Meet the Athlete: Austin Post

Name: Austin Post

Age: 22

Hometown: Omaha, NE

Current residence: Omaha, NE

Occupation/Degree you are working towards: 2^nd year of medical school working towards MD

Education:  

High School: Millard West

College (major/minor): Biology; Minors (Biochemistry, Mathematics, Psychology and Gerontology)

What is your running background? Started running in cross country club in middle school because I was good at the PE mile and realized I was good enough and enjoyed it enough to pursue it all the way through college.

Favorite distance to run? I love going on long runs so even though I haven’t raced any yet, I’d guess half marathons or full marathons are my favorite racing distance

What are your future running goals?  Long term future running goals, depending on what medical school allows time wise is to qualify for the Olympic trials in the full marathon and do some fun, but grueling, trail ultra-marathons when I’m older

I can’t run without…?  Breathing

Do you do anything to stay injury free?I probably should do more; conveniently I’m currently injured

Do you have a favorite running book/podcast/movie/athlete?

Running book: Born to Run, although I have a dozen more I intend to read

Podcast: Up First by NPR (Short news podcast)

Movie: No idea, not much of a movie guy

Athlete: Also no idea, don’t have a particular favorite athlete

What is your favorite race you have competed in the past?

Probably Market to Market because I love the competitive team aspect of it and the relay atmosphere is a fun way to mix it up while still making it long distance. Also, I love trying to drive from point to point in the small amount of time during the race, I feel like a NASCAR Uber driver.

What is your number one bucket list race you would like to do in the future?  Olympic Trials Marathon

Do you have any advice to other runners?Be consistent

What are your PRs? Geez this takes a lot of memory. Mostly only track times so far since I’m relatively new to the road racing circuit.

8:22 3k and 14:36 5k indoor

30:22 10k outdoor

32:25 10k adjusted from Spokane cross nationals

How long have you been an LRC-Nebraska member?:

About 6 months

What excites you the most about being an LRC-Nebraska athlete?:Being able to have a group of guys I can go on runs with and compete along side.

What does a typical training week look like for you?  Walk us through your daily routine (training related and otherwise):

Right now, since the beginning of medical school, it has looked like a couch potato who doesn’t sleep much and only studies; averaging maybe 25 miles per week. Once I get healthy again, I’m hoping to consistently hit at least 75 miles a week even during school. Normal daily routine is wake up at 6, get ready for the day and be at school by 7 to prepare a bit before 8am lectures start. Lecture/small group until 3 to 4pm and then I head out for a run and get back to campus to eat dinner by 6pm. Then study from 6 to 10 when I head home to be in bed by 11.

We all approach training and racing differently, so tell us what your short-term and long-term goals are with running:

Short-term is to get healthy and start getting back into shape where I can grind with the guys and go on long runs and tempos without dying. Long-term is to get super fit and stay healthy enough for long enough to crank out a killer marathon time that qualifies me for the trials. Longer-term would be to keep running a consistent part of my personal wellness and enjoy the racing and training along the way.

Where are your 3 favorite places to do long runs at the moment?

Oh man this is my king of question. I love running on Wabash and East Mopac. Those trails are so similar they’ve got to be one in the same. I also enjoy a nice long run on the dirt roads of Lincoln or Gretna or wherever, especially with some difficult rolling hills. Lastly, one I haven’t done too much, I love a long run on trail running trails like at Platte River State Park; it’s not your traditional long run, but I enjoy the added technicality and extra scenery, it’s fun to change it up now and then.

After a solid race or long run, what is your favorite meal to demolish and replenish those calories?  Please use details and give recommendations!

Probably just about anything that has at least 2000 calories. I eat like an absolute pig. I typically can’t demolish a huge meal soon after a hard workout or race because my stomach can’t handle it quite yet, but later in the day it’s not uncommon to see me down 2 full pizzas.

Share a crazy training or racing story, or simply an interesting moment in time

A few years back I was doing a steady state out on country roads in the middle of nowhere Canada when a huge herd of cattle just stared at me as I ran by. Soon after I passed them, I hit my turn around point and when I came back past the cows, they all started running with me. I was interesting, 75 cows running alongside me in the middle of nowhere; king of cool actually.

What book are you currently reading or TV show are you binge watching?

I don’t watch much TV, but I’m currently reading FIRST AID for the USMLE Step 1. This book is a prep book for the first board exam in medical school. But for pleasure, I’m reading The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, The Lore of Running by Dr. Tim Noakes, and Medicine For the Outdoors: The Essential Guide to First Aid and Medical Emergencies by Dr. Paul Auerbach

You’re the star of a running movie, and the opening scene is you running on a winding dirt road, with a beautiful sunrise.  What song is playing in the background?

Glorious by Macklemore (great beat and talks about the sunrise)