Daily grind leaves senior's plate full

After hammering the snooze button with a full fist, the typical IU student tries desperately just to get those ever-so-important five extra minutes of sleep. Getting on and successfully riding the bus is even more of a challenge, filled with constant head-nods and dozing-off. And the further into the semester, that morning shower becomes scarier and the Starbucks cups or a want for a direct IV line of coffee becomes more prevalent.\nAnd we haven't even talked about class and the struggle to pencil in a nap somewhere.\nJulie Shields' typical day begins with an early morning run of about four miles followed by three classes. After she finishes her classes, she has a break followed by an eight-mile run and some weightlifting. And when this is done, she can probably be found working at one of her two jobs.\n"I usually just get homework done on the weekends," Shields said.\nShields is a senior and a veteran member of the IU women's cross country team, and she is not only a runner but also is a waitress at Bob Evans, an employee at Macri's Deli and a health education major. She manages to juggle training about four days a week, working at her two jobs and 12 credit hours worth of classes.\n"It just gives me something to do," she said. "I like it. Staying busy is important."\nAs an Academic All-Big Ten selection last year, Shields has the grades to back up her work load.\nStruggling with asthma and bad allergies for the majority of her career as a runner, she has been forced to seek outlets and ways around the pains these cause when running by working-out on treadmills and tracks and going to numerous doctor's appointments over the years.\n"She's really struggled with asthma," IU coach Judy Wilson said. "In her first two years, she didn't finish the season, but she (made personal records) in her last two meets last year. The door has really opened for her."\nTeammate and winner of Friday's Indiana Intercollegiates meet, sophomore Jessica Gall is happy to have Shields' presence on the team.\n"She is a really hard worker and is just so tough," Gall said. "She keeps things fun too."\nShields is in equally good company because the team is well known for having strong performances both on and off the course.\nThe team, which started the season ranked No. 27 in preseason polls, has the highest average grade point average out of any athletic team at IU, sporting even a few 4.0s. Six of its returning members, including Shields, were picked as Big Ten All Academic selections last year -- a number almost equaling half of the team's roster. \n-- Contact staff writer Andy Romey at aromey@indiana.edu.