The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Keeping pace: Mark Floreani
11.17.2004 | XC: Men_Old, Track & Field / Cross Country
Chicago-native Mark Floreani is one of the few seniors on the 2004 men's cross country roster, but his experience has been a help to coach Vigilante as the team has moved through the fall. A member of the Academic All-Big 12 first team, Floreani has been instrumental in the cross-country program's success during his four seasons. He finished 16th at last weekend's NCAA South Central Regional, an 11-place improvement from his 2003 performance, and is looking to cap his cross-country career with a strong race at the NCAA Championships on Monday, Nov. 22 in Terre Haute, Ind. Floreani sat down with www.TexasSports.com to talk about racing, practicing and his grandma's lasagna in this edition of Keeping Pace.
On running at the NCAA South Central Regional: The regional race is very exciting because of the pressure. Racing would not be such a rush if there was no pressure. We needed to place in the top two in order to go to nationals. We had to run well but we knew we would because we believe in our coach and his training. Coach Vigilante told us we were going to run fast and we did.
On preparing for the NCAA Championship meet: We have been preparing for nationals since July 1st when Mark Nichol and Andrew Middleton started running every morning at 7 a.m. They got the ball rolling, and then the rest of the team started coming back to Austin and running every morning. The only reason we woke up everyday was because of nationals. The team was very disappointed in last year's cross-country season. But, we never lost focus and I believe we are ready. We are prepared because of the 1,300 plus miles we have run.
On using his prior NCAA Championship experience this time around: It has helped me to keep my excitement under control. I know the season is very long and many runners burn out by the time nationals comes around. Once you have been to nationals you realize how long the season really is. I know that a great race at nationals is the difference between a good and great season, and more importantly a great collegiate career.
On sharing his experience with younger runners: I just try and relay to them that running is a 4 to 5 year process. You get stronger every year and you can run more miles. The stronger you are the faster you will run. By your fourth or fifth year, you will achieve or surpass your goals.
On his role on the team: I'm the old grumpy guy who yells a lot because he cannot understand kids today.
On this year's team: This is the best team I have ever been on. We have so much fun with each other. We are very close. You become real close to someone when you go on two-hour runs with them. Within one hour of our two-hour long runs we laugh a lot, then get really angry at each other, and then we laugh again. Maybe it's the lack of oxygen or blood in our brains from running but it happens every Sunday. We spend a lot of time together away from practice as well. There are 19 track guys living in what we call track town, right off campus. We all eat together because we genuinely like each other. This year has been a blast.
On Texas associate head coach Jason Vigilante: Not many coaches in the country have made runners improve like coach Vigilante has. I am so grateful that he is my coach. Give him a kid that will work hard for four years and he will give you an All-American.
On why he runs competitively: Some people jump out of airplanes to feel alive. There is that feeling right before the jump that you will not survive or you can't do it. We run 10,000 meters.
On what is going on in his head during a race: During a race I am real stupid, I try to figure out my pace or how far I have left. Simple math but for some reason I have a hard time figuring it out, I eventually give up and come to the realization that it is far. Doubt comes after the failed math. You think you will not be able to keep the pace or that you never liked running anyway. There is a war between one side of your brain saying to stop and the other side telling you to keep focus and keep moving up. There are little battles throughout the race such as whether to catch up with your team during the first mile or relax. To kick it in to the finish line or cruise in. You must win these battles to win the war and have a good race.
On how running transfers into his personal life: You cannot fake running. If you do not put in the months of training you will not run fast. I have incorporated this philosophy in everything I do from school to relationships and everything in between.
On his interests outside of running: I like going to all of Texas' sports and I'm a pretty big Chicago Cubs fan. Nothing is better then watching a Cubs game from the bleachers of Wrigley field. When I go home to Chicago I spend most of the time at my grandma's house eating lasagna. When I am in Austin, I like to cook my own Italian food and go to El Arroyos or some other Tex-Mex restaurant.
