Nichols is back!
Injuries are a curse, but also part of a runner’s life. When running is your passion, it blows. When on top of your passion, it contributes to your living, things get even more complicated.
Yet, experienced runners will take the time off, and find something to accomplish, a goal that will be to motivation point to get healthier, stronger, faster and essentially able to compete at one’s best level again. Here is an interview of international SCOTT Running team Alex NICHOLS after his second consecutive win at Pikes Peak marathon, showing he’s back at the top of his game.
You won Pikes Peak for the second time in a row. Coming back from an injury does this year’s win have a different flavor?
The win this year has to be one of the most emotional races I've ever had. After being injured for almost half a year I've had to work very hard to get back to where I was in 2015. The training finally come together and to win the race in a new personal best time was like having a huge weight lifted. It truly proves that I am back.
You seem to have this race nailed, how did you train for it?
I've had a long history with Pikes Peak. The Pikes Peak Ascent was one of the first trail races I ever ran back in 2007. It has really helped me to know the course and to be able to train on the mountain. One of my staple training runs is to complete the whole course in a moderate effort. I will run the entire course at least a few times prior to race day. I know a lot of runners don't like to do so many long runs leading up to the race but I find it helps me stay stronger late in the race.
What does it take to perform at one’s best on the day? How did your day unfold?
My best race results always come when I am most relaxed prior to the race. For this race I felt very comfortable and confident in my training during the rest days leading up to the marathon. When I got to the start line I was confident that I could compete against anyone who would be there challenge.
During the race itself I found myself running in second or third place for much of the uphill. I tried to run my own race and know that if I was in contention at the summit I would have a good chance of catching anyone on the downhill. At the top of the mountain I found out that I had roughly a 3 minute deficit to the leader. I took a few chances on some of the technical downhill sections and pulled myself within seconds of the leader. When I did catch him we both made a push for the win and ran about 3 kilometers together, each of us trying to break the other runner. The final set of switchbacks before the finish once again become more rocky and I used those sections to build up a gap. In the end it was enough for the win but I didn't let up until I had crossed the line.
With two wins under your belt, victory is accomplished. So we have to ask, how close do you think you could get to Matt’s record, if not break it? What would it take you to get there?
Matt Carpenter has done things on Pikes Peak that I don't think will ever be recreated. His record for the marathon includes a 2:01 for the uphill and a 1:15 for the downhill. I remember people talking about Kilian Jornet's chances of breaking the record when he came to run the Pikes Peak Marathon in 2012. Even though Kilian is considered to be one of the greatest mountain runners of all time his time of 3:40 was still 24 minutes away from Matt's course record. Coincidentally, this year I ran almost exactly the same time as Kilian, but that leaves me with still another 24 minutes to loose. I can see myself dropping another 5-10 minutes from this year but 3:16 is in a whole other world.
Next stop for Alex is a whole different beast, tackling his first 100 mile race at the Run Rabbit Run race in September 16 and 17, 2016 in Steamboat Springs, CO, USA