Race-day Press Conference
It’s a media frenzy with reporters, cameras and photographers at the Nike+ Human Race Austin media headquarters, the Stephen F. Austin Intercontinental Hotel. The questions are flying and the room is full of enthusiasm and excited chatter.
Beijing gold medalists and former Longhorn swimmers Brendan Hansen and Aaron Peirsol have just come on stage. Brendan is getting ready to run the Nike+ Human Race here in Austin, and it’s his very first 10K!
“I’ve never run a road-race before,” Brendan said, “but I knew I had to be a part of this. Olympic athletes have the opportunity to be a part of a global event, and the Human Race offers that experience to everyone. This is one of the reasons that I’m proud to be a Nike athlete.”
When asked about his thoughts on the Human Race taking place in Austin, Aaron said “Its fitting that it’s here. Austin is active and youthful, and in a city where everyone practically runs on Town Lake everyday, it’s safe to say this is the type of thing Austin loves to do.”
Lance Armstrong & Ben Harper are up next. Lance will also run the 10K this evening, and Ben will be ready to help Lance and thousands of others rock out at the finish line. “This is the fittest city in America,” Lance said. “It’s only logical for an event like this to take place in Austin, and to have this kind of turn out, over 13,000 people, that speaks for itself.”
“I’m thinking of running,” added Ben.
When speaking about the Lance Armstrong Foundation, he added, “it’s a huge honor for LAF to be a part of the Human Race. I’ve been with Nike for years now, and they were a huge part of the birth of the yellow band, and it’s great to have Nike’s support again.”
“Lance means the world to me, probably more than he knows,” Ben said when asked about his friendship with Lance. “He has truly motivated and inspired me, especially in my workouts. When I’m exercising and feeling like I want to quit early, I just think of everything Lance has accomplished and it makes me want to push harder.”
It’s about 5:15 p.m. and the press conference is wrapping up. There’s a sea of red out on the course and folks are relaxing and warming up before the start.
Beijing gold medalists and former Longhorn swimmers Brendan Hansen and Aaron Peirsol have just come on stage. Brendan is getting ready to run the Nike+ Human Race here in Austin, and it’s his very first 10K!
“I’ve never run a road-race before,” Brendan said, “but I knew I had to be a part of this. Olympic athletes have the opportunity to be a part of a global event, and the Human Race offers that experience to everyone. This is one of the reasons that I’m proud to be a Nike athlete.”
When asked about his thoughts on the Human Race taking place in Austin, Aaron said “Its fitting that it’s here. Austin is active and youthful, and in a city where everyone practically runs on Town Lake everyday, it’s safe to say this is the type of thing Austin loves to do.”
Lance Armstrong & Ben Harper are up next. Lance will also run the 10K this evening, and Ben will be ready to help Lance and thousands of others rock out at the finish line. “This is the fittest city in America,” Lance said. “It’s only logical for an event like this to take place in Austin, and to have this kind of turn out, over 13,000 people, that speaks for itself.”
“I’m thinking of running,” added Ben.
When speaking about the Lance Armstrong Foundation, he added, “it’s a huge honor for LAF to be a part of the Human Race. I’ve been with Nike for years now, and they were a huge part of the birth of the yellow band, and it’s great to have Nike’s support again.”
“Lance means the world to me, probably more than he knows,” Ben said when asked about his friendship with Lance. “He has truly motivated and inspired me, especially in my workouts. When I’m exercising and feeling like I want to quit early, I just think of everything Lance has accomplished and it makes me want to push harder.”
It’s about 5:15 p.m. and the press conference is wrapping up. There’s a sea of red out on the course and folks are relaxing and warming up before the start.
