|
Chris
Solinsky is no ordinary college freshman. He entered the University
of Wisconsin at Madison this fall after dominating the high school
distance running scene last year. Wins at the Great American Cross
Country Festival and Foot Locker National Cross Country Championships
in the fall, as well as wins in the two mile at the NIKE Indoor
Championships, the 3,200m at the Arcadia Invitational in the spring,
demonstrated a range of talent which bodes well for the future.
But
Solinsky is experiencing a typical transition from high school star
to college freshman. He's running on a team that finished second
at last year's NCAA Cross Country Championships and entered the
season ranked #2 in the country. That explains the occasional growing
pangs which had him dropping from runs early in the season. He's
also managing a tough course load that requires studying for two
to three hours a night and having an occasional bout with homesickness.
With
five weeks to go before the 2003 NCAA Cross Country Championships,
Solinsky spoke October 16 about his upcoming races, his season thus
far, and other experiences.
Ricky
Quintana: Is it kind of weird for you having only one race under
your belt so late in the cross country season?
Chris Solinsky:
Yeah, a little bit. I'm the kind of guy who likes to race a little
bit more. It's a definite adjustment only racing periodically and
putting all your eggs in one basket for that one race — to
see what you can accomplish off of not tapering too much and training
through all the in-season meets for all the big meets.
RQ:
Is that something that you spoke with your coach (Jerry Schumacher)
about before you got on campus?
CS:
Yeah, I was ready for it coming into the season. Especially all
the rumors I heard — that Wisconsin doesn't race that much.
I talked with [Jerry] this summer, so I knew the game plan coming
in and it wasn't too much of an unexpected thing.
RQ:
Not going into too much detail, what was the general outline for
the summer?
CS:
Just to put in as many smart miles as I could. Try to get used to
the intensity and the amount of mileage before the season started.
RQ:
How many miles were you doing in July, August and September?
CS:
I was right around 70-75 miles per week before the season started.
Then, I hit around 80 and I've been holding right around that since
then.
RQ:
Have you noticed a big difference in your fitness?
CS:
Not as much yet. I do feel more fit, but I feel a bit more run down.
I think once we start to taper, I think it will be one of things
where I'll see a big change.
RQ:
Why did they hold you out of the first meet?
CS:
None of the freshman or the guys who competed last year ran
in that one. It was mostly for the guys who were injured last season
in cross country or track. That race was to get the experience underneath
their belt.
RQ:
How do you like these longer races?
CS:
It's hard to get used to, but I kind of like it when it's longer.
It gives you the chance to pace things out and think about your
game plan more than [in] a mile or two mile, where it's just kind
of all out from the gun. It gives you a chance to sit back and look
at things and see what you are going to do and assess what you can
do in the last 2 or 3k of the race. I feel a lot better. I'm more
of a longer distance runner.
RQ:
Are you looking forward to those two 10ks you'll have to compete
at the end of the season?
CS:
Yeah, I think I'm in good enough fitness to do them. I'm looking
forward to having an extra 2k to run people down at the end of the
race when it counts.
RQ:
What is it like training with guys that are as good as you are?
CS:
It's awesome. At first, to tell you the truth, it took me a little
[time] to get used to it because I was sometimes getting dropped
from the runs. I couldn't hold on because I wasn't in good enough
[shape]. I love the fact that I can come to practice any day and
one of the guys, if they wanted to, could drop me from the run.
It just shows that there is that much more for me to improve on.
There are many more steps I can take to move to the next level.
I can use college and everything as a stepping stone into —
hopefully — a future as a post collegian.
It's
awesome to have someone to train with and not have to do all the
work yourself. When you are not motivated and don't really want
to get out the door, it's nice just having those guys there saying
"All right, we're running at this time, you're coming with
us." So it's kind of nice.
RQ:
What's it like having Bobby Lockhart there? You raced him in high
school.
CS:
He's a character. He's a good guy to have around. He's always ready
to roll and push a hard pace. It's nice having a guy that was a
rival in high school on the same team. It's a good change to have
a guy of that caliber running with you. Along with (Matt) Tegenkamp,
(Josh) Spiker, Simon Bairu, Tim Nelson and Tim Keller, those guys
are so good and [were so] accomplished in the sport at an early
age. We're all looking to just get better as a group and individuals.
It's nice having all those guys together.
RQ:
Do you get a chance to run with Adam Wallace or any of the other
post collegians?
CS:
Once in a while, they come along and do some of the workouts or
some of the longer runs. Not too often [though]. It's nice having
those guys around, seeing then, and rubbing shoulders with them.
Getting advice from those guys is a good experience.
RQ:
Looking at your race at Griak, was it surprising to you or not?
[Editor's Note: Solinsky finished sixth against a competitive
field in 24:28.]
CS:
A little bit. To tell you the truth, I would have liked to have
finished better, considering how I felt during the race and everything.
