Flagstaff Runner In Shape and Ready to Race

By Scott Bush

A season of early struggles all changed for Diego Estrada at the USA 5 km Championships in September. The 2012 Olympian (for Mexico) was finally permitted to compete for U.S. titles earlier this year and the former Northern Arizona All-American made the most of his opportunity, running away from a strong field to claim his first USA title. After a fourth place finish at the USA 20 km Championships earlier in the month, Estrada found a new gear in Providence, Rhode Island, charging home over the final 800m to show he's on his way back to being the dominant athlete he was at the tailend of his collegiate career.

Now focused and ready for the .US National 12K this Sunday, we caught up with Estrada, chatting about his current fitness, what it's like working with legendary coach Joe Vigil and a whole lot more.

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Scott Bush (SB): The final race of the USARC season is here. How are you feeling, how's training going heading into the .US National 12K?

Diego Estrada (DE): I’ve been feeling really good for this time of year. With the adjustments we had to make to the track season back in May, cutting the season short, I feel like I am getting close to PR shape for a 10k.

SB: Yet again, there is some serious competition you'll face. What are your hopes and expectations as the race approaches?

DE: The field looks very strong as usual with many different athletes who have succeeded in various distances this season coming together for this 12k. From marathoners to milers I feel the race might be predictable with the longer distance guys wanting an honest pace and the lower end guys hoping to hang on. I hope it's a moderate fast race with an outside shot at the AR. I haven't run fast all year so it would be nice to test my fitness.

SB: You won your first national title at the USA 5 km Championships not too long ago. What did the race tell you and what type of confidence boost did you take from it?

DE: I had been going through the motions contemplating moving up on distance since my track season was a disaster but that win coming in at my distance sort of gave me the peace of mind that there's a place for me at that distance. 

SB: You’ve worked with legendary coach Dr. Joe Vigil for a while now. What has he taught you that you feel has helped you most as an athlete, especially this season?

DE: Working with Coach Vigil, has not only been career changing but life changing as well. He treats me like family and genuinely cares for me as a person. When I go do a workout I know that he put a lot of though into it and the belief he has in me makes me believe I can physically do the workouts - as unreal as they may seem at first. I have no doubt that Coach Vigil is one of the best coaches in the world and that's peace of mind when he's writing my workouts. He is a motivator, at the beginning I would constantly call him double checking if he spaced out writing my training log.

At first I didn't have the self belief to even attempt the workouts he would prescribe, but he never once doubted me. He has had enough faith for the both of us! Thanks to him I'm starting to see the potential he sees in me, he has been building my confidence. It's because of him that I had the courage to sit back and kick at the 5k champs.

SB: You live in Flagstaff, a runners paradise. Do you have a favorite trail you run or a favorite route for workouts?

DE: Since I was a freshman at NAU I have been in love with the Flagstaff Urban Trail system. My favorite run is the east route right off the NAU campus, it has a bit of everything. 

SB: Last question...your guys at NAU are doing some good things this season. What's your prediction for them in the last couple races of the season?

DE: If there's one thing NAU knows how to do its cross country. Coach Heins has it down, I think we can expect them to cruise through the mountain region and turn some heads come nationals. There's many good teams in the country but if I had to bet on the NAU men finishing on the podium I wouldn't bet against them.