Interview with Ed Eyestone

By Kevin Beck

New York Road Runners: [In covering the two marathons in Boston,] it must have felt a little like an interrogation by the end. Did you find it a challenge to field so many questions about the marathon?

Ed Eyestone: I’ve heard a lot of “out of left field” questions over the years, so I try to answer in a way the general population can understand, but that still allows those familiar with marathon running to get something out of it. That’s not intimidating because it’s what I did as an elite runner for 15-plus years. I’m not necessarily going to be the most articulate, but as long as I do my best and try to be informative while remaining entertaining and enthusiastic, I think that’s what people want.

In terms of what we were describing in Boston, we had two amazing races. It was a real privilege to be a part of both. I had the same experience in New York with the men’s Trials on Saturday and the ING New York City Marathon on Sunday. By the end of both races, my voice was shot, but the adrenaline of being in on the action kept me going. Being on the course on a motorcycle 10 feet from the action is amazing. You get the excitement from the crowd and the energy from the athletes. It’s much more exciting than talking about the race at the finish line while looking at a TV monitor.

NYRR: You’ve actually done quite a bit of commentating over the years, chiefly with ESPN and Fox Sports. What drew you into that arena?

EE: It was probably in 1992 or 1993, just after the Barcelona Olympics. I had worked with some guys in the Elite Racing group—I had done a lot of interviews before and had a working relationship with the producer. I was nursing an injury at Peachtree one of those years and so I told my agent I’d be happy to do any TV if there was a chance. I had a wonderful mentor in Toni Reavis, who is the consummate running commentator. We’ve developed an awesome relationship over the years on the broadcast side.

I remember the first couple times I was on camera and I had to do an opening. I tried just memorizing what I was going to say and it sounded stiff and well, memorized. The producer said, “Don’t memorize lines. Just talk.” That helped a lot. Now before a race you do a tremendous amount of homework on all the competitors, but you may only end up talking about three or four of them, the ones that have a good day and you end up seeing on TV. In that way it’s a lot like being an athlete. You do a ton of prep work beforehand but when the gun goes off, you have to be ready for anything.

NYRR: You were an Olympic marathoner during and after the fade-out of the American marathon heyday. Is it fair to say that the quality of today’s distance runners is as solid as it was in the mid-80s, with the big difference being the emergence of the African juggernaut?

EE: The depth of talent on the world level is deeper than ever before. One thing we’ve seen is times go through the roof. The fact that Ryan Hall can run 2:06:17 and he gets fifth at London shows you the quality and depth that exist worldwide. I’m excited we’ve found someone who has the talent and has found the right balance to compete at that level.

NYRR: Depth at the second-tier level, say, 2:13 to 2:15, does still seem to be an issue.

EE: Yeah, and I think you can look at the 1992 Olympics as an example. We did okay there, with [Steve] Spence 12th, myself 13th, and [Bob] Kempainen 17th. What I’m excited about is that Hall is capable of medaling, and Ritz [Dathan Ritzenhein] could crack the top 10. The heat and humidity may make a tough, smart runner like [Brian] Sell have a shot at the top 10 as well. What we’re seeing now is young, new talent not afraid to move up to the marathon while they’re young. Guys from Europe and other countries don’t wait until they’re 30. They know that’s foolish.

NYRR: The U.S. Olympic Track & Field Team Trials are coming up shortly. Do you work with any post-collegiate athletes and if so, will they be in Eugene? Some former BYU runners, notably Josh Rohatinsky, are romping along at a high level.

EE: Josh McAdams, a steepler who won NCAAs in 2006, is still here in Provo. He deferred optometry school for a year to work for his Olympic dream. He won the AT&T USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships last year and we’re hoping to get him on the Olympic team.

Rohatinsky wound up in the Northwest because his wife has ties to the area and Alberto Salazar, whom I consider a good friend, is coaching him. Rohatinsky wanted other top distance guys to work with and wanted other people to train with besides our college guys, and I think this is good. I think that’s why we’re seeing this Renaissance among Americans. We see guys who aren’t afraid to go to places like Michigan, Mammoth Lakes, and Oregon and work together.

NYRR: Who do you see as the more competitive athletes in your former track event, the 10,000 meters?

EE: The two guys who could’ve made the marathon team but were banged up with injuries and didn’t—Meb [Keflezighi] and Abdi [Abdirahman]—plus Galen Rupp. Now, I’d certainly like to see Rohatinsky come through and grab one of those spots, but I’ll try to keep it objective from the announcers’ booth. I was really impressed with James Carney at the Stanford Invite last April—he floored everybody with his 27:43. If he can find the same game, he’ll be a factor.

NYRR: As a physiologist, do you feel there is anything special that American distance runners can do to prepare for the hot, lung-choking conditions in Beijing, or is this just a situation that everyone will have to tolerate?

EE: I think things we learned from Barcelona in 1992 apply. Dr. David Martin [exercise physiologist for the 2004 and 2008 U.S. Olympic marathon teams] did a study that showed that athletes who took glycerol before a hot and humid race retained fluid better than those who did not. I shared this info in Osaka [at the 2007 IAAF World Track & Field Championships, also a hot venue] and I was surprised that more coaches weren’t using it. Then there’s the Nike pre-event ice-vest, which helps keep core temperature lower during competition.

NYRR: What is your take on the concerns about pollution in Beijing?

EE: Pollution is a concern, but was in 1984 in Los Angeles as well. There was a lot of talk about it before the fact, but it turned out to be more talk than reality. Heat and humidity are the huge factors; pollution should be secondary. Then again, Beijing’s pollution may be a lot worse than L.A.’s.

NYRR: You've been involved in this sport in a perhaps unprecedented number of areas. What is your most outstanding memory among all your experiences in distance running?

EE: I love World Cross. It was a privilege to be on eight or nine World teams. Finishing third in World Junior Cross and sixth with the big boys in ’84 are great memories. World Cross really is the toughest race in the world. Actually, anytime I was representing my country was great. When you can no longer run at an elite level, coaching allows you to still experience the thrill of being in the lead pack. As a coach it’s very rewarding to help a young athlete formulate a training plan and execute a racing strategy that allows them to reach their potential. If you can’t “do it,” and obviously I can’t anymore, the next best thing is to be involved with the preparation of others in accomplishing their dreams and reaching their goals. That’s what I love the most about coaching.

Interview conducted April 23, 2008, and posted May 1, 2008.