491. Olivia Baker, Professional 800m Runner for Atlanta Track Club Elite

Ali on the Run Show

Ali Feller

Fitness, Running, Sports, Health & Fitness

4.9 • 4.2K Ratings

🗓️ 10 March 2022

⏱️ 68 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

"I was a complete mess. I was so emotional about it, so excited, so just…relieved to have come in, having a lot of momentum, knowing this was a possibility, and then completing a mission."

Olivia Baker is on fire. The professional runner for Atlanta Track Club Elite just competed at the USATF Indoor Track & Field Championships where she finished second in the 800m, officially making her first senior world championship team. She'll head to Serbia later this month to represent Team USA at Indoor World Championships. In this conversation, Olivia reflects on the road to Team USA, including dealing with disappointment after last summer's U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials, weighing the decision of whether or not to attend medical school, and ultimately joining Atlanta Track Club Elite instead. She gushes about her teammates, talks about the tough times and low moments, and shares her confidence journey. Plus, commentating, book clubs, chocolate milkshakes, and more.

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What you'll get on this episode:

How it feels to be representing Team USA, and what the start line felt like at USATF Indoor Track & Field Championships (4:50)
On knowing when it's time to kick (6:45)
That finish line feeling (10:15)
Did this feel like the "more" Olivia wanted two years ago? (14:15)
Olivia's relationship with Ajeé Wilson (14:50)
What Olivia's training will look like between now and World Championships in Serbia, and what the travel there is expected to be like (18:45)
The impact Olivia's coaches and teammates have had on her (25:30)
What Young Olivia was like, learning to get over being "obsessively afraid of racing," and how she's learned to deal with disappointment (35:45)
Olivia's decision not to attend medical school last year (40:45)
Why Olivia joined Atlanta Track Club Elite (45:30)
On confidence, commentating, and book clubs (51:00)

For more, check out:

Allie Wilson on Episode 469 of the Ali on the Run Show

"Dear Younger Me," by Olivia Baker for MileSplit

A Beautiful Work in Progress by Mirna Valerio

Grit by Angela Duckworth

Let's Get Physical by Danielle Friedman

Running For My Life by Lopez Lomong

The Power by Naomi Alderman

Tom Holland on Lip Sync Battle

Follow Olivia:

Instagram @obaker64

Follow Ali:

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the Alley on the Run Show.
0:06.7	I'm your host Allie Feller and every week I talk with people who are doing exciting
0:11.1	things on the run and beyond.
0:14.0	We all share that love for running and that's what brings us all together, but of course
0:17.8	there is more to life than what happens on the run itself.
0:21.0	And the show is about the in-betweens.
0:23.5	We're talking about the moments and decisions that have shaped who we are today and the
0:28.0	wise.
0:29.0	Why do we do what we do and how does getting sweaty factor in?
0:33.2	My guest today is Olivia Baker, Olivia who just made her first world championship team.
0:41.0	Olivia Baker is a professional athlete who runs for Atlanta Track Club Elite and specializes
0:46.3	in the 800 meters.
0:48.4	And she is having an amazing year on the run.
0:52.4	Just about two weeks ago, Olivia competed at the USATF indoor track and field championships.
0:57.8	She finished second in the 800, officially making her first senior world championship team.
1:04.7	Later this month, she will represent the United States in Serbia at the indoor world championships.
1:10.7	Now seeing Olivia finish second, using that super strong kick all the way across the line
1:16.2	and seeing her have such a strong race, it was fun to watch and it was exciting, absolutely.
1:21.8	But if you've been following her for a bit, it wasn't a total shock or surprise to see
1:26.4	her off there.
1:27.7	In this conversation, Olivia talks all about that race and about making the team.
1:32.4	We talked a lot about her career progression, which has of course included these recent
	...

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