Catching up with Donn Cabral - Maine Cross-Country Camp
MaineTrackXC had the chance to do a brief interview with Donn Cabral in advance of his trip to Maine to be a coach at the Maine Cross-Country Camp. Check it out below and if you need something to do next week there is still space for next week's session, see details below
You're going be at the Maine Cross-Country Running Camp during the August 3rd-8th session, is this your first time at the camp? What's your favorite part about being at camp with athletes?
Yes. My favorite part about being at cross country camp again is the chance to re-live such an amazing part of almost all young runners' lives: summer camp! It's nice to remember the excitement of the coming season, the nerves from meeting new people, and the fun of spending a tough but amazing week with friends.
What's the experience like working with younger athletes that look up to you as a role model? What's the one thing you hope the campers (athletes) learn from you during a camp?
The ability to inspire people just by pursuing what I love is the best part of being a professional runner. That's why I'm so excited to pass on my experiences. The one thing that I hope these athletes take away from being with me is an enthusiasm for the sport. I think some high school runners aren't exposed to others that truly love running and racing. To me this is unfortunate because my love for the sport grew from influential people in my childhood that had an infectious passion for running. I hope to pass on enough passion for the sport, mixed with a few lessons here and there to carry them through the rest of their lives.
What's your funniest or best running camp memory?
Being the undisputed ping pong champion!
You were a very sucessful XC runner in high school winning the CT State open and New England championship twice, what advice can you give to kids about the importance of summer training?
My biggest break-out season was senior cross country when I set the meet record at Footlocker Northeast at Van Cortlandt Park. The reason for my breakout, and the reason I had the strength to last until the end of the season is because of the amazing summer I put in.
Last year was a tough year for you performance wise, then you found out you had lyme disease. Can you talk about your experience with the Lyme disease and the road to recovery?
Last year my body and I were at odds and I finally needed to take a break and just recover from the sickness and the training. The biggest thing that last year's setback has provided me is a new appreciation of being healthy and competitive, which makes any experience and any outcome that much more positive.
Now that your healthy, and have returned to a high level of performance (3rd in US outdoors in 2014 -8:20.04, just off your PB), what's the goal for you over the next year?
I'd like to finish off my season this fall with a new PR in the mile, steeple and 3k. After a couple races on the road and some rest I want to really put in a big aerobic base (like a high schooler's summer training) to lead to a big breakout like I did my senior year of high school after that great summer.
Finish the sentence Donn Cabral is...
Come meet me and find out for yourself at the Slovenski Cross Country Camp!
For More Details about Cabral & Maine Cross-Country Camp check out the press release below
RAYMOND,MAINE - Olympic runner Donn Cabral is coming to Maine this summer to be Head Coach at the August 3 session of the Maine Cross-Country Camp. Cabral was an 8-time All-American in college cross-country and track. Soon after graduation from Princeton, he made the U.S. Olympic team by placing second in the US Olympic trials in the 3000 meter steeplechase. He went on to finish 8th in the Olympic steeplechase in London with a time of 8:25.
During his career at Glastonbury High School in Connecticut, Cabral had personal bests of 8:56 in the 2-mile and 14:32 for 5K.
“This is an amazing opportunity for Maine high school runners to learn from an Olympic runner,” said camp director and Bowdoin College cross-country coach Peter Slovenski. “Donn will be running with campers, guiding workouts, and teaching campers about how to improve their training and racing. It will be a wonderful week of high level summer cross-country training.”
Information on the camp is available at: SlovenskiCamps.com
Donn Cabral bio can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donn_Cabral
