Zoe Simmons Oral History Interview

The interview begins with Zoe Simmons speaking about her childhood growing up in Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Simmons reflects on the many sports she was involved in as a child and the active lifestyle her family led. She then recounts the roles that different people have played in fostering her love of running, from her father to her aunt to her middle school and eventually high school cross country coaches. Simmons then talks about her nontraditional path to being part of the Oregon State University women’s cross country team. She planned initially to attend OSU for a degree in Kinesiology with a Pre-Therapy and Allied Health option and to run for fun. But after joining the OSU Running Club, she met some fellow teammates planning to try out for the women’s cross country team and, the winter of her freshman year, she walked onto the team.

Simmons then reflects on her life as a student athlete at OSU. Topics covered include her yearly training schedule, which involves summer training, fall cross country, winter break training, winter indoor track, spring break training, and spring term track. Simmons also describes a typical day in her life both as a student and what her day consists of as an athlete. She goes into detail about the dynamic of being on a team and being on her team specifically – especially the experience of having no men’s track or cross country at OSU. She talks about her experience battling running-related injuries and being able to race this year. She also explains the logistical side of being a student athlete such as the extra opportunities and support she has, scholarships, and the positive relationship she has with the university as an athlete. The interview concludes with a look to the future and Simmons’ plans for academics and running after graduating.