Austen closing in on victory at the Nike South Invite. (Photo by Robert Orzab)
MileSplit - How is your fitness now that you are in the middle of the 2013 season. What excites you the most about the rest of the season and what you want to accomplish?
Austen - My fitness is great, I feel better than I've ever felt, strong and ready to roll.
MileSplit - After your breakout win at Nike South what confidence do you have in races going forward?
Austen - I'm excited to run at regionals and try to avenge myself there, along with running at state and NXR for the first time. I want to do the best I can to be in the top mix at state and Nike. I may even head out to North Carolina for Foot Locker. Of course I want to be on top but I will just do my best and see what happens.
MileSplit - Where do you go from here and continue to focus for your upcoming races?
Austen - I have confidence in my abilities and in my racing, I prepare and execute my routine and just do the best I can and understand people will accept that. Our next race is October 24th at district, then region, state, and Nike. It's getting to the championship part of the season and eyes have to stay on the prize and the focus has to be there, the team and I have worked hard and we are looking to run really well.
MileSplit - When & how did you get started in cross country?
Austen - When I lived in New Mexico I ran a little track, but when I came to Keller before my 7th grade year my coach told me I should join the cross country team after I won a mile time trial that the athletics class did. The passion was born from there.
MileSplit - Person/people most influential to your success in cross country and why?
Austen - My parents, coaches, and teammates influence my success. My parents are encouraging and supportive with every outcome. My coaches dictate the training and get me motivated to be the best I can be, and I work with my teammates every day and I want to do my best to not let them down, they are my best friends.
MileSplit - What are the keys to your successful cross country training program and what work did you put in to start off so well this year?
Austen - This past summer the team and I really buckled down for cross country training. In the past we would do our own thing and I would do summer track, never getting much mileage. In the past it was new for me to get 60-70 miles a week, but we did and we hit it hard along with biking, swimming, and gym work.
MileSplit - What are the keys to your team's unity and how you train to reach your goals?
Austen - The keys are everyone buying into the system and working as hard as you can. This team has been through a lot of failure and turmoil and we work to win.
MileSplit - Your favorite past performance in a cross country race and why?
Austen - My favorite past performance in an XC race would have to be my junior year. I missed the bus to go the race over in Burleson, my mom drove me over there, and amongst the frustration of my coach for me being late, I won my first cross country race in high school.
MileSplit - Who are the cross country competitors you most enjoy competing against and why?
Austen - Jacob Pickle (Southlake Carroll), a great friend and an even better athlete, although he is from a rival school, we get out there and grind those races, it's a great time.
MileSplit - What is your greatest non-running experience in cross country so far and why?
Austen - Greatest non running experience in cross country would probably be the people that I have met through it, and the relationships I have built because of it.
MileSplit - Do you have any long-term goals in running?
Austen - Long term I want to get close to or break 15 in the 5k, break 9 in the two mile, and get my mile time down close to the 4 minute barrier.
MileSplit - What was your favorite performance from the 2013 World Champs?
Austen - Mo Farah has got to be the best performance, that dude is a monster, maybe even the GOAT.
The Fun Run
What music do you rock while working out…
Austen - I don't listen to music while working out, but if I did, gotta go classic rock, The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd and all that jazz.
Do you like to run in the mud or the grass…
Austen - Grass for sure, I can't get any traction in the mud, and I've fallen a couple times in races because of the mud. I even lost a race because of it but mud pits are fun.
Do you hang out on Facebook or Twitter...
Austen - Twitter for sure, Follow me @austend3200 I'll follow back, maybe.
Do you like going out or chilling at home...
Austen - I'll hang out with friends, but you'll mostly find me at home, doing homework or something with fantasy football.
What gear is your favorite while running...
Austen - Nike gear and Saucony shoes and spikes is what I'll usually sport.