The fact that I was running with the lead pack for the majority
of the race. I just panicked a little bit after I looked around
and saw who I was running with. I kind of checked off a little bit
and that left me tying up trying to get back with them after I checked
off. At that race, I was surprised that I was in [such] good shape.
Now I know I can run with guys of that caliber and be able to hold
the pace and not get scared off. Hopefully, I'll be able to place
high at the NCAA meet.
RQ:
Wisconsin is well known for it's even-paced racing strategy. How
does that work? Is it part of your training or is it preached to
you?
CS:
I'd say it's involved in our training and preached to us.
We do a lot of the tempo work in our training. That's a big emphasis
in the early part of the season. I think that's the way it is with
every team. We just try to run as relaxed as possible as long as
possible. We just try to conserve the energy so when everyone else
is falling apart because they are pressing, we just try to put the
hammer down. As Jerry and those guys would say, 'Just stroke it
at the end.'
RQ:
Does that take a lot of discipline for you to be that patient?
CS:
A little bit, because when I was in high school, I was just getting
out there, especially in in-state races, and pressing from the gun.
It's kind of nice being able to run in a pack, run relaxed and see
your teammates right around you. It did take a little bit of time
to get used to, but I think I'm pretty comfortable with doing it
now. It's not too bad anymore.
RQ:
What do you see as the major difference in your training from high
school to college?
CS:
Probably more consistency and higher intensity. In high school,
I did do high mileage, but not as [high] as people thought. Now,
I'm doing 80 'Badger miles' which is probably around 90 actual miles.
I'm doing it consistently every week, between 75 and 80 Badger miles
a week. I'm holding within a five mile range which inevitably will
help me in the long run... And then the intensity, of course, if
you end up hurting, it's definitely going to help.
RQ:
What are 'Badger miles?'
CS:
Badger miles are what we use as a system [to count mileage]. Everything
is based off of a 7:00 minute pace. So if you run 70 minutes, you
only get ten miles out of it. We don't actually run 7:00 pace, so
we get probably 12 miles out of a 70-minute run, but we can only
count it as 10. It's a system that I think was derived by Coach
Martin Smith when he coached here. Jerry [Schumacher], having run
for Martin, just carried it over.
RQ:
7:00 pace is rather slow, isn't it?
CS:
Yeah, I don't think we ever run at 7:00 pace. I think it's good
though, because you underestimate your pace which is a definite
positive.
RQ:
So if you go 6:00 pace, it still counts as 7:00 pace?
CS:
No matter what, it still counts as 7:00 pace. It took a while to
get used to because I wanted to count the actual mileage. It's not
too bad any more.
RQ:
Are you doing long runs?
CS:
Yeah, I'm doing 90 minute runs, usually on Sunday. It's 13 Badger
miles, but it's probably 15 or 16 actually. I'm doing a longer run
than I ever have on a weekly basis. Other than that, I'm doing pretty
much what I did in high school. Just higher intensity, better workouts
and a longer run at the end of the week.
RQ:
Arkansas' program has been reported to keep away from formal workouts
through September. Is that the case at Wisconsin?
CS:
[It's] relatively the same thing. We haven't really touched on speed
a whole lot. This last week we started to try to get [our] legs
moving, get them comfortable at that faster speed. Other than that,
I would say we've been working on pace.
RQ:
Is the type of training fartleks and informal training distances
or is it measured distances and times?
CS:
The workouts are a pre-planned thing. Jerry goes on how that person
is feeling and then makes a judgment call on how they look and how
they feel.
RQ:
What are some interval workouts that you have done?
CS:
We've done 1,200m and mile repeats. Most of it has been pretty much
pace work.
RQ:
What kind of volume are you doing?
CS:
It usually equates to about [six miles of interval work].
RQ:
Does that take a little more out of you?
CS:
No, not really. I've been feeling a lot stronger with training and
everything. Like I said, I've felt a little tired, but at the same
time, I've basically just been a little flat. I'm still able to
finish the workouts and not be in too much trouble. I think my fitness
is significantly better than last year. I think I would have had
trouble with these workouts last year. They are actually pretty
easy this year.
RQ:
How is the academics working into your training regimen?
CS:
[Studying] takes up a good portion of my night, let's just say that.
I get home from practice and get a bite to eat. Then I usually try
to study from 7:00, when I get home, to about 10:30. I usually try
to get to bed no later than 12, 12:30. I usually have another hour
or so where I just sit around relaxing and looking at the computer
and watching TV. Just ordinary stuff.
RQ:
Do you guys do doubles?
CS:
A few guys do. It all depends on what your mileage is set at and
what Jerry's plan is for you.
RQ:
Do you still keep in touch with your high school running friends?
CS:
Oh yeah. With AOL instant messenger, I talk with them quite a bit.
During the week, I get on there and ask them how they're doing,
how their seasons are going and just kind of keep in touch. It's
kind of nice having those friends and connections. It's definitely
a bonus of the sport.
RQ:
How's the whole situation being a home-state boy in Madison? Do
you draw a lot of attention?
