Interview with Dan Taylor

Major(s): Veterinary medicine
Degree: D.V.M.High School
Hometown: Fort Dodge Senior High
Hobbies: Running, hanging out, music, fishing, the veterinary medicineoccupation
PR’s: 1500- 3:51,mile- 4:08, 3k- 8:09, 5k- 14:17
Favorite Food: any type of meat and spagetti
Favorite Saying: "The future is no place to place your better days. Cry freedom, cry" - Dave Matthews Band

How has your summer training been going?
Training has been going well. There have been ups and downs, but mostlyrunning has been pretty steady. Mileage is beginning to creep up into the 90's. I’m not forcing anything that my body is not ready to do yet, but at the same time I am testing my body with a little higher mileage. I basically run the same 2 or 3 routes everyday and it is getting pretty mundane. I also train mostly alone since I am at home for the summer.

Have you run any road races this summer?
I ran a 5k road race on the 4th of July. A lot of people will celebrate the4th with beer, hot dogs, and fireworks, but I like to celebrate with a roadrace. I ran 15:14 and it felt nice to get out and let the legs do their thing forawhile.

What advice could you give to some of the newcomers into the program about the transition from high school to college, academically and athletically?
You need to be ready for a pretty big transition. A lot of things are goingto change. Some you have no control over and some you will not know how tohandle until they happen. However, there are a few things you can resolve to now, before you get to ISU. One of them would be to get enough sleep because things always seem worse when you have a lack of rest. Another is to keep an open mind about things like roommates, professors, teammates/coaches, and training. One final piece of advice is to always feel free to talk to someone when you have issues, no matter how trivial.

What has been the most important lesson that you have learned while at Iowa State, either through running or in the classroom?
The most important thing I have learned while at ISU is that hardly anything goes to plan. You can plan to do certain things in class or on the course,but something usually seems to throw it off. I have learned that it is better tobe ready for anything and be able to succeed in situations than it is to fallapart when your initial plan doesnt work.
What is your favorite workout that you have done over the summer?I like long runs. They are the most important workout of the base phase.Plus, it feels great to say that you just ran 18 miles.

What are some individual goals that you have made for yourself, both short term during the cross country season and long term down the road?
I have made the goal of having making my senior season the best one sinceI've been at ISU. Whether it is all conference or all american, I want to walk off the national's course in November with a feeling of just getting done with my best XC season ever. Long term, I want to run some fast track times andcontinue training past my collgiate career, hopefully making some cash on the roads.

How do you describe this year’s team compared to other teams that you have been on in the past?
This is the best team that Coach Ihmels has assembled since he has beenhere. At times, there were teams that seemed to have no internal motivation. But this team has the potential to do some really great things. It will be exciting to see it unfold this fall.

What is your best running memory from Iowa State?
There have been a lot of good running memories and hopefully there are moreto come. Personally, the best have been our 5th place finish at big 12's in 2002 and when I ran 8:09 indoors last winter.

Most people have a philosophy on running. What’s yours?
My philosophy on running has changed as I have gotten older. It stands with me now that running is something that has to mean everything to you, whilemeaning nothing at the same time. I have found this to be true because if you aregoing to run you need to give it all you have. At the same time, you cannot let it become such a huge part of you that it interferes with other aspects of your life. It is a game and we do it for fun and for the rush.

Why did you decide to become a Cyclone?
I decided to go to ISU because of the educational and athletic promise thatit showed to me on my visit. I believe that ISU has developed me as a person, scholar, and athlete better than any other school that I could have attended.