Val Constien's Comeback From A Torn ACL To Return To The U.S. Olympic Steeplechase Conversation
The CITIUS MAG Podcast | A Running + Track and Field Show
CITIUS MAG
4.9 • 1.9K Ratings
🗓️ 17 May 2024
⏱️ 47 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
"That Olympic stamp on my running resume didn't really change anything. That's why 2022 was so hard for me. I had built up these expectations and I felt that I still had to prove to myself because it seemed like it wasn't enough. That pressure didn't bode well for me. I suffered injuries and sickness...At the end of the day, World Championships and Olympics are just another race. If you're racing just to make the team, you're not going to be happy because someone else could get that spot. That's when I changed my mindset. I don't know if you've seen the show Fallout but in the first episode the ghoul says, 'I do this shit for the love of the game.' That's kind of how I feel."
Val Constien is a professional runner for Nike and was a member of the 2021 Olympic team in the steeplechase. We had her on the show in the spring of 2021 and it was a memorable episode because she announced herself to the U.S. as a contender to make the team and then backed it up at the Trials.
Following the Games, she remained unsponsored for more than a year. We talk about how Tokyo didn’t ultimately change a whole lot for her but her passion for the sport remained. She won the 2023 U.S. Indoor 3000m title and then signed a contract with Nike. However, in her first race in the pro kit, she tore her ACL at the Doha Diamond League and that 2023 season was a wrap. She underwent bilateral ACL reconstruction and thought maybe she wouldn’t race again until 2025.
Things quickly changed and she accelerated through her recovery and is back to racing. In her first steeplechase race in a year, she went on to win the Sound Running Track Fest in 9:27.22. That’s her fastest steeple opener. She’s now back in the conversation to make the Olympic team in the steeplechase since it’s a bit wide open without Emma Coburn. I think you might find someone to root for in Val after this conversation.
Host: Chris Chavez | @chris_j_chavez on Instagram
Guest: Val Constien | @valerieconstien on Instagram
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | One of my favorite pairs of shoes right now and a classic for a lot of runners is new |
| 0:07.5 | balance is 1080. It's now in its 13th edition. The V13 boasts a completely new structured mesh upper providing a comfortable |
| 0:16.0 | and secure fit without sacrificing flexibility. Plus with its padded tongue and collar you'll experience |
| 0:21.8 | unparalleled comfort with every stride. |
| 0:24.9 | Big fan of the Fresh Foam X Mid Soul, unlike other cushion shoes that sacrifice responsiveness |
| 0:30.1 | for softness, the 108080 v. 13 strikes the perfect balance. It smooths out the road |
| 0:35.6 | while still giving you that extra zing, making each run feel like a breeze. |
| 0:38.8 | And with its moderate weight, this shoe offers just the right amount of support without weighing |
| 0:43.9 | you down. The step and feel and the underfoot cushioning of the 1080 is great |
| 0:47.9 | whether you're walking around town or tackling a long run this shoe delivers |
| 0:52.0 | unmatched comfort and support. |
| 0:54.6 | Thanks to its clean cut aesthetic, you can rock it on any occasion in style. |
| 0:58.3 | Honestly, go on the New Balance website and look at how well the models pull off the all white ones. I've got two |
| 1:03.8 | pairs of those. One for running and want to keep clean when I'm out for one of my |
| 1:07.2 | little hot guy walks. Elevate your running experience with the New Balance |
| 1:11.1 | Fuel cell 10E v 1313, add it to your rotation, |
| 1:14.6 | visit New Balance.com slash running to view all options. |
| 1:18.0 | Thanks to New Balance for their continued support of all things Sidious Mag |
| 1:21.6 | and stay tuned in the coming weeks for a super exciting announcement. |
| 1:28.0 | Hello everybody and welcome back to the Sidious Mag podcast. I'm Chris Chavez and this is my show where I chat with some of the biggest names on the track, on the roads within the coaching ranks and across the running industry. |
| 1:37.0 | Our guests sit down and open up in depth to share their experiences, brilliant insights and vivid snapshots from their |
| 1:42.7 | professional and personal accomplishments within the sport. |
... |
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