Ben Lees is the 2022 recipient of the Tom Illick Memorial Scholarship.
LVRR: What college will you attend and intended major of study? Do you plan to run while attending college?
BL: I will be attending Loyola University Maryland and majoring in Accounting. I do plan on running at the intramural/club level my freshman year and seeing where I go from there.
LVRR: What age did you start running and why?
BL: When I was around 10, my parents signed me up for LVRR’s Kids Races and I enjoyed the fun atmosphere. I did those until I was too old to compete. After that, I wanted to do XC in middle school with some of my friends that had also gotten into running.
LVRR: What is your greatest accomplishment in your running career?
BL: I think the single greatest accomplishment in my running career is just that I’ve stuck with running for all these years. I’ve played several other sports and enjoyed them for a few years but running has always been a staple and my main focus. Running is also great preparation for other activities because you need to do cardio and running for just about any sport.
LVRR: Describe an experience where you had to “sink or swim.” What did you learn from it?
BL: During my junior year I dealt with knee injuries. It was a frustrating experience because I felt that I lost all the progress I had made. At points I wondered if it was worth trying to continue running as I’d never had an injury like this and wasn’t sure I’d be able to compete at the same level. Thankfully, I decided to commit to doing the rehab program that my coaches gave me. Although it was a difficult experience, I am happy that I stuck with running and felt like I grew from the challenge.
LVRR: Who has been your most influential role model and why?
BL: My parents have been my most influential role models because they have always supported me in all my endeavors, especially in running.
LVRR: What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
BL: I can probably solve any kind of Rubik’s cube. I went through a phase where I wanted to learn how to solve the Rubik’s cube. Then, once I learned to solve the original version, I worked on solving any other version I could find. At one point, I could solve the original cube in well under a minute.
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?
BL: Self-care
LVRR: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
BL: Hopefully having a successful career as an Accountant.
LVRR: Is anyone else in your family a runner?
BL: My dad ran cross country and track in high school, and my twin sister is also a runner.
LVRR: What events did you run in high school?
BL: Besides running the 5k for cross country, I also ran the 800m and 1600m during track season.
LVRR: What is your favorite event to watch that you don’t do yourself and why?
BL: I like watching the 2-mile since my sister runs it and I enjoy cheering for her. The 4x400m relay is also exciting to watch since it’s the final event of a meet.
LVRR: What cross training do you incorporate into your running routine, if any? Do you focus more on cross training in the off season (if there is an off season for you!), or do you tend to cross train throughout the entire training cycle?
BL: I love biking so I try to incorporate it into my training since it’s an excellent form of cardio and a good way to let your body actively recover. I also like to weight-lifting just to build strength.
LVRR: What are the top three “little things” that you do to prevent injury?
BL: Foam rolling, stretching, warming up
LVRR: What injuries are you susceptible to?
BL: Knee injuries
LVRR: What are your favorite pre-race and post-race meals?
BL: Our cross-country team would have a team pasta meal the night before some races, and those were always fun and memorable. I get nervous before races, so I usually only eat a banana and energy bar. After the race, I like eating Honey Stinger Organic Honey Waffles as a treat.
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?
BL: I try to remember that you can’t run your best race every time. There are going to be some disappointing races, and I just try to learn from them and adjust for the next race.
LVRR: What are three activities you enjoy doing apart from running?
BL: Biking, Playing Chess, and Reading
