1 00:00:00,680 --> 00:00:02,960 This episode of the City of Smack podcast is supported by 2 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:05,320 Bandit. There are athletes competing at 3 00:00:05,320 --> 00:00:08,400 the championship level who make exactly $0.00 from the brands 4 00:00:08,400 --> 00:00:10,000 whose logos they wear on the start line. 5 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:12,240 Bandits Unsponsored Project flips that. 6 00:00:12,400 --> 00:00:15,520 Let's learn more. All right, we are here with Tim 7 00:00:15,520 --> 00:00:19,280 Rossi, the head of experiences at Bandit, because Bandit is 8 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:23,680 coming back with the Unsponsored project for Year 4. 9 00:00:24,360 --> 00:00:29,160 Tim, Why does Bandit continue to show up for unsponsored athletes 10 00:00:29,160 --> 00:00:31,600 in track and field? Yeah, Chris, stoked to be here 11 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:33,480 talking about unsponsored project Year 4. 12 00:00:33,480 --> 00:00:38,000 It's crazy that this initiative we started in 2023 is on Year 4 13 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:40,760 now. I think the main reason that 14 00:00:40,760 --> 00:00:44,200 we're bringing this back and and continue to invest is it 15 00:00:44,200 --> 00:00:46,360 continues to serve a need within the sport. 16 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:50,000 The the top, top of the athletes and the sport of track and field 17 00:00:50,000 --> 00:00:52,960 are getting taken care of and making a great amount of money, 18 00:00:52,960 --> 00:00:55,080 which is absolutely awesome. We love to see that. 19 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,280 But there does still continue to be this need of raising the 20 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:00,840 floor for those athletes that are pursuing the sport at the 21 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:03,080 highest level. But maybe you haven't had that 22 00:01:03,080 --> 00:01:04,440 breakthrough. Maybe you have went through a 23 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:07,800 rough patch in terms of injury or performance for a year of two 24 00:01:08,280 --> 00:01:10,600 and are just falling through the cracks of the sponsorship model 25 00:01:10,600 --> 00:01:13,440 that we have right now. So the unsponsored projects 26 00:01:13,440 --> 00:01:16,120 coming back supporting some of those individuals competing at 27 00:01:16,200 --> 00:01:19,400 US outdoors that don't have a brand supporting them right now. 28 00:01:19,760 --> 00:01:23,640 So what is an athlete get when they join in Bandits unsponsored 29 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,000 project? Yeah, so it's grown every single 30 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:28,160 year, which is really cool. But we talk about the key 31 00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:31,760 pillars. Cash is the least sexy thing to 32 00:01:31,760 --> 00:01:33,920 talk about, but also the most important for athletes. 33 00:01:33,920 --> 00:01:37,080 A lot of the time we just have cash as part of every single one 34 00:01:37,080 --> 00:01:39,120 of these agreements. The athletes can use that on 35 00:01:39,120 --> 00:01:41,840 whatever they want as part of this agreement. 36 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,880 Generally speaking, we try and have that cover, ideally travel 37 00:01:45,880 --> 00:01:49,320 costs, housing, potentially some additional cash into people's 38 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,720 pockets depending on what hotel they're staying in or something 39 00:01:51,720 --> 00:01:54,080 like that. But travel for this meet is 40 00:01:54,080 --> 00:01:56,880 super, super important to cover. Then the unbranded gear has 41 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:59,600 become a huge part of this as well, so that the athletes can 42 00:01:59,600 --> 00:02:02,120 demonstrate that they're unsponsored when competing on 43 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,560 the track. The release clause is an 44 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:07,240 extraordinarily important part of these agreements where 45 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:10,479 athletes are free to be released from our agreement should 46 00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:13,440 another brand come with a traditional sponsorship model at 47 00:02:13,440 --> 00:02:15,080 any point during these agreements. 48 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,320 And then a platform is the last thing we really want to promote 49 00:02:18,760 --> 00:02:21,800 and talk about these athletes and their amazing stories and 50 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:25,400 really prop them up within the sport for the amazing 51 00:02:25,400 --> 00:02:28,680 performances that they are putting together and and how 52 00:02:28,680 --> 00:02:31,000 high of a level they are competing at. 53 00:02:31,000 --> 00:02:34,040 So those are the four key things that we talk about within these 54 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:35,680 agreements. How can they find it? 55 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:39,000 Yeah, that's a great question. You set it right there. 56 00:02:39,000 --> 00:02:43,080 This program and this support is targeted right for individual is 57 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:45,320 planning to compete the US Outdoor Track and field 58 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:47,840 championships stoke that it's in New York this year. 59 00:02:48,360 --> 00:02:50,160 Right now. The best way to get in touch 60 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:52,840 with us would be to reach out to the bandit support e-mail and 61 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:55,200 those individuals will connect you with me. 62 00:02:55,760 --> 00:02:58,240 That's support@banditrunning.com. 63 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:01,880 So if you're planning to compete at US Outdoors, I'd reach out 64 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:04,000 there. I'll be proactively reaching out 65 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:05,960 to people. It's not, again, the fanciest 66 00:03:05,960 --> 00:03:07,800 thing in the world. Maybe check your DMS if you're 67 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:09,880 an athlete that's looking at US outdoors. 68 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:13,040 But yeah, reaching out to support@banditrunning.com is the 69 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:14,600 best way to get in touch right now. 70 00:03:15,480 --> 00:03:18,120 For more on Bandits and sponsored project, stick around 71 00:03:18,200 --> 00:03:24,160 at the end of this episode. What's up everyone? 72 00:03:24,200 --> 00:03:26,320 You are listening to the CDs Mag podcast. 73 00:03:26,320 --> 00:03:29,000 I'm your host Chris Chavez, and every week we go beyond the 74 00:03:29,000 --> 00:03:31,640 results to bring you conversations with the biggest 75 00:03:31,640 --> 00:03:34,440 names on the track, the roads and behind the scenes, from 76 00:03:34,440 --> 00:03:37,920 world class athletes and coaches to innovators shaping the sport. 77 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,160 If it's happening on the track, we're covering it with real 78 00:03:41,160 --> 00:03:44,200 insights that sharpen minds, deep dives into the moments that 79 00:03:44,200 --> 00:03:48,000 define careers and the kind of access to the pros you won't get 80 00:03:48,000 --> 00:03:51,000 anywhere else. So let's get into it because we 81 00:03:51,000 --> 00:03:56,200 love track and field. My guest for today's episode is 82 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,360 someone we've had a great joy of watching develop from high 83 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:00,880 school through the collegiate ranks. 84 00:04:01,200 --> 00:04:03,680 Gary Martin is now a professional runner. 85 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:07,120 He is signing with Brooks and joining the Brooks Beast, and it 86 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:09,520 feels like it was just yesterday that we were sitting down with 87 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,920 him at the Armory after his New Balance Nationals mile victory. 