Matt Loehle

[Along with over 30 other college and college-bound athletes, Matt chose to spend last summer's Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, from 8 to 10, getting in the best shape of his life at the GTD cross-country program. Although the much larger group of runners in the program were preparing for high school competition in the fall, there was a very active "college gang". ]

GTD: Matt, how many summers did you train in Coach Braz’s program? What got you started doing it? How has it changed, from your perspective, from the beginning to now?
Matt: This summer was my 4th year training in Coach Braz’s GTD program. I picked it up the summer after my freshman year in high school, and have stuck with it ever since. I was drawn to Braz camp initially because most of the Bishop Fenwick XC team trained at the camp, so I saw it as an opportunity to become a more competitive runner while still training with my teammates in the offseason. It’s fascinating to see how the camp has grown and expanded over the past few years. Braz camp has a unique ability to connect runners from so many different schools by the simple fact that most people return summer after summer. When I went to big invitationals or state meets, it was great to be able to recognize and reconnect with all the guys and girls I trained with over the summer.

GTD: Tell us about your running life at Bishop Fenwick high school?
Matt: I had an awesome experience running for Bishop Fenwick, and most of that can be attributed to my great teammates and coaches throughout my high school career. It was neat to be able to see the transition in the XC and track programs from my freshman year – which had a strong core of seniors – to my senior year, which also had a really talented group of leaders. I was captain of the cross-country team for two years, as well as captain of both indoor and outdoor track. We won the Catholic Central League Championship a couple times during those years, and I personally hit some big goals and competed at the state level in the 1000 and the 4x800. But beyond that, some of the best memories of my high school running career came from the day-in, day-out grind with my teammates. I just love the process of training, which I think is the most important part of the whole package.

GTD: You graduated from high school this past spring but before heading to the University of Connecticut, where you would NOT be running xc in the fall, you came to the Braz xc camp. Why?
Matt: It’s a combination of things. First of all, it’s a great way to reconnect with the people who I might not see as much otherwise. Braz camp is definitely a social, interactive place to be in the summer (but there is a time and a place for the social part, just ask Coach Pete). Then of course there is the fitness aspect of Braz camp, which can’t be overstated. I always come out of camp in August in the best shape of my life, and it feels fantastic. Like I said before, it’s the process that I’m drawn to. Braz camp is all about the process – nutrition, hydration, variations of running workouts, stretching, plyometrics, core, and even mental strength.

GTD: During the 90 to 120 minutes of each session in the program – 18 sessions in July and August that start at 8am – were there moments you loved, and some not so much? Tell us why.
Matt: One of the coolest moments I remember from my years at Braz camp was a Friday session in the pouring rain, where we ran the cooldown in a thunderstorm. Running in the rain usually isn’t fun; but you reach a point where you are running in monsoon-like conditions and just don’t care anymore. The adrenaline is pumping, everyone’s having a great time, and it’s one of those things you just don’t forget. I suppose that there were a few moments I didn’t love so much, as well. I can remember one day that I had just finished a really tough workout, and was in the mindset to do a little stretching before calling it quits for the day. But Coach Braz had us stay an extra half hour for plyometrics and strength work (tons of squats). In the moment I sure didn’t love it, but I guess looking back on it I appreciate Coach Braz pushing us a little harder than usual.

Anthony Pizzo

[Braz Camp would not be Braz Camp without the irrepressible Anthony Pizzo. Just ask Coach Pete.]

GTD: Anthony, how many summers did you train in Coach Braz’s program? What got you started doing it?
Anthony: I started GTD summer camp 4 years ago, going into my sophomore year of high school. At the end of my spring track season of freshmen year, Coach Pete approached me and said it may be beneficial for me to do GTD in the summer. Since then, I’ve done it every summer.

GTD: During the 90 to 120 minutes of each session in the program – 18 sessions in July and August that start at 8am – were there moments you loved, and some not so much? Tell us why.
Anthony: One of the parts of the program I love is the social aspect of it. Many of the kids that I trained with over the summer have become close friends. Along with that, Coach Braz has the kids at the GTD camp do the small things that would be much harder to do on your own and without instruction. Things like hurdle work, band work, hip mobility; the small things that are necessary to do if a runner wants to truly be the best they can be.

GTD: Sometimes when it’s over, runners think about those moments in a race where they lost focus (and time). Did you have any of those “lost moments” in Braz camp? Perhaps when you may have just gone through the motions during a core session, other times?
Anthony: Yeah, truthfully on occasion I’ll get lost in my head while running or whatever and have a mental lapse. But, Braz camp helps with eliminating those, forcing you to think when mentally you’re weak and on the verge of breaking.
I have a rather lengthy to do list before each time I race. First, is my diet, I never eat red meat or red sauce 72 hours before the race. Then, two nights before is where I will have pasta with olive oil and some protein mixed in along with it, normally chicken. The night before the race, I eat a lighter meal, something with protein and not many carbs preferably. Then the morning of the race, I have water with 3 pieces of toast with peanut butter and jelly. Also, I will make sure I get 8 hours of sleep at a minimum the week of the race. I’m very superstitious as well, I have a couple pairs of track spikes that I wear and if I run a PR in one pair, I don’t stop wearing that pair until I don’t run well, then I switch it up.

GTD: How do you handle nutrition during your racing seasons. What about race day? With xc camp starting at 8am in the heat of summer, what did you do for food/drink BEFORE 8am?
Anthony: Like I said earlier, I have a very specific pre-race diet plan. The same thing goes before camp, I’ll wake up at 6:50 and have 3 pieces of toast with peanut butter and jelly along with water.

GTD: How did your fall season go at AIC? Athletic plans for the winter?
Anthony: My fall season at AIC went all rigth but was slightly disappointing. I was able to run 27:14 in the 8 K but my season was cut short due to illness. I ended up red shirting the rest of the cross country season while my team went on to win the NE-10 conference and the East region for division 2. For the winter, I’m planning on focusing on the 3K and 5K. Hopefully set a PR in the 3K and experience my first 5K on the track.

GTD: What are you studying at AIC? Long-range plans?
Anthony: I’m in the 6 year physical therapy accelerated program. So after 6 years, I’ll have my doctorate in physical therapy. Ideally, I’d like to be a PT for a professional sports team but a more realistic expectation would be to start PT at a hospital and hopefully open up my own practice.