Profile: Chris Herman

2/28/10: Shaker senior Chris Herman is difficult to describe in a few words. He may be best known for his outstanding performances as a star middle distance runner on the Track team. Yet he is also a serious student who enjoys “techno-music” and dancing. Last year as a junior, he sent a message to Section 2 competitors that he would be a top 800M runner with career best performances in big meets late in the season. Last year he was named “Outstanding Middle Distance Runner” on the undefeated Shaker Track team and he was also named to the Suburban Council All-Stars for his 800M performances. During this year’s Indoor season, he was part of the Distance Medley Relay team that set a new Shaker school record in that event. In the recent Eastern States Championship, Chris finished a close third in his 800M race and then came back within an hour as part of the Shaker 4x400M relay that set a school record and ran the second fastest indoor time in the history of Section 2. He is the second member of the Herman family to earn a place in the Shaker Track & Field record books. He is the nephew of 1970’s Shaker record holder and former Athletic Director Dave Herman.

Chris is currently within about one second of this season’s fastest Section 2 times in the 800M and 600M. He is among a group of seniors who have been extremely successful in their relays over the past couple years and which is a direct result of their talent and strong work habits. He recently qualified for the New York State Championship meet as an individual in the 600M and as part of the 4x400M relay. In mid-March, he will travel with several of his teammates to compete in the Nike Indoor Nationals in Boston. As he completes his senior year and his high school running career, he will also be choosing the college that will best match his athletic and academic goals for the future. Shakerrunning recently interviewed Chris Herman to learn more about him and his plans for the future.

Shakerrunning.com Interview with Chris Herman (2/28/10):

Shakerrunning (SR): How did you first get involved in running?
Chris Herman (CH): I got involved in running pretty early in my life. It all started back at Latham Ridge Elementary School with the Micro-minis, Elementary track meets, and the cross country races at the Town Park. I really enjoyed these events because it was always competitive and gave me adrenaline rushes. So once I got into the Junior High and the High School I joined the track teams, and then in 10th grade I joined the XC team too.

SR: Until this indoor season there was only one Herman name on the school record list. How does this feel to have your name added to the list and has there been any family influence that encouraged you to become a runner?
CH: It feels great to be up on the Shaker record list, there is no greater feeling then accomplishing something that many cannot achieve. One of my goals coming into the season was to get my name up on the record list. There was a great family influence that encouraged me to become a runner. My uncle ran track throughout his High School years at Shaker where he earned many records. He then continued his track and field career at University of Florida where he continued to enjoy the sport. His enjoyment made me realize how much fun I could have in the sport, so it was one of the many influences that made me want to join track and field.

SR: You have run cross country the past few years in order to prepare for track. Did your injury this fall slow down your preparation for the track season?
CH: During the fall XC season I was diagnosed with Achilles Tendonitis, which made me stop running for well over a month. Without this distance running I came into the indoor track season with absolutely no base, making just about every run tiring for a long time. It put me over a month behind in the season because of this loss in base.

SR: What are your favorite indoor and outdoor tracks and why?
CH: My favorite indoor tracks would have to be the Armory in NYC, Yale, Cornell, and Dartmouth, and in a couple weeks we will be heading to the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center (in Boston) which will probably become another one of my favorites. These are my favorite indoor tracks because all of them are 200 meter tracks and some of them are even banked which makes it that much better. My favorite outdoor tracks would have to be Arcadia (CA), Cicero, UPenn, and pretty much all of the outdoor tracks because they are all full 400 meter tracks. But you always have a few that stand out because of the huge stadiums and 8-10 lane tracks.

SR: How do you prepare before a meet?
CH: What I do to prepare for a race is first of all be prepared mentally, you have to think positive. I try to get a good night sleep two nights before and the night before the race. I drink a lot of water to be sure I am properly hydrated. I eat complex carbs the night before and peanut butter, bagels, and power bars the day of a race.

