Oct 26, 2007
Kyle O'Brien - Hanson/Brooks Views- 228

Kyle O'Brien ran for Danville Area Community College and than Eastern Illinois in college. A short time after, Kyle joined up with the Hanson/Brooks distance team. After putting in his dues, Kyle ended up running 2:15.13 at Chicago in 06'. That performance not only qualified him to the Olympic Trials Marathon but also the World Championship Marathon team. Read on to find out about his outlook on the trials.



RM: How excited are you for the Olympic Marathon Trials and why? Do you look at the Trials as just another marathon? What do they mean to you?

KO: I am very excited for the Olympic Marathon Trials, not just for myself but for all of the guys that I am training with, it is a very exciting time for our program and this is arguably the greatest Trials field ever, how could you not be excited. I think I have a different approach to the Trials than almost anybody else in the field. While it is definitely not just another marathon, my primary focus over the summer was the World Championships, so I have really only been able to focus on the Trials for about the last 6 weeks or so, it is kind of a no pressure focus, seeing how well I can recover and how fit I can get before the Trials. It is definitely an honor to be competing in the Trials and running with the best in the country.

RM: What were you training for at the time of the last marathon trials (Feb 04') and did you see yourself toeing the line of the trials 4 years down the road?

KO: At the time of the last Trials I still hadn't run a marathon yet. I was training with the group up here already, and knew that the marathon would be my best event in the future, but just hadn't made that step yet. I knew I'd be on the starting line the next time around.

RM: What is your biggest advantage to doing well going into the Trials and why?

KO: My biggest advantage is the guys I train with everyday. I run with some of the best marathoners in the country and I have learned so much from so many of the guys. That coupled with my own experiences gives me confidence in my ability to perform well when it counts.

RM: What would it take to make you walk away from the Trials disappointed and why? What would it take to allow you to walk away content from the Trials and why?

KO: I am running this Trials for the experience, and to try and mix it up with the best. I know my best bet for an Olympic team will be down the road, 2012, so as long as I walk away from this race having learned more about the event and taking a step forward in developing as a marathoner, I will not be disappointed. I will be content to see not only myself, but also my training partners running to the best of their abilities.

RM: What are your thoughts on the level of competition that is going to be toeing the line for the Trials?

KO: This is by far the most talented field that has ever been assembled for an Olympic Trials Marathon.

RM: How many more Olympic Marathon Trials do you see yourself competing in down the road and why?

KO: Who knows? I can see myself being competitive in at least one more Trials, maybe even two, I'll be 35 when the 2016 Trials roll around, so I definitely don't think that is too old to mix it up.
I also think it would be fun to be answering these interviews 20 years from now about still being able to squeek under 2:22 and getting into the Trials in my late 40's. It's anybody's guess!