Interview with Heather Kampf ... American upcoming star in middle distance

On the 17th of January you won the Bermuda Women’s Elite Mile, for the second time in a row. You’ve built up quite a reputation on the Road Mile, you’re even called the Road Mile “Queen”.

Are those races a “goal” for you, or is it just something you like to do and where you happen to be very successfull in?

The Road Miles do have a special place in my heart, yes. I love the atmosphere of road racing, and have gained so much confidence from my road mile success that I have been able to carry over into other aspects of training and racing on the track. I do have a goal of maintaining my reputation for doing well on the roads, but I would say my primary focus is still on running fast track times and making championship teams.

The Mile is a typical American distance. How important is that distance in American Track and Field?

When I tell people I have just met that I am a professional runner, oftentimes the first question they ask me is, “How fast can you run a mile??” Thankfully, I actually compete the in the mile, so that question is not that silly, but you could be an Olympic Champion in the marathon, and people here would still probably want to know how fast your personal record in the mile is. It is a distance that as children, most of us are required to run for fitness testing in Physical Education, so everyone can wrap their head around what that feels like. I think on the track, 4 laps just seems to make a kind of perfect symmetry that is exciting and poetic to watch. It is just long enough to tell a story, and require a bit of smart tactical moves, but just short enough that it looks fast, and it can maintain the attention of the average viewer.

I think in recent years, the mile had been losing some of its glamour here in the United States, but recently an organization called Bring Back the Mile has done so much to help bring the mile back to the forefront of people’s consciousness, and invite average runners as well as professionals to take on the distance to see what their fastest mile could be.

You’re specialized in the 800 meter, with a personal best of 2.00.04 last summer. It’s only a matter of time before you break the barrier of 2 minutes. Where does that leave you on the Ranking in the USA, a country where the rivalry is tougher than anywhere else in the world?

It is true that the 800m is a very deep event in the USA right now. Last year, I was ranked 6th in the country, which is a step in the right direction for me, but still wouldn’t place me on a World Championship or an Olympic team.

Now more than ever, I am CERTAIN I can run under 2:00 in the 800m, and I am simply waiting for the right racing opportunity for that to happen. Last summer, I ran 2:00.12 on a Sunday, and then 2:00.04 on a Tuesday of the same week. I won both my races, which is always fun to do, but I kind of wish I had just a little bit more competition in the final stretch of the race- just to have someone to push me along so that I could get under that barrier. I know that I always perform my best when I am racing the best, so I can’t wait to get in a high-caliber competitive race where I can rise to the opportunity of breaking 2:00.

Imagine that you were born in another – smaller – country. You’d probably be the leading lady on the 800 meter and you’d be qualified for every possible major tournament. Do you think about that sometimes? On the otherhand you have probably more oportunities and possibilities to develop yourself as an athlete than anywhere else. What’s your opinion about that?

Imagine that you were born in another – smaller – country. You’d probably be the leading lady on the 800 meter and you’d be qualified for every possible major tournament. Do you think about that sometimes?  

It is a thought that has crossed my mind, yes. Everyone dreams of earning the opportunity to compete for their country. It is an honor no matter where you are from. What helps me the most is to know that if I qualify to compete for Team USA, it means something very special, and I will likely do quite well in the major tournament I qualified for, because I had to work so hard just to get in. My coach in college always spoke of the choice between being a “big fish in a little pond” or a “small fish in a big pond”...the recognition you may receive as a big fish in a little pond is attractive, but I have so many more opporunities to test myself and become the best I can possibly be as a small fish in a big, big pond, and I am grateful for that.

Have you ever participated in any big international event (at senior level or in youth cathegories)?

I competed once at the Pan American Games, in 2011. This is a very tough event for Americans to perform well at due to timing (it is very late after our championship track season is over). I didn’t perform as well as I would have liked there, but it was a pretty incredible experience to race for Team USA in a big international event.

