by Larry Eder
Jeff Benjamin wrote this piece on Sam Prakel and his focus on the USATF Indoor Championships, to be held Feb 28-March 1, 2026. Jeff is the senior writer for RunBlogRun and the RunningNetwork. RunBlogRun will be covering the USATF Indoor LIVE with Larry Eder and Jeff Benjamin and Islam Daghestani.
Saying that Sam Prakel is quite consistent is quite an understatement!
It seems that no matter what Championship takes place, the adidas-sponsored middle-distance runner is always toeing the line as evidenced by his professional record over the last 8 years.
Prakel will be racing both the 3000 and 1500 next weekend at Ocean Breeze here on Staten Island at the USATF Indoor National T&F Championships.
1) How’s your training coming along?
Sam Prakel: “My training has come along nicely this indoor season. Every year I try to refine my training to get closer to striking the perfect balance between intensity and recovery, and I feel like this season I’ve found a routine that really works well for me. We have a great group of pros here in Seattle training under Andy Powell, so I’ve been able to hit some big sessions with Joe Waskom, Nathan Green, and Sam Ellis. I also run a lot of my easy runs with my wife, Katie, so that has made training really enjoyable.”
2) I’d think after indoor season this is an outdoor track year to pursue records and personal bests – do you agree?
Sam Prakel: “Even without a World Outdoor Championship this year, there are still a ton of opportunities in the sport. I plan on targeting the USATF road mile and 5k championships in the spring before getting after it on the USATF Tour and some meets in Europe. The goal is always to push the limits and run fast, so I’m excited to chase some personal bests without the pressure of peaking for USAs. That being said, I’m excited to head back to NYC for USA Outdoors in July and race for a national title.”
3) As a frequent visitor here now, how do you like the Ocean Breeze facility?
Sam Prakel: “I love the Ocean Breeze track. I first ran there in 2019 at the USA Indoor Champs and have enjoyed each experience back on Staten Island since. Ocean Breeze is a great stage for world class athletics and a beautiful facility to run in.”
Albuquerque, New Mexico 2023-02-17
photo credit: © 2023 Kevin Morris
4) With all the changes in the sport throughout more than a decade of you competing – super shoes, nutrition, bi-carb – how do you still stay sharp & motivated?
Sam Prakel: “It has been insane to see the level and depth of performance increase so rapidly since I started running. I would say I’m motivated by seeing so many people run fast and knowing if I work hard and stay consistent I have a chance of doing the same.”
Albuquerque, New Mexico 2023-02-17
photo credit: © 2023 Kevin Morris
5) Anything else you’d like to add?
Sam Prakel: “Just thank you to all the track fans following along and watching the indoor champs this weekend. The sport is really fun to follow right now, so hopefully the fans can enjoy some good racing this year.”
