2005 USA OUTDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Interview with Amy Rudolph
Reported by Parker Morse

Amy Rudolph. (Photo by Alison Wade/New York Road Runners)

The women's 5,000m might have been a high-powered, high-tension nail-biter as it was at the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials, with many of the same players. Instead, Shalane Flanagan established a gap on the field before the second kilometer mark, a gap which expanded to as much as 12 seconds during the race, and which never closed. Flanagan won in 15:10.96.

The second pack, in addition to expected favorites like Carrie Tollefson and Shayne Culpepper, included Amy Yoder Begley, Amy Rudolph, Lauren Fleshman, and Sara Bei. With two laps remaining, it was Fleshman who took off, with Rudolph in pursuit; Fleshman would take second in 15:16.80, with Rudolph third in 15:18.92.

Q: When the break came, what did you think about?
Amy Rudolph: I had to make a big decision about whether to go after [Shalane Flanagan]. Later on, I wanted to go chase her, but I decided to be smart.

Q: Are you a 10,000m runner, or a 5,000m runner?
AR: This year, I'm a 5,000m runner.

Q: What does it mean to make a national team again, this year?
AR: It means a lot. I've been fourth for many years, and I've made the team by default, when people have doubled and decided to pick one event, so to be in the top three and have no questions about it is nice. I've still yet to win an outdoor title, so I guess that's the next thing.

Q: Were you approaching this thinking you might double back to the 10,000m?
AR: I didn't want to. I said I'd worry about that if I had to. Thankfully, I don't have to. I haven't PB'd over 5K since 1996. That's a goal of mine, and I want to do that before I move to the 10. I still feel that I have things I want to do in the 5. I know what my potential is in the 10, so that's exciting, when I make the move, to have that potential.

Q: With the depth in the 5 right now, isn't that a riskier event to try to advance in?
AR: It is, but it's a personal choice, a personal goal. I don't want to ever say I could've or should've stuck to the 5 and tried to compete again. I've made the team now, and I'd love to PB this year, and we'll take next year.

Q: Do you still like the mile?
AR: I love the mile. That was my college event, my bread and butter.

Q: With the team qualifying out of the way, what are your plans between now and Worlds?
AR: I'm going to go back home, get rested, and top off on a bit of base, and then I have three races lined up before the World Championships, a 3K, a 1,500m, and a 5K. The 5, I'll try to go sub-15, as a goal. Then at the World Championships, it's going to be tough just to make the final. I'll take it one lap at a time in the 5K, in the first round.

Q: You might have to go sub-15 just to advance.
AR: Exactly.

Q: Is it tough to train and plan for a wedding at the same time?
AR: No, it's a nice diversion!

(Interview conducted June 23, 2005.)