Owen Reilly is one of the 2023 recipients of the LVRR Scholarship.
LVRR: What college will you attend and what is your intended major of study? Do you plan to run while attending college?
OR: I will be attending Loyola Maryland, majoring in Marketing. I will not be competing on their team, but am looking forward to running the Baltimore Half Marathon.
LVRR: What age did you start running and why?
OR: I began running at the LVRR Kids Races at age three because I had a lot of energy to burn.
LVRR: What is your greatest accomplishment in your running career?
OR: I think I am most proud of qualifying for states in cross country as a team during my junior season.
LVRR: Describe an experience where you had to “sink or swim.” What did you learn from it?
OR: At the beginning of my freshman year, I was already working on the planning stages of my Eagle Scout project. I had a rough idea of the project, and a site, and was starting to work on budgeting and fundraising plans. Then everything closed down with the pandemic and the cost of the raw materials I needed went through the roof due to supply chain shortages. It seemed like there was no solution and I would either have to quit or start all over again. I reached out for advice from my Scoutmaster and soon began planning again. Through this experience, I learned that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, even if you can’t see it at the moment, and to ask for help when you’re stuck.
LVRR: Who has been your most influential role model and why?
OR: My most influential role model is probably my old swim coach, Reik Foust. I did stop swimming competitively after my sophomore season, so I could focus on running, but Reik had been my coach at the Bethlehem Stars since I was in first grade, and then at Liberty. His knowledge of swimming and dedication to his swimmers is unmatched.
LVRR: What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
OR: I really enjoy power washing.
LVRR: What is one word you would say to someone who has just started running– whether it be a youth in the LVRR Kids Series, or an older individual- about why running is worth it?
OR: Running teaches the value of hard work. You get out of it what you put into it.
LVRR: Is anyone else in your family a runner?
OR: My mom has been running since I was in a jogging stroller.
LVRR: What events did you run in high school?
OR: I ran cross country, the 1600, and the 3200. I ran the 800 or 4×800 when I had to.
LVRR: What is your favorite event to watch that you don’t do yourself and why?
OR: I love watching the 4×400. It’s the last race of the meet and most of the team is cheering. There’s nothing like a close race during a close meet to get everyone excited.
LVRR: What are your favorite pre-race and post-race meals?
OR: I always have plain pasta the night before races. My favorite post-race meal is a bacon cheeseburger.
LVRR: What are three activities you enjoy doing apart from running?
OR: Biking, swimming, and hiking
LVRR: What extracurricular activities (outside of running) and community involvement have you participated in?
OR: I have been a Boy Scout since first grade, and earned the rank of Eagle Scout this year. I have volunteered with the Cub Scouts, the Healthy Kids Running Series, the Special Olympics, and LVRR. I lifeguard for the City of Bethlehem during the summers, and at Goldfish Swim School.
