Senior Spotlight: Brea Bulkley (Snow Canyon)

Jan 04, 2021

How did you first get started running?

I have always been active since my family loves hiking, running, biking, and being outside. I joined a kids track program in 6th grade, but I never actually competed until 8th grade when a friend invited me to run cross country on the middle school team. Since then, I have loved every minute of it!

Favorite Workout?

I love long runs and trail runs. There's a specific workout we do with elevation training where we run up Pine Valley mountain onto a trail that's kind of like a tunnel of trees. We negative split on the way back and just fly through the trees which is so much fun! Afterward, we take an ice bath in the river!

Least Favorite Workout?

I don't really have a least favorite workout, but the hardest workout I've ever done was 650m hill sprints up a sandy hill that had about 170ft of elevation gain. The sand was deep and powdery which made it super difficult to get up so my quads were burning and it was exhausting (and definitely worth it!).

What was the greatest obstacle you've had to overcome in your high school career?

I think every season has offered a new obstacle, but I think one of the greatest obstacles has been finding the right mentality for running. Everyone is so different that I just had to experiment and work really hard to figure out what worked best for me.

How do you prepare yourself mentally and physically for a race?

I just try and stay loose, mentally, and physically. I like to do a rough walkthrough of the course so that I'm familiar with hills and other obstacles. It also helps to cheer on my teammates beforehand to get excited to race.

Any Pre Race superstitions?

Not really a superstition, but I always pray with my team or just by myself before every race.

Most memorable race?

The race that stands out to me most right now is our 4A State Championships this year. You could just feel the excitement in the air and in the last 800m I broke off from the pack and kicked as hard as I could. I finished in 3rd place with one of my all-time fastest times. It was the best way to end my senior season.

What is the best piece of advice you have received from either a coach or teammate?

My coaches and teammates have always emphasized the importance of finding my "why" of running. Running has been such an important part of my life, teaching me to work hard, get out of my comfort zone, set goals, and meet new people. Discovering my "why's" for running has made an enormous impact in my running career and life.

Where are you at on college decisions?

I have been academically accepted to SUU and USU. I would absolutely love to run at the college level and I have had a couple of offers, but nothing official yet.

What are your top 3 goals you wish to accomplish before you graduate?