88 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:15,920 For those who've been following along with Sidious over the last 89 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:19,040 couple years, you know that Gary is an athlete that we've propped 90 00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,040 up and he's even written for sidiousm-ac.com. 91 00:04:22,280 --> 00:04:26,800 So now, four years later, after some time at the University of 92 00:04:26,800 --> 00:04:28,800 Virginia, his resume speaks for itself. 93 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:32,440 He's got a 348 mile PB from the Melrose Games, the second 94 00:04:32,440 --> 00:04:36,080 fastest in collegiate history, He's got an ACC cross country 95 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:40,040 title, ADMR national championship, and also I guess 96 00:04:40,040 --> 00:04:42,400 he's still got a chip on his shoulder from some of the goals 97 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:43,960 that got away. And so that's going to carry 98 00:04:43,960 --> 00:04:47,920 over into his pro career. In this conversation, we get 99 00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:51,720 into why he chose the Beast, what he asked Danny Mackie about 100 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:55,120 in his first meeting with him, the move to Seattle, the 101 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:57,800 training progression in college, and the self belief that will 102 00:04:57,800 --> 00:04:59,400 suit him as a professional runner. 103 00:05:00,200 --> 00:05:03,640 Plus, we also get into what his hopes and expectations are for 104 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:06,760 his pro debut this weekend in the Bowerman Mile at the 105 00:05:06,840 --> 00:05:09,640 Prefontaine Classic. So without further ado, welcome 106 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:22,120 back Gary Martin. All right. 107 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:29,040 I'm joined by Sidious, Meg. Intern forever, Gary Martin with 108 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:33,000 a special announcement. Because the ink is dry. 109 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:36,760 The announcement's official. Gary Martin is now a 110 00:05:36,880 --> 00:05:39,640 professional runner. How time flies. 111 00:05:39,640 --> 00:05:42,800 I feel like it was just yesterday we were at the Armory 112 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:47,680 sitting down after your New Balance Nationals mile victory. 113 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:53,400 You, me, Kyle, Trayvon Bromel, and here we are now. 114 00:05:53,400 --> 00:05:54,920 You're a professional runner, Gary. 115 00:05:54,920 --> 00:05:58,480 I'm really proud of just sort of like the career you've been able 116 00:05:58,480 --> 00:06:01,040 to put together to get to, you know, this level. 117 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:03,600 But what's it like? I guess professional runner, 118 00:06:03,640 --> 00:06:05,680 signed with Brooks. Now you're joining the Brooks 119 00:06:05,680 --> 00:06:08,280 Bees. Like lots of exciting things. 120 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:12,120 Yeah, I mean, it's one, it's crazy, 'cause like you said, it 121 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:14,520 kind of kind of flew by. I mean, I think I was working 122 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,120 with you guys it felt like yesterday. 123 00:06:16,120 --> 00:06:19,040 So, you know, I've been, it's gone by really fast, but I'm 124 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:20,440 also just, you know, really excited. 125 00:06:20,440 --> 00:06:22,200 Like it's been, it's been a dream for a while. 126 00:06:22,200 --> 00:06:24,960 And you know what, going through the process kind of just felt 127 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,240 like the right, the right fit to be with Brooks, be with beasts. 128 00:06:28,240 --> 00:06:30,320 And you know, I feel like it's going to be a really exciting 129 00:06:30,320 --> 00:06:32,560 next step for the chapter of my career. 130 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:35,640 Yeah, so I guess you're competing this weekend at the 131 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:39,880 pre Classic Bowerman Mile, huge professional sort of debut. 132 00:06:40,080 --> 00:06:41,400 How are you feeling like right now? 133 00:06:41,400 --> 00:06:44,040 I guess like it's it's sort of like that weird sort of 134 00:06:44,040 --> 00:06:48,360 extension from the NCAA season where you're you you're gonna 135 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:50,440 keep going. You've got US championships 136 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:54,440 also, I guess coming up. But it's it's always feels like 137 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:56,680 a long year for collegiate athletes at this point. 138 00:06:56,680 --> 00:06:59,040 But you know, for you, how are how are you feeling? 139 00:06:59,840 --> 00:07:02,560 Yeah, I mean, I think I'm feeling pretty good, honestly. 140 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,800 And I think I one of The thing is, you know, we, we've always 141 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:07,800 done it at Virginia with my training. 142 00:07:07,800 --> 00:07:09,760 But especially this year as I feel like we, you know, we kind 143 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:12,200 of peek at the right time. And I feel like especially the 144 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,760 last month or so, I've just been trending upwards a lot. 145 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,080 And, you know, I feel like I'm fitter than ever and I feel like 146 00:07:17,080 --> 00:07:19,120 I'm ready to just go out and, you know, ride the pace and 147 00:07:19,120 --> 00:07:20,360 hopefully run a really fast time. 148 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:22,480 So I'm pretty excited. OK. 149 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:26,720 So we'll reflect on your UVA career. 150 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:30,040 But I guess the last couple weeks, I mean in the past you 151 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,680 guys have stayed in Eugene I guess since NCAA's like this 152 00:07:32,680 --> 00:07:35,480 time around went back and and now just travelled in. 153 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:39,280 Yeah. I mean, so we've had NCAA's and 154 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:41,240 you know, that was a, it was, it was a good meet. 155 00:07:41,240 --> 00:07:43,000 It wasn't everything I everything I wanted it to be. 156 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:45,560 But you know, it was still, it was still a positive, positive 157 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,840 step, I think. So that was, you know, had that 158 00:07:47,840 --> 00:07:51,320 and then just kind of went back to the East Coast, took a little 159 00:07:51,320 --> 00:07:53,840 bit of downtime, you know, not downtime, but kind of took it 160 00:07:53,840 --> 00:07:55,840 took a little a week, a little easier, just let the body 161 00:07:55,840 --> 00:07:57,560 recoup. And then, you know, hit training 162 00:07:57,560 --> 00:07:59,480 pretty hard last week. Been feeling pretty good and 163 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:02,760 flew back out here today and, you know, now kind of just ready 164 00:08:02,760 --> 00:08:05,120 to get after it again and, you know, make the professional 165 00:08:05,120 --> 00:08:09,520 debut. So looking back on your career 166 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:13,680 at UVA and we've touched base I think a couple times, you know, 167 00:08:13,680 --> 00:08:17,640 over the years just kind of around some of these big moments 168 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:19,720 that that you've had. But for you, I guess, what are 169 00:08:19,720 --> 00:08:20,960 some of the highlights you've run? 170 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:24,040 Cross country, indoor, outdoor? If you were to pick a moment for 171 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:25,440 each one of the seasons, like what? 172 00:08:25,440 --> 00:08:28,760 What were the highlights? I think cross country, I mean, I 173 00:08:28,760 --> 00:08:32,520 think the biggest highlight is probably winning AC CS as a my 174 00:08:32,520 --> 00:08:34,039 junior year. And you know, that was I was 175 00:08:34,039 --> 00:08:36,320 really, I was proud of that one individually. 