The 14th Interview: Anthony Solis Interview

This is 14th Interview and it is about Anthony Solis and he is an elite distance runner for adidas-Legacy Run Racing training in Southern California. He's recovering from a minor sports hernia and is getting ready to roll this track season.

1. How did you get started in running?
I got started my freshman year of High School to prove to my dad I could be a better runner than he was, and I've just stuck with it ever since.

2. What do you tell people that don't get our sport of distance running?
I just tell people that I do this for the pure competition aspect of it. It feels great to go out and compete against other athletes that are working their asses off as well.
3. What are you current PR's?
My current PR's are 14:20 for 5k(2010), and 29:38 for 10k(2011). But those will drop drastically this track season I guarantee it.
4. How different is Professional Distance Running Then College Running, for you?
I wouldn't consider my professional just yet, but being considered an "Elite" when you enter races is pretty cool. But I say the biggest difference is being able to put your runs and workouts in on your own schedule. Also being able to accept prize money from races is a big difference.

5. Who are your favorite professional and/or college distance runner(s) past and/or present & why?
I've looked up to Meb since I first started running and have always enjoyed watching his races. I'd also have to say Charlie Serrano and Jimmy Grabow, who are teammates of mine for adidas-Legacy Run Racing. You can catch them at the Trials this weekend!

6. Best or Worst thing about being a distance running?
I say the best part would have to be the friends that you make throughout the years, and finding out that younger runners actually look up to you. The worst thing is definitely the post tempo "runs" because my stomach is always jacked up after.

7. Your Favorite Moment of your distance running career?
My favorite moment of my career this far would have to be representing Team USA at the 2009 Jr Pan Am games with Parker Stinson and everyone else who made that team.
 
8. Goals for 2012?
Goals for 2012 are: Sub 29:00min 10k, sub 14min 5k, 64:30 1/2Marathon. And of course getting a qualifying time for the Oly Trials in the 10k would be icing on the cake.
I am hoping you guys are loving the Professional/College Distance Runner Interviews as much as I am

The 13th Interview: Nathan Brannen Interview

The Unlucky number 13th Interview is about Nathan Brannen and I think this is a lucky interview. Nathan Brannen , if you don't know, was Alan Webb's roommate when they were at University of Michigan

1. How did you get started in running?

I am involved in sports at a very young age and participated in everything. Hockey was a huge part of my childhood and the dream of playing in the NHL one day was a dream on mine. This quickly changed around age 12 when I realized my size just wasn't adequate for being a professional hockey player. I was always a very good runner and in the ninth grade I decided to give it a go and started getting a little more serious.

2. What do you tell people that don't get our sport of distance running?

I think things have changed a lot in the past few years and more people are getting involved in running and paying more attention to the sport. Usain Bolt has had a huge impact of the sport of track and field which has brought a lot more attention to our sport. Other athletes like Ryan Hall has brought more light specifically to distance running and the marathon. Both have been great for our sport in different ways.

3. What are you current PR's?
800- 1:46.00
1000m- 2:17.34
1500- 3:34.65
mile- 3:52.63
3000m (indoor)- 7:47.90
5000m- 13:43.19

4. How different is Professional Distance Running Then College Running, for you?

The major difference is I now have more time to really focus on the smaller things. The thing I liked about college was there was a focus outside of running. It was very easy to take myself out of the sport and focus on something just as important and that was my education. Without school, I'm able to fully focus on running but have found things in my personal life to help take my head away from the sport when needed.
5. Who are your favorite professional and/or college distance runner(s) past and/or present & why?

There are a lot of athletes that I look up to in our sport and have a lot of respect for. I love watching the guys in the 100 and the ease at which they run sub 10 seconds. I imagine how sweet it would be to fly down the track at that speed.

6. Best or Worst thing about being a distance running?

I don't think this relates just to distance running but to athletes in general but I think the worst thing about being an athlete is the selfishness needed to make it to the top. I'm lucky enough to have a great wife at home who understands what I'm doing and who I'm trying to be. I'm away from home training and racing most of the year and for someone who doesn't understand our sport it would be very hard to understand and support. The best thing about running is the head to head competition. I love getting out there and putting it all on the line to see who is best on that given day.

