The Marathon Olympic Trials in New York City are less than 6 weeks away now and the hype is starting to build. With a prize purse of $190,000, guaranteed fame to the winner, and more importantly a trip to Beijing in ’08 there is a lot on the line for these men. Last week the big favorites all officially entered and the media frenzy began. Over the next few weeks prior to the trials I will talk with some of the favorites as they prepare for one of the bigger races of the year. In my questions I’ll try to go beyond what some of the other media is asking and take a more entertaining look at who some of these athletes really are.

This week I spoke with The Black Cactus. ABDI ABDIRAHMAN. One of America’s most consistent runner’s over the past half decade, he is a household name for track fans. He has found face time in the movies “Showdown” about the USA XC champs last year and a quick, but hilarious spot in the Famiglietti movie “Run Like Hell”. He became an American citizen in 2000 after living here for years and then became a 2 time Olympian. He has run Pr’s of 13:13, 27:22, and 2:08 for the marathon. This year he has been running well starting with a 27:31 at Henglo early in the year and then winning the USA Track and Field Championships 10k. Later in the summer he recorded a runner up finish to Halie Gebresslassie in the NYC Half-Marathon with a time of 60:29. Which had it not been for Ryan Hall’s amazing run early in the year would have received a lot more attention. He recently got back from the IAAF World Championships in Osaka where he was the first American in 7th with a time of 27:56 for 10,000m.

Speaking with him about his life beyond running, you can see the Abdi really does find perfect balance between being a very elite runner and living the life of a typical 30 year old. He is one of the funniest characters in the American running scene and that easily makes him a fan favorite. His swagger helps him every time he toes the line and his sense of enjoyment along with a dedication towards running that allows him to train as hard as anyone. When asked what it meant to be an Olympian he was clear that it was more than just being about one’s self and that representing America is feeling like no other. Clearly the Black Cactus is a threat over the loops of Central Park, and if ready, he will be dangerous. You just don’t have to tell him that. Running with the Favorites Joshua Neyhart

Josh: So you’re getting ready to run the NYC Olympic Marathon Trials? And you just came back from Osaka where you ran the 10k (Abdi finished 7th as the top American in 27:56). How did you make the transition from that race back to training for the trials? Abdi: After my race in Osaka I didn’t run much at all, just 20-30 minutes a day. Mostly with Bernard (Lagat) just running with him before his races on his warm-ups. Just easy and that really was good. Then I got back to Tucson on Friday and took a week off with no running then the following Tuesday got back to Flagstaff and started all over again.

Josh: So you took that time to just unwind and relax just a little? Abdi: Yeah man, good stuff.

Josh: So here is something that people are curious about, where did you get that nickname black cactus? Abdi: Ha, ha! Oh yeah, I just got that actually. Living in Flagstaff last year before Chicago one of my neighbors said “Hey man you need a nickname!” And he said, “ Black something” and I said hell no, not black anything. The he said lets make it Black cactus. And I said ok fine Black Cactus. And then when I got back to Flagstaff that Following weekend (after Chicago) and I explained to Greg McMillan and I told him my name is black cactus and Greg started calling me Black Cactus and word started getting around to all the people training in the Flagstaff area that I like to be called Black Cactus and that’s how it started.

Josh: It stuck well then? Everyone calls you the Black Cactus now? Abdi: Ya, You know the funniest thing is Jack Daniels whenever I go to his office and he goes (in funny voice) “Black Cactus”. Oh yeah he calls me it too. Some people they call me Abdi, but Jack every time he sees me, everywhere we go, the grocery store, for training whatever he just calls me Black Cactus.

Josh: Do you meet with Jack often and do you know him well? Abdi: Oh yes, I know Jack. He is a great guy. I like talking to him because he has so much knowledge. He is a great brain to be around and he has been through so many generations of good runners. Having that kind of brain next to you, you should take advantage. That’s why everyday when I finish training, finish my run at the track at Flagstaff, then I do my drills, finish my stretches, I go to Jack, and he’ll ask what I did, how hard it was that day, like that. You know he has a lot of interesting stories, like he was telling me how they built a special track in 1968 Olympic Trials in Lake Tahoe. Just great. And along with that then there is my coach Dave Murray and help from James Li working together it’s a great system.

