Michael Rodgers Interview: USA Indoors 2011, by Larry Eder

Michael Rodgers, 2011 USA Indoor Press Conference, photo by PhotoRun.net

Michael Rodgers is the 2009 and 2010 US champion at 60 meters, the 2009 US outdoor champion at 100 meters and the 2010 World Indoor Silver medalist. He is a man who knows the rarefied world he competes in is ultra-competitive!

“9.90 it today’s 10.00. You have to bring your A game anytime you race. “noted Rodgers in a conversation with RBR and assembled media yesterday at the 2011 USATF Press conference.

2011 USATF Indoor Press Conference, photo by PhotoRun.net

Rodgers is quite affable, with a quiet confidence that
hides the absolute battle he is in to be one of the top sprinters in
the U.S. The 100 meters and 200 meters are absolute battlegrounds today,
and with 2011-2013 being World and Olympic championship years, Rodgers
has to be on when be races.

And on he has in 2011, running one race in the US, and four in Europe.
In his fourth, Michael Rodgers burst past 2003 World Champion Kim
Collins to run the fastest time of the year, 6.50. Twenty minutes later,
Rodgers ran the 200 meters, finishing third in 20.97. “That was a long
workout for me…but after the 200 meters, I felt really tired!” a
smiling Rodgers recalled a week after the race.

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As part of his buildup in 2011, Michael Rodgers is working on his
endurance, yep, endurance! Think about it! Four rounds in a US champs,
three or four in a World Champs, and one has to be at their best in each
race. One of Rodgers workouts, is ” six times a 800 meters, in
2:15-2:20 with a three minute break. I have respect for the endurance
athletes now! ” noted Rodgers.

Rodgers at 2010 Rbk Boston, photo by Photorun.net

When asked what happens after he finishes such a workout? ” I sleep the rest of the day” noted Rodgers. “This season I am focusing on building my endurance, I am not training for indoors. In the races, I am focusing on my starts and first 30 meters, as my strength is helping me with my finish.”

Rodgers will be running the 60 meters in the US Indoors on Saturday and Sunday.

Michael Rodgers, one of the top sprinters in the U.S. , and the world. RBR sees him as one to watch in 2011!

Author

Larry Eder
Larry Eder has had a 52-year involvement in the sport of athletics. Larry has experienced the sport as an athlete, coach, magazine publisher, and now, journalist and blogger. His first article, on Don Bowden, America's first sub-4 minute miler, was published in RW in 1983. Larry has published several magazines on athletics, from American Athletics to the U.S. version of Spikes magazine. He currently manages the content and marketing development of the RunningNetwork, The Shoe Addicts, and RunBlogRun. Of RunBlogRun, his daily pilgrimage with the sport, Larry says: "I have to admit, I love traveling to far away meets, writing about the sport I love, and the athletes I respect, for my readers at runblogrun.com, the most of anything I have ever done, except, maybe running itself." Also does some updates for BBC Sports at key events, which he truly enjoys. Theme song: Greg Allman, " I'm no Angel."
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