This coming Saturday, former Louisville standout Michael Eaton will put on a Team USA jersey and represent the U.S. at the World Half Marathon Championships. We caught up with Eaton this week, leading up to the championship race in Bulgaria.

SB: You placed third at the U.S. Half Marathon Championships earlier this year. With that experience, what are your goals for this weekend in Bulgaria?

Michael Eaton (ME): After placing 4th at the US Half Marathon Championships in June and running 1:03:00 earlier in the spring at a half in Louisville, KY I have a few goals heading into Bulgaria.

First I believe this is a great opportunity to run another PR, so setting up the race right will play into that. Going out sub 4:40 at the 20k champs did me in and was just stupid on my part, my best races have been when I start out conservative and then pick it up. Looking over past results 1:03ish will usually put someone in the top 25 to 30, so finishing somewhere around the top 30 is second goal I have for this race.

Finally I want to score for the team while in Bulgaria. Top 3 on each team score, and with a good race I believe I can be in the top three for the US and help the team finish well. And my final goal is to enjoy the experience. This is my first senior US squad and I want to make the most of it, but I don't want to stress myself out doing it, so staying relaxed and just taking it all in is my final goal for the trip.

SB: What is your current training situation?

ME: I currently train in Louisville, KY under Ron Mann. I ran for Ron while at the University of Louisville and after seeing the success Wesley Korir has had under him on the roads it made perfect sense to me to stick with Coach Mann and let his experience and knowledge continue to build my career.

I do not have a training group, though I still jump in with some of my friend still at the team at Louisville for a long run from time to time. Also I'm a graduate assistant coach at Spalding University and run most of my recovery runs with them. Workouts are on my own most of the time, unless it’s a speed session, on those Coach Mann will be there with the watch, monitoring my progress and effort.

SB: You were dealing with some health issues leading up to the U.S. 20k Championships. Are you fully recovered? What type of training have you put in up to this race?

ME: Before the 20k Champs I had back-to-back issues that messed with my training. A strained calf muscle killed my training for a week and once that had passed I came down with a cold or flu that slowed my progression back up to the volume I had been doing. I was fully recovered from both before the 20k, but my fitness just hadn't come around in time for that race. The weeks following showed some real improvement though. 

My training was more marathon specific early on because we had planned on running Chicago, but once I had a feeling I would make this squad we switched to shorter speed workout to get me ready for the quicker pace. A lot of my training consists of long steady state, tempo, and rep work such as 6 to 8 by mile with short rest. I like to do a lot of work at race pace or faster so I can get comfortable with the pace. 

SB: This isn't your first time as a member of Team USA. What did you take away from your 2006 junior cross country experience that you feel you can perhaps apply to this time around?

ME: It's been a long time since 2006, but one major thing I can take away from that race is experience. I know it was a junior team, but the overseas traveling experience from that will pay off. After flying to Japan in 2006, Bulgaria will seem like a picnic.

Also the last time I was on Team USA I was star struck by the members of the senior team, now I'm on the senior team, so I think feeling more comfortable around super talented runners will pay off.

Finally what I can take from the actual race in 2006 is that going out too fast will not help me achieve my goals. In 2006 I was a front running senior in high school, in 2012 I've been through 5 years of college running and a year of running professionally, I've seen a lot more competition and learned how to race in the best way for me. 

SB: You had a successful collegiate career at Louisville. What's been the toughest challenge transitioning to professional running?

ME: The toughest challenge transitioning to professional running is also the greatest asset for me as a runner. Training in college I had All-Americans and National Champions (Cory Thorne, Matt Hughes, Wesley Korir) to train with. This was a blessing and a curse for me.

When I was hot and hanging with them in workouts it was a great confidence builder, but when you're off with guys like that you get destroyed. Training on my own has given me a freedom to run much more within myself.

I'm not out there in a workout racing these guys, I'm out challenging myself. I'm my harshest critic and competitor and from the results I've had this year I feel I'm really growing under this system. The downside of this of course is motivating yourself on the days when its not fun to get out and run. When you've got that team to push you its a lot easier to get out and do the 2 hour run in the cold rain, on your own it gets a little harder.

SB: Making the World Half squad has to be a thrill, but what are some of your bigger expectations, especially heading towards 2013? Is a marathon on the horizon?

ME: There are definitely some marathons on the horizon. Running in the 2012 Olympic Trial Marathon was an awesome experience, but running 2:20:52 has left me unsatisfied. After running 1:03:00 and 1:03:16 this spring I know I have a much faster marathon in me, I just have to get in the right race and perform.

I've got some fall and winter races planned, a couple more halts and a thanksgiving 8k before getting into some winter cross country with Club Cross in December, in on the course where I ran state in high school so I have to go defend the home turf and then USATF Cross Country Nationals in February. After that my spring training will start and I'm sure Coach Mann and I will be planning for a spring marathon.  

Fast Four (four quick questions, four quick answers) 

SB: Favorite movie?

ME: American History X

SB: Shoes you race in?

ME: Adidas Hagio 

SB: Favorite workout?

ME: 20x400m on 2min goes or 60min Steady States

SB: College major?

ME: Exercise Science and Sport Administration