Ep 119: Track stud Shelby Houlihan
I feel like my body always wants to go fast
This week on the podcast we have the leader of the pack. Literally, this week’s Moonlighter has spent a lot of time out front as she has hauled in US titles in the 1500, 5000, and indoor 2 mile and 10k this year. Shelby Houlihan is the pride of Sioux City East and one the most dominant American track and field athletes burning up the tracks today. This week, Tim tries to keep up with Houlihan and find out about her training, her professional career, and her preparation for the Olympics.
Iowa track fans know Shelby’s name from her days of burning up the Drake blue oval and high school cross country courses. She was both the Gatorade cross country and track and field athlete of the year in Iowa during her senior year at Sioux City East. After a stellar high school running career, Shelby was heading for warmer weather in Tempe and joining the Sun Devils of Arizona State.
Stay Patient
After adjusting to the level of competition during her freshman and sophomore years, Shelby claimed the 2014 outdoor 1500 meter national championship along with being a 12 time All American. Since turning pro in 2015, Shelby has stayed on the rise. She finished 11th in the 2016 5000 meters. Shelby shares the ins-and-outs of living as a professional runner. She is passionate about competing and makes it clear that Tim can keep the beer and ice cream cheat days.
With the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo only 10 months away, Shelby Houlihan appears primed to be in the medal hunt. So far in 2019, Shelby has taken home 4 US championships in distances ranging from the 1500 to 10k, including two this past July in Des Moines. Next up are the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar.
Enjoy episode 119 with Iowan, Drake Champion, NCAA Champion, US Champion, Olympian and now Moonlighter, Shelby Houlihan.