Olympic Trials Talk With Elise

For more in our “Olympic Trials Talk” series visit our Olympic Trials page.

Do you remember when you first set the goal of making the Olympics? When did it begin to feel like a realistic one?

I remember first having the goal of making an Olympic team when I was in middle school.  I remember watching Michael Phelps win his 8 gold medals during the 2008 Olympics and since I was swimming at the time (and not super into running yet) my goal was to make the Olympics in swimming.  A few short years later, I realized being an Olympian in swimming wasn't looking too promising, but as I became more serious about running my goal shifted to making the Olympic team as a track and field athlete. The goal became more of a reality when I competed at the Olympic Trials in 2016 during my sophomore year of college.  I vividly remember watching the 1500m final from the stands and telling myself that I'd be standing on the start line in that final at the next Olympic Trials. 

It wasn’t in the event(s) she planned, but Elise achieved her Olympic dream in the 5,000m on June 21st!

The last time there was a US Championships, in 2019, you were primarily a 1500m runner. Now you're in the top 10 all-time in the US in both the 5,000m and 10,000m. Is it strange to have changed your situation so much without having had the chance to race many people outside the group?

I haven't actually thought about that too much because of my incredible teammates and training environment.  Getting to train with some of the best in the world over 5k and 10k has prepared me well for events that were completely out of my wheelhouse just two years ago.  From workouts to instraquad meets to conversations on runs, I am grateful for teammates that have pushed me and prepared me well for newer events.  Although the 1500m will always be my first love (and my favorite). 

You do a lot of training with Shelby and Karissa, the two fastest Americans ever over 5,000m and two athletes not known for chilling in workouts. Can you describe for the fans what that workout environment is like and how that's helped you as an athlete?

I can confirm they have no chill in workouts.  In the beginning, it was hard for me to walk away from a workout feeling confident because I was getting dropped hard and not finishing the full workout.  However, they were always great at reminding me to keep showing up and continue to put myself in it.  Working out with Shelby and Karissa has been inspiring and challenging.  It has forced me to let go of subconscious limits I put on myself and taught me the importance of continually working on the mental side of the sport. They hold me accountable to do all the little things outside of training so that I show up to each workout healthy, rested, recovered, and ready to bring my A game. 

Is there one key workout that's given you a lot of confidence or do you just look at the total body of work?

As a younger athlete I used to get confidence from one key workout, but this also meant that I could lose confidence from one bad workout.  I have learned it is much better for me to get confidence from the total body of work.  It isn't one day that makes or breaks an athlete, but the consistency over time that leads to something great. 

How do you prepare mentally in the weeks prior for a big race like the Olympic Trials? Are you someone who likes to think a lot about the race and it's potential variations, or do you prefer to put it out of your mind and focus on other things?

I don't like to think about any race too much in the weeks or days leading up to it.  I prefer to spend time with family and/or teammates, read, watch some movies or shows and focus on other things until it is time to get in the zone a few hours before a race. 

What's been the team activity of choice up at altitude camp? 

Either a movie night or game night.  Watched Inception for the first time and have been playing some Catan and Cribbage. 

Do you have a favorite Jerry story?

Automatic* from 45 feet.

*~5%

After being asked the famous Chris Chavez question on the Citius Mag Podcast ("You have 25 shots from half court.  If you make one you get $25 million, but if you miss all 25 you go to jail for 25 years...would you attempt the shot?"), Sean and I decided to attempt the challenge post-leg lift one night at Jerry's gym.  As we were doing the challenge, Jerry came in and we told him about the question. His answer, full of confidence, was something along the lines of "Yes, I would definitely attempt the shots.  That would be so easy."  So he lines up, wearing his house slippers, and starts taking the shots.  As Sean and I count down the shots, he is puzzled that none of them seem to be going in.  It wasn't until shot 24 that he made his first half court shot, but he still claims the answer to this question is a no brainer (but we can confirm he was starting to sweat a bit). 

Olympic (Trials) Talk With Marc Scott

For all of our coverage on the Olympics/Olympic Trials visit our Olympic Trials Dashboard

Do you remember when you first set the goal of making the Olympics? When did it begin to feel like a realistic one?

I first set the goal of making the Olympics when I started out running, I was 10 years old and it was merely a dream. Who knows what I was thinking back then but it was something which I set out to accomplish. I feel this goal became a realistic one once I joined BTC and saw how hard the team worked on a daily basis, training with olympians and medalists really made those dreams become a reality.

For our non-UK fans (and maybe for the UK ones, too) can you explain how the selection process works for the Olympics?

There are two ways in which you can qualify for the Olympics, first you have to achieve the relevant time or ’standard’ in your given event. Once this is accomplished you then have to place in the top 2 at the Olympic Trials to guarantee automatic selection. Third place (three spots on the team) is at the discretion of the selectors providing you have the standard. If you have run close to the standard and have achieved a high enough World Ranking then you may be invited to the games and your country then has to accept the invitation on your behalf (they don’t have to do this).

(Editor’s Note: Marc secured his Olympic spot by winning the British Championships on June 6th!)

