January 23, 2002 -
LetsRun.com had a lengthy and refreshingly candid conversation with #1 ranked US steeplechaser Tim Broe today from his home in Ann Arbor, Michigan - where Broe trains under the guidance of Michigan coach Ron Warhurst with the likes of Kevin Sullivan, Paul McMullen, Alan Webb and Nathan Brannen.  

Broe has been on quite a roll the last few years and seems eager to mark himself as America's #1 mid-distance talent.  In 2000, Broe finished his collegiate career at Alabama by winning the NCAA title, improving his steeple p.r. by more than 20 seconds and just missing out on making the Olympics straight out of college by an agonizing .09 of a second.

In 2001, his first year as full-time professional, Broe continued to excel.  Never afraid to mix it up and race, Broe won both the USA 4k xc title and the 3k indoor title during the winter and was one of the few to compete at both the world indoor track and field championships and the world cross country championships.  Outdoors, Broe made his first world championship team in the steeplechase and advanced to the finals in Edmonton.  He also lowered his steeple best by another 7 seconds to 8:14  - making him the 5th fastest American ever - and  putting him well within striking distance of Henry Marsh's American record of 8:09.17.  

The 24-year old Broe isn't resting on his laurels as he opened up the 2002 campaign last weekend with the fastest time in the world in the 3k and a 7:49 clocking, in a race that included a sickening solo 4:04.5 final 1600 meters. 

This Sunday, Broe will run another 3k at the adidas Boston Indoor Games - the first meet on the 2002 USATF Golden Spike Tour - where a $25,000 bonus is being offered for the American record of 7:39.

The Time Broe File
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175
Born: June 20, 1977 in Peoria, Ill.
Current Residence: Ann Arbor, Mich.
High School: East Peoria Community HS '95
College: Alabama '99
Coach: Ron Warhurst 

Interview conducted on January 23, 2002 by Robert Johnson.

LRC: Tim you seem to be on quite a roll. In 2000, you improved your steeple p.r. by more than 20 seconds,  won the NCAA title and just missed out on making the Olympics straight out of college.  Last year, your first as a professional, you won the USA 4k xc title, then the 3k indoor title, and then outdoors you  made your first world championship team in the steeple and  lowered your steeple best by another 7 seconds to 8:14  - making you the 16^th fastest guy in world and 5th fastest American ever.  Then you open 2002 with the fastest time in the world in the 3k with a 7:49 – a race that included a sickening 4:04 final 1600 meters.  You seem to love to race and excel each time you do it.  How do you plan on keeping it going for the rest of 2002?

TB: Ronnie (Tim's coach Ron Warhurst who is also the Michigan coach) and I were talking about it the other day. We were saying a lot of Americans get stuck in this idea that you need to train, train, train for this one perfect race over the summer or what not. That's totally not our philosophy at all. We work really hard during the Fall on my mileage and tempo runs, fartleks and that kind of stuff.
       But then in January we get on the track once a week and get in one hill workout a week. We always try to stay sharp. It's hard train 10 months for one race. The point of all the training is supposed to be to race and we do that - race.  We like to get some fast races under our belt as it builds confidence.  That way when I get into the real season in the summer time and it's time for the big races, I'll know I can run fast since I've been running fast all year.
       For me it's also mental thing, I just like to race and keep sharp We just continue to race and it's been going very well for me and the system works well for me this way.

LRC: What do you think the keys to your improvements have been over the last few years, you've really stepped it up a lot?

TB: Definitely the improvement has come from getting more consistency in my mileage. I was at about only 50-60 miles a week throughout my college career. I wasn't too serous. I worked out really hard but my off days were a joke.
       When I got out of school and started running with these professional guys, I soon realized I had a lot of work to do. I mean on easy days after I race it was like, "My gosh, I can't keep up." I've gotten more serious and now have started to run a little harder to keep up on my easy days.
        Another key is the fact, that I didn't used to run over the summer. Now that I'm running all year and don't have to run cross country in the fall - that really helps.  Having the Fall time to prepare a big base, has really made a big difference.

LRC: How much mileage are you running these days ?

