The 27th Interview: The Sweetheart Gabiele Andersen

The Interview is back and my newest one is with The Sweetheart Gabiele Andersen

1. How did you get started in running?
I started running back in middle school when some of my friends took an interest in cross country. My small school happened to have some programs available before we were even in 7th grade, which is pretty cool. I played a lot of different sports when I was younger, but only running cross country/track and basketball stayed with me all through high school.
2. What do you tell people that don't get our sport of distance running?
I tell them that running is such a cool sport because you can really progress and see what you're made of every day. Anybody can run-- and I like that accessibility of our sport.
3. What are you current PR's?
My current PRs are 2:02.83 for 800m, 4:04.84 for 1500m, 8:43.52 for 3000m, and 15:45.99 for 5000m. I set the 800m, 1500m, and 3000m PRs in the past few weeks in Europe.

4. How different is Professional Distance Running Then College Running, for you?
Professional running and college running are very different, in my opinion. In college, the team aspect is very important and everything you do is more or less centered around the team's success. I loved my college experience and I wouldn't trade it for anything! We won Big Ten team titles and broke records. Pro running is a lot more of an individual sport. It's different, but sometimes it is nice as a pro to be able to do what's best for you every single day. The flexible schedule I have as a professional has helped me to really become the best runner I can be.

5. Who are your favorite professional and/or college distance runner(s) past and/or present & why?
My favorite pro runners ever are Suzy Favor Hamilton, Kara Goucher, and Carrie Tollefson. You could say that I have a "Midwest Bias" because Suzy's from Wisconsin and Kara & Carrie are Minnesota girls. I grew up as a big fan of all of these women, it has been so wonderful to watch them rise up on the world stage from humble midwest beginnings!

6. Best or Worst thing about being a distance running?
The best thing about being a distance runner is finishing a hard workout and that sense of accomplishment -- doing better than you thought you could! The worst thing is... that nervous feeling you get all day before doing a tough workout! It's also fun to travel and meet other runners -- that is one of the best aspects of being a professional runner.

7. Your Favorite Moment of your distance running career?
My favorite moment of my running career was probably winning my one state title in high school. I had tried and failed to win a title so many times, and I finally did it in my last race as a senior in the 800m! It was probably one of the happiest days of my life! Getting 2nd at NCAAs in the 1500m in 2010 was also an amazing feeling! That really propelled me to keep running after college.

8. Goals for 2012?
Right now I'm just finishing up my season and hoping to keep running fast! My goal for 2012 was to make the Olympics and PR in the 1500m -- I didn't accomplish the first one, but I did PR twice in the 1500 (4:06.46 at Oxy and 4:04.84 in Lignano). Later this summer I'm looking to go for a big PR in the 5k if I go back to Europe. Next year I want to make the World team in the 1500m!

Distance Runners Olympic Ones To Watch

Today The Olympics are here with The Opening Ceremonies tonight so I thought I would tell you my picks for the distance runners to watch along with a decathlon guy and one field event person. I am doing this cause the sports media and the media in general will not put these people on the Olympic Track athletes to watch so I am.

800 Meters

There is only one guy that I think you should watch out for and that is Mr. Nick Symmonds and I think he will get a medal, no doubt about that one

One the wome's side there is one person that you should watch and it is the Flower Child Alysia Montano

1500

For the US, I think, the man to watch is Leo Manzano one of the coolest guys in distance running. Also, I think that he will get a bronze medal

For the international flavor, New Zealand flavor, I think you guys should watch out for The New Zealand Flag Bearer at the Opening Ceremonies, Nick Willis. I think the Kenyans better watch out cause, I think, he will beat the Kenyans to the finish line and get a Gold Medal

One the women's side, I think, that there is only women to watch is my girl, Shannon Rowbury. She is a darkhorse in the 1500 meters but I love darkhorse and think that the underdog will win and she will get a bronze medal,in my eyes

Steeplechase

There is only one person that I think you should watch in the Men's Steeplechase and it is Evan Jager. Why I am saying this is cause he is not the American Steeplechase Record Holder. I think that he will beat his American Record two more time in the Semi-Finals & Finals on his way to a bronze medal

I have two people to watch in the Women's Steeplechase and they are Steeplechase teammates of mine all of us coached by 2008 Steeplechase Olympian Billy Nelson. They are Emma Corburn & Shalaya Kipp & I think they both will get medals.

