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Q&A with Jim Grabow
by Tom Borish, Trackshark.com
February 19, 2007
1. You recently ran the seventh fastest time in the world this
year at the Husky Invitational, setting the school-record in the indoor
5000 meters with a time of 13:44.04. Describe the race and how did you
feel after also automatically qualifying for the NCAA Championships?
Going into the race I knew it was going to be fast. I also knew
that I was in very good shape so good things were going to happen. I did
not have any specific goals; I only wanted to break 14:00. For me, the
race unfolded pretty fast. We started off as a long line of runners and
I was near the back of the pack. When I felt that the pace was going to
slow or when I saw a gap forming in front me I would throw in a surge
and sit on the next runner. That’s basically how the race unfolded
for me. After the race I was pretty excited because I knew I had qualified
for nationals. It’s a real good feeling knowing you have your reservations
for the big show.
2. Now that you have your auto qualifier out of the way, what
will the next few weeks be like for you in terms of training and competition?
This coming week I will be competing in the MPSF conference back
up in Washington, which I am looking forward too. I am scheduled to run
the mile leg of our DMR team as well as the 3000 meter race. Then I won’t
be racing until nationals. Training wise, I will be concentrating on more
speed and sharpening workouts. One thing that my coach and I are working
on emphasizing more of is differentials and gear shifting. My mileage
will also be cut back as well.
3. Your also an Academic All-American with a 4.0. How important
is it to you to also excel in the classroom? How do you find balance in
athletics and academics?
It’s really important for me to excel in the classroom
as well as running. I came to college to run and get my degree and I take
both those goals very seriously, and I devote a large amount of time to
each of them. For me, finding balance meant I had to be more disciplined
in my approaches to running and academics. I am a firm believer in that
it’s the little things that really make us better in the aspects
of our lives. For collegiate running that meant going to bed at a decent
hour and eating healthy. It also means that you stay on top of your studies
so that when it was time to compete you could focus on your race instead
of the homework assignment that’s due.
4. As with all California programs, you don't have an indoor
facility to practice on during the season. Is the adjustment to an indoor
facility difficult considering you practice outdoors all season long?
I personally feel that there is not much of an adjustment when
it comes to competing in an indoor facility while training outdoors year
round. I actually get excited when indoor season rolls along because it’s
a change from the outdoor training and competition.
5. Keeping on topic of facilities, how comfortable was it to
compete on the 300+ meter indoor oval at Washington? Did you and your
coach look at this meet as a great opportunity to get a solid qualifier
in considering the competition and facility?
The University of Washington always puts on a great meet. The
facilities are awesome and it is well organized. A lot of great athletes
go there to compete. For the distances, the Husky Invitational attracts
a large number of excellent college and elite runners. With this in mind
my coach and I knew this was the opportunity to hit a qualifying mark
in the 5000 because the competition is guaranteed to be fast.
6. What kind of mileage are you currently putting in per week
and how much will that increase after the NCAA Championships next month?
I am a big believer in high quality mileage. With that in mind
I am still running about 110-115 miles per week. This mileage will gradual
drop to accommodate faster workouts and recovery. After nationals my mileage
will go back up to 115-120 and workouts will also be altered. Usually
the altercations are longer interval workouts with a decent amount of
strides to keep the snap in my legs.
7. With the outdoor season right around the corner, what meets
are you looking forward to compete in?
I am looking forward to the outdoor season. I am really excited
to compete at the Stanford Invitational and then the Cardinal Invitational
a few weeks after. I will probably compete up in Oregon as well as Mt.
Sac. I am also looking forward to running at USATF Outdoor Nationals.
I will mainly be concentrating on running well in the 5000 and 10,000;
however I would also like to run a few 1500.
8. Your collegiate career started out at San Bernardino Valley
College. What led you to enroll at Long Beach State and what are some
of the best experiences you've had as a student-athlete so far?
I think that Long Beach State has been really great for me. I
choose this school because the program was making improvements. I felt
that it would be a good fit because I too was starting to make some major
improvements. As a whole our team has made a great amount of forward success,
and we are continuing that tradition. As a student athlete, some of my
best memories were seeing improvement in me and my teammates. It just
shows that hard work does pay off. Long Beach State offers great year
round training as well. The weather is never a factor because it is usually
a comfortable 60-70 degrees year round. I grew up in the San Bernardino
Mountains where weather influences your runs, especially in the winter
so it is a very pleasant change.
9. Who are some of the athletes you look up to? If you could
go on a run with anyone and learn from them, who would it be?
I love athletes who are motivated and dedicated to the sport
of running. One athlete in particular that I look up to is my old coach
Wes Ashford, at San Bernardino Valley. Not only was he a great coach with
his knowledge and experience but he was an excellent athlete as well.
I would love to go on a run with Arthur Lydiard. I believe his philosophies
work and that they make successful distance runners.
10. Have you thought about where you would like to train and
compete at the next level?
I will still be running competitively when I am done with my
eligibility. My short term plans are to still train in Long Beach while
I finish my Master’s degree. I am also aiming for qualifying and
competing in the US Olympic Trials in 2008 in either the 5k or 10k. After
I finish my degree I will be open to new options.
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