TB: I probably try to run around 80 miles a week. Sometimes I get up to 90 - maybe 3 or 4 times. The last two weeks have been in the 70s but somewhere around 80 is standard for me.

LRC: Do you plan on trying to add a little mileage in the next few years?

TB: Yeah (I do). Kevin (Sullivan - one of Broe's training partners) is consistently at 90-100 miles a week and he doesn't waver too much, and I'd like to get a little closer to him.   I tried it for a while but I can tell when I'm doing a little too much as I get nick knacks pains. I got up to about 85 for 3 weeks and had some achilles problems and hamstring problems so I eased it back down to 80, which doesn't sound like much, but it is for me. 80 is pretty much my number right now.
        But over the years, you just get stronger. It's a cumulative thing.  I feel stronger every time I run. Next year, I'll aim for 85-90 and go from there although I don't ever see myself going much over 90.

LRC: You said you run your easy days a little quicker now. What type of pace are we talking about?

TB: It's a little bit quicker now. We used to run really slow like 7 minute pace for 5-6 miles. Now we're typically out the door at 6:30 pace and we finish up at a good pace. We're not killing ourselves but finishing up at a good pace - 5:45 or 6 minute pace - depending on how you feel.  When you're done with the day, you know you worked a bit.

LRC: Can we you tell me exactly how that race last week unfolded.  To run a 7:49 and win by 18 seconds is pretty amazing. Were you out in front the whole time? Were you surprised with the way things went?

TB: Well I had done about 4 weeks of track work before the race, plus the hills and tempo runs, and I had pretty much been running 60 second (400 meter) pace for everything - fast but comfortable. The plan was to run 4:16 for the mile and to start running 30 point (200 meters) after that and see how that felt.  And that's what happened.
      The real pleasing thing was that I didn't over exert myself.  When I finished, I felt like I could have kept going. As far as pacing, I told Kevin (Sullivan) I'd lead the first 800. He took the 2nd 800 and then I told him I'd lead after that.  He could just tuck in, and if he felt good with two laps two go, he could just go ahead.  It wasn't a real race atmosphere just kind of a workout to see where my fitness level was.

LRC: How long did Sullivan end up staying with you? I know he finished in 8:07.

TB:  He ended up dropping back after the mile. I think he was a little tired because he's been running so many miles. With the mileage, the workouts and the racing, one has to give, but last weekend didn't mean much for a guy like that having been to the Olympics and all. I'm sure he'll come around here the next few weeks.

LRC: More specifically, let's look ahead to this weekend.  You're running another 3k. This time it's at the adidas Boston Indoor games - the first meet of the 2002 USATF Golden Spike Indoor Tour. Considering that they've got a great field assembled and it's taking place on a banked track, do you think you're capable of running a lot faster? 

TB: Yeah, I'm definitely capable of running faster. Supposedly there is going to be a rabbit there. So I plan on getting out a little faster than 4:16 - hopefully say 4:06 to 4:08 for the mile. Then the plan will be the same - start running those 30s (for 200 meters).  I'd love to run under the American record (the American record of 7:39.94 was set by Steve Scott in 1989).  That's one of my goals for the indoor season.
      I heard (Adam) Goucher was going to be in the race, but now I'm not sure, but I'm looking forward to racing him and some of the other Americans. (editor's note: Goucher has scratched from the race)

LRC: Well that answered my next question about going for the American record.  I assume you're aware they're offering a $25,000 bonus for an American record in the race?

TB: I wish you hadn't told me that (about the record). (Laughs). I told Ron (Warhurst) a few weeks ago that we really should try to break that record when we go to Boston. He said, "No. Let's just try to work on racing - racing those Kenyans and mixing it up with them." Then we found out yesterday that there's a big bonus for the record so we changed the plans a little bit now (laughs). We're going to go out a little bit hard which is what I wanted all along.  But the money's not the motivation though. It's would just be nice to say that you're the American Record Holder in any event, and it's been there since I think 1985 so that's a long time. (Editor's note: The record was actually set in 1989)
       That's the thing with American distance runners recently. People are always saying that this meet (early season meet) is no big deal. I'm just getting ready for whatever (is coming up in the future), but why not go for it? Steve Scott went out and got the American record indoors and he still went outdoors and ran under 3:50 in the mile 8 times and no one knocked him for that. 

