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Full Name: Brandon Daniel Hudgins Hobbies: Playing guitar, road n mountain bikes, sports in general Date of Birth: 1/14/87 Academic Interest: PE, Science Brothers/Sisters: Tyler 16, Calli 10 Personal bests 800-1:56, 1600-4:16, 3200-9:30, 5K-15:56 |
scrunners: What made you decide to attend Winthrop coming this August?
hudgins: I get along great with Coach Paxton and we have the same philosophies about training, plus the guys on the team are great and I already know the majority of them.
scrunners: What other schools did you think about attending?
hudgins: Clemson,UNCC,UNCG.
scrunners: When on college visits, what did each trip consist of?
hudgins: Meeting the coach. Hanging out with the team and going over details about scholarships and training with the coach.
scrunners: As a senior at Northwestern, stepping to the starting line for the last time in Columbia, what was it like to win the 1600 and then come back and place in the top three in the 3200?
hudgins: It was awesome. The 1600 meter title has been the one title that I wanted and when I was on the starting line that day I knew there was nothing anybody could do to take it from me. Now coming back in the 3200 was difficult. There was less than two hours between them so recovery was real short. My goal going in that race was to hang on for as long as I could and try to come out with another medal.
scrunners: How did each race unfold?
hudgins: The 1600 went out right where I wanted to be at 63. Then the pack came through the 800 at 2:09 and that's when I took over. I lead the next lap and came through the 1200 at 3:13. I was on my own by then and just keep the pace consistent for the final lap knowing that I had the 3200 left. The 3200 was a bit weird because I actually remember very little about the race. I remember hitting the mile around 4:55. I then remember Aubrey (Darnell) and Kevin (Dejonckheere) taking off with 400 to go and I was just shot and couldn't go with them. Then on the backstretch Chad (Holt) blew past me and I latched on to his heels and then with 200 to go I pulled it together to finish third.
scrunners: What were you thinking and feeling throughout each race?
hudgins: During the 1600 I was trying to stay out of trouble and remain with the leaders so I could respond if the pace was not to my liking. I was focusing on relaxing and just waiting to make my move. Then on the final stretch I was stoked because I knew I had finally won the title that I had been wanting. During the 3200 I remember feeling good for the first two or three laps then I just started to fall apart. I was just telling myself to hang on that it was almost over and that I couldn't lose contact.
scrunners: What would you say is the most prestigious meet you have competed in? How did you fare?
hudgins: Nike Indoor Nationals. I finished 10th in the mile from the slow heat. I also ran a PR there off of just base work.
scrunners: Where would you like to see the State Cross Country be held? Why?
hudgins: Hilton Field because it is hands down the best spectator friendly course and the fairest course to race on.
scrunners: When did you start to run for Northwestern?
hudgins: I started running Cross-Country in seventh grade and then ran up in track my eighth grade year.
scrunners: When did you start to run?
hudgins: I started running when I was 10.
scrunners: With your dad as the coach, did that influence your decision? Explain.
hudgins: Actually no. At the time he was still coaching football in the fall. He discouraged me when I first said that I wanted to run cross in middle school because it was going to be a bear on my mom to get me to practice everyday but we worked through it.
scrunners: With your brother, Tyler, also competing in distance running, how you helped him as a teammate and brother develop in the sport?
hudgins: I have tried not to force him to do anything he doesn't want to do but like me he has found an interest in this sport and he is hooked. This year I had to help keep him motivated because he got injured and was extremely mad. He knows that I am always there for him if he needs advice.
scrunners: When you graduate from Northwestern what do you want to remember from your four years academically, athletically and socially?
hudgins: Academically- I want to remember some of the cool things I have learned and the life lessons that the teachers have taught me.
Athletically- I want to remember all the fun I had competing in this great sport for six years. Most of all I will never forget our state title in cross and my medals in track.
Socially- all of my friends that I have grown close to over the last four years. I just hope that we can stay in touch.
scrunners: Prior to the start of the cross-country season how did you train?
hudgins: Our team meets four days a week at Winthrop farm and one day at Anne Springs Greenway. We did basic base work with hills, tempo runs, fartleks, and long runs. I averaged about 55 miles a week during this period.
scrunners: How did your cross-country training vary from the summer months to the season and as the season progressed to the end?
hudgins: As the season progressed we added speed and took out the hills. Besides that it was pretty much the same.
scrunners: How much rest did you take prior to the start of training for track and field?
hudgins: I took a week and half off after Footlocker South.
scrunners: How did your training vary in order to prepare for the track season?
hudgins: I went back to base training similar to my summer training.
scrunners: What kind of goals did you set for the 2005 season and would you say you accomplished these goals?
hudgins: I wanted to win the 1600 title and come back and be competitive in the 3200 regardless of how the mile went. I would say that I accomplished these goals.
scrunners: Were these goals reconsidered any time during the season?
hudgins: No.
scrunners: Who helped you set these goals?
hudgins: My dad, Coach Watkins, and Coach Paxton.
scrunners: Have you ever been injured? Explain.
hudgins: Yes. I have had two IT band injuries and one foot injury.
scrunners: How do you stay motivated through each season?
hudgins: By keeping my goals in focus and staying focused on the task at hand.
scrunners: What would you recommend to younger runners that are looking to reach their maximum potential in running?
hudgins: First they need to love this sport and want to do well. Believe in themselves as individuals. Set high goals and work their tail ends off to reach them.
scrunners: Does Northwestern have any team traditions prior to a meet?
hudgins: During cross we all warm up together, stretch and do strides. Then we all gathered for prayer and an inspirational speech from me.
scrunners: Do you have any individual traditions? Explain.
hudgins: Yes and no. I always warm up then stretch then do drills and strides. Besides that there is not a whole lot of structure to my pre race routine.
scrunners: Does Northwestern or yourself have any competitive rivals?
hudgins: Yes. From the team standpoint Fort Mill is a huge rival. Individually I would probably say Aubrey (Darnell) but we are good friends off the track.
scrunners: If so, how did these develop and when do they become the most intense?
hudgins: Fort Mill has always been a rival because our cross town rival (Rock Hill) isn't that good so Fort Mill is the next closest team that is very competitive. The most heated moment would probably be the dual meet with them in cross or the dual in track.
scrunners: Where is your favorite place to train?
hudgins: Winthrop Farm or Anne Springs Greenway.
scrunners: How often do you train at this location and what makes this location different than other courses?
hudgins: I am at the Farm all the time because it is right by my house. Anne Springs is normally a weekly thing in the summer.
scrunners: When a race strategy changes, or is not as you expected, how do you adjust your plans for that event?
hudgins: I take control of the race and do what I can to win.
scrunners: What do you look for in a coach and what do you expect a coach to look for in you?
hudgins: I look for someone who has a successful background with proven methods of training. I also need to click with their personality and be able to approach them. about anything.
scrunners: Have you ever thought about coaching cross-country or track and field? Explain and if so, what level?
hudgins: Yes I have. I plan on majoring in Physical Education at Winthrop and then coaching at either the high school or college level. Right now if I had to pick it would probably be the college level because the athletes are a bit more focused and there isn't the immaturity level that the younger kids have.
scrunners: What do you see happening with the sports of cross-country and track and field in the state of South Carolina in the future?
hudgins: I forsee South Carolina rising among the ranks in distance running. The underclass that this state has is ridiculous. They have run some very fast times. I hope that this group can force everybody to raise the bar and take this state to a new level.
scrunners: If there is one thing in the world you could do what would it be and why?
hudgins: Running. There is nothing I would rather do right now. Running is what I do and is a way of life. The thrills and rushes I get from this I cant get anywhere else.
