The D1 Reality Check

The moment you step on campus, the story can change. Your recruiter might be gone. The training plan you expected might never show up. The team culture you pictured might not exist in your event group yet. Coach B sits down with Syracuse D1 track athlete Hailey Schumann to tell the unfiltered version of that first-year reality and how to survive it without losing yourself as a runner or a person.

We rewind to Hailey’s recruiting journey: starting late, chasing opportunities, getting a surprising Syracuse email, and committing after a single unofficial visit. Then we get honest about what happened next, including coaching turnover, the “where is everybody?” shock of early practices, and the stress that can build when communication and structure are unclear. Haley shares how a rapid jump in workload can stack with college life stress and lead to injury, and what her rehab looked like using tools like arc training and reduced-impact running.

The heart of this conversation is resilience and self-advocacy for student-athletes. Hailey explains how she leaned on her parents, her faith, and the teammates who showed up for her when things felt isolating. She also shares how speaking up with coaches changed her experience and why advocating for yourself is a skill every recruit needs. Finally, she reveals how she’s channeling the year into an entrepreneurship idea designed to help athletes navigate the college athletics system with clearer expectations.

If you’re a high school athlete, parent, or coach trying to understand NCAA recruiting, Division I track life, team culture, and the mental side of injuries, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a recruit who needs it, and leave a review, then tell us: what’s one question every athlete should ask before committing?

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Transcript

Welcome And Why This Story

Coach B 0:00

Hey everyone. Hey, welcome back to the Plan B podcast. I'm your host, Coach B. And today is a really special episode because this is an athlete that I know really well. In fact, I worked with Hales, Hailey Schumann, who is currently at Syracuse College on the East Coast as a D1 track athlete. I had the privilege of coaching Haley for a period of time and working with her. And she is an absolute rock star. And today's conversation, I think every high school athlete, every recruit, every parent navigating the college sport landscape really needs to hear this. My guest, as I said, Hale's Hailey. She is a D1 track athlete at Syracuse. And Hailey's story isn't about injury, okay? Although we, you know, she may mention what has been happening over the last, you know, her first year in college. It's not about losing form. It's about what happens when the program you were promised maybe looks a little bit different. Like, for example, the coach who recruited her wasn't there when she got to campus. So and the resources that she told that she'd have that she would have, maybe they just are a little bit slow. So sometimes, guys, this uh conversation that we're gonna have today is really about hey, how do we help each other be ready for college? Because sometimes, for whatever reason, it's not school's fault, but things look different when you arrive. Okay, so hey, listen, you we're not strangers, we know each other well. And I think the world of you, in fact, you're like the the other daughter, my third daughter. But take us back to recruitment. Okay, what drew you to Syracuse specifically?

Hailey 1:31

Yeah, so I started the recruiting process very late, so it was around my junior year, and it was around the springtime, and it was actually you who believed in me and said, you know, I think that you can run at the you know at at a collegiate level. And so I decided to take it seriously, I think, in that moment. And so I started reaching out to schools and heard a lot from D3 and D2 schools, and the goal wasn't necessarily I have to go D1, but you know, it was always there, and I always thought, you know, I I could go D1, you know, it's a potential, but I wasn't really hearing from Division I schools

Late Start To Recruiting

Hailey 2:06

at that time, and so I was kind of feeling really not very hopeful in my senior year just because I wasn't getting you know that many recruiting calls or messages, but I remember being on campus, I was visiting Boulder. I wasn't getting recruited by Boulder, but I wanted to go visit Boulder because academically it seems like a good fit for me. So I was on campus and we were on the tour, and I just remember like not liking the school at all, and I was just feeling really hopeless. And so I was walking with my mom, and we were ending the tour was ending, and I got an email from Syracuse, and I thought, what the heck? Like, this is like a division one school, like this is crazy. Like, why am I getting an email from them? And so we were like freaking out, and we were like, Oh my gosh, and I like just started like seeing myself there, and I was like, Oh my gosh, this is like so cool and crazy. Like, I can't believe that I got a division one email. And so I remember talking to you, Coach B about it and uh talking to my parents about it, and we were like, Well, I don't know, like maybe this is like a fake email, like who knows? I love that we don't know, like you don't know.

Coach B 3:03

There could be athletes, there are a lot of like wack-a-doodles out there. When okay, the plan B podcast is all about just supporting each other and giving you guys a roadmap. Keep going, Hailes. What what what else did you discover with the Syracuse?

