Senior Send-Off: Patrick Gregory, Butler

To be part of this years Senior Send-Off just answer the questions above and email them to Jonathan Grooms at kytrackxc@gmail.com.

 

Patrick Gregory - Butler, Class of 2014. Louisville, KY

Personal Bests

  • 3,200 Meter Run 9:10.45
  • 5,000 Meter Run 14:57.96
  • 800 Meter Run 1:52.97
  • One Mile Run 4:07.81

 

 

What was your most memorable meet or race?
The most memorable meet of my high school career was probably Eastern Relays 2012. I knew that I was fit, and I knew that I was capable of running some good races if I could put myself in the right spots at the right time.  I think that running 9:10 on Friday night and then 4:15 on Saturday really showed me that I had a lot left to accomplish.  They were both good races for me, but I finished 5th and 8th.  It was a great experience which helped me look ahead and understand what it took to be a great runner on the national level of competition.
 
Out of all your high school accomplishments, which stands out the most?
Running 4:07 early this summer for the mile, and moving myself very  close to some outstanding names on the all-time list for Kentucky, was hands-down the biggest accomplishment of my high school career.  I was initially somewhat disappointed in myself because Bobby ran 1:52.89 and 4:07.06.  I ran 1:52.97 and 4:07.81.  I  knew that I was "right there," and it was disappointing to be a combined .83 seconds behind him on the all-time lists in  the 800 and mile.  However, being in the company of Curtis and Thomson will have to suffice. (Certainly not bad company to be in.) 
 
If you could do it all over again, is there anything you would change?
There is nothing that I would change about my HS career.  I had a lot of great opportunities and I took advantage of them the best that I could.
 
What were the most difficult obstacles you had to overcome?
It took me a long time to understand the mental aspect of training and competing.  I ran a series of disappointing races, and ultimately strung together some pretty disappointing seasons. I had goals that I did not meet my junior cross country, junior track, and senior cross country seasons. It was hard to know that I was in phenomenal shape, but that I was not racing to the standards that I should have been.  I showed several glimpses of what I could do, but nothing on a consistent basis.  By my senior track season, after battling injury and missing all of indoor season, I finally found "a place." Starting early in May I began to feel really fit, and I was going to the track with the most immaculate sense of clarity about my running: it was going to be very difficult to do, but I was going to do it, and then I would be happy.  It took a lot longer than it should have for me to realize that training will always be hard, but you have to find a place where running is fun and where you are confident that you can do the things you should be able to do. By the time I figured that out I was finally able to put together over a month of basically perfect training, whereas before it would be one week of "good" training and several weeks of disappointing workouts.
 
What will you miss the most?
I will definitely miss working with my coach, and I will miss all of the great friends that I have made through running.  It is a very special part of our sport that you can be such great friends with your biggest competition off the track.  Your rivals can be your best friends.  I will definitely miss training with the group that has come together around Louisville, and I really look forward to seeing what everyone can accomplish (on or off the track) in the coming years. 
 
Do you have any advice for younger athletes?
Find out what works for you and stick to it.  Be confident and find your place.
 
What are your college/career plans?
I will be running for Dartmouth next year, and for that I could not be any more excited. 
 
Who would you like to thank?
I would really just like to thank everyone who has supported me along the way.  I have had amazing training partners who have given me so much perspective on running and life.  I have so many friends and family members who have encouraged me that I  could not possibly thank by name.  I want to give a big thanks to Mike Purvis, who has taught me a lot about taking care of my body and has drug me along with him on many long runs. Mostly I think that big thanks are in order for my coach Brian Lilly (@adihc95). Without him, my running IQ would not be even close to what it is, and I would not have the understanding of the sport in the way that I do. He has taught me so much about running, and more about life. I read a book by Randy Pausch not too long ago, and came across a chapter at the perfect time (because I had just been somewhat reprimanded for a sub par workout, shortly after this I found "my place").  Randy spoke of his youth football coach who was always making him do things over the right way, yelling at him, and basically just giving him a really hard way to go about things.  When he complained to one of the assistant coaches about it, they told him that it was when you heard silence that you should be worried, because that means someone has given up on you.  Coach Lilly was always the guy who believed in us the most, and he was on us all the time because he knew that we could be better.  It really has been a thankless job, and I couldn't voice my appreciation for the hours he has poured into making me the best I can be while maintaining a greater focus on preparing me for the next step in my career.   I am truly ready for the next level.
 
To be part of this years Senior Send-Off just answer the questions above and email them to Jonathan Grooms at kytrackxc@gmail.com.