This week, I talked with Steve Mangan '14, a three-term athlete who competes on the cross country, skiing and track and field teams. Steve is currently running the 1,500 and 5,000-meter races in outdoor track and is preparing for the Ivy League Heptagonal Championships May 5-6.
You've done a lot of running throughout your career. Which season is your favorite?
SM: Let's see ... kind of a hard one, definitely not indoor track, though. I think it has to be outdoor track. I think I like it more because I'm better at outdoor track than cross country. It's probably because I'm better at slightly shorter distances. I love the speed of outdoor track.
What's going through the head of a runner throughout a 14-plus minute race?
SM: For much of the race, you're trying to stay relaxed. You want to be in the middle of the pack, but still be aware if anyone in front is trying to break ahead. After the last mile or so, you become prepared for the pace to pick up and for people making breakaways. You're also constantly preoccupied with the pain and fatigue.
What's your favorite pre-race meal?
SM: Well, it's hard to go wrong with pasta, and it's definitely a good choice. I had Chinese food for lunch the other day though. It was an evening race, and we had an early lunch. It was great. We found it in the food court of the mall, and I wasn't going to say no.
What is it like competing in sports for three terms of the year?
SM: Well for runners, it's generally considered the norm. You are used to it from high school. I do Nordic skiing in the winter. For me personally, it helps to ski because I get to take a season off of running and try something different. Running tends to beat you up a little bit. I like to be racing and competing all the time though.
Who was your sports role model that you admired when you were growing up?
SM: That's also a tough one. I've always been a fan of Lance Armstrong, though, because of his story. I always looked up to him when I was younger. I've been a little wary recently after the doping scandal, though.
What's your favorite and worst place to study and do work on campus?
SM: Well, I usually go to the stacks when I need to get work done. I guess this answers both questions. It's the best because I get a lot of work done. It's miserable because it's so dreary and secluded in there.
What is one thing people would be surprised to know about competing in track and field?
SM: Most people would be shocked that we don't run a full mile as one of our events. There is a 1,500-meter event, but it's about 100 meters short of a mile. It's actually a little cause of controversy in the sport. But yeah, most people think that the mile is an event, though it is not.
What events are you looking to focus on in your track career?
SM: I would definitely like to focus on the 1,500 meters. I like it because it's short. It's a combination of endurance, speed and tactics.
What has sophomore year been like so far?
SM: A lot of traveling. I am away from campus a lot because I have sports all year. In the fall, there were three-day and even four-day trips away from campus. In the winter, I was gone every Thursday for six out of 10 weeks because we have Friday and Saturday races. It's created an interesting challenge with academics, but I love the chances I'm getting to compete.