Hailey 3:16

So I emailed back, and this was a miss like their track season too. So, you know, you have to keep in mind like the coaches are busy, they're not gonna respond right away. So I wait like a few months, which was a very it was a long time. It was a very long time. Guys, wait, listen to that. Don't freak out if your college coaches don't write back. Okay, Hailey, yeah, Hailey just had to wait a couple of months. Yeah, well, she it might have been it might have been like a month, but like the whole process of everything was definitely like over a few months. So I emailed back, she responded again, very vague email. Thought this was like generated, like very fake. So I ended up talking to my mom about it more, and she was like, You just like call the coach up. And I was like, Oh, okay, all right, all right. So then I decided one day I was like, okay, I need to like call the coach, like we need to like figure out what's happening here because like this seems like a great opportunity, right? Like, nail on the wall, like I like if this is meant to be like it's meant to be. So I I went downstairs, I had this little like sheet of paper, and I called the coach up. I had the door closed, I didn't tell anyone I was doing the call. Called the coach up, she answered right away, surprisingly. And she was just great. We had a great conversation. She described the program, how they're opening up to division two athletes, and it was just it was a great call, and it grave me a lot, gave me a lot of hope for myself and the program and like being able to go division one. But she was very like honest about the program and that they were accepting division two girls, but they weren't willing to give out scholarship. But it was all about like opportunity, like you're going to be one, like you're gonna be training with girls at the division division one level, like and so I was like, Yeah, I'm all in, like, this is great, this is this is awesome. And she was like, Here's my number, like text me anything, any questions that you have, we'd love to get you out here for an unofficial visit. And I was like, awesome, like I'd love to do that. I'll definitely stay in contact with you, and and yeah, and then that went right into my unofficial visit that I ended up doing.

Coach B 4:54

I remember you telling me you met the Syracuse coach at the time, and it was a woman, and yeah, you'd had a female coach, and I know I had a female coach, it's not to say we don't love male coaches, we do, but it's always like female coaches like sparing, there's not not too many of them around. And so when Tails was going to go from a female coach to another female coach, we were all quite excited about it. But when you got there and and and as this process kept evolving, what were some of the things that really stood out to you about Syracuse that made you go, okay, this is where I think I I want to be?

Hailey 5:30

Probably just being on the visit. Like I hadn't done, like, I I only ever did this visit. So, you know, don't recommend that to most athletes. Like, definitely get out there, get in the recruiting process a lot earlier than I did and get yourself on those visits. But so it was very exciting for me because, like, you know, I'd never been on a visit before. So it was it was a great experience, and she was she was awesome. She was super kind, super sweet, gave uh answered all my questions. We toured the entire facilities and went up to the track, saw the track, and she even gave us like you know, places to go eat. Like, she was just very nice and kind, and I like saw myself there on that tour for sure.

Coach B 6:06

And then, okay, so this is something that every athlete needs to prepare for because we all I know I

The Unofficial Visit That Sealed It

Coach B 6:12

was guilty of it as well. We form attachments to coaches and to and we think, okay, this is the way it's gonna be. But life happens, like people change their jobs, that's just the way it is. So, your recruiting coach, this amazing woman, she left before you arrived on campus. How did you find out? And like, what went through your mind? Did you like freak out?

Hailey 6:30

I didn't really freak out. I mean, I was a little bit bummed about it. I feel like I found out just in like I would like text her, and like she was definitely like making sure like I was all set for like you're on the roster, and like you're gonna be like, I got you in the housing, like oral, like we got you set, like you're gonna be roomed with someone on the team, like you're you're set for that. Like, she was like checking off things, you know what I mean? But she kind of stopped like responding to some of my text messages at some point, and then I remember the first day of practice, like he just wasn't there. Like it was this other assistant coach and another coach who I'd never met before.

Finding Out The Coach Left

Hailey 7:03

And so I feel like in that moment I kind of figured it out, and I was also talking to my roommate about it, and she was like, Yeah, she left, and I kind of figured it out that way.

Coach B 7:10

Ah, so you know, I don't I guess it's life, okay, guys. And you know what, you're not in high school anymore. There is a little bit of depersonalization, okay. As you get into the college level, it does become a little bit more like a business, I want to say, because you know, college sports generate a lot of money. So, you know, Hales didn't get to have perhaps the personal touch that she would have had when she was in high school. I think that's something athletes have to prepare for. So you arrive on campus, okay. Ran there's a new random coach there, they're not the coach that you want, which is it's cool because and a guy too. And and a guy. Okay, okay, so not there's anything wrong with that. Yeah, but okay, but it's just not what Hailey had just spent four years dreaming about and gets there, and it's all different. So it's a bit of a shock. So, but it doesn't take away the fact that you're a D1 athlete, you're a freshman. What was your first week or two actually like?

