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NIL Athlete, Karsyn Spears, looks back on her 2024 America’s Mile presented by VisitPITTSBURGH!

06.18.25

NIL Athlete, Karsyn Spears, looks back on  her 2024 America’s Mile presented by VisitPITTSBURGH!

Karsyn, who just recently became the women’s 800m Mid-American Conference (MAC) Champion, had the opportunity to run America’s Mile presented by VisitPITTSBURGH last year and took the time to recall her experience with us and give advice to future participants in this year's race!

  1. What was your favorite part about the America’s Mile?
    I would have to say my favorite part was the running community as a whole. There were people cheering along the entire course. It was such a great experience, and seeing people accomplish their goals was really inspiring. 
  2. If you had to give one piece of advice to someone who is training to run their first mile/race, what would it be?
    I actually have two big pieces of advice. First, stay consistent; small efforts every day will help you reach your goals faster than trying to do everything all at once. Second, make sure you’re having fun. Running can be mentally challenging at times, but it should also be something you enjoy. I’ve found that the more fun I have with training and race prep, the better I perform!
  3. Why would you recommend America’s Mile to other runners?
    I would recommend America’s Mile to others because it is a great race to get started with or to incorporate within the races you have planned. Having a mile race is a lot of fun since it is super short, and it is a great race to run with your friends. 
  4. Did you have a pre-race routine that helped you feel ready at the start line?
    Last year, when I ran this race, the only pre-race routine that I did was a little warmup run and some stretching. Other than that, I just hung out with my friends and enjoyed the atmosphere.
  5. How do you prepare for a normal race day?
    My usual pre-race routine in college can be a little lengthy. It usually starts off with some caffeine to get me pumped up and some beet juice to help with blood flow. Other than that, I just make sure to listen to some upbeat music to get me hyped up before I get on the line. I also like to surround myself with my friends so that I can keep my nerves low and keep my mind right. 

Thank you, Karsyn, for taking the time to interview and share your knowledge with us, and we hope to see you at the start line! Registration for America’s Mile can be found here.