USD Magazine, Fall 2004

ALMANAC

s evening, and during the hours she spends in the gym. They're on her mind as she does research on rhe side, exploring running techniques and studying methods for conquering different rypes of cross country courses. Competitive? Yes, bur Marley knows that's what it rakes to succeed as a runner. In cross co untry, every course is different and no two races ever happen under the same conditions, so it's best to be ready for just about any physical challenge. Ar the same rime, rhe sport is, in large part, a mental game. With few cheering crowds on hand, runners are forced to delve into themselves for rhe motivation to keep pushing ahead. "If you run a strong hill, nobody sees it," she says, "bur ir shows at the finish." Marley has made more than a few strong finishes. She starred running cross country as a high school sophomore, when a coach suggested she switch from soccer. Although she gave up competitive

For USD's Top Runner, the Finish Line is Only the Beginning by Michael R. Haskins W earies are so cliche. Tiffanie Marley eats road for break– ast. Great big chunks of it. Asphalt, dirt, grass - she ears miles and miles of it. Then she comes back and has some more for lunch. And dinner? You guessed it. Another big ol' heaping plate of road. Marley is one of the best cross country runners in USD history. In 2003, she won five outright championships, posted the fastest 5K rime in USD history, and became the first Torero to win an individual West Coast Conference championship. At the NCAA regionals last year, she placed 52nd overall in a competition against some of rhe nation's best runners. Ir bugs her, chose 51 runners in front of her, even though many were O lympic-caliber athletes. The rhoughr of them gets her up at 5 a.m. every day, so that she can put in five or 10 miles of roadwork before heading off to class or to her on-campus job. She thinks about chem when she puts in a few more miles in the afternoon and in the

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