Ricky Quintana: How do you feel?
Nicole Blood: Good. The weather is so nice out here. Last year, it was kind of hot, but this year it's nice. And I'm healthy this year, so it should go well. I'm excited.

RQ: Can you talk about last season compared to this season as far as your health?
NB: It's definitely a lot better. Last year, it wasn't good. This year, I don't have a clod. I'm really lucky this year. It's looking a lot better, definitely.

RQ: How have your races been this year?
NB: Course-wise, Van Cortlandt was nice because of the hills and stuff. Great American was a good race. [The Brown Invitational], against Lindsay Donaldson, that was really competitive. I've gotten a few good races in.

RQ: How do you predict this race is going to go pace-wise?
NB: It's so hard to predict for Nationals. I'm sure it's going to go out pretty fast, so you have to be careful. I'm sure there is going to be a big pack to start out. You never know how it's going to go from there on. It's just [a different level of competition] and everything.

RQ: There are four front runners in the field. I know you like to run at the front.
NB: I try, but at Nationals, it's so hard. I'm going to try and go with the flow and try and run my own race, but like I said, at Nationals, it's hard to do.

RQ: What are the key points on the course?
NB: There is a big hill over there, so you've got to be conservative. Especially on the second loop, where it hits you hard. It's nice [having run] last year, because I have a lot of experience. I can stay strong instead of falling asleep. That's definitely a big point, the big hill.

RQ: Who are going to be your challengers?
NB: I don't know. There's tons of awesome girls I've heard about. I don't really know any specific person. I'm sure, just as a group, there are going to be a lot of girls pushing up front.

RQ: What are your predictions for a time?
NB: I don't know. I think my time last year was [17:52]. Anything better than that, I'll be happy with. I don't really know though.

RQ: Do you think this is a fast course or slow course?
NB: Surface wise, I think it's kind of slow. There's some mushy parts, but with all the competitors, I'm sure it's going to be faster than we could [run] at any other meet. It could go both ways.

RQ: Condition-wise, how are you feeling? Do you think you can run under 17 minutes on this course?
NB: Last year, [when I ran 17:52], I was going all out. I don't think I can break 17, but definitely faster [than last year]. The weather's perfect this year, it's not too hot.

RQ: I saw you wrote that one of your hobbies is hip hop dance. Are you going to do a little jig after it's all over tomorrow?
NB: We'll see. I don't know (laughs). I like dancing a lot. We'll see.