Larkin Geyer: Crossing countries

Texas Cross Country's Larkin Geyer has a non-stop schedule between cross country practice, school, organizational involvement and gaining work-related experience.

Yet, the third-year Longhorn wants to add more.

Specifically, Geyer intends to redshirt her junior season on the track to study abroad in Spain in hopes of building a resume worthy of a career in public relations for the Olympic Games.

"I love to travel and studying abroad in Spain is something that I've always planned on doing since I was in high school," said Geyer. "It's kind of a now-or-never thing because the clock is ticking before I graduate."

Although Geyer will miss the track season and cross country off season, she intends to keep up her training to prepare for her senior running campaign.

"I plan to redshirt the upcoming track season, but I believe taking breaks is healthy for most athletes who have been doing what they do for many years. It helps prevent burn out," said Geyer.

Besides learning a new language and culture, her biggest challenge lies with continuing her cross country training without the daily interaction with her Longhorns teammates and coaching staff.

"I expect that [UT assistant coach] Steve [Sisson] and I will set up some kind of workout plan but I have no clue what facilities I will have access to there," said Geyer. "Whether I'm running for a team or not, I'm pretty sure I'll be running for the rest of my life."

As with any study-abroad student, Geyer hopes that this experience will teach her more than she could learn in a classroom or on the track.

"I want to learn independence. Fending for myself in an unfamiliar country, with all new people, a different culture and language will be an exciting challenge," said Geyer. "A lifetime goal is to be fluent and I expect to make it happen this spring."

During her semester in Spain, Geyer will study intensive Spanish language and grammar, and will take courses in Spanish art history, culture and business, all taught in Spanish. This, she hopes, will help lead her to a career in international public relations.

"It would be phenomenal to eventually do public relations for the Olympics committee," said Geyer. "It's a perfect combination of international traveling, cultures, athletics and rowdy fans -- all of my favorite things!"

Although Geyer's schedule is demanding, she would not have her life as a student-athlete any other way. She is up and running, literally, before the sun rises each morning. The Pflugerville, Texas, native starts her day with cross-country training. She weaves in between buildings and through various parks and fields close to campus in preparation for the varying three-mile, 5,000- and 6,000-meter races on the schedule each weekend. Her consistent practice has helped her achieve success as a distance runner for the Longhorns.

Through her first two seasons, she made the 2006 All-Big 12 Academic Cross Country First Team and was the fourth UT runner to cross the line at the 2006 NCAA South Central Region Championships.

The rewards of running, as Geyer points out, are not always physical.

"Running has taught me to push for goals both mentally and physically in everything I do," said Geyer. "Sometimes you have to suck it up and do things that aren't always comfortable in order to get to the full, rewarding experience. It's taught me not to settle and I see a parallel in my constant desire to travel and explore new places."

After the several-mile morning run, the junior public relations major attends classes, completes her schoolwork and goes to campus organization meetings. She is involved in groups such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the UT Spanish Club, and Chi Omega sorority. She also teaches ESL classes to immigrants in the summer thru Casa Marianello in Austin and is a nanny.

While Geyer has not exhausted her opportunities at The University of Texas, the trip to Spain will take her farther in life than she's ever been.

The University of Texas at Austin Athletics

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