I was completely surprised! When I look at the recipients from the other states, there are some amazing runners and I feel very honored to be listed among them.
2. You're coming off a XC season where you were undefeated in the state. You also pulled off the rare NXN/Footlocker double. Talk about the decision to race both meets, and out of those two championship races, which did you enjoy the most and why?
I was very blessed this season to be able to compete in both Footlocker and NXN. At the beginning of the year, I was just going to focus on NXN since the regional meet was in my home state. About half way through my Cross season, I decided that I would attempt to try both. Since it is my junior year, I was just going to go and experience both meets and get a feel for which one I will focus on next year. Both meets were a blast! I would do anything to go back! NXN was such a fun experience! It was exciting to run on the brand new course. NXN was also a bit of an eye opener, but it was nice to get a national meet under my belt. Footlocker was a great way to end my season. It was a nice transition going from wet and cold weather in Portland to San Diego, where it was 70 degrees. At Footlocker they really treat you like royalty. Footlocker was a very special experience. As far as the race goes, there was more competition as an individual at Footlocker. I haven't quite made my mind up on which one is my favorite, but I will be thinking long and hard regarding my decision as to which race I will choose next year.
3. Now switching gears to the track. You finished 1st in all your 2014 races in both the 3200m/1600m. You return as the 1600/3200 double state champ. Do you feel pressure leading up to this season knowing you will enter every race as the favorite?
I don't really think much of it. I used to get stressed out with pressure last year during cross country season, but during spring track season, I learned to just forget about all the pressure and just run my race. I feel that pressure can motivate, but if you think about it too much it can get in your head and be a distraction.
4. You obviously have a background in longer distance races from XC. Looking at the track, do you prefer racing the 16 or 32 and why?
That's a difficult question, because I really enjoy both races. During my freshman year I used to think that the 3200m was SO many laps, and that the 1600m was just right. Last year I had really learned to appreciate the 3200m, I felt a lot more relaxed in the 3200 than the 1600 and I had more time to get into a good position to make my move. This year I'm not so sure on which race will be my favorite. I'm really trying to get my 1600m time down so hopefully my love for the 1600m grows.
5. There are a lot of big wins & fast times on your race resume. What are your goals for the 2015 Outdoor season?
My primary goals this year is to enjoy the process. Sometimes I get a little anxious and start going too hard from the get-go. This year I want to take my time and go for a more long term effect. As far as my times go, I hope to get around 8:50 for the 2 mile, and approach 4:05 for the mile. Those times may be a little out of the ball park for me right now, but with all the great competition in Texas, I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few others right by my side.
6. Walk us through a difficult time or moment in training/racing. How did you learn from it, and how did it help you to become a stronger runner?
During my cross season last year, I expected every workout to be better then the last one. Of course that didn't happen, and I would really get down on myself. I would put so much pressure on myself that I was just always stressed out. Eventually the stress erupted in one my races. My breakdown was at the 2013 regional meet. So many people had high expectations for me, and I let all that get into to my head. I was so worried about what others expected from me, when really I only need to focus on running to best of my abilities. From the start of the race I was in pretty good position, but I noticed that my pace was off at the first mile. I tried not to think much of it, until I saw someone passed me, and another, and another. by the end of the third mile I was sitting somewhere around 5th-12th. We were all packed up in a group, and I was not feeling strong. I had worked so hard to make to make it to the state meet and I saw that dream slipping away from me. I pushed hard to get myself into 3rd position at regionals which was good enough to go to state. I remember just collapsing at the finish line in disappointment. I had to reevaluate myself as a runner. The only thing that I could think about, was that my chances for winning state were out the window. I worked very hard to gain a perspective on where I was as a runner at that point. After the 2013 NXR race I didn't really get a very good warm-up, and it led to an injury. I've been very fortunate, not having to deal with many issues or injuries up until that time. It was at that point, I fully understood how much running and competing means to me. While I took time to recover, my desire to improve continued to grow and I was anxious to get back to training. Since the 2013 Regional meet, I have not gone into a meet feeling stressed or pressured that I need to meet the expectations of others, but rather to go into the race confident and relaxed knowing that I have another opportunity to show the hard work that I have put in. Running can be stressful, so it is important that you remain disciplined and focused on continually improving during practices to develop confidence in yourself.