Another victory on the road Mile

What’s your goal for the current indoor season? You’ve started with a big PR (4.30.14) on the mile on 25/01/2014, which is very promissing.

My goal for the current indoor season is to race with confidence, because I truly do feel very fit currently. The PR in the mile was exciting, and I know I have even more in me in that event.

I haven’t decided to completely yet, but I think I may only race the 1500m at the USA Indoor Championships, and do my best to make the indoor world team. I feel I am stronger for distance right now than I am ready for the true speed you need for a great 800m, which will carry me well into the outdoor season when I will be ready to get focused on breaking 2:00 in the 800m again.

And what are your expectations for the outdoor season?

This outdoor season is kind of exciting because it is a blank slate so far. I know I will continue to aim to run faster in both the 800m (sub-2:00), and I also want to break 4:05 in the 1500m. I feel that if I am continuously aiming to improve, and I can stay healthy, it is only a matter of time before I am really competitive on an international level.

As there is no outdoor World Championship to aim for, there will be a little bit less pressure to perform at our National Championships, and so I will go in there with nothing to lose and just compete my heart out. Afterwards, I would love to make another trip to Europe to gain more international racing experience and improve my times, as well as run some road Miles later in the summer/fall.

The last couple of years you’ve done an European tour. How was that experience?

I feel my European tours have done just as much to help me grow as an athlete as it has to help me grow as an individual. Admittedly, I am a creature of routine and appreciate the comforts and familiarity of where I come from. Going to Europe pushed me to be more flexible and open to new experiences. I feel I learned to be much more open to trying new foods on race day, I panic much less now if my travel doesn’t go as planned, and I trust that I have the problem-solving skills to find my way in unfamiliar places.

One of the things I truly love about coming to Europe is the healthier paced lifestyle that people follow. At home, I feel like I am always rushing from one place to the next, and oftentimes sacrifice opporunities to do the things that are really important to me because I have too much to do. Europe has taught me to slow down and appreciate sitting at a meal with friends long after the food is gone, to take walks and take in my surroundings, and to be more in touch with my faith.

 You’ve also did some races in Belgium. You’ve ran your fastest 1500 meter in Oordegem-Lede last summer. How do you look back at this race and at your experiences in Belgium?

Of all the places I have gone in Europe, I have spent the most time in Belgium (I usually base myself in Leuven when I am not competing). I love Belgium’s brick roads, incredibly detailed architecture, and and the green space- is a perfect place to train and live while I am in Europe. Plus, all the American athletes are obsessed with the Belgian waffles and ice cream!!

Oordegem-Lede had a beautiful location for the track, and the meet was so much fun. They put together great, competitive fields for every event, and I was grateful for the opportunity to be part of the meeting.

The funny thing about that 1500m race was that I was actually the pacer for it, and had made an agreement with the race director that I was allowed to stay in the race to finish. I am so grateful I did because I felt great setting the pace, and still ended up running my best time!

Heather Kampf with a delicious Belgian Waffle

Did you have time to do some sightseeing?

I have gotten to play ‘tourist’ a little bit when I’ve been overseas, but honestly not as much as I would like. Since my first priority there is to train and race well, sometimes I find it hard to allow myself to make a long day trip to somewhere new, knowing that it will fatigue me, and perhaps affect my physical performance.

Even though I may not have gone to some of the most famous monuments and sights, I feel that Europe is all new and unfamiliar to me, so I feel like every day is an adventure and experience to see something great.

How did you end up in Belgium?

The first year I came to run in Europe, I spent a fair amount of time racing in Belgium, probably because my coach was most familiar with meets there. Since then, I have built some relationships with people who organize the meets, and try to stay in touch with them about coming back. I hope to always spend some time in Belgium each summer, as I have so many great memories from there, and do hope to compete again in some meets next summer!

Are there differences between track and field as you experience it in the States and here in Europe? I mean in terms of how athletics is experienced, the athmosphere at the races?

