Not dead yet.
That’s the phrase that Erik Sowinski came up with last year, and it’s the phrase that he’s still using, at least until 2024. The talented 800m has been a model of consistency throughout his career, and he’s still executing at a high level when it comes to his racing and pacing duties.
So far this season, Sowinski has accomplished some pretty cool feats, including going sub 1:47 in the 800m less than an hour after fulfilling his pacing duties in the men’s 1500m at the New York Grand Prix back in June.
“I think, especially after that race in New York, I was like man – I mean, to run 1:46:40 minutes after pacing a 1500m – my first 800m in almost 10 months,” he said. “I was like man, I’ve still got in the legs and I think that depending on the circumstances if they allow, I think that I’d definitely like to make a run at the (Olympic Trials) in 2024. For us, I think we’ll keep rolling with it till then at least.”
The long time track and field veteran has kept busy since the outdoor season started. He’s shared that he’s been running in races of some sort since the middle of April. While he didn’t line up and compete at the USATF Outdoor Championships, he’ll be overseas pacing races and chopping it up in his signature event, the 800m.
Sowinski has been coached by Joey Woody, who’s the Director of Track and Field/Cross Country since 2008. Now that Sowinski is 33-years-old, he and Woody have adjusted his training to what works best for him, which allows him to stay consistent year in and year out.
“For me, I think that we’ve got to be a little smarter about what we do on the track. And when we do it, I mean, when I was 23, 24, I felt like I could work out and rip things hard every single day. And now that’s not necessarily the case. But I mean, I’ve just been super fortunate to have such a static support team throughout my entire career. I’ve been with my coach Joey Woody since 2008. So I think that having him just knowing what I need to do, day in and day out, and just believing in that, just knowing that he has my best interest in everything that I want to do, whether it be racing or pacing, like, I don’t have to second guess anything.”
“So I think there’s just been a lot of getting to know myself what I need to do, when I need to take it easy, when I can push a little bit more. I think that consistency really just comes from just having everything been so, so comfortable for the last decade plus of my professional career.”
This season has been one for the books for Sowinski, on and off the track. He and his longtime girlfriend got married in June, and Sowinski is set to race overseas in a series of races through the end of the month. He’s taking advantage of each opportunity that he’s been given, and this season is one that he’ll never forget.
“It’s been awesome,” he said. “I mean, you know, I like to tell people, I don’t take a single day of doing this for granted. You know, it’s been it’s been such an awesome journey, you know, this year, especially, I mean, it’s been, it’s been busy, but so many exciting things happening for me, you know, on and off the track that, you know, looking back, it’ll probably be one of my best years of my track and field career.”
When it comes to track and field, Sowinski is truly not dead yet. He’s having fun competing in the sport that he loves, and he’s using all of the lessons that he’s learned over the years to give back to the sport, which is something that he hopes to continue to do even when his career is over.
“I have fun every single day,” he said. “And I always tell people I’m not afraid to talk to anyone about anything that I’ve been through in my career, whether it’s a kid reaching out on Instagram, having a question about training or something like that. I love track and field, I love to talk track and field and it’s just been such a huge part of my career. And I hope that even when I’m done I can still stay in the space because it’s been special to me, it’s provided me a lot of opportunities and hopefully, I’ll be able to find a way to give back in my own way.”
