improve on every little detail of the race.

Same question I asked during class: When are you going to run a half or a full marathon? :)

Olympic athlete prioritizes track goals over marathons

I'm so glad you're asking this question again. Your class was so much fun, so I'm glad that you're asking a question. But as of right now, there's no plans, but I don't know what I said in class, but I'll never say never. However, I got a lot of goals on the track that I would like to accomplish first, and you know, would like to have some good longevity on the track first, and then then we'll decide once I feel like I'm ready to step away from the track. But as of right now, I have zero plans to run a half or full. That's a lot of running, but like I said, I'll never say never.

There are currently no plans to run a half or full marathon, but I'm not ruling out the possibility in the future.

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I appreciate you asking this question again. Your class was a blast, so it's great to hear from you. Currently, I don't have any plans to run a half or full marathon. I can't recall what I mentioned in class, but I never say never. Right now, my focus is on accomplishing goals on the track and striving for longevity in my track career. Once I feel ready to transition away from the track, I may consider it. However, at the moment, running a half or full marathon is not in my plans. It requires a significant amount of running, but as I mentioned before, I won't completely rule it out for the future.

Was there anything in particular that drew you to running the steeplechase?

Family legacy and destiny: The allure of steeplechase

Yeah, so the thing that drew me to the steeplechase honestly was the fact that my dad did it in the early 80s in college. Yeah, he was a two-time All-American in the steeplechase. He ran for what was then Weber State College and is now Weber State University in northern-ish Utah. And so that was kind of what drew me initially. But yeah, all growing up, my parents, because both of them ran in college, and then my dad's college coach, his name was Chick Hislop, they always had told me that I was going to be a steepler, probably honestly from the time that I was like 10, 12-ish. So I felt like whenever I got into running, I was just like, oh, this is what I'm supposed to do. But yeah, I think it's that connection with my dad drew me in, and then I was always just told that that is who I was going to be. And it's great because I ended up loving it.

I was drawn to the Steeplechase because my dad ran it in college, and I was encouraged by my parents and college coach Chick Hislop to pursue it. I ended up loving it.

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What drew me to running the steeplechase was the fact that my dad had done it in college back in the early 80s. He was a two-time All-American in the steeplechase while running for Weber State College, which is now Weber State University in Utah. Growing up, both of my parents, who were college runners themselves, along with my dad's college coach, Chick Hislop, always told me that I would be a steepler. I think that initial connection with my dad and being told that this was my destiny from a young age drew me in. Fortunately, I ended up loving it and it became a great passion of mine.

What's your favorite part of working with On?

On: A Brand that Values Athletes and Personal Relationships

There are so many things that I love about working with ON. To share one of my favorite parts is I love how personable they are and how athlete focused they are. I love that, you know, when they're trying to do something new or create a new shoe or whatever it may be, they really keep the athletes in mind and we get to test, we get to talk about it, we get to give all of our feedback and I love that they just value so much our input and they also really get to know us as people. And so I love being a part of a company that values who I am and values what experiences I have and values what I have to say about, you know, the products that I'm wearing and I also just love that they know me as a person and so we can have more of a personable relationship.

I love working with on to share because they are personable and focused on athletes. They value our feedback and input, and get to know us as people which allows for a more personal relationship.

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Working with ON offers numerous aspects that I absolutely love. One of my favorite parts is their exceptional personal touch and their strong focus on athletes. It's wonderful that when they embark on creating something new, whether it's a shoe or any other product, they genuinely consider the needs of athletes. We have the opportunity to test, discuss, and provide feedback, and I truly appreciate how much they value our input. Moreover, they take the time to get to know us as individuals, which fosters a more personal relationship. Being part of a company that appreciates my identity, experiences, and opinions about the products I wear is truly rewarding.

What is your go-to recovery drink and/or food after a hard training session?

The Ultimate Homemade Protein Smoothie for Post-Workout Recovery

Yeah, thanks for asking this question, John. Right now, my favorite go-to recovery drink after a hard workout is one that I just make at home right before I head out to go to my workout. It's kind of just a very traditional, basic protein smoothie. So what I'll throw in there is I will put protein powder, collagen powder, and then I'll either put almond butter or peanut butter or PB Fit powder, whatever I'm kind of feeling for that day, and then I'll throw in a banana and blueberries and then whatever other berries that I have on hand, and then I'll put in some spinach, some almond milk, some ice to make it a little bit thicker, and then I'll put some cinnamon and ginger and turmeric in there to have some anti-inflammatory stuff, and then I just whip it up and I will drink that 10, 20 minutes after I finish my workout just to kind of make sure I'm getting some good post-workout protein and nutrients in. So that's right now, that's been my favorite and it's been my go-to for honestly the last like probably three-ish, if not more, years.

My favorite post workout recovery drink is a protein smoothie made with protein powder, collagen powder, almond butter/peanut butter/PB fit powder, banana, blueberries, spinach, almond milk, ice, cinnamon, ginger and tumeric. This has been my go-to for the last three years.

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My go-to recovery drink after a tough training session is a homemade protein smoothie. I make it right before heading out for my workout, and it's a simple and traditional recipe. I start with protein powder and collagen powder, then add either almond butter, peanut butter, or PB Fit powder based on my preference that day. I throw in a banana, blueberries, and any other berries I have available, along with some spinach. To make it thicker, I add almond milk and ice. For additional health benefits, I include cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric for their anti-inflammatory properties. After blending everything together, I enjoy the smoothie around 10 to 20 minutes after completing my workout to ensure I'm replenishing my body with post-workout protein and nutrients. This has been my favorite go-to recovery drink for over three years now.

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Courtney Wayment-Smith is an American athlete who specializes in the 3000 m steeplechase. She is from Layton, Utah and a 2016 graduate of Davis High School. She attended Brigham Young University following high school. In 2022, Wayment ran at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon, US, finishing 12th in 9:22.37.