\'Christie Conversations\' with Jorge Torres

                               Interview with Jorge Torres

           This interview was the first one I’ve been able to do face to face with the person. It took place at the best race to dine after a run, at Waffle House. Jorge was extremely nice and easy to talk to. I wrote the interview in paragraph form, since it was more of a conversation that took place over breakfast.

 

       On Mark Wetmore, Coach at Colorado: He can be intimidating, stroking his ponytail, asking you about the Spanish American War, just going off on a rampage. Great guy. The mileage was intense but the workouts were not too hard. Everyone did various amounts of mileage. Some people did 60 miles a week, then there were those like him that did 100 miles or more. As for the sensory data aspect (in Running with the Buffaloes, Wetmore instructs his runners to pay attention to their sensory data to gauge how they are feeling), he said he had a pretty good hold on how far he could push his body from his experience in high school, so it was not hard for him to adjust to Wetmore’s philosophy, but that others took longer to adjust. But he said Colorado is great. A lot of the runners stay in the Boulder area (he currently lives there himself).

 

     On the Footlocker experience: said it was the best he’s been treated, even including his professional running career. From the moment he stepped off the plane, they had activities planned to entertain them. They gave the runners a bag full of goodies, free stuff. Just a great all around experience. He qualified all 4 years, won his senior year, and had the unique experience of running at the San Diego Course and the Florida Course. He said he liked both equally. 

 

     When I commented on how some runners take the lead from the gun at Foot Locker and push the pace, and how that did not seem smart in a field of really talented runners, he said most of the winners are the ones who wait to make a move later in the race. He said you have to respect the talent that is in the field. 

 

     On winning NCAA’s: it was a pack of four people, Boaz, Kimani, Craig, and him. Eventually they dropped Boaz and Kimani and it was just the two of them. Later he said Craig told him his plan was to stay with him until the end and just outkick him. With around 300 to go, Jorge threw in everything he had and opened up a 3-4 stride lead. When Craig went to throw in everything he had, he had nothing left. Jorge said down the last straightaway, he just told himself to enjoy it. He said he thought it was cool how it took him 4 years to win Foot Locker and 4 years to win NCAA’s.

 

     On Oscar Ponce: when I commented on how he just seemed so tough in Running with the Buffaloes, he said he is a really good guy. He said that he is actually going to be in Oscar’s wedding this summer. As detailed in the book, Oscar came from a rough neighborhood, and he still goes back to help the kids there. A lot of the kids look up to him as a role model, and he tries to give back anyway he can. Jorge said Oscar has great character. 

 

     On his current training: it is going very well. He feels that he is shape to run 13:10-13:15. When asked what the winning time of a recent race was, he commented that it was “slow”-13:30. 

 

     Advice to High School Runners: be patient. It takes time to see results from running. You can’t just jump in and expect to be a superstar. Increase your mileage slowly and intelligently and you will see results. He said he has been very careful to slowly increase his mileage over the years, and he said the older you get the more work it takes.