by Jeff BenjaminDrew Windle delivered in what, until now, was the most important race of his life. Running the 800 meter final in a similar version to 1972 Olympic gold medalist Dave Wottle, Drew Windle came from last to second in 100 meters, just when it mattered. When everyone but Drew Brazier was going backwards, Drew Windle listened to his coach, Danny Mackey and moved from sixth to second, running 1:46.29, and making his first World Indoor team.
Here’s a great interview by Jeff Benjamin. Thanks Drew!
Drew Windle, photo by PhotoRun.net
8 Quick Questions With 800 Meter World Champion Competitor Drew Windle- by Jeff Benjamin- 2/19
RunBlogRun, 1) How did you get into the Sport?
Drew Windle: Starting at 4 years old, I played baseball every spring until middle school, when I was cut from the 7th grade baseball team. To do something to bridge the gap from then until the next football season, I decided to join the track team. I started out as a sprinter, and then found the 800 as my main event when I was a sophomore.
RunBlogRun, 2) Did you consider yourself a slow or fast developer?
Drew Windle: I wouldn’t consider myself a slow or fast developer, just pretty average. I pride myself on consistent hard work, and knowing when to turn on the competitive switch, and when to turn it off. Since I started running the 800 in 2009 I set a personal best every year except for 2015 (my senior year of college).
RunBlogRun, 3) Most memorable HS Race?
Drew Windle: After being a pretty average runner for most of my high school career, I set a One second personal best to qualify to regionals, a two second personal best to qualify to state, and then another two second personal best to win the Ohio high school state meet my senior year. Winning the state meet as an athlete who had never previously made it to that meet was incredible, and having my entire family, a cheering section of about 35 people, made it that much better.
RunBlogRun, 4) Most memorable College Race?
Drew Windle: Two races come to mind as far as most memorable college races. The first was winning my first national title indoors in Birmingham Alabama. I was the top seed going in, and won the race by almost two seconds. Naturally the first one is going to be memorable. The second race was the DMR at NCAAs, where our team went from 9th to first during the the 400 and 800 legs. I handed off to our anchor who split 4:03 to hold off Adams State and win the title. It is special to win individually, but to share the win with three other guys who you put the work in with makes it something special.
RunBlogRun, 5) How’s it different being a pro athlete from HS Collegiate?
Drew Windle: It’s very different. Obviously it’s a lot more pressure to preform because it’s my job on the line every time I step out on the track. Another big difference is where my focus is at on a daily basis. In college you have classes, social life, and other extracurriculars, but as a pro the environment is very focused. Probably my biggest learning curve as a pro was figuring out how to not become over invested in the sport. If that happens and things don’t go as planned, you need to have other things to point towards that fulfill you and make you happy.
RunBlogRun, 6) What Training philosophy are you following?
Drew Windle: My personal training philosophy is pretty simple. Work hard, work smart, believe in yourself and the process. Buying into a program, I would argue, is more important than having a good program. My college coach, Jud Logan, used to say “a coach who is believed in is inherently a good coach. A good coach who is believed in is inherently great”. I believe that’s the relationship that I have with my coach Danny Mackey. I’ve bought in to what I think is the best programming, and I work hard, and more importantly, I know when to work hard and when to hold back a bit.
RunBlogRun, 7) Do you incorporate any cross training and/or Weight training?
Drew Windle: I lift two times a week on workout days, which consists of core, stability, and a few Olympic lifts. I don’t regularly cross train, but if I do I choose to swim.
RunBlogRun, 8)What advice can you give to young Runners??
Drew Windle: The best advice I can give to young runners is to be willing to experiment and learn as much as you can to find what works best for you as an individual. Secondly, you need to be willing to work hard and make some sacrifices if you want to maximize your potential. Between those two things you can go from an average runner, to getting a scholarship, or scoring at a conference meet, or maybe even getting a professional contact.
