Navigation
Runners on the Way Up
Laura Freix
By George BankerJanuary/February 2004
For the Washington Running Report
My Family Is My Professional Life
The non-professional athlete lives a lifestyle of having to be multi-talented and lives a complex life to balance the demands. The introduction into the sport normally is by way of another sport and it takes years to perfect but the person can never feel they have achieved their maximum. The non-professional athlete does not have access to the latest technology or having coaches and trainers on call.
In 1978, between playing notes on the piano and trying out for the tennis team, Laura (Gaydos) Freix of Centreville, Va., a member of the Team Pacers/New Balance of Old Town, Alexandria, was drawn to running when she heard a simple plea from cross country coach Marshall Windsor: "If any of you girls get cut from tennis, come on over and run cross country!" It was the first year Annandale High School (in Virginia) even had a girl's team. It was her senior year, and Freix really just wanted a varsity letter. She was going to run one season and quit, but after cross country she was hooked; she traded in the ivories for a pair of running shoes. She started out running 7-minute miles and by the spring season, had qualified for the Virginia State track meet in the two-mile event. From there, she went on to compete at the collegiate level at Bucknell University, where she was the only one in her class (1983) to run all three seasons, all four years. "I was never the superstar (my high school coach constantly teased me about my lack of speed), but I was always a solid performer. My coach could usually count on me to perform at the big meets (in others, I did well under pressure)," states Freix. During this period she was constantly injured (running 45 to 50 miles per week,) and spent much of her college career with the athletic trainer nursing shin splints which progressed to stress fractures in both legs. She enjoyed moderate improvement her first three years, and did much better her senior year under coach Cheryl Enyeart. Unfortunately, it wasn't until the second year under coach Enyeart (after Freix had graduated) that the Lady Bisons started to make some major strides in their performance levels with 10K times dropping from 39:30 to 37:30.
By then Freix had begun her life in the "real world" as a math analyst with GE Aerospace. No longer under the tutelage of a coach, she started running five miles "conversation pace" at lunchtime, and was no longer getting injured. "A couple of my competitors, Donna (Elliot) Moore and Leslie Minnix-Wolfe, both improved dramatically when they hired coaches and were running up to 90 miles a week. Enjoying running injury free for the first time in years, I decided that was not the best option for me. GE had a corporate running team that provided a lot of great opportunities where I could continue running with a team and meet a lot of terrific people," Freix reflected.
At the Mid-Atlantic Corporate Relays at Oakland Mills HS, GE was led to a first place in the 5K with Freix's time of 19:52.1. Freix came back in 1985 and placed first again with 19:47. In 1986, her 5K time dropped down to 18:36 for second place.
At the 1987 U.S. Corporate Athletics Association Nationals in San Jose, Calif., Freix placed 26th in the 5K with 19:20 and the next day ran the 10K in 40:22, good for eleventh place.
The closest to running a marathon came in 1997, she accompanied her favorite running partner, sister Julie (Gaydos) Hayes, at the 1997 Marine Corps Marathon where she ran the last ten miles with her as she qualified for Boston with a 3:38:42. She accompanied Julie to Boston and ran the last ten miles there, too.
So far life is simple; now let's add the reality. Freix is a career mother of four: Matt (16), Andrew (9), Katie (7), and Sara (5). Life is complicated when trying to find a balance among the roles of wife, mother, and athlete. It takes the support of the entire family and there are a lot of early morning runs while the family is sleep. One's desires do not need to be put on hold but there are sacrifices along the way.
"There are too many people in this family with too many strong interests, and sometimes there are just not enough days in the week to squeeze it all in. My family is my professional life. I am fortunate to have a very supportive husband," states Freix.
The training schedule allows 30 to 35 miles per week at an 8- minute pace and one day a week she may push it. She runs about 15 to 20 races per year and the recovery time can be a week or two between races. There are thoughts of going to a race to win and the local community races are more rewarding. An eye is always held out for the local competition to key off, "I usually try to check out who's at the race before I get to the starting line. If my goal was to win and a surprise speedster shows up, then I focus on running a good time. It's always more satisfying to run a good time rather than finish first. When I can do both, it is a good day for me."
Freix made a change this year, "Under the guidance of Pacer's coach Bill Stearns, I have added LT runs and fartlek runs, as well as some long and slow distances runs to my regimen. I have been fortunate enough to be picked up by Team Pacers as a masters runner. As always, being part of a team just makes the whole experience that much more fun. I've met some tremendous runners."