Josh: Who Else is up at Flagstaff right now? Abdi: Well there are a lot of good runners up here. Greg McMillan has his Flagstaff running group and that’s a couple guys. But I mainly train with Ryan Shay and he is my training partner.

Josh: And what is this about a big ping-pong tourney that goes down up there at Flagstaff? Abdi: Oh Ya that’s something that’s secret, we try to keep it low or it’s going to get bigger than ever. People are working out right now getting ready for that ping-pong and the tournament is held twice a year at Jack Daniels house and I think he doesn’t want to (get) defeated by Famiglietti. So I think Greg and Jack have been working out for the last couple of months getting ready. I am excited and all of the guys are getting excited for right after the marathon trials were going to have a big ping-pong tournament and I hope everyone shows up.

Josh: So in the movie “Showdown” they seem to focus on your life beyond running. Almost criticize it. But how do you put a balance between the focus of an elite running and the life of normal 25-30 year old guy? Abdi: Running is a passion, running is something you enjoy doing and I don’t let the running consume me, I control the running. I wake up in the morning I go train and I have the rest of the day to go do whatever I want to do. I really don’t worry about it, a lot of runners let running take control of them, they think about it all the time, like the way they are doing it, the way they are running whatever, and that’s not something I do so much. I have friends, one of my best friends when I am in the off time, off season, we like to hang out go do something, go fishing, just do something else in life than JUST running.

Josh: It seems like some people feel that escape is a negative, but you seem to make it work well, true? Abdi: Definitely, yes. I mean I do train serious, you know, don’t get that wrong. If you look at my stats, my career you can see I am one of the most consistent American runners. I’ve been running since I got out of college, and my worst finish at USA’s has been 4th since then besides being hurt. I’ve run 27:22 (for 10,000m and 13:13 (for 5,000m). I’ve probably run more 27’s than any other American, I don’t know if that’s true (he has run over 7!), but I am always there. Always serious.

Josh: In a week of intense marathon training how many hours a day are dedicated to running and running related things, like icing, massage or stretching? Abdi: Well like right now I can say it’s about 4-5 hours a day. I am in pretty serious training right now. Not to the point where I don’t do anything else. But it’s good. When you train for a marathon you do a long run, you know maybe 2 hours and then you need some time to get stretching and maybe a massage. It’s probably about 2.5 hrs in the morning and then 2.5 hours in the afternoon evening time.

Josh: So this new loop course in New York Central Park, have you been over it and how do you like it? Abdi: Oh, yes. I ran the course when I ran the NYC Half-Marathon (2nd in 60:29). It’s going to be tough and a real challenge. You have to be strong on it to do well.

Josh: The big names all entered a few days back and with just a few weeks to go whom do you think is a favorite, who is the threat? That is of course, beside you. Abdi: Oh, man. Well I think (Brian) Sell is running great. I have great respect for Sell. I have respect for Meb. I have respect for Alan, Dathan, and Khalid. All those guys. Definitely Ryan Hall is tough too. Those are the guy’s man.

Josh: With all the money, the hype, and the big names behind this race, how epic is it going to be? Last year people said that USA XC was the Super Bowl, but this seems even bigger. How important is this race? Abdi: This marathon, oh man, it is BIG. The cross-country, people just hyped it a lot. I didn’t take that very seriously. Maybe some of those Colorado guys took it seriously, I don’t know, but I just went up there just to run and have some fun. There is not a comparison to what is on the line between NY and Boulder. There really is no comparison to be honest. They are totally two different races. (In New York) I mean you are fighting for the money that is on the line, the fame that is on the line. Man, if you win the Trials in New York City, not even win really, but finish top 3, you go to the Olympic and it’s huge. But the XC it’s every single year, so its not the same. I didn’t even train 5% as hard for that (Boulder XC) as I am training for this race.