7. Your Favorite Moment of your distance running career?

As of now my most memorable moments of my career are winning the silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia and competing at my first Olympic Games at the 2008 Games in Beijing, China.

8. Goals for 2012?
My 2012 goals are...
1. Healthy
2. Olympic finalist
3. PR's in the 800, 1500 and mile.

Like I said 13 is a lucky number and so is this interview & I hope there are more interviews to come

The 12th Interview: The Great Steeplechaser Kyle Perry Interview

The 12th Interview is about about a great Steeplechaser Kyle Perry.

1. How did you get started in running?
I got my start in running in highschool when I couldn't ride my bike in the winter due to snow so I started running to train for biking. Then I met a cute girl on the team and had to stick around. 
2. What do you tell people that don't get our sport of distance running?
people who don't get our sport I say it gets a lot better after consistent training... And it's the competition aspect I like. Running is as much or more a sport of improving yourself rather than beating someone else. Also running is more friendly than other sports. We're all part of the running family.

3. What are you current PR's?
my current Prs are
Mile 3:59.16
3k 7:51.28
Steeple 8:29.25
5k 13:34
4. How did you get started in Steeplechasing?
I got started in steeple chase because my college teammate josh Mcadams was so good at it and I wanted to be like him.

5. How different is Professional Distance Running Then College Running, for you?
professional running is different than college because it's more about pleasing the sponsor than improving and chipping away at the pr. I liked college a lot more and think I may go sponsor free for a while to make running more of my release from work than my work
6. Who are your favorite professional and/or college distance runner(s) past and/or present & why?
my favorite runners are josh Mcadams, he's always been a friend and motivator, chris solinsky. He is as nice a guy as anyone I've met and he's amazing. Miles Batty is a friend and impresses me with how hard work always pays more dividends then talent.

7. Best or Worst thing about being a distance running?
the worst part about being a distance runner is injury. I am currently recovering from knee surgery from an injury that made my 2011 miserable. I'm excited to get back Into the competitive mix.

8. Your Favorite Moment of your distance running career?
favorite moment of my career was winning my prelim heat of the 2009 NCAA championships and having my teammate rich Nelson win heat 2. We were suddenly sure that we could run with anyone in the country and it led to my championship but the prelim was so fun cause it's always better to share success with a close friend

9. Goals for 2012?
my goals for 2012 are first.... Bouncing back from knee surgery, running fast enough to make the trials, and then give it a shot for London. Baby steps for now.

Another amazing Interview by another Professional Distance Runner/Steeplechaser

The 11th Interview:The Great Steeplechase Anthony Famiglietti Interview

The 11th Interview is about one of my Steeplechase God and one of the reasons that I am still running, Anthony Famiglietti

1. How did you get started in running?

My very first race was in elementary school. It was a field day event and I passed out at the halfway point. I went out too fast in the race and blacked out. I remember waking up to my mom and teachers standing over me. That was my very first introduction to running.

2. What do you tell people that don't get our sport of distance running?
I try my best to inspire them to run. I think we should all present ourselves as ambassadors of the sport and not treat distance running like an exclusive club. I'm not a fan of the word "elite".

3. What are you current PR's?

1500 3:35 Mile 3:55 5k 13:11 Steeple 8:17 10k 27:37. I'm working to lower some of these this year. Almost all of my PRs were run in the US. The opportunity to race in Europe in a fast field under the right training conditions never really coalesced. I look forward to the day that it does. Problem is, I love racing in the US more than anything

4. How did you get started in Steeplechasing?

My high school coach forbid me to race the steeple, he said it was too dangerous. That only made me more curious and hungry to try it. College coach let me try it once at the very last meet of freshman season. After that he directed me more towards the 5k. My second steeple came during my sophomore year at an early season track meet at UNC Charlotte. My coach had me entered in a flat 3k. I was upset because I specifically wanted to take a shot at the steeple again and my coach flat out said no. I secretly entered myself into the steeple once we got to the meet. I snuck off to warm up for the steeple and the coach caught me. He said, "the 3k doesn't start for 3 hours why are you warming up?" I told him my plan to run the steeple and he was quite upset. We debated for a bit after which I simply said, "I'm racing it." Aggravated the coach finally gave in, but he only agreed on the terms that I'd still run the flat 3k after the steeple as punishment. He also said, "Don't expect any splits from me, you're on your own." I raced the steeple to a big PR that day. I had absolutely no idea of my pace or splits until the coach ran over to the fence with a lap to go when he saw that I might break nine minutes. I set the track steeplechase record that day at UNCC and it stood for a long time. I also set my school record for the flat 3k an hour or so later. I was a steeplechaser from then on.