Hailey 7:56

Yeah, so I was pretty nervous, you know, like starting practice, like at a division one level, like for the first week. It was very nerve-wracking. So I remember my first day, I went to the facilities and I showed up and I was prepared. I was like early, and I was like the only one there, and I was like, where is everybody? And then slowly, like, some girls start showing up, but then like there's only like I think there's like three other girls probably who showed up that day, and it was the first day of practice, so I was very like shocked. I was like, I don't know where everyone is, and there was the two assistant coaches there, our main coach, head coach, was not there, but yeah, they introduced themselves, you know, they seemed like really great people, very nice, very kind, and but it just didn't feel like very professional

First Practice Shock And Missing Plan

Hailey 8:39

in a sense. I don't know how to like describe it, but it was just like I felt like in that moment I was like, oh, like what did I get myself into? Like, this isn't what I expected. Like, I thought there was gonna be a lot more girls, I thought this was gonna be just like a different experience, and it just wasn't what I expected in that moment. And then we went out on our run. It was just like easy because we were like, you know, all coming back from different things, and I never received the training plan for the summer from the coach who left, actually. So I was a little bit behind to start with already. But yeah, so that whole week was just kind of about building your aerobic base and getting back into the swing of things.

Coach B 9:15

Yeah, well, guys, it I have been privileged enough, like I said at the beginning, to have coached Haley and worked with her. And she is a cool cucumber, okay? She so for her when she talks about this and I'm thinking about it, like I would think if I was in Haley's shoes, I'd be having complete meltdown. In fact, there was plenty of times when Haley and I were working together, I'm like, you know, hyping her up and and and trying to pump her up, and Hales would just start laughing at me. So listening to you really like suddenly you have to adapt, change course. And and there are a few things that I took away from that from that I want other athletes to understand. That communication, when you're when the college coach suddenly drops off the radar, it might be an opportunity to, you know, check in even further because hey, they might have got a might have got a job somewhere else as Haley just experienced. Now, there are a few other complications, and this is normal for colleges, guys, because with college programs, change of staff, change of program. So there's lots of moving parts. So it's not necessarily like we're not saying this is a bad thing. The reason we're having this podcast today is so Haley can educate you guys on, hey, sometimes it looks different to what you thought it was going to look like, and you have to be ready. So I know you said to me, like, there was a couple of things, like, okay, you've you're in the D1 program, but you're kind of missing the backpack and there's no locker. So you've got this kind of like different energy, but you've also got awesome teammates. So what did how did you like keep adjusting to all these kind of changes? Because you're fresh out of home and you're on the other side of the country. So you're kind of on your own. Like, did you lean into your teammates? What what did you do to kind of cope with a little bit of that undoubtedly anxiety, which was maybe just below the surface?

Hailey 10:51

Yeah, I think what really was my wrath was my roommate. She's on cross country, she's the best. And I think if I didn't have her, like I don't know, I feel like my experience would be very, very different. I don't think I probably like would have stayed in the program. Like, I don't know, I just feel like it'd be very different. Because the thing is like I have teammates on my like small group, but a lot of them just aren't like a lot of them wouldn't show up for practices sometimes. And not only that, it just the the team culture was just like not there for my group

Finding Support Through Teammates

Hailey 11:20

especially specifically. And I think when you think about going into Division I programs, you know, you want to have teammates who are there for you who are going to be, you know, your rocks, your friendship, right? And build those bonds. And I feel like I'd I've never really had that, and I feel like I still kind of don't with that group. I have built a lot of relationships with the cross-country girls, which is great. And I don't think I would have been able to do that if I didn't have my roommate who's on cross country. So I'm really grateful for that. And like, like today, for example, like I'm cross-training on the arc and cross-country as practice, and all the girls came over and said hi to me, which like never has happened before. So it like really made my heart like feel good, and like I I was really happy. Like it was just a small moment, and it probably means nothing to them, but like not having like anyone really on my group, like it it made me really happy. And so I feel like I've definitely formed those bonds, and I'm just really excited for like next year to even to grow those bonds even more because I'll be at the 330s. Whether I be the only one or not from my small group, like I'll be there because I feel like because I'm committed, you know, and I wish that the girls in my small, you know, middle distance group were that way, but you know, I'm not gonna sit there and like change them, you know, it's up to them to figure that out. And you know, I've tried to rally with some of them, and you know, ultimately it's it's their choice to show up to practice or not.

Coach B 12:32

There I I love hearing the power of athletes supporting each other, and that's the whole like premise of of why we're even having this talk today. And I know, Hailey, how like how good that would have felt for those girls to come over because guys, there's a missing piece to this. Like Syracuse is building their track program, so it is fairly new. It is like in its early days, and Haley knew that, but she didn't know what that was going to look like. And when you've come from a really tight-knit high school coaching environment and uh community to suddenly be, hey, on the other side of the country, away from mom and dad, different weather. I came from California now on the East Coast, crazy. When you were talking, Haley, I thought if you weren't the person that you were, perhaps you would have been like those girls and dipped out and gone somewhere else. But your resilience and your strength and just the athlete that you are, I think it just speaks volumes for what your first year hasn't been easy. But athletes, that's what we've got to prepare for. You're transitioning into the big time, it's college, and sometimes it's not easy. So, Haley, when you realized the program perhaps wasn't going to deliver everything that you had envisaged, when what was the first honest conversation that you had with yourself? Did you like have to go, okay, I'm I'm I'm staying here? Or or or was it like talk me through it?

