Interview with Colin Slattery
Alex Aldaco Congratulations on your solid early season performances. Tell us how you have progressed to these breakout races this season?
Colin Slattery: Well Alex, I didn’t run at Footlocker or Nike due to a nasty cross country season. So if you look at it training-wise, I ended pretty early (right after Region IV championships) and started my track training way before any of the top guys. When I started training for track I was a man on a mission, and set my mind to it.
Alex Aldaco I don’t remember your Cross season being as successful as your track season this year. What happened during cross?
Colin Slattery: I didn’t really get that into running until the summer before my junior year. At that time I went looking for a training program that suited me. High mileage, Intervals, PAAVO, Daniels, etc. I found a program that suited me around mid-November and stuck with it. I enjoyed cross season but I was never able to hold my own when it came to Paul Snyder and the other top guys in my region. So next cross country season you can look for me to be hanging with the faster guys.
Alex Aldaco Front Runner, Sit and Kick, Even Pace? Which best describes you running?
Colin Slattery: Haha well Alex, I would have to say in all the races this season I have used the Sit and Kick method. But I never have a set distance from where I go from. If I feel good, you may see me go from 600 or 700 meters out. Other times I play it safe and go from 250 or 300. It all depends on many things. Who I’m racing, what the pace is, etc.
Alex Aldaco Here is shot to thank everyone who has helped you throughout your running career. Give me some names that really supported you over the seasons?
Colin Slattery: My parents, Shawn and Sandee, Chris Schrader, my AWESOME coaches Coach Mein and Coach Miller. Sam Martinez my teammate and closest friend for really getting me into running and teaching me most of what I know. Paul Snyder for being my inspiration throughout the years I have been running. I also need to thank Evan Hibbs and the Georgetown team, Taylor Dayton, Sean, Dennis, and the St. Michaels guys, and everybody at Sunday morning runs at Wilco Park! Thanks for everything! And the most special thanks to Jesus Christ, my lord and savior. Sorry it sounds like I’m accepting an award, just wanted to give them the thanks they deserve.
Alex Aldaco What is your goal for the season?
Colin Slattery: Never in a million years did I think I would run this fast. So the goals are a work in progress. My original goal before I ran my breakout race at the Houston All-Comers indoor, was to qualify for Congress Avenue. But now I am looking for a medal at state.
Alex Aldaco What is your least favorite workout? Why?
Colin Slattery: Well there’s a workout where I do: 1x2000, 1x1600, 4x1000. I won’t go into the paces because it gets complicated, but the 2000 is generally very fast and makes me tired for the rest of the workout. I guess you can say any sort of long interval work makes me uncomfortable, but I do well when it comes to 400’s, 600’s, etc.
Txrunning 7 Questions:
- What is your favorite word? Frodo Baggins
- What is your least favorite word? Onomatopoeia. Such a hard word to spell. I end up writing it on the side of my paper a few times before I get it down right.
- What is your favorite thing about running? Getting to remember things that you forgot to do whilst on your run. Forgot the dishes, forgot to brush the dog, forgot to do the homework. That last one may be intentional.
4. What is your least favorite thing about running? When I step into any holes or get chased by any dogs…small or big. I haven’t had any punk kid say “
- What sport other than yours would you like to attempt? A huge goal of mine in high school is for the coach to put me in one play in a football game. I could see myself being the 300 pound offensive lineman type.
- What sports would you not like to attempt? I could not, for the life of me play putt-putt. Which says I obviously won’t play golf anytime soon.
- If heaven exists, what would you like to hear god say when you arrive at the pearly gates? I’m not sure how happy I’ll be knowing that I just died. I would like for him to say something that would lighten the mood like “so…do any running lately?” or a funny joke would work too.
Thanks for the interview Alex! Hope to see you at Texas Relays.