176 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:38,880 Like I was probably 1 of, you know, the hardest I've ever 177 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:40,280 worked in a race. I couldn't, it was on the 178 00:08:40,280 --> 00:08:42,320 ground, couldn't move for a couple minutes after the race, I 179 00:08:42,520 --> 00:08:45,000 kind of emptied the tank. But so, you know, I'm proud of 180 00:08:45,000 --> 00:08:47,600 that. I was proud of this year being, 181 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:49,920 you know, 7 to NCAA's and winning the team title and cross 182 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:51,960 country. And then, you know, indoors, I 183 00:08:51,960 --> 00:08:53,720 feel like I had a lot of break moments. 184 00:08:53,720 --> 00:08:56,120 You know, running, running 348 and Miller's is pretty special. 185 00:08:56,120 --> 00:08:58,960 And then, you know, following it up with ADMR national title, I 186 00:08:58,960 --> 00:09:03,200 think was even more special. And then outdoors, I mean, I've 187 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:05,040 had, you know, I've run, I've run fast times. 188 00:09:05,040 --> 00:09:07,600 I've had, you know, we won an ACC team title this year. 189 00:09:07,600 --> 00:09:10,280 I've put together a couple 1500 All Americans. 190 00:09:10,280 --> 00:09:12,520 And I think overall, when I look back, you know, there's going to 191 00:09:12,520 --> 00:09:15,680 be things that I wish, I wish I accomplished and things that, 192 00:09:15,720 --> 00:09:18,600 you know, the I had big goals, obviously that maybe I I didn't 193 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:21,080 quite hit, but, you know, I don't think that's necessarily 194 00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:23,720 the worst thing moving forward. I think it kind of, if anything, 195 00:09:23,720 --> 00:09:25,000 out of the chip on my shoulder this year. 196 00:09:25,000 --> 00:09:27,200 And I feel like I've been kind of, you know, running, running 197 00:09:27,200 --> 00:09:28,760 with that this the last couple weeks. 198 00:09:28,760 --> 00:09:31,400 And I feel pretty excited to kind of, you know, it was a, it 199 00:09:31,400 --> 00:09:33,440 was a good NCAA season, but I know there's more to build off 200 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:36,200 of it, so I'm excited. It was really awesome, I guess 201 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,640 last year, especially with, you know, kind of Ethan and you 202 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:43,560 duking it out and getting the best out of each other at 203 00:09:43,560 --> 00:09:48,120 Millrose and and at NCAA's. What what do you think kind of 204 00:09:48,120 --> 00:09:50,720 like was the challenge post 348 mile right? 205 00:09:50,720 --> 00:09:53,640 We're now sort of like there's a lot of spotlight and eyes on you 206 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:58,840 to kind of, you know, you trust Vin to, you know, keep the, you 207 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:01,600 know, the training and according to plan. 208 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:04,200 But I guess like from there, you're at this level where sort 209 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:07,680 of like you're on the heels of these professional runners and, 210 00:10:08,040 --> 00:10:10,480 you know, you are one of the top collegiate runners. 211 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:12,640 What was sort of like the biggest challenge of kind of 212 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,280 adjusting to now it's sort of like, OK, we're no longer 213 00:10:15,280 --> 00:10:18,680 sitting on a secret of like how good and how fit you are, but we 214 00:10:18,680 --> 00:10:22,120 have to kind of maintain this. I think mentally it was a little 215 00:10:22,120 --> 00:10:25,080 bit of an adjustment because I think, you know, I think when 216 00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:28,240 you look back at my career, I've been, you know, every year from 217 00:10:28,240 --> 00:10:30,440 high school to college, I've, you know, I've PR in the mile, 218 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:31,760 I've PR in the events I'm running. 219 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:34,840 But you know, it's kind of the nature of the sport that, you 220 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:37,200 know, you get the 3:48 and it's, it's really hard to just say, 221 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,960 Hey, I'm going to go run 346 this year, which obviously that 222 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:42,120 was, you know, that was the goal going in where I'm thinking, you 223 00:10:42,120 --> 00:10:43,880 know, I can just, you know, make another leap. 224 00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:46,680 But I think I kind of had to learn to be a little more 225 00:10:46,680 --> 00:10:48,880 patient and learn to trust that things will come. 226 00:10:48,880 --> 00:10:51,120 And especially I had a really late track season last year. 227 00:10:51,120 --> 00:10:55,640 So I feel like just kind of be more patient indoors especially, 228 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:58,360 and kind of trusting that things will come around, the training 229 00:10:58,360 --> 00:11:00,160 will progress. And, you know, that I don't 230 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:03,160 necessarily need to be at my peak 100% of the time. 231 00:11:03,160 --> 00:11:05,280 And that, you know, just to really trust in the training and 232 00:11:05,280 --> 00:11:08,960 also just enjoy the process and really enjoy what's getting me 233 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:11,440 enjoy, enjoy the little moments that are getting me to the line 234 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,160 as much as I am actually being on the line. 235 00:11:13,240 --> 00:11:15,240 And I thought that was kind of the big thing I learned this 236 00:11:15,240 --> 00:11:17,640 year. How do you think you developed 237 00:11:17,640 --> 00:11:22,040 or grew as a tactician or as like as a competitor when you 238 00:11:22,040 --> 00:11:25,920 were able to kind of read these fields, like from you were so 239 00:11:25,920 --> 00:11:29,160 good at it in in high school and like you had a great starting 240 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:30,640 point. But you know, it's something 241 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,320 that with the NCAA, it's one of the biggest things that most 242 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,640 people take away from their college experience is like, oh, 243 00:11:35,640 --> 00:11:38,400 I'm a better racer as a result of my time there. 244 00:11:39,320 --> 00:11:40,920 Yeah, I feel like, you know, I feel like it's something I'm 245 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:44,440 still learning every race. But I think maybe the biggest 246 00:11:44,440 --> 00:11:48,760 take away is just kind of, you know, just to trust myself. 247 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:50,880 And you know, I know, I know it sounds it sounds silly, but I 248 00:11:50,880 --> 00:11:53,520 feel like the last couple weeks especially, I kind of found that 249 00:11:53,720 --> 00:11:56,080 when I ran the best and when I felt the best, it was kind of 250 00:11:56,440 --> 00:11:59,320 instead of trying to over calculator, you know, think 251 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,120 about, you know, I'm going to I'm going to do this, you know, 252 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,520 really over over plan out the race in my head beforehand. 