An Interview with Zach Deihl
By DP Daigle
DP: What is your name, what grade are you in, and what school do you go to?
ZD: My name is Zach Deihl, I am a senior and I go to school at East Central High School.
DP: What is your current Personal Record (Best Time)?
ZD: In the 5k my best is 17:20. My two mile on the track is 10:30 and my mile time is 4:50.
DP: Wow, those are really good times, what is the next goal or time that you are trying to hit?
ZD: I've been working really hard this year to run 16:30 in cross country, 9:59 in the two mile, and 4:30 in the mile.
DP: What is your favorite workout your Coach has you do?
ZD: I enjoy distance day and hill sprints the most.
DP: What is your least favorite workout?
ZD: I'm not into mile repeats. They are definitely my least favorite workout.
DP: What are your plans after high school?
ZD: I hope to run in college. I look forward to majoring in computer science and potentially try going into game design.
DP: What motivates you to run?
ZD: My great grandmother is my main motivation. That subject is too personal for me to talk about though. I'm also motivated by my haters wo tell me I can't win state or be as good as previous runners from our school.
DP: What do you think about when you're running?
ZD: My great grandmother and how proud she would be if she could come see me run.
DP: Do you have any superstitions on race day or perhaps an odd pre-race routine?
ZD: Not really, I usually just do the same stretches and warm up jog.
DP: Two quick ones. . . Gatorade or Powerade? Jersey (Singlet), tucked or untucked?
ZD: Gatorade and untucked.
DP: What is your GPA and ACT score?
ZD: I'm not sure of my current GPA but I have a 25 on the ACT.
DP: Do you have a favorite meal for the night before a race?
ZD: Grilled salmon with mac and cheese and mashed potatoes.
DP: Do you take ice baths? If yes, what do you think about during an ice bath?
ZD: Yes, but not very often. I honestly don't know what I think about, probably how cold the water is.
DP: Name a lesson that running and training as a runner has taught you.
ZD: Never give up on your goals and dreams.
DP: What do you do to recover after a race?
ZD: Drink chocolate milk and stretch.
DP: What is your favorite thing about your coach?
ZD: How he is consistently at practice showing up to help better us as a team. I've never seen him miss a day of practice.
DP: What is the strangest thing you've seen during a race?
ZD: I saw a homeless man staring at us as we ran by in the woods.
DP: Who is your biggest fan?
ZD: My parents and my great grandmother.
DP: What advice would you like to share with younger runners, maybe the JH kids on your team?
ZD: Never give up. Don't miss practice if you want to become a better runner, and treat others as you wish to be treated.
DP: Is there anything else you want to share with the MileSplit Community?
ZD: Good luck this year to everyone. Hope everyone has a great Cross Country and Track & Field season.