The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Catching up with Jacob Hernandez
03.24.2009 | Track & Field / Cross Country m, Track & Field / Cross Country
March 24, 2009
Senior Jacob Hernandez won the first indoor 800-meter national title in Texas history almost two weeks ago in College Station at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Hernandez, the reigning outdoor champion in the same event, finished in 1:48.04 -- a half a second in front of the second-place finisher.
But the race wasn't exactly over even then.
Hernandez' sister was getting married in Houston, and the ceremony was starting about the same time the gun went off for the 800-meter final. When he crossed the finish line, Hernandez bolted off to be with his family at the wedding.
Hernandez spoke with TexasSports.com about the emotions of his race day and about the transition from indoor to the outdoor season.
How did you feel going into the final race? First round of the 800 was on Friday, and I didn't run too well. I don't know what it was, but I couldn't get my legs going. That kind of threw me off a little bit, and my body didn't feel up to par. Later on that night, I ran the first leg of the distance medley relay, and I felt great. I felt sharp. It was weird, because it was only two hours after my race, but I guess it just knocked off the rust. Going into Saturday, I felt really good.
You started in the eighth lane, do you mind that? The way I run, I like to get out pretty hard and that way I'm in front of everybody. And I felt like this was an advantage, because when everybody comes down off the lanes, I was going to be on top, instead of having people coming in at me.
So what happened as soon as you were done with your race? The whole week, I don't know if I was more nervous about the race, or concerned about the wedding. I really just tried to focus though, especially that day. I didn't want to put too much on my plate. I was anxious, because I wanted to do well. I wanted to win. I had never won an indoor title. Then, the glimpses of the wedding would come in, and I just couldn't believe that was going on at the same time. After I won, I can't really even explain that. I was happy, but I didn't really even get to enjoy it like I wanted to. I didn't want to seem like I was real arrogant, so I tried to tell any guy I could catch that I had to leave for my sister's wedding right then. I'm sorry I couldn't be on the awards stand with them, but I was off. I got to enjoy the last couple hours of the reception.
Did any of your family call or let you know what was going on in Houston? No, they kind of know to leave me alone when I'm getting ready for a race. I had a date who was going with me to the wedding, and as soon as the race was over, she called my mom, but the wedding had just started. There was this room for coats and purses, and she left her phone in there, and they could hear the phone going off during the ceremony.
What's the biggest difference between indoor and outdoor? It's a lot different because there are more turns (in an indoor race), and tactically, there's no room for error. You're just allowed one move. It's all about position, and being in the right place at the right time. Last year, I didn't do as well, because I made an error. I thought I got to break in after one turn instead of two. And then I got behind. It's as easy as that.
Does race strategy really work when you get into the race? I try to keep an honest pace for the first 400, and then after that, it all pretty much goes out the door. You do whatever you have to do. Just race at that point.
Running that distance, can you explain what your body goes through? The thing that really is not the best thing about the 800 is that it's really painful. When I've done longer distances, like a 1200, it's a moderate effort, but it's nothing like the 800. Every time it hurts. We take it out, the first 400, in about 50 seconds, so it's pretty quick. You can imagine the last half of the race, you're body is just taxed.
So, at that point, it has to be mind over matter? Psychologically, you just have to know that it's going to hurt. You feel like maybe you don't have it, but you do. Being able to fight through that is key. Afterward, everything hurts -- legs, lungs, your brain even.
The Texas Relays are next, and that is such a huge event here. How does that race fit into your training for the outdoor season? We train hard the week of relays, run the relays and go back to training hard. Texas Relays, people get excited for that, and that alone turns out a pretty decent performance. Running fast shouldn't be too hard.