253 00:12:05,520 --> 00:12:08,280 I think when I kind of just, you know, trusted myself and let my 254 00:12:08,280 --> 00:12:10,920 instincts take over and, you know, obviously try to put 255 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,720 myself in good spots, but really just, you know, prepare myself 256 00:12:13,720 --> 00:12:15,880 for any scenario and trust that, you know, I'm, I'm a 257 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:18,360 well-rounded athlete and I can handle however the race plays 258 00:12:18,360 --> 00:12:20,480 out. What do you think's the biggest 259 00:12:20,480 --> 00:12:23,640 lesson you took away from your time with, you know, with Coach 260 00:12:23,640 --> 00:12:27,560 Finland, Anna and also, I guess Coach Trevor Dunbar, like when 261 00:12:27,560 --> 00:12:31,200 when you look back at on on your chapter at UVA would sort of 262 00:12:31,200 --> 00:12:33,240 like the biggest thing that you hope that kind of sticks with 263 00:12:33,240 --> 00:12:35,560 you even as you step into this professional chapter. 264 00:12:35,960 --> 00:12:40,040 You know, I think they both kind of always, always hit home, you 265 00:12:40,040 --> 00:12:42,520 know, the importance of consistency and just especially 266 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:45,280 who I am as an athlete. I think, you know, I'm someone 267 00:12:45,280 --> 00:12:49,040 who takes a lot of, takes a lot of confidence and a lot of 268 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:51,880 fitness away from just, you know, taking care of the little 269 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,200 things and just stacking, you know, stacking days on the 270 00:12:54,200 --> 00:12:55,640 daily. And it doesn't need to be, you 271 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:58,400 know, anything flashy and training or races. 272 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:00,560 And, you know, I think that's kind of the biggest thing 273 00:13:00,560 --> 00:13:04,320 they've taught me is just trust in the process and stack the 274 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:06,880 stack the days, day by day and you know, you're going to keep 275 00:13:06,880 --> 00:13:08,680 getting better and you know the results will come. 276 00:13:09,400 --> 00:13:13,600 All right, so when we met at the Armory all those years ago, at 277 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:15,800 that point you'd have already committed to UVA. 278 00:13:15,880 --> 00:13:18,080 Like you sat down and you told us it's like, yeah, I'm going to 279 00:13:18,560 --> 00:13:20,880 UVA, going to be running for Coach Ville and Nana. 280 00:13:20,880 --> 00:13:23,280 And Mac was in the room and he got pretty excited by that. 281 00:13:24,800 --> 00:13:28,120 And then this time around, it's sort of this is a whole nother 282 00:13:28,160 --> 00:13:31,240 recruiting process, right? Where, you know, as you're about 283 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:34,480 to come out of college, like you're going to probably get 284 00:13:34,480 --> 00:13:37,120 some interest from a variety of different brands. 285 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,520 It's a little different, though, because you already had an an IL 286 00:13:40,520 --> 00:13:44,160 deal with Brooks. What was that process like when 287 00:13:44,160 --> 00:13:48,440 it came to assessing what you wanted your Pro Pro setup to be 288 00:13:48,440 --> 00:13:50,280 like? I think the answer I'll give you 289 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:52,360 probably won't sound that different from the answer I gave 290 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,840 you 4 years ago in the sense that, you know, a big part of it 291 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:59,160 was just finding, you know, the right environment, the right 292 00:13:59,160 --> 00:14:02,000 people and the right team that I felt like I was excited. 293 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:03,320 You've always been a big team guy. 294 00:14:03,960 --> 00:14:05,720 Yeah, it's always, you know, it's important. 295 00:14:05,720 --> 00:14:08,640 I think, you know, I, if you look back at UVAA lot of my, a 296 00:14:08,640 --> 00:14:11,280 lot of my successes both individually and as a team have 297 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,440 come from, you know, my teammates and being pushed from 298 00:14:13,440 --> 00:14:15,400 my teammates and stuff. So, you know, that was a big 299 00:14:15,400 --> 00:14:17,960 part of it. I think also just, you know, 300 00:14:17,960 --> 00:14:20,200 like I said, I've worked with Brooks, I've had, you know, I've 301 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,240 had their support as a brand. I know, you know, I know they 302 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:23,720 believe in me. I believe in what they're doing 303 00:14:23,720 --> 00:14:26,560 as a brand. So I felt it was that and then 304 00:14:26,560 --> 00:14:29,280 also just talking to Danny Mackie and having really good 305 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,800 conversations and kind of being excited about his vision for for 306 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,520 me as an athlete and kind of, you know, working together and 307 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,400 getting to getting to see what we can do together. 308 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:41,200 This episode of the City Smack podcast is brought to you by 309 00:14:41,200 --> 00:14:43,560 Core. If you've ever tried to heat 310 00:14:43,560 --> 00:14:46,840 train, you know the problem. 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We are so grateful for their 377 00:18:31,800 --> 00:18:35,080 continued support. That's Vellas footwear.com. 378 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:41,320 Code Sidious Mag 20. All right, so take me through 379 00:18:41,320 --> 00:18:42,840 the first meeting with with Danny. 380 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,320 Like, how does that go? Like, what are you picking his 381 00:18:45,320 --> 00:18:47,560 brain about? Because it's he doesn't 382 00:18:47,560 --> 00:18:51,720 necessarily need to prove anything to you as like being 383 00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:54,680 able to convert talent to, you know, Olympic and world 384 00:18:54,680 --> 00:18:58,320 championship medals when you've got Josh Kerr as like the model 385 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:01,040 to to look up to. So what were you sort of curious 386 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:03,760 about? I think I'm, I would describe 387 00:19:03,760 --> 00:19:04,840 myself as a student of the sport. 388 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:07,080 So I think I was definitely interested in, you know, just 389 00:19:07,080 --> 00:19:11,720 specifics of, you know, mileage training philosophy, kind of 390 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:14,800 what you're doing outside of the running to just like, you know, 391 00:19:15,320 --> 00:19:17,920 drills, speed development, lifting, stuff like that. 392 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:21,760 Just kind of to hear, you know, his perspective on how I can 393 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:24,760 improve as an athlete, what the next step is for me and kind of, 394 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:27,760 you know, how he sees me fitting into the team and his vision. 395 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,280 And, you know, I felt like it kind of, you know, it was kind 396 00:19:30,280 --> 00:19:34,160 of a good balance of this is someone who, this is someone 397 00:19:34,160 --> 00:19:36,880 who's going to push me to, you know, get, get really strong. 398 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:39,680 And, you know, maybe the areas where I haven't always been 399 00:19:39,680 --> 00:19:41,800 strong in or where I haven't, you know, I need to work on. 400 00:19:41,800 --> 00:19:43,800 And, you know, it's already similar enough to what I'm doing 401 00:19:43,800 --> 00:19:45,760 so that, you know, I'm confident it's going to, I'm going to keep 402 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:47,000 getting stronger and keep getting better. 