Former Champ Looks to Regain Success

By Scott Bush

It wasn't all that long ago that Angela Bizzarri was winning three NCAA championships, positioning herself as the future of American distance running and competing for World Championship teams. That was 2010 and Bizzarri was riding high after a strong fifth place finish at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships over 5,000m. After three seasons of struggle, where she dealt with injury and the transition to being a professional athlete, Bizzarri is starting to regain form as part of the Brooks Beasts. 

We caught up with Bizzarri recently, as she returned to Seattle after a nearly two-month stint at altitude, working hard and ready to compete for a few new PRs this season.

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Scott Bush (SB): First and foremost, how is your training going? How's the season going?

Angela Bizzarri (AB): My training has been going well. I stayed in Albuquerque after U.S. Indoor Nationals where I placed 5^th in the women’s 3k. I have been at altitude for about 7 weeks. I am excited to come down to sea level to race this spring. This winter/fall I had a short cross-country season running club cross-country and a few indoor races. I have been happy with my training and racing progression this winter/fall. I’m excited to start the outdoor track season.

SB: 2014 is a non-championship year, so...what are your plans for racing? Will you just try to get your 5k PR back down or will you focus on shorter or longer events more?

AB: I am planning on doing a few more 1500’s this season then the past few years. Other then that I would like to run a fast 5k, it would be really great to get back to my PR’s in some events. I have contemplated moving up and trying the 10k, but have not been able to sustain the mileage needed to make an honest shot at succeeding in that event.

SB: It's been an up and down career for you since leaving the University of Illinois. What are you doing now that's helping you get back to the level you were competing at a couple years ago?

AB: I was very fortunate to stay healthy and run well my four years at the University of Illinois. In the University setting I had a coach that supported me as an athlete and a student along with medical staff to help me stay healthy. I am lucky to find that system of support now in Seattle. Beyond the support staff I also have teammates to make the journey to athletic excellence a communal experience.

SB: You're part of team Brooks Beasts. What have you learned along the way as a professional and what's it mean to you to be part of such a strong team?

AB: I have learned patience in performance and practice. I learned a lot about my body and how to stay in the sweet spot when training, to not over train or get injured. I am fortunate to have teammates that have competed at a higher level then me professionally to impart any wisdom they have attained through their experiences and help keep me grounded through good and bad training/racing cycles.

SB: A lot of people don't know, but you haven't had a set-coaching situation for more than 2-3 at a time since you were a freshman in college. How do you see joining Brooks Beasts and having that consistency help you not just this year, but down the road as well?

AB: Since graduating college I have been a bit of a running nomad. I have grown as an athlete, as I struggled with the transition from a very low-key college environment to a more intense professional training environment. I am fortunate to have Brooks as a sponsor who has continued to support me and believe in me through all the ups and downs. I am happy to find a home in Seattle with a group of talented women.

The past few months I have fallen in love with running again on a daily basis, and enjoyed the process of training. The long-term commitment to this group will allow me to make smart training decision to ensure my success not only this year but also the years to come.

SB: For you, what's been the most challenging part since turning pro and what's the most positive part of being a professional athlete?

AB: The lifestyle of a professional athlete can be a bit isolating, which isn’t seen when you are busy with school as an undergraduate student. Since moving to Seattle I have had a group of athletes to connect with and the Brooks headquarters nearby which supports athletes involvement in developing footwear and apparel.

The best part of being an athlete is seeing yourself and teammates achieve goals that at one time were only a dream, and out of reach of what you thought possible. I have many teammates both past and present that I am excited to see succeed this track season.

SB: You've been running at a very high level for a long time. When did you first get into the sport of distance running?

AB: I first start running when I was in middle school. I was an age group runner and competed in the Junior Olympics and other youth running competitions. I was lucky to have coaches during that time period that stressed the importance of enjoying and appreciating the sport rather then focusing on performance.

SB: Who's been the most influential person to you as an athlete over the past decade?

AB: It is difficult to name one individual who has been the most influential, as I have been around many influential people in the past decade. I would say the most influential people are the coaches and teammates who have believed in me when I sometime lost believe in myself.

I have been fortunate to have many coaches, including Jeremy Rasmussen, Jon Clemens, and Danny Mackey that have believed in me through good and bad races and workouts. Along with many teammates, high school, collegiate and post-collegiate, whom have shown me that the journey to excel in athletics can have unexpected challenges. These challenges are a meaningful part of the journey made possible with continued support of teammates and coaches.