Gatfxc.com: How/Why/When did you get involved in coaching?
My own high school coach asked me to take over his municipal junior level team when I was nineteen, the year after I graduated.
Gatfxc.com: What have been some of the highlights of your coaching career?
Too many to list... and I'd hate to leave someone's great performance out.
But the last 2km's of Adam's win at Rim Rock was pretty cool. He came out of a wooded path side-by-side with Abdi. We were all wondering who would break. Adam moved decisively and just surged away. They went up a long hill, out of sight for a while. I remember looking up, from way across a field as Adam's silhouette flashed behind the crowd which was chanting "Goucher, Goucher, Goucher!" In 2k. his lead stretched and stretched. He was powering away effortlessly. Strangers were sprinting across the fields screaming at each other and high-fiving. After the race, I pushed through the frenzy and whispered to him, "Enjoy this now. It'll never be any better."
Gatfxc.com: A hotly debated topic on messageboards is why the South usually lags behind the rest of the country at Footlocker Nationals and other high profile meets. Do you have any theories as to why this might be?
No theories. In any population of a few million people, there should be the same amount of talent. Natalie Florence came to us from the South region and had a good Colorado career. Jenny is here now and we're thrilled with how she's doing. I'd make a deal with the rest of the country... give me the top eight boys and girls out of the South region every year and no one from anywhere else. We'd do fine.
Gatfxc.com: Why do you believe Colorado has such a great history of successful runners and teams?
Well its a good place to train and a fun place to have a life between workouts. Great weather and a community that understands and appreciates distance running. Killer teammates who support each other, who want each other to succeed. Adequate coaching as well.
Gatfxc.com: What is your opinion of the state of distance running in America?
I think we're doing pretty well. Most of our distance runners play by different rules than many international athletes. I respect how hard our people are working.
Gatfxc.com: Many high school runners have read Running With the Buffaloes. Did you appreciate the attention the book gave the program or was it difficult to be in the spotlight?
Its 99% great. I'm not a person who normally likes attention. I'd rather quietly do my work. So sometimes its a little embarrassing.
Gatfxc.com: What is the toughest part of coaching for you?
The toughest part is having to sometimes say "No". Not everyone can be on our team. Not everyone can make the final 7 for the NCAA's. Sometimes young people do something dumb and I have to go outside of our normal friendly, informal relationship to be the bad cop. Those things are hard.
Administrative paperwork is becoming oppressive.
And then there's the people who have chosen to dislike us, because of something they read online, or because we beat their favorite team somewhere, or because of some mythology. That's tough too. I'm thinking, "Gee I've never heard a CU runner say anything negative about anyone, never particularly arrogant or audacious. We're always respectful of our opponents, at least I think we are; I don't talk trash... Why is this person so mad at us?" But I guess that is just part of being visible.
Gatfxc.com: What do you look for when you recruit someone?
Well, honestly, first, great performances. Then good character; then good grades. Basically, you have to have them all.
Gatfxc.com: Competing at the top of the NCAA’s has to be stressful. How do you make sure your runners are not getting too obsessive over their running?
Ridicule and sarcasm! Honestly, humor and humility keeps everyone kind of in perspective. No one can get to uptight with Billy Nelson around.
Gatfxc.com: Do you still run yourself? What inspires you to run?
I'm not sure what I do qualifies as running anymore, but I fit in whatever it is every day. About 40 miles a week. I couldn't really call it inspired either, but I want to keep from getting too fat, and immobile, and removed from the discomfort and sacrifice. I want the athletes to understand that I know what it is like to run in a snowstorm, or at 5:00 in the morning,or on Christmas day. I had an athlete say once, "I don't have to practice today do I? Its my birthday!" She didn't last very long.
Gatfxc.com: If your runners only took one message from their time with you, what would you want it to be?
Try hard!
Gatfxc.com: Any advice for competitive high school runners?
Be patient. Understand that this could last fifteen more years. Do the right things now to lead to great running when you are 25. Have fun trying hard.