In Episode 25 of the Final Surge Podcast we talk to Nick Symmonds. Nick is a 6-time U.S. National 800 meters champion, a 2-time Olympian, and a silver medal winner in the 2013 World Championships. Nick is spending more time these days working on his new company Run Gum, but he tells us he is not done yet on his Oval Office. If you are not following us on Twitter we can be found at @FinalSurge. Please take a moment to let us know your thoughts on the podcast and the Final Surge training log.
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For those who maybe have heard of you, but have not heard your story, can you tell us about how you got started in running when you were young?
You took a little different route out of high school and went to a D3 school. Why did you choose that route?
After college, you got a contract with Nike?
My favorite race of all time to watch is the 1972 men’s Olympic final for the 800m in which Dave Wottle won. I am sure you are familiar with it, right? So with that in mind, letÍs talk 800m race strategy. It seems that the most common way to run an 800, and I believe the way you try to run it too, is running about 2 seconds faster on the first lap than the second. While for most other races, coaches usually push for a more even or negative split. In that ï72 race, Wottle ran an even 26 for every 200 split. He was like 4 seconds back at 200, was like 2 seconds back at the 400, and was still in last at the 500. So that race seemed to be more even splits, so I want to hear your theory on the race strategy there?
Most of our podcast are with coaches or athletes who are working with 10k to marathon type runners. So with an 800m runner, I want to talk a little training. We have many high school and college coaches who I know listen to this podcast. If you had a chance to develop an 800m runner starting as a freshman in high school and you could have them until they graduated college, what would the training look like?
Would you be more strength based with 1600m and 3200m runners?
How would you have strength and/or plyometric work set up?
A few numbers for you… 1:42.95, 3:34.55, 3.59.68 These are your PR’s for 800m, 1500m and the mile. But I am curious, what is your 5k PR time?
Now, what about that 5:19 PR in the beer mile? Are we going to see an attempt to go sub-5:00 there?
Last we saw you on the track you were pulling out of the Olympic trials because of an injury. How is the rehab going?
So can we plan on seeing you make another run for a world championship or Olympic team?
What is your recovery process like? How much cross training or other activities are you doing?
When will we see you back on the track?
So you are in the process it seems of transitioning from an elite athlete to an entrepreneur. Can you tell us about Run Gum and what growing pains you may have had?
When my athletes come to me about fueling I hate to talk about anything like energy drinks because I am a big believer in eating real food, not sugar and junk. Is Run Gum looking to be a replacement?
How does Run Gum work? Would a marathoner bring one piece with them?
We then talk to Nick about him publishing his 800m training log.
Did you say you are going to run a marathon in 2018?
Have you thought about which one that is going to be?
There is a lot of talk about caffeine benefits for marathoners and ultra runners, but what about for shorter races?
I think what we have seen from you is that you donÍt always take the easy route. You seem to like challenges. How has that helped you in helping to launch a business?
What is next for the company? Is it going to stop with gum or do you have something else planned?
Rapid Fire… 5 questions in under 1 minute
Favorite running book? – Once a Runner
Current trainers you are wearing? – Brooks Adrenaline
Favorite race? – Olympic Trials 2008
Favorite recovery meal or recovery drink? – Run Gum
Your favorite piece of running equipment that is not your shoes? – Half tights
Resources:
His book Life Outside the Oval Office
Team Final Surge
