He hit the street's from Beppu to Oita with a supreme marathon debut of 2:11:00. mzungo.org's man of the weekend now found the time to answer 5 questions!
1. Your coach Ken Green said you will try to get into the mid 27s for 10,000 with the ultimate goal of running the marathon at the Olympics in London. What's the masterplan with regards to race planning?
1. Your coach Ken Green said you will try to get into the mid 27s for 10,000 with the ultimate goal of running the marathon at the Olympics in London. What's the masterplan with regards to race planning?
The plan is always to get in a race where i can do just that, race. Its much easier to run fast when you are duking it out for the win against a couple of guys. My race plan always fits in with major championships. We try not to race too often, but when we do, make it a high quality race. We'll pick key races we want me to run in, then see what lead up races we can use. I'm excited that Ken thinks i can run in the mid-27s. A coach with that sort of faith makes them so much easier to work with.
2. Are we going to see you at a "fall" marathon (Northern hemisphere)?
2. Are we going to see you at a "fall" marathon (Northern hemisphere)?
My next marathon will be in the Commonwealth Games. After that, perhaps sometime in the march/april time frame will be the next one. Ken (my coach) and i are yet to plan anything yet. There are a few fall marathons that i would like to do in future, but i'm only just beginning my marathon career. Need to take baby steps.
3. Are you keen on racing your next marathon or more concerned to get the sub2:10 asap?
I always like "racing". If i can get in a race where the pace is on, i think that the sub 2:10 will come. Often, if you stress a lot about chasing a time, you rarely will run it. I know the sub-2:10 will come, so i will be patient. I'm more about podium finishes than fast times.
4. Have you ever trained in Kenya and if not, would you want to?
No, i have not even been to Kenya. I have only been overseas 4 times in my life, and 2 have been in the last 3-4months. I don't know that i would ever go to Kenya to train. I'm very much a Gen-Y person. I like my gadgets and computers, so it might be a bit tough for me. I wouldn't entirely rule it out though. If a visit to Kenya is what it would take to be the best, then perhaps i may try it.
5. You're a Nike guy and raced in Lunaracers if I saw that correctly. What do you like about the Lunars and why do you prefer them over - say - the Streak? What shoes are you currently mostly training in?
I am actually, at the moment, on a handshake agreement with a technical rep (Mike Osten) in the Sydney Area. I am not on an official contract with Nike Australia, or any other brand. However, Mike has helped immensely by supplying me with all the gear he can. On the topic of me running in Lunars, they are fantastic. They are soft enough to help my legs not get smashed over the half/full marathon distance, but i can still run fast. I do wear the streak, but only for track sessions. For my feet, i just don't think that they are supportive enough for a long distance race. I do my regular training in Nike Pegasus with my sessions in Nike Marathoners. These are the two shoes models that i will wear most of the time. I race on track in Matumbos/Ventulus.
6. Are you doing any crosstraining? Ever thought of racing triathlon?
I do circuit work, drills, strides, and range of motion exercises as part of my regular training. Fortunately i haven't had to do any real cross training like swimming or cycling because i haven't had any problems. Plus, i don't have time for that in addition to my regular training anyway. I train twice-a-day every day except once on friday and sunday. I also work 8am-4pm monday to friday, so there isn't really any time to spare.
I have no interest in doing a triathlon. I can swim to save my life, but i am hopeless at competitive swimming. I'd lose too much time. Technically, i'm not smooth at all.
Thanks a lot Jeff.
Best of luck for the future!
4. Have you ever trained in Kenya and if not, would you want to?
No, i have not even been to Kenya. I have only been overseas 4 times in my life, and 2 have been in the last 3-4months. I don't know that i would ever go to Kenya to train. I'm very much a Gen-Y person. I like my gadgets and computers, so it might be a bit tough for me. I wouldn't entirely rule it out though. If a visit to Kenya is what it would take to be the best, then perhaps i may try it.
5. You're a Nike guy and raced in Lunaracers if I saw that correctly. What do you like about the Lunars and why do you prefer them over - say - the Streak? What shoes are you currently mostly training in?
I am actually, at the moment, on a handshake agreement with a technical rep (Mike Osten) in the Sydney Area. I am not on an official contract with Nike Australia, or any other brand. However, Mike has helped immensely by supplying me with all the gear he can. On the topic of me running in Lunars, they are fantastic. They are soft enough to help my legs not get smashed over the half/full marathon distance, but i can still run fast. I do wear the streak, but only for track sessions. For my feet, i just don't think that they are supportive enough for a long distance race. I do my regular training in Nike Pegasus with my sessions in Nike Marathoners. These are the two shoes models that i will wear most of the time. I race on track in Matumbos/Ventulus.6. Are you doing any crosstraining? Ever thought of racing triathlon?
I do circuit work, drills, strides, and range of motion exercises as part of my regular training. Fortunately i haven't had to do any real cross training like swimming or cycling because i haven't had any problems. Plus, i don't have time for that in addition to my regular training anyway. I train twice-a-day every day except once on friday and sunday. I also work 8am-4pm monday to friday, so there isn't really any time to spare.
I have no interest in doing a triathlon. I can swim to save my life, but i am hopeless at competitive swimming. I'd lose too much time. Technically, i'm not smooth at all.
Thanks a lot Jeff.
Best of luck for the future!
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