Alana Hadley is like any other 19-year-old college student. She studies for exams, hangs out with friends in her dorm and eats questionable food from the campus dining hall.
But there is one key thing that makes Hadley stand out from her college peers: She's also a professional runner with a personal best marathon time of 2:38:34.
Between college classes at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and daily training runs, Hadley gave us a look into her life as a teenage pro runner.
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Inside the Life of a Teenage Professional Runner
Written by
Erica Schuckies
Even Professionals Get Bed Head
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Hadley wakes up at 7 a.m. and prepares for her first run of the day.
Run #1
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Her morning run ranges from eight to 12 miles and usually takes place on the trails near the UNCC campus.
Breakfast of Champions
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While Hadley says she doesn't follow a strict diet, she does try to eat "a good variety of everything." Of course, plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables are included in each meal, she says.
Walking to Class
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As a full-time student, Hadley makes sure to balance her studies with the demands of her daily training schedule.
Are You Paying Attention?
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We're sure chemistry is somehow related to running...somehow. We think.
Lunch Time
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Taking a break from classes is always better with friends. Here are a just a few of her college pals.
A Cozy Homework Spot
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The afternoons allow time for homework assignments, studying and fueling up for her next workout.
Second Run of the Day
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Hadley's afternoon runs take place on campus and are usually four or five miles. She typically trains twice a day—except for Sundays, which include one long run of 18 to 24 miles.
Dining Hall Dinner
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It's back to the campus dining hall for her final meal of the day.
Dorm Living
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Just like a normal college student, Hadley hangs out in the campus dorms with her friends (seen here sporting their school's colors) to decompress from the day.
Pre-Bed Rolling
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Hadley does core work, stretches and then uses an R8 Massage Roller to help her muscles recover before she heads to bed by 10:30 p.m. She aims to get a solid eight and a half hours of sleep before she wakes up to do it all again in the pursuit of a long and successful running career.