Q:  What is your motivation behind this Club Dirt?

A:  I'm just trying to have fun with the sport.  I wish to continue running, and as I continue running, I don't want to be just some recreational runner.  I've had some potential left in my tank, and I don't wanna get older and think about what I could've done.  I wanna see what I can do, and will put it out on the line and train even harder than I did in college.  Theres a great group of guys in Lock Haven who are very serious about running and their support made me want to do this as well.  The sport has been lacking in general as well, so hopefully this Club can take off and garner some support and get a few lazy people active and ready to see what they are capable of.

Q:  How do you feel about your injury and academic ineligiblity which has ended your collegiate career one season early?

A:  Everything happens for a reason. I guess I had to learn some kind of lesson.  Being academically ineligible with the whole credit dilemma, screwed me in a few other ways to, most importantly financially.  But, it might be teaching me to be responsible and that money just doesn't grow on trees.  I've learned to be a hard worker and make the most of my talent as a runner, now I just need to do the same as a working man and person.  I'm sure things will turn out OK.  Lock Haven's men will do fine without me as they have so much depth, the distance contests should not even be close.  I'll be there at conference to support them, thats for sure.

Q:  Why not just talk away from running and call it a career? 

A:  What career?  Just as I was seeing what I am capable of, I'm not a quitter.  I want to be running until the day I die and to be competitive and at the same time have fun with it as well.  It is the greatest joy in my life as few things could make me happier than the feeling of getting done with a hard workout or long run. I'm sure other serious runners know how it is.  Something great I'll tell ya.

Q:  You said you didn't want to run cross country in 2004, what changed your mind?

A: I put too much pressure on myself in the past and expected too much.  I would be upset if I lost to a teammate or to certain runners I felt I should beat.  This past summer though, I changed that, I put my faith in Aaron Russell's training and that the pressure was on him, rather than me and my only job was to follow that and not worry about results.  I just wanted to have fun with running, and I realized, that all other serious competitors are out there working just as hard as me.  They deserve to race well too, I'm racing myself, if I do 100 percent of what I'm capable of, I'll be happy with it, the people I beat are just an added bonus.

Q:  What do you see with Club Dirt?  Will it take off?

A:  I have no idea, but I think it will turn out to be a very positive thing for many people.  Funding is something I would like to get in the future if it does indeed take off. But, that is probably a long ways away.  I just want it to serve as a social and supportive group of dedicated runners that have talent, but aren't the best in the world, a post collegiate experience for them.

Q:  What can we expect from you this year?

A:  Well I gotta get healthy first, but this spring I am just going to focus on running some middle distance races.  A sub 4 1500 would be great, but I lost a lot of my base, so if im in the low 4 minute area, that would be good for me, and low 2 minute 800s.  A 5k will also be in the cards and hopefully I can get under 16 minutes for that.  If I was in great shape, I would be looking at sub 4, 1:57 and under 15:30.  I might look to start a base in the summer time, or race the summer road race circuit, I'm not sure yet.  But the Wyomiing Valley triple crown is something I would like to go after.  There is talent in the area but I think I have a legit shot to take this if I can get solid training in.

 

Thank you very much for your time and answers, have a nice day