Neil Barry

AmateurEndurance: Have you done this race before?
Neil Barry: No

AE: How did you like it?
NB: Really fun. It was really fun that there was a hill at the end that totally whooped us.

AE: Have you done many half-marathons?
NB: This was the second or third that I have done.

AE: How did your time compare?
NB: Way better, I beat my last by about 10 minutes or so.

AE: What kind of training volume do you do?
NB: Yea, I train a lot. I’m actually training for an Ironman so I do about 3 hours a day pretty much.

AE: What did you think of the course?
NB: It was great. It was really nice. The hill on the end, we had shade for a lot of it so that was great. The rest of the course was fun. The downhill at the beginning for a couple of miles was rad. I was like “I could do this for 80 miles.”

AE: Do you have any recommendations for anyone that hasn’t done the course before?
NB: Yea, I’d recommend people practice on hills every once in a while.

AE: Great, Thanks!

AmateurEndurance: Was this your first half-marathon?
Alessa Vellez: No, this was my third.

AE: Did you like it?
AV: Uh-huh

AE: Do you have any recommendations for someone that hasn’t done this course before?
AV: I’d say get in good long runs on Sunday, that way your body is used to doing that kind of mileage on Sundays since most half-marathons are on Sundays.

AE: What kind of training do you do for a half-marathon?
AV: I did speed work, hills, long runs on Sundays and I definitely started tapering the past two weeks.

AE: What did your tapering include?
AV: Well, I would still do my long runs on Sunday, anywhere from 8 to 10 (miles) and then I would take one day off and do an easy two miles. Then anywhere from 8 to 4 (miles) with 3 miles the day before the race to relax.

AE: What kind of things do you do for nutrition?
AV: Well, I don’t like bananas but pears have a lot of potassium so I’ve been eating a lot of pears. I take vitamin supplements, Iron and definitely calcium. Then I make sure I hydrate all day Saturday. I alternate between water and Gatorade. Just consistently drinking something so that I make sure I am 100% hydrated before Sunday morning.

AE: What about during the race?
AV: I take water at every single stop. I don’t drink the Gatorade but I do take water at every stop. I take one gu pack 15 minutes before starting.

AE: Thanks for your time.

AE: Have you done this race before?
TN: No, this was my first time.

AE: Have you done any half-marathons before?
TN: Yep, I’ve done La Jolla and a few in Phoenix.

AE: How did you like the race?
TN: It was fun. The hill at the end was a little challenging.

AE: Did you know what the course was like beforehand?
TN: Nope.

AE: Did you do any specific training?
TN: Yea, I run a mountain twice a week back in Phoenix.

AE: Do you do mainly half-marathons?
TN: I did the P.F. Chang Rock ‘N’ Roll in January.

AE: Congratulations. What do you do for nutritionleading up to a half-marathon like this?
TN: Basically, try to get carbs for energy. Just eating healthy, eat lean meats and stuff.

AE: What about during the race itself?
TN: During the race? I take Gu and beforehand I eat a clif bar and banana. Hydrate a lot.

AE: Do you have that on any type of set schedule or just as you feel you need it?
TN: Just whenever I feel like I need it.

AE: Do you have any recommendations for any first timers that haven’t done this course before?
TN: Make sure you do hill workouts. And speed training because there is a lot of flat if you want a good time. Do intervals and stuff like that.

AE: Thank you very much.
TN: You’re welcome.