Cory Glines
St. Thomas Aquinas, Louisville, OH
HS Class: 2013
Personal Bests
· 1600 Meter Run 4:12.93
· 3200 Meter Run 9:46.80
· 5000 Meter Run 15:38.50
· 800 Meter Run 1:57.60
Louisville St. Thomas Aquinas' Senior Cory Glines has gone from a young runner trying to win "shiny medals" to one of the best runners in the State. He is the State defending champion in the D3 1,600, with a 4:12.93, and his 15:38.50 PR run in the Claymont Earlybird Invitational is the State's leading XC time so far in this early season. The D3 Division at the State level is as competitive and fast as any of the divisions and spotlights returning Champion and National Trails Raceway record holder Sam Prakel of Versailles. Cory has his sights set on the State run and both the Nike and Footlocker Nationals. He is excited to be able to compete at any level " because that is what this whole sport is all about."
OHRunners: Before we get into your background, I’d like to ask a few questions in regards to last Spring's D3 State 1,600m race. You won the race in a PR of 4:12.93 outkicking Wyatt Hartman of Maplewood who finished in 4:13.17. You’re 4:12.93 ranked you 6th last year in Ohio. The only other returning underclassman ahead of you was Sam Prakel of Versailles who won the D2 1,600 in 4:10.33.
In retrospect, can you give us some of your thoughts regarding that race?
Cory: Well, I should start with my coaches and I planning on what I was going to do. At first, we thought that I should just sit with the pack and then kick with 300 left because I was doubling in the 800. We believed that I could do really good in that as well and thought that we could conserve some energy. But, when I got to the line and the gun went off, I threw those plans out the window and took the lead and pushed an early hard pace like I am known to do. I went through the first 400 in about 59 and then put in a surge to try to keep dropping people. I went thru the 800 in about 2:04. I looked at the jumbo screen and saw Wyatt close behind me and knew at that point it was definitely gonna come down to a kick, because he is a very tough runner. Then, at 150 left, I felt him come up on my shoulder and pass me a little. I answered his move and came back up on his shoulder and kicked in from there. When I pulled away in the last 20 meters it was the best feeling in the world knowing that I had won a state title.
OHRunners: This isn't the 1st time that the D2 and D3 winning times have been faster than the D1 time. The same happens, of course, in XC. You won’t have the opportunity to run head to head against Prakel on the track, but you are in the same Division in XC. What are your feelings on this and do you look forward to having the opportunity to compete at any level?
Cory: I look forward to racing with Prakel. I believe that we both will be able to push each other to a great time even though most people are not giving me much of a chance this year. Being able to compete at any level really excites me because that is what this whole sport is all about. I love competing against the top guys because not only does it usually result in a great time it also really gets the fans into a race.
OHRunners: Did you take any time off after the State Track & Field Championships?
Cory: I did not take any time off because I had planned on competing at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Unfortunately, I kinda tweaked my quad in the 800 at the State Meet. During the week of training for the Nationals we decided that it would be more beneficial for me to me to just train for cross.
OHRunners: What was your summer training schedule like? What kind of mileage were you putting in and at what types of pace? Did you run any 5k or 10K races? Any speed work or just all distance for a strong base heading into the XC season?
Cory: After the State Meet, I started building up my mileage week by week until I hit my goal mileage of 70 miles a week. I have been there for about 6 to 7 weeks. All of my summer miles are base miles. I won't do speed work for a little bit still.
OHRunners: Before we discuss this XC season, let's go back and talk about your running background? When did you first start running?
Cory: I started running Middle school for my cross country team.
OHRunners: At what point did you realize that you may be good at it?
Cory: I really didn't ever believe that I could be really good until I hit high school. One of my coaches gave me a speech about how I could be a great runner and used a bunch of numbers to show that I could be as good as I wanted, but that I just had to become a full time runner. Personally, I think it was just a bunch of smoke, but it was the best I’ve ever heard, cause here I am running full time and not doing to shabby.
OHRunners: What were your first goals as a young runner?
Cory: Pretty much to get a shiny medal because you were the coolest kid on the block if you had a medal.
OHRunners: Let's look at this XC season. You were 5th in last year’s State D3 XC Championships, running 15:52.23 at National Trails. As returning underclassmen, only Prakel ran faster than you last year as he set the new Course record in a winning time of 15:19.34. What are your expectations going into the season?
