The Twin Cities has played a role in his development as he ran the 2011 TC Mile and placed fourth, then stayed on in the cities thanks to "hosts" Heather and Ben Kampf, who let him stay at their place after the race. Below Chaffee talks with DtB about his goals and how he's attempting to achieve those goals.
Down the Backstretch: In the UK they’d probably classify you as a “nearly man,” somebody who is on the cusp of a breakthrough, but for whom it hasn’t happened yet. In your BLOG you answer the question of why you run by noting that you are very competitive and running is an outlet for that side of your personality.
This can either make the nearly man status very frustrating or fuel for answering the challenge of discovering how good you can be at this running thing. What do you hope to achieve as a runner? Is there a timeline for you to either break through or pack it in, or is running something you’re in for the long haul?
Macklin Chaffee: It's a thrill to be back at "nearly man" status. Every year I've been healthy, I've dropped over four seconds from my time. I don't see any limitations as to what I can achieve. And THAT is an exciting prospect! So I would have to say, ultimately, running ends when I feel I have found my limit. And when I'm done, I'm done.
The fact that I can make enough with my web development business to live
comfortably allows me to maintain a relatively trouble-free, low-pressure,
flexible approach to running; a luxury most "nearly men" don't have. I'm going
to run as long as I have a hope of being the best. World number one.
There are other reasons to run: I want to make and represent a USA team. How sweet would that be!
I'd be thrilled to start getting solicited to international meets, using
that as a springboard for more world travels/adventures, making
international connections among this amazing, global community.
And finally, I'd like to win Rio 2016. Cliche? Sure. But think about the
moment. Gold medal. Star-spangled banner. Red, white, and blue fireworks.
Knowing your parents are tearing up somewhere. That's a thrill you can't buy. An
athletic accomplishment that represents the pinnacle of victory!
DtB: Like many
runners, injuries have been a major roadblock for you. Some serious, requiring
a long period of time off and rehab, others the usual setbacks one gets when
trying to push the envelope of one’s potential. Your current coach, Jay
Johnson, has noted that he’s having you work on strength/flexibility/efficiency
work. Has this approach contributed to your early season successes this year,
if so how?
MC: I have consistently improved my mile time every year for seven years until
2012, when I had the first serious injury of my career. As a 26 year-old, time
is still plentiful, but not so seemingly limitless. My training philosophy is
now built around being bio-mechanically sound with the idea that it would allow
me to be injury free. I cannot be set back like that again. This entire year was
meant to be groundwork for the future.
However! It's an eye-opening, side-effect that suddenly I'm also racing
better than I ever have before, simply because of this bio-mechanical strength
and flexibility work. I can't wait to actually get in the weight room and run
2011 mileage next year!
DtB: Jay also says
he’s impressed at your confidence that you can run with the best and the fact
that you have “long levers,” which seems to be in vogue right now—i.e. Usain
Bolt, Kiprop, both big guys who can turn those long levers over pretty
quick. Where does the confidence come from and do you think much about your
size, either as an advantage or
disadvantage?
MC: (Olympic 800 meter champion and world recordholder David) Rudisha is the man I truly physically idolize. Kiprop's a freak, I don't
feel like can learn anything from him.
My size is a disadvantage in a race. Leo and Centro have a much easier time
of finding holes, tucking into packs, and riding rails without constantly being
clipped. However, when it comes to raw potential, I think taller guys with long,
proportionally strong levers, that are able to stay healthy, will ultimately be
able to out-run the smaller guys. "It's science!"
I suspect short, lithe bodies have dominated the sport in the past because
the philosophy was generally mileage, mileage, mileage. Big guys just got hurt.
Now, there is more literature, knowledge, and research into injury-prevention
techniques. I was beginning to develop my own paradigms about strength training
when I met Jay and all of a sudden it was, "That's it! ... He's discovered what
I'm looking for!"
