This is a breakdown of Cole Hocker’s interview on the sweat elite podcast. Cole Hocker has just turned pro, joining Nike after running for the University of Oregon for one year. He say’s it was a hard decision but he knew he had to capitalise on where he is now. After placing 6th at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics. He will still be working towards his degree at the University of Oregon.
The Olympics
Cole always had the goal to make the 2021 Olympics or the 2024 Olympics. He wrote the goal to do so in 2020. This was to make sure he held himself accountable in reaching his goals.
Before the Olympics he stated he wanted to make the final. He just wanted to get to the stage where he can say he was in the Olympic final. Because even people outside of the sport can understand that achievement.
With running 3:31 in the Olympic final, after two fast rounds, Cole Imagine’s he was capable of running sub 3:30 in a fast diamond league such as Monaco. The next goal is to run 3:30 flat then sub 3:30.
Which distance?
He says “the 800m i really enjoy it” but it’s so short that it feels slightly out of his control. And in the 5000m it feels slightly too long and he has a similar feeling when it’s a blistering pace, like the NCAA final.
In the 1500m he says he knows the event so much better, he’s comfortable regardless of how the race is ran. And going into 2022 he wants to do some 800ms as well as 5Ks.
Pressure
He feels pressure from talking online. And how he is looked at as the next biggest American middle distance. But says he reminds himself that this is exactly where he always wanted to be in the sport and with that comes pressure and defending titles. It’s how it’s meant to be. He needs to roll with it and embrace the pressure.
“I don’t get on letsrun, it’s too dangerous”. But Instagram and twitter its impossible to ignore it all. “But I think i do a good job in handling it.”
Teenage years
Cole looked up to his Dad when getting into the sport. He allowed him to enjoy it and never added any pressure. Which helped him develop a love and passion for the sport. Outside of that, he amusingly looked up to Matthew Centrowitz. He goes on to say it’s always your dream in sport to compete against your idols.
He was very low mileage in high school and his coach wouldn’t just enter him in every big meet. He was running 35-40 miles a week for most of High school. He really capitalised on speed base training, with training focussed on quality. He say’s he could’ve probably ran quicker in High school, but he wouldn’t change that because of how he is now.
Training / University of Oregon
In his Freshman year Coach Thomas would let him get a taste of running with the front group but he wouldn’t let him complete a full workout with them in the entire first year. Cole is staying with Ben Thomas as he moves into professional running.
Indication workout: “I honestly forget the exact workout” but it included a 1K and then a 2K. He and Cooper Teare ran the 1K really hard. This workout was before their Arkansa 3:50 mile and Coach Thomas broke down the splits and said if you close in this time you’ll run 3:49. Cole and Cooper laughed this off, but then went on to run 3:50. So the indication workout really gave coach a great idea of what they’re capable of.
Most dreaded workout – Hendricks park hill workout. “the one workout I actually get nervous for” because he knows how much pain is coming. From other information I believe this workout is somewhat of a pyramid where they work up to longer hill reps of up to 1000m.
Favourite Workout – Prepping for a fast 1500m race. It is a very fast 1K, followed by some near full out 200m. He says he just enjoys letting it rip on the track.
Outside of running
He’s really into music. So much so he has his own interfaces to make beats. As well as teaching himself Guitar and Piano. In his free time it’s probably something music or cooking related. He enjoys watching Chef’s table on Netflix.