PreRaceJitters Exclusive Interview: Ross Krempley and Runnerspace.com—Touch The Sky!

Oregon’s Ross Krempley is one of the most exciting leaders in track and field, but getting Runnerspace.com off the ground and getting respect has been difficult. This year the veil comes off.

This is the final article in the three part series, Pioneers in the Internet Landscape of Track and Field. Previously, we had the distinct pleasure of highlighting Tom Borish of the legendary Trackshark.com and Steve McGill, the curator of Hurdlesfirst.com. Read more

PreRaceJitters Exclusive Interview with Brianna Glenn: Surviving The Game

The memories of the U.S. Olympic Trials are etched in Brianna Glenn’s mind. Her Olympic dreams died in Eugene at the U.S. Olympic Trials.

In the end, it was not in the cards. Brianna Glenn could not get everything to come together in the long jump finals, but ended up in 11th place with 20 feet, 6 1/4 inches when the competition ended. She fouled on her final two jumps.

Afterwards, in the athlete interview area, a tear rolled down Brianna’s cheek. She finally got out, “You don’t plan for this.”

Less than two months before the U.S Olympic Trials, she had surgery to repair a recurring knee injury, and then everything fell apart. An injury is a long jumpers’ nightmare and it definitely was not in her plan to compete in the Olympic Games. No run at making the Olympic team is supposed to be battled this way.

You won’t hear Brianna offering up any excuses or pointing to any specific reasons for not placing top three at the Olympic trials. Even though she would be well within her rights to do that but she didn’t. She gathered herself together as quickly as possible and arrived at the trials ready to compete. Because win, lose, or draw - she is a competitor.

Just after the gut-wrenching experience of failing to achieve her life-long goal of going to the Olympics, Brianna gracefully agreed to sit down at the Hilton hotel in downtown Eugene for an interview.

In the hotel lobby, Brianna’s eyes betrayed her. They typically dance with expectation and possibility. Much has been written about Brianna’s fun-loving attitude, her fabulous sense of humor, her victorious nature. Brianna does little to dispel that image, but her light hazel-brown eyes hinted at something else altogether. Something much more vulnerable.

Her window of her career hasn’t yet closed, and the question before her is whether to stay in the sport, or retire from the sport that she loves so much.

Here is what Brianna Glenn had to say:

PRJ: Share with us the experience of participating in the third Olympic Trials of your professional career.

BG: I was not as nervous this time around. This time, I was able to take this experience for what it is and put aside the hype involved. The first time I came to the Olympic Trials, I was wide-eyed and just so darn excited to be there. I was competing with people that I had looked up to for so many years. That feeling subsides after you’ve done it a few times.

PRJ: What was your mindset coming into the ’08 Olympic Trials?

BG: I was definitely confident coming into the trials. I was really excited because we wait every four years for this opportunity. It’s a culmination of all the work you’ve put in up to this point. Now, you actually get to get out there and show your stuff. It’s an exciting time, I think, for most athletes once you actually get to the trials. All of that hard work is finally about to pay off.

PRJ: Talk about your disappointment in not making the Olympic Team.

BG: My performance is disappointing. It was hard for me, because I really had a tough year. More than anything, I wanted to come in here and do my best. I just felt like if I competed to the best of my abilities that I would have a shot to make the team. That did not happen. You know the circumstances I was in, so I have to take it for what it is, learn from it, and just move on. I’m just trying to do that the best that I can.

PRJ: Talk about your abilities to not just overcome obstacles and disappointments, but to thrive on the field and in your personal life.

BG: Ultimately, you have to have a strong sense of self, especially in this sport. You go through ups and downs, and nothing is always up. If you are not mentally prepared, then you will not be in the right position to experience the high points. You also have to learn to bounce back and how to have a short-term memory, because every athlete experiences losses.

PRJ: What was it like having your friends and family here at the Olympic Trials to support you?

BG: It was important. It’s great to be here with people that support you. I have the best friends and family in the world, in my humble opinion. They love me unconditionally. They know who I am as an athlete, but more importantly, they know who I am as a person.

PRJ: You’ve been to two other Olympic Trials, what is your opinion of Eugene ’08?

BG: They have done a wonderful job putting on a big show here in Eugene – ‘Tracktown, USA’. They have a track mentality here to support the sport. It’s great how they organized the meet. Overall, it’s good for the athletes and the sport. When you come to Eugene, the fans support every event, not just the premiere events.

PRJ: What, if any, affect did the fans have on the performances?

BG: They gave off great energy. They are behind you, clapping you down the runway. It’s not like, ‘Oh, there is my mom, I can hear her clapping.’ It was a positive experience here, because the fans cheer in the first place and the last place finishers.

PRJ: What do you have to look forward to the rest of the ’08 season and the ’09 season?

BG: We’re still trying to figure that out now. Things are up in the air, because I have to reorganize things. It will be something that I go over with my coach and my agent in the next several weeks. You can always read about it on my blog.

PRJ: Let’s digress for a moment and discuss your blog. It’s considered one of the most popular track and field athlete blogs on the net. What do you think is behind that success and the out-pouring of support from the fans?

BG: I don’t know where the traffic is coming from. What I like is that people from different backgrounds read my blog, both track fans and non-track fans alike. But they found my blog somehow and are currently interested in the sport, and that is great.

My blog has taken on a life of its own. Now, I feel responsible to keep updating it with what is going on in my life and career because my fans have taken the time to read my blog.

PRJ: What are your thoughts on your life after track and field?

BG: It’s hard to know for sure, because most athletes know their sport. I have my college degree in marketing, so I believe it will be something along those lines. I love sports and would like to do something in sports marketing.

PRJ: It’s been a rough 18 months or so for the sport. Have the Olympic Trials been good for track and field?

BG: It was a great Olympic Trials. Being out there for the last seven days, you have so many people with dreams in their eyes. Hopefully, that dream will shine through, and people will stop focusing on the negative. I just really appreciate our sport and what it has to offer.

PRJ: Brianna, thank you so very much for taking the time, and we wish you the best.

All content and photographs by Jay Hicks.

Seed Runnerspace

PreRaceJitters.com Interview—Matt Scherer: Living By the Moment!

