Madeline Mumma 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?
MM: I am attending the University of Pittsburgh through Frederick’s Honors College, where I intend to major in Statistics. I plan to participate in club running.
LVRR: What age did you start running and why?
MM: I started running in kindergarten at the age of five through the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) cross-country and track programs at Notre Dame of Bethlehem School. I also participated in the LVRR races for a couple of summers. My aunt was the one who pushed me to get involved at a young age.
LVRR: What is your greatest accomplishment in your running career?
MM: My greatest accomplishment in my running career would be qualifying for the state cross-country meet in my junior year. This holds so much importance because as a freshman I placed 70th at the league meet and was not in the top seven to be eligible to compete at districts. At the beginning of my junior season, I was not a runner that people expected to even place in leagues and districts, but I promised myself I would do everything possible to qualify for states. I became the lead runner for my team, dropped minutes off my previous times, and placed fourth in the district meet, where I achieved my goal.
LVRR: Describe an experience where you had to “sink or swim.” What did you learn from it?
MM: At the last 300m of the state cross country championship my senior year, I began an almost never-ending cycle of stumbling and standing back up. My vision blurred, and all I wanted to do was finish. An official told me I would be disqualified if she touched me, and I had the choice to either “sink” and tap out of the race or “swim” and crawl to the finish. It took everything out of me to literally crawl the 20m across the line. Five minutes elapsed while I completed the final stretch because heat exhaustion raised my internal temperature to 107 degrees.
My coach told me that “sometimes being proud comes in different ways. You can be proud when you run fast times or proud of when you medal, but today you need to be proud of not what you did in your strongest moments but in your weakest moments.” I also tend to be a perfectionist, and this experience taught me that you cannot control everything. Although it is not how I wanted to end my last high school race, I can definitely say I left everything out there.
LVRR: Who has been your most influential role model and why?
MM: My most influential role model is my mom. She faced multiple challenges in her life and is one of the most dedicated people I have ever met. If she has a goal in mind, there is nothing stopping her from achieving it. My mom raised me to be strong, independent, and determined. Sometimes my mom may seem tough on me, but it is because she wants what is best for me. She would do anything for me and is the person I turn to when I need someone to talk to. My mom supports all my ambitions and takes pride in my accomplishments.
LVRR: What would most people be surprised to learn about you?
MM: With lots of extra time over quarantine, I self-taught myself embroidery and love to do it in my free time.
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?
MM: One word I would use to describe running is “outlet”. Running has always been my outlet, and the running community is one of the most supportive groups of people. The running community was a social outlet that transformed me from a quiet freshman into an outgoing leader. Everyone pushes you to achieve your goals, no matter your experience level. Running is also my outlet to challenge myself, both physically and mentally. It demands you to step out of your comfort zone and view challenges as opportunities. Finally, running is my outlet to relax and regather my thoughts. As my own form of therapy, the first thing I do when I feel stressed is pick a playlist and go on a long run.
LVRR: Is anyone else in your family a runner?
MM: My aunt has competed in multiple marathons and loves running. She picked up running at an older age and used to work at Aardvark Sports Shop. Her daughter, my cousin, also loves to run, competing from elementary school to college. She recently completed a few marathons in the last couple years and just qualified for the Boston Marathon. My aunt and cousin remain two of my biggest supporters.
LVRR: Who is in your running support network?
MM: My running support network includes my teammates, coaches, and family. My teammates are the reason I look forward to practice after a rough day since they always make me laugh. My coaches saw my potential and gave me both the confidence and training to achieve my goals. Lastly, my family never misses a race, and they are always so excited to watch me compete.
LVRR: What events did you run in high school?
MM: In high school, I competed in the 5k, 3200, 1600, 800, 4×800, and occasionally the 4×400. I prefer longer-distance races because I cannot sprint for my life.
LVRR: What injuries are you susceptible to?
MM: I have weak hips but that usually translates into other injuries. I struggle with a foot injury that pops up every once and a while. I had to sit out my sophomore and senior years for some time over the winter, and the trainers said the foot injury was a direct result of my hips being out of line. I have also had knee injuries that were a result of weak hips.
LVRR: What are your favorite pre-race and post-race meals?
MM: The night before a race, I love to make pasta because it is one of my favorite foods. My typical pre-race lunches include a bagel with peanut butter or peanut butter and jelly. After a race, I love to go out with my teammates to get food, such as wings, pizza, or whatever I am feeling that day.
LVRR: What are three activities you enjoy doing apart from running?
MM: Besides running and being outdoors, I love trying new restaurants with my friends, reading, and listening to music.
LVRR: What extracurricular activities (outside of running) and community involvement have you participated in?
MM: Outside of running, I participated in the National Honor Society, Operation Smile, MiniTHON, Interact Club, and Youth Group. I regularly volunteered with Notre Dame CYO Cross Country and Track, Healthy Kids Running Series, Girls on the Run, and the Bethlehem Emergency Shelter. I have also worked a part-time job at Wegmans for two years.
