In the Locker Room with...Katherine MacDonald

I turned to ex-rugger turned indoor track runner Katherine MacDonald for this week’s interview. MacDonald is a senior captain and has been rumored to have perfect pitch. When I showed up for the interview she was on a top secret track mission involving envelopes. That was all I could get.

So what’s in those envelopes?

KM: It is a secret. It has to do with my mantra for this season: “Unity in the Track Community.”

Is that your own slogan?

KM: Oh, yes. I am trying to help our team become a more cohesive unit. It is easy for track teams to become disjointed because there are so many internal divisions — we have sprinters, throwers, mid-distance runners, jumpers and distance runners. Because we all have different workouts it can be difficult to get to know each other. At the meets people end up just cheering, “Go OC,” because they don’t know the person’s name. It’s really depressing.

And this top secret project is about to change all of that?

KM: Just a tool. We are doing an array of things to promote unity within the team this year. We hit it all off with midnight madness. We thought it would be great to have everything in the dark to lend excitement to the event. However, we encountered some problems. We neglected to realize that seeing people’s faces is a crucial component to getting to know them. Then one, no two, of our captains got injured. Travis Oman lost a chunk of his shin when he ran into a metal bar and Teresa Collins pulled her quad.

Has this affected your practices?

KM: Teresa and Trav are back on the track already. It is all that unity in the track community, people just can’t stay away.
How does this team compare to last year’s?

KM: Our program is always growing. We have had quite a bit of “in and out” runners. Track is a hard sport and some people get intimidated and leave. We have recruited a lot of serious runners this year and the mentality of the team has changed. We hope to maintain a more consistent core of runners in the years to come but we are still about having fun and welcoming people of all ability levels.
What sort of team events do you all have coming up?

KM: Our annual holiday caroling — okay fine, so we just started it last year, but hell that makes it a tradition this year right?
If people want to hear you, where should they go?

KM: Everywhere. We carol at the stores in town, except for one store. They didn’t like us so much.
Do you have any practice sessions beforehand?

KM: Oh, hell no. We are probably the worst caroling group you have ever heard. In fact, people have actually told us we are the worst caroling group they have ever heard.
Does the entire team sing?

KM: Well, some people just mouth. But then there are the diehards who just let it rip no matter how off tune or off verse they are. Sophie Grimes was our all-star last year — people may remember her debut in the DeCafe.
If our readers want to join you all can they?

KM: Yes please! Holler to the Conservatory. Most of our Con athletes graduated; we are a sorry sight now.
Just then, someone approaches the secret stuff and I try to warn Katherine.
KM: It’s okay, he’s my coach [Jason Hudson]. He knows. Coach Hudson, what are the envelopes for? Katherine isn’t talking.
JH: Oh, I see, right, right. (He giggles.)
KM: Here’s why. If everyone knew, it would get messed up.
JH: Totally.
KM: So I can’t say what it is in the paper.
JH: Are you being interviewed for something?
KM: “In the Locker Room.”
JH: Sometimes I like that column.The team’s first home meet is in January but if you can’t wait that long, listen for their carols in town.
What was in those envelopes anyway?