Big River Interview: Eric Fernandez
Parkway West's Eric Fernandez is entering only his junior year but has already established himself as one of the State's best. Coming off of a sophomore campaign in which he placed 11 th at the State Cross Country Meet and sixth in the 3200 at the State Track Championships Fernandez is now ready to climb even higher up the ladder. Big River caught up with Eric as he prepares for his team's early season meets.
BR: First things first, how's training going?
EF: Training's been pretty good. I've been keeping my high mileage up from the summer. We've also been doing 800's and 1000's [to get ready for the meets].
BR: When you say high mileage what are we talking about?
EF: Anywhere from 50-65 a week. Most of the summer I was around 55. The week I went to Mizzou Camp I was 60-something and I went to Boulder for a week and hit somewhere in the high 60s.
BR: So you went to Boulder ? How was it and did you see any of the elite athletes that train there?
EF: It was really motivational. I saw some of the CU guys on the track and I saw the second fastest Ecuadorian woman of all time.
BR: Were you pleased with how this summer went then?
EF: Last summer before my sophomore year I was doing seven days a week and getting 50 a week and it totally broke me down. This summer I took Sundays off but was still getting the same amount of mileage. It just helped with recovery and I felt like I had that jump in my legs every day.
BR: So what are the goals for this year?
EF: I would love to get my team to State. We felt like we had a good enough team my freshman and sophomore year but didn't make it. And I would love to go in the 15:40s on a fair course like McNair or Jefferson Barracks. Then, I'd like to be in the top places at State and maybe even on the right day win it. That's probably a long shot but it would be nice.
BR: Well tell us a little bit about last year's State races in cross country and track and what you might have learned from them.
EF: Well, my freshman year I ran horribly [at State] and I felt like I had to make up for it.
BR: What is horribly?
EF: I think I was like 78th or something. [Ed. Note- Fernandez was 76th in 2004]
BR: You know that's actually really good for a freshman.
EF: Yeah, but I had been running faster all year. Last year I felt like I didn't really have any pressure on me. I went out in 5:15 for the first mile but I looked to my left and saw Ben Brammeier and I was like, ‘Crap, how fast am I going?' but then I ran 5:05 for my second mile. At the top of Firehouse Hill I was trying to think of ways to get out of this because it was hurting so bad but actually I felt good coming up the final hill. At State Track I didn't feel as pumped up. I just ran with Rick Elliott [the Springfield Kickapoo junior who finished fifth, Fernandez was sixth].
BR: Speaking of Elliott, do you think much about your competitors or are you a guy who maily focuses on yourself and your won race?
EF: Foremost, I like to think of what I can do for myself and for my team. I do think about some of the other top guys though like Rick Elliott, Dan Quigley [CBC] and Phillip King [ Rock Bridge ]. King beat me in a kick twice last year and Quigley is an incredible runner and a local guy so those guys do run through my mind a little bit.
BR: Could you describe the Parkway West training philosophy and maybe a favorite workout or two?
EF: Our philosophy is to stay healthy and to keep the mileage high late into the season. As far as my favorite workout I really fell in love with the long run, running in Castlewood. I also like quality tempos and mile repeats. Mile repeats make you feel really strong afterwards. We go over to Queeny a lot and do 3 hard miles at faster than race pace.
BR: As always we like to ask you guys what advice you might have for young up-and-coming runners. What would you say would be your bit of advice?
EF: I would say enjoy yourself and if you want it work for it.
Thanks for the great interview Eric and best of luck this season!
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