Josh: You have been to 2 Olympics now, Sydney in 2000 and Athens in 2004, so this could be your 3rd Olympic experience. How important is it to be on the Olympic team and does it still mean a lot to you making the team? What exactly is the experience as an Olympian like? Abdi: Every time you make an Olympic team it is totally amazing, it’s something that comes only every four years. But Sydney and Athens that’s the past I am not even looking at that, my eyes are on the future and I am looking to make this team. It doesn’t matter how excited anyone else is, because I am more excited then they are because I know what it feels like to make the Olympic team. I know what it feels like to walk through that tunnel at the Opening Ceremonies with that USA uniform on. That’s the advantage we have, the people who have made the team, we know the feeling. The people that have never made it, they never experiences that so they don’t have that advantage.

Josh: Can you put into words how important the Olympics are? Some might say the biggest and most important track meet in the world? What is REALLY on the line in this race? Abdi: It’s the biggest sporting event in the world really. At the Olympics that’s where countries showcase their athletes and show them off. When you’re there you’re representing your country and you see every single country there and the best athletes. And then you realize you are there and when you put that jersey on you are representing your teammates and you’re representing the WHOLE nation. When you have that jersey on it’s not about you anymore it’s about the country it’s about the people it’s about a nation. It’s way bigger than you. And that’s what it means to me.

Josh: That’s heavy man. Really intense and I don’t think people could feel that without being there and experiencing it. Abdi: Yeah, man. Real Deal.

Josh: How is your training going right now? And before Osaka were you pointing at the trials and has that been your focus most of the year? Abdi: Yes, I think my coaches did a great job when they set up my training because it was more endurance oriented then for a 5k or a 10k like we used to do before. That’s why I haven’t run many 5k’s; I only ran one (13:33 at Stanford). Everything is based more on long running, I have a long run where I go 2 hours. That’s what I’ve been doing running 2 hours, maybe hour and a half. I’ve been doing more strength stuff. And I run well through the strength, and I run well out of it, for 10k. Then we just take a break because we had been doing that for almost 3 months, and we took a break in the middle of that for the World Championships. Then we get into more specific stuff, like the Sunday long run and the tempo run like that. That’s what I am working on right, marathon specific.

Josh: Your marathon Pr is 2:08 from Chicago right? How many marathons have you run? Abdi: Yes, 2:08 from Chicago, and I have only run 3 marathons.

Josh: Well 3 is still most than some of the other favorites. Ritz has only run 1. Does that make him less of a favorite? Abdi: Ritz is a great kid man. You know that. I wish him the best. He has great ability and can be a great marathoner. He can run very well at the trials if he trains well and you can’t count him out because he has fewer starts than some. You can’t say, “Oh he ran 2:14 so he is not a contender at the trials.” He can learn and makes adjustments with his coach from that 1st marathon. I think Ritz is the most dangerous guy in there with his strength and his ability in other things. I’d say he is a force to be reckoning with.

Josh: On trials morning in New York are you going to do any special routine or anything different in terms of preparation given the magnitude of the race? Abdi: I don’t plan to do anything different you know. I just want to do my normal thing: wake up, have a breakfast, be happy. You know there is nothing to worry about; it’s just a race like others. Of course I want to do well, but at the same time I want to be happy to man. You have to be thankful for being there and then get ready to run. That’s most important for me, I don’t go crazy, and I like to smile with the people talk to the people, enjoy it. That’s important before I race.

Josh: Looking part the NYC Trials are you going to run in the Eugene Trials as well? Abdi: I am definitely running at the track trials, oh yes. I want to defend my 10k title. Yeah. I’ll be running the 10,000 meter in Eugene, OR.

Josh: Last thing, how about that car you have, the one rolling on 20’s fresh from the factory? How long have you had that thing? Abdi: I have had that for about a year and a half now. You know man, I run hard so I treat myself. I deserve it man, with all these miles all the hard work! Sometimes you just have to reward yourself.

Josh: Well thanks for taking time to talk with me and I hope the training goes well and wish the best in the trials. Abdi: Yeah, man. It’s awesome, thanks for having me. Flocasts man, it’s the best website.