Dispatching From Rio: Alexi Pappas, Greek Runner

by Grace Masback

Alexi Pappas likes to think of herself as a potato: at first glance uninspiring but upon further inspection, incredibly strong, versatile, and capable of becoming many things (think mashed, fried, baked, fermented etc.). Pappas lives in Eugene, Oregon where she trains as a 10,000 and 5,000-meter runner. She attended Dartmouth, where she majored in film and theater, and then attended University of Oregon for her masters degree. She was an NCAA All-American in the indoor 3000 meters, 5000 meters, and steeplechase and the Ivy League champion in the steeplechase. After college, she turned down a scholarship to Columbia to pursue a degree in creative writing in order to become a professional runner, where she’s had mixed success. This year, Pappas, who has dual American/Greek citizenship (her grandmother moved to the US from Rhodes in 1953), announced that she would compete for the Greek national team. Soon after joining the team, she set a national record and qualified for the Greek Olympic team. In Rio, she finished 17th (out of 35) in the women’s 10,000 meters and set another national record. Greece has failed to send an athlete who met Olympic qualifying standards in either the 5000 or 10,000 meters in the past, so Pappas, who acknowledges the criticism she received for not being closely connected to Greece or her Greek heritage, has become a national hero.

Pappas has also become a sensation around the world, especially among high school girls, with hoards of young girls flocking to get her autograph after races and workouts. She has been profiled by the New York Times and PBS. Her stardom is only partially due to her athletic success. It is also the result of her quirky confidence and relentless mantra of positivity and creativity. Her workout/race hairstyle, a messy bun on the top of her head, has inspired copycats world and nationwide and even earned its own social media page. Her own Twitter account, where she posts messages mainly aimed at inspiring young girls, has tens of thousands of followers. She aims to be a role model for young girls, something she lacked growing up with a single dad. She writes a poetry column for a women’s running magazine, writes regular essays, is an actress and playwright, and recently co-directed and produced a semi-autobiographical movie about finding balance between a running career and life, entitled “Tracktown.” Quite remarkably, she is only 26. School of Doodle recently had the chance to sit down with Pappas and talk about her accomplishments and her advice for young girls.

School of Doodle: You do a lot, how do you do it all and also attempt to be balanced?

Alexi Pappas: I try to do a few things but do them very well — for me, that is running, filmmaking/creative work, and family life. I love these three aspects of my life because one balances the other out, mentally and physically. To manage them all successfully, it often means saying no to things for certain uncompromisable things, like sleep! Sleep is key. Everyday, I set a schedule for the next day, which helps me take out all the little decisions I might have to make during a busy day. If I already know what time I am going to wake up, practice, write, etc, I feel more calm and able to take on a full day’s work!

SOD: What was the experience like creating your film? Why did you want to do it? How did you justify missing 3 weeks of training?

AP: I loved making Tracktown! It was such an incredible feeling to see a project from idea to finish — I co-produced, co-wrote, co-directed, and starred in the film, and I loved being a part of all the pieces that make a movie. I planned the shoot strategically around my “month off” of running (mid-August/September) so that I wouldn’t have to miss training in the middle of a season. I was as active as a runner but in the acting-way!!

SOD: What is your plan for after your running career?

AP: After I’ve finished chasing my running goals, I hope to continue to make things creatively. I’d love to keep writing, acting, and filmmaking with my partner Jeremy.

SOD: You have made an incredible impact on young girls around the world. Have you ever considered a career path where you would continue to mentor and interact with young girls and women?

AP: I think I’ll continue to mentor and interact with young girls no matter what I do! Running has allowed me to connect with young females in a special way, and I know no matter where my journeys bring me, I’ll also bring along anyone who wants to join in the adventure :)

SOD: Where do you draw your confidence from? How have you become okay with just being yourself?

AP: I draw my confidence from imitating those I admire around me until I can finally admire myself. I became okay with being myself when someone (a woman, a runner!) I looked up to told me they believed in me. It meant something different than hearing it from my dad — this was a turning point for me where I finally began to be okay with and believe in myself.

SOD: What is the background story behind the bun?

AP: Ha! Well, I’ve always worn a bun for practical reasons — it is the most efficient and comfortable way for me to wear my hair! One day, a high school girls team Tweeted a photo of them wearing buns, I retweeted it, and that’s when the trend took off. It started from these girls, though, which is so cool.

SOD: What has your experience been like as a member of the Greek Olympic team?

AP: I loved running with the Greek team because Greece is where the modern Olympics and distance running were born! I loved living with and sharing my time in Rio with them — it was particularly special that I broke a national record on the first day of our team competition in Athletics (Track and Field) because it set the tone for success for our whole team.

SOD: What is your pre-competition ritual (if you have one)?

AP: I drink Beet Boost beet juice! I also eat peanut butter (Wild Friends!) and banana sandwiches! And I lay out my clothes the night before the race.

SOD: What was your greatest failure in your track and field career? What did you learn from it?

AP: This year, I fell down in my first European Championships… I was supposed to place very high but I fell short of my goals. I finished the race covered in blood. I’m happy I finished, but it left me wanting more — I learned there how much I do care about the sport and I brought that intensity and gratitude to the Olympic Games in Rio.

SOD: Who is your role model and why?

AP: My role models are Joan Benoit Samuelson and Deena Kastor, because they were (and still are) trailblazers in the sport. They are also confident, happy, balanced women who carry themselves with beauty and grace. They have helped me see my athletic career and body as beautiful, which means so much to me.

SOD: What sport were you most excited to see in Rio other than track?

AP: Synchronized swimming! I’d never seen it and when I went to the finals, I was in AWE of how incredible the sport is — I felt so grateful and astounded that a sport so different from Athletics (Track and Field) exists. It was breathtaking! I thought about how much time the women put into their routines and their preparation and I realize that for any Olympic sport, we put hours and hours (and years!) of work into something that ultimately comes down to a few minutes of performance on one special day.

SOD: What advice do you have for your high school self? What advice do you have for other aspiring female athletes?

AP: My best advice is to imitate those you’d like to be and surround yourself with those people who make you feel like your greatest self. It rubs off like glitter and glue — and then, pass it on!