CS:
That's hard to say. I don't think I do, but a lot of the guys say
that they hear stuff. I have a beard now. I'm kind of in disguise
and maybe people don't recognize me (laughs).
At
the first meet, it was kind of a shock to me that people were asking
about me. When we were warming up, a lot of people were asking where
Solinsky was. I was focused on doing my warm up. It surprised me
how much people actually cared about me, just being a freshman.
I'm trying to get the work done and stay on target and get things
done to help the team this year.
RQ:
Do you think that there will be more attention as the NCAAs draw
closer?
CS:
Possibly. I didn't anticipate this much attention, so it's hard
to say. I can't say that there is or isn't. There's a chance that
there will be, but basically, I'm not trying to set myself apart
from the team because the team [goals are what we're focused on].
I'm not into setting up individual goals. When nationals come, it
will be the team goal.
RQ:
You guys are ranked #2. Do you guys talk much about that?
CS:
It's something that we acknowledge, but we don't really dwell on
it. We just do the work and try to improve so we can place as high
as we possibly can at nationals. We try not pay that much attention
to the rankings. We look at them, of course, but everyone knows
that all they are just rankings and it's nothing until nationals
when the gun goes off and everyone crosses the line. That's when
the race will be decided.
RQ:
Do you keep up with high school stuff?
CS:
Yeah, occasionally. My dad actually fills me in more than I can
keep up on. He's a DyeStat
freak. I kind of got him hooked.
I
keep up on stuff that goes on around the country. I've been paying
close attention to my high school team because they are doing well
this year. It's fun to watch how they progress and see how they'll
finish in about three weeks at the state meet.
RQ:
What do you expect in this upcoming race this weekend? It's been
a while since you raced.
CS:
I'll try to go in there and feel as good as possible. We have a
set game plan. I'll try to actually keep that game plan to the best
of my ability, so we can come out of there a better team. Hopefully,
I can better myself as an individual. Those are the biggest goals.
[Editor's Note: Solinsky finished fifth at the Jim Drews Invitational
in 25:01. Wisconsin took five of the top six spots.]
RQ:
Pre Nationals are this weekend.
CS:
Yeah, we're one of the only teams that doesn't go there. Jerry is
big on not wanting to race the national meet in October, because
that's basically what it is, even though it's divided into two races.
Jerry uses it as a way to compare the other teams in the nation.
We just want to use this weekend as building ourselves towards the
national meet. Jerry doesn't want us to race hard [yet]. He just
wants us to improve.
RQ:
Do you get homesick?
CS:
Once in a while I do. There are definitely times when I wish I were
at home, but for the most part, I feel pretty comfortable here.
The guys on the team are pretty cool. Jerry is just like a brother
or father, you could say. I call my parents [frequently], like more
than three times a week or so. I just have talks with them. My friends
back home, I talk with them a lot. It's good to have those connections.
It helps with homesickness.
RQ:
In your
journal, you wrote about Vin Lananna.
CS:
Oh yeah (laughs).
RQ:
Did you expect the reaction that you got from your comments?
CS:
Not really. I was just stating my opinion as a person he had talked
to in the recruiting process. It hurt my feelings and everything
that he had said that, that he had told me that he was going to
be there for my development and then left.
Looking
back on it, it was his decision. I wish him the best. I hope that
things go well for him in Oberlin. I didn't mean to step on anyone's
feet or tick anybody off. At the time, I just wanted to get it off
my chest and get it out there, just kind of tell somebody. I didn't
expect to have the reaction that I had. I've learned from that and
learned to keep my mouth a little more shut.
RQ:
What did you expect the reaction to be, if any?
CS:
I didn't really expect any reaction. It was more of a case where
it was just a journal. I write down my feelings on issues and that
was my feeling as I heard the news. I didn't really expect a whole
lot of feedback, but I got plenty of it back. It was definitely
a learning experience.
RQ:
What about the beard?
CS:
We're contemplating whether to shave it off right before nationals
or right after nationals. Definitely, right around Nov. 24, we'll
know.
RQ:
Are you grooming it, or is it just letting it grow?
CS:
I'm just letting it grow. I shave a little bit under my chin. Other
than that, it's just growing wild. Let's see, it's already in its
fifth week or so and I've got about five weeks left. It's feeling
pretty good. It's a good woman repellent, if you ever need one.
RQ:
Do you have the big side burns going?
CS:
No, I kind of cut them back so they wouldn't look as off when I
started growing the beard. I think as soon as the beard goes, the
side burns will come back (laughs).
RQ:
What about the your hair? Is it growing all woolly again?
CS:
No, no, no, no. I grizzed my head this summer. I might do that again
when I cut my hair and I do my beard, or I might go back to how
I used to have it. I definitely am not going to let it get that
long. Now I look back on the pictures and everything and [I'm not]
a big fan of that.
(Interview
conducted October 16, 2003, posted October 22, 2003.)
|