Hailey 13:47

Yeah, I mean, like I said before, I feel like it honestly was like that first week of practice. I was like, oh boy, what did I get myself into now? Like, I was like, this cannot be like real. Like, where are all the girls? I honestly thought I was like, are they coming? Like, are they gonna come? Like, because it was honestly like the three of us, and like at some point, like it was there was some work else where it was like literally just me and coach. So, like that it like started to hit me a lot more, right? Like, you're showing up, and like I was putting in the time and the effort and you know, doing everything outside of practice to you know maintain my health and and everything like that. Like everything started to go downhill after I came back from winter break. I think fall semester was good, it was hard, but I was I was in a positive mindset and I was willing to stick it out and you know keep that mindset up. But I think after I came back, I was I had a hard winter break with training and sickness, and just I went into surgery too. So there's a lot of things that happened over winter break, and then came back, had one good workout, ran by like myself basically, because one girl dropped out because her like leg was hurting. But I stuck with it running on probably a stress reaction of my femur at that time, too, which was rough. So it just all kind of came downhill from there.

Coach B 15:02

And I remember oh sorry, Hales, it's been like I don't know if you realize

Winter Break Slide Into Injury

Coach B 15:07

it's been a massive year for you. Like it has not only has been your first year of college not looked like anything that you thought it was gonna look like, and then the highs and lows, and and you sharing the highs and lows of also experiencing an injury that was a surprise because you know you PR'd on your indoor track right before winter break and you were on fire, like you know, yeah.

Hailey 15:28

I I was getting so much faster. I mean, I was running over winter race workouts, I was going 6'12 for my workout, so it was like awesome to feel that. But to get injured was it was rough coming back, and I'll get into that a little more.

Coach B 15:40

But yeah, well, you know, since we're on that, like uh you know, you have remarkably persevered, and believe it or not, guys, like it's in a month or so's time, a couple of months' time, your freshman year is gonna be over. Where are you sitting right now, in regards to like physically? Like how how is the body cope with the first year and physically, what kind of shape are you in right now?

Hailey 16:05

Right now, I wouldn't say I'm in the best running shape as endurance-wise, just because this injury started over winter break, and you know it's it's almost May now. So I haven't been running for a while. I just got back into running literally this week. I I ran Monday for like 30 minutes, but I've been cross-training with that. So, for example, like today, I did 40 minutes run on ground, and then I did 80 minutes on the arc trainer, which is like a harder version of the elliptical. So, doing a lot of that in this past week, been doing 70 minutes cross-training on the arc, and then in like we've been doing running on the ground and

Rehab Tools Arc And Boost

Hailey 16:40

then boosting, which is like a treadmill that fills with air, and then you put it on like the percentage of body weight that you want. Yeah, I like that.

Coach B 16:46

I I would do like hardly any body weight and just like float, can like float along. You can if you want to, yeah. I like that.

Hailey 16:53

Okay, that sounds like a really nice workout for old header. It's really nice. I like I wish that I was introduced to that like in the beginning of the year because you know, you're running like 50 miles a week, if not more, which I was at at some point, and you know, that's very taxing on your body, specifically just like with everything else going on in your life. Like, there's a lot of stress in college athletes, and I feel like, you know, putting that amount on your body is just a lot. And I wish that I had the boost or you know, the resources to sign up for that prior to that, and I just didn't.

Coach B 17:21

But I have to say, Hailey, I don't think you realize how well you've done in your first year. And I guess I I I I want to pick your brain a little bit because you weren't just there as an athlete. Like while all this is going on, all the unexpected, whoa, surprises, different coach. Hey, where's all my gear? Oh, you know, the program, I didn't get the summer program, so now suddenly I'm thrown in the massive deep end and I have a huge volume. Hello, huge volume very quickly equals stress fracture. Okay, and that's kind of what happened to Haley. But through all this, you're also a college student. Like you've just now you're you're still managing your classes, your professors, your timetable, your time management. How did you do all that? And and who did you like lean on the most to just kind of keep it together?

Hailey 18:04

Yeah, I feel like I honestly lean on my parents and just my faith. Because I I go to church every Sunday and every Thursday, and I I started reading the Bible every night, and I prayed the rosary every night as well during like when it was really, really difficult. And that just kind of helped me stay grounded because to be honest, like I was really struggling when I got back after winter break, and I knew like deep down, like I'm not a quitter, like I don't want to quit the program, like I didn't want to do that. And I remember calling my parents during that time.