SR: You are a part of a group of senior middle distance runners who have expanded training/practice to include regular weight training. How do you think this has helped performances?
CH: Yeah...almost every day or at least every other day I go to the gym to lift. This helps me move my arms harder to move my legs faster, to get faster turnover. Most of all this lifting helps you at the end of the race when you are sweating your last strides, moving your arms harder to get a kick.

SR: What has been the highlight of your running career up to this point?
CH: I think the highlight of my running career was last year in outdoor state qualifiers. The first day I ran the open 800 meter and finished 4th place in a time of 1:56.3. Then the second day I came back to run the 4x800 meter relay. I anchored it and I split a 1:55.5 and it was probably one of the most demanding races as I got the baton even with Burnt Hills and Shen, it all came down to the last 100 meters where we finished in 2nd place to qualify for States.

SR: What do you consider you best racing distance and why?
CH: I consider my best racing distance the 800 meter because not only do I give all my heart into that race, its one those distances where you have to use a lot of speed but you also have to have some distance training too. People always say that is one of the hardest races in Track and Field which makes me love it even more because I love a challenge.

SR: What advice would you give to a young runner who is just starting to run on a school team?
CH: I would say to only worry about yourself during workouts, do not try to compare yourself to other teammates in a negative way, it only ruins the fun of the sport. Have fun and root on your teammates and work together to get better. It’s that much more rewarding while you are having fun and doing well at the same time in Track and Field.

SR: What do you think are the key factors in becoming a successful track and field athlete?
CH: There are many key factors involved in being successful and your best. It’s not always easy thinking positive but thinking positive is the way to doing better. You have to be focused not only during your races but also during your workouts. Work hard during workouts because racing is your reward. Most of all have fun when running.

SR: Do you have a favorite sport outside track in which you enjoy playing?
CH: Outside of track I enjoy playing golf because it is calming and relaxing even when slicing the ball into the woods.

SR: How do you balance academic performance and athletic performance?
CH: I take things step by step, go to school then think about practice and lifting, and then go home and think about homework. Then study whenever I have free time when I am not doing anything else.

SR: What are some of your goals for the rest of your senior year?
CH: I have a lot of goals for the rest of my senior year. Athletic goals 800m – 1:53, 600m – 1:22, 400 – 49, Mile – Under 4:30. Academic goals are to just finish out the year and keep my grades up, graduate, and decide on a college.

SR: Where do you stand on your college decision and what are your plans to continue with competitive running after high school?
CH: I am between 4 colleges right now: Penn State, University of Florida, NC State, RPI. I hope to continue running Track and Field in college bcause it’s like no other experience.

SR: How do you like to spend your time when not involved in running?
CH: I like to spend time with my family go on vacation down south in the WARM weather, and hangout with friends.

SR: What is your favorite movie or TV show?
CH: I have several favorite movies which are Law Abiding Citizen, The Hangover, Fast and the Furious, I Love You Man, and Stomp the Yard.

SR: If you could have dinner with one famous person who would it be and why?
CH: I am going to change this question a little bit, one famous woman and one famous man, because I do not want to be sexist haha. If I was going to have dinner with one famous woman it would have to be Michelle Rodriguez because first of all she is beautiful, she stars in one of my favorite movies Fast and the Furious, and she seems like she always goes against the odds and is hardcore. I feel like it would be quite the adventure with her even though it is dinner. One famous man that I would like to go to dinner with would be Martin Lawrence because I love laughing and he is one of the funniest guys alive. How could you have good time without laughing?

SR: You have developed a reputation on the team with your techno music at meets. Describe how your interest has developed.
CH: Hahahaha, yeah over the summer Ryan Egan and I sometimes got bored and searched on youtube for some random songs. And we came across some techno and learned that we really enjoy it. Then I downloaded a whole techno list and it’s been never ending since then. Who doesn’t like dancing?

SR: What careers are you considering for the future?
CH: I am going to major in Engineering in college, so we will see what kind I like cause there are so many options with Engineering.

SR: What is something about yourself that most people would be surprised to learn?
CH: That I love dancing and that I love making art on photoshop.

SR: Any other comments you would like to share?
CH: The only thing I have to suggest is to take any opportunities that are thrown at you because you never know where that can lead.