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Full Name - John Conrad Koziel Academic Interest - The Sciences Date of Birth - 11-04-1987 Hobbies - I sing in the school chorus. Brothers/Sisters - one sister (Heather) Event Pr\'s - 5k=16:03 High School and Mascot - Northwestern High Trojans |
j.c. koziel: The trip was great although I didn\'t compete as well as I wanted to. Running past the eighth of November was tough. I don\'t run well on my own; I\'ve always needed someone to train with. I don\'t think that the time zone change effected me but I know that the altitude did. In the middle of the race I could tell that my muscles weren\'t getting the oxygen that they needed.
scrunners: What do you remember the most from the 2003 cross-country season?
j.c. koziel: Finally putting myself under 17 minutes.
scrunners: When did you start to run?
j.c. koziel: I started (to run) six years ago.
scrunners: What gave you the idea to start to run?
j.c. koziel: We missed the sign ups for soccer and my parents wanted to keep me active so they signed me up for track. They had to force me to run.
scrunners: How is it to run with your sister Heather at Northwestern?
j.c. koziel: To be truthful, I don\'t even notice that she\'s there.
scrunners: Do you two ever run together?
j.c. koziel: Not if we have a choice.
scrunners: What number are you on Northwestern\'s team?
j.c. koziel: I was the second runner for us.
scrunners: What was your biggest challenge during your young career as a runner?
j.c. koziel: I didn\'t have fun doing it so I didn\'t care about what I was doing. I enjoy myself now.
scrunners: Does or did anyone else besides Heather run in your family?
j.c. koziel: I think a cousin of mine runs in Chicago.
scrunners: What is your favorite cross country course in South Carolina and then the nation? Why? Do you have a favorite track that you prefer the most?
j.c. koziel: I\'d say that my favorite course is Fort Jackson\'s for both state and national. I don\'t have a favorite track because they are pretty much all the same (to me).
scrunners: Which sport do you prefer more, cross-country or track and field? Why?
j.c. koziel: I prefer cross country because I\'m a distance person. I don\'t like to run anything under a mile.
scrunners: Where do you run at Northwestern for training?
j.c. koziel: We run on the course and in the surrounding neighborhoods.
scrunners: What is your favorite cross-country workout?
j.c. koziel: I actually don\'t care what we run, I just enjoy the training.
scrunners: Are you more of a long distance endurance runner or do you prefer fast, short workouts?
j.c. koziel: If I had to choose I prefer the distance.
scrunners: How did you prepare for this past cross-country season?
j.c. koziel: Our summer training starts in June in order to get us ready for the season.
scrunners: What kind of training are you doing to prepare for the track and field season?
j.c. koziel: I haven\'t actually started training for the track season as of yet.
scrunners: What events are you aiming to run this season?
j.c. koziel: I would like to run the 1600 and the 3200. I will also probably end up running the 4x800.
scrunners: Do you hold any records at Northwestern or are you looking to break any in the future?
j.c. koziel: Currently my name is on the list for the 3200 as the seventh fastest runner Northwestern has ever had and I\'m looking to break the actual record before I leave.
scrunners: Before you graduate in two years, what is your ultimate goal? How do you see yourself achieving this?
j.c. koziel: My ultimate goal is to become the best. I see myself achieving this by working hard and staying focused.
scrunners: Have you been injured and became discouraged? How do you try to stay motivated throughout these times? What kind of cross-training do you do during the off season and when injured? Have you seen any benefit from cross-training?
j.c. koziel: When I get injured I just try to come back as fast as I can. I have done a great deal of cross training: stuff for my back, my legs, and my arms. I\'m not sure if I have ever seen benefits from the training though.
scrunners: What kind of racers and trainers do you wear?
j.c. koziel: I wear Brooks for everything, even my school shoes.
scrunners: Who is your biggest individual and team rival? When do these rivals become the most intense and how did they develop?
j.c. koziel: My rival is the coach\'s son, Brandon Hudgins. The competition between us is always fierce and it\'s the fight between us that drives the both of us onward.
scrunners: What is the most prestigious meet that you have you competed in? Have you ever meet a professional runner? What did you talk to them about?
j.c. koziel: I haven\'t really competed in anything prestigious and I have never met a professional runner.
scrunners: I know it is early, have you thought about running in college and what colleges are you looking into?
j.c. koziel: I have thought about running in college and know that I will have to if I plan on going (to college) because I\'ll need a scholarship. I have not thought about which college I\'ll be going to though.
scrunners: What kind of race strategy works best for, why, and what do you do if the race strategy or scenario changes?
j.c. koziel: I usually hang back behind someone and wait till the stretch to catch them. This doesn\'t always work but I need someone to chase.
scrunners: What is your favorite running book? How many times have you read it?
j.c. koziel: I have never read a running book.
scrunners: Do you have a pre race tradition that you do before each race?
j.c. koziel: I don\'t have a tradition outside of a warm-up.
scrunners: What do you see you happening with South Carolina running this upcoming track and field season and the future?
j.c. koziel: I don\'t know what will happen, except that I plan to keep on running.