Jana Stolting currently leads the state in the 3200 with an 11:02. The junior from Tallahassee's Maclay School gives us some of her deep insight into training and being coached by legend Gary Droze... as well as her opinion about the rabid duck population in Tallahassee and her passion for spelunking. It's certainly never a dull interview with Jana!!!
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JASON BYRNE (FLRUNNERS.COM): Looking back just to last season, you have come a really long way! In cross country you cut your time over two minutes, and you're already 30 seconds than last year in the 3200. To what do you attribute your dramatic improvement?
JANA STOLTING: Well, I was battling both IT band and asthma problems during my sophomore year of cross country, so my times actually slipped quite a but from my freshman times (20:16 season best versus 18:54 season best). The thing is, my sophomore year was my first year of eligibility, so it just looked like I made a more dramatic improvement than I really did. As for the improvement I did make, I attribute it to putting my full trust in my coach, which allowed me to build my mileage and stay healthy.
JB: So right now you are the state leader with your 11:02... did you expect to see yourself at the top of the list? And what goals have you set for yourself?
JS: I guess I would like to see myself at the top in the 3200, but that would probably only be a reality in my dreams. Florida has so many outstanding female distance runners that to even be on the outskirts of their league is an honor. As for goals, I want to set the 3200 record for my school, which is currently 10:58. I have been eyeing the 1600 record as well (5:06). Then, of course, I want to place as high as possible at state. Mainly though, I want to help my team grow in strength and in numbers so that we can bring back the glory days!
JB: What is it like to be coached by Gary Droze?
JS: Being coached by Gary Droze is like being taught how to meditate by Ghandi--he is such a master of his craft that you just look stupid when you try to do something your own way. It's also like being followed around by the entire cast of Monty Python and the writing staff of The Onion... if all of them sported little running shorts and could smoke just about anyone in a 5k.
JB: What is your favorite track workout?
JS: Hmmm, an interesting question... I'd have to say kilometer repeats with short, active recovery. I definitely favor the endurance end of running.
JB: Do you do any cross-training or aqua jogging or anything cool/different?
JS: This seems like two different questions here... I do plenty of things that are "cool" and "different", but I probably shouldn't go into those here... as for cross training, I do it once a week, and I usually bike, though I did try endurance crab walking once... it wasn't as exciting as it sounds.
JB: It seems like Tallahassee is a really fun place to be a runner... great trails and hills, good community of runners, lots of competitive teams. What makes Tallahassee so unique?
JS: Well, it is nice to be a runner in Trail-ahassee, but aside from the running here, we also have the distinct honor of being built on seven hills, just like Rome. Also, I've heard that we have the greatest concentration of muscovy ducks this side of the equator. Incidentally, these same ducks have recently been cited as the masterminds behind the increase in gang violence across the Big Bend. They are vicious.
JB: You've got another year obviously, but are you thinking about colleges yet? In state? Out of state? Any specific ones?
JS: College... that honestly still seems so far away, but I have been thinking about it recently. I will probably go on some visits this summer, and see what place feels right... I'm leaning towards a muscovy-free locale.
JB: What is your favorite thing to do that has nothing to do with running?
JS: I do enjoy a good nap... but sleeping isn't really an activity, so I guess I'd have to go with spelunking, with cliff diving as a close second.
JB: Okay, so you're going to be on the next Survivor TV series. What is your one luxury item you bring with you and why?
JS: Duct tape. Enough said.
JB: If you could meet one famous person, alive or dead, who would it be and what would you ask him/her?
JS: William Faulkner... and I'd ask him if Bobbie Allen was really Mary Magdalene.
JB: Thanks, Jana! Good luck the rest of the season.