 LRC: Having run faster than the record last year outdoors (Tim ran 7:39.45 and the record is 7:39.94), does that give you a lot of confidence?

TB: It sure does. It's one thing to train and all and to think you can do it, but to run the race and know you've done it is a different thing. It helps to know that you've got it in there somewhere - it's just a matter of whether it comes out that day.

LRC: How's the rest of your winter campaign looking? What's on the agenda? I assume another trip to world cross at you did pretty well there last year in the 4k (Broe finished 18th).

TB: After Boston, we're going to do the 4k at US cross. Then get a little bit more training in. Then run USA indoors - the first weekend in March. Then kind of start training for the outdoor season, but take it a little easy the week before the world cross country championships and then shoot it will be May (and the start of outdoors) before you know it.

LRC: Looking at the winter season, which is your favorite cross-country or indoor track? You were one of the few to run both the world indoors and world cross last year.

TB: Definitely cross country. Oh god yeah. It's a lot of fun. I'd love to do the 12k in cross country but I don't want to risk (not) making the team (laughs). Maybe if they have the world championships one year somewhere boring, I'll take my chances and go for 12k in the future, but it's in Ireland this year and I really want to go there, so I've got to play my cards right.

LRC: Tim, quite honestly,  I don't think you'd have much of a problem making the 12k team.  Isn't the 12k the day after the 4k race anyway? You could make the team in the 4k and then try and come back in the 12k with nothing to lose.

TB: That 12k it's a long way.  
    We actually talked about it but the 12k would probably wipe me out for 2 weeks and I want to run well at USA indoors. After those 10ks in college, I wouldn't be able to move for 3 days afterwards. But there's so much more pizzazz that comes with winning the 12k as that's the real man's race.  It's the long race and the big one. Maybe next year when I know I'm a little bit stronger I'll jump in there and see what happens.  
    I'd love it if cross country was just 10k as I'd definitely do that but you tack on another lap and I don't know if I can handle it, but I'll be the first to admit the 4k isn't as prestigious.

LRC: Looking at the rest of the year and the outdoor season, what are your goals for 2002 considering there aren't any major championships?

TB: My real goal is to break the American record in the steeplechase sometime this year (Editor's note: Henry Marsh’s record of 8:09.17 has stood since 1985) and the other one is to run under 13:10 for 5k. Besides that, I want to run well at US champs and maybe stay on my feet this time (Tim crashed on the next to last barrier at the 2001 US championships and fell from first to third). It would be nice to win a US outdoor title sooner or later - hopefully sooner.

LRC: What exactly happened there last year when you fell? I have my own exclusive theory.  I was standing on the final turn, right next to Alan Webb, and coming out of the final water jump, you pretty much were moving into the clear.  Alan was rooting for you as I guess he'd met you on his recruiting trip to Michigan and he seemed a little excited. He yelled really loud, "Come on Timmy. You gotta go. He's coming." Next thing I know, I look up and you're sprawled across the track. Can LetsRun.com be the first to break the fact that Alan Webb cost you the 2001 US steeple title?

TB: Oh god no. I don't hear anything in those races - especially with a lap to go. The thing was I just felt so horrible in that race. It was so strange as two days before I felt so good in the prelims and ran 8:25 and just breezed through it. I felt so confident.
    In the final, I just felt horrible and was clipping every other hurdle. Feeling so bad, I wasn't confident and thus just felt I need to run as fast as I could on that last lap so nobody could catch me. Coming out of the pit, I just got going way to fast for myself.  That last hurdle caught me right between strides and I just got too close to it. It happened so fast and all of the sudden I'm laying on the track thinking, "Holy crap, I can't believe that just happened."
    That's all right you know. It just keeps things exciting. This year I'll have something to look forward to and think about when I'm getting ready for the race.  But I wish I could say it was Alan's fault.

LRC: Can you compare your fitness from this winter to last winter? Last year, I read that you weren't doing a whole lot of workouts.

