By Don McLean

Alison Wood, 43 years old, 5'3" in high jump spikes, mom of two, network engineer, part time coach at Regis High School,  silver medalist in the high jump at the 2011 World Masters Championships, set 5'7.5" PR at age 41. And lots more.

1. Being a distance running fool, excessively focused, I didn't have a clue about you until the ladies on the OTCM board wised me up.  Impressive!  When/how did your athletic career start?  Early successes?

I started high jumping when I was nine.  Track and Field was a unit in PE and I could beat all the boys.  I have competed every season since, with the exception of my second pregnancy - I jumped with the first one!

2. How did you come to concentrate on the high jump?  Did you/will you follow up on your interest in the multis?

 High jumping has always been my favorite event.  There is something very special about leaving the earth and flying through the air.  In college I originally entered a hep because high jump was the second event and I figured I could just withdraw if I didn't like it.  I was a horrible hurdler so it took a few years to make it past that first event and on to high jump, but now I love multis!

3.  Current goals?  Describe a week's training schedule towards those goals.

 My current goal is to PR again!  I missed most of last season with a knee injury and I am so grateful to be back in the sport.  I am very lucky to have the best high jump coach in the nation (John Radetich), incredible support from a lot of track coaches, a brilliant strength coach (Joel Smith, Just Fly Athletics) and  the ultimate sports medicine doctor with amazing techniques for success (Dr. Dan Schweigert).

A week's training!?!?  I work out twice a day - track workouts during my lunch break and weight and plyometrics in the evening.  Joel Smith with Just Fly Athletics built an app for my phone and uploads my workouts every day.  It's super easy to follow his instructions and every workout has its own purpose to help me reach that PR.

4.  Advice to your 50 year old self?

Consistency is key.  Never be afraid to leave the ground and yes, you are 32 years older than those other girls.  GO GET EM!

5.  We love stories about weird, quirky, obsessive runners.  Compare and contrast and dish on one or more jumpers..

 I compete in many of the NCAA D1 meets in Oregon and Washington.  It never fails that the official or another competitor will remind me that no mom's are allowed on the high jump apron.   A few meets into the season the other jumpers know me and we all laugh about it together.  I have also been the shortest jumper in every competition of my entire life - that would be 34 years of jumping.  I started jumping higher than my height when I was a sophomore in high school.  I've been extremely lucky to continue to jump higher than my height today.

6.  If you were a billionaire and could give 2 or 3 books to every graduating high school senior, what would they be?

12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northrup and Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese. 

7.  Best decision you've made in your coaching career?

Each athlete has their own way.  Coach that, nurture what they have inside of them and they will happily succeed. 

8.  Advice to your younger self at, 20 years?

Life is fragile.  Enjoy each day, each meal, each workout and every moment with family and friends.

9.  Name three of your personal heroes, and why you admire them so much?

I am extremely grateful to be in the presence of three heroes.  My son Caden is passionate about the political climate of the world.  He is a calming and intelligent voice in uncertain times.  My daughter Kyra is a fearless hero, representing confident courage every day.  And my partner Cedric, a hero on all accounts - healing people as a brilliant physician and a delightful top notch chef, his positivity and laughter is constant and contagious.

10.  Quotes you live by, or quote often?

Just jump!

11.  What coaching advice/routine you believe in that most would think crazy?

I eat ground up ants before I compete. 

12. What did you have for breakfast?  Usual breakfast time?

I have six chickens and eat two eggs every day for breakfast.  I eat at 7 am.

13.  What "good advice" is actually bad advice?

It’s not a workout until someone pukes.   Definitely bad advice – our mantra in college, but not the way anyone should end a practice!

14.  Best coaching memory?

Watching any of my jumpers hit a PR.  When they jump I am on the sidelines jumping with them.  I couldn’t be more proud of each of them as they improve!

15.  What would you do/have/be if you had 20 million dollars?

If I had $20 million I would open a track and field facility.  I would invest in healthy organic food, sports medicine and sports psychologists, positive coaches and the best possible facilities.  Athletes of any ability could stay at the facility and be students of the sport.  My only request would be that they go back to their community and share what they learned at the track.  Encourage others to participate, to care about their physical and mental health and hope that they find a lifelong love of our sport.

16.  How do you coach mental toughness?

Ice baths.

17.  Your obsessions on evenings and/or weekends.

High jumping. 

18.  Stuff you do, besides jumping that most people would consider insane?

I bungee jumped off of the Crooked River bridge for my birthday last year.  IT WAS AWESOME!