From Chicken Legs to the Fastest Woman in the World

She used to be known for her skinny chicken legs when her classmates watched her run in elementary school. However, all that changed when she began running track in ninth grade. She is still listed at only 5-foot-6 and 125 pounds, but she won’t likely be mocked by anyone who has seen her run lately. Now she is better known as the fastest woman in the world. She broke Marion Jones national high school record for the 200 meters. She was only 18-years-old when she stunned the world by earning a silver medal in the 200 meters in 2004. She was the world champion in three events in 2007 and is only the second woman ever to win three gold medals at the world championships. 

Sports Illustrated writer, Tim Layden, nominated her for “Sportsman of the Year.” Reporting from the World Track and Field Championships, he wrote, “Near the end of a long night of racing, Allyson Felix, 21, blazes to a gold medal in the 200 meters. She runs a 21.81 seconds, a personal best by a whopping three-tenths of a second and the fastest time by a U.S. woman in eight years. Before the meet is finished, she wins gold medals in two relays, completing one of the most impressive championship performances by any woman in U.S. track and field history. She wins with style, floating gracefully, rather than powerfully, as if the track is a bed of hot coals and she is trying to keep from burning her feet.” (SI.com, 11.23.07)

My son, Josh, attends the Master’s Seminary where Allyson’s father teaches. I still remember him telling me about one of his professors whose daughter was the fastest woman in the world. While I didn’t remember hearing her name before, it seemed odd that a professor would have a daughter who was the world’s fastest woman. The first time I watched her run I was shocked by how much faster she was than her competition. You really need to visit the internet and watch one of her races to believe just fast she can run. Recently, I had a chance to interview Allyson before one of her many workouts.

Q1: Tell our readers about your family.

A1: I come from a great family. My dad is an ordained minister and serves on the staff of the Master’s Seminary in Sun Valley, California. He was a pastor for a long time and now is teaching Greek at the seminary. My mother is a third grade elementary school teacher and my brother graduated from USC a couple of years ago and also runs professionally and trains with my group.

Q2: I understand that you attended a Christian school while growing up. Can you tell us about that experience?

A2: During grade school, I attended Grace Elementary School in Sun Valley and it was a very encouraging experience to be around teachers that believed and taught the Word of God. I believe the school helped to provide me a strong foundation in understanding how to live the Christian life. I still have a lot of great friends even years later. Later I attended Los Angeles Baptist School which is a rather small school compared to many of the larger schools in the Los Angeles area. It was also a great experience as I developed many life-long friendships and grew in my understanding of the Christian faith.

Q3: What is your favorite Bible verse as it relates to your sport?

A3: Definitely, Philippians 4:6 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” The sport of track and field is such a nerve-racking sport that everyone seems to be very tense all the time. I like to meditate on this verse before a race. My focus in every race is to bring God the glory and this Bible verse reminds me of my responsibilities and encourages me as well. It teaches that I can bring everything to the Lord and I don’t need to be anxious about winning a race or getting injured. It also teaches that my priority should be to bring Him the glory regardless of winning or losing a race. Another verse I like is Proverbs 4:23, “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” That’s the Bible verse that I put on the welcome page of my official website (www.allysonfelix.com).

Q4: How did you come to know Christ as your Lord and Savior?

A4: I was raised in a very strong Christian home with parents that taught us to love the Lord and His Word. I came to know and understand that Christ died on the cross for my sins at a very young age. I have probably grown the most spiritually through my high school and college years. While there have been many changes in my life during the past few years, I’m still a work in process and the Lord isn’t finished with conforming me to the image of His Son – Jesus Christ. 

Q5: What are some specifics you try to share with people when you are witnessing?

A5: If I have an opportunity where there is plenty of time to spend with them, I like to let them know that we are all sinners (Romans 3:23) and that God is perfect and holy (Matthew 5:48). Since all of us have broken His law, we deserve eternal death (Romans 6:23). Therefore, since God requires perfect obedience to His law (James 2:10) all of us needed the Lord to send Jesus Christ to earth to die on the cross to pay sin’s penalty (Romans 5:8). I always want them to know that Jesus rose from the grave and is alive today and as a sinner they must repent of their sins and believe in Christ as Lord and Savior (Romans 10:9) so they won’t be under God’s wrath (Acts 17:30). Whenever possible, I try to share my testimony with them as well. I don’t always have the opportunity to spend much time with athletes I compete against, so I always want to make sure my attitude and behavior serve as a witness to my faith in Christ. I think you need to have both words and works whenever possible. Otherwise, some athletes might think it’s all about you having great character and self-control when it is really the power of the Holy Spirit that is producing the positive character traits in your life.