5. How different is Professional Distance Running Then College Running, for you?

I miss running with a team. The camaraderie and group effort is a great feeling. As a professional I have not had that in eleven years. You have to be ten times as disciplined and self motivated to make it in the pros. You're mostly on your own in every way. I think the new elite groups that have emerged the past few years are a great step in the right direction. The main downside to the groups is that they are brand biased. If you do not run for the particular running brand that sponsors each group, you cannot be a part of the team. I had also once asked a very well known top elite coach in the past to coach me. He turned me away on the grounds that I was not sponsored with the brand that was funding him. That kind of bias has been hurting American running for a long time. Instead of American running developing as a whole together, you have this brand vs that brand etc.


6. Who are your favorite professional and/or college distance runner(s) past and/or present & why?

I tend to root for the underdogs. As far as professional runners go I like some runners from way back. Louis Zamperini is interesting, Ellison "Tarzan" Brown. I like looking way back to the early runners of the Irish American Athletic Club. Guys like John Baxter Taylor Jr, Abel Kiviat, "Peerless Mel" Sheppard. I think it would be amazing to have that kind of club again in the US.


7. Best or Worst thing about being a distance running?

Best thing, transformation in every sense of the word. Worst things about distance running, greed and vanity in the form of cheaters who care only about increasing their profile and making easy money. Greed also in the form of bureaucracy and antiquated rules that make administrators wealthy and athletes struggle. 
8. Your Favorite Moment of your distance running career?

A solo trail run on my favorite single track trail. That and racing for my own running apparel brand Reckless Running. Racing for Reckless Running has afforded me incredible freedom in running that I have never experienced before. I plan to help other runners experience and be a part of that soon.

9. Goals for 2012?

Make my third Olympic team in the steeplechase and return to the United States with hardware. Inspire as many runners as possible along the way.

I think that this my favorite interview so far and I hope there is more great interviews from Distance Runners to come

The 10th Interview: Wisconsin's Own Mike Brice Interview

The 10th Interview is about One of the guys from the DI XC National Champs, Wisconsin and he is Mike Brice

1. How did you get started in running?
I began running in 7th grade after my parents talked to me about running. After one track season I realized that running is what I wanted to pursue and began to focus solely on cross country and track once I entered high school.

2. What do you tell people that don't get our sport of distance running?
I think explaining what runners do and why they do it is one of the more difficult questions that distance runners face. I think it is different for each athlete, but for me it comes down to enjoying competition and trying to get better every day.

3. What are you current PR's?
My current pr's are 30:30 in the 10k and 14:45 in the 5k.

4. How do you manage being a college student with being a college distance runner?
Being a student-athlete is certainly a challenge that is faced by athletes of all sports. I think distance running is particularly difficult due to having three seasons of competition, but I also think that it has been a part of my life for so long that I have become use to doing everything else around my training schedule.
 
5. Who are your favorite professional and/or college distance runner(s) past and/or present & why?
My favorite distance runners are Tim Hacker and Chris Solinsky. Both are Wisconsin natives and Badger alumni that I have looked up to since I was a child. 

6. Best or Worst thing about being a distance running?
The worst thing about distance running is the daily grind that everyone must go throught if they are trying to improve. This, however, has a lot to do with the best thing which is the close friends that are made with the indivduals who chase these goals with you.
7. Your Favorite Moment of your distance running career?
 My favorite moment of my running career was winning the national championship this cross country season. It was an incredible experience and will never be forgotten.

8. Goal in 2012?
My goal for this year is to keep getting better. I think this was a great year, but something that I need to build off of in the future.

