Rochester Hills, MI - RunMichigan was able to talk with Brian Sell the 2003 US 20K Championship runner-up. Brian is a member of the Hansons-Brooks ODP team and one of ten Hansons-Brooks team members to qualify for Men's Marathon trials. Brian ran 2:20:01 at the 2003 Chicago Marathon to qualify and will be heading to Birmingham, AL to try an earn a spot on the 2004 U.S. Marathon Olympic team.
RunMichigan: How did you feel in Chicago when you knew you had qualified for Olympic Trials Marathon? What did you learn about running a marathon from that race?
Brian: It felt very good to qualify for the trials at Chicago. We had a great group going for the standard and we had 4 of 6 guys hit the time, so it was a good effort. I learned that I need to get some carbs in there at about 10 miles or so, because I hit the wall hard at 23 miles. I ran about 6 minutes for the last mile and it felt all out. I am going to try to get a few gels in me at the trials.
RunMichigan: How does it feel to be running in your first Olympic Trials Marathon?
Brian: It feels great. This is definitely the biggest race of my career and I think we are prepared for it. It will only be my second marathon, and I hope the last few miles go better than the previous one.
RunMichigan: What is your goal for the Olympic Trials Marathon race?
Brian: We will be going for 2:12 and top 3. Thats the goal for Nick, Clint, and I. we feel that if one of us (or hopefully all three of us) runs 2:12 it will put us in a good spot with a strong possibility of making a trip to Athens.
RunMichigan: How will your 2nd place finish at the US 20K championships this summer help with the Olympic trials race?
Brian: That race showed me that I have a performance in me that is worthy of an Olympic trials type race. I feel if I can have a race that goes as well as the 20k, I could be in the hunt for a spot on the team.
RunMichigan: How long have you been with the Hansons-Brooks Olympic Development Program? And how does this training environment support what you have accomplished so far?
Brian: I have been here in Rochester for 2 and a quarter years now. I totally believe in the group and know that there is no way I would be able to do some of the workouts and long runs we do with out the guys on the team.
RunMichigan: Since you haven’t raced the Olympic Trials course, what have you learned about the course and how will you use this knowledge to help on race day?
Brian: We got a chance to run a bit of the course when we were in Birmingham about two years ago. I know that it is a fast course and that it is very spectator friendly. Clint knows the course well, and I plan on talking to him more about it next week.
RunMichigan: Congratulations on the Disney Half-Marathon. What was the goal for the Disney Half and how will the race help with the Trials race?
Brian: Thanks. Our goal was just to run 1:06(2:12) pace for the first 12 miles and go the last 1.1. We got out a bit slow and had to pick it up over the middlepart of the race, but I think it was a good solid effort and gave us a little taste of what the pace will feel like.
RunMichigan: What are you doing over the next two weeks to prepare for the Trials?
Brian: We have one more solid workout to go this coming Tuesday. I am just trying to stay healthy and keep the daily runs solid out there in the cold and snow without getting hurt.
RunMichigan: What do you do to relax from running?
Brian: I usually come home, stretch a bit and watch some TV. We(the team) go out as a group once in a while and have some wings or a burger together. Hangin out with some of the guys on the team is a good relaxer for me.
RunMichigan: What is your favorite workout and why?
Brian: I like the solid tempos we do at race pace. We used to run 4:50's or so at the Royal Oak 8 mile tempo when I was first in the program and that was a great workout. We'd have about 6 guys nailing the splits and we'd roll through Royal Oak dodging cars and probably making a lot of people mad, but when that workout was done, I really felt I had accomplised
something.
RunMichigan: Least favorite workout, but most helpful?
Brian: I don't like speed stuff. Anything at or under 65 second quarter pace is beyond what my wheels can handle. Plus Clint loves fast stuff and goes back to his old dirty Eastern Michigan ways of elbowing and running people out into lane 8 on speed workouts.
RunMichigan: Why do you run in shorts even when it’s below freezing?
Brian: I feel slow in pants.
RunMichigan: Where is your favorite place to run in Michigan? And what do you like most about Michigan?
Brian: I like Stoney Creek alot. Bloomer Park is a good one too. Both places in the fall are real nice and the trails are soft and fun to run. I like the spring, summer, and fall here and the running is pretty good in the Rochester area with all the dirt roads and parks.
