Jan
27
For this profile, we head back to the happy predawn hunting grounds of Prattville, Alabama (which previously yielded profiles on Kym Klass and Drew Trachy), to catch up with James Killian of the Early Morning Cruzin podcast and blog. James has been running for longer than I’ve been alive (OK, maybe a bit of an exaggeration – but not much!) and thus provides a different perspective on the balance between aggressive goals and maintaining running as a lifetime hobby – a lesson many of us would do well to heed these days. You can find James on dailymile or, if you can tolerate the spouting off about his Auburn Tigers, on Twitter as alroadrunn3r.
Predawn Runner: You’ve had quite a bit of history with your running. Can you tell us how and when you started, and share some of the highlights from your running “career”?
James Killian: My earliest remembrance of running is when I was in 5th grade. I was on the 4 x 50 relay team for a “Sports Day” celebration of some kind. That was when I was a sprinter! 
That same school year I had to take a bus to the school, which was about 5 miles from where I lived. Well on some days I just didn’t want to wait for the bus, so, like Forrest Gump, I just ran. I would run home and what made it interesting is I would race the bus home. So, while everyone waited for the bus to arrive at school and for it to make the second school pickup, I would be hoofing it home in my jeans and tennis shoes. There were times I won and times that the bus won. This was back in the day that a parent would let you do such a crazy thing.
I have had two births to my running. One was as a freshman at Auburn High School. A new coach had been hired for the XC and Track team. I showed some interest in coming out for the track team and he encouraged me to come out for XC to get in shape. That was the best suggestion I could have gotten. I loved every minute of XC season for 4 years. I was voted most valuable member of the XC team my junior and senior years. Track became something I did to get ready for XC!
I have a few running highlights. The first two were as a high school runner. First was the District XC – 3 mile, where I came in second overall, with a time of 15:45. I still can recall certain portions of that race in my memory. Not long after that was the district Indoor 2 mile (actually ran on an outdoor track), where I came in first and ran a 10:16.
In 1977 I ran in the Peachtree Road Race (my 2nd). There were approx 6,000 participating runners that year. I came in 281st place with a time of 37:52. After the race we saw Frank Shorter walking across a street in downtown ATL and we ran over and he gladly gave us his autograph.
Now skip ahead from 1978 to Sept, 2000 – there was very little running during those between years. The fall of 2000, I was challenged by my sister to begin training for a half marathon to be held that next February in Birmingham, AL. Well, the rest they say is history. My post-modern highlights include finishing the 2007 Mercedes ½ marathon with a time of 1:29:57 and 4th in age group (missed 3rd by 8 seconds). Also in 2007 was a 10th place age group finish at the Azalea Trail 10k with a time of 40:36 (Got to meet Bill Rodgers the night before the race and got his autograph). 2007 was a year I look back to and remember the great times I ran (great for me). It really was fun.
PR: Your goals have evolved the past few years, can you share a bit about what you have been focusing on, and how that has modified your approach to running?
JK: Turning 50 really hit me harder than I anticipated. But I want others who are 50+ to know that I am hitting back! As I said, 2007 was a banner year for my running. I am shocked when I read my training and racing logs from that year. However, lessons can be learned the hard way in running. I raced hard that year, and trained hard. It finally took its toll in the fall of 2007, and I was out of running almost the whole of 2008. I think my mileage total for 2008 was less than 500 miles. I spent that year in the gym (I had better work hours then). I learned the hard way that easy days are supposed to be easy days.
PR: You ran across quite a road bump last year, in the form of injury. How did it happen, and what impact did it have on reaching your goals?
JK: Well, the only goal it interrupted was to finish a marathon. But to be honest I am not upset that I didn’t get that goal. The marathon has never has been a hot button for me. I am quite happy with the 10k and half marathon distances.
I am really not sure what caused the Achilles injury. It was a new type of injury. As runners we ache virtually all the time but this was a different hurt. I am hoping it is behind me now.
What it did was take the pressure off of any plans for 2011. Right now I don’t plan to race competitively in 2011. I am looking long term and 2012 is on my scope for a banner racing year.
PR: What are you doing differently going forward, in terms of goals and approaches to training?
JK: I am just taking my time to build up my mileage. My plan is, by fall, to make my long run standard to be 15 miles rather than the 10 that it has been for so long. I will not include any intense intervals. Tempo or fartlek will be the only speed work I will work into my plans.
PR: What makes you and J2 such dedicated predawn runners?
JK: We are predawn runners out of support and necessity. When I started back running I made it clear that I wouldn’t let this get in the way of family time. Mornings are the only time where I can accomplish this. The reason we are up and on the road by 3:30? Well J2 wanted a partner to run with and so he runs when I do. The reason I run this early is because I have to catch a commuter van to work and it leaves town at 5:30. So I have to be up, run and done and ready to drive to the van by 5:20. But as are many running partners we are both afraid of the wrath from the other if we don’t show up for a run.
PR: What prompted you to start the Early Morning Cruzin podcast, and what has it done for you in helping you work towards your goals?
JK: I started listening to podcasts when I got my iPhone… I had no clue what I was getting myself into. The two podcasters that got me to thinking about doing my own show were Gordon Harvey (This Running Life) and Kevin (The Extra Mile Podcast). I met Gordon (and Mark – bamarunner) at a race in Clanton, AL. Gordon recorded a little after the race and I thought it was pretty neat. I bought a recorder and started sending in updates to The Extra Mile podcast and at some point Kevin planted a seed by saying that he thought he was sure I would eventually have my own podcast. Guess he was right! 
Other podcasters that were huge in their encouragement were Mike (dirtdawg) with the DDRD podcast, and Megan (Run Vegan Run). The podcasting community is very supportive and let me tell you, there is room for more. There is a niche that each podcaster finds of people that will take time to listen.
PR: So what should we expect to see from you this year, in terms of training, racing, and podcasting?
JK: Training will be different this year. But I am in no hurry. No race plans at this time. I may run in races but I will not compete until I am VERY ready. Again, I am in no hurry. 2012 is going to be outstanding.
As far as podcasting, I’ll probably just continue as I have been doing. To the most part about every other week I’ll release another unedited conversation with J2 about whatever we have to talk about that day. I just mentioned this to a runner friend today that I think there are plenty of podcasts you can listen to if you want to know how to run; I just want to be there with you as we talk about running.
