Interview with Dacia Perkins of Arkansas

by Tom Borish

Perkins is in her last cross country season at Arkansas (David Yerby)

Arkansas is coming off a well run meet at Memphis where they swept the top three places. How did you feel during the race with your time of 17:54.65 on the 5k course?

The race went well considering where the team is in our training and the course conditions. We had a pretty tough week leading up to Memphis and we wanted to train though the weekend. Also it was pretty windy out that evening, which might have slowed us down a little, but time isn’t a big concern at this point. All in all it was a good workout and will help us prepare for upcoming races.

Looking ahead to your next meet at the Bill Dellinger Invitational hosted by Oregon, there should be plenty of top competition on that day. How much are you looking forward to that event and will it serve as a measuring stick to where you are with some of the best this season?

We are excited to travel to Oregon and race one of the best teams in the nation. It will be good to see where we stack up against top competition. However, it will still be pretty early in the season and not necessarily an indicator as to how the season will turn out.

The 2007 cross country season was a bit of a rough road for you after recovering from knee surgery. Your debut came at the SEC Championships, which is not what many athletes like to do for their season opener. What was the experience like for you last season after the surgery and having to race for the first time at such a late period in the season?

Last season was rough and really tested me mentally and physically. After the surgery I had to push through rehab as quickly as possible, I was actually on a bike the following day. I also had to stay positive and make sure I didn’t give up. It was hard working my way back up and I didn’t enjoy struggling through workouts that would have normally been easy. As for debuting as SEC’s, I struggled through that race and regretted not having previous races to prepare me further. However, I am very grateful that I was still able to compete last season and thankful that my coaches, teammates, and trainers believed I could do it.

You recently married former Razorback All-American Adam Perkins on August 2. How has everything been so far?

Marriage is great. I love being able to spend every day with someone who understands me and shares in the same goals. We both know what is takes to be great and we are willing to push each other until we get there.

This is your final go at Arkansas as your eligibility for track & field has exhausted. What are some of your long term goals after you are done competing and have graduated?

I want to keep running as long as possible. Right now the plan is to finish up cross country, then continue training for indoor and outdoor track. After that, we will just have to see how things unfold.

You had a great 2008 outdoor season which included a fourth place finish in the 1,500 meters at the NCAA Championships and making it to the semifinals at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials. How did you best prepare for these high-level events and what did you take from them as a learning experience?

The best preparation I had for the NCAA Championships were my previous experiences. I knew what to expect which helped me stay calm and focused. However, I was pretty nervous for the Trials. I didn’t have as much experience racing at that higher level and I was a little intimidated. This ended up hurting me during the races because I ran scared, not with the confidence I needed. However, I did learn a lot from these races and next time I will trust my abilities and give myself a chance.

Looking back at your collegiate career on the track, what are some of the memories that you'll never forget?

There are quite a few races I will never forget, such as achieving my first All American honor in the DMR, winning SECs in the 1500m, and running at USAs and the Olympic Trials. However those don’t compare to all the memories I have with the team. I definitely wouldn’t be where I am if I wasn’t surrounded by so many amazing girls, and a coaching staff that really cares. There is one memory, however, that sticks out and that is being proposed to at the indoor track. Adam did a great job choosing a place that meant a lot to both of us and getting the whole team involved.

Now that we're about to head into the heart of the cross country season, what type of mileage are you putting in and how has the training been for the rest of the team?

The training has been tough. We are taking advantage of the fact that it is still early in the season and getting in some hard workouts. I am putting in about 60 miles a week, which will be my max for the season.

The USTFCCCA just released their first Division I Women’s National Poll as Arkansas comes in 11th overall. Do you pay much attention to the team rankings? How important is it to be the top ranked team in the SEC?

I am not big on looking at rankings or comparing stats with other teams. I just want to focus on the task at hand, which is getting in some good training. In the end it doesn’t matter where you were ranked during the season, what matters is how well you raced when it counts.

It must have been thrilling to watch former Arkansas middle distance star Christin Wurth-Thomas excel this summer as well. How much of an influence do some of the former Razorbacks and top athletes in the nation have on you?

I see Christin quite a bit, especially during track season. She has always been encouraging and will always find a way to lift your spirits, even when you’re struggling through a tough workout. She is such a hard worker and I was so excited to see it all pay off with so many great races. She definitely has a huge influence on me; her work ethic and positive attitude is something I strive for.

How do you like to spend your free time when you're away from practice and competition?

I enjoy spending my spare time with my husband. Since we are always on the go, we love to just relax and watch a good movie. I am also an avid reader, and I can easily lose a couple hours reading a good book.

Married

01:28, 25 September 2008 .. Posted by Anonymous

Why do alot of the top runners marry other elite runners? Some one needs to report on that.