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Prep Confidential

Jackson's 5 Part III

Posted by: Marcus Jackson

Wednesday, May 21, 2008 8:47 AM

Each week, News-Gazette staff writer Marcus Jackson will pose five questions to an area prep athlete. Next up is PBL's state-bound 2-mile runner Nick Brehm.

MJ: For most people the worst part of sports is running. When did you make the decision that's what you wanted to do for fun?
NB: My sophomore year, I went to watch the cross-country state finals and that was a big thing. I saw all the people and that's when I really got into it. I really wanted to run in front of all those people. I realized I wasn't any good at basketball so I got into running.

MJ: You were pretty upset with your sectional-winning time in the 2-mile run (10:19). Most people can't drive 2 miles in 10 minutes. Why were you so upset?
NB: At the start of the year, I wanted to run 9:35 because that was the school record and last year I ran 10:15 at the end of the year, so I thought I could improve. This year my training went pretty well over the winter and I felt like I could do pretty good. Then I kind of had an injury and I just felt that I could still run faster, but I was disappointed because I wanted to run in the fast heat at state. But I still have the possibility of getting a medal.

MJ: What are your goals for the state meet?
NB: When you get in the slow heat, there might not be top-caliber guys. I just hope I can take it out fast and just try to get around 9:45 or 9:50. Since this is my last race, I'm not holding anything back.

MJ: What would it mean to you to take home a medal from the state meet?
NB: It would definitely mean a lot. Only nine people in the state get those all year. I think I worked really hard and I deserve one of those.

MJ: On average how many miles do you run per week?
NB: During the winter I was logging like 55 and during the season I would say like 45-50 and now since I'm at state, probably like 30ish.

MJ: When you run in the winter, do you run outside?
NB: Oh yeah. It (stinks) but you've got to do it. I always say to myself, 'What are the top guys in the state doing?' And I think if I'm running and they're not, then I get a leg up on them. If I don't run, they might be getting a leg up on me. Most of the time I feel like running, but some times I just don't want to go out there especially when it's like 20 degrees, I'm like, 'Ahhhhh. I don't want to do this.'

MJ: Do you have to be a little bit wacky to do what you do?
NB: Um, I don't know. I guess you do have to be a little bit.

MJ: At the Honor Roll meet, you were celebrating you teammate Tom Pacey's school-record time in the mile. Do you get as much enjoyment seeing the guys you train with succeed as you do having success yourself?
NB: It's always nice to PR and it's nice to see other guys PR. I know how hard those guys work so it's nice to see them do something good like that. I don't know why I get so excited, it's just really cool when other people do it I guess.

MJ: Are you going to continue running in college?
NB: Yeah, I'm going to North Central College in Naperville. It's a Division III. I'm going to do cross-country and track and I'm going to major in math. I'm going to minor in secondary education to keep my options open.