5K

This is the only guy to watch in two events, 5K & 10K, is Galen Rupp and I hope he gets a medal in both events along with his training parnter Mo Farah

There are two women in the 5K and they are Julie Culley and Molly Huddle are ones to watch. I think, my Saucony teammate Molly Huddle will be a darkhorse and get a medal.

10K

I think all three USA 10K guys: Galen Rupp, Matt Tegenkamp & Dathan Ritzenhein are the one to watch

I think the biggest underdog of the USA Distance Team is Amy Hasting and she will surprise everyone with a bronze medal in the 10K

Marathon

Two in the Marathon to watch are Ryan Hall & Shalane Flanagan  and I think they both will get silver medals

Decathlon

Need I say more who is the one to watch in the Decathlon and it is "The Jacked One" Trey Hardee

High Jump

The one to watch in the high jump is the very funny Brigetta Barrett

USA Distance Olympics Medal Picks

First of all, before I talk about my Distance Medal Picks I wanted to say one thing. I wanted to say thanks to Evan Jager for getting an American Record in the Steeplechase yesterday by just a little over 2 seconds. The American Record by Dan Lincoln was set in 2006 with a time of 8:08.82 and Evan Jager jus got a 8:06.81 in just his 5th Steeplechase race ever. Now that is over just like Sport Illustraed picked there top three in every sport and event for the Olympic and I thought I would tell you who I think in the American Distance World will get a medal and what medal I think they will get.

800 Meters
Mens: Nick Symmonds, either Silver or Bronze
Female: Alysia Montano, A Bronze Medal and A Bronze Flower

1500 Meters
Mens: This is a hard one for me cause we have three great 1500 meters running in this race but it will either be Leo Manazo getting Bronze or no medal at all
Female: Shannon Rowbury, Bronze

Steeplechase
Mens: Evan Jager, Bronze but I think he will beat his American rRecord in the Semi-Finals and then again in the finals on his way to 3rd place and a Bronze Medal
Female: Emma Corburn, Silver & Shayla Kipp, Bronze, my teammate cause we are coached by the same person 2008 Steeplechase Olympian Billy Nelson

5K
Mens: Galen Rupp, Bronze
Womens: Julie Cully, Bronze

10K
Mens: Galen Rupp, Silver, right behind his training partner Mo Farah, Gold
Womens: Amy Hastings, Silver, no doubt about this one

Marathon
Mens: Ryan Hall, either Silver or Bronze
Womens: Desiree Davila, Silver and Shalane Flanagan, Bronze

Decathlon
Ashton Eaton, Gold, & one of my best friends Trey Hardee, Silver

The New Superhero Of Distance Running

A lot of sports have people that make there sport what it is and there are some sports that superheroes that change the sport on it's head. In this sport of Track & Field we have Nick Symmonds. Nick Symmonds hopefully you know by now is fight the good fight against IAAF & USATF just like Pre did against The AAU back in the early to mid-70's. It is all about get more sponorship and money into Track & Field and more money for Track & Field Athletes. For all you that don't know that Track & Field athletes aren't getting paid as much as Pro Football, Basketball, Hockey & Baseball players; Track & Field athlete only make about $15,000 a year and isn't as much as some of the other sports make they about 3-4 time that.

Track & Field get sponorships like a shoe company and other companies but when it comes to Track & Field Meets they can show them, ie Nick Symmonds taping over the Hanson Dodge Creative temporary Tattoo on his left bicep. When it comes to The Olympic they can't even can't talk about their sponorships at all.

