|
Tim
Broe won his third USA 4K cross country title February 12 in Vancouver,
Washington, by kicking away from runner-up Adam Goucher. He won
the 2001 and 2002 USA 4K titles on the same course. One day later,
he finished third, behind Dathan Ritzenhein and Jorge Torres, in
the 12K race.
On
winning his third cross country title on the same course:
I'm 3-and-0 here. Not a bad record. I may bail out tomorrow [in
the 12K] and keep the perfect record, because I definitely ain't
winning tomorrow. I didn't know where I was at three weeks ago,
after that indoor 3K [the Reebok Boston Indoor Games, where he finished
fourth in 7:44.87]. I'm way ahead of where I thought I'd be right
now. It's just cross country, though. I've got to get ready for
outdoors.
On
the differences between track and cross country:
There's no time involved. You just come out and compete against
the best guys in the nation. It's fun. It's nice to win, too, everybody
likes to win, but it's good fun.
On
his mental preparation for the race:
I just really think about, no matter how I do, this is a stepping
stone for outdoors. My whole focus has changed a lot in the last
four years. Just giving it my best go in this round, and really
being ready for outdoors. Helsinki is what's really important. That's
what matters. It's always fun to win along the way.
On
his spot on the team for the World Cross Country Championships:
Unfortunately, I've already made commitments, and I won't be taking
it. Things I couldn't get out of, commitments I made way back without
looking at schedules. Next year I'd definitely go to Japan, and
if I made the team in 2007 I'd definitely go to Kenya.
On
his close race with Adam Goucher:
I think he was with me the whole way. He had a lot of fans out here.
In fact, that kind of spurred me on a little bit. When everybody's
yelling for the guy next to you, it gets you riled up a little bit.
I assumed he was right behind me, because I could hear him, and
I could hear the fans. In cross country, especially in the 4K, you
really don't get away from people. That was my mental preparation
coming in, that no matter how close it was, I had to keep fighting.
It's only 4K. So I said, I need to be prepared to fight to the last
400.
On
being in control of the race:
Actually, I think Jorge [Torres] was in control the whole way. Things
slowed down when we started heading down this homestretch. I suddenly
found myself in the lead, and I thought, well, maybe I'm feeling
better than I thought I was. I just pushed it when I came to the
front. I've been doing a lot of strength work, so I just used my
strength right now.
On
taking the lead:
It was maybe two-and-a-half K. I didn't push it, I was just kind
of getting my rhythm. The first lap was really uncomfortable, then
I found my rhythm in the second lap.
On
having a pack of runners late in the race:
It's kind of intimidating, because you're hurting, and there are
still nine guys around. That's where confidence kind of comes in,
and learning to relax. My natural instinct is, I hate to be around
people. I want to get away. But you can't get away; you just have
to be able to finish well. When you're with a group of nine guys,
you have to relax your mind and say, 'This is what I've been training
for. This is what it's all about.'
On
feeling better in the second lap:
This race is really uncomfortable. You never really get into a flow.
The first lap, I think everybody was feeling, I don't know, uncomfortable.
On
having the course named after him:
Maybe after five. I'd take a five-peat. I'll take it if I five-peat.
On
whether the 4K feels more like a steeplechase or a 5,000m:
Honestly, it feels like an 800m. If you're not used to 8, you feel
uncomfortable the whole way, but when you get done, you feel like
you could have done more. That's what this is like. You get lactic
acid after the first 400m, and you don't know if you can finish.
Then when you're done, it's like, 'I could've kept going, just not
any faster.'
On
his decision to skip the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships:
It was a big decision to really focus on outdoors. I'm skipping
all the little things, the little money-making things, and putting
all my focus on outdoors. I'll do the USA 8K road race (in New York)
and I'll do a 10K early in the spring. Nothing right now, just back
to training.
After
the 12K
On
running the 12K, beyond his usual range:
I'm supposed to be a distance runner. I made a commitment, early
in the year, that I was going to do it no matter what. I'm pleased,
considering all I've been doing is tempo runs. I'm really getting
ready for the summer. There's a lot left in me, unfortunately. And
this is my longest race by 2K.
On
stringing out the 4K pack on the previous day:
That's my strength. I don't have a great finish, but I've got some
speed-strength and speed-endurance. So I like to push early.
On
why he isn't going to Worlds:
New York (the 8K road championship) has nothing to do with it. I'd
committed to something else, a speaking engagement.
On
how happy the seventh place finisher, Paul Kezes, was about that
decision:
He should be. I'm happy for him.
(Interviews
conducted February 12 and 13, 2005, and posted March 9, 2005)
|
