Interval Session #43 - Patrick McGregor April 3, 2008 The face at the front of the Nike Indoor Nationals boys mile was certainly familiar to DyeStat readers--Kyle Merber had won big races all season long and become known for his weekly Millrose blogs. The runner giving Merber everything he could handle in the final lap, however, was less familiar. Hoover AL junior Patrick McGregor was having the track race of his young career, pushing Merber to the line for a great runner-up finish and 4:16.79 PR. McGregor is certainly no stranger in Alabama running circles, having won the 6A cross country title and been named Gatorade's Alabama Runner of the Year after a season which included a second place finish at the NTN Southeast Regional and a fourth at Great American, but he hadn't thrown down the sort of track performance which attracts national attention. Until the Nike Indoor mile, that is. This weekend Patrick competes in the Mobile Challenge of Champions, and then heads for California for the big Arcadia Invitational next week. DyeStat Assistant editor Dave Devine makes a quick trip to Sweet Home Alabama for some pre-race striders with the latest Hoover High star harrier.

1) Congratulations on your race at Nike Indoor Nationals. Coming into that mile, a lot of people had heard about Kyle Merber from his string of big meet wins this winter, but you were more of a surprise in that number-two slot. Was that a breakout race for you, or something you expected given your training this season? What were your feeling about the race afterwards? I would say that it was definitely a breakout race for me, but not that much of a surprise. I felt it was well within me to run 4:16 or under, but I had also never been in a race where we negative split like that, almost 10 seconds for the second 880. I was extremely excited to have finished second in the country and gotten the opportunity to run against such a great runner like Kyle. I kept thinking afterwards that I had watched Kyle a couple of months before on T.V win the Millrose Games mile and I thought to myself then, I know I can run with him or anybody else in the country. I just need the chance to prove it. 2) You've had some great success as a cross country runner, including placing second at the NTN Southeast Regional and being named Gatorade's Alabama XC Runner of the Year. Do you see yourself as more of a cross country guy or a track guy, and why? I see myself more as an athlete who just flat-out competes and does not worry about the surface he’s competing on or the sport he’s playing. I just want to make sure that I do everything in my ability to try to win. I want to look back and say that I accomplished something that I would not have if I had not pushed myself through hard work and dedication. 3) I read that you are also a competitive swimmer. Is that something you've been able to continue as you've gotten more involved in elite-level track and field? Are there carry-overs from your swimming background that help you with running, and vice versa? I swim when I can, and I use it now to cross train for running. If I feel I am in good shape though, I will compete in the occasional swim meet. I started running summer track at an early age, but was still then a very competitive age-group swimmer. After all of the great cardiovascular workouts I got in the pool, I was able to run exceptionally well. Because I was in a sport that was all about racing, swimming again helped me in track when it came time to mentally prepare for races. 4) If people outside the high school running community recognize the name Hoover High, it's often because of the MTV series featuring the Hoover football team. Is football the "king sport" at Hoover, and if so, what sort of attention do the track and cross country teams receive? Is it hard to get noticed athletically at a football powerhouse? We do receive more attention now than we ever have before, which is quite nice. In the south every sport is second to football, no matter how good the other sports are. I would say it is hard [to get noticed], but almost every achievement at Hoover does not go unnoticed. On a side note, I do suicides with the football team in the summer. 5) Seems like there is a strong tradition of running in the Hoover High community. How did you get your start in the sport, and when did you decide to become more serious about it? Were there Hoover runners ahead of you who served as mentors? I ran in a “Fun Run” once when I was about eight, which I won, and I've been running ever since. There was a group of very talented runners all about six years older than me that came through Hoover that I would always try to run with and always wanted to be just as good as. I still keep in touch with most of them and they give me advice from time to time. 6) I heard you're headed to California for the big Arcadia meet next week. What event(s) are you entered in, and what are your hopes for that trip? From a fan perspective--knowing that the distance races are always loaded--is there a particular event you're looking forward to watching? I am entered in the mile and I hope to get a best time. I am looking forward to watching the 2 mile. 7) What's the best advice you've ever received about running, and who did you receive it from? “Be dumb, just run,” from my Dad. Photo by Vic Sailer, photorun.net

Interval Sessions Oudoors 08