Sep 9, 2007
Mandi Zemba - Professional Runner Views- 872

RM: Congratulations on your 8th overall female placing at the Crim 10 miler (First American as well/58:30). First off, what made you want to try the 10 mile distance? Have you ever raced over the 6k distance before?

MZ: I was looking for some local road races to do this summer and someone told me about the Crim and I thought I had a good shot at being the top Michigan runner. I was just starting to build my base back up, only 2 weeks back from taking some time off after the Pan Am Games so I was treating it more like a hard long run. The longest I have raced in the past was the 4 mile race in Cincinnati a couple of months earlier.

RM: What were your thoughts on how you would perform over the 10 mile distance and how do you feel about the distance after experiencing it?

MZ: My goal going in was to go under an hour so I ran better than I expected. I really didn't know what to expect because I hadn't done any training for it and it was a lot longer than I was used to racing so I wasn't sure what pace I should shoot for. The 10 mile race wasn't as bad as I thought, but the last three miles definitely hurt. I would like to do the race again and see how much better I could do with some good training and more experience with the longer distances. My coach thinks that I will eventually focus on the longer distance races so I will probably do some more in the future.

RM: What are your plans for the upcoming fall? What are your running goals that you are working towards accomplishing in the next few months?

MZ: I am only doing a couple of road races this fall. One is the Race for the Cure in Boston that New Balance sponsors and the other is Tufts 10K in Boston, which is the U.S. road race championship. I am more focusing on the 10k race, just going out there to compete and see where I stand in the 10k distance.

RM: Is there any plans on working towards a marathon in the future? Why or Why not?

MZ: I am not quite ready to commit to any plans for the marathon, but my coach thinks it is going to happen so we'll wait and see. I do think I will have some success and the longer distances, but I will need to increase my training quite a bit. Right now I want to try to get faster in the 5k and 10k.

RM: I have heard you are still helping out at GVSU. What is your role there and how did that come about?

MZ: I am helping out at GVSU, just doing what I can around my schedule helping with nutrition and recruiting mostly. I am still training at GVSU so I get to train with the men's team mostly which is nice.

says~

Hi Mandi,

I have followed GVSU and your progress since your frosh year. I have been really impressed with your improvements through the years in college.
Good healthy fast running in your professional endeavors. I wish you the best.

Tony Mifsud

Dearborn Divine Child HS

XC/T&F Coach