Aug 18, 2007
Jacob Frey - Pan American Marathon Interview Views- 4906 4 Comments

RM: Congrats on your performance down in Brazil at the Pan American Games. What were your thoughts with how the race played out?

JF: Thanks bro. I was a walking carnival going into the race because I was so happy to wear USA for the first time. I remember standing there at the starting line with tons of TV cameras and fans around with this stupid grin. After an extremely slow first few miles I let the pack go at 10k and hit halfway in 1:08:50 around 13th place. It was 63 degrees (hot for a marathon, but way cooler then it could have been in Rio), with a solid wind and occasional downpours (some guys complained about their shoes being heavy, but I am used to that cause I sweat like a nun in a cucumber field). The last 8 miles were a blast hamming it up with the crowd, and with the exception of a few miles into the wind I was at or below 5 minute pace.

RM: How was your training going into the race? For those that don't know, you have been busting your hump getting through law school. Did you change anything up from how much you studied or when you trained from how you have been doing things since you went to law school?

JF: Mentally, law school hurts like hell, and running 150 miles a week doesn’t tickle either. Initially I remember doing morning runs after studying all night and debating in my head if it would hurt worse to jump in front of a train or a car. Since then I’ve developed time saving tricks. I listen to taped law lectures while going for long easy runs and retain about half of it, I brush my teeth in the shower, and Monday Wednesday and Friday the Chinese place knows that I come in at 8:00 to pick up Chicken and Garlic Sauce with extra veggies, so I never wait to eat. The hardest part is the alone time cause I have to run mostly alone, and I sit at a desk alone studying the rest of the day. To deal with that I started studying by arguing out issues with a buddy, and I am pretty much the slut of the trail out in Philly... if someone is going close to my pace Ill turn around and start up with them.

RM: If you could have done things differently with your training and racing strategy, would you, and if so, what would you change?

JF: Wouldn’t change a thing. Alex Gibby coaches me, and we’ve really worked out a nice recipe for the marathon based on some elements I learned from the Hanson’s and combining them with a couple new long run and workout ideas. Ultimately my training is based on "listen to your body". If I feel like crap I run slow, if I feel good I run hard- it’s very simplistic so I don’t overanalyze. I don’t stretch, I don’t lift weights, but I also don’t seem to get hurt (knock on wood) and I never miss a planned day of training. As far as racing the marathon goes it’s also about listening to the body, and I think a significant reason why older guys are better marathoners is they know what to listen to early on, and can properly adjust.

RM: You will be running the Olympic Trials this November. What will you do differently for your prep for that race than what you did for the Pan Am games and why?

JF: I was drinking 2 blue moon beers every night before Pan Ams. Blue moon is a summer beer so maybe Ill switch back to Bud.

RM: How long do you see yourself being able to train at the level you are and that you need to, to be competitive on the elite level? Do you see your probable profession of being a lawyer getting in the way of running or do you see yourself pounding away the miles for years to come?

JF: I love the people I’ve met through running, I love the feeling of a breakthrough race, and I love the experiences I’ve had because of running, but 15 and 7 double days I could do without. When I am done running competitively, I am done. I am sure I’ll always get out the door for an upbeat 5, but I couldn’t take half-assing it running 10 minutes slower for the marathon and remembering the good old days. I am very interested in politics and would like to some day run for office. As a runner you give so much to just shaving a few seconds off a personal best, once I am done I look forward to directing that elsewhere. I am taking one cycle at a time.

RM: What are your goals for the Olympic Trials race?

JF: Id be pretty naive to say I was gonna go out with the top 3 and hang on. I’ve trained with guys who can do that, and I am not one. That being said, you run your best when you want it bad but have nothing at stake. Racing for the US was a dream come true, so everything from here on out is icing. I am gonna run hard as hell the last 10 miles, maybe throw in a little "Frey Speed" (flailing form, and ugly face) the last 150 meters, finish as high as possible, and that night have a ball with some great friends.