TB: Last year after the Olympic Trials (when Broe missed qualifying by for team by .09 of a second), I was really pissed off and really motivated. I did a whole lot of base stuff in the Fall as a result. I had only been on the track once when I ran 7:48 last year. I didn't feel real sharp then, just real strong. This year, we've been on the track a lot more and the workouts we've been doing have been really fast.  So I'm a lot sharper than I was last year. Strength wise, I didn't get as much work in this year but strength is a cumulative thing.  To answer your question, I do feel a little bit sharper than I did last year.

LRC: Can you talk a little bit about the training environment there in Ann Arbor? Things really seem to be taking off with coach Warhurst, Kevin Sullivan, Phil McMullen, yourself and the freshman phenoms in Alan Webb and Nate Brannen.  

TB: For me, all of this stuff is so brand new and exciting. I haven't had guys to train with in the past. Now I've got all these great guys to train with.   I just have a lot of enthusiasm right now because everything is going so well. My life is starting to get to a place where I wanted it for the last few years. It's just such great training running with these guys.  Everyone just feeds off of each other.

LRC: When I talked to Kevin (Sullivan) the other day, he indicated that you guys really do about 90% of your running together. How does that exactly work as you're a steeplechase/5k guy and everyone else is more of a miler?

TB: Well it helps that Kevin is just such an amazing athlete.   He does the work most 10k guys would do but yet he has such phenomenal speed.  I don't know too many 3:50 milers who are running 90 miles a week with hills and tempo runs. He keeps up on everything.  He's amazing.  Once a week, we do hills and we stay together. We're pretty much stride for stride right now.   If we do something like 2 x 4 miles - I'll get a little distance on him. On the flip side, if we're doing 200s, 300s or 400s, then  he and Paul will put me in the ground. Those guys rock me on those short intervals. I'm all out just trying to hang on.

LRC: Can you tell me how a typical training week  goes for you guys?

TB: On Monday's we always do hills. It's about 250-300 meters long and pretty steep. We do 8-10 of those and then jog back down. It's more of a leg strengthening workout. You're not breathing too hard on those first four but those last four are really tough.
    Thursdays, we'll do an indoor workout. A 4 mile tempo or 3 mile tempo. If we do intervals, Ron never goes 6 x 800 or 7 x 1000 or anything standard like that.  He's always mixing it up and changing the pace on you.  There'll be a 1000 and then an 800 - a 300 and  then 600. I don't know where he comes up with his stuff. You can always count on some grinding long stuff and some fast stuff. On Saturday's, normally we'll do some type of fartlek - something a little easier just to keep the heart-rate up.

LRC: Having been around the two high school sub four minute milers in Brannen and Webb, what's your early impressions of them?  

TB: I will say right now that Nathan Brannen is going to surprise a lot of people. He has a very good attitude and just phenomenal leg speed. And he's so smooth. Those guys that are really fast, they make it looks so easy. I'll watch him do 200s in 25 and he's just on cruise control. When his strength starts catching up with his speed, he's going to do something special.
   (The same is true) for Alan.  Alan's just a phenom. He can do anything - the long stuff, the fast stuff.  He can finish really (Fast) on a really long tempo run. He can do a long grinding eight mile workout and finish up on the track with a 53 second quarter. That's the type of stuff you only see the Kenyan's doing. - and he's only 18 years old.
    That workout just bust your balls. I've done it once and your legs are just beat and you don't feel like you can run even 65 seconds on the final lap and yet he's doing 53 or 54.
(Editor's note: Please note that the above workout that Tim Broe is referencing for Alan Webb is known as The Michigan. It consists of a 1600, 1200, 800 and 400 but with miles of tempo in between.  We know the specifics of the actual workout but will not be revealing them as our great friend Chris Lear - author of Running With The Buffaloes - spent a weekend in Ann Arbor this Fall covering the development of Webb and Brannen for Running Times magazine and witnessed the workout.  Please be sure to pick up a copy of the next issue of Running Times magazine to see his feature story on Webb/Brannen and Michigan.  To subscribe to Running Times, at an exclusive LetsRun.com price click here. Our price is 15% off the lowest subscription price out there for not only Running Times, but all Magazines.  Support our site and subscribe or renew today at this unbelievable price. Offer Ends 3/1/02)

LRC: What were your thoughts about your first outdoor world championships last summer in Edmonton? You made the final but didn’t really seem to be quite in the thick of things.