Parents Faith And Not Quitting

Hailey 18:40

I think it had it, it was before I knew it was a stress reaction in my femur, but I was just like physically and mentally, I was just like in a really bad place, and I called them and I was like, I don't know if I can do this anymore. And my dad and my mom, they just started talking to me, and my dad was like, I just don't know if my heart can watch you quit, because I know that your heart won't be able to do that either. And we all just started crying and balling our eyes. How are you gonna cry? And and it was just a really like bittersweet moment, and I think in that moment I knew like deep down, I was like, Yeah, like like you're right, like my dad's always right, like and everything does he always has some little piece of wisdom, and like you know, he's quiet, but like he always he he has like some deeper wisdom when you really need it, and I really needed to hear that then. And I remember I was just we just gathered our tears and like hung up, and like that was it. And I just like went to bed night that night, and I was like, kind of like, oh like like I don't know what you're talking about, like I know what's best for myself, but I was like also like fighting this other behalf. And I was like, Oh, he's always right, like I know he's right, like I need to like keep going and like keep my mind set up, and so like ultimately like I decided to like keep going, and obviously I found out that it was a stress reaction in my femur, and I think in some ways, like it was kind of good that I got that break because I got to learn a lot about myself that I was maybe maybe like pushing myself beyond my limits in some sense in training and not really like using my voice to speak to the coach of what I needed, and I feel like it just gave me that time to focus on that and then focus on other stuff like my app and and everything else that I'll talk about a little bit later. But yeah.

Coach B 20:14

You know, thank God for well, thank God for God, thank God for parents. Parents are just amazing. They, you know, I know that you know, there's all this like reels and stuff about parents, blah, blah, blah, blah, parents of athletes. But I tell you what, parents are who support their athletic kids are the backbone. And thank God for mom and dad to, you know, lift you up. It's not an easy thing for you to do. I love the fact that you leaned on your faith, you know, as an athlete who has faith as well. And, you know, earlier in season two, we listened to Nicholas Love, who was really open about his faith. And a lot of, and it's not like a weird thing because a lot of athletes are becoming more and more open about how they do lean on their faith and how it can help you. I remember myself being in a similar situation. It wasn't in a D1 college, I was overseas racing pro, but I had returned to racing pro after having my second child, which was Drew, and all of a sudden it just felt weird. It felt different. And I remember like walking around this tiny little town on this island in Japan, and I found a church and I went in there and it just gave me a little bit of peace. It didn't fix everything. I still miss my family and I was still like it was lonely sometimes on the pro circuit. But I think having that relationship with God, if you if that's what you want, or it could be with whatever you believe in, that can really just help to keep you grounded. Did you feel as though like it just kind of just reinforced what dad said? And maybe in your heart, just was just like, you know what, I I can do this, I can keep going.

Hailey 21:44

Yeah, definitely. It definitely kept me grounded, especially like during the injury. There are nights where like I genuinely just couldn't sleep because of the pain, which if you know like a stress reaction, it just like flares up and at night it'll just throb. And it was like the most excruciating pain I've ever felt in my life. And like I would just like talk to God in that time and just like honestly asked him to just like go to bed. But like, you know, just to like keep me going and and and heal me. And you know, eventually it did go away. But you know, it took some time for sure. But yeah.

Coach B 22:16

Hey, and listen, guys, if if you're listening to this and you don't have faith, hey, this is that's okay. We're not saying that everybody has to have faith, but if you do, hey, one thing that I actually learned this week, and I mean clearly I don't read the Bible enough because it actually was a reference to the Bible about how Jesus actually used to take himself away and go to a quiet place and and talk to God. And that we all should, when we want to do that prayer, make time for yourself and make space. Don't feel like you have to do it in a crowded room or or like find a space where and find a part of the day, whether it's the first thing in the morning or the last thing at night, or just you know, make a little bit of time. And if you know, if that makes you feel better, hey, it's not easy being a collegiate athlete. So I'm a huge like fan of just using whatever resources you can. And we have a big resource above you that you can draw on if you want to, if that's for you. If it's not, that's cool. There's probably other things you can use. But Hale said, you've this year has been humongous and you now have perspective on, you know, you're you're now like you're already kind of a vet athlete because you've been running so long, multi-sport, but now you've done your first year at a D1 college level, and it has sure, it has looked different. Sure, it hasn't been all roses, but it's given you great perspective. And what do you think that you would want to let other athletes know who are at the beginning of their recruiting process?