I'd rather have my genetic gift/talent than any other because I'd rather be
working on strengthening muscles and improving turnover than growing longer
legs...
DtB: What did you
learn about yourself, what you need to do to improve, from the TC Mile
experience? It was probably one of the stronger fields you’ve run in and you
were in it down the stretch.
MC: I ran that race as well as I could with the lead-up I had. I've reaffirmed
that I'm training correctly. Reaffirmed that I need more raw speed. I could
barely have stayed with Willis even if I was fresh on the last 200. Reaffirmed
that my race/pace tactics are sound. What I learned was that I can improve
psychologically when approaching a race. Going into that race there were a ton
of reasons to run poorly, and that allowed me to take a shoulder-shrug
mentality. It helped more than the lead-up hurt. And that's something to
remember.
DtB: Your blog is
an informative glimpse of the journey you’re taking through the elite running
world. What made you decide to chronicle your running life? Is it just a
communication tool, an outlet for your
thoughts?
MC: Yes, "the blog". The blog started because I found it cathartic and
educational to analytically scrutinize my thoughts and experiences while
training and racing. It also kept me accountable while I was training myself,
and (selfishly) saved me from writing a dozen different emails to the people
that care about how I'm doing.
But now, there are a few other reasons to keep it up. First, it's become a
neat little way to remember key moments in my running career (since its
inception in 2011). I'm a sucker for a complements and I love the occasional
"nice blog post!". Finally, despite growing up a vocal skeptic as to the
necessity for writing assignments, I've discovered I quite enjoy it when not
forced to write.
DtB: You said in
an interview that your college coach got you into a couple of races after you
graduated in 2009 as your second place finish at DIII nationals that year sort
of left unfinished business. You qualified for the USATF champs, then
went on a trip to New Zealand where the running
community there generated a desire to keep going with the running career and see
where it took you. How did the NZ trip come about? How long were you there?
Were there any particular experiences down under that pushed you toward
continuing with the sport after college?
MC: I always had an itch to get out and explore the world that I wasn't able to
scratch in college. When, like many new graduates, I had a rough initial launch
into the real world, going abroad to live a little became a summer goal. New Zealand fell
into place as the perfect candidate, and there was much rejoicing when I saved
enough money to buy the ticket.
Once down there (for six months), I had such a good time, found such good
friends, and made so many personal and external discoveries, that all I started
to think about was, "I gotta go everywhere!"
It's been a while (my summer plans in 2011 having been dashed by injury),
but I think I'm finally going to get the chance to go to run in Europe this
summer. And I couldn't be more excited!
DtB: What are your
goals for the USATF Championships? It’s a bit different being trials and
finals, instead of a one-off race.
MC: Yeah, that is a great question. I have not put that much of an emphasis on
USAs this year, as I've been there twice before and twice been in stacked heats
that went slow. I mean in 2011, the guy with the best time going into the meet,
Russell Brown, didn't even make it out of my heat.
This whole year was supposed to be rebuilding, focusing on improving my
bio-mechanics. But now I'm beginning to re-evaluate my expectations in light of
my recent improvements. Bottom line is, if I can make the finals, I expect a
strong, competitive finish. But certainly come 2014, I'll be looking to
medal.
The nice thing is, it doesn't change anything about my training, which has
been completely focused on strength and speed. My personal expectations will
take form when I see some heat sheets!
DtB: Last
question, a bit of a silly one, but all the races I’ve seen you run recently are
in a “uniform” of white top and black “cycle shorts.” Is that a superstition or
conscious choice? Do you have a closet full of white shirts and black spandex
shorts that you draw from or a laundry service for after each
race?
MC: Well Jim, on the inside of that jersey I have written the lyrics to MC
Hammer's "Can't Touch This". And the long black half-tights are in memory of my
only pet, Mocha, who is now happily hunting on a farm upstate in New
Hampshire...
Just kidding. I just don't own a jersey.
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