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Michael Coe
(Cabrillo, Lompoc) talks
Southern Section
Star
February 12th, 2006
Fresh off his 4:07.30 Mile in Boston
By Doug Speck
After linking to a local news article or two while he
was a middle school runner, we hoped that Michael Coe could achieve
some success with his continued running at the high school level. Ever
since his ninth grade year at Cabrillo HS in Lompoc he has shown special
abilities, with a serious injury playing basketball in December, 2003
resulting in lengthy rehabilitation that had to be very frustrating
with over a year before the California coastal star was really back
on his game. The year 2005 and into 2006 has been very, very
exciting for Coe and his followers, with a 4:11.69 1600m best last
spring in track, seventh in the June state meet over that distance
and third in the Southern Section competition. This fall the
ante was raised, with a super second in the Foot Locker National Championships
in San Diego in December, with a challenge to hometown favorite, leader
AJ Acosta from Oceanside, with less than a quarter mile to go before
AJ ended up a less than second winner over Coe. One
always sensed that the tall, smooth striding Lompoc runner was a bit
more suited to the round consistent oval than the hill and dale, with
the
results
from the up and down sport during the fall and early winter leaving
serious fans rubbing their hands together in anticipation if Michael's
good health continued into the rest of the school year. Questions
have been answered early, with a 4:12 all-comers mile in January, and
a trip to Boston soon after to face many of the nation's best bringing
Coe home an impressive 4:07.30 mile winner that placed him in some
very
select
company on the national and state all-time lists (below). Michael
took some time out from his schedule to answer some questions about
his
running that follow, with it always interesting to hear what someone
who has been through the highs and lows that sports has to offer along
the way to success!!
High School All-Time Indoor Prep Mile List
1. 3:59.86 Alan Webb (South Lakes HS, Reston, VA) 2001
2. 4:02.7c Thom Hunt (Patrick Henry HS, CA) 1976
3. 4:06.6 Vince Cartier (Scotch-Plains Fanwood HS, NJ) 1972
4. 4:07.10 Michael Stember (Jesuit HS, CA) 1996
5. 4:07.12 Jonathan Riley (Brookline HS, MA) 1997
6. 4:07.2 Jim Ryun (East HS, Wichita, KS) 1965
7. 4:07.30 Michael Coe (Lompoc HS, CA) 2006
1) Describe your strategic thoughts going into the Boston
Indoor meet and how the race actually unfolded for you back there in
the Mile (it was on TV for us to see, but what were your thoughts and
how did the contest unfolded mentally for you?)
I ran the race exactly
to plan. I was hoping to hang with the pack for the 1st half mile
as long as the pace wasn't ridiculously slow and then make a move with
about 600m to go. We came through 400 just under 62, which was exactly
what I wanted. It was the most crowded race I've ever been in (I
got
clipped several times) but I guess thats how indoor races go. The
whole first half mile I felt very relaxed so when I took the lead I
had plenty
left and I really let my legs go. I pushed the 7th lap hoping to
open some space from O' Lionaird, but he was really tough. I think
he ran
out of gas the last lap and with about 150m to go I looked up on
the jumbo-tron and saw I pretty much had the race won.
2) What did you expect to accomplish when you went to the Cal State
Northridge All-Comers and ran the 4;12 mile? What had training been
generally like since the end of cross-country leading to that event--
I took just over 2 weeks completely off from
running after the Foot Locker Nationals so I only had about 4 weeks
of training for Boston.
A lot of people were under the impression that I didn't take any
time off after FLN and that I was training like crazy for Boston.
Not true
at all. I've been doing some weights and lots of core training, but
my running hasn't even gotten close to intensity I'll get come April
and May. I was doing a little less than 40 mpw with 1 or 2 semi hard
speed workouts each week. I felt very strong the week before Boston
so I wanted to test out my legs at Northridge just to get ready.
After the 4:12 I knew I had a chance at 4:08 or better.
3) Back when August turned into September and cross-country season
came along, what were your expectations of the season, and how did
competing at the front end of the Foot Locker National Finals in
San Diego in December dove-tail into those expectations?
I felt I
had a
lot to prove after a horrible cross season in 2004 and a rough ending
at the state track championships in Sacramento. I knew if I wanted
to be a state champion and be competitive in the National scene I
would have to be very patient with my racing and training, so I'd
peak at
the right time. After the state meet and cruising in the regionals,
I thought my chances were as good as anybody's in San Diego. AJ proved
just a little stronger, although I made a few tactical mistakes.
Getting 2nd in the nation made me realize that I'm as good as anybody
out there.
Cross country has never been my natural sport and I think people
will see that I was made to run on the track, after this season.
4) It seems on a lot of the weather maps of the typical winter that
the inclement weather just gets south enough to affect the Lompoc
area where you live, and makes it no farther south. Do you feel your
training
is affected much in quality by the rain during the winter or winds
that may frequent your area during the year? explain--
It doesn't usually get too cold in Lompoc,
so its never really a problem to train outside, but it gets very
windy especially at the
Cabrillo
track. It's not a bad thing because in track you have to learn to
run in the wind. This winter hasn't been as rainy as years past but
I don't
mind running in the rain.
5) A fracture that you suffered in basketball in December 2003 definitely
held back your running for a long time. What advice could you offer
other running event athletes who may go through an extended period
of inactivity or adjusted activity due to some physical ailment that
affects their participation?
Just keep your head high and work hard at your
rehabilitaion or cross training. I had days where I felt like my
ankle would never feel
good again, but I kept working on rehab and cross training and over
time
it got stronger and now I'm pain free. Also, I would say do everything
you can to take care of your body with proper stretching, rest, ice,
etc. because most injuries are preventable.
6) What general advice could you offer young runners just starting
out as first year athletes in cross-country or track and field as
distance runners?
No matter how good you are as a freshman, you can work your way up
to elite status by taking everyday as a chance to improve. Those
who improve everyday will eventually catch those athletes who don't
work
hard, no matter the talent level. Also have fun and enjoy the high
school experience, it goes by very fast.
Thanks Michael - best of luck
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