After his brilliant 13.33.
80 miles in base and 60 during season with is the formula.
http://www.trackie.ca/content/interviews/interview.php?id=47
After his brilliant 13.33.
80 miles in base and 60 during season with is the formula.
http://www.trackie.ca/content/interviews/interview.php?id=47
Name: Kurt Benninger
DOB: January 1, 1985
Home town: Chepstow, Ontario
Club: Saugeen
PB's: 800-1:51.67, 1500/mile-3:41.95/3:58.75, 3000-7:59.39, 5000-13:33.05
Interviewer: Ingrid Sproll
IS: What first got you started into running? Did you do any other sports in high school?
KB: I started running in elementary school at our school field days. In high school I went out for the team and was encouraged to go out to the local track club (Saugeen). I played hockey until I joined the track club.
IS: What was the highlight of your high school running career?
KB:Finishing 2nd at Pan Am Juniors would likely be the highlight and being fortunate enough to make World XC twice while in high school.
IS:University of Notre Dame? What advice (if any) would you give to Canadians thinking about running for an American school?
KB: Notre Dame was just the right fit. When I took my visit things seemed to click well with the team and with Coach Piane. The academics was also something that I considered a lot because I wanted to make sure that where ever I went my degree would be recognized. Advice that I would give to Canadians, is to make sure that you look at all angles, not just running and getting a scholarship. Also send out letters to schools that you are interested in. This will help set you apart from other athletes because it allows the coach to see that you are interested in their program.
IS: What are you studying at school, what do you want to do after you graduate?
KB: I am in business right now, but I am in the process of switching to history. I would like to run as a professional when I am done with school and maybe coach after that.
IS: Who is you favorite person or team to race against? Why?
KB:I can’t think of one particular person or team that I enjoy racing against. There are so many good runners and teams in the NCAA you can’t afford to focus on just one.
IS: Congratulations on running 13:33.05 at the Stanford invitation this past weekend! That was your first 5000m on the track right, did you expect that you would run that fast? What were your thoughts going into the race??
KB: Thanks. Yes, it was my first real 5km. I ran one a few years ago at OTFA’s, but I don’t really remember much about the race aside from feeling bored for most of it. At Stanford I didn’t really know what to expect. I was pretty confident that I could handle 66’s without much of a problem, but I worried that the distance would get to me. I just wanted to go in there and feel relaxed and get to 400 to go. I ended up being impatient and going from 1100m out. I almost went from 1200, but I told myself to wait for at least another lap, but I went anyway. I struggle with patience sometimes in races, although this year has been much better. When I went I was worried I went too soon, but thankfully it worked out.
IS: Right now your time is ranked 3rd in the world how does that feel?
KB: It is pretty exciting, but it’s not something that I want to dwell on. It is still really early and I know that there will be a ton of guys run faster than that and hopefully I can again as well.
IS: Do you think you might want to move up to the 5000 from the 1500 in the future?
KB: The plan that I have always had was to end up in the 5000. I ran this one as a chance to get a feel for it and to give me a break from the 1500. In the future I am sure that I will end up focusing on the 5km and running a few 10’s and 15’s as well.
IS: What is your training like, high mileage vs quality? How does it compare to the training you did in high school?
KB: My training is mostly quality right now. In XC I was running about 80 miles a week, but now I am down to 60. The intensity is a lot higher than in cross, which kind of surprised me at first because I upped the intensity then as well. I didn’t really plan for the drop in mileage, but I had some nagging problems over Christmas, which didn’t allow me to get the base in that I had hoped. In high school I averaged about 40 miles a week, so now my mileage is higher but the intensity is at another level.
IS: Who do you look up to as a role model(s)?
KB: I look up to Ryan Shay and Luke Watson. I am very fortunate to have them around here from time to time and I am able to see and hear how they train and what they learned from it. They both train very hard, but have different approaches, so I am able to take bits from each of them and see what works for me. I go to Andrew Mckessock and Willie McComb a lot for advice as well. They both have been through the college system and give me a different perspective on things.
IS: What has been your biggest accomplishment in running so far?
KB: I hope that I have not had my biggest accomplishment yet.
IS: What do you like to do when you’re not running??
KB: When I am not running I like to relax and just goof around with my friends. I play on the gamecube a bit too much though. It is pretty easy to get addicted to some of those games and not get your homework done.
IS: What has been your most embarrassing moment, on or off the track?
KB: Well, on the track would have to be the first time that I made OFSAA. I was running the 3km and was 14 years old. I ended up going out in 59 seconds for the first 400. This was just after my coach had finished saying that I am really good at sticking to race plans and staying calm. I ran the next lap in 80. Off the track actually just happened today. I was handing in a test and as I was walking down the steps to the front of the class to hand it in I was looking it over. I completely missed the last step and fell flat on my face in front of about 60 people.
IS: What are your plans/goals for running this outdoor season?? Are you thinking about running in the Canadian Sr Championships in Winnipeg?
KB: My goal is to try to win the 1500 at NCAA’s. After that I will wait and see how I feel. I am thinking about going to Europe to run a few races after the college season. If I do that, I will come back and run at Nationals.
IS: Thank you so much for taking the time to fill out the interview, good luck with the rest of your season, I wish you continued success.
Thanks.
Thats right baby. I am mad tight with the creators of that site. Pretty good message board, but this one is obviously a monster and that one is mainly local to where I live: New Brunswick.
Seems like a nice boring Canuck with an excess of talent.
And your another damn yankee that wishes you could be that fast.
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