Hailey 23:38

Definitely start early. I learned that the hard way for sure, because I feel like if you go on one of those days, talk to more coaches, etc., like I think you'll get a much more wider perspective and can definitely see you know the flaws of program and and the good and the positiveness of another and kind of compare like what you need. I would also probably say maybe talk to the coaches a lot more, like don't be afraid to ask questions. I think I could have asked a lot more than I did, but I think I was so like, oh, this program's great legacy one, like whatever. I didn't really think to ask those questions that definitely

Recruiting Advice Ask Better Questions

Hailey 24:12

mattered and obviously showed up later that I I wish I would have asked.

Coach B 24:16

So well, you're I have to say, Hales, you've always been an inspiration to all the athletes, all the athletes at at the high school program, and I know to our athletes listening because not only have you toughed it out through a a rough first year and for lots of reasons, not Syracuse's fault, you know, they've got a growing program, their numbers are going to increase. The positive thing is that it's only going to get better. But during all of this, this is why Haley is quite remarkable. And I can't say this enough because after towards the end of what working with Haley and we had did some sports psychology together, I remember asking Haley to come up and speak about sports psychology. And she got up and talked to the track team at the time. And honestly, she was like a hundred times better than what I was. I was like, whoa, you know, how did this happen? But you have like transformed, developed as this incredible athlete. So after this year, everyone listening, listen to what Haley like, not only has she done a college, endured, you know, a painful injury, but you also decided to build something to help other athletes. And you decided to put this experience into a positive, which is so unreal, that could help others. So what is that?

Hailey 25:24

Yeah. So when I was injured, I didn't obviously I wasn't practicing. I had like all this free time, and I was like, I feel like I really need to like do something about this. And I'd hear like complaints from like other girls and what I was like, like all year I've been like hearing complaints. I'm like, I really need to do something here. So I like sat down and I was like, I just need to like I think I was like on the bus or something, and I like opened my notes app and I was like, I just need to write, I just need to like type all of this down because like ideas were just like coming at me. And so I just like scrambled on the notes app, wrote all of this down, and then I was like, I need to talk to someone in Whitman, which is the business school here, and I'm in that school as well. And so inside Whitman, we have the Corey hatchery, and it's a place where you can go if you have an idea and or or anything really, like any idea you just go in and you can

Building An App From Setbacks

Hailey 26:08

talk to people and they'll help you start it up. But I didn't really know anything about the hatchery, like I've never been in there, nor did I really have time before. And so I emailed my previous professor who I had like introduction to business with in my fall semester, because this is all going on within like this semester, currently in the spring semester. So I emailed her and I was like, Hey, like, listen, I know you're involved in entrepreneurship. I have an idea and I'd love to, you know, get involved with that in some way or another. And I heard about the hatchery, and so I was talking to her about that, and she was like, Yeah, I I know the woman in charge of names and Daria Jones. And she was like, I'll get you connected with her. Can you meet at this time? Well, it didn't work out to meet at that time. So I go into the hatchery, I believe that day, but I I just I had to meet later. But I'm in there, I'm sitting down, we don't have a scheduled meeting, I don't know who this woman is. And this woman walks in and she like looks at me and I look at her and she's like, Are you Haley? And I was like, Yeah, I'm Hayley. And she's like, I'm in Daria Jones, and like she could have totally just walked by, like, ignored me, whatever, like just some girl sitting in this in this room, right? There's like other people in there. But she came up to me and she was like, Yeah, like I'd love to talk. So we sat down and we talked for like 30 to 40 minutes, like had a great conversation. She in that time, she introduced me, connected to me with like multiple people. I was like, Wow, okay, like we're really going for this now. And so she gave me this it's like a business, like executive plan summary, like template basically. So there's like step one all the way to like 10 for your idea. And so she's like, fill this out. I want you to like connect with athletes and higher-ups, and I want you to interview them. And so I was like, Okay, perfect. So obviously, again, like I had nothing better to do during this time, and this was like a great distraction, something I was really passionate about. And so I ended up interviewing around eight athletes. Some athletes were here, some athletes were athletes I knew from high school who are now competing at collegiate level, and I talked to them and I learned a lot, and I found things that were similar, things that were different and different programs, but it was great just like talking to them and just like hearing them out and like you know how their program was compared to mine and compared to others as well. And then so yeah, and now I'm just kind of in that startup stage. I don't have an app officially yet, but yeah.

Coach B 28:23

It's so it's so cool, Haley, that you have taken this experience, connected with other athletes, and we're not gonna reveal what what it is, but we'll drop that when it's ready, and we're gonna have you back and you're gonna do your whole trip. This is Haley's app, and she's not only a D1 athlete, she's also an entrepreneur. And we're just gonna totally elevate that because basically, you know, you don't know what you're going into. And I've said this before in, and I don't I don't think I said I mean maybe it was perceived a little bit negative, but I know personally having seen athletes promised one thing and then coaches deliver another. Now that's not the case of Haley in Syracuse, but it does help to have inside knowledge, and that is something that Haley is working on at Syracuse, a tool which is going to help athletes navigate the collegiate athletics, you know, system because sometimes things aren't always what they seem.