403 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:52,040 Those elements and those parts of training, where do you think 404 00:19:52,040 --> 00:19:55,680 you were at freshman year and what did you find to be sort of 405 00:19:55,680 --> 00:19:58,040 like your sweet spot by the time that you were a senior? 406 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:02,160 So break all of those sort of like down for me, mileage time 407 00:20:02,160 --> 00:20:06,960 in the weight room, like I guess those different elements. 408 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,800 I guess like where were you? Like, how did that evolve over 409 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,640 your four years? I think the biggest adjustment 410 00:20:13,640 --> 00:20:16,080 was mileage. Where high school I was, you 411 00:20:16,080 --> 00:20:19,000 know, I was probably running 40 to 50 miles a week at most. 412 00:20:19,000 --> 00:20:22,400 And then I got the UVA and even my first year I think I was 413 00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:27,160 running 70 to 75 miles a week. But wasn't really that first 414 00:20:27,160 --> 00:20:29,160 year where I felt, you know, I was running more mileage, but I 415 00:20:29,160 --> 00:20:31,880 didn't really feel stronger. But then kind of just having, 416 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:34,600 you know, a year or two of that consistency under me and running 417 00:20:34,920 --> 00:20:38,400 7580 miles a week by my second year, 80 to 85 miles a week by 418 00:20:38,400 --> 00:20:40,360 my third year. That was when I, you know, the 419 00:20:40,360 --> 00:20:43,960 second and third year was where I kind of felt the aerobic gains 420 00:20:43,960 --> 00:20:47,040 and kind of felt that mileage stacking and I felt that was, 421 00:20:47,080 --> 00:20:48,280 you know, that was the biggest difference. 422 00:20:48,280 --> 00:20:51,720 And obviously, you know, as I get stronger as I get older, I'm 423 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:54,480 also doing more intense workouts, you know, faster speed 424 00:20:54,480 --> 00:20:56,720 work, stuff like that. But the bigger thing was just 425 00:20:56,720 --> 00:21:00,400 being able to handle a higher training load and ultimately, 426 00:21:00,600 --> 00:21:02,800 you know, getting, you know, getting better at the five Ki 427 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:06,120 went from, I don't know, I think I was like A14245K guy in high 428 00:21:06,120 --> 00:21:09,320 school to A13O55K guy by the end of college. 429 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,120 So not to say that I didn't have, you know, speed 430 00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:15,040 improvement as well, but I think a lot of my improvements over 431 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,840 the mile, the 3K and stuff came from, you know, developing that 432 00:21:17,840 --> 00:21:21,440 strength. How much 5K talk popped up with 433 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:25,080 you and Danny? A little bit I think I think 434 00:21:25,080 --> 00:21:29,600 what excites me about, you know, my my path moving forward is, 435 00:21:30,040 --> 00:21:31,720 you know, I've like I love the 1500. 436 00:21:31,720 --> 00:21:34,320 It's you know, kind of I feel like when when I get when I 437 00:21:34,320 --> 00:21:36,200 think about track right now, I get excited about running the 438 00:21:36,200 --> 00:21:39,160 1500. But I've had a lot of success in 439 00:21:39,160 --> 00:21:42,440 the five Ki know it's there. I know, you know, I I want to 440 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:44,440 always be good at boost. I want to be able to go, you 441 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:46,760 know, compete at a world class level in the 5K, compete to the 442 00:21:46,760 --> 00:21:50,240 world class level in the 15, hopefully get faster in the 800. 443 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:51,720 I'm I'm going to run an 800 next week. 444 00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:53,680 I think I'm long overdue for APR there. 445 00:21:53,680 --> 00:21:58,080 So hopefully still run a fast 800, but you know, just kind of 446 00:21:58,480 --> 00:22:01,120 have that range to do whatever I set my mind to. 447 00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:03,560 And you know, I don't know what the next few years will hold, 448 00:22:03,560 --> 00:22:06,680 but I think you know, the way I train now and you know the 449 00:22:06,680 --> 00:22:09,720 vision for the future, I think I'll be someone who's able to do 450 00:22:09,720 --> 00:22:14,040 both, do whatever one I want. This is so interesting to hear. 451 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:17,480 Just and, and, and, and important, I think for people 452 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:20,880 who are in the NCAA system now, high schoolers, people going 453 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:23,400 into, you know, coming out of College in the next sort of year 454 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:26,280 or two, is that it can be daunting, right? 455 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:30,640 To look at the state of US middle distance running and be 456 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:34,880 like, all right, well, I want to make this a professional career. 457 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:39,720 But my competitors around me don't seem to be getting any 458 00:22:39,720 --> 00:22:44,240 slower or older. Where you look at that 15 scene, 459 00:22:44,920 --> 00:22:49,040 there's 2 Olympic medalists, there's, you know, Simeon 460 00:22:49,040 --> 00:22:53,360 running as fast as he did Ethan Strand like, and everyone is 461 00:22:53,360 --> 00:22:55,680 still kind of like in their prime. 462 00:22:56,320 --> 00:22:59,600 Same thing kind of goes when you look at the 5K and the 10K like 463 00:22:59,600 --> 00:23:03,200 there's there's a log jam of of talent in that 1%. 464 00:23:03,560 --> 00:23:08,120 So how did how what do you do for yourself, I guess to instill 465 00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:10,440 that self belief and confidence that you're like, you know what 466 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:14,440 like on paper, I might be further down on the list based 467 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:19,080 off of PRS right now, but I know that it's coming down the road. 468 00:23:19,080 --> 00:23:20,120 I. Don't know. 469 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:21,520 The way I've always viewed it is. 470 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,640 I think I benefit from, you know, the, the faster people are 471 00:23:25,640 --> 00:23:27,800 running, the faster I'm going to run and I benefit from having 472 00:23:27,800 --> 00:23:30,080 that competition. And I mean the most, the most 473 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:32,760 evident example was when I was in college and you know, I raced 474 00:23:32,760 --> 00:23:36,520 Ethan all the time in the ACC and he ran 348 a week before I 475 00:23:36,520 --> 00:23:37,960 ran it. And I saw that and I was like, 476 00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:40,640 all right, if he can run 348, I can run 348. 477 00:23:40,640 --> 00:23:43,160 So, you know, even even now that, you know, like seeing 478 00:23:43,160 --> 00:23:46,720 Simeon run 331 and seeing guys in college running so fast all 479 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:50,520 the time, I think I kind of just have the mindset of, you know, I 480 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:52,640 don't think there's anyone out there who's more talented than 481 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:53,600 me. I don't think there's anyone out 482 00:23:53,600 --> 00:23:55,480 there who is just outright better than me. 483 00:23:55,480 --> 00:23:57,200 And, you know, if they're running faster, if they're 484 00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:59,040 beating me, I just need to work harder. 485 00:23:59,040 --> 00:24:00,960 I need to just stay consistent, stay healthy. 486 00:24:00,960 --> 00:24:02,440 And, you know, I'm, I'm going to catch up. 487 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:03,400 I'm going to keep getting better. 