These days, Ashley Higginson focuses on the 3000-meter steeplechase, a running event that circles the track seven times, with 28 ordinary hurdles and seven water jumps.

With a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Princeton, she enrolled in law school in 2012. Meanwhile, she trained as a professional runner to compete for a spot on the U.S. Team for the 2012 Summer Olympics. At the U.S. Olympic Trials for Track and Field, she came in fourth place, two seconds short of making the team.

Higginson was not deterred. She finished her law degree and continued running for Saucony and the NJ/NY Track Club. She is a whip smart, very smiley favorite for the 2016 Summer Olympics U.S. Team. The Pursuist asked Higginson, faster than ever, about what makes her go.

Pursuist: Ashley, let’s warm-up by starting from the beginning. What did you have for breakfast today?

Ashley: I ate oats with blackberries, bananas, one scoop of honey peanut butter by Justin’s, and some granola on top, with the delicious pour-over coffee my boyfriend made me! I let him be the chemist. I just enjoy.