Since he came on the pro scene in 2007, Matt Scherer has been making a name for himself on the U.S. 800-meter scene. The former 400, now 800 runner is currently the fourth-ranked American and is taking it moment by moment as he is poised to contend to make the U.S Olympic Team. In this exclusive Q & A with PreraceJitters.com, Scherer reveals what it is like to live and train in Eugene with the Olympic Trials coming to his home town in less than one week.

PRJ: What is the best thing about living and training in Eugene, Oregon, a.k.a. Tracktown, USA? Is it as interesting as it seems?

The best thing is by far the people. It may be because I went to college here but it is really cool to be recognized at the grocery store or at the mall by real track fans. I don’t know of anywhere else where track athletes are recognized out in public. The fans in Eugene make track seem like a big-time sport.

PRJ: Who did you look up to while running track as a youth? And is there anyone that you pattern your race after?

Through high school and college I always seemed to look up to my peers/competitors. I didn’t follow the pro circuit much. I would look up to a runner until I beat them and then found someone else to take their place as my ‘idol’. I think that’s where my competitiveness on the track comes from; I like to beat people. Some names that come to mind are Adam Steele, Craig Everhart, Christian Smith, and Marc Sylvester.

PRJ: You had a stellar career at the University of Oregon that included a personal best of 45.19 in the 400. Why did you decide to move up from the 400 to the 800?

To me it seemed like a logical move to have my best chance at Beijing. Even though I’d had success at the 400, I really wasn’t that fast in terms of speed. I was always the last out of the blocks but finished well. My 200 time wasn’t anything special either. My best workouts were always the longer, harder ones. It’s also been a new challenge for me. I love taking on new things and this has been one of the biggest, but it may also have the biggest reward in the end.

PRJ: Take us back to the decision making process to move up to the 800. Who did you consult during this process and what pushed you over the top to make the move?

I talked to my coaches Dan Steele and Vin Lannana quite a bit about the decision. Dan was supportive of whatever decision I made and Vin (being on the distance side) was excited about the possibility of moving up because not many people at my level had done so. But what tipped the scales was Frank Gagliano and the opportunity of the Oregon Track Club. I had talked to several pro athletes while in college and the theme seemed to be that it was very difficult to transition to the pro athlete life because so many things change. So the opportunity to stay in Eugene and keep training at my home track with a coach that I was very comfortable with actually made the decision to change events very easy.

PRJ: What time are you shooting for at the U.S. Olympic Trials and how difficult to you anticipate the rounds to be?

My first goal is to run under 1:45.50 and past that I’m shooting for the 1:44’s. I’ve typically done well with rounds, especially mentally, and so am not very concerned about running 3 rounds. And having a day off before the final is awesome. Typically in meets like this (in college) I would be running 6 or 7 races in 4 days. Now I only have to run 3 (hopefully!).

PRJ: Your seasons best time of 1:46.11 puts you in the mix going into the Trials, what would making the Olympic Team mean to you?

First, I’m just excited to be in the mix; to have my name mentioned in people’s discussions about who has a chance to sneak into that 3rd spot. At this point I really don’t think I can even comprehend what making the team would mean to me or even feel like. I guess with the Trials next week I should start visualizing that… haha. But the only experience I’ve ever had with the Olympics is watching on TV. I don’t have anything that I can compare what the feeling might be. But at the same time that just means I have less to worry about. If I make the team I’ll be ‘that guy’ that people say, “He should act like he’s been there before.” I’ll be out there on tv acting like a fool.

PRJ: Do you feel there is additional pressure to make the U.S. Olympic Team squad because you live and train where the Olympic Trials are to be held?

No, not at all. The only pressure I have is what I’m putting on myself. Everyone around me (teammates, family, and the community) are just happy that I’m doing so well after changing events. That’s been nice to not feel any pressure from them. I’ll leave that to the Nick Symmonds’ of the group. I feel much more comfortable being a dark horse than being the one that is expected to make the team. Now, I will say that eventually I’d like to be in that position but for now, and in this situation, I’m perfectly fine where I am.

PRJ: What has been the biggest difference you have noticed in the training regimen for the 800?

Hands down – tempo runs. Those were a new concept for me. It seems like I start out running hard and keep getting faster until I die. Over the past 2 years I’ve gotten better at them almost every time, literally. Most everything else I can compare in some way to something I did as a 400 runner, but tempo runs were something else. Note: and I usually only do 3 mile tempo runs so you know it must be hard for me. Meanwhile, other OTC guys are doing like 8 mile tempo’s. I don’t envy those guys!

PRJ: You recently ran 1:46.11, and ran the “A” standard for the Olympic Trials. How did that feel?

That race felt really good actually. I finally got a chance to try something I’d been wanting to for a long time, which was going out in 49 in a fast race. My last 100 wasn’t very good but after a 49 most people’s aren’t. But I was glad to have felt how that pace feels and learned a lot about what my optimal race is. As for the time I was very confident that I would run a 1:45 that day. And even though I PR’d by half a second I was actually a little disappointed that I wasn’t .11 faster. And on the positive side of that it is still keeping me very hungry to get that first 1:45.

PRJ: Have you had a welcome to the professional circuit moment? A situation or moment when you realized “wow, I am running with pros?” If so, can you share with fans how that went down?

The first time that feeling hit me was shortly after graduating from Oregon. I was in Europe to run a couple races that summer and at my first meet I had to start from the blocks with a starter that wasn’t speaking English. In fact, I didn’t even know what language he was speaking. And I remember being in the set position before the gun thinking, “This is pretty cool, I can’t believe I’m racing in Europe…hmmm…I hope that last word meant set (I then look at the guy behind me to see where he was in the blocks).”

PRJ: Your times have been incredible this year, how have you been able to drop your times so effectively in the relatively short amount of time of running the 800-meters?

I’ve always been a big fan of the “naive” mentality. By that I mean having a mentality that is oblivious to the typical limitations that people have. As far as I am concerned, it shouldn’t be a big deal to go run 1:43 at the trials. It’s only a couple seconds off my PR. Most people would say that is impossible for me right now to me its in the realm of possibilities because in my mind I don’t even know how good that is. Andrew Wheating of Oregon is a perfect example of that. The kid just goes out and runs and has no idea of what his current times mean. He just shrugs it off and says, “That was fun.” I love that attitude and have been using it since high school. As a freshman I ran 49.4 and had no idea why people were amazed. I was actually disappointed because I lost. Now I at least realize that 49 is good for a 9th grader but I still carry the same idea into my mental training now.

