Elise Wooddell

Running has always been a huge part of my life. From the community it created for me through the sport in high school, to now meeting my lifelong friends in the form of teammates in college, distance running means so much to me. I love how the sport provides an outlet from everyday life and lets me see so much of the world and explore wherever I go. It is a constant in my routine that brings me so much joy and also gives me the opportunity to escape from the stressors of life.

College athletics has been extremely challenging; however, the hardest things that I do in the sport I do alongside my teammates, letting us connect through every difficult workout. I believe there is no other bonding experience that can grow you closer to someone else than two people both actively choosing to suffer and give it their all in something and coming out the other side proud of what they’ve done.

Also, through my first year at UGA, I got to travel throughout the U.S for competitions, which is always so much fun and has created memories that I will cherish forever. I cannot wait to see what other doors this sport will open for me, and for all of the amazing experiences yet to come in my next three years at UGA in cross-country and track.