Interview wth Alysia Johnson
by Brooke Edwards

Alysia Johnson running in the 800 meters at the 2006 NCAA Division I Championships with her trademark flower in her hair. Photo by: Alison Wade New York Road Runners

It’s a good thing that Alysia Johnson loves the spotlight.

Johnson’s been a star since she racked up three regional championships and a state title in the 800 meters as a student at Canyon High School in Canyon Country, north of Los Angeles.

Since coming to the University of California, Berkeley in 2004, Johnson, 21, has improved her 800-meter time by nearly 10 seconds. The recently declared theater major is a three-time All-American, repeatedly setting and then beating her own indoor and outdoor records. She won her first international title last summer, taking home the gold in the North American, Central American, and Caribbean (NACAC) Under 23 Championship in the Dominican Republic with a time of 2:03.87. She also led the Cal team to a victory as anchor in the women’s 4x400-meter relay at the Husky Classic in February. Then in March, Johnson won her first NCAA title with a 2:03:47 at the Indoor National Championships in Fayetteville, AR.

But it was her performance in the 800 meters on June 9 at Sacramento State’s Hornet Stadium that has the spotlight shining brighter than ever. For the first time, Johnson broke the 2-minute barrier with a time of 1:59.29. She won the championship title – becoming the first Cal woman to ever win an NCAA running event – and opened the door to the World Championships and the 2008 Olympic team.

With the race of her life less than a week behind her and the USATF Championships less than a week ahead, Johnson took time to chat with Fast-Women.com about life as a performer.

Fast-Women.com: Well, we have to start off by talking about last weekend. Did you know Saturday morning that you were set to have the race of your life?
Alysia Johnson: It’s really funny because you know most times when people win or something great happens, you expect them to say something like that. And for me it was the case. But it’s not just to say that yes, I was feeling good that day. I really woke up that morning and I was feeling an extra pop in my step and I was feeling really, really good. I even did my morning run and I had to tone it down a bit because I just wanted to get out there. I was feeling really juiced and excited. Actually I just couldn’t wait to race.

It was like 5:30 in the morning when we had to get up because the race was pretty early, like 10:30. And I had to get up and be able to kind of wake my body up and get something to eat. And even at that time I was so excited, but I had to keep my nerves down and keep the excitement to a minimum so I didn’t waste my energy.

But that morning I was feeling really good. I thought about the race a little bit and I just wanted to execute my race and I was feeling pretty confident.

FW: Was this the closest race of your season with Katie Erdman gaining speed behind you?
AJ: Yeah, I hadn’t really had anybody that close to me in my races. But every time I get out on the track I’m competing against myself. I mean I’m competing against the field as a whole, which is obviously a motivating factor in me wanting to get out there and do my best. But I wasn’t thinking about any of the other runners on the field.

I knew from the previous days that the final day was going to be a pretty intense competition and I kept that in mind as I went out there. But I was just pushing myself to do what I could and pushing myself to the final 200 and trying to hold on. So I had no idea, actually, what was happening behind me, and it was pretty scary watching [tapes of] the race afterward.

FW: But you heard the crowd’s reaction and knew someone was gaining ground behind you…?
AJ: Yeah, I like a really amped, loud crowd. But you could kinda sense something. There were like different escalating voices. I actually heard some guy in the infield that was like, “Run!” And you know that’s expected, but it was different…it was panicky! So I was like, “Oh, gosh!” But yeah, I could hear some little changes in the tone and I just knew I had to find that second gear.

The crowd is definitely a motivating factor to push me to perform and that’s what I like to do.

FW: You had an amazing individual performance, but Arizona State still managed to win the team title. Weren’t you considering going to Arizona State before choosing Cal? Do their victories ever bother you or make you doubt your choice in schools?
AJ: No, no, not at all. I’m totally happy for them doing what they’re doing.

My final two schools were Arizona State and Cal. I sat down and did a pros and cons thing, and Cal ended up on top. And I’m totally happy that I’m here.

But hopefully one day, we’ll be the ones on top!

FW: So would you consider your recent win the highlight of your career so far?
AJ: This season for me I’ve just been super happy. I’ve conquered different battles in every race, whether it be breaking the two-minute barrier or just running my own race and not worrying about anyone else. I’m pretty happy with all my accomplishments, with having the chance to possibly make Worlds, but this outdoor race that I just won is definitely the icing on the cake.

FW: Oh, she’s taking on your trademark? You wear a flower behind your ear in every race. Where did that come from?
AJ: I started doing it in high school. In high school we weren’t allowed to wear jewelry or anything like that, so it was just something different I could do. I like being a unique individual and I just like flowers!

FW: Do you have any other pre-race tricks or rituals that you are willing to share with our readers?
AJ: Definitely. Well, starting a couple days before a race I’ll start carbo loading to get the nutrients I need to make sure I’ve got enough fuel to propel me around the track.

And personally for me I just like to get up in enough time to let my body wake up, which is about five hours before I race. I like to go for a morning run, maybe 10 to 15 minutes, just to take out some stress. And then get something to eat! Just the normal things I think. Then I get ready to go, and I warm up about an hour before I compete; it’s nothing super special.

