Interview: Garrett Heath
October 29, 2003
2002 State Track Champion at 1600 and 3200 distances, 2002
Minnesota State Cross-Country Champion, an impressive 6th
place in the 2002 Foot Locker national cross-country championship,
2003 State Cross-Country Ski Champion -- the list continues
to grow for Winona native Garrett Heath. This fall Heath competed
in the Roy Griak Invitational, setting a new course record
in his victory. On Saturday, he will defend his cross-country
title in the State Meet held at St. Olaf College.
We interviewed Heath by e-mail earlier this month.
- Skinnyski: What is your summer/fall training like --
could you give us an example of a typical weekly workout?
Heath: In the summer I try do as much easy base training
as I can and don't do much if any speed work. I do a lot
of biking as well as some running and a little rollerskiing.
I try to build my hours of training as the summer goes
on by about 5-10 hours per month. Once I get into the
fall I tend to focus on running for the cross country
season. On a typical day in the later part of the summer,
I will get up and go to cross country practice. This consists
of an easy warm-up of about 1 mile, some easy stretching,
maybe a 7-8 mile run at about 6:15-6:30 pace, and then
another mile cool-down with stretching at the end. In
the afternoon of that day I will usually do an easy 30
minute bike, run or swim.
- Skinnyski: Do you do much XC ski specific training
like rollerskiing, or concentrate mainly on running?
Heath: I tend to do a lot more running and biking, especially
in the summer, than I do of ski specific training.
- Skinnyski: When do you usually make the switch to training
specifically for XC ski racing?
Heath: I usually begin my ski specific training in about
mid-November, but this was delayed until about mid-December
this last year as I was concentrating on running for nationals
in San Diego.
- Skinnyski: Many parts of the state, like the metro
area, have nearly full-time training programs. Do you have
a coach or someone that helps you with your training and
technique work, especially in the off-season?
Heath: In the off-season I kind of have to rely on myself
in terms of training as there is no one in the southeastern
part of the state to look to for coaching. I also usually
go to a few training camps in the summer in order to keep
my technique in good form.
- Skinnyski: Do you get much on-snow time during the
winter in Winona?
Heath: In terms of snow, last year we did not get much
of it at all. We took trips just about every weekend with
our ski team to northern wisconsin, minnesota, and michigan
in order to find snow. This, along with skiing on the
lakes aroud here, allowed us to get on snow as much as
anyone in the state last year. Winona usually gets a fair
amount of snow and our course at St. Mary's college retains
it pretty well.
- Skinnyski: You've done tremendously well in both skiing
and running -- which (or both?) do you plan to pursue after
high school?
Heath: Right now I plan on running in college, but will
continue to ski for as long as I can.
- Skinnyski: Any training or racing tips that you have
found particularly helpful?
Heath: Train like you want to race.
- Skinnyski: Favorite food?
Heath: salmon, pasta, and apple crisp
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