Portland sophomore Alfred Kipchumba took 18^th overall at last year's NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. He ran 13 minutes, 45.56 seconds in the 5,000-meter run this past track season off of running 20-30 miles a week and took 12^th overall at the NCAA Championships. This summer he's bumping his mileage up. Let's see how that works out for him this cross country season!

Overall, how was your 2008 cross country season?

I was proud during the cross country season because I got such a great achievement. It was my first time racing a big race, racing against guys like Galen (Rupp) and (Sam) Chelanga. I was proud just to make it to the nationals too. I was proud for my team being seventh. 18^th was a great thing for me, although I was hoping to be top-10. It was the cold.

You're not yet used to running in the cold?

Sure. I don't like running in the cold. It was the worst part of it for me. I didn't like it so much.

What are your goals for this season?

I'm excited for this cross country season, not like last track season when I was running only 20-30 miles a week.

You were only running 20-30 a week? Why so few?

Yeah. Only 20-30. During the indoor season, my achilles was not doing so good. After that I had to run so few miles.

Do you have a number in mind where you'd like to finish this year at nationals?

Actually, sure. I'm not exact, but I'm feeling great right now. I'm running like 50-60 miles a week right now. Which is not the same for me. Last cross country season, I was running 40 miles to 50 miles. This season, I'm running at least 50—sometimes 70 miles a week. I'll try this.

Is your body responding well to you bumping up your mileage?

Yeah. It's like it's responding so well. I'm excited.

70 is the highest you'll go this season?

Oh, yeah. I'm proud of that. It's a big number for me.

What are your team goals for this year?

Oh, my God...that's a good question. My team right now, we're running to get top-five. We're going to do so well at nationals. Top five!

What are your non-running plans this summer? What have you been doing?

This summer, I've been taking classes actually. I have a job. It's good. I have to run after my job. I work for the school with the painting crew. I used to work in the gym. I usually work a little when school starts.

With the World Championships starting this weekend, will you follow closely?

Those are my favorite! I'm going to watch.

Who are the runners that you'll follow? Any favorite runners?

I'm excited to watch the guy from Ethiopia—Kenenisa Bekele.

You're not solely a Kenyan running fan?

I'm a big Kenyan running fan, but this guy just runs so well and it pumps me up.

Are you allowed to say that with the big Kenya/Ethiopian rivalry?

This is a free world. It's something I can say.

Back in Kenya, did you get to train with any of those strong Kenyan runners?

I train with some Kenyans. I'm missing them right now, training with them. Guys like Ezekiel Kemboi. I didn't exactly train with them, but Ezekiel would tell me to follow them for some time, as long as I could. He's a steeplechaser, but he used to train with the other guys.

How did you end up going to the University of Portland?

I have a friend who goes to the University of Portland. His name is Wesley. He came here in 2007. When he came here, he introduced me to the coach and that's what brought me to the University of Portland. I knew from high school, but we didn't go to the same high school.

What do you for fun with your teammates?

I like watching movies. I like action movies like Rambo. I like Bruce Lee so much.

What's the hardest workout you've ever done? Have you ever thrown up or quit?

I've never thrown up. But, the hardest ones I've done were during the track season this year. I wasn't training very much. The best workouts I did were like 12 or 16 400s.

So, you ran 13:45 off of 20-30 miles a week?

Yeah. Exactly. (Laughs). I can't even believe it! I wasn't even thinking about going to nationals. Those guys were running 50 miles to 80 miles.

Since coming over to the States, what are some of your favorite foods to eat?

I like Japanese curry. Curry is fun! I like a lot of Indian food too.

Did you choose a major?

I'm taking accounting classes. I like accounting.

Before I ask you my last question, do you want to name your favorite Kenyan runner, so you don't get in any trouble for having Kenenisa Bekele as your favorite runner?

All right. All right. (Laughs). My favorite runner is Paul Tergat. Back at home, I used to like Tergat even before I started running. I used to watch this guy running and thought, “how can he do this?” When he was setting world records, I would think, “can I do this?” This was back in grade school.

Can you give me a crazy running-related story?

(Laughs) That's a good question. What I'm going to say, I've never told anyone. One day I was running back in Kenya and I was with my best friend—whose name is Gilbert. I woke up at like 5 a.m. to go for a run. It was a Saturday and we usually go at 6 a.m. That day, I woke up and thought that I should go at like 5:30 a.m. When I woke up in the morning, I got prepared and took off at 5:30 a.m. and those guys could meet ahead. I was slow then and they were fast. I didn't want them to leave me behind. We were going for a long run. It was still dark when I took off. I was like, “ahh, can I make it?” I knew where we were going because we already agreed that we were going to go to those parts. I went ahead. When I was on my way, I met up with a donkey. There were a bunch of them in the road...I think it was like mating season (laughs). It was still dark. I went just by them. I realized that I was right next to those things and started screaming. They ran after me. They are so fast. I had to go so fast. Those guys were still behind me! And I had to go for another 60 minutes. They eventually just came up and passed me. I had to take a taxi back home.

Did you have money on you?

I just stopped the taxi and said, “hey, man, can I have a taxi? I was just running and I can pay you when we get there.” He says, “oh, well...sure.” In Kenya, if you stop a taxi, they can't deny you.