When Caroline Meyers lined up for the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) 10k in spring 2022, the sixth-year therapeutic recreation major and record-breaking athlete did it with the goal of overcoming her injury and winning a medal.
Even after securing second place in that race, the goal has remained the same—to keep running and beat the odds. According to Meyers, participating in competitive sports while trying to balance the ever-busy student life requires one to be goal-oriented, consistent, and have a winning mentality.
Goal-orientation
Meyers transferred to Illinois State from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), after the cross-country/track program at UMKC was cut short due to COVID-19.
“I knew that I wasn’t done running. ISU offered a great team and coaching staff which assured me that I was going to succeed here.”
The record-holder started pursuing sports at a tender age. With two older brothers who actively participated in competitive sports, Meyers was inspired by the desire to prove herself to her brothers.
“I started running track in fourth grade but didn’t start getting competitive until sixth grade. Even now in my college years, my love for competitive running has not deteriorated.”
She appreciates the accountability Redbird Athletics offers so as not to neglect her studies.
“Trying to balance athletics and studies might seem tough at first. However, when you come in your freshman year, they make sure they help you get that balance correct. From mandatory weekly study hall times, and regular class attendance check-ins to the availability of tutoring services, it’s hard to lose the grip on your classes.”
Meyers’ interest in therapeutic recreation arose in high school where, alongside other students, she had the opportunity to help teach/assist students with disabilities as part of a peer mentoring program. This allowed the students with disabilities to stay in the classroom and socially interact with their peers while also receiving individualized attention when they needed it. The program inspired her to choose a career where she could assist those with disabilities. The major was particularly appealing to her because it focuses on athletic activities as well as fostering assistance to those with disabilities. Currently, she has a better understanding of the importance of therapeutic recreation in the improvement of health.
On her busiest days, her day starts at 5:30 a.m., with a two-and-a-half-hour practice about an hour later, then continues with work and class. The day ends with weights and closes at 10 p.m.
“There is such a deep sense of accomplishment when you go to class after a tough practice session knowing that you’ve already accomplished the hardest part of the day.”
“If you have a dream, you owe it to yourself to pursue it. When I cross the finish line I look back and say, ‘I did that’. I sacrificed so much to be able to meet that goal and I did it.”
Caroline Meyers
Winning mentality
Meyers understands the athlete’s body is prone to injury. For that reason, she believes that it is important to have a winning mentality.
“Running is a sport that a lot of people question because it’s not comfortable. A lot of people don’t understand why runners do what they do. And the truth is, we always have something to prove to ourselves.”
Meyers, who holds the title for 2021: Cross Country MVC honorable mention (13th place), spring 2022-5k (16:51-eighth place all-time in school history), silver medalist in the All-Missouri Valley Conference (MVC)10k and fall 2022 top 50 at the Midwest Regional meet (44th place and sixth place all-time in school history), overcame a recent injury when she won the MVC 10k with her teammate.
“It was very powerful to finish that race- especially because I didn’t finish the last 10k because of it.”
She feels relieved after being diagnosed with slipping rib syndrome—a condition in which the rib slips out of place resulting in pain that can get heightened by sneezing, eating, or exercising. This was after numerous clinic visits for MRIs, CT scans, and X-rays, which always came back clean.
“An injury in the rib is a foreign place for runners. At it’s worst it’s debilitating pain—which often occurs during races—but I try my best to run and push through the pain.”
The injury had taken her out of her spring track season last spring. Even worse, she went into the summer with more questions than answers as to why she was still in pain.
“This past summer, I ran less than I have since I was ten.”
Even so, she is insistent on not letting the injury define her.
“I have trained my whole life to get to where I am. I am more than the injury. Even when I feel down, I don’t allow what’s wrong in running to affect other areas of my life that are going well,” she said.
Meyers is grateful to have a supportive team of family and teammates who have been able to help her keep being when she was down.
Speaking on what keeps her going, she says “If you have a dream, you owe it to yourself to pursue it. When I cross the finish line I look back and say, ‘I did that.’ I sacrificed so much to be able to meet that goal and I did it.”
Looking ahead
Meyers looks up to Olympic athletes Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs whom she admires for their commitment to the sport.
However, she hopes to explore other areas of interest in the future.
“It’s easy to get lost in being a runner, especially with the amount of time and effort dedicated to the sport but running is not who I am, it’s what I do. Eventually, I will let go of the sport aspect of running and do it leisurely, but I know that I will always come back to running.”
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