488 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:06,560 And I think that's, you know, throughout my career, like I 489 00:24:06,560 --> 00:24:08,760 said, I've been, this is maybe the first year I didn't just 490 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:12,000 have, you know, a big leap in PRS, but I think I've been a 491 00:24:12,000 --> 00:24:14,720 very, very consistent runner. I've always got better at every 492 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:15,960 level. And I think I'm just going to, 493 00:24:16,240 --> 00:24:17,640 you know, keep rising to the occasion. 494 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:22,680 When you were, you know, kind of assessing whether the beasts 495 00:24:22,680 --> 00:24:25,480 were going to be a fit for you, I'm sure you met with several 496 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:28,240 members of the team, paid a visit to them. 497 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:30,640 Like, what was it that stood out to you that, you know, kind of 498 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:32,720 made you say like, Yep, these, these are my people. 499 00:24:33,280 --> 00:24:36,160 Like I said, I think 1 the team environment and culture they 500 00:24:36,160 --> 00:24:39,480 built is, is pretty awesome. And, you know, Danny talked to 501 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:42,240 me a lot about it and also, you know, being around the team and 502 00:24:42,240 --> 00:24:44,800 visiting it, It's probably the closest thing you can have to, 503 00:24:45,120 --> 00:24:47,200 you know, college team environment, which I think is is 504 00:24:47,200 --> 00:24:49,080 pretty cool. And I think it's I don't know. 505 00:24:49,080 --> 00:24:50,960 I think for me, it was really important to know that I was 506 00:24:50,960 --> 00:24:54,280 going to have a support system around me of people who were 507 00:24:54,280 --> 00:24:56,960 going to, you know, force me to be a better athlete, but also, 508 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:58,240 you know, be there for me off the track. 509 00:24:58,360 --> 00:25:02,040 And also, you know, like they've I think it's exciting. 510 00:25:02,040 --> 00:25:05,000 Like they have some young guys like, you know, Parker, Max 511 00:25:05,000 --> 00:25:08,040 Davies, Master Angio, and then, you know, you see you see Josh 512 00:25:08,040 --> 00:25:10,120 Kerr going and running as fast as he is. 513 00:25:10,120 --> 00:25:12,720 So like, you know, I feel like there's the training partners 514 00:25:12,720 --> 00:25:15,160 were there and you know, I'm going to have pretty much the 515 00:25:15,160 --> 00:25:16,960 best guy in the world there to push me at workouts. 516 00:25:16,960 --> 00:25:19,320 And you know, I think it's, it's something I'm excited to eat, 517 00:25:19,320 --> 00:25:21,880 excited to test myself against. Yeah, I guess. 518 00:25:21,880 --> 00:25:25,280 When is it on the calendar yet? When your first workout with 519 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:26,040 Josh is. Going to be. 520 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:29,160 I don't know. I'm, it's, I'm, I'm still 521 00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:30,440 training. I've been training with Vin 522 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,120 through the summer just because, you know, I've been, yeah, I've 523 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:34,200 been out in the East Coast still. 524 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,120 So he's been training with him, but hopefully in the fall. 525 00:25:36,600 --> 00:25:40,080 Yeah, because I was about to say I was like, oh, well, like he's 526 00:25:40,240 --> 00:25:43,320 he's clearly dead set on like this mile world record. 527 00:25:43,320 --> 00:25:46,360 And it's it's like he might be a little bit further along in 528 00:25:46,360 --> 00:25:49,360 training and then you always spends I think some time at 529 00:25:49,360 --> 00:25:52,640 altitude and stuff. But yeah, I'm sure you guys will 530 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:54,960 match up a ton moving to Seattle. 531 00:25:55,160 --> 00:25:57,680 Like what's, what's exciting about that for you? 532 00:25:58,480 --> 00:26:00,880 Yeah, I mean, I'm, I'm super excited about Seattle, I think. 533 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:03,800 Your first time on the West Coast for for permanently. 534 00:26:04,320 --> 00:26:07,440 I know, yeah, it's, I've been, you know, I've been to Seattle a 535 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:09,560 couple times, I've been to California a couple times, been 536 00:26:09,560 --> 00:26:13,120 to Eugene a million times. But this will, you know, I think 537 00:26:13,720 --> 00:26:15,120 1, the weather will be really nice. 538 00:26:15,120 --> 00:26:17,960 You know, I went, especially right now, I went from like 105 539 00:26:17,960 --> 00:26:21,040 in Charlottesville to a nice 70 in the Pacific Northwest. 540 00:26:21,040 --> 00:26:24,920 But other than that, I also just think Seattle's like a pretty, a 541 00:26:24,920 --> 00:26:26,960 pretty sick place to live, pretty sick place to train. 542 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:30,560 There's, you know, really good trails, really good nature. 543 00:26:30,920 --> 00:26:33,240 So I'm excited for that. I think it's going to be just a 544 00:26:33,240 --> 00:26:35,880 really cool place to be. And you know, then split time 545 00:26:35,880 --> 00:26:37,840 between there and Albuquerque for altitude camps. 546 00:26:38,600 --> 00:26:39,880 Yeah. What's the longest? 547 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:43,080 I think you've done any sort of extended stint at altitude or 548 00:26:43,160 --> 00:26:45,320 for the most part, not really. Right, I've done. 549 00:26:45,560 --> 00:26:47,360 Four days I think is the most I've been in altitude. 550 00:26:47,360 --> 00:26:48,720 I've never, I've never really done altitude. 551 00:26:49,880 --> 00:26:52,640 So there's that also kind of untapped potential there. 552 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:55,520 Yeah, I think that'll be very helpful, especially for the the 553 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:57,960 longer stuff. It's super exciting, All right, 554 00:26:57,960 --> 00:27:01,480 When it came to goal setting going into the senior year, what 555 00:27:01,480 --> 00:27:03,720 were some of the goals that you kind of sit down on paper and 556 00:27:03,720 --> 00:27:06,520 then like what ended up being checked off the box and what was 557 00:27:06,520 --> 00:27:09,320 left kind of open? I mean, I think the big 558 00:27:09,320 --> 00:27:12,640 individual goals were, you know, I wanted to win, you know, I 559 00:27:12,640 --> 00:27:15,000 wanted to win a national title indoors, outdoors. 560 00:27:15,000 --> 00:27:19,040 I wanted to, you know, I wanted to PR in the mile, stuff like 561 00:27:19,040 --> 00:27:22,080 that, which it's funny because I didn't, you know, I think 562 00:27:22,120 --> 00:27:25,120 looking back, it's been like I didn't, I didn't get the 563 00:27:25,120 --> 00:27:27,520 individual title, which obviously, you know, stings a 564 00:27:27,520 --> 00:27:29,520 little bit. And didn't you know, I didn't 565 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:31,840 run 348 still my PR from last year. 566 00:27:31,840 --> 00:27:35,920 So I think the individual goals I kind of I didn't hit, which I 567 00:27:35,920 --> 00:27:38,560 think especially, especially indoors, I was struggling with 568 00:27:38,560 --> 00:27:42,240 that a little bit where, like I said, it's kind of you go into 569 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:45,000 the year and you expect it to just be maybe not easy, but you 570 00:27:45,000 --> 00:27:47,040 expect it to just the progression to be natural 571 00:27:47,040 --> 00:27:48,800 because you know, you're doing all the right things and you're 572 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:51,800 staying healthy. And, you know, I just had had a 573 00:27:51,800 --> 00:27:54,600 couple setbacks, had an illness and kind of didn't really didn't 574 00:27:54,600 --> 00:27:55,800 really get to where I wanted to be. 575 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,000 And, you know, was, was pretty frustrated with how the season 576 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:01,440 went and kind of had to really reset mentally. 