The reason that I am writing this blog is cause what this past week. Nick Symmonds & Lol Jones we set to run in the Aviva London  Grand Prix Meet which is part of the Diamond League Track Meet. The meet director, Ian Stewart said that Nick and Lolo were a "Liability" and weren't able to run in the meet, which we all know now that it was really cause of their view on sponorships. Cause of this Ian Stewart and USATF CEO Stephaine Hightower are the most hated people in Track & Field. I think that we got to change the sport of Track & Field for the better and now the worst and I think the guy to do it is Nick Symmonds.

Track & Field Mid-Season Report

Every sport does a mid-season report for 2012 and I thought I would do one on the 3 best and worst things in Track & Field so far.

Top 3 Worst Thing In T & F in 2012
3. Anthony Famiglietti
Why this cause of The Trials. Alan Webb got into The Trials cause they let Alan Webb after his appeal but didn't let Anthony in when he tried to appeal. So he throught it was cause Webb was a Nike athlete and he told his twitter follows to call the USATF to try to get him in

2. Jeremy Wariner
Why I picked this is cause when I was at The Olympic Track Trials I wanted to get my favorite Sprinters autograph & after he finished twice he didn't give any of his fans an autograph and after the 400 finals he curled up in a ball cause he didn't make it to The Olympics

1. Ian Stewart & Stephanie Hightower
need we say anymore

Top 3 Best Things In T & F in 2012
3. Beard & Staches
It seem that everyone in the distance running communtiy either has a stache or beard; ie people like John Jefferson, Will Leer, Canadian Distancer Runner Geoff Harris, me and others. I am just wanting for a beard from Nick Symmonds & Decathlon Trey Hardee

2. Nick Symmonds
My I say this one is cause he fight the good fight against people like Ian Stewart/Stephanie Hightower, IAAF, & The USATF about sponsorship

1. The Olympic Track Trials
Need I say more and I want to thank everyone who donated money for me to get to The Olympic Track Trials

Steeplechase Race

This past Sunday I ran my first Steeplechase race in the summer in about 90 degree weather. I was glad that I was running in the Steeple cause of the heat and that we had the water pit. As you can see you might see that I have an Alysia Montano look but I also had the Will Leer stache and the Nick Symmonds twitter name on my left bicep. My flower didn't last long cause it fell off after jumping my first steeple. I wasn't the only one in the Steeplechase casue there was other guy in the Steeple which made me feel a little better. Also, this was my first Steeplechase race until my new Coach Olympian Billy Nelson. I ran a 13:20 but I was more advage jumping the Steeples. After my race I did a little ice bath in the water pit and was splashing one of my teammates so he throw me into the water pit and little did he know I had extra clothes in my bag and I always bring extra clothes if I get wet from the water pit.

Top 17 Olympic Track Trials Moments

In this blog is about my memories that I had while I was in Eugene, Oregon for The Olympic Track Trials and these are the best memories

17. Legends B-Ball Game
This was a B-Ball Game with former Olympic Track Stars, Male & Female, like Sandra Farmer Patrick, Mo Greene & JJK

16. Meeting Pro Athletes Left & Right
It was cool that I met Pro Athlete, ie Distance Runners, and that when they walked by after they finish to the Athlete arera people were surprised when the distance runner knew me.

15. Galen Rupp Question Answered
I bet you are wondering what this is about. The whole time I was in Eugene for The Trials I worked for Runnerspace. They were to get me a media pass but they couldn't so Chris from Runnerspace came to my hotel, which I had for only one day before I stayed at The U of O Dorms, he video taped me asking about 20-30 questions to different distance athletes and one of my questions that I asked Galen Rupp answered

14. David Torrence/Shannon Rowbury/ Leo Manzano
When I was wait to get autographs on my singlets at the Athlete Check-In/ Leaving Area when David Torrence came out and I got his autograph. A lot of times fans of the distance athletes say that they say you inspire me to get out and run. David told me that him, Shannon & Leo said that distance running fans like me but mostly me inspire them to get out and run every day

13. The All-Comers Meet
On the first day off from The Trials they had The All-Comers Meet on Hayward Field Track where you could either run the 100 or Mile based on your time for the mile they grouped you in. I was in the 5:30-6:00 minute mile pace and I ran 5:50. My first mile since high school.

