Thursday, June 12, 2008

Interview with Coaches Jay & Karmen (Shorter College)

AP: We're interviewing Jay & Karmen Stephenson, husband and wife XC & Track coaches at Shorter College and ALTITUDE Project counselors. We are thrilled to be having them back for the Summer 2008 Camp!

AP: Give us the running highlights of the Shorter Team this year.

Jay: The Shorter Hawks Men's team finished 24th this year in Cross, 20th indoor, and 10th at Outdoor. The Shorter Hawks Women's team finished 3rd at Region, 22 indoor, and 15th at Outdoor.

AP: Specifically, how did some of the past ALTITUDE Project participants do this year...

Jay: Here's the run down ...

  • Amy Worthy (Amy Worthy ran a XC PR of 20:05. She then took a semester off from school to figure some things out. Amy will be rejoining the team this next year and she will be back at camp this summer. Praise God!)
  • Marc Burgess (Ran PR's for the 800-2:04, 3kSteeple 9:43, 5k 15:51)
  • Jared Carson (Ran His first race in 2008, 5k-15:46 and is excited that he is healthy)
  • Josh Carson (Helped the hawks go 1-4 at the Region Cross Country meet)
  • Dustin Mitchell (Had a solid cross season)
  • Jared Godsave (Ran PR's for 1500m-3:56, 5k-15:24, Finished 11th at NAIA Nationals in the 1500m)
  • Allen O'Neal (Ran on the 4X400m team at Nationals)

AP: You're bringing another good group of Shorter folks to the ALTITUDE Project this year. Tell us who they are and a little about them.

Jay: Let's see . . .

  • Andrew Fuller ("Fuller Time" is from Seattle Washington. He is a great dance teacher...salsa...break dancing...Hip-Hop...Pop...I have learned a few moves. I recomend a salsa night at Camp this year... PR's 1500-3:48, 5k-14:37, 3kSC-9:09)
  • Jared Carson (Jared is mostly a player, not really I just said that becasue I knew he would like it. Jared is an easy going person who is a natural leader...PR's 5k 15:24)
  • Josh Carson (Josh is a very fun person to be around. He knows running stats better than I do, but I can get him once and a while...PR's 4miles 21:30...8k 26:48 or 25:53 on a short course, so take your pick)
  • Kaitlin Shaw (Kaitlin is a very hard worker who's efforts will pay off soon...She survived a wreck this summer by the Grace of God...Also she is a true southern girl :-)
  • Justyna Mudy (Justyna Mudy is from Poland...She is very funny and fast...She will teach you the best drills you have ever done if you ask...PR's 5k 16:42, 1500 4:33, 10k 34:50)
  • Martin Hernandez (Martin is very commited and professional in his approach to running and dressing...He just PR'd in the Marathon at NAIA Nationals running 2:31:37 for 8th place)

AP: How is your running coming along? Are either of you still training or racing competitively?

Karmen: I ran 43:10 for 10k this spring, which was close to her PR from college. She is now on a bit of a break, just running some easy miles. Plans to get back into full swing in a couple of weeks.

Jay: I had a few bumps in the road this year, but my passion to get faster and run for God has never been stronger. This year I ran 8:28 for 3k, 9:12 for the Steeple.

AP: I know God has been doing some mighty things on your team. Could you share a few things with us?

Karmen: We finally have some upper classmen leadership. In a time/culture where many sinful ideas are acceptable, we are blessed to have some Christain men and women to lead the teams.

Jay: Jerad Godsave who is taking summer classes this year will be back in Mammoth next year. He Gave his life to Jesus in the Winter of this year. God has definately been at work at Shorter in my life reminding me that the true rewards in coaching come when God open's the eyes of men and women and we get to see true grace.

AP: What are some of the tougher lessons God has taught you and your team this year?

Karmen: That injuries happen, and life's choices can be tough to make.

Jay: Patience and trusting in God are more valuable than anything else.

AP: I know you two are huge ALTITUDE Project fans! Tell us a few things that you are looking forward to this summer.

Karmen: I love the running locations, the food, the friendships, the time with the Lord, the occasional bear at our cookouts...too bad I won't be able to enjoy all of those things this year. I have to be at new teacher orientation on July 23.

Jay: My favorite thing is hanging out with atheltes after a successful workout and talking about how awesome God made mammoth.

AP: Last question - if you (Jay) were in a boxing match and had to fight either Greg or Avery, who would it be and why?

Jay: I would fight Avery but I would watch out for his reach...his arms are like 12 feet long...If I fought Jimmers I think he would do the Jimmers dance as a warm up and then I would be laughing too hard to fight...

AP: Thanks for chatting with us! If you wanna hang out with Jay & Karmen, come to the Altitude Project Camp this summer - they'll be there chillin' with the rest of us.

For more about Jay & Karmen, click here -

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Interview with Mike Sayenko

Altitude Project: I'm online with Mike Sayenko from Bellevue, WA. At age 23, he was one of the youngest competitors in the 2007 Olympic Marathon Trails in NYC, finishing 29th in a time of 2:18:35 in only his second marathon! Mike can you tell us a little bit about that race?

Mike Sayenko: You know it was a total God thing, the preperation leading to the race was less than ideal as I was battling a knee injury. So as far as race day I just wanted to glorify God no matter how I finished whether first or last. The race ended up going out really slow and just grinding it out the second half as I picked off people each lap. I ended up pretty much even splits 69:12/ 69:23 which is probably the right way to run on that course. Of course I lost about 5-8 spots the last mile, because my quads were sinking into the pavement due to all the hills. And like I said I was happy just to finish.

AP: I know you were battling injury during your time at the ALTITUDE Project last summer and that you never really got back to 100%. How did that affect your preparation, physically and emotionally?

MS: You know emotionally it was frusturating at first. But, I responded very differently than I would have 3-4 years ago. I had a sense of peace about the situation at hand. Knowing that whatever happend it would not be the end of the world. And that God would work the situation out for good. It really helped to have ALTITUDE Project help take my focus off running. Everyone really encouraged me and was looking out for my well being. There was tough times of cross training, which isn't my favorite but if you have to do it. I couldn't think of a better place than Mammoth Lakes in the summer.Physically, I had to get alot stronger in the core, and knee joints. I focused on getting better on the little things, such as core. I knew that I couldn't run as much, meaning I would have to make my runs really count and sacrifice some speed sessions for longer sessions. It was really hard physically because I like to prepare the best I know possible and the knee injury just prevented me from doing that.

AP: It has to be exciting to know that you ran so well despite less-than-perfect training. When's your next marathon and what do you think we can expect to see from you?

MS: I'm planning on running the Austin International Marathon Challange on Feb 16th. There will be 5 international teams there and I will be representing USA. They are going to score the race cross country style. 2 men and 2 women on each team. I'm not sure what to expect for time wise since its a fairly hilly course but, I hope to contend for the win. After that I will most likely run one next fall.

AP: That sounds like fun! Any plans beyond that? MS: The focus now even as I run the marathon is on the track. I want to bring down all my track times this year and really focus on speed. This will start off at the UW Indoor meet this weekend as I focus to bring down my 3k time. I will be shooting for the Olympic Trials 10k in early July. AP: Do you have any final shout-outs you want to make to your altitude buddies?

MS: umm yeah shout out to Juggernaut for letting me be his championship friend.

AP: Thanks Mike -- right back at you!