Photo by Brandon Miles
Grafton senior David Gunnerson leads an impressive group of distance runners at the Group AA school in Yorktown, Virginia which has improved itself to have one of the best relay quartets in Virginia this past indoor season. Grafton boys 4x800 meter relay won the Group AA state title three weeks ago and last weekend turned in two swift times at Nike Indoor Nationals. Grafton posted one of the fastest DMR times all-time indoor in state history with their 10:09 7th place finish, while they broke 8 minutes for the first time in the 4x800 meter relay. Gunnerson individually won his first individual state title this season in the 1000 meter run, which is an event that he is ranked among the VA top 25 all-time list in. After bettering his all-time best in the Nike Indoor Nationals open 800 with a 1:55.21 performance in his third race of the meet, Gunnerson now eyes another title in the outdoor 800 as well as posting some more great times with his Grafton teammates including Group AA state cross country champion Kyle King.
Interview with David Gunnerson
MileStat.com: You have competed in events from the 200m up to the 5000m, an impressive range. Talk about variety; how does it affect you mentally?
David Gunnerson: The variety for me really just gives me confidence in knowing that I can run many events. Its also just nice to be able to compete in a new event after having run events like the mile or the 800.
(Photo right by Ryan Kelly)
MileStat.com: Tell me about your favorite event. Please explain.
Gunnerson: My favorite event would have to be the 800. It was the first event that I really enjoyed back in 8th grade. I just remember one of my coaches telling me that I would be running an 800. I didn't know any better or what I was getting myself into, but in the end it all worked out well. Ever since then I've really enjoyed running the half mile.
MileStat.com: In the Region I Indoor T&F Championships you lost to Colin Mearns by roughly 3 seconds in the 1000m. A week and a half later, at the State Meet, you were victorious in the same event by a similar margin (winning by the same 3 seconds). What changed? Would you attribute your come from behind victory to a successful taper?
Gunnerson: At the Region meet, I had planned to go out and set an honest pace. But this ended up with me running as a rabbit through 600 meters. At the state meet I knew that setting an honest pace early would also be something to do as well as not letting anyone run on my shoulder. My coach and I talked about what to expect and how to handle the different situations.
MileStat.com: Some events you have competed in less than others. For example, the Charlottesville Dream Mile, New Kent Quad Meet in 2009 for the 200m, and the 3200m in 2008 at the Jamestown Winter T&F Festival. What was the thinking before and after these races?
Gunnerson: Many of those races were just sort of run for fun (not that I think the 3200 is fun). I always went into each of those events with a positive attitude and tried to get after it. My coach would occasionally give our 4x800 relay team chances to run events that we really have never done before. My best memory was when we made a 4x100 team with Kyle King and I with two other distance guys which went well for about 2 legs and the rest was about as well as anyone would expect for a distance 4x100. I guess after each of those races I've felt a little more relaxed and confident knowing that I can run something new every meet if I put my mind to it.
(Photo left by WingedFootPhotos)
MileStat.com: Results show that you have done very well in individual events as well as relays. How do 3 other teammates running in the same race with you differ from that of an individual event such as the 1000m? Does this push you any harder than you would be in an individual event? Or encourage you more? etc.
Gunnerson: Running the relay this year at states was definitely the most important thing on my mind up to that point. After last year with a 3rd place finish in the 4x800, I knew that this had to be the year to win. I felt the pressure and the fact that I was running with my teammates did push me more than in my individual event. I know that I can't let my teammates down especially after each of them have run their hardest. I did want the individual title but being with my teammates on the relay did make things different.
MileStat.com: So what really goes on in the mind of David Gunnerson during his mid-distance races compared to those long distance races?
Gunnerson: There is a big difference in the mindsets when I'm running middle distance and distance events. For the middle distance events I tend to think about getting into a good position through 400 meters and then let the real racing begin. I know that I have decent kick speed so I always try to move to where I can sprint to the finish. As for the distance events, it’s a different story. To tell you the truth, it normally ends up with “How much longer” or “I have to be done by now” going through my head. I’ve never really been a big fan of anything over the mile, but my coach always seems to persuade me into running some of those longer events.
