TEN QUESTIONS WITH...

As the year moves towards the Mid-American Conference Championships, how does your training change?
In mid-October, we bump up our mileage a little bit just to get a good base in and make sure we’re ready. Once November hits, we taper off a little bit so that we will be fresh going into the race.

What is a normal week of training like for a cross country runner?
On Tuesdays, we’ll usually do a hard workout out on the soccer field and the practice football field. On Wednesday, we’ll have sort of a hard day, then the rest of the days are just distance. The average guy on our team does probably around 70 miles a week.

Everyone has their own strategy on how to run their best race. What is yours?
Depending on the race, I just try to go out with the lead pack. Running my own race is the most important thing for me. If I run someone else’s race, it’ll blow up in my face and I won’t have a very good race.

You are a part of the only team on campus that doesn’t get an off-season. Knowing that you are always in-season, how does that affect training at the end of cross country or indoor track season knowing that a new season awaits?
I don’t even worry about the upcoming season until it’s actually there. I focus on one at a time and take each race as it comes.

On Oct. 9, you get the chance to run at home in the UB Open. What are the advantages to a race at home?
It’s great being at home. We had a lot of fans come out last year to support us for our Athletes-for-Athletes event. It was great to see them all and I know it ended up helping me. I ended up winning that race by like a minute. It was a great adrenaline rush.

You won the 2002 New York State High School Championships at 3,200 meters. What was that experience like?
It was probably the greatest experience of my life, so far. It’s just an amazing feeling. It’s four years of hard work all summed up in one day.

In the 2003 media guide, you list Rocky as your favorite movie. Why do you think there haven’t been more movies made about running?
Running is not a very popular sport with people who don’t actually do the sport. With boxing, you know, there’s a lot of fans. I’ve never boxed but I like the movie. With running, I think it’s just something runners understand.

You are also an avid baseball fan. What are your picks for the 2004 World Series?
Yankees all the way. It doesn’t matter who they’re playing.

Coming from Greece, right outside of Rochester, what do you think the biggest difference between life in the Flower City and life in the Queen City is?
It’s cool having a football team in (Buffalo). It’s great to see all the fans. I’ve gone to a few Bills games and had the time of my life.

What has been your favorite moment as a UB athlete?
Competing in the MAC Championships (has been my favorite moment) and just growing real close to my teammates.

“The 10 Questions With…” feature is compiled by Joe Guistina.