Perhaps you recall the type from your college days – the guy or gal who would hand their test in early and get a score that would wreck the curve.The equivalent in the road racing realm is the runner who blows through a course ahead of schedule, taking volunteers by surprise, with a gap that makes it clear the real race is for second place. “Who was that?,” the uninitiated are left to wonder.
My own such a moment of revelation came while marshaling the women’s race at the 2007 Classic at Mastick. Swatting myself madly in Mosquito Alley (otherwise known as the Metroparks bridle trail), there was a subtle change in air pressure, then a whoosh that sent the mosquitoes reeling. I looked up just in time to see a runner in a sky-blue Team Good River top (was there ever a prettier outfit?) vanishing rapidly into the distance.
OK, I thought to myself, she’s hell on mosquitoes, but can she last? The skeptic in me said this was a presumptuously premature attack by a poseur of the first order.
Not on your life! Barely 13 minutes later, on her return pass of this out-and-back course, the yawning gap had become a chasm, giving the mosquitoes time to regroup and counterattack before the rest of the field came by.
This performance – plus the trademark sunglasses, matching headband, and hair up in an ever-so-neat bun – all said “serious runner,” but the easy smile, engaging personality, and gentle manner afterward told me I had made a friend.
Such was my introduction to Jessica Odorcic (née Kuhr), Northeast Ohio’s Queen of the Road.
Odorcic began running at age 16, when she joined the cross country and track teams her junior year at Painesville’s Riverside High School. She competed collegiately at Wright State University under the direction of Bob Schul (Gold Medalist in the 5,000 meters at the 1964 Tokyo Olympic Games). Since graduating in 2003 she has continued to run competitively “just for fun and to stay in good shape,” with a goal of improving her PR times, particularly from 5K-10K.
And improve she has; whether because of or despite the relatively low-key approach, Odorcic has truly blossomed after a collegiate career that was itself outstanding. Her winning time of 34:08 in Youngstown’s venerable Peace Race 10K last October 4 represents an improvement of 1:43 (4.8%) over the last three years, and brought her to the cusp of national caliber. The week prior to that, a 16:20 PR at the Run for the Grapes 5K in Geneva continued a similarly remarkable developmental progression from her collegiate 5,000 meter track PR of 17:14, set in 2001.
As the 2010 road racing season hits full stride, it seems like a good time to catch up with Odorcic – not literally, of course! – to complete what began nearly two years ago as a story idea for Ohio Sports and Fitness. The fault was not hers – she’s as approachable as a next-door neighbor – but rather my own, for putting the project aside after parting ways with that publication.
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What initially attracted you to running, and what keeps you in it?
I began running when I was 16 years old at the urging of my stepdad. With no prior athletic experience, I was skeptical, but apparently he saw an athlete inside me just dying to come out.
I keep running because it has become a part of my life and I couldn’t imagine living without it. It is a huge part of who I am and most of my life is arranged around it.
Do you come from an athletic family, and what was your athletic background prior to and outside of running?
I did not come from a very athletic family. My grandfather is an all-around type of athlete. He played baseball, football, golfed, and probably every other sport you can think of.
My stepdad was an all-’rounder as well. He played football, rugby, volleyball, and also ran a few marathons. He is definitely the person who encouraged me to run and to stick with it. I think when he first met me, he knew he was going to turn me into an athlete, but he just didn’t know which sport I would be good at. Before running, he tried to get me into volleyball, which I despised, and even tennis, which I was not coordinated enough to play.
I was very much into the academic side of high school before I became an athlete. I was in honors classes, a member of the yearbook staff, and I was in concert band, where I played the clarinet.
Your continued progress is remarkable. How do you keep improving?
Because I started running so late in high school, I believe I am just now beginning to reach my full potential. Hopefully, I can still take a few seconds off of my 5K and 10K times and then begin to focus on the longer races.
Also, I continue to train hard and dedicate myself to the sport.
What are some of your most memorable running experiences (good, bad, disappointing/ challenging, humorous)?
· My shoe came untied and fell off during a 1,600 meter race at a track meet when I was in high school. I didn’t know what to do, so I just kept on going. I think I won and also set a meet record.
“Oh look, your shoelace is untied!” – It happens to the best of us, and the solution is simple: just keep on going.
· Winning districts in the 3200 my senior year of high school was one of my most memorable and best races. I won by 1/10 of a second and set a district record.
· Making it to state my senior year in the 3200 was also great, but my race was so disappointing. It was extremely hot and I was such an inexperienced runner at that point in my career that I totally lost it mentally.
· The experience of being recruited by colleges when I was in high school was surreal, and then being offered a full 4-year scholarship was amazing. I never thought something like that could happen to me.
· Winning the Johnnycake Jog three times has been a great accomplishment for me. It is a race that has been around for so long, and is pretty close to being my hometown. For whatever reason, there is a lot of prestige that comes with winning it. I know I definitely put a lot of pressure on myself for that race.
Hat Trick – three in a row at the Johnnycake Jog: 2007-09.
· Lastly, winning the Peace Race 10K twice (2005 & 2009) was a great accomplishment for me, especially when I researched the history of the race and found that only two other women have won twice.
Rather than just asking for a favorite workout or two, could you describe the overall structure of your training throughout the year – for instance, what does your weekly volume (in hours, not miles, if possible) fall to in the off-season, what does it top out at, and when do those weeks come?
I have never been asked for my weekly volume in hours, but in the off-season, I cross-train, and no matter what I am doing, I go for at least an hour per day, so I guess I could vary anywhere between 5 hours in the off-season to 10 hours during racing season. The weeks where my volume tops out are definitely between July and September. These are the months when my most important races come.
How does your training focus change when you transition from one phase to another, such as from base training to competition as the season approaches?
Well, before the season starts I try and build a good base of mileage. As the season approaches I hit the track a lot more and do intervals.
Which races are you targeting in 2010?
I would like to do a few half marathons, run a good 5-mile time at Johnnycake, and find a nice flat 5K course, so that I can lower my current PR of 16:20.
How much time do you take off each year, and when?
I normally take most of December and part of January off of running, though I will cross-train during this period, just to keep my aerobic fitness strong. It also depends on whether I have any injuries, in which case I will have to take more time off.
Do you do any supplemental training (e.g., cycling, skating, etc.)?
I like to go kayaking, and in the winter, I cross-country ski when there is enough snow. I also have an elliptical that I like to use because there is no impact and it simulates running well.
Cleveland winters in general can be pretty rugged, and they’re particularly bad in your area. How do you work around the winter weather and maintain fitness in the off-season?
I just purchased my first treadmill this past winter, but most of the time, I don’t mind running in cold weather. I have accumulated plenty of gear in order to keep warm and brave the elements. It is kind of like an adventure running through a snow storm!
All of that said, what are some of your favorite workouts, and why?
A trail run whenever possible, especially at Chapin Forest and Penitentiary Glen in Kirtland. It is nice to be off-road and not have to worry about the traffic. Running on trails, for me, is always a better workout too.
I definitely don’t love doing track workouts, but when I do my speed training, I like to do a mix of 800s and 400s.
What’s your favorite training run (local and/or outside the area)?
I really love trail running, so I enjoy running at Chapin Forest in Kirtland. My husband and I used to live less than a mile from the park and I used to run there almost every day.
And your favorite race?
It has to be the Johnnycake Jog, but the Peace Race 10K comes in a close second.
Last question, I promise! Inquiring minds want to know – what will Amy be this year for Halloween?
I don’t know yet, you will have to wait to find out!
The Odorcic's dog Amy was a bumblebee for Halloween in 2009!
