SNI: What is your favorite memory or moment during your competitive track and field days?
Suzy: My favorite track memory would be when I ran in Monte Carlo and ran under 4 minutes in the 1500 meters for the first time. It was a moment that I had work so incredible hard for and it came true. I cried I was so happy.
SNI: Knowing what you know today, what would you have done differently with your diet back in your high school and college competitive years?
Suzy: I would change my diet by eating more protein and eat more greens. I was anemic in college and if I was taking iron pills this would not have happened. I love protein shakes for recovery so I would of made sure to have one after each practice if it would of been available. I love sweets and still eat them every day. You need to live life to balance is everything.
SNI: What were the ‘best’ and ‘worst’ aspects of being a professional athlete?
Suzy: I loved being a professional athlete. The travel was incredible and the friends I made I will cherish forever. I was so fortunate to be able to share the experience with my husband which makes our love of travel something we will show our daughter who is five now. The part I don’t miss is the anxiety I had when I raced. I put way too much pressure on myself.
SNI: What is your current exercise, diet, and supplement regimen?
Suzy: Current exercise is swimming and biking with my daughter or waking at 5:30am to run for an hour. I run about 3 times a week. My free time I love to spend with my husband and daughter just playing. Life is so good not having to have a set exercise schedule now. I still love to run and hope I can run until I am 100.
SNI: What ‘words of wisdom’ do you have for young female athletes (of any and all sports) that would help them become better athletes but also better people?
Suzy: Run to make yourself happy. Do not run to make your coach or parents happy. If I race doesn’t go as planned learn from it and remember it is just a race you have your whole life ahead of you. Keep balance in your life.
Suzy Favor Hamilton was born and raised in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She won 11 state titles in high school and was named one of the top 100 high school athletes of the century. Suzy became the winningest female collegiate athlete ever at University of Wisconsin, winning nine NCAA championships, the Honda Broderick Cup as the nation’s top female collegiate athlete and Big Ten Athlete of the Decade for the ’90s. Suzy is a three-time Olympian and the holder of seven U.S. National Championships, and she has run sub-4 in the 1500m five times, with a personal best of 3:57.40. Suzy now lives, runs and enjoys life with her family in Madison, Wisconsin. http://www.suzyfavorhamilton.com/about.php
