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JEN TOOMEY
ALL THAT IS GOLD DOES NOT GLITTER; NOT ALL THOSE THAT WANDER ARE LOST~JRR TOLKIEN
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 exclusive interview with salem mass resident jennifer toomey (conducted 1-4) it is told in greek mythology that the gods and goddesses ran against one another in a short race to determine shear athletic ability in 776 BC. this was the only event offered at the first olympic games. while the losers established other olympic sports such as head to head battles like boxing or wrestling, the winner became highly recognized as a national hero. today, runners dream to race like those mythical spirits, lightening fast with their sleek muscular bodies; in particular jen toomey who has already proclaimed national status with her 1:59 800 meter best in 2003. with toomey's driven athletic talent and success to achieve the highest honor of personal and athletic excellence, she may find herself running like a goddess ironically in athens greece this august. she was featured in a great article last summer but this time around has answered some of my questions in between two recent indoor half mile personal bests of 2:02 and 2:01. jen positions herself to make her own dreams come true to be the best she can be, just as those ancient greeks did long ago.

q.did you do anything for the new years eve celebration? do you have any new year resolutions?

a. Mike and I went to see Return of the King for the second time. We are huge Lord of the rings fans. I usually try to make it to midnight, but I didn't make it past 11.
My New Year's resolutions actually started in September. Those are to bring my running to a new level, to train hard, to race hard, to take more calculated risks and to have no regrets!

q. nice job at the bu development race last weekend (ran 2:02 and the following week after this interview ran 2:01). since that was your first time racing at the new bu indoor track, give us your thoughts about it and whether or not it ranks up there with the old armory track.

a. I was skeptical that any track could beat the old BU track. There was something magical about the boards, the sharp banks, the noise of people thumping the track to cheer on the runners, and the no-frill atmosphere. Even the McDonalds and various small inhabitants added to the mystique. That said, the new track is amazing and I am very excited to run there again.

q. what type of training are you doing right now?

a. We are just coming off of 4 months of base mileage and are now in the initial stages of transition to the track. As in the past, this is a challenging time of year for me. We haven't really lessened the daily training regimen and we are adding some speed-endurance type workouts to the mix. I've found that I really have to be on top of what and how often I eat, getting enough sleep, and getting regular massages. When I skimp on the little things, it really impacts the workouts.

q. in the past, i don't think I've ever seen you race before gbtc. do you normally race this early in the season or is it all part of your long term plan? what is your fastest season opening half mile?

a. I've known that I was going to run three early indoor races for a couple of months. My main objective for these mixed races is to compete. For the race on the 28th, my coach wanted me to be aggressive, to run hard, to run fearlessly. He was psyched that I was tired, that the race was late, that I got bumped around. Very rarely does one have perfect conditions, so why not practice that as well? Really time was irrelevant. It is the earliest I've raced, but we're not backing off of training at all, and are using the races more as hard efforts. Funny, when I finished, I told my coach that my time was my fastest opening ever (outdoors 2:04, indoor PR 2:03), and he nonchalantly said, "Well, Jen, that's ok, but we have a workout after the place clears out." He ended up being more excited about the workout.

q. tell us what the count is in head to head matches versus your husband mike. you've probably only run against him once in the same race (last weekend) but in the same meet I'm sure you two have run the same event and i know your keeping track of who had the faster time!

a. That was the first time Mike and I raced each other. We extremely competitive..he gets me on the long intervals, I make him work on the short ones. Mike has faster PRs than me in everything (we're close in the 200 and 400). I think in a match race, he would probably drop dead before I beat him. That's fine with me, because I would be furious if he ever slowed down to let me win.

q. do you have any pre-meet rituals such as listening to certain music or eating a certain meal the night before?

a. I usually visualize the entire race procedure the day before, from the warm up to the race finish; and I always warm up the same way. I don't eat any thing in particular, I just make sure I eat something easy on the stomach about 2 hours before I need to run.

q. what three music cd's would you pack with you on a long trip, such as athens greece?

