By Keighla Schmidt
UWRF Sports Information

Most people don’t think much about it. It’s the first thing anyone ever does. The simple, natural act is often taken for granted - taking a breath.

Not for Falcon senior cross country runner Katie Frazer.

Frazer has exercise-induced asthma (EIA).

"It’s really frustrating at times," she said. For most athletes breathing is easy, for her taking deep breaths can be painful.

Athletes with asthma is not as uncommon as many people think. Track Olympian Jackie Joyner-Kersee, NBA star Hakeem Olajuwon, NFL star Jerome Bettis, and diving Olympian Greg Louganis all struggled with the condition.

Frazer began running cross country in high school. One main reason she joined was because her uncle and aunt were the coaches. Before joining cross country she played soccer. It wasn’t until her sophomore year of high school that Frazer was diagnosed with EIA. Some people would look at the situation and say that maybe since it was more difficult for them they would not risk serious health issues to continue. Not Frazer.

"It was something I enjoyed doing," she said. "I wasn’t going to give it up."

Falcon athletic trainer Crystal Lanning said "there are many options" for athletes with EIA, and they don’t have to give up. Prescription drugs are what most decide to use. Many take a daily medication and use an inhaler to suppress attacks.

Making sure she has her inhaler is on Frazer’s pre-meet mental checklist along with warming up, stretching, and taking time out to sit and visualize the race. "I always make sure I have my inhaler," she said.

Falcon cross country Coach Don Glover said he was confident that she had a good hold on the situation and thinks "her times will improve this year."

There is much more to Frazer than EIA.

Beyond the Diagnosis
Frazer has been a Falcon athlete for four years. She has run cross country and she also was in track & field for two years. Through the years Frazer has developed from a shy, quiet runner watching and learning from older teammates in her freshman year to a team co-captain this year.

As a co-captain she takes responsibility to "make freshmen feel welcome," she said. "Show them the ropes."

Frazer has seen growth in herself in the past four years. "I realized how much I can do," she said.

Glover notices her change as well. "I remember her college recruiting visit," he said. She was shy when he walked her around the campus, but she seemed to enjoy it.
Frazer remembers the visit too. "The girls were enthusiastic," she said of visiting the team. "Seeing that made the decision to come here easier."

The camaraderie on the team is something that she will miss next year when she is no longer a runner for the Falcons. She said competitions are different when you get to run with friends.

Glover will miss her next year too. "She’s a good kid," he said. "You really get to know them [the runners] well." He said that she is fun to see throughout the day because she so upbeat. And it’s fun to have her in his course on teaching physical education to elementary students.

Family Affair
Frazer’s parents were along on that college visit four years ago too. They have been a huge asset to her career as well as the team in general.

After meets the runners, coaches, and family members meet up and have a party. Many times the Frazer’s will bring food for everyone to eat. Glover described them as "active and involved."

They don’t just bring food. Frazer remembers them missing only one meet that she has ever had. She said it was because they didn’t know she was running and at the same time they had scheduled a wedding gift opening for her brother.

"It’s nice to have people there to support me," she said.

Balancing the Books
Frazer has not only excelled in running, but she also has been on the WIAC Scholar Honor Role every year that she has been here. Many college students feel overwhelmed with classes alone, but Frazer manages classes and athletics.

She said it keeps her busy and is a lot of fun. Frazer likes to prove that not all collegiate athletes are "dumb jocks."

Majoring in elementary education Frazer keeps busy. With a year left before graduation Frazer still has to student teach which will give her the real-life setting of teaching.

Ideally she would like to teach second grade, but any elementary level would be ok she said.
Being part of the cross country and track teams has taught Frazer how to work as a team and the importance of adapting to different people and different styles. She plans on using that understanding and applying it in her teaching someday.

Reaching the Finish Line
Being an athlete in college is a big deal. Being a college athlete with good grades is an even bigger deal. Being a college runner with asthma is a big feat to overcome.

Frazer takes it all it, smiles and digs deeper and pushes herself across the finish line and gets done what she needs to get done.

Asthma does not care if you decide to be an athlete. And this athlete doesn’t care if she’s asthmatic, she’s going to do what’s natural for her, to her running is just like breathing.

Katie Frazer