7. Go through your pre-race routine. How do you physically & mentally prep yourself for a race, and do you have any rituals/superstitions?
My pre-race routine typically starts about about 45 min. to an hour before the race with my shake out run. The time of my warm up run varies. I usually do a slow jog until I feel loose and ready to go. After that I go to our camp site and grab my spikes. I head back down and begin to do some drills. Once I'm warmed up, I take about 5 minutes to just sit and relax. I try to not to think too much about the race. Once the event ahead of my race starts, I put my spikes on and I do some strides at my mile race pace. During my strides I like to think about the runners that I will be competing against and their different running styles. I also try to anticipate potential issues that may arise during race and think about how I might respond if something unexpected were to happen. Once we get called to the line I just stay relaxed and focus on running my race.
8. How does your ideal race play out in your mind? Do you like to hammer the pace from the front,sit and kick,etc?
My race strategy is somewhat dependent on who I am racing against. I don't generally have a specific race plan that I follow for every race, I make adjustments to adapt to the competition. My ideal race would be one where someone sets a really fast pace and we push each other to get negative splits for each lap.
9. Being a top level distance runner in Texas can be difficult. With the size of the state, the elite distance runners are spread out and you may not be running against athletes who can push you every week. How do you stay focused and sharp through the long Texas season so that you're still ready to perform during at championship meets?
In the Dallas area, there are a lot of very good runners, so I don't really have to worry about being challenged on a regular basis. I do look forward to a few meets that attract strong runners from around the state, like Jesuit and The Distance Festival. This year may be a bit different, too. I'm hoping to run my main events (1600 and 3200) at only a few meets before my championship races. In a few meets, I'm planning to run the 800 or 400 to work on speed and hopefully to further develop my kick.
10. Talk about an individual(s) who has been an inspiration to your running career?
I have had many runners that I have looked up to. Too many to name. I can single out a couple that have really been inspirational to me; Craig Lutz, and my older brother, Clark. When I was in middle school, I was able to watch Craig Lutz run in a few races. He kind of set the bar, and set it high! I was fortunate to see him run at the Texas State meet his senior year... he was impressive. Clark (my older brother) qualified for his first State meet as a sophomore( I was in 7th grade). Clark was 4A and Craig was 5A, and that year the 5A race was before 4A. I remember standing at this finish line with my mom and the other spectators to watch the finish of their race. Craig was such a strong runner, it was exciting to watch. I kept hearing about his speed and all of the sudden I see this guy bolting up the final hill and there is no one else in sight. That was a deep field, but he made it look pretty easy! As for as my brother Clark, I didn't admire his speed as much as his dedication and work ethic. He works his tail off and has really taught me so much about discipline and staying focused. He is a great leader. Summer break was about two things for that kid; napping, and running. He would wake up every morning to go out and run, and at the time I just thought that was insane. As I entered my freshman year, I wasn't the most motivated runner and Clark really helped me see that I was not just working for myself, but for the team as well. After that I didn't spend anymore of my long runs hiding in the port-o-potty for an hour! I'm really blessed and thankful to have older siblings that I got to grow up with and watch participate in the sport. It's really helpful being able to hear their advice, and learn and grow from the direction that they provided for me.
11. Wrapping up like always with a random question. Let's say you were given the opportunity to race Usain Bolt. Obviously he has a bit of an advantage over you in the sprints. What is the shortest distance you could beat him in, and what would be your race strategy?
I believe my best bet would be racing him in a distance no shorter than the 1600. That guy can move! I would probably go out on the first lap in the 50's, try to hit 800 meters just around two minutes, push the third lap in the low 60's and then give it all I have to finish. I'm pretty sure we would have quite a battle on that last lap. And if you can set that up, I will give it my best!
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