a. Outkast, Blink 182, Liz Phair

q. with the recent departure of Sev to the west coast, you still seem very happy and content with your training arrangement; mike as a training partner, a new coach, and a nice deal with nike, all of which hasn't slowed you down one bit. has there been an adjusting/transition period?

a. I am a very lucky person. I am lucky to have found a husband who introduced me to the sport and to support me in the journey. I was lucky to have Bob Sevene as a coach for so many years. With his departure to the west coast, I am equally lucky to have found another caring and incredibly bright coach. My husband was coached by and is very close to Tom McDermott, and he was the first person that came to mind when I needed to move in another direction. I think Tom was shocked when I initially asked him to coach Mike and me, but he has thrown himself full force into the game. We train with the same very basic philosophy as before, but that said, much is different in our training. I can honestly say, I have never worked harder. I have never been stronger and healthier, and I have never been so excited to run. I knew from day one that there was something about him that is going to help me run my best.
I love running for Nike. They have been nothing but supportive and their equipment is outstanding. I am very proud to run for a company that has such a tradition of excellence in the sport.

q. what specific (or ideal) goals have you set for yourself in the upcoming olympic year?

a. I don't like articulating times or specific goals, even though I do have them. I can bet that anyone in the sport would love to make an Olympic team, and I certainly am no different. It would be the fulfillment of a lifelong fantasy. It is so incredibly hard to achieve, and as good as you are, nothing is ever certain. All that is in my power is to train hard, control that which is in my power to control, have faith, and when the time comes, to run with heart and courage. As cliche as it sounds, my main goal has always been to run my best and to take advantage of every opportunity given.

q. what has been the toughest bump in the road for you in attaining your goals/dreams. it doesn't necessarily have to do with running but something that you have to adversely overcome in your life to be successful?

a. 2002 and 2003 were very difficult years in that I was injured for a significant period of time in both years. As hard as it was, I'm the kind of person who believes that everything happens for a reason. I try to learn and grow and become better because of challenging times and events. In a weird way, I think facing that adversity and coming out with a PR will only help with this year.

q. what were your initial feelings about going under 2 minutes at prefontaine this past summer. tell us how the race unfolded and maybe what thoughts were going through your head during the race? was mike there?

a. For as big as a moment Pre was for me, the race itself was very uneventful. My coach wanted me to go out easy and just relax for the first 600m and then run the last 150 hard. I felt great the whole way. As soon as I got the official time, I called Mike who was at one of the Boston High Performance Races. He immediately handed the phone to Sev. It was a moment I will never forget. When I told him my time, I think for the first time since I've known him, he was speechless. That A standard had elluded me for so long, to have finally run it, was such a burden lifted for me and for Sev.

q. any thoughts to the recent upheaval of drug/illegal performance enhancing supplements in our sport?

a. In every facet of society you see people trying to get that extra edge, to find the easy way, and certainly athletics is no exception to this. I am glad if USADA and WADA catch athletes who "cheat", and I hope they are handled accordingly. However, I do not think that there will ever be a time in athletics without cheaters. The stakes are too high, the rewards too great, and the drug testing facilities too under funded to make a real dent. That is my personal opinion. As for me, I am helpless to do anything, so I do not waste too much time thinking about it. I can only do what I can do. I can not control what other people do.

q. do you have a favorite track runner that you keep up on? have there been any track athletes/non-track athletes that have influenced/inspired you to run?

a. I have a great appreciation for those athletes who bring that little extra something to their sport, who play with heart and courage, who succeed even in the face of adversity. It could be for a moment or for a career; it may be at a high school meet or the Olympic Games: Sanchez vs. Riley in the MA State High School Meet, Goucher at the 2001 US Champs, Pete Sampras winning his last US open, Edwin Moses, Larry Bird, Paula Radcliffe.

q. finally where do you see yourself in five to ten years?

a. I would like to run through 2005. I feel that I've just found myself this year with the running. I finally had one of those illuminating moments about training and racing. I would be very sad to have to give it up. Eventually we would like to have children, but for now it's on the back burner.

thanks jen, we all support you and keep running fast!















JEN TOOMEY

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NIKE

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