At the age of 42, Laura has capitalized on the knowledge acquired from her years of running to know what works and what does not. She has the experience to know how to make the necessary adjustments in goals. She has proved that at the master's level she can still win races outright. The advantage of being a master is that the opportunities are greater for the awards, which have been earned over time.
The listed race performances show consistency over time, which takes a certain level of dedication to maintain. "I tend to be hard on myself if I don't achieve my goals (especially when I consider the goals to be very realistic), but all I can do is learn from my mistakes and move on. My results are my results. My current level of performance rivals my college career, which just really gives me a thrill! I'm competitive with masters women who have had far more stellar careers than my own. One could say I missed my prime, or that I'm a late bloomer. I prefer to view it as the latter, and hope that I can be an inspiration to other runners."
In closing, "I think the best advice I can give to other runners is to listen to your body; don't be afraid to rest when you need it. Take a few days off when something hurts. What works for one runner might not work for you. You are the best judge of how things are working for you. The best thing about running is that it's a life sport. If you keep the injuries at bay, you can run into old age."
Freix's performances at regional races include:
2nd & 1st Master (18:30) Virginia Run Turkey Trot 5K, Centreville (11/03). 1st Master & 9th (38:50) Veterans Day 10K, Washington (11/03). 1st Overall & 1st Master (18:44) Goblin Gallop 5K (10/03). 2nd Overall & 1st Master (1:50:37) Metric Marathon, Columbia, MD (10/03). 2nd Master (19:00) 4th PVI Runfest 5K, Fairfax, VA (9/03). 1st Master (31:08) 17th Fair Lakes 8K, Fairfax, VA (9/03). 1st Master & 3rd (19:17) Sunrise 5K, Herndon, VA (8/03). 2nd Master (40:45) 13th Lawyers Have Heart 10K (6/03). 1st Master & 3rd (19:01) Tim Harmon 5K, Alexandria, VA (6/03). 5th Master (39:26) 20th Sallie Mae 10K (5/03). 1st Master & 5th (1:05:09) 19th GW Parkway Classic 10 Miler (4/03). 2nd Master & 8th (19:22) Plaza America Family 5K (4/03). 2nd Master (1:03:37) Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Miler (4/03). 1st Overall & 1st Master (39:54) Run vs. Row 10K (3/03). 1st Master & 4th (40:55) Rudolph's Red Nose Run 10K (12/02). 1st (1:27:49) DCRRC Belle Haven 1/2 Marathon (11/02). 1st Overall & 1st Master (19:02) Virginia Run Turkey Trot (11/02). 2nd Master ( 31:06) Outback Steakhouse Corridor Classic 8K (11/02) 1st Master & 2nd (38:39) United We Stand 10K (11/02). 3rd Master (38:44) Georgetown Classic 10K (10/02). 1st Master (31:51) Kensington 8K (9/02). 1st Master & 5th (19:31-Master Event Record- PVI Runfest 5K (9/02). 3rd Master (32:15) Rockville Rotary Twilight 8K (7/02). 1st Master (40:21) Lawyers Have Heart 10K (6/02). 2nd Master (40:18) Capitol Hill Classic 10K (5/02). 1st Master (19:35) Plaza America Family 5K (4/02). 1st Master (1:04:38) George Washington Parkway Classic 10 Miler (4/02). 3rd Master ( 1:05:15 -43rd) Credit Union Cherry Blossom 10 Miler (4/02). 3rd Master (41:18) Run vs Row 10K (3/02). 1st (41:26) Rudolph's Red Nose 10K (12/01). 1st Master (20:20-7th) Goblin Gallop 5K (10/01). 3rd & 2nd Master (39:07) Lawyers Have Heart 10K (6/01). 1st 35-39 (1:00:55-7th) George Washington Parkway Classic 15K (4/01). 2nd 35-39 (19:39-5th) Gold's Gym Run For Kids 5K (4/01). 1st (38:31) Run vs. Row 10K (3/01). 1st (1:05:32) Reston 10 Miler (3/01). 2nd (41:00) Rudolph Red Nose 10K (12/00). 5th (19:30) MADD Red Ribbon Run 5K (12/00). 1st (19:25) Ohio Willow Woods Give Wings To Dream 5K (10/00). 1st (41:32) The Women's Center Tyson 10K (9/00). 1st (31:47) Fair Lakes 8K (9/00).