Pre-Race Interview with Zoe Nelson
By Ricky Quintana

Zoe Nelson had a closer-than-expected win last week at the Foot Locker West Regional. The defending national champion is once again facing sideaches which plagued her before last year's win. Undefeated for the past two years in track and cross country, Nelson will face her toughest competitors when she toes the line Saturday. She spoke after her pre-race run Friday morning.

Zoe Nelson (Photo: Alison Wade/New York Road Runners)

Ricky Quintana: How are you feeling?
Zoe Nelson: I'm feeling good. Hopefully, I'm ready for tomorrow.

RQ: It seems like that sideache has come back to haunt you again this year.
ZN: Yeah, I had it all this week in training. Last year, it was the same thing so hopefully, I'll be able to get rid of it for the national race itself like I did last year.

RQ: How did the West Regional go for you?
ZN: It went pretty well. It was a lot closer than I had expected, or than I'm used to, so it was a little risky, but I still think it went pretty well. I'm really happy to have won and have qualified.

RQ: Being defending champion, is that a disadvantage or advantage?
ZN: I really don't think of it as either. I still go into it with the same head game as everyone else. I don't think I really have an advantage of everyone having won before. I don't think it helps or hurts at all.

RQ: You've run this course before, what do you think your strategy will be this time?
ZN: I think I'll try to take it out a little conservatively and as I go try and see what everyone else is doing and figure it out from there. I think I like to just play it by ear and see how my race is going and see how I do.

RQ: You made a pretty decisive move on the hill the second time around last year. Do you think that's something you are going to look to do this year too?
ZN: I think so. I think I'll try to do the same things. Just steady up the hills or maybe surge up the hills and just see if anyone is there.

RQ: 17:30 won it for you last year. What do you think it will take this year to win it?
ZN: I think it will probably take a time a lot faster than that. Probably 17:10 or so. I'm not really sure though because I haven't raced any of these girls since last year. We'll just see, I guess.

RQ: There are some really aggressive front runners. Who do you expect to be in that top group?
ZN: I think just all the regional winners probably will be up there plus a couple of others. It probably will go out pretty fast. I think a lot of the girls at the top are front runners, so I think it will go out really fast and stay that way, probably.

(Interview conducted and posted December 12, 2003)