Alicia Monson rewrote the record books on the track this past season.
The talented distance runner who competes for the On Athletics Club delivered some electrifying performances on the track that included multiple American records (name events). Now that she’s enjoyed the taste of success, she’s hungry for more and she’s having fun while also trusting the process.
“I just really enjoy (running), I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t enjoy it,” she said. “I think I’ve luckily found a situation where it’s not just the running that I enjoy, it’s my whole life. I’ve got my friends, my team, my dog, my boyfriend here. And so I think it’s definitely really important in order to be successful as a runner to have the whole picture. And so I feel really lucky that we happened to form the OAC a few years ago, and it turned out really well. Dathan is a great coach, and we just added a good new coach (Kelsey Quinn). You train every day with people who are very like minded and we’re all trying to be in the top of the world. So it comes from a mix of confidence and that this is what I train for. So it’s definitely a part of this is what I’m here for, and I’m going to make the most of it.”
The team element is something that has helped Monson continue to grow as a runner. She trains with some of the best athletes in the world, including Hellen Obiri, Josette Norris Andrews and Sage Hurta-Klecker, just to name a few. Having a strong group of athletes around her makes the difficult days more fun, especially when it leads to success for not only herself, but her teammates as well.
“The workout itself is not always fun, but the fun part is the improvements that you see overtime and the success that you see with yourself and your teammates,” she said. “And just feeling like you matter. Being able to jump into a run with any of your teammates and have a conversation. Even though the running isn’t always fun, it’s very rewarding. Hellen (Obiri) just won the NYC Marathon. To see all of the hard work she’s put in, that is really fun to be a part of because we know everything that she’s done over the past major training block, and to be a part of it was really incredible and being able to see the steps that you can take along your career.”
Monson and her teammates at the OAC share a special bond, which allows them to maintain a family type relationship on and off the track. This bond stems from the passion that Monson and her teammates have for helping each other reach their full potential on the track and a genuine care that they have for one another.
“It definitely comes from being from we’re all individually trying to get better, but we know that I’m only going to get better if this other person gets better,” she said. “I grew up playing team sports. In basketball, it’s not about you, it’s all about if the team wins. I think it comes from the fact that I’m only going to get so far by myself, and it’s important to have people to look up to and have people push me everyday in practice. Sometimes maybe my 1500m teammates are dropping me up a hill, but I’m like this is what it takes, this is what I need. And this is my strength, I’m going to help this person in this mile rep or whatever because I know I’m good at it. We’re all trying to help each other get better, and being able to watch our teammates succeed – it kind of comes down to I want to see you do well and I want you to be happy doing it. We definitely feel like we’re a second family, and we’re really trying to be there for each other’s successes and failures, and being there for each other in the sport.”
Monson broke the American record in the women’s outdoor 5000m, 10000m and the indoor 3000m this past season. She took away great confidence from what she was able to accomplish, and she has her eyes set on bigger things next season.
“I’m very thankful that I was able to do that and pulling out a few different American records, and really taking some steps,” she said. “Getting to Worlds and having the 10,000m race was where I truly felt like I could get there – I’m not there yet, but I can get there. Being able to place fifth was where I knew I could place. Even the year before I felt like I could do that, but I obviously wasn’t there yet and able to perform, so it was really gratifying to actually do that. So I’ve been really setting my sights on what can I do to get better and what’s it going to take every single day. And luckily I have a lot of great teammates to look at. Hellen is a great role model for the rest of us and she’s had a really successful career. She’s just starting her marathon career and she’s won two major marathons in a year. So just being able to take inspiration from that is what I need next.”
Despite the difficulties that the sport might bring, Monson’s gratitude and appreciation for track and field does not change and the opportunities that it’s brought and continues to bring her.
“I’m having fun. I’m just living my life. I feel like there’s not much you can say about the day to day, but I really do enjoy what I’m doing everyday and getting to talk to new people, meet new people and go to places that I would never go to. I think that’s really fun, being able to experience life that I would not have otherwise been able to do.”
