Catching Up With Track and Field Alum Jamie Hegg

SEATTLE – Jamie Hegg was a member of the Seattle U track and field team from 2018-20 where she participated in the javelin throw, 200m and 400m. She won numerous awards as a Redhawk including as the 2020 Seattle U Distinguished Graduating Student Award and the Seattle U Service to Athletics Award. She graduated in 2020 with a degree in Kinesiology and a minor in Entrepreneurial Leadership. While at Seattle U, Hegg released Don't Run Hungry, a cookbook with more than 40 recipes with step-by-step instructions and tips. Seattle University Athletics caught up with Jamie Hegg in December to learn more about her book, what she's up to now and what her plans are for the future. 

1. Where are you now and what have you been doing?
I am currently in my hometown of Boulder, Colo., finishing up fall quarter finals for my graduate program at UW. I spent this past fall as a sports performance intern at Yale while completing online school.  Most recently I returned from the Olympic training center in Utah where I learned skeleton and ultimately decided I didn't love the sport, so now I'm onto the next adventure!

2. What was your inspiration for Don't Run Hungry?
I started a food blog in high school and compiled quite a few recipes. I got bored during the summer in between freshman and sophomore year and figured a fun "next step" would be to make a cookbook. I worked on it all summer and then edited it with the help of my teammate, Michelle Newblom, during the fall. I really just did it for fun and as a learning experience. Being busy with school and track I didn't make it a priority to market it much, but the experience still taught me a lot.

3. Are you currently working on another book? If not, what are your plans in the near future?
I am not planning on another book in the near future, however I think it would be fun to eventually write another one, as there are a lot of things I learned from writing the first one that I would try to improve upon. I am currently still working on the blog and developing recipes in my free time. I recently landed a coaching job at Stanford (assuming winter and spring sports will happen) so I am really looking forward to that opportunity as well as finishing up my graduate degree in June.

4. When was the last time you came to campus? Are you still in contact with the coaches and your teammates?
The last time I was really on campus was March 13 of last year. I remember getting one last lift in the weight room that morning, knowing it would probably be a while until I was back. I miss it! I am still in contact with a few teammates and have talked to my coaches a number of times this past quarter to get advice and check in on how things are going up there.

5. How has your experience as a student athlete at Seattle U helped you get to where you are today?
My experience at Seattle U allowed me to explore a lot of different things while being a student athlete, which I am extremely grateful for. I have had so many great opportunities come from different things I was involved in outside of track and field. I was really able to leverage my time there. All of the relationships I built and programs I was a part of have kind of fast-tracked me into so many different things already. It also helped that a lot of my teammates were involved in things outside of track and were really well-rounded individuals. Track was obviously very high on the priority list for all of us, but the coaches and staff understood that allowing us to be more than just athletes would be beneficial both short term and long term.

6. How has being a student athlete at Seattle U made an impact on you as a person?
Being a student athlete at Seattle U taught me how to manage my time, build relationships and work as a team. Having my experience cut short has also made me appreciate it a lot more, and it has taught me to go full-force in the things I am doing now. There's really no environment quite like collegiate athletics, and it can be hard to see that as an athlete because it does get really challenging at times, but I think everyone will miss it when they graduate.

7. What's your favorite memory from your time at Seattle U?
I can't pinpoint a favorite moment, but I think some of my best memories are of Chad and Kelly's terrible jokes, the abundant amount of time I spent in the athletic training room and my many hours spent in the weight room with Coach Cam. 

8. What is something that you learned while being a student athlete that you continue to use in your life today?
There are so many skills you learn as a student athlete. It's a big task to go to school full time, train for 20 hours a week and potentially take part in other programs or activities. I think the work ethic and commitment you have to have are both things that are extremely impactful down the road. I've also learned a lot from all of the coaches I had. As someone who wants to make a career out of coaching, I've reflected a lot on the way they did things. All of the coaches I worked with at Seattle U really cared about their athletes. No one is going to be perfect, but there's nothing more important than being a good person and having your athlete's best interests in mind.

9. What's one piece of advice you would offer today's student athletes?
Enjoy it and don't take it too seriously! This is definitely some advice I could have taken. Do your best, but don't be too hard on yourself, and learn to let go of things that don't go your way. Letting go and moving on is such a powerful skill, and one I'm certainly still working on. Workouts are going to be tough, living in a pandemic is tough, it's okay to be bummed out and frustrated but try to appreciate the opportunities you do get. Be a leader and show up to practice with a good attitude, even if you have to fake it a little bit.

What do you miss most about Seattle U?
I miss my teammates, coaches and athletic trainers a lot. I also miss being a part of a team and working towards a common goal. I know it's tough right now for everyone without confirmed events or dates to work towards, but simply setting a goal to have a good practice is feasible and something I definitely miss.