Angelina Klein is a recipient of the 2023 LVRR Scholarship.
LVRR: What college will you attend and what is your intended major of study? Do you plan to run at college?
AK: I will be attending DeSales University in their Accelerated 3+2 Physician Assistant Program. I will be running Cross Country and Track and Field in college.
LVRR: What age did you start running and why?
AK: I started running at age three. My parents signed me and my sister up for the Lehigh Valley Road Runners kids race series, and I competed there from ages 3-14. I loved going to LVRR in the summers. LVRR is where I found my love for running and met so many amazing people, many of whom I am still friends with today.
LVRR: What is your greatest accomplishment in your running career?
AK: My greatest accomplishment in my running career thus far is my qualification to Track and Field States in my senior year. At Track Districts this year, I raced the 3200m and beat my personal best by 14 seconds. This race came down to the last 100 meters; I was in 3rd place around the last turn after a major comeback from the middle of the pack, and I had my eye on the top 4 so that I could earn my first Track and Field district medal. I sprinted side-by-side with 4th and 5th place until the very end, and I dove right over the line to take 4th place by 200th of a second! I had never felt so proud to have earned a medal in my life. I knew that I put my heart and soul into every second. And to make the night even better, I found out an hour or so later that the girls who placed 1st and 3rd in my race scratched from the 3200m, which meant that I qualified to race the 3200m at the Pennsylvania State Championships! I remember crying when my coaches told me. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I had made it to States, an accomplishment I didn’t think was possible for me. This experience reminded me that I can achieve anything I put my mind to!
LVRR: Describe an experience where you had to “sink or swim.” What did you learn from it?
AK: Before Cross Country districts in my senior year, I was so nervous about our race. I knew that my teammates and I were the underdogs this year. We had a lot of tough teams to race against, but we all really wanted to go to the State Championships. Even though we were anxious, we didn’t let our fear stop us. We ran confidently from the very start of the race, and we ended up winning our district championship. In addition, I placed 5th, the highest I have ever placed in a cross-country district race in high school. We were all so proud of ourselves and each other. Watching my team overcome our struggles and achieve our biggest goal was so amazing and a memory I will never forget.
LVRR: Who has been your most influential role model and why?
AK: Two of the most influential people in my life are my parents. Throughout my life, my parents have been my biggest supporters. They have both dedicated time to helping me and my younger sister grow into the people we are today. One thing my dad always says to me and my sister before we head off to school in the morning is; “Do your best, Be heard, and make your mark”. I didn’t realize it when I was younger, but my dad is the reason that I always try my best in everything I do and continue to “make my mark” on the world. Additionally, My mother’s empathy has always been inspiring to me. The way she cares for other people’s needs before her own has taught me to be selfless and to give back to those around me. Together, my parents have helped me to grow into the young woman I am today. Because of them, I am a dedicated individual who works hard to achieve my dreams and put others before myself. My parents are a constant reminder to me that I can achieve anything I set my mind to.
LVRR: What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
AK: I think most people would be surprised to know that I love to sing. I’ve been participating in my school’s choir since 5th grade, as well as the Acapella club since 10th grade. Outside of running, singing in a passion of mine and something I enjoy doing when I get the chance. I haven’t met many athletes who also are interested in music like I am, so I think it might seem funny to some people that I have such opposing interests.
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?
AK: The one word I would say to a new runner to explain why running is worth it is ‘rewarding’. If I am only able to use one word, ‘rewarding’ is the best way to describe the sport of running. In order to achieve your goals in this sport, you have to push past your own mental and physical limits. While this sport can be grueling, when you finally achieve the goal you’ve been working for, it is so rewarding. I also love that there are no limits in the sport of running. You can always come up with new goals to reach and set new standards for yourself.
LVRR: What events did you run in high school?
AK: In high school, I ran all the distance events. During Cross Country, I and my teammates ran the 5k. During the Track and Field season, I ran the 800m, 1600m, 3200m, and occasionally the 4x800m relay. Although I used to say the 1600m was my favorite event in track, after my senior year, I’ve realized that the 3200m is definitely what I am best at and the event I enjoy doing the most in the spring.
LVRR: How do you stay motivated when you don’t want to run?
AK: The sport of running definitely has its challenges. For instance, there are days when I am tired or overwhelmed, and I don’t feel like going out for my daily run. On these days, I stay motivated by thinking about my goals for the season I am in/ the season I am preparing for. I remind myself that in order to reach my potential and achieve my goals, I have to continue to run on the days I don’t want to. By training my mind to overcome uncomfortable circumstances with my sport, I can become mentally stronger and learn to work through challenges that I may face during a race. In addition, because I am an experienced runner, I realize that in order to race at the level I want to, I need to be consistent with my training. This keeps me going on days when I lack motivation.
LVRR: What are the top three “little things” that you do to prevent injury?
AK: The top three “little things” I do to prevent injury include staying hydrated, stretching before and after runs, and getting good sleep. Staying hydrated is very important to me as an athlete, but especially as a runner. By staying hydrated, I can keep my body healthy while I utilize my cardiovascular and muscular systems during workouts and races. Drinking water and electrolytes also helps me to recover better and get back to working out at a high level. In addition, for the past 4 years, I have begun doing dynamic stretches before my runs and utilizing a foam roller along with static stretches after my runs. All the stretching I do has helped me to prevent injuries from occurring throughout my high school running career, as well as prevent and eliminate soreness in my muscles while I am training. Lastly, getting good sleep is the most important thing you can do to keep your body healthy and performing at its optimal capabilities. At the beginning of my high school career, I didn’t prioritize sleep that much. I realized as time went on that sleep is very important and making sleep a priority, especially the day before meets, has helped me to remain energized during the season.
LVRR: When faced with a rare but disappointing race finish or workout, how do you pick up and motivate yourself to try again? Is there a specific running mantra that has helped you pull through disappointment?
AK: Something I have struggled with through my high school running career is anxiety. During my sophomore year, I dealt with major performance anxiety before my races and struggled to find confidence in my running abilities. There was a time when I became so anxious that I wanted to stop running altogether. However, learning to rely on my faith helped me through this challenge. My faith in God is a big part of my life, especially in my sport. In order for me to find my confidence again, I had to learn to rely on my trust in God and his plan for me. The verse that got me through this time in my life and continues to motivate me on my tough days is Philippians 4: 6-7, “Be anxious for nothing. But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” My faith continues to help me through my disappointments and allows me to feel even more fulfilled by my successes.
LVRR: What extracurricular activities (outside of running) and community involvement have you participated in?
AK: At Northwestern Lehigh High School, the extracurricular activities I participated in are the National Honors Society (co-president), the Science National Honors Society, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (president), the Acapella Club, the Interact Club, Student Council (secretary last year), Science Olympiad, and the Choir. Through LCTI’s Emerging Health Professionals Program, which I took in my senior year, I also did some volunteering at St. Luke’s Bethlehem Campus. Outside of school, I am a part of Girl Scouts (Troop 682) and I completed my Girl Scout Silver Award (50-hour service project) in my freshman year of high school.
