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St. Louis Track Club Men's Elite Mile LEO MANZANO
1) Leo, you are in an interesting position coming off an Olympic Year but also being in your first full year as a professional. What has been harder to deal with; the pressures of being an Olympian or the transition away from collegiate running and into the professional world? I think the transition from being a collegiate to professional is the hardest. Coming out of college I had everything planned out for me. Now that I do this professionally I find my self, planning out what I am going to do, where I will be, and how I will go about doing things. It might have been a little easier in college with a team but I love what I do. 2) You come into this race with better credentials than the rest of the field but at the same time there are some very solid runners in the race. How do you prepare for a race like this one as opposed to a more high profile race like the Trials or the Olympics? A race is a race, and I have to go into every race knowing that I must first compete. I don't think it matters where, or what race you run; everyone has to step on the line. And everyone has to compete. 3) What are your goals for this season? I would like to make it to the World Championships in Berlin. And hopefully break my previous records in the mile and 1500m. 4) How does the Big River Festival of Miles fit into your season and why did you choose to run this race? 5) How much of a difference does it make for you as an athlete to have a really big crowd at a race? 6) Finally, knowing who is in the race and knowing your own fitness level how do you see the race playing out on Saturday without giving away any secret strategies of course! Haha. A race is a race and everyone has to endure their own journey through it. I might be in the best shape of my life but I still have to compete just as everyone else. As they say let the best man win!!! Watch Leo's Track Workout on Flotrack
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West County |