(Photo right by John Herzog)
MileStat.com: Do you have a favorite motto? Maybe one that brings out the best in you when practicing or competing?
Gunnerson: "A runner must run with dreams in his heart" is probably my favorite quote. My dad actually found this quote from Emil Zatopek one day before the Outdoor State meet my sophomore year. The other quote that was helpful this past cross country season was “Now is the time.” I had hoped for a better cross country season but had to sit out and cross train and never have I needed more motivation than when biking on the stationary bike.
MileStat.com: What impact has Coach Matt Gutridge had on you and the Grafton team since his arrival. Did his knowledge and past experience as a high caliber runner at Caroline and UVA make it easier for you trust his advice and training on what it would take to go to the next level with your running?
Gunnerson: Coach Gutridge has definitely had a positive impact on not just me but both the cross-country and track teams. His experience has helped but overall I wouldn’t say that his experience has made it easier to trust his advice. If anything, it was the immediate results from his guidance. After over a year under his guidance it is easy to say that he has helped me come a long way and push myself in order to improve.
MileStat.com: This past weekend your two relays in the DMR and 4x800 ran great times of 10:09 and 7:59 respectively yet just missed All-American honors. How bittersweet were those two races to run great times but just miss placing in the top 6?
Gunnerson: Those two races were definitely bitter sweet. For the DMR, there was almost nothing else that our relay team could have done better that night. We all ended up with PRs that night and had apparently run the fastest indoor AA DMR time in Virginia history. It was a real confidence boost heading into our other races. The 4x800 was also bitter sweet at best. Our team had a goal to break the 8 minute barrier all season and we finally accomplished that goal. Unfortunately the 6th spot was a few seconds ahead and I did not run as well as I wanted to.
(Photo left by Matt Shatkus)
MileStat.com: How encouraged are you for this upcoming outdoor season after running an indoor 800 PR of 1:55 this past weekend? How did you feel about that individual performance after having a busy weekend of relay leg action?
Gunnerson: I’m really looking forward to this outdoor season especially for the 800. I was so excited that I had run that fast after having run 2 other events earlier. There were a few what-ifs left in my head after the race, like “What if I had made my move earlier” and “What if I didn’t get tripped up on the last turn”. But now that I finished up my last high school indoor race with a PR, I’m ready to run quick this outdoor season.
MileStat.com: You had to deal with an injury in cross country, which set you back in your training and you had to miss a good deal of races. How frustrating was that injury for you considering the "what if's" of what you could have done individually and your team if you had remained healthy?
Gunnerson: The two stress fractures in my foot were a moral killer for me and possibly for some of my teammates too. The beginning of fall training was looking real promising because of our 2 mile time trial. The second week of practice I had managed to easily run a 9:50 2 mile on our course. This year appeared to have been the year for Grafton at states. But once I was out for the season, the only thing on my mind was to get healthy for states.
Photo by Brandon Miles
MileStat.com: What did you gain or learn out of the injury since it was one of your first major injuries correct?
Gunnerson: I think that the most important thing I learned was patience. It wasn’t easy having to sit out of races and instead go bike and swim. But in the end, it all paid off and helped me out this indoor season after I had built up my aerobic base from all the boring miles on the bike and in the pool.
MileStat.com: What are your top choices right now for college?
Gunnerson: Well, I have actually made my final decision. It was down to UVA and William and Mary. After some discussion with my coaches and family and weighing the pros and cons of both schools, I decided to run for William and Mary.
(Photo right by Tom Hoerner)
MileStat.com: What are your goals for this outdoor season?
Gunnerson: My goals for this season are mostly focused on the 800 and 1600. I would like to dip down under 1:53 in the 800 and under 4:13 in the 1600. I also want to go after the 800 and 1600 state titles, which I know won’t be easy with some good competition this year (some of the best being my teammates). As for relays, I know that our 4x800 would like to go under 7:50 and for the DMR to get closer to the 10 minute barrier. The 4x800 state title is also something that has been in the back of my mind for a while now.