Name: Patrick Spychalski
Personal bests: 5,000 (XC): 15:39, 3200: 9:27.25, 1600: 4:27.19
Academic interests: Business and computer science
Hobbies: Basketball and exploring new places
Favorite quote: "Some people are so poor that all they have is money."
How did you get involved in the sport?
When I lived in Philadelphia, my mom's friend was the coach of a local team. I wasn't really good at any other sport, so she signed me up and I've been running ever since.
From your success in 2016, what do you hope to do this season?
2016 was a very special year for me running-wise, and it will be hard to match so I hope to improve on my times from last year and help my team to a good performance at state.
Do you have a specific motivation?
A big goal of mine since I started running is to participate at the collegiate level, and it is probably one of the main motivations I have.
What has been your biggest challenge in the sport?
My biggest challenge has probably been pushing myself through bad days and finishing my workouts no matter the circumstance. It is very difficult to put the rest of the day aside and focus completely on the workout ahead.
One year after this season left at the high school level, what do you hope to achieve in the future?
I hope to have the opportunity to run in college and focus on my academic and athletic goals for the future.
What do you hope to achieve this weekend at Bob Jenkins SCTCCCA Coaches Classic?
I'd like to come close to what I ran at the Azalea Invitational, which was a very good race for me. Placing well would also be very exciting, although I know it will be a very competitive race.
Walk us through a 3,200 race for you.
My pre-race routine is about the same every meet. I don't eat, drink, or sit down once I get to the meet, because I feel the pain prepares me for the pain of a two mile. The one thing I do eat is my lucky skittles about 10 minutes prior to the start, something I've been doing since freshman year. I don't really have a strategy once the gun goes off so I base my running off of how I feel. The 3,200 is a long race, so I try to find a pace that is fast, but will also keep me consistent. Once I finish, I cool down, stretch, and get myself ready for practice on Monday.
What goes through your mind during the races?
I usually do a lot of calculations in my head, trying to figure out my pace and what I need to do for the next lap. I also try to strategize, because each race is different and I need to figure out what the best option for me is at a specific time.
Do you prefer one over the other?
I don't really have a preference, every race is about equally painful to me.
How do you look at being top ranked in the state in the 3,200?
I feel very blessed for what I've been able to achieve so far, but I also know that the season has only just started. I'll need to work a lot harder if I want to stay where I am right now, because the state has a ton of competition that will work just as hard to beat my times.
How and when did you start training for track and field this season?
I started training around two weeks before Wando's official season started. I took around a month off after cross country season, so I had to run hard every day to get myself back into shape.
What do you enjoy the most about the Wando team?
Wando has felt like a tight-knit family ever since I joined the team two years ago, and it's great how supportive everyone is. The team is full of competition and we work together to try and improve every day.
What do you feel you have learned from your coaches, teammates and the sport?
In my opinion, track is a sport that you can apply to almost everything in life. The structure, self-motivation, and discipline the sport provides are unmatched in setting somebody up for a better future. It also makes everything seem a lot easier because there aren't many things more difficult than running long distances every day. My coaches make me a better runner and person, and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunities they've provided me. My teammates have kept me in the sport because they make the workouts easier to endure.
What do you feel it takes to be a distance runner?
I think it takes a lot of discipline and mental strength to be a distance runner. It's really hard to keep going every day, and it takes a special type of person to keep coming back.
If there is one thing in the world you could do, what would it be and why?
One thing I've always wanted to do is travel the world. There is so much to learn from traveling, and the experiences that come with it will stay with somebody forever. Life is short, and I want to try and make the best of it.