577 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:06,320 And like I said, kind of shift the shift my shift my value of 578 00:28:06,320 --> 00:28:08,640 the season on, you know, that outcome and then kind of focus 579 00:28:08,640 --> 00:28:11,640 more on just the process and, you know, getting to the line 580 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:14,120 feeling good. And same thing outdoors. 581 00:28:14,120 --> 00:28:17,000 I think it's funny because I didn't quite, I didn't quite get 582 00:28:17,000 --> 00:28:21,120 to the goal of winning that 1500 title outdoors, but I was way 583 00:28:21,120 --> 00:28:23,240 more proud of myself for, you know, how I approached the race 584 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:25,520 and how I showed up and how I competed and, you know, 585 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:28,720 finishing third versus how I how I thought about indoors. 586 00:28:28,720 --> 00:28:31,520 So, you know, I think I definitely learned, you know, 587 00:28:31,520 --> 00:28:34,080 obviously even if you fall short of the goals, I think there were 588 00:28:34,080 --> 00:28:37,360 still positive takeaways and I feel pretty good about where I'm 589 00:28:37,360 --> 00:28:39,560 at going the going to the professional circuit. 590 00:28:40,480 --> 00:28:44,160 That NCAA 1500 meter final where you know, Simeon breaks it open, 591 00:28:44,160 --> 00:28:48,440 I guess kind of in that in that final lap, if you were to rerun 592 00:28:48,440 --> 00:28:52,200 it or, or or catch on to just sort of like counter one move 593 00:28:52,200 --> 00:28:54,000 within it, like what would what would have been done 594 00:28:54,000 --> 00:28:56,480 differently? I think I would have, I think in 595 00:28:56,480 --> 00:29:00,640 my mind, I wanted to, you know, get into position 500 to go, 596 00:29:00,760 --> 00:29:03,560 make a move, 300 to go and then and then shut the door, 100 to 597 00:29:03,560 --> 00:29:05,480 go. But, you know, try to move up 598 00:29:05,480 --> 00:29:07,480 500 to go. Everyone has the same idea. 599 00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:10,800 So kind of just get boxed into where I'm at and, you know, 600 00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:14,120 Simeon gets away and I think I move up probably four or five 601 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:17,360 spots in the last 150, which was one of my probably best, one of 602 00:29:17,360 --> 00:29:20,040 my better closes, but just was too far back. 603 00:29:20,040 --> 00:29:23,840 So I think if anything, maybe I would have just put myself in 604 00:29:23,840 --> 00:29:26,440 the first or second and at least put myself right on Simeon with 605 00:29:26,440 --> 00:29:30,000 like 600 to go and kind of just try to ride that momentum. 606 00:29:30,320 --> 00:29:33,560 But you know, like I said about tactics, I'm always learning. 607 00:29:34,000 --> 00:29:35,000 Felt like I could have ran it better. 608 00:29:35,000 --> 00:29:38,880 But definitely we'll we'll hopefully learn from moving 609 00:29:38,880 --> 00:29:41,160 forward. How many times did you race 610 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:43,600 Simeon in high school? I don't know if I raced him at 611 00:29:43,600 --> 00:29:45,200 all. I paced him when he broke 4, but 612 00:29:45,200 --> 00:29:46,160 I don't think I raced him at all. 613 00:29:46,160 --> 00:29:47,920 Yeah. That's what I was thinking just 614 00:29:47,920 --> 00:29:50,840 sort of with like he was just what, a year or two younger than 615 00:29:50,840 --> 00:29:52,200 you? He was a year. 616 00:29:52,200 --> 00:29:54,680 Younger than me, yeah. Yeah, and so then it's sort of 617 00:29:54,680 --> 00:29:57,480 like right after you left is sort of like where him and and 618 00:29:57,480 --> 00:30:00,880 Connor Burns kind of like took over in the hundred 1500 scene. 619 00:30:01,920 --> 00:30:06,040 But I guess like what of your NCAA sort of career, like who 620 00:30:06,040 --> 00:30:09,480 was sort of the toughest guy to beat because you had him, you 621 00:30:09,480 --> 00:30:11,880 had Ethan Strand, you had Parker Wolf. 622 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:17,240 So I guess like who was, you've got plenty of time to correct 623 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:20,040 things by like facing them more often now as a pro. 624 00:30:20,040 --> 00:30:23,360 But in the college scene, like who was who was the toughest 625 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:27,640 person to beat? I mean, I think Ethan, Ethan 626 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:30,240 definitely just even from the standpoint of of how much I 627 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:32,560 raced him. But yeah, I mean, we had we had 628 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:36,400 a lot of showdowns and I think he was he was someone who I 629 00:30:36,400 --> 00:30:39,040 always got really excited the race and you know, I got I got 630 00:30:39,040 --> 00:30:41,360 him a couple times. He got the best of me many 631 00:30:41,360 --> 00:30:42,920 times. But you know, I think he was 632 00:30:42,920 --> 00:30:46,120 someone who pushed me to be a better athlete and you know who 633 00:30:46,120 --> 00:30:48,800 I have a lot of respect for and you know, his capabilities and 634 00:30:48,800 --> 00:30:51,400 how he runs. So it was definitely, I think 635 00:30:51,400 --> 00:30:54,240 I'll look back at Ethan being the guy that I kind of went head 636 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:58,200 to head with and like liked the battle the most when. 637 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:00,200 You were going into college, I think, right? 638 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:03,200 You were undecided on your major that first year. 639 00:31:03,800 --> 00:31:07,160 Yeah, I was between, I think I was between political science 640 00:31:07,160 --> 00:31:10,680 and psychology. What did you end up getting your 641 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:14,400 degree in? I, I actually, so before I do 642 00:31:14,400 --> 00:31:18,520 this, I'll say I remember being at being in nationals with you, 643 00:31:18,520 --> 00:31:21,200 Mack and Kyle and telling you guys that I was thinking about 644 00:31:21,200 --> 00:31:24,440 doing media studies and pretty much everyone told me not to do 645 00:31:24,440 --> 00:31:26,960 media studies because you don't, you don't need to do media 646 00:31:26,960 --> 00:31:29,640 studies and then I should do business and then just get in 647 00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:31,800 the media. But I did media studies. 648 00:31:32,320 --> 00:31:34,120 Oh, you did media studies? Well, and I wanted it. 649 00:31:34,120 --> 00:31:37,320 It was awesome. Well, the funny part is, is 650 00:31:37,320 --> 00:31:41,080 like, yeah, sure, you're going to get a degree and but the goal 651 00:31:41,080 --> 00:31:44,760 is that thing stays on ice for a couple of years while you pursue 652 00:31:44,800 --> 00:31:47,000 a professional running career for for several years. 653 00:31:47,000 --> 00:31:49,560 Because I was like, you know, Gary, like you don't need to go 654 00:31:49,560 --> 00:31:52,680 get the degree. We'll we'll still hire you after 655 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:55,600 you're done running. But that's a much, much later 656 00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:59,720 sort of conversation. So it was, I guess going back 657 00:31:59,720 --> 00:32:04,120 like that, that nationals when we were in Philly, it was around 658 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:06,920 the time where sort of like coming off of Hobbes, Kessler 659 00:32:06,920 --> 00:32:09,480 and and and some of these other high school phenoms, like 660 00:32:09,480 --> 00:32:13,360 they're what when you ran so well in that one sub four that 661 00:32:13,360 --> 00:32:16,520 you totally soloed that there were so there's like 662 00:32:16,520 --> 00:32:18,280 whisperings. There's like, oh, why go to 663 00:32:18,280 --> 00:32:21,440 college, even turn pro In the end, you made the right 664 00:32:21,440 --> 00:32:24,440 decision. Me and Kyle, Like and Mack were 665 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:27,280 talking you out of Like the temptation of going pro. 666 00:32:28,360 --> 00:32:31,840 Yeah, I mean, I mean, I think it was one of those things where, 667 00:32:32,120 --> 00:32:34,680 you know, you're a high school kid and, you know, you have the 668 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:37,920 thought of if I can GoPro, you know, I, you know, it's been 669 00:32:38,040 --> 00:32:39,360 pretty exciting. Let me think about this. 670 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:41,960 But, you know, obviously I don't think I ever gave it too much 671 00:32:41,960 --> 00:32:43,920 serious thought. Talked to my parents, my family, 672 00:32:43,920 --> 00:32:46,440 and, you know, I trusted that college was the right decision 673 00:32:46,440 --> 00:32:49,040 and definitely would not trade it for anything. 