You rang and, now, he answers. Tim Nelson is a former Foot Locker finalist, a multiple-time All-American at Wisconsin, and just the 14th American to break 27:40 in the 10k.  The California native and former Badger takes on your questions, below.

1. In your fantastic race at the Cardinal Invitational you had the benefit of Team Schumacher training-mates Chris Solinsky’s early pacing and also Simon Bairu in the race. How important has working with the Schumacher training group been to your training, racing, and recent successes? Could you describe how your workouts are structured for group and individual training, i.e. when you all work together and when you are on your own.  Great running and racing, we look forward to more of the same! –Matt

Jerry Schumacher and the Schumacher training group have been integral to my running. Although I believe I have a God-given talent, it would have been impossible to develop my talent to this point without the guidance of Coach Shumacher and the support of our training group. Jerry has always been good at looking at the ‘big picture’. Even when I started at the University of Wisconsin six years ago, it seems that Jerry coached me with my post-collegiate running career in mind. From a college student’s perspective, it is difficult to think very long term, but Jerry told me my sophomore year that I would be good in the marathon.