Blogs : NCAA Division III Blog

Interviews: Kevin Chaves of Occidental

Chaves (pictured far right) is a junior at Occidental College.  Last outdoor track and field season he finished 15^th in the 10k at the 2006 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track & Field Championships.  During the season he finished 10^th in the 10k on the Division III outdoor track and field performance list with a time of 30:23.92.  He was also 21^st in the 5k on the Division III outdoor track and field performance list with a time of 14:44.41.  He hopes to lead an Occidental College Cross Country team that finished 7^th at the 2005 NCAA Division III Cross Country West Region Meet while improving upon a 9^th place individual overall placing.

By: Derick Lawrence (9/18/2006)

Could you tell us a little bit about yourself (where you're from, how you got started running)?
I live in the bay area, in Los Altos which is really close to Stanford.  I have pretty much always been running, because in elementary school there were these fun runs that my brothers and I used to do pretty well in.  But like a lot of distance guys, I played soccer until high school.  At that point, I realized that I was far better at just running around than running around after a ball, and decided to follow in my older brothers' footsteps with track and cross country.

What were your PR's in high school (cross country and track)?
My 5k cross PR was 16:07 (I think...) but I ran 15:34 at Crystal Springs for anyone who knows that place.  In track I ran 4:28, 9:23, and 15:54.

What made you choose Occidental College?
I absolutely fell in love with the school when I visited it.  It just has this amazing atmosphere.  The students all love it and they are super nice and it just felt right some how.  At the time, I was deciding between UC Davis and Oxy, and though I told the Davis coach I would run for him (don't worry, he really didn't want me all that bad...) My coach, Troy Engle made such an amazing impression on me the first time I met him that I was sold.

What was your training like this past summer (mileage, workouts, etc.)?  

I was really happy with my training this summer.  I was really able to work consistently, and I pushed the envelope in ways I never really had before.  Mostly, I stayed healthy and am feeling all the stronger for it now.

How has your training progressed over the years from high school to now (cross country and track)?
I had a really strong high school program, but even so, the transition to college was pretty hard on me.  I had a good season my first year in cross, but then battled some injuries for the past few years.  The workouts were just a lot longer and more intense, but I feel I have finally adapted to it.  I'm really looking forward to continuing the progress I've made.

What is your favorite workout(s) during the cross country season and what does it include?
I love tempo runs.  I really like going out and pushing myself for significantly longer than my race distance.  I feel mentally it prepares you for a competitive race.  Though my favorite workouts have got to be long hill climbs (like 2-5 miles).

What are your goals for this cross country season (individual and team)?

Personally, I really just want to have a good race come nationals.  I haven't been able to get my seasons to work out so that I have much left towards the end, so I'm hoping I can work that out this year.  For a school our size out of our conference to get to the national meet is a pretty remarkable thing, so we're working really hard to try and make that happen.

Do you walk, bike, or drive to class and/or practice? If you bike or drive, what kind of bike or car do you have?

I walk to practice from a house that a few guys on the team and I live in.  I'm not going to lie, its amazing cross training (0.22 miles).

What's your major?  Favorite professor?
I’m a religious studies major, and my favorite professor is Malek Moazzam-Doulat, though he can make you feel pretty unintelligent sometimes.  I guess that's a good thing.

What kind of music do you listen to?
I listen to all sorts of music, but I love jazz and classic rock, and I'm an absolute Beatles nut.

Who has been the biggest influence in your life and/or running?
I've got a buddy back home who probably takes the cake.  Kurt Kuckein has been my coach, my co-worker (a running store of course) but more recently, a pretty close friend, and he had to put up with me when I was at my lowest points in high school in a lot of ways, and he most definitely saw me out of them.  He probably doesn't know it, but he's a lot of the reason I ever got my life as together as it is now.

Do you have a pre-race routine (certain foods you eat, songs you listen to, warmup routine, etc.)?  If so, could you describe it for us.
I don't eat a whole lot before races, but I do make sure I have my coffee.  Also I'll have a GU after I've warmed up some.  I like to get in a pretty long jog before hand, but mostly I just try and convince myself that feeling crappy during warmup is normal.

Where do most of the guys on the team live on campus?  Do most live in the same residence?
Most of the school lives in the dorms all four years, so a bunch of the guys are there.  But last year we set up what we hope is going to become a long standing tradition of having the older guys move off campus and live in a house together.  Right now there are six of us who are doing that, and its been working out really well.

What do you like the most about Occidental College Cross Country?
I absolutely love the guys on the team.  I have never been a part of something in which all the members are so dedicated and focused.  It really makes working hard a little easier. Plus they are all really hilarious.

What's the running environment like at Occidental College?  Where does the team train?

   (Photo courtesy of the California Wilderness Coalition)

There is a trail system that runs for miles (like countless miles) along the Arroyo Seco and then into the San Gabriel Mountains.  We do a lot of our runs from various points along that.  There are some surprisingly beautiful parks and trails that seem like they just don't belong in LA, so we stay off the roads most of the time.  

Any parting words for readers?
I suppose just thanks for checking out the blog.  I think there's something really special about Division III athletics, and I'm glad I could offer what little I did.

Thanks to Kevin for a great interview.

Untitled Comment

7:31 PM, September 30, 2006 .. Posted by Anonymous

How long did it take you to grow your hair?

Untitled Comment

8:28 PM, September 30, 2006 .. Posted by Anonymous

about a year, and im growing it again. it should be even longer by november next year!

-chavi

hair

2:17 AM, October 3, 2006 .. Posted by Anonymous

No, no, don't grow your hair out. It looks perfect right now. I mean it!

SPC :)

HAIR

3:01 PM, October 3, 2006 .. Posted by Anonymous

You train llike a caveman, you eat like a caveman, you might as well look like one... grow it out!