Big River Interview: Brian Lyons

Brian Lyons won the 2006 St. Patrick's Day Run in 24 minutes, 47 seconds.  Lyons is a graduate of Missouri Southern State University where he was an All-American.  He currently lives and trains in St. Louis and has proven to be one the top runners in the area.


BR: Congratulations on the big win yesterday.  Take us through the race and where you broke it open.

BL: Well, starting out it was just me and Zac [Freudenberg].  Nobody went with us so for the first two miles it was just he and I.  We came through the mile in 4:49 and the second mile was 4:50.  I made a surge at 2.5 miles and I was solo from there on out.


BR: How was the effort for you?

BL: I felt relaxed pretty much the whole time.  The hills were a little tougher than I expected.  I had hoped to run a bit quicker but it was hot.


BR: What kind of workouts have you been doing to get ready for this race and was there a specific workout that showed you were fit?

BL: I was doing some quality tempo runs around 5:10 pace for seven or eight miles and lately I've been doing some quick stuff on the track.


BR: Were you training specifically training for this race or is there something bigger down the road?

BL: Definitely bigger down the road.  I am looking to qualify for the Olympic Marathon Trials. [Ed. note- to qualify for the Trials Lyons will have to run faster than 2:22]


BR: The Marathon.  You were more of a 1500/5k guy in college, having run low 3:50s for 1500 and 14:22 for 5k.  Did you always know you would move up in distance?

BL: I always knew I would move up.  I just think I can be a lot more competitive at the longer stuff.


BR: You are not originally from St. Louis, having grown up in Purdy, Mo. and then going to school in Joplin.  Have you found a group to train with?

BL: We have a great group here.  I train with Ben Rosario, Alan Heincker, Dennis Fricks, Zac Freudenberg and Liam Revell among others.  We meet a couple times a week at least.


BR: Well, you also have a pretty fast wife.  You married Margaret Miklovic who is well known in St. Louis running circles having been a high school star at DuBourg high School.  She was also an All-American in the mile at Missouri Southern.  What is it like to have a wife who is a runner?

BL: It's great.  She supports me in everything I do.  If I need to go away for a weekend to go to a race she understands and supports me 100 percent.


BR: You two are expecting your first baby in May.  Should we expect a state champion in about 16 years?

BL: We're hoping!  We will just get started on the right foot and hopefully our child will enjoy the sport that we enjoy so much.


BR: Last question.  You had a great college career and you have run some fast times since as well.  What is your favorite running moment to date?

BL: I believe in college when we won indoor conference my senior year.  I won 2 of the three races I was in and was the top point scorer at the meet. The meet came down to the 4x4 and our guys set a pr and finished just high enough to win the meet.  We won by one point.


BR: Thanks for the interview and best of luck in your quest to qualify for the Trials.