Pre-Race Interview with Matt DeBole
By Alison Wade

Matt DeBole during Friday's practice introductions. (Photo by Alison Wade/NYRR)

MensRacing.com: What's it like being back here for a second year, does it help to have gone through the experience before?
Matt DeBole: Yeah, it certainly does help. I feel a whole lot more relaxed and I know what to expect now. Being down in San Diego, it's different, but seeing kids that you saw last year and the meet directors... it's definitely a lot easier.

Do you know a lot of these kids from other racing experiences?
I know a good bunch of them, I've talked to a lot of them before and seeing them again is just a lot more comfortable, especially with my cross-town rival, Bobby Mack, coming in. It makes it even easier, I've raced against

You had a teammate who did well this season, was he able to push you?
Yeah, Ryan Curran, he's a sophomore. He'd run the workouts with me and everything, he also had some good races. It's certainly been awesome having him with me, it makes everything so much easier. And then even with Bobby Mack, when you race against someone of national caliber every race, it has to make you better. We're just fortunate to have that.

How has your season gone, was it about how you wanted it to be?
It started off really well. I guess, in the middle of the season, Great American didn't go as well as I'd hoped. I had a little injury in the race, and getting back from that, it was a little harder. It hasn't been as good of a season as I'd hoped for, but toward the latter end of the year, everything has gone smoothly, for a good eight weeks now. I'm feeling really solid and strong, and everything I've wanted to do, so far, has happened. I have to be pleased with the season, overall.

How did you feel at the South Regional?
At Regionals, really, the goal is to qualify. You also want to do well and have a solid race, anything you put out, you have enough time to recover with two weeks. We went pretty fast, but it wasn't as fast as I'd hoped, I guess. Getting second wasn't a disappointment, but, you know, you always want to go for the win. But I had a really solid race and it was good. I felt a whole lot more in control than I did last year. After the race, I was a whole lot more with it. It went really well.

Do you think you have what it takes to beat Chris Solinsky this time around?
You know, I raced him in Great American and I was pretty hyped up for that race, I was ready to go with him. I guess seeing him over and over, he's certainly done well and should be respected, but he can't be feared, nobody can be feared out here. You have to run with them and respect them, but also know that you have the ability to beat them. I look at it as I could beat every one of these kids, it's just the day that's going to determine whether I do or not. Hopefully the day will be tomorrow...

You had a huge cheering section last year, are you going to have that again this year?
No, unfortunately, I won't. It's much too far away. Everyone was disappointed that it wasn't in Florida this year. I'm sure that we would have had at least like three tour buses (laughs), everyone wanted to be a part of it, but the plane tickets are a little more expensive and the time is more of a factor. But I have family down in San Diego and they've never seen me race before, and they'll be out here... I'll have a nice, solid cheering section, just not as crazy as last year.

What has your training been like this season?
In the summer, I probably averaged about 60 miles a week for about 10 weeks, so a good, solid base period. My peak was probably about 80 miles a week. During the season, when I wasn't really injured or anything, it was probably about 50 miles a week, 45-50 miles a week. I carried that all through the state meet. I guess I do more tempo runs, not very specific intervals or anything, a lot of just running how you feel and having a good three hard days a week. I raced a whole lot less this year, too... In the duel meets, I wouldn't race, I focused more on the weekends and the invitationals. Even those weren't as frequent, I guess about every other weekend.

I guess, training through the state meet, and things like that... it was better for me this year, because I could focus on Nationals. It was more of a goal.

You didn't want to peak for it last year because you didn't even know if you'd qualify.
Exactly. So last year, I had to kind of rebound and come back twice. But this year, the focus is on Nationals. Preparing for it in the last two weeks, my mileage has been down around 35-40 miles. I'm getting some good, hard efforts in, but for the most part, it's been more relaxed, with a focus on tapering.

(Interview conducted December 13, 2002, posted January 8, 2003)