At a lot of very competitive meets in the States, races are hyper-organized. We have times that we are required to check in, and be at the start, and oftentimes aren’t even allowed onto the track surface until moments before our race. I have grown accustomed to this procedure and appreciate the predictability of it, but I also love that a lot of meets in Europe are much more laid back. I appreciate the fact that European meets allow me to prepare for the race however I would like, just as long as I at the starting line when the race is set to go.

In general, track seems to be appreciated by more of the general public in Europe too. It is so cool for me to see so many families and children at the stadiums, there just to watch good track and field. We are making a lot of progress in the United States right now to make track and field a more accessible sport for fans to get excited about, but I love how it doesn’t feel like you have to try to fill a stadium in Europe.

Do you see yourself evolve from 800 m to 1500 m? 

I believe that I will inevitably move up to the 1500m, yes. While my improvements in the 800m have become rather incremental in the past few years, I still feel I have so much potential to discover in the 1500m. Long term, I hope to continue to stay balanced, and compete in both, because I feel that the training for each event compliments the other so well. I need both speed and endurance to be a good 800m/1500m runner.

I always say that I will not quit running the 800m until I finally break 2:00 minutes, but even after that I am sure I will still love competing in that event, but if patterns in my performance continue as they have been, I probably will be competing in the 1500m more regularly in the future.

Training in Belgium

What is your most beautiful athletics memory so far? 

Probably one of my greatest memories in athletics so far is racing the Big Ten Indoor Championships in 2008. I got tripped and fell down with 200m to go, and miraculously came back to win the race. That experience helped me to believe that all things are possible, and I am capable of so much more than I ever knew.

What is your worst? 

My worst memory might be running a 1-mile race in Boston last year. The race turned out to be very slow, and I did nothing to try to make it a faster race. Eventually, the race came down to a kick, and I was 5th place, but I was so frustrated with myself for not being courgageous. I believe it only takes one person to make a race honest, and I would rather have a reputation for keeping the pace than to be a coward who waits in the pack until we finally decide to race. It is a shame to waste good opportunites to run as fast as you can, I know I really let my coach down that day, and I vowed I did not want to feel that way again.

How did you start with athletics and when did you notice that you really had talent?

I joined track my first year of High School. I had always known I had a bit of talent for running, as it was always my goal to beat the boys in our physical education (Mile run!) fitness testing. I had a fair amount of success, won state titles in the 400m and 800m for my school in High School, but I would say it wasn’t until college, when I won an NCAA Title as a freshman, that I really began to think about the possibilities of running professionally after college.

Apart from athletics, do you have any other particular intrests, hobbies?

I played the flute very well when I was younger, and still like to perform from time to time for church, holidays, etc. I also really love to spend time outdoors, biking, swimming, boating, etc. I live in Minnesota, and we get some very harsh winters, so it is essential to take advantage of our beautiful summer weather!! I also love to cook, read books, and do basically anything with my husband and our family.

Do you think about life after your athletics career?

Yes, I think it is the responsible thing to do to consider what I will do after athletics. I studied Kinesiology and Psychology in college at the University of Minnesota, and think I may go back to school to become a physical therapist someday. Honestly, the thought of going back to school gets more and more intimidating the more time I spend away from acadamia, but if I still want to do it, then the schooling will be worth it. I also currently coach a high school team for Cross Country and Track, and feel I might love a career in coaching someday. Ultimately, I want to find something that makes me happy, not necessarily makes me rich.

Heather Kampf one of the best middle distance runners in the USA

Any advice for young athletes who are dreaming of an international carreer?

Have fun, and be consistent. I find that I always perform better when I think about how much I ENJOY what I do, rather than getting wrapped up in the pressure to perform. I also can’t say enough good things about being consistent with your training, a constant 100% effort at practice and races, and getting good sleep and nutrition. There is no magical formula for reaching this level of success, but being consistent is the one thing that I think is a necessity.

Thank you very much for this nice and interesting chat.