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LetsRun.com
April 8
, 2005

LetsRun.com is pleased to present the following interview of 2000 and 2004 US Olympian Robert Gary, a scheduled competitor in this weekend's Papa John's U.S. 10 Mile Championship. In addition to being a top notch runner, Gary is also the men's cross country coach at his alma mater Ohio St. The interview was conducted by former US elite Keith Dowling.

Robert Gary is truly the sleeper in the 2005 Papa John's U.S. 10 mile Championships. This 2004 Olympian in the steeplechase is making a rare appearance on the roads. Gary has the dubious distinction of a world-class athlete along with being a champion track and cross-country coach at Ohio State University. In addition to directing the Ohio State men's team to a winning performance at the All-Ohio Intercollegiate Cross Country Championships and its fourth appearance to the NCAA championships, Gary was named 2004 United States Cross Country Runner of the Year by Track and Field News.

Keith Dowling:  Robert, the one question I hear the most is how you combine award winning coaching with elite level running?

RG: I do get that question quite a bit. I don't think people realize that this is now my 7th season as the Head Cross Country Coach here at O.S.U.

I would probably admit that it really took away from my running when I first started coaching, but now that we're a little better and I am a little more mature – I think I have a better grasp on my emotions. It is that emotional investment that is the real energy-sapper. I don't feel I am any less competitive, involved, or excited than I ever was, but you have to learn that you can't ‘hold their hand' the whole way. The sport doesn't work unless the athlete is genuinely invested. The best part of my job is how invested they are in THEIR team. Whether it is cross-country or track – they are extremely proud of what they've begun here at Ohio State

KD: Most elite runners that turn to coaching seem to fall into the trap of coaching based on what worked for them as an athlete. Have you noticed that and if so how do you get around that challenge?

RG: I genuinely feel like I never had that problem. It has been my experience that most ‘elite' athletes, having had success with an approach, will try to duplicate that exact preparation again and again. I have never been like that. I am constantly changing my own training and that of the guys that I coach. Our program has evolved more and more and yet the basic principles have remained extremely similar. As a result, we may have 10 different training plans for the 20 or so guys that I coach. Similarly, I hardly ever do harder session with my athletes – I think that would be sending the wrong message as far as specific preparation and getting ready for ‘championship season' when it might be months different.

KD: You're not known as a road racer. In fact you've only run a few road races during your career. Why is that and how does Papa John's fit into your plan for 2005?

RG: I have heard such good things about the race and it is reasonably close – however, the number one reason is that I missed out of cross nationals this winter. I had surgery after the Olympics for a neuroma and I always love running the longer races and seeing where my fitness is. I have never considered myself a longer distance guy, and when I can be competitive in say 12k cross, it just gives me a lot of confidence. I seem to always get beat pretty good on the roads, so I definitely do not agree that the roads aren't as competitive; my biggest reservation is actually running on cement. I would guess that 95% of my training is done on soft trails (preferably hilly). Croghan used to always joke that I could do mile repeats much faster at our golf course when it was sloppy than on a mile loop we used to run on the roads! I am looking forward to running such a long event against all these great road guys.

KD: Now that you're in your early thirties you've graduated to the ranks of  “ veteran”. Having "been there, done that" what keeps you motivated?

RG: Veteran is code for ‘old man', but it doesn't bother me. Making my 2nd Olympic team was a fantastic thrill, but getting hurt and running so miserably at the Games really bothered me. It was very embarrassing. I was still 50/50 about continuing after I had my surgery and probably wasn't as proactive with the re-hab as I should've been early on, but as the fall progressed, I really began to get excited about the upcoming season. I changed shoe companies and had more time off post-surgery than I probably did in the last 8 years. The result was a renewed excitement to really achieve some of the goals I may not have been quite committed enough to the last couple of years.

KD: Some athletes are very secretive about their training yet you provided a glimpse into your regime on www.runinsight.com last year. What are your thoughts on being generous with your training information?

RG: I have become extremely critical of American distance runners (myself absolutely included!) and have become extremely interested in ways we can become more and more competitive. One of the things I stress is at least a sharing of ideas – it would seem quite hypocritical were I to show the same evasiveness that I say is hurting our chances on the World scene.

KD: It seems that you're mainly self-coached. What are the challenges of that situation?

RG: I am self-coached, but I do have a friend who used to coach Mark Croghan for the broad themes. He is the best person in the world with the way he looks at things as well as taking a step back and really thinking on a high ‘varsity' level. When it comes to specific sessions when and what – I feel I absolutely know best. I have never had a problem ‘getting out the door' or ‘pushing through the pain' or any other cheesy saying – we have a saying on our team that you have to put your feet in the ground and get in some great weeks/months of uninterrupted training – this is a bit different than other's training where they have a couple lights-out sessions – when I begin this phase of the year, everyone can tell and it is the ‘secret' of my training.


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