Oregon runner and future Greek Olympian Alexi Pappas, 26, has garnered quite a large fan following over the years, especially for an obscure distance runner. High school and college athletes, often female, gather at races for her autograph. They’re attracted in droves to her quirky style — she recently posted a photo of an outfit she had made from past race bib numbers and referred to herself as a “potato” in a New York Times article. (The metaphor makes sense, sort of; you need to read it to understand.)
Pappas has long tried to balance her love of writing, poetry, and acting, with the demands of being an elite runner. Those two interests came together for the premiere of her film, Tracktown, at the Los Angeles Film Festival last month. She stars in the movie, which she talks about in our interview. She also shares with us her favorite poem she’s written—which is actually a bit of a life motto and one that has been used by more than a few high school seniors as their yearbook quote.
Although Pappas grew up in the U.S. and went to Dartmouth before transferring to the University of Oregon, she decided earlier this year to run for Greece. While the decision to run for Greece was certainly in part practical—Pappas has already locked down qualification for the Greek team in the 10,000m, instead of having to battle it out at the U.S. Trials in early July—it was also an emotional decision, she’s said in the past. When she shattered the Greek national record in the 10,000m in May, achieving the Olympic standard by a sizable margin in the process, she also helped lift her ailing Greek grandmother’s spirits.
You’re competing for Greece this summer. Are you spending time there to prepare?
I’m in Greece right now! I’m training with other Greeks in a mountain town called Karpenissi, where I have basically no internet and where there are more yiayias (grandmothers) and chickens than there are computers and televisions. It’s absolutely amazing and inspiring. I feel like I am running for a greater purpose now that I have gotten to know my Greek teammates and immersed myself in the language and the land — and the feta cheese!
In addition to running, you also write, and recently premiered the movie you and your boyfriend, Jeremy Teicher directed, Tracktown. How much time did making the movie take? How much of your time is spent training, and how much is spent writing?