Brad Miller KWIK-E

January 30, 2009

Syracuse Orangeman Brad Miller recently finished a hair over four minutes in the mile. He's looking to get under the historic mark this indoor season and also win all of his races.

Without breaking your balls, what's it like to get as close to four minutes in the mile as you did this past weekend without breaking it?

I knew coming around the last turn, I saw the clock right near the finish, and saw 57, 3:58, 3:59. Then right when I passed the line I was pretty sure I didn't have it. I knew it was going to be 4.0 really low. It was a little heartbreaking. It's that early in the year that I'm not that upset. There will be other chances. I'm just looking forward to the next race.

What's on the schedule? What do you have coming up?

I have the Boston Indoor Games in the College Mile on the seventh. Then I have Big Easts two weeks after that. Then I'm not really sure yet.

How's your training going?

Training's been going pretty well. We've done a lot of 600 type things at like 31 200m pace. My mileage isn't that high. It's like 65 or 70. That's not that great. All the workouts are geared toward sub-four minute (mile) pace.

You'd consider yourself a miler?

Yeah.

Are you going to tackle any 3Ks this indoor season?

I would like to run a 3K. I might actually run a 3K after Big Easts sometime. Maybe at a last chance meet before Nationals.

What's your PR for the 3K?

It's still 8:29.

We can expect a drop in that one?

Yeah. I've only run that one time.

What are your goals for this indoor season?

I guess the primary goals is to break four minutes. That's the goal, but I want to win every race. That's the actual goal. The first goal is to win all the races and the second is to break four minutes.

You're fitness right now would put you under four minutes?

I think so. If I can get in a good race where I go through the 1200 in 58 or 59, I'm pretty sure I could break four minutes. I know on Saturday at the race I was just following people around the track. Whenever someone would make a move I would just follow them. Then the last 200 I just kicked it in and held off a bunch of guys.

I'm just checking to make sure that you're not one of those guys who doesn't get cursed with that goal and never breaks the four minute barrier. And I hope I didn't just jinx you.

I don't think I'm going to. Don't worry about it.

What's the best part about growing up with a successful distance running brother?

There's always someone to compare yourself to. Whatever I do, I know there's someone in my family that's been equally as successful as me. I think that's the key, keeping my head small and not having my ego get out of hand. I know I ran four minutes a few days ago, but I know he's run the same time or he's run a little bit faster in the 1500. So, I can't go back and brag to him how good I am because he's a little better.

What's the worst part about having a successful distance running brother?

Um, I don't think there is a worst part. There's pretty much all positives.

How many of your miles do you log with him when you're away from school?

Many. Probably over half I run with him.

Have you caught and basketball games in The (Carrier) Dome this year?

Yeah. I was there yesterday when they lost to Louisville and last weekend when they beat Notre Dame.

Are they going to make The Tournament? The Big East is pretty tough?

Oh yeah. They will. I'm confident they'll make it. They've beat Notre Dame and they've beat a lot of other teams. They'll qualify to get in.

What's the hardest workout you've ever done?

I think the hardest workouts for me are the longer tempo runs. During XC we do tempos every week on a dirt road. After the first mile the next mile and a half is uphill. That's the hardest part for me in running. I'm not really a hill runner and running ten minutes uphill is a challenge for me. A lot of the other guys are from New York and hillier areas. I think that's the most challenging part.

You're not from a hilly area?

No. Not very hilly at all.

Lancaster, PA. Is that big of a distance coming up and running in New York State?

Yeah. We have a lot of rolling hills. But in Syracuse there are those mountains—I don't know if I'd call them mountains—but you can run for a mile or two uphill and have an elevation change of a few hundred feet.

You're definitely more of a track runner than a XC runner?

I'm definitely more of a track runner. I'm a miler/3K, that type of guy. The 5K is definitely more of a stretch, but I'm a miler.

If you had a weekend to not worry about training or school, what would you do?

I probably wouldn't make very good decisions. Honestly, I'd probably spend most of the time drinking and eating chocolate and all that.

Post a Comment

#7	WOW January 30 at 4:18pm Brother is Craig Miller of Wisconsin. Ran was a 4:06 full mile as a sopre in highschool. I really like how honest he was about drinking because you know thats what most of the guys would be doing but might not wanna say it. reply
#6	Etown January 30 at 12:45pm What about Mt. Gretna? reply
#5	Missing Info January 30 at 12:41pm Who is his distance running brother? reply
#4	Ugh. January 30 at 11:35am No funny running story? reply
#3	Tony Casey January 30 at 11:21am Oooops! Thanks, Eric. Write about running enough and you're bound to make that mistake! reply
#2	Eric Moore January 30 at 10:35am Yo its the "Carrier Dome" not the "Harrier Dome." reply
#1	Tony Casey January 30 at 5:50am By the way, the above video is Brad's 4:00.19 at the BU Terrier Meet. reply