PRJ: As you are maturing in the 800-meters, are you relying less on your speed and more on race strategy?

To be honest, I still have no clue about what I’m doing in an 800. I learn so much about the race every single time out. My speed is my greatest asset though so I have to utilize that to my advantage. The big difference between this year and last is that I have a lot more strength now which only allows me to use my speed in the first half of the race. It is a misconception (at least for me) that people have that since I have speed they think I should be able to close the last 200m. But it is really the opposite, at least for now. I use my speed to go out in 50-point and feel more relaxed than everyone else even though they are 51 or 52. That gives me a head start for the strength portion of the race: the last 200. That’s why people like Nick Symmonds are so good with 100 to go. Nick has the most strength out of anyone I know.

PRJ: What is your go-to music to get you in the groove before you hit the track for meets?

I actually don’t listen to any music. I usually am on my computer working on websites or sending emails right up until I leave for the track. I am one of those people that has to keep busy. I don’t like to have a lot of time to think. Even warming up I often stop to talk to people or am joking around. Thinking too much about the race is a negative for me. I step up to the line just trusting that my body is ready and am focused on hitting those couple of key objective points of my race. But if I did listen to any music it would be Garth Brooks and Tim McGraw.

PRJ: I know you are an integral part of Runnerspace.com, how often do you post and update your profile?

Definitely not as often as I should. I am usually busy with other parts of the site, making sure content is getting up or helping plan coverage for events. Oh and I play the arcade games quite a bit. I may actually be more competitive in those little flash games than on the track. Haha. We’ve all played those games before – pacman, frogger, kick-ups – but RunnerSpace keeps track of your scores and ranks them against other members. Its one of those things that you get addicted to because you want to get one of those trophies the top 3 people get. Oh, and I’m pretty good at them and challenge anyone to my best game: F/A-18 Hornet. (and the overall winner of the arcade each month wins $100).

PRJ: You have your own company FastRunnerZ.com and Emerald Valley Marketing. Between that and Runnerspace.com, do you think you’ll go into that stuff full-time when you retire from running track?

I hope to. I’ve taken the last few years to learn as much as I can about the internet business and web design. All that “mumbo jumbo” code seems to make a lot of sense to me and I absorb it very easily. Right now web design is one of my side jobs that I hope to develop into a career when I’m done running. And I’ll always be involved in RunnerSpace in some capacity. Its just too good of an idea to fail and has the back end site operations that hasn’t been seen in the track world.

PRJ: Thank you for taking the time out to sit down with us. Good luck at the Olympic Trials and the rest of your season.

By Jay Hicks.

PreRaceJitters.com Interview: Brianna Glenn–The Good Life!

Brianna is no stranger to the pages of PreraceJitters.com. As a matter of fact, she is a regular via her blog, which is a fan favorite with laugh out loud funny entries about the goings on in her so-called fabulous life in track and field.

The sprinter and long jumper has hurdled, run around, and gotten under all of the obstacles that could have potentially kept her from the Olympic Trials. If there was test for persistence, Brianna would pass with flying colors regardless of the outcome at the Trials where she will focus on the long jump in her journey to make the Olympic Team.

With less than a week before the Olympic Trials, we caught up with Brianna and here is what she had to say:

PRJ: Your blog is wildly successful. The sport has struggled to attract new fans in large numbers. Your larger readership is made up of hardcore track fans and people who know generally about track but maybe have not followed the sport closely. So what do you make of all of this?

BG: I think it’s awesome. I didn’t really start a blog with the hopes that I would reach a whole lot of people that I didn’t already know…it was more so for my friends and family to keep up with me. But it turns out that a lot of people I have never met read it as well as people who have never previously been big fans of track and field. Whatever their reasons are for stopping by, I am just happy that they find enough interest in what I do to continue to check back and hopefully in the process they can learn to appreciate the sport I love.

PRJ: What if anything have you learned from readers since you began blogging and where do you see your athlete blog going in the future?

BG: There is a lot you can gain from putting yourself out there in the blog world. For the most part people are very encouraging and supportive, which is such an amazing bonus to it all. Not only do people take the time to comment on what is going on in my life, but I constantly get emails and messages that are incredibly uplifting or just to say they appreciate a certain picture…which is also very flattering!

PRJ: Did you have any role models when you started competing?

BG: I have always been a huge fan of Jackie Joyner-Kersee. She is one of the greatest athletes of all time and she did it with the utmost grace and humility.

PRJ: When did you first realize that you wanted to sprint and jump?

BG: When I was younger I was always involved in sports, just not track. I knew I was fast but it wasn’t until high school when I actually saw where my talent was and that I was meant to sprint and jump. So I ran with it. Literally.

PRJ: After last season your life ran like a Hollywood movie—only in reverse. You changed coaches and packed up and moved from Los Angeles to Tucson where you had a great deal of success during your time at the University of Arizona. How has the overall move worked out for you so far?

BG: I am no stranger to moving and switching coaches. I always do what I feel is best for my career at the time and this year it made sense for me to go back to working with my coach from college, someone I trusted immensely. Trusting your coach is a huge piece of the puzzle and as much as I loved living in LA, it was a small sacrifice to make. Being out here has allowed me to focus and prepare how I needed to.

PRJ: Do you have a good chance to qualify? If so, what do you feel you need to do in order make sure you get an airline ticket to perform in Beijing?

BG: This year the field in the women’s long jump is stronger than it’s
been in quite some time. We have a number of women who are capable of
jumping far and getting on that team and I definitely see myself in
that mix. I think the great competition among us will push us all to
jump far and to produce some great marks. I have a feeling that if I
jump what I am capable of jumping I will definitely be on the team.
My focus is on jumping well and when that happens the results will
fall into place.

PRJ: The pressing matter on everyone’s mind in track and field is the pending Olympic Trials. You have recently had knee surgery and are back to working out. How is your knee and physical conditioning going into the trials?

BG: This is 2008. Everyone knows what the deal is this year and where the focus is. My knee surgery was most definitely a setback but there was nothing that was going to keep me out of the Trials in my mind. I told the doctor he could duct tape it together if necessary but one way or another, I would be out there. I’ve healed quickly enough to give myself a great opportunity in Eugene and that is all I can really ask for.

PRJ: There has been a huge build up to the Olympic Trials. Do you feel any pressure heading into Eugene?

