Interview with Team USA Minnesota Runner Jon Peterson

Nathan Freeburg June 3, 2014 Interview, Jon Peterson, Team USA Minnesota

I had the opportunity to chat with Jon Peterson of Team USA Minnesota via google hangout. It’s always fun to talk with Jon as he is a wealth of running wisdom.

As a former UC Davis standout and California native, Jon decided to move to Minnesota and train with Team USA MN. Not only was he impressed with the development program, but also the community and other opportunities outside of running. Apparently it was well worth dealing with the Minnesota winter.

You can catch him in Massachusetts for the Adrian Martinez Classic on June 5 where he’ll be running the mile. After that he’ll be out west, June 14-15 for the Portland Track Festival where he’ll be running the 5k. Follow him on twitter, @Jonpeterson89.

A Few Highlights

Jon holds a 13:41 PR in the 5k, and 48:06 10 mile. He also won the 2013, Medtronic TC10 mile. In his spare time, he loves cooking, and also coaches at a local high school. You’ll have to watch the interview in full, but here are a few notable quotes…

I put Tabasco on everything.

Coach Barker says, “you don’t want to be the fastest person in the stands.”

I love breakfast!

This is the second interview I’ve been able to do with elite runners. What strikes me is that while elite runners run for a living, they still struggle with many of the same things you and I do – eating healthy, getting enough sleep, staying motivated, continuing to set PR’s (albeit much faster).

Hopefully this will be encouraging to you as you tackle the June Challenge!

About Team USA Minnesota

Team USA Minnesota was founded in 2001 and is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Over the years, the Distance Training Center has developed an Olympian and achieved 20 national championships in distances ranging from the 1500 meters up through the marathon, achieved 68 top three finishes in U.S. Championships and placed a number of athletes on U.S. World teams. The team has also forged a strong presence in the Twin Cities community, and fostered ongoing relationships with sponsors and contributors, both locally and nationally.

If you’d like to support TEAM USA MN, use the Plus 3 Network to donate your miles and earn money for the program.

Nathan Freeburg

Nathan started running when he was 14. 20+ years later, he's still going. When he's not running, he enjoys exploring the city with his son, finding new restaurants with his wife, traveling, or backpacking. He loves dark beer, dark chocolate, and dark coffee.Nathan currently lives in Portland, Oregon, but works in Minneapolis and runs wherever he is. Favorite Minnesota running route is anything that takes him along the Mississippi River. Race Results.Nathan's day job is a Consultant with Leadership Vision in Downtown Minneapolis.

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