Colby Wissel KWIK-E

January 25, 2008

Nebraska native Colby Wissel is currently injured, but has PRs of 7:53 (a Jayhawk indoor school record) for the 3k and 13:54 (2nd all-time at KU) for the 5k. He is looking to overcome his Achilles injury and return for outdoor track.

Can you give me a brief history of you and your running?
My first track races were in elementary school. My Dad, Stan, was the physical education teacher and once a year he put on a track and field meet for all of the kids. I had a lot of fun with those meets and that really sparked my interest in running.
I first got serious about running in junior high school. My Dad was also my junior high track coach and he really helped me start my running career. I went to a K-12 school in a town with a population of 850 people, so our meets were against other small schools in central Nebraska. I would really have to push myself at these meets as there wasn't always a lot of competition. I ran 2:09 in the 800meters and 4:42 for the 1600meters in the 7th grade. At our conference meet in the 8th grade, I won four events: 200meters (25seconds), 400meters (55 seconds), 800meters (2:12), and the 1600meters (4:36). The 4:36 was good enough for the high school record! I also competed in some Junior Olympic meets and I qualified for the National Hershey Track and Field Meet.
I played football my freshman year in high school. My Dad was also my high school football coach (small town, I know!). Unfortunately, I tore my MCL and meniscus in a game and I had to miss not only the rest of the football season, but also basketball season. By the time track came around, I was completely out of shape! But I ended up running 4:28 for the 1600meters and 9:38 for the 3200meters that year.
After my freshman year, I decided that I really wanted to make a commitment to running. I figured running would be my best sport and after my football injury I was reluctant to play football again. I transferred to Kearney High School, a track powerhouse under Roger Mathiesen. When I graduated from Kearney High, we had won 11 consecutive team State track championships. Coach Mathiesen was a major influence on my running and helped me win nine State titles (3 in cross, 2 in the 1600meters, 2 in the 3200meters, and 2 in the 3200 meter relay). When my career was over, I owned the Nebraska state records in the 1600meters (4:10) and 3200meters (8:55).
Currently, I am running for the University of Kansas under Stanley Redwine and Doug Clark. I earned All-American status in cross country in 2006 and 2007. I also earned All-American honors in the indoor 3k in 2007. I set the school record for the indoor 3k with a time of 7:53 and I won the Big 12 Cross Country Championship in 2006.

What are you planning to get accomplished this indoor track season?
Right now, I am on the Disabled List! I hurt my Achilles over winter break and I have really been struggling with that. I am running out of time for the indoor season, so who knows what will happen. This has been my first major injury running wise and it has been quite frustrating. I am hoping to redshirt this year, but again, I have no clue as to how everything will work out. Currently I am running about 25 minutes a day and doing some biking, so I don't know what to expect if I make it onto the track.

What are your long term running goals?
I am not really for sure about my long term running goals. I have a genetic disease called hemochromatosis. Basically, my body produces too much iron (my last ferratin level was 777!) and I need to start treating this soon before my liver shuts down. The treatment is relatively simple; it's very similar to donating blood, but I have to do this once a month. I tried this once over the summer and it really set me back. So I don't know how this will affect my running in the long term. If I could, I would like to run for a year or two after college and see what happens.

What are your hobbies aside from running?
Running and school take up a lot of my time. Probably my biggest hobby is hanging out with my dogs Molly and Archie. When I can, I like to take them running with me. I am also a book worm. I am getting a minor in American history, so I have taken some interesting classes and read some excellent books. My favorite books are 1984 by George Orwell and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. I also really enjoy hanging out with friends, playing college football on Playstation, and watching movies and TV.

Do you have a close team?
We have a really close team. I have lived in the "track house" for the last three years. The house basically gets passed down year after year with the distance guys. Three of my teammates also live right across the street. The guys on the team all know each other real well and we usually all hang out together on the weekends and what not.

Can you give me a wild story from your running career?
Nothing too wild. One time in junior high I was out running and I literally got caught up in a dust storm. I mean it was straight out of the Great Depression. I couldn't see two feet in front of me. But like I said nothing too wild.

What does your diet consist of?
Because of the hemochromatosis, I have kind of a strange diet. I can't eat anything for about four or five hours before I run or else I get terrible stomach cramps. So I usually eat a big breakfast and a big supper and skip lunch. The night before a race I like spaghetti and the morning of the race I eat some Pop-Tarts.

Best pair of shoes you've ever wore?
I don't really have a preference for training shoes. Kansas is an Adidas school, so I usually wear Bostons. The best spikes I have used are the Nike Milers and the Nike Eldoret II. But like I said, I can't wear those anymore!

Hardest workout you've ever done?
The hardest workout that I can remember is a 4x2000meter at our home cross country course, Rim Rock Farm. The course we followed was the last 2000meters of the course, which is by far the hardest. There are some monster hills and we were flying that day. It was a brutal slugfest.

Do you have a motto for your running?
I love quotes and here are four of my favorites:

"Talent + Work = The Deadly Combination" by Marc Bloom

"The first half of the race you run with your legs, the second half you race with your heart." Roger Mathiesen.

"No one is an overachiever. How can you rise above your level of competency? We are all underachievers to different degrees." John Wooden

"Never try to be better than someone else. But never cease trying to be the best you can be. That is under your control, the other isn't." John Wooden

Looking to outdoor season, what would you like to do?
With my injury right now, I am not for sure what outdoor holds for me this year. I am obviously missing out on an important part of my training right now. My goals coming into this year were to run sub 13:40 for 5k, run sub 4 for the mile, and qualify for the Olympic Trials. But right now those goals are on hold until I can actually run!

Post a Comment

#4	Dave Coen January 28, 2008 at 1:12am Great article. I am a big fan of Colby. Rock Chalk Jayhawk! reply
#3	Andrew ORourke January 25, 2008 at 8:42pm Great Read. Short and sweet. reply
#2	Cara Hawkins January 25, 2008 at 12:37pm I agree such a good quick read. reply
#1	Vano January 25, 2008 at 11:27am love it. these kwik e's are the best. reply