Mike Aish: New Zealand's flagship distance runner

Two-time Olympian and Commonwealth Games representative Kiwi Mike Aish is New Zealand's flagship distance runner. At 31 he is the nations 4th fastest man ever over 10'000m running an impressive 27:46.37 at the Cardinal Invitational at Stanford in 2007, while his 13:22.64 is the 6th fastest ever by a New Zealander over 5000m, run his last year of College in 2002. During his tenure at Western State College of Colorado Aish claimed 10 National Championships in Track and two in Cross-Country graduating in 2002 as the fastest 10000m runner over any NCAA division running 28.01. Now focussed on the marathon Aish recorded his second Olympic A standard over the distance in winning the Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon earlier this year recording a personal best of 2.13.20. However, his recent non-selection for the Beijing Olympics by a mismanaged Athletics New Zealand has gained the previous mystery man considerable media attention with his decision not to appeal for a third Olympic appearance. With Beijing now out of his plans I was able to speak to Mike about his career based in the US and his thoughts on New Zealand running.

RunnersTribe:First off, what brought about the move to Western State in Colorado from New Zealand all those years ago?

MA: I didn't have a dollar to my name, was working about 3 dead-end jobs and was going nowhere fast. Lots of schools in the States showed interest and after looking in to them all Western looked to be the best fit. Western State already had a handful of kiwi runners that were doing well and like I said, I had nothing to lose.

RT: Your home and base for most of the year has remained Gunnison in Colorado, what is it that keeps you training there year-in year out?

MA: Gunnison is one of those places where not much changes, it's a small town high up in the mountains and you can really focus on your running. The altitude helps, but I really think that it's more just being in a place that you can train without any distractions (also having about 10,000 miles of dirt roads and forest trails helps too.)

RT: Would you ever consider a permanent move from Gunnison while you're still running full-time?

MA: Yes, I don't think it's the only place in the world that you can train well, plus it's only nice here for about 7 months a year. At the moment it just fits well.

RT: The Gunnison winter is the coldest in the Continental USA, how do you adapt your training to cope with the changing climate?

MA : When I was in college I used to cut the mileage a little in the winters and focus on quality. You could always get your heart rate up so that was kind of the main goal of most workouts. I did a lot of tempo runs on the treadmill and a lot of hill repeats. I ran 28:01 for 10,000m off that kind of training so it must have been ok.

RT: How did your training and racing progress once you finished College, did you immediately decide to coach yourself?

MA: Besides some guiding when I was younger back in New Zealand, I have always coached myself. One of the main reasons that I chose Western was because the racing commitments were a lot less than a bigger division I college. At Western State I was able to have control of all my training and that lead to me to take full control of the whole teams training by the end of the first year. When you are running well and doing the same workouts as the rest of the team, a trust develops between you and the rest of the team.

RT: Are there any outstanding figures whose influences you've carried throughout your career?

MA: Some how I was able to meet and talk with many of the greats of distance runners. This is how I started to compile my own philosophy. It's amazing how many different people around the world train in the same manner. This just showed me that there wasn't a secret workout, but a core amount of work that needs to be done if you want to run well at a high level.

RT: You're now part of the Bideau "Stable" and have since run PR's over the 10k as well as Marathon, what do you attribute to that?

MA: Before I met up with Nic I was kind of coming to an end of what I knew. I had run the same stuff over and over again and didn't seem to be getting as much out of it as I had before. Nic put a new spin on things. The training was just about the same, but this time they had more purpose. I started running workouts that had less rest and more volume. The workouts lead to racing well rather than just looking good on the training track. He's a hard man, but I trust him 100%, Nic gave me a whole new start to my running and without him I'd be long gone from the sport.

RT: You said too me before the Berlin Marathon last year "2:10 or bust", what is it you need to do to finally run 2:10?

MA: The marathon is a different event, I know that I've been in 2:10 shape lots of times but it's a matter of getting it done. It's a fine line between being in great shape and over-doing things. When your fit you kind of feel that your invincible in training until you get to about that 18 mile mark. I know I'll run 2:10, I just don't know when. In the last two years I've really started to focus on the marathon. I feel that I've found what really works for me and in the right race it will happen.

RT: Do you think you could still go faster over the 5 and 10?

MA: I've got a lot of unfinished business on the track, but one good marathon will erase it. I feel that I have the ability to run in the low 13:00's and around 27:30, but in the end where is that going to get me? I'm still going to be a lap behind the pace at the world level. The marathon is so great because everyone has a shot on his or her giving day.

RT: Do you have any plans to race in NZ in the near future? Will we you see you in a Wellington Scottish singlet for the National Road-Relay this year?

MA: I'm thankful to Scottish Harriers for all their support over the years. Whenever I can get a few dollars together I'll be back. I think that the road relay is the best event in New Zealand and whenever I can line up to race it I will.

RT: Running isn't the most lucrative sport to make a living off of, how have you continued to get by and remain full-time for so long?

MA: We live in a small town and the cost of living here is just about nothing. We somehow manage to survive every month so we make it work.

RT: Your recent non-selection for Beijing seems to be a culmination of poor relations between yourself and Athletics New Zealand (ANZ) since Sydney in 2000, has it been particular individuals or the institution itself that has prevented you from competing in your third Olympics this year after 3 A-Qualifiers?

MA: I don't really know what to say about that. I do feel like I was let down by the people that were meant to be fighting for me, what more could I have done? It's been the same thing happening for over eight years now and I've got to the point where I'm finished with the games and I'm looking out for myself now.

RT: Would you ever consider competing at world crossy again?

MA: Funny you say that, I did ask to run in the last two World Cross Country Champs but Athletics New Zealand said I didn't have a time to make the team and didn't want to send me. Maybe this year?

RT: What are your thoughts on the current standards of NZ running, how could it improve?

MA: I feel that New Zealand has loads of talent. There are guys much better than I ever was when I was younger running so well, but I think because they don't see outside the bubble most of the runners settle for the local standards (I was one of those kids until I got to the US and saw that every man and his dog was running sub 14:00 for 5,000m.) You kind of ask yourself why they're doing it and your not? I think that the current runners are on the right track, but maybe sometimes they need to set their goals a little higher. It's ok to fail a few times just as long as you keep going after what you want.

RT: Is there any current NZ runner you'd love to race with over any particular distance?

MA: No, but I'd like to get out for a run and have a yarn with a few.

RT: Thanks Mike for your time and best of luck with your coming racing schedule.

By Daniel Wallis

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