Week 27: Ben Lambert

Home state: Michigan
Status: Junior
Year on club: 4
College: College of Engineering
Major: Chemical Engineering
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In addition to the club, Ben is an ENG 100 mentor and competes in various IM sports. This past winter, Ben played on the Magics Johnson basketball team [3-3], which defeated the other running club team. “Ball is life,” according to Ben. Ben’s other interests include the Marvel and James Bond movies and Kesha. He is also thinking about getting into home-brewing. His favorite events are the NIRCA Cross Country Nationals, track mile, and track 5k. Check out the interview below:

Running Club: “Why do you think you would be a good President?”
Ben Lambert: “I think I am the best candidate to be president because I am one of the most friendly people on the club--I know a lot of people--I have experience being an officer on the club being Travel Coordinator and President before, and I think I’m a really friendly person and I like to talk to all the members of the club. I’m pretty active too as well. I’ve come to almost all of the meets during my four years here. On top of that, I know a lot of the other clubs. For Nationals last cross country season I traveled down with George Mason and I think that kind of shows the kind of person I am and how friendly I am. And I’m willing to make those kinds of relationships with them.”
RC: “What would you say if someone was asking you about your time off from the club? Usually the President is supposed to last the entire year of their term on running club. So what would you say to people that might be discouraged by the fact that you dropped half way through your previous presidency?”
BL: “Yeah, I’ve thought about that. It’s tough because in one way you should put the club above and before everything else. And that is definitely true. And it’s tough because this opportunity is pretty rare..-”
RC: “Well, what was your opportunity?”
BL: “It was a co-op with an engineering company that lasted a whole year.”
RC: “In Virginia?”
BL: “Yeah, in Virginia. So I was far away. Way too far away to be president. And so I just thought that I have to think about my future too more than just with the club. But before I even accepted the position I actually asked the two vice presidents if it was okay and I made sure that one of them was okay being president, and that was all okay. I talked to the other officers too and they all seemed to think that was all okay.”  
RC: “So how do you feel about coming back now? So you were gone for the semester--the two semesters, the entire year from last spring until now--is it weird coming back?”
BL: “Yeah, it’s definitely weird at first coming back because when you work you work 40 hours a week and you don’t have homework so you kind of come home and run and just chill out. And then on the weekends you don’t have homework or anything so that’s amazing. And then to come back here I have homework and exams and all of that. So it took me a few weeks to transition and to really get back into the swing of things. But then, you know, once I got back it was awesome. It’s always fun being on campus and hanging out with all of your friends.”
RC: “And then was it weird coming back during the spring semester to Running Club since you had been gone?”
BL: “Yeah a little bit. There was definitely at least half of the club that I had no idea who they were. I had never met them before. So it took a little bit to get used to everyone and to make new friends.”
RC: “But you’ve been out there introducing yourself and you’ve been pretty involved.”
BL: “Yeah, I’d say that now I know almost everyone in the club and I’m pretty good friends with a lot of the new people. Well, the new people to me.”
RC: “Is there anything that you could do differently on the club next year that you are thinking about bringing as a president?”
BL: “Let’s see. For cross country, I think I either want to go back to Illinois State like they did two years ago because that was a smaller meet that was kind of nice to kind of get our team out there and easier competition--good moral booster. Or we could go to an entirely different meet that we have never gone to before. I like to not only travel around but also go and see what other meets are like. And I think there are other people like that too. I kind of want to reevaluate the training plan. I think it’s good but it can always be better; it’s something that can always be worked on.”
RC: “This year, they worked a lot with the sprinters. They had three sprint chairs. Would you keep that?”
BL: “Yeah, I think it’s perfect. I think all of the presidents have been distance people, so having some spring experience for the training plan is great. That’s as much as you can ask for. I tried doing this before I left, at least before I left. I tried talking with a member who worked with the Michigan State team as an athletic trainer/assistant coach to help with our training plan, and that kind of dropped when I left. I’m still in contact with him, so I can still plan to try to get some info from him and my high school coach, and of course the other VPs. We all usually meet together and we all bring in our own experience and knowledge.”
RC: “What are some of your favorite things about running club?”
BL: “Oh, there’s so much. Let’s see. I think first and foremost would be meeting all of the new people who all have the same interest, being running obviously. And just going on runs--you know, easier runs more than hard runs--and talking with people and really getting to know them. And on top of that, social events, like movies and corn maze, parties: all of that. And in particular, overnight meets. I love those. And I do also really enjoy the competitive aspect. Competing, going to Nationals and all of that fun stuff.”
RC: “Did you race all four years in high school?”
BL: “I only raced two years, actually. Well, I ran track for four years but I did cross country for two years.”
RC: “So are you more of a track person?”
BL: “I used to be. I definitely used to be. I used to love mid-distance and the 800m, and then as I got older I guess and more like me, I grew to like cross country a lot more. And now I would say I’m a cross country guy.”
RC: “What’s the furthest you’ve run/raced?”
BL: “I have run 17 miles and raced a half marathon.”
RC: “Was there only one half marathon?”
BL: “No, I’ve done…”
RC: “Many?”
BL: “Yeah, I’ve done over four, over five: I don’t really know how many.”
RC: “Okay, and then what is your least favorite aspect of running?”
BL: “I would say doing really tough workouts when you’re really really sore. Or maybe not the workouts themselves, but the next day when you’re really sore doing the recovery runs. And cooldowns. I really hate cool-downs.”
RC: “Why?”
BL: “Because I’m really tired. And I’m too lazy. But I always know I have to do a cool-down.”
RC: “Do you always do a cool-down?”
BL: “Yes. Except usually after Nationals, when it doesn’t matter, I don’t do a cool-down.”

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