Summer Interview Series: Installment Six

This week we chatted with Palmer "Danger" Thiele, a returning junior in his third year of Stanislaus XC. He hails from Lard, California, and went to Sierra High School. Palmer is the captain this year for the men's team, so let's see what he had to say...

WXC: Palmer, what is your greatest running memory?

PT: I got a JV two mile meet record when I was a sophomore at some invitational. That was my first race where I really ran fast.

WXC: That's what started off the magic that you have become?

PT: Yah.

WXC: Sweet. What have you been doing besides running this summer?

PT: Went to Connecticut. Did a poker run in Atlantic City. Went to Maine for ice cream. Just for ice cream. I took my bike apart and I'm going to repaint it.

WXC: What's your bike going to look like?

PT: We went to this junk yard yesterday, and I took a bunch of Cadillac symbols off cars, so I'm going to have a Cadillac bike. Maybe black and red colored.

WXC: That sounds awesome. As captain, what will be your first order of business?

PT: To back up whatever your first order of business is. And have a good talk at camp at night. I don't know what we're going to say.

WXC: How was your last hard workout?

PT: Yesterday on the fartlek, I crossed the railroad tracks and hurdled over them and yelled "Steeple Life" and gained like 20 yards on everybody. But then Joey caught back up and started pushing, but I hung with him.

WXC: What's your goal for XC? For you and the team?

PT: For me, I want to run sub 26, top 15 at conference. For the team, I don't know. I don't know what to expect, since it's a rebuilding year. I don't know what to say competitive-wise, but I want the team to keep up the bonding and get along.

WXC: If you could go on a run with any famous runner, who would it be?

PT: Kara Goucher. That's a self-explanatory answer.

WXC: You know she's pregnant?

PT: Kara Goucher from two years ago.

WXC: You have been affectionately named "stat boy" by your HS teammates. How much time daily do you spend on the internet looking up track related items?

PT: A lot less than I used to. But still at least everyday, maybe for a half an hour.

WXC: Who is your favorite American distance runner, and why?

PT: Dawson Vorderbruegge. Because of his beautiful kick.

WXC: We here at the Official Blog of Warrior XC and Distance are honored by that answer.

WXC: What music have you been listening to most lately?

PT: Classic rock. Anything and everything.

WXC: You recently changed your major. Tell us about the switch and your upcoming semester academically?

PT: I switched from history to business, and now I'm taking a bunch of undergrad crap. Like Accounting and history, gay stuff like that.

WXC: One final question. Where will you be in 20 years?

PT: Dubai. I'm gonna have the Madagascar island in the world island. My profession will be professional boat racer/pirate killer. I'm gonna hunt down the Somalis.