Motivation comes in a variety of forms. For Ball State University sophomore Ali Bishel, it came in the form of a medical condition.
"I started running because I had exercise asthma," Bishel said. "My doctor said that running was the best thing for it, so I did it."
Not only did she do it, but she loved it, and that passion has always been with her, Bishel said.
"I've always loved running," she said, "but I was never the best."
One look at the Cardinal track star's statistics this season might suggest otherwise. Through four competitive meets, Bishel has placed in the top six of an event seven times, including three first-place finishes. She won the 1-mile run at the Bowling Green Invitational and the 3,000-meter run at the Indiana Invitational. Bishel was also a member of the winning distance medley relay team at the Indiana Invitational.
These accomplishments came on the heels of a cross country season in which Bishel placed 52nd out of 253 participants at the NCAA Championships. However, she was quick to distinguish between track and cross country.
"It's both running, but they're so different," Bishel said. "Track is controlled, but in cross country, you never know what the weather conditions or the course will be like."
Bishel earned both a Mid-American Conference Runner of the Week award in cross country and a MAC Track Athlete of the Week award in track this year. Despite the individual honors, Bishel said she is more concerned with what the team can accomplish this season.
"The playing field is really competitive, but we've been holding our own," Bishel said. "There's not a lot of girls on our team, but there's a lot of talent. If everyone has a great day, I believe we can accomplish anything."
Bishel's emphasis on team is something that has stood out to Ball State distance coach Dave Luce.
"She's such a hard worker, and she's really into being a team player," Luce said. "She just likes to be part of the group."
Bishel said this group consists of distance runners who are "friends, first and foremost," and who all work together to learn from each other's strengths.
For more on these Senior Laura Bandy, who is participating in track for the first time this year, said she agrees.
"In practice, we continuously cheer each other on," Bandy said. "Knowing that you have support from your team puts you in a more positive mind-set."
Bishel, who ranks second all-time at Ball State in the indoor 3,000-meter run, said having Bandy on the team has been a benefit for the Cardinals.
"Having Laura Bandy is great," Bishel said. "Even though it's her first year, she really takes on the role of senior, leading races and showing her competitive side."
Bandy, too, is quick to brush aside individual praise.
"I just do what's best for the team," Bandy said. "I don't try to be a leader, I just lead by example."
In addition to learning from one another, the Cardinals have also benefited from versatility among the distance runners. Bishel said being able to put any runner in any event is a luxury the team has not had in the past.
If Ball State hopes to find the best possible lineup before the conference meet, it doesn't have much time. The Ball State University Quadrangular, which begins at 4 p.m. at the Field Sports Building, is the only remaining meet before the MAC meet and the end of the indoor track season.
Bishel said she and her teammates still have some goals to accomplish by then.
"As a team, we'd like to finish in the top couple teams in the conference," Bishel said. "Individually, I hope to hit some more [personal records]. I also want to qualify for Internationals. I'm hoping that after the conference meet I'll have enough juice in me to make it. If not, that's okay; I'm just happy to contribute as many points as possible for the team."
This admission will likely come as good news to Luce, who said his main challenge with Bishel is preventing her from working too hard.
"She's really, really competitive, and she works like crazy," Luce said. "The danger is knowing when she's overdoing it."
Bishel said she's appreciative of Luce's concern for her health and his experience in training professional athletes.
"He's tremendous," Bishel said. "Technically he's a volunteer coach, but he has more knowledge than any distance coach I've ever known."
However, Bishel most attributes her success to her mother, who she said has taken on the parts of both role model and cheerleader.
"She's probably been through it with me every step of the way, and she's been to all the meets," Bishel said. "She's just as proud if I won a race or if I came in dead last.
"She's not one to push me. My parents don't put pressure on me, just love and support."
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