BG: It’s exciting. Sure, it’s a pressure filled situation because we all know what’s on the line, but you have to embrace the opportunity.

PRJ: Is there one thing in particular you’re looking forward to if you get to Beijing?

BG: I’m looking forward to competing with USA written across my chest.

PRJ: Are you anxious about anything outside of competition that you’re going to encounter in China? I’ve heard about some non-traditional toilets.

BG: Track athletes do a lot of squats so we will be ok. I’m looking forward to some authentic orange chicken and shrimp fried rice. Whatever we encounter, I’m sure we will embrace it all.

PRJ: Thank you for making time in your busy schedule to speak with us. Good luck in your efforts at the Olympics Trials and the remainder of your season.

By Jay Hicks.

PreRaceJitters.com Interview: Lolo Jones: Looking Back to the Future!

One of the sport’s brightest stars knows that she is needed now more than ever.

The new Oakley ads featuring Lolo Jones hit the stands this spring. The photos of Lolo are crisp black and white, taken as a part of the Oakley ad campaign. In the shots, Lolo stares intently back at the camera, eyes aglow, hot light bouncing off her outfit.

The picture looks like a sports goddess figure, a female superhero. All kidding aside, as far as pro track goes – and the current pro sports world in general right now – Lolo Jones as sports’ guardian angel might not really be all that far off.

Think about what has gone down in pro track circles in the last twelve months: the Mario Jones drug admission, Tim Montgomery, the Trevor Graham Trial, the Dwain Chambers debacle.

While the world’s greatest sport will always win out in the end, these blights have been made worse by the frenzied media. None of the aforementioned events will ever stop any hardcore track & field fan from watching, loving, and following the sport. However, the media has and will continue to seize upon the sport’s issues, looking to pounce on headlines and blowout stories about arrogant, spoiled, drug using athletes. The antidote? Lolo Jones.

Lolo will tell you straight up that she is a reminder that if people believe in something and in themselves that they can do anything. Look at her. She hit a hurdle in 2004 and in the process failed to make the Olympic Team. But Lolo got back up and has since landed two fab sponsors in Asics and Oakley. The 5 foot, 9 inch regular girl from Des Moines, Iowa made it. And she’s had the opportunity to live out some of her wildest dreams.

Lolo hardly needs us to act as her public relations mouthpiece, but nonetheless, it’s hard to deny her All-American, mom-and-apple pie package. She’s easy to champion. In putting together this interview, she was exceedingly pleasant and cooperative. Even so much as following up to make sure that everything was done in order to hit my deadline.

On top of everything, Lolo can run. She is the reigning World Indoor Champion and currently lays claim to 12.57, the fifth fastest time in the world this season. This time puts her in the discussion of the world’s top hurdler.

We caught up with Lolo to talk about her place in the sports world, the Olympic Trials, and one of the most difficult times in her life….

PRJ: Win or lose, what’s the best race you’ve run so far?

LJ: The best race this yearwould have to be when I ran 7.77 indoors. That’s when people began to associate my name with the all-time great Gail Devers. So far outdoors, I’ve hit my personal best three times now! So I can’t really say a race outdoors. Hopefully the Olympics!

PRJ: Do you think you’ve run as well as you are capable of?

LJ: No. What athlete does though? The moment I think that is the moment, I will cease progress. I honestly can see 12.4, but the moment I hit that, I know I will say to myself I can hit 12.3 and etc.

PRJ: Is there any other hurdler that you’ve been particularly impressed with this season?

LJ: World indoor record holder Susanna Kauller. Her technique is very impressive and she has just good clean hurdling.

PRJ: Grading your own racing from A to F, what would you give yourself and why?

LJ: I would give myself a C plus to B minus. I say this because sometimes my lead leg kicks out to the side and my arm will get long on occasion.

PRJ: I’ve heard you bring up the rough times in ’04 and ’05. How do you think it has affected you and the way you look at track and field?

LJ: Well coming out of college, I wasn’t like the Jeremey Wariners or Sanya Richards who signed a six figure contract. After I didn’t make the team in ‘04, I was broke and essentially without a job. I had my fresh degree in Economics and Spanish, but I knew if I would’ve gone out and got a 9 to 5, that would have been the end of track. So instead, I choose to work two flexible part-time jobs and train. It was hard. I had to live off of credit cards and sometimes it was embarrassing. Now I look back and I am just humble and thankful for those times. I can ride in my car to practice and not have to worry about how I am going to get to practice. I can help provide for my family and others and not worry about if someone can help me. The biggest thing is I see is a lot of the rookies coming out of college every year. Some of them look just like I did four years ago. Confused. Not knowing if they should pursue their dreams or get a job. I just can relate and tell them about my own past experiences.

PRJ: A lot of success has come to you after weathering some storms in the sport?

LJ: A lot of the times I complained and was very depressed while weathering the storms in the sport. But what I have learned is that the storm is what helps give you victory. I would compare it to lifting weights. When you lift weights it is hard and heavy. The weights break your body down, but in the end they make you strong. So storms seem to break you down when you are in them, but they make you strong when you come out.

PRJ: Who is your biggest competition going into the Olympic Trials and what can we expect to see from you performance wise in Eugene?

LJ: Well, normally this is an easy question. This year is quite different as World Outdoor champ Michelle Perry and U.S. Outdoor champ Ginnie Powell have both been hurt and not competing. So, I have no clue where they are in their training. So I would just say that I am my biggest competitor. As that is the case for most athletes anyways. Getting not only over the physical hurdles but the mental ones as well.

PRJ: Right now the sport world is going through a series of negative story lines—NBA ref Tim Donaghy, Marion Jones, Michael Vick, the Trevor Graham trial, and track and field is dealing with some of its own issues. You seem to be the natural antithesis of those things.

LJ: It’s crazy. I really never thought their decision to cheat would effect me, until one day I introduced myself to someone at a track meet. The person looked at me weird for awhile and fnally said, “your not that one that cheated are you?” I got associated with a drug cheat, because I have of one of the worlds most common last names in Jones.

Also, it’s an Olympic year and track is always in the prime time viewing. I just found out that the prime time Olympic sports will be Swimming and Gymnastics, not Track. Those are just little things, but the reality is that there are athletes sitting at home who got second to Marion or other drugs cheats. It’s frustrating and heart breaking to know that they will never receive that moment in their life . No one wants to receive their medal via fedex.

