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Catching Up With Jonathan Peterson

Published by
RunnerSpace.com/RoadRacing   Jan 14th 2015, 3:20pm
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Team USA Minnesota Runner Eyes Big Season Ahead

By Scott Bush

After some successful races both on the track and on the roads, Team USA Minnesota's Jonathan Peterson is ready to take on a new distance, one he's never raced before. This weekend in Houston at the USATF Half Marathon Championships, Peterson takes his first crack at the 13.1 mile race. His performances over 5k/10k on the track, as well as some longer races on the roads, show it's time for the former UC Davis standout to test his talent in the half. 

We caught up with Peterson this week, talking about his bump up to the half marathon, the 2015 season ahead and much more.

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Scott Bush (SB): The USA Half Marathon Championships are coming. How's training been going and how are you feeling heading into Houston?

Jonathan Peterson (JP): Training is going pretty well. I had a few hiccups earlier this winter, but things seem to be on track. I am currently in the middle of base training, so I'm a bit more fatigued than I'd like to be, but I've been able to surprise myself during similar phases of training in the past.

SB: You’ve raced 10 miles and 15k on the roads, but never a half marathon Will your approach change much to those other distances knowing there are a few more miles to grind through?

JP: My approach will be slightly different since it is a longer distance. I'll be taking a more relaxed approach since I tend to get a bit too antsy at the beginning of most races and end up paying for it later. I'd like to be able to put myself in the pack without being the sacrificial horse.

SB: With it being a World Championship year in both XC and on the track, will your focus in 2015 be around competing for those team spots?

JP: World Championships are certainly the main goals of this season, especially with US XC fast approaching. I'll be joining two other teammates in Boulder over the next month to get in some altitude training, along with escaping a bit of the Arctic tundra that is Minnesota this time of year. It'll also allow me to put much more focus on training as a whole over the next few weeks as I train for US XC and beyond.

SB: You had a strong 2014 campaign and continue to show you're a contender in nearly every race you run. What, if anything, are you doing differently this year to take that next step forward as an athlete?

JP: Overall I am simply keeping my health my number one priority. It requires some pulling back on training from time to time, but it keeps training consistent and moving forward. I've also taken a closer look at my nutrition to find an appropriate racing weight, whereas before I assumed the motto of "if the furnace is hot enough, anything will burn."  

I still hang on that side of the fence in terms of nutrition, but I know there's always room for improvement on knowing the appropriate amount and source of nutrition that's fueling me. I've been utilizing GenUCAN for the past two years, which has helped with me in that aspect as I've been able to get the recovery I need, while not overloading myself.

I've also received a few grants for training, including one from RRCA, which has further legitimized my efforts. I've been fortunate to pick up a few sponsors along the way, but grants such as the Road Scholars Grant helps highlight the fact that there are outside organizations that believe in you as an athlete as much as you believe in yourself. So having more people invested in my own training certainly helps me push myself even further, knowing that others support what I love doing.

SB: You’ve been part of the Team USA Minnesota crew for the past few years now. For those not completely familiar with the program, what's been one or two of the most beneficial parts of being on such a strong squad?

JP: It was great coming in under a few of the alums, such as Andrew Carlson and Antonio Vega, who were stellar athletes and had plenty of credentials. I chose the program because it was going to make me fight to keep up with training along with earning my keep. It kept me honest with training and myself as to what I wanted to see come of it. There are plenty of others who are still on the team, such as Meghan Peyton and Heather Kampf, who also add their own personality to the team and have seen a bit of success under Coach Barker. As I train alongside them, I see what they've done and continue to do, which provides me with a benchmark of where I can expect to see myself and continue to strive for.  

Over the past year, it's also been great to have a steady training partner, Eric Finan, which I'd define our synergy as "unique" in a mostly positive light. We're both a bit kooky, but work well alongside each other as we're both determined in our goals and are very supportive in achieving those goals. And as rough as the winters can be, if you can survive one or two of those, you can handle anything.

SB: With it being a new racing season, what are your running goals for 2015?

JP: I’ve made lofty goals about world teams in the past that I wasn't fully aware of what was required of myself in order to make those teams, but I think I've got a shot at the World XC team this year and possibly a World Track team if I maintain consistent training. Beyond that, I look forward to tackling the roads again, as my experience prior to this past season was much less positive. And now that I am able to enjoy my road experiences more, I am much more anxious to get back on them when training allows it.

SB: It’s a New Year. Any non-running resolutions you've set for yourself?

JP: The simplest one may be dusting off the banjo and guitar that's sitting in the corner of my room to improve upon what little musical talent I have.  Outside of that, I'd like to continue improving at my new job at Meister and possibly purchasing a home.



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