Villanova Univeristy Athletics

VILLANOVA WOMEN ON THE RISE Q&A SERIES
Meet Jen Rhines

Today for our Empowering Women series we’re sitting down with Jen Rhines – cross country star, Olympian and health coach. During Jen’s 4 years at Villanova she won 5 NCAA titles and was part of 3 NCAA Championship Cross Country teams. She then went on to compete at 3 Olympic Games (Sydney 2000, Athens 2004 & Beijing 2008) and most recently made a US World Cross Country team in 2015! Jen shows that with hard work and dedication even your wildest of dreams can come true. Read on to check out their story!

Sport: Track and Field

You started running track in middle school —what are your first memories of running? When did you first feel a passion for it?
 

My first memories of running were with my Dad when I was a little bit younger, but I thought running distance was really hard! I ran the 100m and 200m when I went out for junior high track, and gradually moved up in distance.  By the time I was a freshman in HS I was competing in the mile and beginning to enjoy the longer distances. The following season I gave up soccer to run cross country; that’s when I really began to consider myself a distance runner! 

What has been the biggest challenge you had to overcome in your athletic career?
 

I have never had the best running mechanics, meaning I don’t have gazelle like form and in the running world I’m know as a “shuffler.”This typically means an athlete will be efficient at the longer distances, and I was always told that I would be a great marathoner.  While I did make the 2004 Olympic team in the marathon I never ran up to what was thought to be my marathon potential in terms of time.  I realized in my early 30s that my biggest excitement in running was training and racing for the 5k distance (my best collegiate distance).  I refocused on the shorter events late in my career and ran all of my personal best times in my mid thirties, and qualified for my 3rd Olympic team at the 5000m distance. The challenge was fully believing at an older age that my best was yet to come.  Having this success later in my career helped me fully understand that our mind is the biggest driver behind getting the results that we desire.  

What’s the thing you’re most proud of in your athletic career?
 

Now that I have the perspective of being 45 years old I’m very proud that I had success at every level of the sport: high school, collegiate, professional and masters level.  I’m most proud to have experienced this type of longevity as a competitor.

Can you describe that feeling you had the first time you ran in the 2000 Olympics in the 10,000m?
 

Well, honestly I had the flu that was going around the Olympic Village so it wasn’t the experience that an athlete dreams of when she makes her first Olympic team.  I placed 16th in my heat of the 10,000m and did not advance to the final.However, the experience of having to sit in the stands and watch the final of the women’s 10,000m really stuck with me over the years.  When I returned to the track for my 3rd Olympics in 2008 I injured myself (torn plantar fascia) in the 5000m heats, but still qualified for the final.  I had no choice but to line up injured for the 5000m final, but my past experiences allowed me to fully appreciate the moment of competing on that stage, even though I wasn’t at my best.. 

If you could tell your 20-year old self one thing, what would it be?

You’re on the right path.  Although there are some bumps in the road right now, the skills that you are learning are going to serve you well for the next 25 years.

How did Villanova & being a female-student athlete helped shape the person you are?
 

I was very excited to come to Villanova and be part of the storied cross country and track & field tradition.  When I arrived as a freshman I was familiar with the top athletes on the team and was thrilled that I would be learning from them.The challenge of being ready to step up and continue the athletic tradition motivated me to improve quickly so that I could contribute. After a rough start, I figured out how to be organized and balance both academics and athletics by the end of my freshman year. I made some mistakes early on but I had teammates that were willing to be supportive but also very honest with me.  During that first year I learned the important lesson of taking responsibility for myself and moving forward.  This set me up to go on to great athletic success over the rest of my time at Nova!

What does female empowerment mean to you?
 

Female empowermentmeans truly believing that we are capable of whatever we set our sights on. It means that we don’t let anyone tell us what we can or can’t do.That it is entirely up to us - we need to own this, it is the source of our power. Female empowerment means standing up for yourself, but also standing up for someone else when she needs it.It means being a strong example for her to follow. We need to raise each other up, and see that her victory is our victory.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
 

I am most inspired by the people that surround me everyday.  Seeing others working towards their goals and achieving success, evening when it’s small victories, inspires me to do the same.  I believe that we all feed off of one another in this way.  It inspires me to improve myself, to continue and contribute to this cycle of success. 

How are you using your experiences to help influence people today? 

I’m currently a coach at the Mission Athletics Club in San Diego.  The Mission AC is a group of elite runners aspiring to qualify for Olympic and World Championship teams.  I use my experience to help the athletes navigate the competitive world of track and field.  I also speak to young athletes about the moments that shaped my career, and how having a strong belief in yourself is the foundation for handling these moments.

FAST FIVE
 

Q: Favorite workout playlist consists of…
A:  When I was competing it was all dance music to get amped up for the run, these days it’s mostly podcasts including CTolleRun, Rich Roll, Joe Rogan and Found My Fitness w/Rhonda Patrick.

Q: If you could have lunch with any woman, who would it be and why?
A: Lynne McTaggart, author of The Field, among other books.  I speak often about setting intention and how it helps us in terms of achieving goals in sport.  It would be fascinating to discuss with Lynne the science behind how this all works.

Q: What are you currently binge watching?
A:  Rewatching all seasons of Veep

Q: All time favorite movie?
A:  Best In Show

Q: Favorite place you’ve visited
A: Cinque Terre, Italy