Hailing from the Central Coast of NSW, middle distance star, Charlie Hunter, left Australian shores in 2018 to take up a scholarship for the famed Oregon Ducks. It was a decision that changed his life. He is now the proud owner of Australian indoor records over one mile (3:53.49) and 800m (1:45.59). Equally as impressive, Hunter recently won the NCAA Indoor 800m Title (1:45.89). He is also a serious contender for a Tokyo 2021 spot.
We caught up with Charlie and jumped inside his life, training and heaps more..
RT: Charlie, good to have you on RT. You have been on a major hot streak lately. 1:45.59 over 800m (indoors), 3:53.49 mile (indoors) – both Australian records. And of course an NCAA indoor title over 800m (see vid below). Substantial breakthroughs. What do you put this down to?
CH: I think it’s a culmination of a number of things, I’m definitely a completely different runner to what I was last year and even 6 months ago. I think when it comes to my preparation, COVID may have been a blessing in disguise- when it all popped off I was in Albuquerque New Mexico for the 2020 indoor nationals, the meet got cancelled and I was on the next flight home where I remained for the next 6 months. In that time at home my running options were very limited (treadmill and hilly back roads) and I think that enabled me to get a really solid base which I hadn’t had before. Secondly, once I was able to return to the states I couldn’t go home over the Christmas break, so I used that time to head up to Flagstaff AZ and expose myself to some serious altitude. I think I’m somebody that responds really well to altitude- so the results you were seeing this indoor season I think were a product of that December altitude training and the great foundation I built while home.
And I think more importantly I’ve got a great team around me in a proven program that makes champions, I solely believe in my training and the guidance I’m being given. It also helps having phenomenal training partners (2x 3:50 milers, 3x sub 7:45, 3x sub 13;30 guys) I’m competing with these athletes day in day out and I think the cream rises to the top.
RT: You finished high-school in 2014 I think, then didn’t leave for the NCAA’s until 2018. Why the delay, and I am assuming you’re gonna say it was the right decision? How did it all play out?
CH: Going to college was not on my radar whilst I was in school, I was very content with my coach and I just thought I’d keep doing what I was doing. I’d keep running in Bouddi National park on the central coast, enrol in a uni somewhere in Australia and stay in my little bubble. But I quickly found out about the harsh realities of Australian track and field and if I wanted to keep improving I needed to surround myself with the best- which was a value my father drilled into me during this time.
So coming out of school I had run reasonably quick but by no means was turning any heads and was left with pretty much no options. I had next to no support (apart from my parents), nobody to train with, and far from ideal places to run. In summary, my ceiling was set very low and if I wanted to give running a real crack I realised that I needed to go over to the states. So from 2016 I was able to get over to Eugene and take a look- I fell in love with the program and started my process to get over there. Because I was a mature aged student my application was pretty difficult but we got there in the end.
There’s a fair bit more that went on during that period- but the moral of the story is that I found the place where I’d be most happy, challenged athletically and able to pursue my academic career. And I did everything I possibly could to get there.
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RT: If you had your time over again, would you do it differently?
CH: Absolutely, I was very lost during that 2014-2018 period, and like most kids when they graduate from high school- I didn’t know what was next. I wish I was exposed to the American college system earlier on as it would’ve given me something to strive for, and I think fast tracked some of the success you’re seeing now.
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RT: What’s life like running for Oregon? Do you have much say in regards to your training, or it is the same sort of structure for the entire team?
CH: Oregon for me is pretty much the perfect environment- apart from the weather. I live about 3 blocks up from the new Hayward field in a house with some other team mates, I’ve got great trails to choose from, world class facilities, physiotherapists, dietitians, sports psychologists, strength coaches and anything else you can think of all at my disposal. On top of that some pretty world class training partners.
As for any input to my training, I’m sure if I had any the coaches would be receptive to it. But one of the main reasons why I chose Oregon was because I believed in its program, I haven’t really needed to suggest any changes or provide input.
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RT: Can you shed a bit more light on the training program. How many miles per week during base ? And have you done much 800m race specific track work to pull off that 1:45 or was it more sort of coming from 1500m type sessions ?
CH: Sure, no secrets here- base phase is pretty typical (4-5 steady tempo type runs/ week, hill strides once a week, 90min long run with tempo reps within).
I’m not somebody that does well off of high mileage so I tend to stay around that 75-80miles/week.
The strength side of training doesn’t come as natural to me, so I typically don’t enjoy this period- but I understand that it’s the most important period that enables me to finish in these quick races.
I get towelled up day in day out during the base phase, but what I’ve learnt is that you’ve got to enjoy this process, and you need to place as much emphasis on the recovery as you do the workouts. We reap more benefits from the recovery days as we do from the workouts!
As for workouts we did prior to indoors- that was off pure strength work. The speed just comes a bit more natural to me.
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RT: Aussie middle-distance runners are pretty awesome right now. Lots of competition for those Olympic spots. How do you see your chances and what’s the plan of attack?
CH: yeah it’s great to see this resurgence in Australian middle distance running! I think success breeds success and when you’ve got studs like Stewy Mac, Jessica Hull, Matt Ramsden, Linden Hall etc its only gonna spark more interest and success.
As for my chances of making the team I would consider myself a contender considering my recent form.
And the plan of attack- beat the bloke beside me.
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RT: Lot’s of debate going on regarding the fast indoor times being dropped globally. I am not talking about you specifically, but more in general. Do you have a view on the new Pebax super spikes and their impacts on times?
CH: I think it’s really naive and unfair to say that the spikes are behind some of these fast times we’re seeing. It’s doing a great injustice to the athlete who has dedicated their life to running the times that they are.
Don’t get me wrong, the spikes are good, and I do believe they are playing a role in the fast times we’re seeing. But not with regards to racing, more so with recovery and being able to get more out of their training.
I like the fact that I can now run a fast track workout and not be out for a week with a calf strain.
RT: 800m or 1500m If you had to choose one?
CH: I’ve always considered myself a 1500 guy, but this 800 is coming real easy to me. Maybe if get into a race with Donavan Brazier or some real 800 runners they’ll scare me straight.
RT: When will you be back on Australian soil for good? The commentators during your NCAA 800m win called you a junior, how does this work being a junior at 24?
CH:Not sure when I’ll be back for good, but I look forward to when that day comes.
As for the whole NCAA eligibility thing it’s all abit of a dark science- everybody gets 4 seasons of XC, indoor and outdoor track so it just goes off of how much you’ve used since graduating high school. And funny you mention that because I was actually named Pac-12 freshman of the year as a 22 year old. I wiped the floor with those 18 year olds.
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RT: Lastly, your favourite track workout?
CH: Either a light hill workout where I can really rip into, say 8x400m hill or treadmill km’s (8x1km @3:00<2:45). I enjoy just switching off and listening to some music while on the treadmil.
RT: Cheers Charlie, all the best mate.