FW: What has your training routine been like leading up to this race?
AJ: I practice seven days a week and, with my coach Tony Sandoval. We do two hard workouts a week, not anything death-defying, but they’re the up-pace workouts and high volume. We just do a mix of strength and speed. We do some long runs, which for me constitutes 60 to 90 minutes. And I like to go on long runs, so I usually make them closer to 90.

FW: Well speaking of long runs…Obviously you’re at the top of your game in the 800. Are there any thoughts about moving up in distance in the future?
AJ: Oh no, I’m really not even thinking about the 1500. I’ve got pretty good leg speed and so the 400 works better for me, I think. But I haven’t really run the 1500. I ran the 1500 in seventh grade and I ran like a 4:45 and they thought that I should try the 1500, but I have more fun at the 800. If it’s not broken, then why fix it? I’m doing wonderful; I’m having so much fun with the 800 and I’m successful at it. I mean I move down every once in a while and I race in the 400 a few races out of the year just for some speedwork and to see where I’m at. But I don’t see myself moving up or down.

FW: How much of what you’ve accomplished at Cal do you credit to your coach?
AJ: Oh, so much! Coach Sandoval, he’s a wonderful, wonderful coach. He’s very intuitive with athletes and can accommodate for different athletes. He’s not a very “my way or no way” type of guy. My training partner Mackenzie Pierce needs different things than what I need, and he’s willing to accommodate for the different athletes. I think that’s something that every good coach needs to be able to do. I mean not everyone’s the same. Not everyone trains or competes in the same way. He’s willing to think about it and figure out ways to help different athletes.

He’s just there in all aspects. He understands that we’re human beings and we’re not machines. He understands that different things come up in life. Maybe a workout can be different on different days. Maybe you’re drained from finals or drained from – I don’t know – somebody breaking up with a boyfriend or something. He’s just super understanding about all of that.

FW: Besides Coach Sandoval, you’ve said that Lauren Fleshman [Stanford alum who won three NCAA titles in the 5000-meters] is a mentor to you. What is the best advice she has given you?
AJ: Oh man. Lauren, she’s just a very bright individual and she has a lot of knowledge and experience in the sport. I really appreciate all the advice that she has to throw my way and I take it and I hold onto it.

There are so many things that she’s taught me. One of them is about not putting too much emphasis on one thing in your life and to always have balance. And also to appreciate and love the gift and the talent that we are given and not just take it for granted.

FW: And what advice do you have for up and coming athletes who would like to compete at the level you are at?
AJ: Just again, that a lot of people put a lot of emphasis on just one thing in their life. But athletes work in different ways and there’s not any one [formula] to be an athlete. I just want everyone to keep their heads together and think about the different things in life that make them happy.

FW: And one of those things for you is the theater, right? You decided this year to be a theater and performance studies major?
AJ: Yeah, I’m in the theater department and I’m having a really fun time with it. I just started exploring different aspects of theater, and I’m interested in all aspects of it. I think it makes all the difference to experience a lot of things and to have a lot of fun in college. And I love performing. I think that it works hand in hand with track and field and with theater. If I had the opportunity to do something with theater, I’d love to.

FW: Will you race in the USATF Nationals [June 20-24 in Indianapolis]?
AJ: Yeah, we leave on Tuesday. I’m really excited about it. I’m just gonna keep doing what I’m doing and run my race.

FW: And who do you think will be your toughest competition at the Nationals?
AJ: I don’t look at rankings, so I have no idea.

FW: Well, now that you’ve broken the 2-minute mark, a top-3 finish at Nationals would qualify you for the World Championships [August 25-September 2 in Osaka, Japan]. Is that goal within reach to you right now?
AJ: I’m trying to not worry about it right now. I’m just trying to take it one day at a time and I’m gonna compete. And if it happens it happens. If not, I’m really proud of my season and I’m not gonna beat myself up about it.

FW: And what about qualifying for the 2008 Olympic team?
AJ: Next year there will be the Olympic Trials. It’s gonna be around the same time as the Nationals and it’ll be pretty much the same thing where the top three will go.

FW: I’ve heard one of your goals is to get a professional shoe contract one day. Any particular brand in mind??
AJ: I’d definitely love to pursue my running career after college. That’s always been a dream of mine. But no, I don’t have any brands in mind. One day at a time…

FW: Any other messages you want to get out to the world?
AJ: Well, I’m really happy with how track and field has come along and how we’re getting more fans. There are just different things, though, about the sport that are irritating and there’s some things that I’m really excited about.

One thing, it kind of stinks sometimes when people have bad races and everyone just kind of writes off that athlete and forgets that we’re humans and that we’re allowed to have days where things don’t go our way, or even an entire season where things just don’t happen our way. And it doesn’t make us any less of a wonderful person. That’s something that people need to remember when they’re judging different athletes in the field.

FW: So true. Well thank you, Alysia, and best of luck at Nationals next week! Not that you’ll need it.
AJ: Thanks so much!

Interview conducted on June 14, 2007, and posted on June 20, 2007.