Justin Ricks
Melia: You’ve kind of won the last few races you have done, the last four. Do you think that will give you some momentum going into this race? Or more excited to do a sky race?
Justin: Mostly just excited to do a Sky Race. The last four races I don’t think the competition has been real tough and just for fun. Yeah, I’m excited to do the Sky Series and come out to Silverton. What a fun place to run and be at.
M: How was running Kendall, before?
J: Yeah I ran it in 2014. And we were here for Hardrock so I went up it a couple of weeks ago as a training run and yeah any time I’m in town I like to go up because it is such a fun run.
M: Do you have a favorite spot on the course?
J: Yeah, the first flat mile.
M: When it is leveled off.
J: Or anything on the downhill is fine too. Just all the uphill stuff I just don’t like.
M: Do you have anything that helps you get through it or do you just not think about it?
J: Just knowing that there is downhill helps me get through the uphill.
M: It’s your little carrot. What attracts you to this Sky Race as appose to just a normal mountain trail?
J: The challenge I guess. I’m really not that great of a Sky Racer because I don’t go uphill that well. I don’t like the really long, long climbs. It’s something different it’s fun. It’s just a good time to work on my uphill and strength in general so come this fall when my big focus races are coming up then hopefully I will have that strength of uphill then when I start to work on my overall speed it will work well for me.
M: That fits right in with your strategy. Do you have any pre-race traditions or things you like to do?
J: No, not really. Just try to…I really don’t like racing much. I just really like to run. Racing keeps me focused, and it keeps me focused on a goal. Usually the week of a race I don’t want to run and am just looking forward to the next one. But I’m here and I will race.
M: Awesome. Just always looking to that horizon.
J: Yeah, just looking to the next one.
M: Since you have been to Silverton before do you have restaurant or a favorite run you would like to do while you are here?
J: Restaurants, not really. For a run I really like Green Mountain out of Cunningham Gulch. It’s a really fun run.
M: There are a bunch of lakes in that area, depending on which route you take, right?
J: No just a pass. I also really like Oscars. I know it’s not really Silverton but close yeah.
M: Just kind of getting up and seeing everything.
J: Yeah, just getting up high.
M: Anything else you wanted to add, or just excited for tomorrow?
J: No, just excited to get it over with.
M: Alright, well best of luck to you and hope you enjoy it.