2004 USA Indoor Championships Press Conference Quotes from Jen Toomey

From USATF, February 26, 2004

On her outstanding 2004 campaign:
"This year I have a new coach, so we just started off to see what kind of fitness I had. We started off racing in the 800. We were initially training just for the 1500, but I ran in a couple of 800s and ran pretty well, so I’m probably going to run the 800 more seriously than the 1500."

"It just every race I go out there with a different attitude, just every race is with a purpose, just to go out and run hard. It’s been very unexpected for me, a shock."

"It was definitely a confidence booster (running in Birmingham last week, where she set an American record in the 1,000 meters). Early in my season, I hopped into a lot of mixed races, so it was actually a perfect preparation for running with those women because they’re a lot more physical than a lot of the races in the U.S. Some of the earlier races, the guys are fighting me, and they won’t let me in the lead. The race in Birmingham was a lot like that. It was great preparation, coming out and breaking an American record was definitely a confidence booster coming into the national championships."

On doubling at USA Indoors:
"This is just kind of a dress rehearsal (for the Olympic Trials). I have to become mentally prepared to race five or six races in a 10-day span. That’s why we want to come back on the 1500. The 1500 is really the top for me, but I need to be able to mentally refocus and just be able to run hard the next day."

"My training is actually a lot different. He (new coach Tom McDermott) has brought my new training to a whole different level. I didn’t know I could work so hard. With him, the goal is to face the competition in the world. So, you’re going to have to increase your training tenfold, and that’s what we’ve done. It was very exhausting work, even up until recently. I used to run about 50 miles a week, now I’m over 80 consistently, right through indoors."