PRJ: After missing the ’04 Olympic squad, what would making the ’08 Olympic Team mean to you and your family? You danced in Boston after winning the Visa Indoor Championship series title.

LJ: It’s universal. Even a person who has never competed in athletics before, can understand what a great honor it is to have a chance to represent your country and fellow Americans. So it would just be a huge honor to represent my country. A huge honor.

Thank you for making this interview happen and we wish you the best at the Olympic Trials and with the rest of your season.

By Jay Hicks.

PreRaceJitters.com Interview: Ludus Tours—Are You Game?

So, you want to venture overseas to watch a track meet on your own? Think again. For some track and field fans seeing the Olympic games or a track meet on the European pro circuit is a lifetime goal. Well, Ludus Tours offers tour packages customized for track and field fans to meet their every need.

In its 5 years of business, Ludus Tours in Austin, TX has specialized in packages to major U.S. and international track meets, such as the U.S. Olympic Trials, the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, and the Oktoberfest Tours in Munich, Germany.

Ludus Tours is the only tour operator to offer packages which include tickets and accommodations for the U.S Olympic Trials in Eugene. Last year, Ludus became the Official Tour Operator for USA Track & Field and USA Triathlon.

Co-founders, Adam and Jessica Dailey, are some of track’s own, having participated in the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials as distance runners. Ludus can typically arrange meet tickets, accommodations, ground transportation and some flights, meals, and sightseeing. They even provide staff onsite in the tour city.

PreraceJitters.com had the distinct pleasure to catch up with the jet-setters from Ludus Tours, and here is what they had to say:

What is your background in track and field?

My wife and I were both All-American runners at the University of Arkansas. We met through running in high school and we were married in 1999. I was a 5 time NCAA All-American and part of 9 NCAA National Championship teams. Jessica was a 12-Time All American. We both capped off our career in 2000 with a spot at the Olympic Trials in Sacramento. Track and field was what brought us together and we are still pretty passionate about the sport.

For readers not familiar with Ludus Tours, can you please tell us about your organization and services?

We’re a smaller but personable company that offers tours and hospitality to global sporting and cultural events. Our main focus has evolved into the Summer and Winter Olympic Games. We offer packages that include everything from transfers to tickets and hotels…or just friendly advice when appropriate.

How did Ludus Tours get started?

My wife and I started Ludus in 2003 because we wanted to find a way to get back to Europe. We had lived in Barcelona from 2000-2002 and really missed that lifestyle. In Athens, it wasn’t as much a viable long-term business plan as it was a one shot deal. We wanted to create some tour packages for hard core track fans. We realized that the main competition was Track and Field News, but that their demographic were older people who don’t really care about being in a good location. So we jumped on it on booked some rooms in Central Athens with the hope that the whole experience could cover our living expenses in Athens for that year.

Or a shorter answer would be: credit cards.

What is your organization seeking to achieve by placing a team in a host city one year in advance of a major athletic event in which you are selling tour?

We try to learn the city like a local so that we have a lot of insight to show our clients during their Olympic experience. We can learn the language, know where the tourist traps are, show people how to take public transportation and basically be a better hosts for our clients.

It’s one thing to go in and visit a city a few times and then try to host a bunch of clients there. It’s what most tour companies do, and I guess that’s okay. But we found you lose one of two things: personable guides who have some insight of the city or an interesting host who actually speaks English and can relate to the client. We pride ourselves on the experience that we provide the client and we want that to be as genuine as we can. The formula isn’t that complicated, but it works for us.

Talk to us about your organization’s exclusive partnership with USA Track & Field? And how did that relationship come about?

We met with then CEO Craig Masback in a Starbucks in Paris and through it back and forth until it made sense. It took close to a year to actually get a contract signed, but it’s a logical step for us. It’s a great way that we can give back to the sport. I think both organizations are putting a lot of faith in each other. For us, we feel good about the contributions we make an Official Partner of USATF. We fill a void in terms of their needs as well. Business-wise, it gives us a good in-line to be able to offer our services to USATF members as well as agents, athletes, families, etc.

Our main focus has always been the support group. That’s the athletes’ families, coaches, agent, friends, etc. These people are going to the Games no matter what because the Olympics are a once in a lifetime opportunity. While they care about the cost, they’ll go at any price. The problem is they don’t know if they’re going until a month before the Games. But that point, it’s crazy…price gouging all the way around and pure mayhem because hotel and ticket availability changes daily like the stock market. We offer some stability for these support groups and we walk through the process; sometimes they’ve never traveled outside of the country.

What can clients expect when they book a group tour with Ludus Tours?

They can expect the experience of a lifetime. We say that and we know it sounds cheesy, but we get emails and testimonials from clients saying that we’ve changed their outlook on life and rejuvenated them. Everyone loves our energy and the fact that we exceed expectations. As a business, we strive for clients to feel like their friends are showing them around.

What are some unique services that Ludus Tours offers?

We offer a lot of customization and we also pride ourselves on not saying the word ‘no’ to clients. We work on some large corporate accounts, but I guess our specialty is dealing with the individual traveler.

We are very up front with clients with what we offer and what type of organization we are. If they’re seeking a full service tour where they’ll have hand-holding get to do a bunch of sightseeing from a tour bus, we’re not the right fit. If they want to get a unique experience and see some of the coolest things a city has to offer, they’re going to have a great time.

Our focus for events like the Olympics revolve around the hard-to-get tangibles, mostly tickets and hotels for the Games. But we love doing bigger corporate hospitality projects as well. We always say that if people want to see the sights, they should go with someone else. If they want to experience, touch and feel the sights, we’re the right company to help them have a great trip.

We offer everything you need during your trip, from some fun excursions to airport transfers to tickets.

How fun are the tours you present?

Fun. Look at our portfolio of events…you’ll see
of the Bulls. I would contend no other Olympic event company is in Munich drinking beer this September a few weeks after the dust settles in Beijing.

What advice would you give to travelers heading to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games?

Don’t go it on your own. Some countries are easy to maneuver on your own. China is not one of them. You can book a hotel room online through some websites, but that room might not be there when you show up. The Chinese are shrewd businesspeople and even though you have a confirmation, they’ll sell it to the next guy who offers $5 more. They just don’t care. We have found the challenges of this event to be significant in that respect. But it’s all a learning curve, and the consumer has the benefit of learning from our mistakes. That being said, we offer weekly packages starting at $1895 per person. You’re not going to find anything like that anywhere else with everything we offer. Get things done early like visas, as they are constantly changing the rules an requirements. But for the most part, we offer a service to clients that we’re going to host them and put everything in front of them to have a good time. Whether they do or not is ultimately up to them!

