Heart Rate Monitors USA got the chance to interview Greg of My Track Record and we have to say, we’re impressed! Not only is Greg a great blogger (we love the video posts :)), but he’s also a past member of the United States’ 100K World Championship team. We wish him all the luck in the world in achieving his future goals, as well as congratulations for his past achievements. Enjoy our interview!
How did you get started in running?
As a kid, I loved sports in general, so I tried everything. Long-distance running was one of the only sports I was good at, so I stuck with it. (The story of the day when I realized I was suited for long distances is told here: http://www.running-blogs.com/crowther/2006/06/a_familiar_tale.html.)
What do you love most about running?
Perhaps the fact that, in general, hard work is rewarded and progress is easy to measure. If you increase your commitment to running, your times get faster or your weight gets lighter or whatever. You don’t have the complications of teammates, frequent changes in equipment and venues, etc. To a large extent, it’s just you against the clock.
What are your personal records so far in your sport?
My best times are 15:03 for 5 kilometers, 30:58 for 10 kilometers, 2:22:32 for a marathon, and 6:52:52 for 100 kilometers.
Do you have any running goals for the future?
Of course I do. I’ve been struggling with an Achilles tendon problem for the last six months, so my goal for 2011 is simply to get healthy again. After that, I would like to make it back onto the United States’ 100K World Championship team, which I was a member of in 2005, 2007, and 2008. And I’ll turn 40 in 2013, so I’m hoping that I’ll be able to turn in some strong masters times at all distances from 5K on up.
How do you keep in shape?
When healthy, I run every day, with one or two speed workouts per week plus a longer run on the weekend. I also do some commuting by bicycle, though I hesitate to call it cross-training, and chase my 4-year-old son around the playground from time to time.
What’s the one piece of advice you would give to a runner who is just getting started?
Experiment with different kinds of running — fast vs. slow, continuous vs. intervals, roads vs. track vs. trails vs. treadmill, timed vs. untimed, morning vs. evening, solo vs. with friends, shorter vs. longer — to see what’s most fun for you. Too many people get locked into a pattern that simply represents what they’re used to, not what they enjoy most.
Thanks for the interview Greg!
For all of you Heart Rate Monitors USA readers, be sure to check out Greg’s blog, My Track Record!
