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Chris
Lear:
2000
was a breakthrough year for you, culminating with a fifth place
finish in the steeple at the Olympic Trials. That said, some of
the readers might not be too familiar with you. What were some of
your other top results last year?
Clint
Wells: I
ran 28:35 for my first 10k in May at the Stanford invite. I was
pretty pleased with that not knowing what to expect or how to pace
myself for that distance. I also won the Harry Jerome Classic steeplechase
up in Vancouver. Mostly I was concentrating my energies on the Olympic
Trials.
CL:
You went to the University of Colorado and ran for Mark Wetmore.
What were your top marks as a collegian on the track/top NCAA cross
country results?
CW:
I ran really well my second and third year at Colorado. I was All-American
twice in cross and twice in track. I competed in the 1996 Trials
with a PR in the steeple of 8:37. I finished 34th at NCAA s in Cross-Country
my redshirt freshman year. However, a few injuries and some overzealous
training on my part didn't add up to my last two years being all
that successful. No All-Americans and no new PRs.
CL:
You're a black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Do you still train for that?
If so, does the mental or physical training help your running?
CW:
I practiced Tae Kwon Do from age 9-14. I received my black belt
when I was 12. I have only practiced it once since then and that
was in the one and only fight of my life. Luckily I still remembered
some of it.
Even though
I do not practice it I think the mental skills I gained still benefit
me in running. Things such as learning how do be dedicated to something,
persevering through good and bad, and keeping a calm attitude and
mind in competition, whether it be sparring or breaking boards in
martial arts or running in big races. Learning meditation also helped
me prepare my mind for competitions. Physically, I think it helped
give me necessary strength, balance and flexibility at a young age,
which helps in the steeple now.
CL:
With just your pinky finger, can you kick my ass?
CW:
Of course Chris! If I were to pick a fight with your average female
distance runner (which is not too likely) they would require a little
more than that, but you, one pinky is all I need!
CL:
How did running at CU prepare you for post-collegiate running?
CW:
Wetmore' s program helped give me the core base strength and mental
toughness that would have been hard to duplicate anywhere else.
I also learned to take running very seriously as far as training
and preparing, but not so serious in the sense that it is not the
end of the world when you aren't successful. Life and running do
go on and there are new opportunities ahead to prove yourself. This
helped me take pressure off myself after college and just run and
have fun doing it.
CL:
Last year you made a big move and started training with Arturo
Barrios. You obviously responded very well to his training.
How does his program differ from Wetmore's and why do you think
you responded to it so well?
CW:
My first year and a half out I was coaching myself using what Brad
Hudson and I call the "Wetmore light system". I just eased
up a little and it worked. However, Arturo came to my roommates
and me and wanted to start coaching us because he knew we were on
our own. I was struggling at the time, so I thought it might be
good to try a new system and was excited to run under him. I saw
that people had success many different ways, so I thought to broaden
my experience and knowledge I should try a system that worked for
a world record holder. His program is very strength oriented with
longer repeats, more hills and some drill work. The repeats aren't
as intense as Wetmore's, which I think benefits me over the long
haul of an entire season from cross to outdoors. I also incorporated
doubles five days a week, which helped break up my runs. I run about
the same volume as with Wetmore, but now with more intensity since
I can break it up. I think I just overtrained too often under the
once a day system, so for me splitting it up helped with recovery
and prevented overtraining. With his 10 years of personal experience,
I think Arturo is good at understanding the necessity of incorporating
recovery with training at altitude.
CL:
Despite your success at the Olympic Trials, you found yourself without
a sponsor heading into the post-Olympic year. How is that situation
shaping up?
CW:
I am currently running for New York Athletic Club and Saucony. So
I am happy.
CL:
There is no post-collegiate team in Boulder, and traveling to meets
is a real hassle. Why not move to sea level and train with, the
Farm Team, or one of the other teams out there?
