KD in Santa Monica
January 5, 2008
4 time US 800 Outdoor Champion, Khadevis Robinson sits down and talks on the shores of the Santa Monica beach about running 1:45 in the Semis at 07 worlds, training, going out hard and living with himself.
About Khadevis Robinson
| Organization: | Nike |
| College: | Texas Christian University |
| High School: | Trimble Technical H S |
http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Khadevis-Robinson/24900445185
Andres
February 24, 2008
Track and Field Championships
At 31, Robinson Says Breaking Record in 800 Is Only One Goal
By FRANK LITSKY
BOSTON %u2014 Khadevis Robinson is the United States%u2019 most productive 800-meter runner since Johnny Gray in the 1980s and 1990s. Gray%u2019s career seemed to last forever, including an Olympic final at 36, but he sees greater glory for Robinson, which makes generous sense. He coaches him.
In the 800 meters in the national track and field championships going back to 1999, Robinson has four firsts and three seconds outdoors, and two firsts and two seconds indoors. Here on Saturday, in the national indoors at the Reggie Lewis Center, he won his 800 heat in 1 minute 48.88 seconds, advancing to Sunday%u2019s final. He was the second-fastest qualifier behind the defending champion, Nick Symmonds (1:48.67).
This is Robinson%u2019s fourth meet of the indoor season, and it is especially important because the first two finishers in each event qualify for the world indoor championships March 7-9 in Valencia, Spain.
%u201CI don%u2019t like running indoors, but I%u2019m doing it to break up the monotony of training and to find what I need to do outdoors,%u201D Robinson said.
Gray%u2019s best time, 1:42.60 in 1985, remains the American outdoor record. Robinson%u2019s best is 1:43.68, and he said he was not sure whether he would be running long enough to break it.
%u201CI%u2019m 31, and every year I think I%u2019m going to retire, but I always have goals I still haven%u2019t reached,%u201D he said. %u201CI%u2019m good enough and dedicated enough to make some finals and win some medals. Johnny says I have enough to break his American record. I should have done it already, but that%u2019s the 800. It%u2019s tough to win because there is so much talent. A Canadian runner once said that anyone who gets to the Olympic semifinals is good enough to win the final.%u201D
Robinson%u2019s Olympic history has disappointed him. In the United States trials in 2000, with three Olympic berths at stake, he was weak from illness and placed fourth. In 2004, he made the team, but in the Athens Olympics he finished third in his heat in 1:46.14, too slow to advance.
%u201CSomething good came out of 2000,%u201D he said. %u201CIt made me realize I should go to grad school. I had never planned not to make the Olympic team, so when I got home, I was lost. I had nothing to do. I had put so much into track that I had nothing else. I realized I had to have some purpose in life, so I went back to school.%u201D
He has a bachelor%u2019s degree from Texas Christian in social work. In 2004, he earned a master%u2019s from Cal State-Los Angeles in public administration.
He and two others founded run the Youth Track and Running Club in Santa Monica, Calif., where he lives with his wife, Stephanie, and their 4-month-old son, Khadevis Zion. The nonprofit club serves 40 to 50 youngsters from ages 6 to 16. Robinson said he hoped to give even more.
%u201CI want to start a nonprofit organization that provides legal, medical and community services for people who can%u2019t afford them,%u201D he said. %u201CI like working with people.%u201D
He has come a long way from the south side of Fort Worth. The wrong side?
%u201CThe tough side,%u201D he said. %u201CPeople there can%u2019t see that far ahead. They never get to college. Some never get past 21.%u201D
Robinson, known as K. D., is still willing to sacrifice. Even someone who does everything right may not succeed in track and field, he said.
%u201CThe night before a race, a guy can stay up all night, spend time with a girl and still be better than you,%u201D Robinson said. %u201CBut the odds are with a guy who works, in and out of the sport. The mind is everything, especially in sports.%u201D
Just out of curiousity, what were KD's bachelor's and masters degrees?
"I LOVE THE 800m"
LOLOLOLlololololol
KD fits more into 8 minutes then most! What an "interview." Seems like he has a good perspective/outlook, and the bottom line is that he believes in what he is doing.
I feel like I could go for a 16 miler with this guy and it would feel like about 16 minutes. Chit chat chit chat.
Respect to JG. I can't help but wonder that with KD's strength, that maybe the most optimal move is around 500m, this allows him to chill the first 4 and then still "make the race" and take the throw-of-the-dice out of the last 100. He'll have the entire back straight to get clear of the field. Make the race when everyone is weakest. Just a thought.
All in all, he has nothing but my respect for a great career, however things go this year.
Good luck KD
Now something positive. To KD keep up the good work and always remember be the best you can be at all times, and remember your opinion is the only one that matters. Oh! by the way,Realcoach who do you coach?
Great Interview.
I want to see a Webb vs KD 800.
Go KD!!!
great interview.