It’s been a year of getting back at it for Portland-based Chris Solinsky. Dealing with injury and then basically teaching himself how to run fast again, Solinsky is finishing his encouraging 2013 racing season this weekend at the .US National Road Racing Championships.

After pacing long-time teammate and friend Matt Tegenkamp through the first half of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Solinsky came back to run the NYRR Dash to the Finish 5k. Self labeling the end result a "sh*t performance", with a 14th place finish in 14:15, Solinsky is looking to redeem himself Sunday and seems poised to take another step forward in his racing.

We caught up with Solinsky this week, where the veteran talked about his NYC race, what his expectations are for this weekend and how training is going.

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Scott Bush (SB): You ran a hard 5k a couple weeks ago at the NYRR Dash to the Finish 5k, now you're tackling a much longer distance of 12k. Do you feel more prepared for the longer distance at this point in your training?

Chris Solinsky (CS): Yeah, I am hoping that I am much more ready for the 12K distance than the 5K distance. I have only touched what would be 5K pace a couple of times this fall, my training has been all about putting in a lot of miles and building back my aerobic strength for the up coming track season.

I don't typically race much during the fall, but after just getting back into racing this last year I need to get out there and really learn how to race again. My results have shown that I have forgotten how to race; I think the NYRR Dash to the Finish 5K may be one of the poorly executed races I have ever run, so I'm looking to improve that.

SB: How's training been going of late? What type of work have you been putting in?

CS: Training has been going quite well. I am very happy with the progress that I have been making, each week is better than the last. I only wish my races resembled those improvements, but that is on me and my execution of the races, so that is what I have to improve this weekend. I have been doing a lot of strength work and lots of miles in training right now. This fall, this year, is all about building my base back again and relearning how to race.  

SB: You paced teammate Matt Tegenkamp through the Chicago Marathon and have put yourself on the roads more over the past year. Any chance we'll see you run a spring marathon?

CS: I would say no to a spring marathon, but am not ruling out a fall marathon. The thought is that I have screwed up two Olympic cycles, so for 2016 I want to make sure that I give myself the best chance to not only make the team, but to perform the best at the Olympics.  

So since the Olympic Trials are January of 2016 this next fall becomes tempting to give the distance a shot before the trials come around. That being said I still have unfinished business on the track, maybe try and get my record back before I'm done.  

SB: What are you most looking forward to this weekend in Alexandria, VA?

CS: I am looking forward to being a part of this inaugural event and having another chance to improve my racing tactics. The 12K distance also well help me to get more experience at that 10K range because I would still call myself a rookie at that distance. The best part about the weekend is that no matter how it goes I will come out of it with a personal best because I have never run it before.