What are your top three international locations in which you have watched an athletic event? And what about those experiences make the event special?

Athens was a great experience because it was our first event and I was running at the Trials four years earlier so I knew most of the runners. And by the point track and field was on, we already knew that our business venture had passed the break-even point so we were really glad to be enjoying ourselves at the Olympic Games! The Winter Olympics were a lot of fun for us because it was our biggest event to date. We hosted almost 2,000 clients in Torino, Italy, and Jessica and I lived in Italy for 14 months. We spoke Italian, had a lot of sentiment towards the city and really got into the event. Plus, it was our first Winter Games experience. And World Cup in Germany would be a highlight of my life. For the Olympics, you’re getting a lot of rich Americans (a great overexaggeration, but still an accurate demographic). At the World Cup, you’re getting people from Asia, Latin America, Africa, etc. that don’t even go to the Game. They come out of the woodworks just to celebrate and be a part of the fun. It’s one big traveling party. There is a game on at all times and the entire country is into it. I definitely found myself going through World Cup withdrawal after that event. In the evenings after, it was like “well, what we are going to do since there’s no football game on.” Before, our entire social life and work schedule revolved around these matches.

What is the price range of the annual group tours that Ludus Tours organizes?

Our price points start at $1895 and they go as high as $7950 (per person). You have to keep in mind that these are premium packages during the most sought after time. And the way we price our packages is we look at the competition and we go lower than them. It’s important for us to the lowest priced tour company out there.

What can you share with track fans about the experience of attending a European and/or international professional track meet?

It’s a great experience. Europeans know track and field (and cycling) like we know baseball or football. Even non-fans know who someone like Bernard Lagat or even Stefano Baldini is. It’s much more important to them. But in my opinion, track is on its way back in the USA. They’re putting together some great domestic meets nowadays.

Where do you see Ludus Tours in five years?

Good question. We would like to be involved in more events. This year is our first domestic event in Eugene (the 2008 Olympic Trials). It’s going to be a low-key event for us, but we would like to start focusing more on stuff that’s in the USA. I have lived outside of the country since 2003, but now we’re in Vancouver so we’re slowly making my way back to the States. In 5 years, we’d like to have more of a foothold in the world of track and field. I feel hospitality-wise it should be marketed like other big sports (football, baseball, etc.). We’ll continue to do as much as we can to contribute to the sport. I would like us to be to go-to company when it comes to traveling and track.

By Jay Hicks.

PreRaceJitters.com Interview: Steve McGill & Hurdlesfirst.com—Flying Over Hurdles!

Part II. Pioneers in the Internet Landscape of Track and Field.

The first part of the Pioneers in the Internet Landscape of Track and Field series was published June 9, featuring Tom Borish and Trackshark.com. Steve McGill, founder of Hurdlesfirst.com, a site dedicated to everything hurdling, is our second pioneer to spotlight.

The inspiration behind the current series was Steve McGill and his tremendous contribution to the track community through his work at Hurdlesfirst.com, writing at Trackshark.com, Ncpreptrack.net, and Blackathletes.com.

But Steve is much more than Hurdlesfirst.com. He is a teacher, intellectual, coach, friend, father, husband, son, and all-around good guy. His dedication to the art of hurdling is evident in Hurdlesfirst.com.

What the site lacks in the way of name recognition, it more than makes up for by delivering substantive content including interviews, profiles, all-time hurdling list, training tips, workouts and much more. Steve has interviewed some of the greatest current and former hurdles to ever run. The site is a treat for hurdles, coaches, and fans of the sport.

Steve’s passion for the sport oozes throughout the pages of Hurdlesfirst.com, and since launching Hurdlesfirst.com in 2004, he has put together a nexus of information combined with content to die for. He is someone who draws on all of the knowledge and understanding he has gathered to share with readers about the hurdling game. And for these reasons, PreraceJitters.com has selected Steve McGill as one of the pioneers in the Internet landscape of track and field.

PreraceJitters.com finally caught up with the ultra busy Steve McGill, the founder and editor of Hurdlesfirst.com. Here is what he had to say about his journey.

What is your background in track and field?

I didn’t get seriously involved in track until the 11th grade, when my high school started an indoor program, and I quit the basketball team so I could run indoors. I started hurdling in the 10th grade. I hurdled for the rest of high school and also in college, at a DIII school and then a DII school. I’ve been coaching at the high school and youth level since 1995. Mainly hurdlers, but also sprinters.

How long have you been running Hurdlesfirst.com?

I started the site in September of 2004. At first it was on the server of the school where I teach. All faculty members have their own page that is supposed to focus on the classes they teach. I was like, who wants to read about that boring stuff? So I made mine a hurdle site. The original url was www.ravenscroft.org/upperschool/hurdlesfirst/index.html. Or something like that. Now tell me that’s not a mouthful.

Why did you start Hurdlesfirst.com?

I started it because I love the hurdles and always have, beginning the moment I was introduced to them. I felt I had a lot of knowledge about the hurdling events that I wanted to share. Also, I like to write, so I felt that a website would be a good way to combine my passions of hurdling, coaching, and writing.

What were your goals when you started Hurdlesfirst.com and where do you see yourself in 5 years?

My original goal was simply to be a source of information. That’s still my focus, although I also like to consider the site a source of inspiration for those hurdlers out there who feel they have no one to provide them with guidance or a sense of direction. Five years from now, I’d like to still be doing what I’m doing. I learned a long time ago that nothing is more important than taking advantage of opportunities to help people, and this site puts me in a position where I can do that on a regular basis. So I’d like for the site to just continue to grow naturally.

When you started Hurdlesfirst.com, what did the internet landscape look like in the track & field community?