12. The Wild Duck
During The Trials this restuant was the place to be to eat and hang out cause new Olympians and athletes that just ran in The Trials were there and The Duck had karkore as well

11. Pictures & Autograph
At The Trials I was getting Pro Track & Field Athlete's Pics and autograph but at The Trials people wanted pics with me and I even had two guys either high school or college age wanting my autograph

10. Dinner At Track Town Pizza
After The All-Comers Meet I had Dinner With Lynn UOfangirl and Jordan Guther but when we got there Jordan and I saw 5K runner Mo Trafeh and two of his friends so we had dinner with them. We learned a lot about Moracco cause that is where Mo is original from but he was running in The Trials for USA

9. Pre's Rock
This was worth the wait. Earlier in the week I went the wrong way to go to Pre's Rock so when I saw Mathias from UW-Whitewater out in Eugene at The All Comers Meet he said that we would run by Pre's Rock to show me where it was and it is hilly by Pre's Rock so we did a hill workout that day

8. Working for Runnerspace
When I was at The Trials I worked for two companies VS Athletics and RunnerSpace. I was to get a media pass for The Trials for RunnerSpace but they were asking for too many media pass so I just did Nitely Recaps about what happened that day to me and on the track

7. John Jefferson/A.J. Acosta
For those who don't know who John Jefferson is he is a 1500 meter runner that runs for Team Indiana Elite, ie TIE, and Steeplechaser Stephaine Garcia is his fincie. I bet you all know who A.J. Acosta is a guy who ran for University of Oregon and now is looking to be picked up for a running shoe company to sponcer him. John Jefferson gave me his bib number and A.J. Acosta has something for me that I hopefully think he is sending me

6. Maggie Vessey
WHy this is up is cause I know a lot of people thing that Maggie Vessey is intimating to talk to cause of he height but when I got to talk to here at The Wild Duck for a couple of minutes she is such a sweetheart

5. Saucony
This is a big one for me cause one night at The Wild Duck I was trying to get a table for one for dinner and Pro Distance Runner Tommy Schmitz & Saucony guy Juris Cooper were also getting a table at The Wild Duck but for 12. They asked me to join them and we talked about everything and by the end of the night Juris asked me if I wanted to be an Honorary Athlete for Saucony. They said that they are sending me somethings including Saucony shoes to run in

4. Trey Hardee
Everyone was talking about Ashton Eaton getting a World Record in the Decathlon but they forgot to talk about Trey Hardee's comeback from Tom Jon's Surgery that he had earlier this year. After two days of competing and when they left the track to pass by after the finish area I got a hand shake from my buddy Trey Hardee and then that Sunday I was to meet Trey before the Decathlon Private Party at The U of O Art Center and we never got to meet. This would have been top 2 if we got to meet just for a minute or two

3. Nick Symmonds
The reason that this is a memory is cause we I was walk back to my dorm from The Wild Duck I saw a bunch of guys that I didn't want to deal with cause they were a wild buch and the bunch of guys was Nick Symmonds and his clan. Nick saw me and asked me if I had my camera cause he wanted a picture of him and me together and then before he went to The Wild Duck to party he said to his friends about me, "This Guy Knows Run" about three time. That was the night that he won the 800 finals and was going to The Olympics. Then I met two guys asked me if I was Derek Rubis and then they said that they were going to a party at Stephen Finley, OTC-Elite Athlete, and I went.