I hope you guys are liking this interviews and there is more interviews on the way

The 9th Interview: Wisconsin Great Distance Runner Zachary Mellon Interview

The 9th Interview is about the great Wisconsin Distance Runner Zachary Mellon.

1. How did you get started in running?
I believe my start in running was something that God worked in my life. I was never into sports much or exercising, but in 8th grade I had a friend say I couldn't hack track and field, that along with a gym teacher who liked to blow smoke to his students to get them to come out for sports (he convinced I would win races when I ran 6:57 for the mile in class), got some wheels turning. So, I went out for it and after the first three days I wanted to quit so bad, but I stayed with it for reasons that are beyond me.

2. What do you tell people that don't get our sport of distance running?
I would like to tell people something I have begun to learn myself this year: Racing the way we race takes hard work. That may seem trite but it is something I believe few truly have a grasp on. To do what we do, you have to lose that innate sense of entitlement and realize that nothing comes without trials and that you are no more deserving than anyone else. If you want it you have to earn, and if you fail you have to work harder (which also entails knowing when to take easy).

3. What are you current PR's?
400 - :47.2 (split)
800 - 1:47.45
1500 - 3:46
Mile - 4:11

4. How do you manage being a college student with being a college distance runner?
I don't know (ha ha ha). It's tough and requires organization and a focus I don't quite have.

5. Who are your favorite professional and/or college distance runner(s) past and/or present & why?
My favorite runner is an old high school teammate of mine. I used to chase him around the track my freshman year in high school. He was the best on our team and one of the best in the state and I wanted to emulate him so bad, but could never beat him. He definitely inspired me and played a huge role in helping me develop into the runner I am. Favorite pro runner: Craig Miller. Favorite college runner: Austin Mudd & the rest of our wolf pack. WP4L.

6. Best or Worst thing about being a distance running?
Best thing about it is when you get to do it with a team. Worst thing about it is doing it by yourself.

7. Your Favorite Moment of your distance running career?
 My favorite moment is when Landon Peacock won 2010 Big Tens XC.

8. Goals in 2012?
My goals are to stay healthy, have fun, train hard, and help our mid distances group become better.

The 8th Interview: The Great Marathon Tyler McCandless Interview

The 8th interview that I got is about the great marathoner Tyler McCandless Interview. This a guy is also a  guy who ran a lot more miles than anyone I know about 5100 miles and ran 521 times in 2011.

1. How did you get started in running?
I got started in running to get in shape for soccer, but ended up having more success in track and enjoyed it more than soccer.

2. What do you tell people that don't get our sport of distance running?
This isn't a sport where you get lucky and are in the right position for the game winning touchdown or goal. This is a sport that requires patience and delayed gratification. However, the tougher the challenge, the greater the result.

3. What are you current PR's?
29:15 for 10k on the track while running in college for Penn State. 1:04:59 for the half-marathon and 2:17:09 for the marathon.
4. How different is Professional Distance Running Then College Running, for you?
Very different in terms of competition not focused on three seasons (xc, indoor, outdoor) but in terms of whatever peak race(s) you want to do. I've been lucky to meet some really good friends through the sport after college though because you make more friends outside of your team and have better relationships with race directors, staff, and volunteers.

5. Who are your favorite professional and/or college distance runner(s) past and/or present & why?
Most of my favorite runners are from the 80s generation with guys like Benji Durden, Kyle Heffner, Bill Rodgers, Dick Beardsley, Frank Shorter, and that generation that was not afraid to race.

6. Best or Worst thing about being a distance running?
The best thing is being surrounded by a fantastic running community. I firmly believe there's no more positive community around a sport in the country.
7. Your Favorite Moment of your distance running career?
Winning the Kauai Marathon was very special because I worked very hard to prepare for the heat and spent a lot of money to travel to Hawaii for the race.

8. Goals for 2012?
Stay healthy and improve are always goals. Specifically finishing in the top ten at the Olympic Marathon Trials would be a great start. Running a personal best in the marathon is another important goal for me in 2012.
I hope you guys are getting insight into some of these Professional/College Distance Runners