Well, that’s another reason I started the site – there was nothing out there on the hurdles. There were plenty of sites on distance running and even a good amount of information to be found on sprinting and field events. But for the hurdles there seemed to be very little. So I figured that even though I was just a high school coach, starting a site that focused on the hurdling events would serve to bring more attention to the hurdles and maybe even legitimize hurdling in the eyes of those who saw it as something people do once they realize they’re not fast enough to sprint.Now there are great blog websites like Ron Bramlett’s and David Oliver’s, and you can always download races on youtube, as well as at sites like flotrack and wcsn.com. What I like about my site is that it is, first and foremost, an educational site. Nowadays, people don’t like to read. My site forces you to read. It forces you to think. I don’t ever see having forums or chat rooms or anything like that on my site. I can’t deal with people being ignorant toward each other, and forums encourage such behavior just by their very existence. Nor do I see the site ever including meet results, etc. People can get that kind of stuff at other sites. People who visit to my site go there because they want to learn more about the hurdles. I appreciate that.

What is the hardest thing about publishing Hurdlesfirst.com and writing?

Just the time element. It takes time to write articles. I teach full-time, I’m coaching during most of the waking hours when I’m not teaching. Then I have to make time for family, and my own running, and at least a little bit of leisure time. Like right now I plan to interview 1996 400h Olympic champ Derrick Adkins for a profile, but when I called him last week he didn’t pick up, so finding the time to call him again, when I know I’ll have an hour’s worth of space to converse, is proving difficult. Then it’ll take another chunk of hours to put the interview material together and make an article out of it. I love doing it, but finding the time to do it on a consistent basis is the hardest thing about it.

What do you do work related, when you are not publishing Hurdlesfirst.com?

I’m a high school English teacher. That’s the job that pays the bills. I’m always grading papers, which is another thing that cuts into my website time. Finally, there’s the time I spend coaching, which is at least two hours a day, often more.

You are also published author, share with us your work?

In 2001 I put together a collection of short stories, poems, and personal essays that I had written over a period of five years. The name of the book is A Hurdler’s Dream, and it centers around hurdle-related themes, obviously. I also wrote it as a tribute to my dad, who passed away in ’97.

What do you want readers to know about you?

That I’m a family man first. I have a ten-year-old daughter named Sanura who is my best friend and favorite hang-out partner. I also enjoy spending time with my wife, Joy, and my stepson, Akil, when he stays with us during the summers. I love my mom more than anyone in the world. I miss the days I spent growing up with my older brothers Greg and Glen, and my older sister Jo. And I’ll miss my dad forever.

Who has been your favorite individual to interview?

I’ve immensely enjoyed all of the interviews. I learn tons of stuff every time.But the one that stands out the most is the one with Renaldo Nehemiah in April of ‘05. Watching him hurdle in the early ‘80s was what inspired me to pursue the hurdles to begin with. So he was a key childhood hero of mine. Plus the interview itself was just incredible. When he stressed the importance of “becoming one with the hurdle,” I felt tears forming in my eyes, because I realized that I was talking to someone who understood the spiritual dimensions of athletic pursuits. For me, learning how to hurdle well, and learning how to coach hurdlers well, and this whole struggle to master the various aspects of hurdling well, has always been a spiritual quest that requires total involvement of body, mind, and spirit. What sets apart the interview with Renaldo from the others is that I could tell he had approached hurdling on the same level. People talk about how fast he was and how gifted he was. But very few people get just how deep he was. And is.

Who would you like to interview if given the opportunity?

When I started the site, the person I dreamed of one day interviewing was Renaldo because, as I said above, he was a childhood hero. So, now that I’ve interviewed Renaldo (and I’ve interviewed Edwin Moses for a different website), I’d have to say Allen Johnson. I’ve never met him, but it seems to me that he’s a very genuine person. Also, as a hurdler, he has dedicated his adult life to mastering his craft, and you have to respect that. When he loses he doesn’t make excuses; when he wins he doesn’t gloat. And you have to respect that too.

If you knew someone was thinking of starting a track and field website, what would you tell them? Figure out what your niche is. What will your site offer that isn’t already out there? Once you know what your niche is, get on the keyboard and start typing. The great thing about the web is that if your site is good, people will find it.

Is there a question that you wished I asked you?

The one question you didn’t ask me is where my passion for hurdling comes from. Answer: when I was a seventeen-year-old high school senior, I fell ill with a rare, life-threatening blood disease called aplastic anemia. I was treated at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where, to make a long story short, I was miraculously cured. I was able to return to school in time to rejoin the track team and graduate with my class. The whole time I was in the hospital, the only thing that kept me alive – that kept me wanting to live – was the hope that I would one day be able to hurdle again. I didn’t care about keeping up with my school work or anything else that had to do with the real world. The only thing I cared about as I lay dying was hurdling. That which matters most to you when death is staring you in the face is what matters most, period. Ever since then, I have dedicated my life to the hurdles, because I’m convinced that the hurdles saved my life.

By Jay Hicks.

PreRaceJitters Interview: Tom Borish & Trackshark.com—Simply Legendary!

Part I: Pioneers in the Internet Landscape of Track and Field.

PreraceJitters.com is embarking on a series for the month interviewing pioneers in the internet landscape of track and field. We aim to look at the individuals who have shaped and influenced track and field. One of the biggest stories in professional track and field this season is taking place track side–the expansion of Trackshark.com.

He came, he saw, he redefined the track and field internet landscape as we know it today: when Tom Borish stepped on the scene, there were just a few track and field websites, but none focused on the sprinters, jumps, and field events. That is until Trackshark.com began to deliver to fans interviews, breaking news, live meet coverage, athlete blogs, and photos. Marvelous! Absolutely amazing! FAB-U-LOUS! Simply put, the primarily collegiate-focused track website and its founder are iconic figures– changing and upgrading track and field on the world wide web.

PreraceJitters.com has managed to catch up with Tom Borish to get a rare look at the man behind Trackshark.com to discuss his joys, pains, and thoughts on managing track and field’s premier website. You heard it here. He also gives PreraceJitters.com an exclusive insight into the Wasserman Media Group LLC acquisition of Trackshark.com and his new leadership position as Senior Editor of Track & Field with the company.

PRJ: What is your background in track & field?

TB: I competed at the NCAA Division I level from 1996-2000 at Kent State University. My main events were the 200, 400 and relays. I was also a volunteer sprints coach at Kent State for two years after I graduated in 2000. During this tenure, I was fortunate to be surrounded with great coaches, teammates and mentors that have molded me into who I am today.

PRJ: What is it about track & field that makes the sport special to you personally?

TB: The fact that I was able to be a part of it at some of the highest levels makes it much more enjoyable and passionate. I will always look back to my days on the track to remind me just how hard we all worked to achieve the goals that we wanted to meet. That same drive keeps me on my toes to this day.