Cory: My first goal, if the weather cooperates (but I mean we do live in Ohio so who knows) is to run 15:15 or faster. Another goal of mine is to finish in the top 2 in the State. I would also like to qualify for either Nike Nationals or Footlocker Nationals.
OHRunners: Based upon your early season wins at the Claymont Earlybird Invitational in a PR time of 15:38.50 and at the Ashland Cross Country Invitational in a time of 16:49, you seem to be healthy and in great shape for this early part of the season. What type of workouts are you doing now and what is a typical week of workouts with an Invitational on a Saturday?
Cory: All I have done is tempo workouts. I won't start my speed workouts and such for a couple of weeks.
OHRunners: What distances are your tempo runs and at what pace?
Cory: I start with 800 repeats with a minute rest aand as the season goes on we will increase the distance and decrease the rest. I will never get to a full mile though. and my pace is anywhere between 5:10 and 5:20
OHRunners: When you start interval/speed work this Fall, what type of distances, times and repeat intervals will you do?
Cory: I will do 200's,300's and 400's and they will be in like mile race pace or faster.
OHRunners: What type of race strategies do you have? Do you visualize all of your runs and courses, as well as the competition?
Cory: As far as race strategies, I always like to put myself in a position to win the race. Yea, I usually do visualize my race because when you run against top competition everyone is pretty much alike as far as times, so the small little moves that you understand and expect people will make need to be covered. That way there are no real surprises.
OHRunners: .How comfortable are you running out front alone in some competitions? Are you confident of your pace now, i.e first mile pace, second mile and third mile paces?
Cory: I am pretty confident that I know to be a strong lead runner, especially after the State track meet when I lead the entire 4 laps. I am very confident in my pace throughout a run although I do struggle at times when my coaches ask me to pace my teammates, because I always take them out a little too fast.
OHRunners: When you are in a competitive race, what are your thoughts during the race? Would you rather lead or run behind, staying in contact and waiting for the right moment to push the pace and take the lead? Would you rather push the pace to tire out the runners with good sprint speed, or are you confident, that even with a slow pace you can win in a close, sprint finish?
Cory: I think am known to be great at holding on for dear life. So in a competitive race, I love to take the pace out hard and try to tire out the competition. However, even when I do this, I still believe that I’ll be able to have a great kick. And let’s be honest, nobody likes to watch a sit and kick race. Everyone wants to see a fast, grueling pace. Well, at least that’s what I prefer..
OHRunners: Do you analyze races, win or lose, to determine if you could have done better, or how the phases of your run went?
Cory: I usually always analyze because I always believe that I could improve on some part of a race and my running.
OHRunners: It takes experience to learn "How" to run a race and pace is very important. At the collegiate level, training is easier because many teammates are all capable of running together during workouts. Are the majority of your workouts "solo" in terms of pace and distances? Has this helped you learn pace in both practices and in running solo in many competitions?
Cory: Most of my runs are done solo unless I run with my best bud, Jordan Webster Mckelley . I think that running solo has really helped me learn how to pace myself because I use to be horrible at it, but I am getting a little better now. Unfortunately for me however, I still can be a little trigger happy sometimes.
OHRunners: Let's talk a little about you personally? What motivates you?
Cory: I believe there are many things that have the ability to motivate me, but the thing that motivates me the most is probably success.
OHRunners: How do you mentally prepare for a race?
Cory: I usually go through the things that I want to do as far as where to make moves and also trying to guess where the competition will make their moves.
OHRunners: How do you react when you win a race?
Cory: I usually do the same things, but they will usually all happen in a different order each time. I will thank all the people that congratulate me, then tell my close competitors good race, hug my parents, and then I will thank the good Lord for giving me the abilities he has given me.
OHRunners: How do you react with a loss?
Cory: I don’t like to lose, but if I lose to someone who beat me because they ran a great race, its’ hard to be mad. No matter how I feel however, I think it’s always always important to congratulate an opponent(s) on their race.
OHRunners: What are your goals for the remainder of the XC season?
Cory: I have one main goal and that is to stay healthy from any injury or sickness. Also, to keep running well and dropping my time (hopefully mother nature is nice to us).
OHRunners: Are you anticipating running in the post XC season? i.e. Nike Nationals?
Cory: Yes, I pan on running both Footlocker and Nike Nationals.
OHRunners: Thank you for time Cory. Stay healthy. Keep dropping your times and we'll see if the weather cooperates with us this Fall.