Issue 7

Interview with Austin Miller

How's it going, Austin? Can you give us a quick background about yourself as an athlete and your involvement with HAX for those who may not know?

Hey! As many of you probably know, I'm the sole rookie on Tinman Elite. I joined the team in August and have spent the last 8 months getting acclimated to the life of a pro runner living in Boulder, CO. When I joined the team, I also took over basically all of the operations for Hammer & Axe. I handle the social media account, make sure the coaches have as many athletes as they want, get sponsorships for our social media/newsletters, and make sure everything runs smoothly. It seems like a lot, but thankfully, the business kind of runs itself at this point!

So, you're the "rookie" of the squad. How's your transition been to Boulder? It's a big jump, from D2 to the pros, sea level to Boulder, etc.

You're very right. It's a huge jump. The first couple of months were, to put it lightly, hard as hell. The training was more difficult than I was accustomed to, the altitude was no joke, and it was a totally new environment for me—I had spent 25 years in South Dakota in the same 15-mile radius. Getting accustomed to new grocery stores (lol), running locations, getting set up with doctors and banks, finding restaurants that resemble places I enjoyed back home… everything was different. Sometimes I feel like I'm a freshman in college again. Learning the ropes, trying to balance work and life, all the while trying to stay true to my roots and things that made me the person I am today.

Can you talk a bit about what drew you to Tinman Elite? What were your other post-graduate options, and how did you make the decision to join the team?

Like every other big decision in life, the decision to become a pro is not one to take lightly.

My decision to go pro was difficult as I definitely had some career options in marketing back home. My girlfriend also still had some school left to complete, so I was basically leaving my family, a good job, and my girlfriend behind to come to Boulder to pursue this.

Just like taking a job, you have to make sure it's a good fit and a decision that isn't just a short-term, I-have-nothing-better-to-do-with-my-life thing. I took some time to really assess this thought, because as fortunate as pro runners are to be doing what they're doing, it's a hard life. Unless you're an NCAA champion-caliber athlete, you won't be getting a contract, and if you do, it’ll be pretty small. That means you have to fend for yourself. Money, insurance, and everything that comes with a good job is out the window. You're really out on your own.

One of the early things that drew me to TME was the business. While pursuing running, most of us also hold some sort of paid position on the team for performing some kind of role. These positions come with a small salary, so it makes it a bit easier to continue running without necessarily needing to work a full-time job somewhere. I like to stay busy, and being the brand manager for HAX has allowed me to do that and create some earning opportunities for myself.

You recently broke 4:00 in the mile, big congrats. After a great indoor season with a couple of wins and some big PRs, what are you prioritizing this outdoor season in training and racing?

Finally getting under 4 minutes was a great achievement and not one I take lightly. More than anything, breaking four is a weird rite of passage for milers that you almost have to complete.

Since arriving, I have really prioritized consistency and decided early on that I want to hold myself more accountable than I did in college. I’ve also made a habit of going for runs with my teammates (and guys from other teams for that matter) whenever possible and meeting with them outside of practice. The other guys and Tori have had such good advice for me as I've made this transition, and I've tried my best to take their advice with great heed.

This outdoor season, I'm going to continue to prioritize those same things, but I also want to dial in on nutrition and sleep even more so than in the fall and winter. The summer track season is longgggg, and I'd really like to continue racing into the fall, so I know I'll need to stay as healthy as possible to make that happen. Sleep (8-9 hours) and nutrition (fueling properly after sessions and not cutting corners) are a big part of staying healthy.

Alright, let's get to the big stuff. What are your lofty goals in the sport, the ones that keep you up at night? And what are some practices you (and our readers) can implement to make those big dreams a reality?

I’ve got a bit of a laundry list of things I’d like to do in this sport, so I’ll try to keep it short with the things I’m focusing on this year.

This past indoor season, I wanted to get my bearings in pro running, break 4 in the mile, and win a race or two. I would’ve loved to compete at USAs, but I was two spots away from making it 🤷‍♂️ oh well.

Outdoors, I want to continue to be competitive in races, develop a sort of comfortability with racing the elite guys domestically, and be top 5 in the US final in the 1500m. I try not to focus on time as much… I think that drains the fun out of competition. I’m all about competition, so I’d really like to be a competitive US 1500m runner by the end of this summer.

For our readers, I think it is important to figure out your position in whatever sport you’re doing and develop a good set of goals around whatever position you’re in. If you’re a high school runner, do you want to make varsity? Make it to State? Win State? Try to set ambitious goals ahead of time, and lay out what you think it might look like to achieve them. Track, and sports in general, are all about progress. There are ALWAYS things you can do to progress from one level to the next, whether it be mental, physical, or otherwise. Find athletes that are in positions that you want to be in down the line and pick their brains. In college, I used to message pro runners on Instagram to ask them for training advice. I’m not saying you need to do that, but it’s an option for everyone out there. That’s what makes social media awesome.

Anything else you'd like to share with our readers?

Sports are so hard, and track is particularly hard. Whenever I sit and think about my goals, I’m like, man, that’s going to be so absurdly difficult. But that’s the fun part of it all—sitting and dreaming about what you could do on the biggest stages. So that’s my advice. Never stop dreaming—you’ll be amazed at how far you can get.

Are You Looking For A Natural Preworkout Supplement You’ll Actually Like Taking?

“2before is freaking awesome. I’ve been taking this stuff religiously for about 4 months now. It’s great for performance, recovery, and immunity. I take it when I need a boost for a late afternoon gym session, when I’m feeling run down or sick, and sometimes just because it tastes good 😅 (I’m totally serious). If you’re skeptical about it, just reach out to me on Instagram, and I’ll send you some to try for free!” - Austin

Austin Makes a Few Training Plans.

Austin’s not a certified Hammer and Axe coach yet (he will be soon), but he recently made some training plans for the 800 and 1500. If you’re a miler or 800m runner, make sure to check out his plans to see if there’s one that’s right for you! If you’re not, check out our library of other plans for your next race.

$80 Credit at The Feed

Hammer & Axe is excited to announce our partnership with The Feed. Because you follow us, you automatically have access to $80 of annual credit to use on their nutrition superstore… pretty sweet, huh?

Giveaway

Thanks for answering the poll in the last issue! We had a ton of responses. Knowing what events you are all training for really helps us identify what training plans we need to create and update.

Winners of a free Hammer & Axe Training Plan: lauracrosby12@*****.com, jlshiohira23@*****.com, & roger.misso@*****.com

We’ll be in touch shortly! For the rest of you, stay tuned to our Instagram page for an upcoming giveaway! 👀

If you haven’t already, check out our other newsletter, The Axe, and read interviews from athletes that have used Hammer & Axe’s 1-on-1 coaching.