PRJ: What was your inspiration to launch Trackshark.com and why focus on collegiate track and field?

TB: We can trace back the evolution of Trackshark even further. During my time at Kent State, I noticed there was a lack of coverage for the conference that we competed in, the Mid-American Conference (MAC). As I began to dabble as in some of the current technology at the time such as programming and design, I launched MacTrack.net in 1997 which covered the sport within the MAC. At the time, it was the only track & field website devoted to covering the sport within a conference. As the popularity grew to its peak in 2001, I also saw a void at the collegiate level. Dyestat.com was starting to emerge as the leader at the high school level and there was an audience for an array of sites at the professional level. Trackwire.com existed as a weekly college rankings and recap publication (until they shut down last year), but there was not one service covering the collegiate level on a daily basis. I wanted to see coverage of meets, interviews with the top athletes, rankings, photos and a way for a community to interact with each other at the collegiate level. Trying to find a niche audience is key and Trackshark launched in 2002 in an attempt to fill the void. I must also note that I designed and programmed the entire site. My background is in web design so that also was an important factor in the site layout.

PRJ: What were your goals when you started Trackshark.com and where do you see Trackshark.com in 5 years?

TB: It’s funny that you ask this question as we just announced that Trackshark will now expand its coverage into the elite aspect of the sport. We’ll still cover the collegiate action – and perhaps scale back a bit – while also serving our audience the chance to follow the best of track & field at the highest level. The focus will be USA and International elite athletes who compete in track & field. We’ll even dip into some marathon and other coverage that cross-pollinates all audiences. As an example, we now have rights to broadcast all the IAAF Golden League meets as a platform to broaden our audience at the international level. Before all of this, we usually took a break from coverage after the NCAA Championships concluded. Trackshark will now be your one-stop hub of news and results from all collegiate and professional track & field coverage. In 5 years, I hope that we can serve a much broader purpose that will best serve the fans while also keeping up with technology. The fans usually shape the landscape of coverage.

PRJ: Talk about the time when you started Trackshark.com, what did the internet landscape look like in the track & field community?

TB: It certainly isn’t what it is today. To only think that only 6 years ago, on-line video was just getting off the ground including user-generated content. Back then, most of the direction was geared towards what each general writer, photographer or editor can provide for the audience. Now, the community has a strong voice on what will drive content. This is why many newspapers and some magazines are failing. They haven’t built the bridge to allow their readers, their community, their audience the chance to be a part of their venture. I know we still have plenty of work to do ourselves – such as more rich-media interaction – but we’ll do our best to serve what our audience wants to see.

PRJ: What is the most difficult or frustrating thing about your role as webmaster and CEO at Trackshark.com?

TB: Let me first state that my new role at Trackshark is as Senior Editor. Trackshark was recently acquired by the Wasserman Media Group, LLC. The company also holds the exclusive marketing rights for USA Track & Field, USA Swimming and USA Gymnastics. This was one of the reasons why I felt very comfortable working with them. Before the acquisition, Trackshark was a part-time venture as I also held a full-time job working for a real estate web design firm outside of Boston. On that note, the most frustrating aspect of the site was actually finding time (and it was all free time, mind you) to update the site. My wife and I also welcomed a baby into the world last year, so the time was definitely a drawback in terms of site coverage. There would be days where I would literally work 10-12 hour days from my full-time job and Trackshark. Also taking personal vacation time from my job to attend a meet. Let’s not forget to mention that the most important job is being a father. That is number one on the board and to have the opportunity to now publish Trackshark full-time has given me much more time to spend with my family.

PRJ: What gives you the most pride about founding and operating Trackshark.com?

TB: When I look at the site every day, I see all of my hard work poured into the project. I look at the logo, knowing that I designed it. I look at the blogs, knowing that I programmed it. I look at a lot of things knowing that this site literally started on my old computer in my apartment after leaving college broke and without a job. Now, I look back at all that hard work during a time when there was no venture capital, very little ad revenue to now where I can finally stabilize something where it can meet all ends of my career. Moreover, I’m proud that it serves as a voice for the athletes, fans, coaches and everyone involved in the sport.

PRJ: If you could change one thing about track & field, what would that be and why?

TB: Bottom line, I wish there were more meets on U.S. soil and that the top athletes would compete more often. It’s about competition, not chasing marks or records. That’s what our sport is dearly missing right now. Trying to find the right conditions at the right time with the right athletes will not cut it for the general public in terms of growing the sport. We all need to get to the line and race, not chase.

PRJ: What do you work related, when you are not publishing Trackshark.com?

As noted previously, I used to work for a web design firm, RLS2000.com. In fact, when you go there now you’ll see all of my old designs from some of the top real estate offices in New England. You can also view all of my design work on my personal site, at TomBorish.com.

PRJ: What are you hobbies, activities, and/or interest outside of Trackshark.com and track & field?

TB: I enjoy spending time with our 15-month old daughter. There is no other joy in the world right now. I’m also getting into a bit of weightlifting and to start training for the Ironman.

PRJ: What do you want readers to know about you?

TB: That I’m by no means an expert in everything that I do. I consider myself someone who tries to hold a lot of traits at many levels (design, programming, writing, photography, etc.) to give back to the sport. In other words, I consider myself knowledgeable across all events, but my no means do I know everything. I don’t think anyone does either and they’ll tell you the same thing.

PRJ: Who has been your favorite individual to interview?

TB: Without a doubt, it was Thomas Chamney of Notre Dame from the 2006-07 seasons. He also conducted a journal series for Trackshark that season and was very open, funny and opinionated. Some did not understand his humor, but it was refreshing to hear from someone who wasn’t afraid to speak their mind.

PRJ: Who would you like to interview that you have not if given the opportunity?

TB: I’d love to sit down with Michael Johnson one day. He was my idol – and still is to this day – during my track & field career.

PRJ: Is there a question that you wished I would have asked you?

I think you hit all the angles. Thank you very much for the opportunity. It should be a busy month ahead of great track & field action. I’ll be on the road during the Prefontaine Classic, NCAA Championships and U.S. Olympic Team Trials. As always, make sure to visit Trackshark.com for complete coverage.

PRJ: Thank you Tom for your time and good look in your endeavors with Trackshark.com. We look forward to having you back again in the future.

By Jay Hicks.