Runnerslife

Meet The Guest

Lee Carey

 

 

Personal Best's

800m - 1:56.9

1500m - 3.47.74

3,000m - 8:07.08

5,000m - 14.40.00


 

 How is training currently going at the moment for you?

Training is currently going as well as it ever has for me, I hit my biggest mileage week ever last week and my sessions are going good as well. The key for me is being consistent with my training and avoiding injury (touch wood) which I've managed to do the last few months.

Have you started the cross season yet?

The cross season started for me on October 2nd at a big meet in Wisconsin, I finished 15th there which I was a little disappointed with but it was my first race in 10 month so I couldn't really complain. Two weeks later I ran the Pre nationals meet finishing 6th and beat a fair few lads who were in front of me in 'Wisco'. Then yesterday we had our conference which is the Big Easts, I managed to get my first college win there. So far so good though for the season and I'm hoping to get stronger each race which so far has happened. Everything is geared towards nationals though at the end of November so I'm hoping for a good race there.

Any injury problems at the moment?

My last 3 years since February 2008 have been plagued with injuries, I've had all sorts of problems and they haven't just been niggles, they've put me out for a good few months each time. Its been really frustrating, I've wanted to walk away from the sport a few times but I've never been able to stay away from the gym/pool for more than a few weeks. I've hit a good run of training though since June and starting to feel like I could of put my problems behind me.

Have you been training with the RunnersLife athlete, Jonny Hopkins?

Jonnys had a bit of a rough start out here as he got an infection in his foot from a blister and so it means were at different points in our training but he runs with us most days getting in his runs even if they are a little shorter and he worked out with me for the first time last week so he's progressing nicely.

Why did you pick Providence?

Providence came about through my coach back home Bud Baldaro as he has a good friend living out here called Jim Harvey. Jim swore by Providence and I heard nothing but good things about Ray Treacy the coach here and then after my visit I was convinced it was the best place for me.

Is it everything you expected it to be in America?

I've obviously been disappointed with my injury problems but other than that I've loved it out here. I really don't see why anyone would want to stay in England when you have a system like the NCAA which provides us with not only the very best facilities but the chance to race in such competitive fields. I really believe that the NCAA's are behind only the world championships in competitiveness so it provides us with a great stepping stone to that higher level of competition.

How often do you come home and do you race when your back?

I initially came home at Christmas and summer however I decided to stay for a year straight after coming back last summer, mainly because I could deal with my injury problems easier out here with the back up etc but I'll be home this Christmas and hope to run in the Europeans and maybe another race if possible in January. I think I'll be staying out here in the summer now as it's a great place to be and just come home for Christmas each year.

Most might remember you for your battles with Hickey when you were younger in Cross Country race's, what do you remember of that time and you have a favourite race from that time?

They were great times. I think I were always viewed as ''the underdog'' then which made things even better for me. Adam ad myself were great friends and we still are but obviously don't see/race each other as much now. One time that does stand out to me would be at the world trials in Nottingham for Japan, I think that was 06. 2 weeks prior we trained together at a UKA endurance day and we jokingly cut each other up a few times in the session then in the race we broke away and got well clear of the other guys. Adam decided it was funny to cut me up and make a car noise, we shared a little laugh and then I decided to get him back, however I cut him up a little too good and we collided and almost went down. Needless to say we stopped the messing about and it made the race a little more intense.

 

Do you follow the UK scene from the states?

Not so much these days. I just think now that I'm out here I might as well commit to the NCAA system and not worry about anything back home, especially when the standard of races are so much better here. Its nice to keep check every now and then though, mainly on the performances of my friends but other than that I don't tend to bother.

What's the plan for the next few months?

The next few months are geared towards NCAA nationals here and European cross. I'll hopefully make the team and then over Christmas I just need to stay healthy and have an indoor season as well as an outdoor seeing as I have ran maybe 4 track races in the last three years.

What distance are you focusing on at the moment?

For indoors I'm going to be looking at the 3k.I'll hopefully revise a few of my pb's on the track. Then come outdoors my main event will be the 5k.

What's a day in the life of Lee Carey like?

Pretty average, I wake up, go to my classes in the day and in the training room doing injury prevention exercises.Then its practice at 2:30. I'll head to dinner after that then night time is my chance to relax. I bought a ps3 this summer so that's been put to good use and then I relax and have a good laugh and a joke with the guys over here.

Is 2012 in your thoughts at all?

Most definitely, I would love to be on the start line at the 2012 Olympics. A lot can happen between now and them but there definitely in my plans so long as things work out.

 

Training

Easy Running

I rarely run real easy, mainly for the first few miles of a run if anything or when I'm feeling tired. The only time I plan an easy day is the day before a race/workout but I'll usually average around 6:30 p/m for these.

Steady Running

Most of my runs are of a steady state. I'll usually start off at around 6:40 pace and I'll bring it down from there, usually ending on around 6:00 p/m and the odd day I'll finish 5:50's or so averaging 6:15 for the run.. I just like to take each day by how I feel. I really don't like to run easy very often though, running 6:20's is comfortable enough so I don't like to run much slower unless I have to.

Interval Work

How many times a week?

If I have a race at the weekend I'll workout once that week, if I race on the Saturday I'll workout on the Tuesday and if not I'll fit two workouts in a week.

Examples of important or key sessions?

I haven't done much speed work for a few years seeing as I've been injured a lot for track seasons and during the cross season I do a lot of longer reps. Something like 5x1 mile with 90 secs recovery I really like and then 6 mile tempo runs at 5:00 min miling I find to be very good.

Do you change surface dependant on time of year?

Yeah we start off the cross season working out on the road, we have a bike path near by which we use for tempos until were feeling pretty strong and then move on to grass in around October time. Come track season we obviously workout on the track.

Can you give a typical week in full training and race week?

We typically work on a 10 day period of the following:

 

Monday- am- gym session

 PM-13/14 miles

Tuesday - pm 8-10 miles.

Wednesday - pm 8-10 miles depending on how I feel.

Thursday - pm workout on grass,usually something with 25 mins of volume, eg 5x1 mile.

Friday - am gym session

pm 8-10 miles

Saturday - 12 miles

Sunday - 8-10

Monday - workout on grass again depending on time of year. 6 mile tempo or long reps.

Tuesday - 8-10 miles

Wednesday - 10 miles.

 

 

Then last week which was a race week my training was-

Monday - am gym session

Pm 8-10 miles

Tuesday - workout on grass....6x 4 mins

Wednesday - gym session

Pm 8 miles

Thursday - 7 miles

Friday - 5 miles

Saturday - Race day

Sunday -10 miles.

 

Mileage

What is your mileage are you doing in training phases?

I keep it pretty consistent hitting 65 a week.

What is your longest run of the week?

Usually 13 miles, maybe 14 if I'm feeling pretty good.

Were you running to time or distance?

I used to run to time but now since coming over to America I run to distance.

 

Altitude Training

Never have done anything like this but I wouldn't mind doing so in the near future.


Group Training

It's not essential but it's definitely nice especially with workouts. Obviously being at PC I train with the team everyday which is a really good group. We have a few sub 4 min milers and a few sub 14 min 5k guys so I'm in good company.

How often would you be training with them?

Pretty much every day although I like to get the weekends to myself and my ipod.

 

Rest / Recovery

At the end of cross and outdoor track I tend to take a week or two of down time running when I want to for no more than 30 minutess.

 

Comments On "Lee Carey Interview"