My interview with NICK SYMMONDS and the usual randoms.

I’ve got NICK SYMMONDS here (well, on the blog) today!! Nick is part of the Brooks’ Beast team. He is a 2013, World Championship silver medalist in the 800 meters along with running a 1:42.95 (800m) in the London Olympic games in 2012.  In July I will be going to Eugene, Oregon to watch the US Olympic Team Trials for the Rio Olympics.  I can’t wait to see Nick Symmonds compete and rock it there! I had some questions for him and he answered so enjoy:)

Q:  Has your training for Rio been healthy, injury free or are you battling an injury?

A:  I had a torn left calf in February, but am 100% healthy now.

Q:  Having entered your 1st Olympics in 2008, how are you different physically and mentally now?  How has your experience in 2 Olympics and World Championships shaped (influenced) you?

A:  I now know what it takes to medal.  IN 2008 making the team was everything and the Games themselves were icing on the cake.  Not so anymore.  I compete now specifically to try and win medals.

Q:  Tell me a little bit about Run Gum and how this awesome idea came to be!

A:  I love the way energy drinks make me feel mentally and physically, but I hate what they do to my stomach.  Using my degree in biochemistry I figured we could take the active ingredients of an energy drink, infuse them into chewing gum, and have a product that provided energy faster, cleaner, with nothing in the stomach to slow you down.

Q:  What does your typical pre-race fuel look like?

A:  I usually race at night so I like to have a sandwich and popcorn about 5 hours before race time.  I have a pack of Run Gum 1 hour before race time.

Q: What are some of your go to mantras?

A:  Winning relieves pain.

Q:  What are some of your favorite Brooks pieces?  What shoes do you race in?

A:  I train in the Ravennas.  I love Brooks’ sleeveless tees.  I race in the 3 ELMN8s.

Q:  Can you give us a little peak into what a day of workouts looks like for you?

A: A day of workouts is long! At the Beasts’ level, we focus on getting the little things right, including the big things, so for a hard workout day on the track, for example, we spend a decent amount of time on warming up, doing dynamic exercises and drills and strides before we actually begin the workout.  After that and the cool down are done, we often hit the gym.  I’m a believer in strength training and it has worked for me well, so I spend time weight lifting after running, too.  This doesn’t begin to take into account the hours spend on recovery rolling out, getting massages, etc.

Q:  If you could offer any advice to a runner wanting to increase their speed—>  what would it be?

A:  Lift weights!

Q: Having run in arguably the fastest 800 meter race ever (London Olympics), how is that experience influencing your training and strategy for Rio? Going into the Rio Olympics with a PR of 1:42.9 in London, what are your expectations now?

A:  I am certain that Rio will not be as fast as London. I don’t need to be in 1:42 shape to win a medal in Rio.  I know what it takes to medal, I just need to execute properly.

Q: What is something that you do to improve your mental game?  Do you practice visualizations?  How do you prepare yourself mentally leading up to a race?

A:  I am good at shutting my mind off.  I don’t waste energy thinking about the race until I am 90 minutes out.

Thanks so much Nick and GOOD LUCK FROM ALL OF US!!!!!

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Our Tuesday is off to a good start.  I started off the morning first thing with 8 miles @ 8:34 average with a side of extremely tired legs… that tempo yesterday took it out of them.  I guess that means I should be doing more tempo runs.  A post run kiss from the Brookers was sure nice.

Brooke told me her feet were sore (hmmmm I wonder who she hears that from) so she rolled them out while wearing shoes… I’m going to have to try that out.

I then took her on a special day date just the two of us because it had been quite some time since our last date.

She had quite the stories to tell me about life.

4 random things for this afternoon:

*A reader sent this on over to me and I am this close to jumping in the car and driving 30 minutes to go get some from TJ’s.  I will have this in my possession soon—>  it sounds amazing!

*You have probably seen this video already but her laugh makes me soooooo happy!

*LOVING this lightweight running tank—> $13!  Boom.

*Megan D and Candice always have the best internet finds:

There is always room for second dessert.

*It sure is.

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The Utah Valley Half Marathon is filling up quick… COME JOIN US in a few weeks to run my absolute favorite canyon in the world.  (17 days until race day!!!!)

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Do you take caffeine before a race?

What Olympic sport(s) are you looking forward to watching the most the summer?

Have any races in June?  Which one(s)?

Ever had any calf injuries?