| Amy Yoder Begley |
Event: 5,000 meters/10,000 meters |
|
Amy was a 2 Time NCAA National Champion at the
University of Arkansas. She is an extremely tough athlete who
has faced her fair share of adversity over the years. Amy competed
at the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Trials. She is now coached
by Alberto Salazar as part of the Nike Oregon Project Team. She
trains alongside Kara Goucher, who recently placed 3rd at the
IAAF World Championships (in Oksaka, Japan).
Can you briefly tell us where you’ve
been since graduating from Arkansas?
I have spent 6 years trying to find the
best place to train. I tried running back home
in Indiana for 2 years. I spent winters in warmer
places like Florida, Arizona and Australia. I
had 2 years of injuries including a torn oblique, and
2 tibial stress fractures. So at the beginning
of 2004 I moved to Albuquerque to take advantage of
altitude training prior to the trials. I had
a couple good years and then we moved again for Andrew's
job. We ended up in Atlanta in 2006. I
was injured again from two falls. I fell in the
bathroom and injured my hip and then I fell in the
woods and broke my ankle. At this point I did
not know what to do. I got in touch with Kara
and Alberto. They took me on broken ankle and
all starting January 2007.
After competing in 2 Olympic Trials already,
what are your feelings about the 2008 Eugene Trials?
The first Olympic Trials was two weeks before my wedding so my
mind was else where. The second Olympic Trials I had come
off of 2 years of injury and was pleased with how I did. This
time I am also coming off of two years of injury. However,
this time I have a lot of support from a new coach, Alberto Salazar,
and the Oregon Project team of Kara and Adam Goucher, Galen Rupp
and Josh Rohatinsky. I have a great support team of massage,
ART, anti-gravity treadmill, and a husband who loves that someone
else tells me to do 2-mile repeats. I am just now starting
to come back from another injury but I have 10 months to put
it all together.
What’s it like training with the
Nike Oregon Project?
Kara and I have known each other since
High School. We are a lot alike and want the
same things from running. Due to injuries
I have not been able to do a lot with her yet but I
am working on it. We do easy runs together plus
all of our drills, plyos, and lifting. We work
hard but it is fun being in a group like this. Alberto
is a great coach who takes care of us. I am really
lucky and blessed to be a part of this group.
What led you to the group?
I spent most of 2006 being injured from
falling in a bathroom and in the woods. I was
frustrated and ready to give it up. Andrew wanted
me to give it another shot because he knows that I
have what it takes. I just needed the resources
to be able to put it together. Kara had been
running really well the last year. Because we
have similar running career backgrounds I got in touch
with her to see how she turned things around. I
then talked to Alberto. Nike and Alberto agreed
to take me on, even with a broken ankle. I am
a lucky girl.
What would you consider your greatest running
achievements?
I have four. My favorite achievement
is winning the Indoor NCAA 5k at Arkansas. I
was the first hog to win on the new track and the feeling
of floating around that track was awesome. My
second is winning the NCAA 10k in 2001 in Eugene. I
had been in a cast for 10 weeks for an achilles tear. I
only had 10 weeks to prepare for the meet. That
was the most focused I had ever been. My third
is running 15:24 in the 5k, but I hope to have a new
PR soon. My fourth is the the amazing friends
I have made over the years of racing and traveling.
You already raced in Beijing; can you talk
about your first experience there?
I love traveling and racing. I
ran on an Ekiden team in Beijing. The first thing
we noticed when we got off the plane was the number
of people wearing masks. As soon as we inhaled
the air we knew why. The air burned your lungs. We
were told to run early in the morning before the sun
came up and factories started because the air was cleaner
at that time of day.
I loved the experience of the people, culture and food. Every
where we went people were handing us their babies to hold while
they took pictures with us. I would love to go back
and hopefully I will get the chance.
What event(s) are you focusing on for 2008?
I would love to do the 5k but the 10k
is also on my mind. Alberto and I will talk about
it once my training gets back on track.
Who do you look to for inspiration?
Even before Kara won the bronze medal
I was inspired by her return from setbacks and injuries. She
works hard and has an amazing drive for success.
Also, right now Jenny Crain is fighting for her life after being
hit by a car while running. She has an amazing spirit and
is always seeing the positive in every person and situation. She
is a great inspiration for anyone.
In short, what do the Olympic Games mean
to you as a professional athlete?
The Olympic Games have been a dream since
I was 8 years old. Only 3 people make the team
in each distance so there are always great athletes
that are not Olympians. Therefore, I am not setting
the Olympics as a definition of my success. I
am going to train as hard and as smart as I can. I
am going to work with Alberto to become the best athlete
possible and give myself the best chance to make the
team and chase my dream.
|
| Daniel Lincoln |
Event: Olympic Steeplechase |
|
Credentials: American Record Holder, 3000 meter Steeplechase
(8:08); 4 time NCAA All American; 3 Time USATF Champion
White
Men can JUMP!
Daniel (whose parents were our clients in Greece in 2004) set a new American record in the 3,000m steeplechase
at the 2006 Golden Gala, in Rome, Italy in 2006. Daniel,
who was a four-time NCAA champion and a 14-time All-American
at the University of Arkansas, finished fifth in the race of
16 competitors and crossed the line with a time of 8:08.82. Lincoln
eclipsed the 21-year old American record of 8:09.17, set on Aug.
28, 1985, by National Track & Field Hall of
Famer Henry Marsh.
In 2004, Lincoln established himself as the nation’s leading steeplechaser
with his win at the Olympic Trials and 11th- place finish at the Olympic Games
in Athens. His trials victory in 8:15.02 was the fastest by an American in 2004. Daniel's parents were Ludus clients in Athens, Greece.
Daniel is one of the great white hopes in an event dominated by Africans. But what is truly amazing about Daniel is that he's had record setting seasons while completed his MD at the University of Arkansas Little Rock. Yes, that's right...by the time Beijing rolls around, you might have to call him Dr. Lincoln! |
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