674 00:32:49,040 --> 00:32:51,480 So it was the right decision. It is. 675 00:32:52,120 --> 00:32:56,760 And yeah, it it, it's just really cool that that kid that 676 00:32:56,760 --> 00:33:00,240 we met all those years ago had this dream of being a 677 00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:01,880 professional runner and here it is. 678 00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:04,040 It's it's come true. So I guess like final question, 679 00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:08,320 what's the first purchase once that first professional paycheck 680 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:09,960 comes in? Like, is there anything you've 681 00:33:09,960 --> 00:33:12,440 got on your list? I've, I've actually, yeah, I 682 00:33:12,440 --> 00:33:14,720 have thought about it. I think the one thing I would 683 00:33:14,720 --> 00:33:18,160 want is a nice like espresso machine and a nice coffee 684 00:33:18,160 --> 00:33:20,720 grinder, 'cause I think, you know, when I get, get a place in 685 00:33:20,720 --> 00:33:22,880 Seattle, I think I'm going to be, you know, drinking a lot of 686 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:24,760 coffee. And I think I can, I can 687 00:33:24,760 --> 00:33:26,680 definitely use an upgrade and get a nice machine. 688 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:28,080 So that's probably the one thing. 689 00:33:28,640 --> 00:33:33,280 There's a very popular local spot in Seattle, I think it's 690 00:33:33,280 --> 00:33:36,640 called Starbucks, that they take great pride in, so you might 691 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:39,000 want to check that one out too. Maybe it'll save you money. 692 00:33:39,000 --> 00:33:41,200 Actually, no, no, the espresso machine will save you money. 693 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:41,840 Yeah. Yeah. 694 00:33:42,840 --> 00:33:45,240 Perfect. Well, Gary, congratulations on 695 00:33:45,240 --> 00:33:48,440 signing this pro deal. What's I guess what's the hope 696 00:33:48,440 --> 00:33:51,080 for this weekend pre classic Bauerman Mile? 697 00:33:51,560 --> 00:33:54,800 You're seeing how fast you know Cam Myers is running. 698 00:33:54,800 --> 00:33:59,080 You've seen like Niels Lauro's throwing down a 143 yard running 699 00:33:59,080 --> 00:34:00,880 out of his mind. It's like, what's what's your 700 00:34:00,880 --> 00:34:03,640 goal for this thing? Yeah, I think just, you know, 701 00:34:03,680 --> 00:34:06,320 honestly put myself in the mix and compete, I think at, you 702 00:34:06,320 --> 00:34:08,920 know, I would think back to Miller's Games when I ran that 703 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:11,719 as a junior in college, and I think I would kind of came in 704 00:34:11,719 --> 00:34:14,120 flying under the radar and, you know, people were questioning 705 00:34:14,120 --> 00:34:16,159 why I was in the field. And then I kind of just, you 706 00:34:16,159 --> 00:34:19,280 know, moved up past guys, finished fifth and ran a big PR. 707 00:34:19,280 --> 00:34:22,239 So I think if I can do something similar, just put myself in the 708 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:24,520 pack and do a lot of work towards the second-half of the 709 00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:26,719 race, I think I'll run. I think I'll run pretty fast. 710 00:34:27,400 --> 00:34:30,120 Love it. Well, Gary, once again, Congrats 711 00:34:30,120 --> 00:34:33,600 and looking forward to seeing you in action this weekend at 712 00:34:33,600 --> 00:34:35,719 the Pre Classic. Thanks so much, Chris. 713 00:34:38,000 --> 00:34:39,679 All right, that's a wrap on today's episode. 714 00:34:39,960 --> 00:34:42,679 Thanks for listening, for the time, the curiosity, and for 715 00:34:42,679 --> 00:34:45,440 making this show part of your routine or your run. 716 00:34:45,920 --> 00:34:48,760 A big thanks to our producer Jasmine Fair, and to everyone 717 00:34:48,760 --> 00:34:51,320 behind the scenes who helps make the Sidious Magic Podcast 718 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:53,239 happen. If you enjoyed today's episode, 719 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:56,120 a quick five star review on Apple podcast or Spotify helps 720 00:34:56,120 --> 00:34:59,320 people find this show and we read every single one. 721 00:34:59,440 --> 00:35:02,560 You can find muchmoretrackandfieldcoverage@sidiousmag.com 722 00:35:02,560 --> 00:35:04,920 and you can follow along across all of Sidious Mag social 723 00:35:04,920 --> 00:35:06,440 channels. We'll see you next time. 724 00:35:06,640 --> 00:35:13,760 Thanks again for listening. We're back with Bandits Head of 725 00:35:13,760 --> 00:35:17,360 Experiences Tim Rossi for more on Bandits Unsponsored project. 726 00:35:18,600 --> 00:35:22,520 So when we look at the roster of athletes who have come through 727 00:35:22,520 --> 00:35:27,240 the unsponsored project, in certain cases athletes graduate 728 00:35:27,280 --> 00:35:31,760 and then they go on and get professional contracts for from 729 00:35:31,840 --> 00:35:35,360 major sportswear and footwear companies. 730 00:35:36,000 --> 00:35:38,200 What is that process been like over the last couple years? 731 00:35:38,280 --> 00:35:40,480 Yeah, it's been really, really cool to see. 732 00:35:40,480 --> 00:35:43,880 It's part of what we talk about as success of the Unsponsored 733 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:45,840 project. We want to get to the point 734 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:49,040 where Bandit will have athletes in the future, but right now the 735 00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:51,760 Unsponsored Project is our primary athlete support 736 00:35:51,760 --> 00:35:56,040 mechanism and we want people to be able to go and get those full 737 00:35:56,040 --> 00:35:57,880 time long term sponsorship deals. 738 00:35:57,880 --> 00:36:01,320 So at this point, over the three years, we've had 11 total people 739 00:36:01,800 --> 00:36:04,160 of the roughly 100 that we've supported as part of the 740 00:36:04,160 --> 00:36:07,840 unsponsored project go and get signed by a variety of different 741 00:36:07,840 --> 00:36:09,880 brands. And it's different every single 742 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:11,840 time. I often times like to go back to 743 00:36:11,840 --> 00:36:15,400 Trevor Bassett, who made the Olympics in 2024, was an 744 00:36:15,400 --> 00:36:18,360 unsponsored project athlete when competing in Eugene. 745 00:36:18,800 --> 00:36:21,160 And then the next year, we actually were supporting Trevor 746 00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:25,640 on an extended unsponsored project style support contract. 747 00:36:26,000 --> 00:36:27,680 And he gave me a call in March or April. 748 00:36:27,680 --> 00:36:29,840 I can't remember exactly what month it was, but he's like, 749 00:36:29,840 --> 00:36:32,680 hey, Adidas is offering me a deal. 750 00:36:32,680 --> 00:36:34,680 I'm like, hell yeah, dude, that's super, super awesome. 751 00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:37,920 That's exactly what we want. And now he's still competing 752 00:36:37,920 --> 00:36:40,920 under the Adidas umbrella. And it it's really, really 753 00:36:40,920 --> 00:36:43,720 amazing to see. We'll have more on Bandits 754 00:36:43,720 --> 00:36:46,200 Unsponsored project in the coming weeks on the CD Smack 755 00:36:46,200 --> 00:36:48,440 podcast and in the Lab Count newsletter.