CW:
I have thought about it many times and would like to try training
at sea level. However, I like Boulder so much and have so many friends
here and my coach is here. I have decided that for me to run well,
I need to be happy and be having fun, so for now that is here in
Boulder. Plus, I can't leave my current job working with you, Chris,
here at FrogMagic.com.
(Author's Note:
FrogMagic is currently developing Top Secret technologies that should
lead to world domination, or at least a better way to send stuff
online.)
CL:
You made the World Cross Champs. in '99 in the 12k. Is making the
team again in the 12k at winter cross nationals one of your immediate
goals?
CW: No, I think I will run the
4k, so that is my current goal. However, if I falter there, then
the 12k will become my new goal.
CL:
What are your longer-term goals for this year and beyond?
CW:
Just to keep improving my fitness. I would like to run a better
5-10k this year and make a World or Olympic team in track at some
point. I figure if I keep healthy and keep getting stronger each
year I will be in the running to make a team. Ultimately, I just
want to maximize my talents and know I gave it all I could and everything
else, such as making teams and running fast times, will happen in
the process.
CL:
You are Native American and ran for the Sport Warrior Track Club.
What is Billy Mills's role in that program and to what extent has
he influenced your running?
CW:
I ran for the Native American Sports Council Club and we were the
Sport Warrior Track Club. After a discouraging finish to my college
career I felt down on running and was unsure whether or not I wanted
to continue. I took a month off and in that time got an opportunity
to meet Billy and hear some of his story. He definitely inspired
me to regain some hope and confidence, knowing that he was down
and out at some point and wanted to give up, yet he keep persevering
and succeeded when he wasn't expected to. He helped motivate me
to start up again and just keep trying. He taught me to set my own
expectations and put less value in what others (coaches, friends,
etc) think you can do.
CL: Running seems to play an
important role in Native American culture... Was running a part
of your culture as a youth?
CW:
Not really. Most people hated it. It was too hard and used mainly
for punishment. For example when you got in trouble in P.E or basketball
practice or football, what did they make you do? Run laps of course.
I didn't grow up on or near a reservation, so I can't speak for
that environment or culture directly.(Clint grew up in Craig, Colorado.)
CL:
You live in a house with several other post-collegiate runners.
Last time I stopped over, the house smelled like roadkill. Who or
what is the culprit?
CW:
It actually didn't smell that way until you entered the place, so
maybe you should tell me? No, really, if I recall the trash needed
to be taken out.
CL:
You also get to hear "The Found", the world's fastest
rock band, rehearse at your home. Would you categorize that as pain
or pleasure?
CW:
They usually played around the time I was getting off of work and
wanted to relax. Plus they were only beginning when they were playing
at my house, so it was a little painful at times. However, they
are surprisingly pretty good and I did enjoy listening to them perform
at a party, just not everyday. But they soon moved to a new location
and it was fine.
CL:
OK, how about a game of word association before we split? I'll say
a phrase, and you give me a response. Just say whatever comes to
mind first.
CW:
Sounds good.
CL:
USA
CW:
Somewhere I hope not to be when there are World Championships and
Olympics going on!
CL:
Gabriela Szabo
CW:
Too skinny!
CL:
Green tea ice cream
CW:
I like chocolate, strawberry and mint chocolate chip better!
CL:
See-Dubya! (Note: This is the proper pronunciation of "CW"
- Clint's alter-ego as created by former GA Tech All-American and
roommate Kevin Graham.)
CW:
The name that changed my life! My roommates can attest to that.
CL:
That's it! Thanks for your time and best of luck this year...
CW:
Thanks Chris, and good luck to you as well!
(01-24-01)
Chris
Lear is the author of "Running with the Buffaloes." The
book chronicles the University of Colorado men's cross country team's
1998 season. Currently out of print, Lyons Press is republishing
the book in hardcover in the spring of 2001. Check http://www.runwiththebuffs.com
for details.
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Clint
Wells 