Marc running 3:35 last summer.

It's been a tremendous 12 months of improvement for you as you've set personal best at every distance from 1500 to half marathon (3:35, 7:36, 13:05, 27:10, and 60:43). Was there a moment where it really struck you that you'd reached another level or has it all just happened gradually?

I felt like I had reached another level once I ran 3:35 last summer during one of our BTC Intrasquad meets (race video here), I came away from altitude knowing I was in great shape after having the best camp of my career with Bowerman. I took a lot of confidence from that race and then applied it for the remainder of the season and onwards into 2021.

How has that huge breakthrough changed your goals for this season? What would you consider a success now?

It seems my goals have drastically changed, knowing I can compete with the best in the world. I would have been content making the Olympic team two summers ago, but now I want to place in the top 10 in the 10,000m and at the very least make the final of the 5000m.

An image that comes up when you search “Yorkshire Mountains” and what we now imagine Marc running up as a young lad.

What the heck is "fell running" and how was that influential in your early career?

Fell running = American Trail/Mountain running. It involves navigating your way to the top of a ‘fell’ or a peak and then back down, usually with your own choice of route. You can cross rivers, go over deep bogs, climb rocks etc as long as you hit the associated checkpoints. This was very endurance and strength based, and the reason I started doing it was because I was not a fast junior and didn’t enjoy getting beat on the track. It has defintely enabled myself to build an engine and endure and running for a sustained amount of time.

You and Grant have been next to each other with a lap to go 4 times this year and the scoreboard is 2-2. So who has the better kick?

Lets have the next race decide this…but if we’re counting I believe I am 3-1

(Editor’s Note: Marc is correct and we would like to apologize to him and the entirety of the British nation for the error)

Who is the biggest one-stepper on the team and why is it you?

No comment.

(Editor’s Note: Your Honor, the prosecution rests)

Marc securing one of his THREE wins over Grant this year (and also running the 2nd fastest time in UK history at 27:10, race video here.

Olympic Trials Talk With Sinclaire Johnson

Note: Heading into the Olympic Trials and Olympics we’ll be doing a series of Q&A’s with athletes about their goals, processes, and experiences. Stay tuned to our Olympic Trials page!

Do you remember when you first set the goal of making the Olympics? When did

it begin to feel like a realistic one?

My first hopes of making the Olympic team was probably around my sophomore year of

high school. I started to gain some success on the track and I followed the sport a little

bit more outside of my high school bubble. I remember watching Allyson Felix win the

200m at the 2012 London Olympics and thinking I wanted to compete in the Olympic

Games one day. The goal of making the Olympic team became realistic in 2019 when I

finished 4th , one spot out of qualifying for the World Championship team. It set in that I

was at the level to really contend for an Olympic team and these childhood dreams can

become a reality.

You made the decision this fall to move from Oklahoma where you had been

training with your college coach out to Portland. What made you decide to make

the switch?

Sinclaire and Gabriela ripping at Utah Valley University.

I wanted to train with the best of the best.

And I thought the Bowerman Track Club

had that. I think being surrounded

everyday by people who have

accomplished things you want to

accomplish is invaluable. And I knew to get

the most out of my career I need to be

pushed by the best.

What has surprised you most about joining the team?

A lot of my expectations about joining the team have been pretty accurate. However, I

was honestly most surprised by the average weekly mileage on the team. Going from

college if you were running 70 mpw, then you were doing heavy mileage. Now, if you

run 70 mpw you are definitely on the low end of the mileage chart. I am still hanging on

to my 55 mpw until Jerry starts moving me up.

Altitude: love it or hate it?

I love getting to live with my teammates and getting to know them more. I love that we

go to beautiful places for altitude camp. And I love changing up the running scene by

being in a new place. I do not love how much harder the workouts feel. And I do not

love being tired majority of the time. So, I would say it’s a love/hate relationship!

How did the postponement of the Games last year affect your thinking? Were you

feeling ready to go and bummed it got moved or were you happy to have another

year to prepare?

I think the postponement was a blessing in disguise for me. I was obviously bummed

initially because it was an exciting thing I was looking forward to. But, with being a new

pro and navigating life after college running I think it gave me time to figure things out.

Knowing where I was mentally last year with having made a big change to my plans, I

think it would have been hard for me to be completely prepared to make the team. With

that year behind me and a solid 8 months of training with BTC, I think I am in a much

better position to turn my dreams in reality!

Sinclaire set an 800m Personal Best of 1:59.91 at the USATF Golden Games in May.

What’s your mental prep like in the weeks before a big race? Are you someone

who gathers all the data on your competitors and visualizes all the possibilities?

Or do you prefer to try and relax and put the race out of your mind?

For a 1500m race, tactics are crucial. I have been preparing outside of training by watching

old race videos of successful 1500m runners. I can gain insight on how to race or how to

put myself in the best position by watching these race videos. I am still figuring out my

competition at this level, but have a pretty solid idea of how people race. And I like to

visualize the race a couple times leading up to it.