Q6: What advice would you give young athletes that want to serve the Lord with their gifts and abilities that they have been given?

A6: I would encourage them to keep their priorities straight in whatever sport they enjoy. They should pursue those things they love but only in a way that brings glory to the Lord. I think they should take advantage of the counsel and support from their parents. If they don’t have the type of godly parents that many students have, they need to seek some support from a pastor or youth group that can help provide it.

Q7: How did you balance all the training that was required for your sport along with school?

A7: For me, it has been important to carefully schedule my activities and priorities. It’s very easy to get too busy with the less important things in my schedule so I have to make priorities of those activities like spending time with the Lord each day before I begin my other activities.

Q8: How does “doing sports God’s way” impact your practices and competitions?

A8: It makes a huge difference. When you recognize that your athletic career is in God’s hands it can keep you from getting caught up in the “winning is everything” philosophy that so many coaches and athletes follow in sports. Naturally, we all want to win or be successful, but unless we’re doing our sport God’s way, we’re not honoring and giving Him the glory. Whether you win or lose, you need to realize that your priority or goal is to bring the glory to God. Once I understood God’s perspective on sports it helped me to enjoy my sport and gave me a greater purpose for running.

Q9: How did you become interested in track?

A9: I became involved in organized sports in ninth grade with basketball at Los Angeles Baptist High School. I wasn’t that good but I really enjoyed it. Later that year, I decided to try track and field because my brother was already running track in high school and I wanted to be like my brother. My dad had also ran track so I knew it was something that I wanted to do in high school. After my first race, it was clear that I could be very successful in track. Ten weeks after running my first track meet, I finished seventh in California’s state track meet. That’s when I made a decision to get serious about dedicating myself to the sport and making the necessary sacrifices to maximize my abilities.

Q10: When did you realize that running track could become a career for you?

A10: It wasn’t until my senior year in high school that it became obvious that I could continue running at a higher level. I had several opportunities to train or run against a few athletes that were professional or had run in the Olympics. Once I had some success against these types of runners, I knew it was possible for me to compete at the next level.

Q11: You took a rather unusual route to the Olympics by skipping college. Why did you choose that option?

A11: During my senior year in high school I ran the fastest 200-meter time in the world so people began suggesting that I could go directly from high school to running professionally. It was a very difficult decision but I sat down with my family and we spent a lot of time praying about my choices. Since the Olympics were approaching I decided that it would be difficult to compete for a college team when I needed to focus my complete attention on qualifying for the upcoming Olympics in one event. With most college teams, I would have wanted to run in several races and relays to help my team. However, that wouldn’t have given me the necessary time to prepare for the qualifying Olympic trials. I promised my dad that I would still get my college degree but it wouldn’t be while I was running for a school. This past December I received my degree in elementary education from USC so I was able to accomplish both of my goals. When my running career is over, I would like to be an elementary teacher like my mother.

Q12: Where do you receive your spiritual encouragement?

A12: With my busy schedule, I haven’t been involved with any campus ministries, but I have stayed active in my church and my mother has continued to disciple me. We meet each week when I’m in town for a bible study. When I’m traveling for track meets, my parents always call and pray with me before my races.

Q13: Is your training routine different then it was for the last Olympics?

A13: The biggest difference is that I’m not in school so I can give my full attention to training. I’m spending a lot more time on the track with two-a-day workouts. I’m also focusing more on the sprints or 100 meters race than I did several years ago.

Q14: Are there any particular keys to seeing your times drop in any of your races?

A14: There really isn’t any one drill or activity that is most beneficial to lowering my times on the track. You really need to do a combination of many drills so it’s simply a matter of making sure you do the complete workouts. It might surprise some people, but the endurance drills are a very important part of my workouts. A lot of runners might overlook this part of a sprinters routine.

Q15: What races are you hoping to run in the summer’s Olympics?

A15: I’m planning to run the 100 and 200-meter races at the June Olympic trials. The 200 meters race is my stronger event but I’m hoping to make the Olympics in both events and possibly I will be selected for a couple of the relay teams as well.

Q16: Are there ministry opportunities that you will have during the Olympic games?

A16: I’m planning to have some resources or materials available at the Olympics for outreach, but once I arrive in Beijing, I will need to focus all my attention on preparation for the races.