Hailey 29:15

Yeah. And I also add on, I never touched on this, but it kind of has to do with like kind of fighting for yourself in a program that doesn't really maybe match up to what you like expected it to. So, you know, obviously I said like there's some girls in my group who really never like showed up, but I think that they also never really asked for change or like guidance. And so I remember I had my first race, it was a very it was a good race, but it was also not a great race to my coach just because I wasn't really hitting the splits that I needed to. But it was also my first collegiate race and everything in that. And I remember our next practice, he pulled me aside, and this other girl who is is like the same sheet as me, like definitely one of the more committed girls. And so he was talking to us and he was basically not yelling at us, but saying how you know our group needs to be more professional and communicate better, but we are the two who communicate the best. But you know, he was just talking about professionalism.

Advocate For Yourself With Coaches

Hailey 30:10

And I later texted him and was, you know, telling him I was like, I really appreciate you know you telling us that, you know, because I think the thing, the issue with our group was that it just felt like our coaches didn't, our coach didn't care at all, right? Like I would hear about how the head coach is so you know strict with the cross country. And I'm like, you know, I kind of wish that our coach was strict so that we would have some guidance, some structure to our group. And I feel like we didn't have that. So I just texted her and I was like, I really appreciated your message. He was like, I really appreciate that you texted me back. Like it means a lot. It shows me that you're committed, you know. And I know that you know, a lot of the other girls probably didn't do that, and you know, it just showed like I am committed, like I'm here to to run. I'm I'm grateful to be here. Like, I'm not on scholarship, like this is a great opportunity, and I really want to help grow the program.

Coach B 30:54

And so that's so lucky to have you. I just want to say that they are so I was so lucky to be your coach at some point. Syracuse, you are so lucky to have Haley Schuman, and I want you guys to pull your socks up and just I know that you will in your own way. And Haley talking about the the importance of advocac advocating for yourself, guys. That is just gold. You need to just lock that in. But keep going. Sorry, I cut you off, but I just had to say you know I'm being bad.

Hailey 31:23

Yeah, I mean, that just like led me into I think, you know, being on his radar, right? Like, I think these other girls that he's like, you know, he's he always tells me like they're doing their own thing, right? Like they're not gonna like listen to me or whatever. And and I was pulled into his office one day. This was like during the injury rehab. So he built me an entire schedule. Like I felt like he was being a lot more like on top of things for me, which was really nice to like experience, but I also like kind of advocated for myself, like I'm here to run, like I'm not just some like girl who's who's not gonna be committed. Like, I'm here, like even though I'm injured, like I'm gonna be cross-training every day. I'm gonna do everything I can to get healthy again. And so I was in this meeting with him, and we were talking back and forth, and then at the end he was like, and listen, like we're getting more girls to join our group. And he shared their names, and he even mentioned like a little side note. He was like, and this girl runs like a 501 like mile. Like, and I was like, Oh, that's awesome! Like, I know like she's gonna be committed, you know. And that was like awesome to hear, and like made me feel really good. And then he later texted me and he was like, Hey, like, can you reach out to this girl? Like, you know, get connected with her, like, I think you'd be great. And so I did that, and this girl had texted me back, and we were texting back and forth, and she's really sweet and nice. I'm really excited to meet her. She's a transfer from another college, and we're also getting some other freshman girls as well. But this girl happened to mention, you know, what's what my coach was saying about me, and she was like, you know, he said that you're you're really committed, you're a hard worker, and that you're you're a great person. And that I was like, oh, that's that's really good to hear. Like, thank you for telling me that. But yeah, I just the the main thing is like advocate for yourself for sure. Whatever it might be, you know, it gets you far in the program.

Coach B 32:57

It it a hundred percent does, and and just during the time that we've listened to Haley talk right now, she shared with us hate the surprise that it wasn't what she expected, the highs and lows which she's endured over the last year, but through communication and through speaking up for herself and through standing up for herself, really, because she could have easily gone, stayed quiet and gone, oh, this is not for me. And but she does love the school, loves the program, wants to be part of a growing program, which she knew from the beginning. And I guess where I'm going with this is just to say, hey guys, also let's coaches are not mind readers. If they don't know what's going on for you, if you don't speak up, they don't do anything. And full credit to Haley for having the confidence to go, hey, communicating back and forth. And the coach is so grateful, reciprocal, and the and the communication improves. So it's a two-way deal. It's the coach and the athlete have to connect and they've got to work together. Athletes, you cannot expect it just to be delivered to you. You have to put some effort in because reality check, when you get to college, there's a lot of athletes that could that one or two coaches are looking after. It's not an easy job. So good on you, Hales, for being like, you've been a soldier all year and more, and we're gonna get you back because more is to come with your the app that you're creating for other athletes to make that process even smoother. So that is like, and that's all we're gonna say on that because we don't want people to steal that idea. But we are gonna finish with some rapid fire questions for you. Okay. As I know, so I'm just throwing, you didn't know these were coming, and I'm just throwing them at you. As an 800-meter specialist, well, that's what you were when you were at high school. Maybe it's different. I'm gonna fire through these questions and you're gonna just do your best. If anything's too hard, you just say pass. Okay. 400 meter specialist or 1500 crossover. What feels more natural?