2. Billy Nelson
Why this is number two is cause it is Olympic Steeplechaser Billy Nelson. Every morning but one I got to run with The Flotrack/Brooks Group on Pre's Trial and Amazon Trial. That morning when we got to Pre's Trial I saw someone that I thought I knew and it was Billy Nelson and we got to talk and run together for about 9 miles. That was the greatest day of my life

1. House Party With Pro Distance Athletes
This was by accident cause I was at The Wild Duck that night and talk to some of the Pro Distance Runners and they said that there was a house party at Stephen Finley's house with other Pro Distance Athletes and I thought to myself I know where Finley lives and this a chance of a lifetime to party with Distance Runners. It was cause earlier that day a bunch of people and myself were wanting at the athlete's area for Men's 1500 Olympians and didn't get to see them but at The Party I got to Party with Matthew Centrowitz and others like Will Leer, Phoebe Wright, A.J. Acosta and others. This was a perfect thing cause it was my last night in Eugene and I was trying to stay up all night cause I had a cab ride for 3:45 am that morning to get to the airport for my flight at 6 am and I was scaried that I wouldn't hear my alarm clock.

All in all I had an amazes ball of a time in Eugene, Oregon for The Trials

Top 12 Olympic Trials Races

I'm back and the next two blogs will be The Olympic Track Trials that were in Eugene, Oregon and they will be my view of the 12 best races and field events and then the second blog will be my 17 favorite moment that happened at The Olympic Track Trials. Let's start this thing off right with my view of the 12 best track races and field events

12. Women's High Jump
The reason this up here is if you show it live it everything from a high schooler to Lowe dance after making the height & Brigetta Barrettis celebrating after making two of her heights which were PRs for her

11. Men's Decathlon
I bet everyone think that this should be higher just cause of Ashton Eaton's World Record but I put it on here cause Trey Hardee's peformance after having Tom Jons Sugery

10. Men's 5K
This race is not higher cause we all know who the three guys were going to be that were going to The Olympic in the 5K but we didn't know that Galen Rupp was going to run the Men's 5K Final and break Steve "Pre" Prefontaine's 5K rercord

9. Women's 1500
Just like the Men's 5K we already know two of the three women that were going to The Olympics in the 1500, Jenny Simpson & Shannon Rowbury. This is a race that I want two darkhorses to make it so that this could be a shocker of a race. I wanted Sara Vaughn & Gabriele Andersen to make it with Shannon Rowbury just to shock the crowd.

8. Women's 10K
Just an amazing race to watch live without commericals and them going to the field events

7. Women's 800
This race was awesome and two amazing runners, Alyisa Montano & Geena Gall got into but the shocker was that Maggie Vessey didn't get in. Maggie Vessey not going to The Olympic is one of my shockers of The Trials. The biggest shocker was in the Men's Steeplechase

6. Women's Steeplechase
Amazing race cause two Colorado Runners, Emma Coburn & Kipp, are going to the Olympic and they are coached by another guy who tried to get into the Olympic in the Steeplechase and my new Coach, Billy Nelson. The third women should have been Stephaine Garica, who I think is an amazing Steeplechase

5. Men's 10K
This was Galen Rupp's punch card to The Olympic but why I like this race is for two reasons. Reason one is that my bro, Matt Tegenkamp, made it to The Olympics. Reason two is that Dathan Ritzenhein got The Olympic 'A' Standard in this race that he need to go to The Olympics

4. Men's 800
This race should be called The Nick Symmonds 800 cause if he is the race he almost always wins the Men's 800 but it was great to see my Saucony Team member, Duane Solomon, getting into The Olympic cause he is one of the nicest guys on the track ever

3. Men's 1500
This finals was amazing cause you didn't know who the top three where going to be going to The Olympics until the last lap. The whole stadium expect me wanted a Oregon Sweep cause if that happened the Oregon Coach would have shaved off his stache, but I really wanted Will Leer to go after two of my original picks to go didn't make it. The two guys were A.J. Acosta & John Jefferson.

2. Women's 5K
The reason that this race is so high is cause of the finish and Juila Lucas not going to The Olympic, which she should have, after been in the top three for most of the race. The other reason being that Juila Lucas' husband Ian Dobson had to run in the Men's 5K Finals right after the Women's 5K Finals

1. Men's Steeplechase
This race is number one cause of a shocker in this race. The shocker is that Billy Nelson & Josh McAdams vertians in the Steeplechase didn't make it to The London Olympic but three new kids in the crowds: Evan Jager, Donn Cabral & Kyle Alcorn, and all three of those guys are my friends and I am proud of them