DyeStatCal Boys
Athlete of the Week
Chad Hall
(Big Bear HS, Big Bear Lake)

Week of 9/25-29, 2006
California

DyeStatCal Boys
Athlete of the Week
Chad Hall
(Big Bear HS, Big Bear Lake)

Week of 9/25-29, 2006
California

Another with a stunning Course Records setting effort at the 2006 Woodbridge Invitational, Chad Hall (Big Bear HS) absolutely amazed with his 14:00 performance that took down the 14:13 run by Diego Mercado (West Covina) set last year.  With 4:10.78 (1600) and 8:58.42 (3200) bests from last year in Track it was assumed that the high-altitude trained Hall would have a fine senior year, with the 14:00 having the show off to a more than impressive start.  With a good number of high quality races throughout the rest of the season, it should be a super year for this week's DyeStatCal Athlete of the Week!  He answers some questions below about his season and preparation, with a big summer of mileage at high altitude behind him as he heads into his senior 2006-2007 year!!

Doug Speck
DyeStatCal.com

1) With a few days since the Woodbridge Invite and your 14:00 course record, what are your thoughts upon looking back at it?

It was a pretty amazing race to be in. I still can't believe that Royal averaged 14:44. I'm really happy about my time but I'm trying to not make too big of a deal out of it since it's the beginning of the year. I wish I could have gone one second faster but at least it leaves me a barrier to try to go under by the end of the year. Some of our guys had some pretty amazing races (Berto almost going under 15, Seth running 15:59 without ever running in the 16's).

2) The first half mile of the race had a huge pack, were you surprised that no one really took it out harder than they did as a group?

I was expecting for someone to blow by me once we got on the track but no one did. I've always thought that an evenly or negatively split race is the best way to run a fast time, so I was pretty happy about the conservative pace at the beginning of the race.

3) What were your thoughts and how did you feel at the point where you separated and moved into the lead in the race (was that at two miles?)?

At a little after the two mile mark I started to pick up the pace a little bit; I looked over my shoulder and Cybulski had fallen back a little ways so I really started to push the pace after I passed under the bridge. After that I was just trying to make sure no one would catch up.

4) When you made the turn and headed for the finish could you see the time on the clock and what were your thoughts?

When I came around the turn that was the first time I had seen or heard my time the entire race. I knew that I was capable of running around 14 minutes but it was still a shock to actually run that fast.

5) About how much running did you do daily this summer?

I was doing between 90 and 100 miles a week. We didn't do as many speed work outs as we did last year. We wanted to build a big base so that our team would all peak later in the year.

6) Do you notice a difference when you come down to sea level and run races there in how you feel? - do you think it really makes a difference to train and live at altitude--?

Definitely racing at sea level feels a lot faster. I think that training at altitude helps for sure. If you look at all the world class runners, most of them train at altitude.

7) What is your favorite cross-country workout?

My favorite cross country workout is one where we run a mile fast on the road (at 5:00-5:10) and then run up a mile and a quarter run (called the Wall) at our ski resort. We take the chair down and do it all two more times.


8) Some quick answers:

--favorite class
3D Art

--favorite sports story or movie about sports
“Without Limits”

--in ten years you will be:
Hopefully running professionally or pursuing which ever career I choose.

--favorite dessert or food treat
Brownies

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