Hailey 34:45

I would say 400, but now being an endurance-focused program, probably 1500. Indoor 600 or outdoor 800.

Coach B 34:55

Outdoor 800. Spike brand of choice.

Hailey 35:01

I have Nike right now, so I guess I'll say Nike.

Rapid Fire Runner Life Questions

Hailey 35:05

That's all yeah, we're also Nike, so I'll say Nike. Okay.

Coach B 35:08

Syracuse is a Nike school. Okay, we've got to get them a plug. Pre-race playlist or silence?

Hailey 35:14

That's a good question. I kind of just like throw on whatever, but I I will say there's a very good hype song. It's it's called Lightning McQueen. Lightning McQueen. Okay, people walk into that. It's like it's like the rap Lightning Queen. Okay, it's not like the from the movie. I mean, it's from the movie, but it's like the rap version. It's funny, it's funny. It makes you laugh.

Coach B 35:31

I'm using it when we post you on our page, on our plan B Instagram page. I'm using the Lightning McQueen song, so I'm gonna find it. Pre-race meal. That's for oh sorry, pre-race meal. That's for you, not for me. I don't need to be eating any more food. I'm just gonna chunk up more than I already have.

Hailey 35:51

Probably pasta. Pasta chicken. Yeah. Do you run from the front or sit and kick? I'd say for the 800, I like to be up front, if not like you know, in in second. Maybe not leading, but definitely in the front. For the mile, I feel like I'm more sit and kick. Okay.

Coach B 36:13

Lane that you hate the most? Like eight. 800 workout you dread?

Hailey 36:22

Those 200s that we did. Oh, my session.

Coach B 36:26

I love that. Okay. Hey, whoa. Here, that guy's okay. I I'm I'm stoked. Stoked that he's one athlete. Oh god, sorry about that. Okay, sorry, mom and dad. I'm responsible for some of the track trauma that Haley's still processing. Okay. Um the 800 workout that you secretly love. The the 321, the one two three. I like that one too. Uh coach phrase that you hear in your head at the bell lap.

Hailey 36:54

Probably your arms run faster. But you know, throw a swear word.

Coach B 36:59

Right, yeah, coaches are going crazy.

Hailey 37:01

Now I was one of those the best part of being a D1 athlete probably friendships and like feeling of satisfaction after a good workout. The hardest part nobody talks about probably putting in the work when no one's watching. Ice bath or sauna? I gotta say sauna on that one. Yeah.

Coach B 37:25

800 meter runner that you kind of look up to or admire, like a thing mu or Keeley Hodgkin, someone I was gonna say, I was just gonna say Keely.

Hailey 37:33

Yeah.

Coach B 37:33

Yeah, Keely, she's unreal. And worst race mistake you've ever made.

Hailey 37:41

That's a good question. Probably maybe just like starting too fast, or when I could have kicked like more in the end, if that makes sense. So yeah, no, it makes perfect sense.

Coach B 37:53

So after this year, and we have just loved to having you back because uh it's unbelievable how fast this year has gone. It honestly feels like yeah, it's it honestly only feels like yesterday that we were celebrating the fact that you were signing with Syracuse and now we're heading towards the end of your freshman year. And hey, I'm excited because you're gonna be embarking on sophomore year, injury free, the programs growing. So lots of positive things. But to leave our listeners, Haley, what is one thing that you really hope that what you've shared with today, what what is the one message that you hope our listeners hold on to?

Hailey 38:29

I would say like even if like you get into a program that you think like it's gonna fit for you, like there's always probably going to be something that maybe isn't what you expected. But you can't just like you can freak out like all you want, like take a day, like take a week, whatever, but then like change your mindset and like figure out how you can like work with that because that's what I did. Like I'd I'd have worked through a lot of things,

Final Mindset When Plans Change

Hailey 38:52

but you know, I also had to come to terms like this is a growing program, and like it's it's not gonna grow unless I like help grow it. And so, you know, whether it be that, whether it be some other issue, don't you know lose hope in the future of the program or your success or anything like that. Like, try and find a way where you can work with it. Yeah.