TB: It was a great experience. I wish I could have run better but I just had an awful, awful time there. I had been travelling all year. I hadn't been in the same bed more than a week since February and I think it all caught up to me. It was great to be there though to just experience it all. Next time when I'm there, there won't be any awe.

LRC: Last year was your first full year on the professional circuit, how different did you find it to run in the Grand Prix meets than over here in the States?  Did you learn anything in particular that will lead to improvements this year?  

TB: (Running over there) is not any different than when you're a freshman in college and you're racing all these guys like Ryan Wilson (when Broe was a freshman) that are really good and you're a little in awe of them as you know that you can't beat them. It was tough at first as I've always raced off my competitiveness and there's always been someone in the race that I've really wanted to beat. I didn't have that when I first got to Europe.  But you start to develop little rivalries with guys who are at your level. Now I've got a few little rivalries and guys I can think about when I train so it should be a little different this year.
      Also when you first get over there, it's a bit weird as you don't know anyone and no one speaks English. It also is a lot more physical over there. Here guys let you out and pat you on the butt when you go by.  Over there, they'll grab your jerseys if you try to pass them.

LRC: Given the fact that you weren't immediately the top guy in college and developed a little later than some of America's other top runners, do you think that perhaps it helps keep you a little more excited and motivated about running?

TB: Yes. If you get to a top level really early, where do you go from there? It's really encouraging to lie down every night and know that there's a lot more in me - a lot of room for improvement.  Look at someone like Kevin Sullivan who got 5th at the world championships as a sophomore in college.  I don't know how he keeps it up, but he's just so upbeat and motived. He's an exception to the rule.  Kevin just loves to run.  It suits his personality perfectly. He'll always be in the sport.

LRC: Being a professional runner now, how do you fill your days? You certainly can't run 16 hours a day.

TB: Well my beautiful fiance is a professional golfer (Vanessa Bell from England who plays on the Futures Tour and attended Alabama) and I've taken up the sport. I'm just hooked on it. I run in the morning, and then golf all day long, and then go to practice to do a workout. Then if it's still light out, we'll go golfing again. That's pretty much what we do every day.  If I still have some time, I'll go fishing. So I'm either running, golfing or fishing.

LRC: Do you go out and play 18 every day or do you stick to the driving range? It seems like playing a round might tire you out.  

TB: Usually we do both. Walking does wear you out so I try to get a cart. If there is a workout, I make sure that I get the cart. Usually we kind of goof around going from hole to hole. As a professional golfer, she gets a lot of benefits at the course, so if you're the fiance of a professional golfer, you've got to try to join in on those benefits. I try to weasel my way on the courses with her.

LRC: How good of a golfer are you? What's your handicap and how long have you been playing?

TB: I stink. If I have a really good day,well, my best ever is 85. A normal day is 95 but don't ask Brad Hauser (who was runner-up to Brad at the US 4k cross country championships last year) about my golfing ability.  I played with him once and had the worse day ever so he'll say I shoot 125.  But I figured the sport all out today - just like every day - so tomorrow will be different.   I've been playing about 4 years.
        The one thing I have learned about (golf and just life in general) is to admit you suck and just start having fun with it. That's the one big thing that Ronnie (Warhurst) has taught me about everything. He's so low key. Nothing is too serious with him so at least I'm having fun now with everything.

LRC: That's pretty funny. I guess you and my brother, Weldon, have discovered the secret to running - golf is they key.  He swears it helped his plantar fascia problem this Fall.  Anyway, Tim, thanks a lot for taking the time to talk with us . Best of luck to you this weekend.  I hope you really get that record.

TB: If not, well it's no big deal, but we're certainly going to try for it.

Click here if you want to learn about how Tim got into running and his high school running career. However, the real reason to read this interview is so you can get the truth behind one of the biggest rumors in track and field history - the real story of what actually caused Tim to be expelled from the Footlocker cross country national championships as a junior in high school.