Interview with Yorktown Tiger Martin Buss

ECI: Martin, you are obviously a new runner to East Central Indiana, could you explain to our community how you arrived at Yorktown?

MB: "Well, I am a foreign exchange student from Germany and arrived here on August 13^th. I live with a very nice host family on a farm close to Yorktown until the end of June next year."

ECI: How did you get started in running?

MB: "I started running when I was very young. My father was a marathon runner (he ran once in the New York City Marathon) and he often took me with him to practice. So I did my first 5 Km practice when I was about 5 years old. I also played soccer for 10 years, but when I was 14, running became more serious for me and I started to like it more than soccer. Finally, I stopped playing soccer and got a trainer. This was the beginning of my running career."

ECI: How much have you enjoyed running cross country in the state of Indiana?  Is it what you thought it would be?

MB: "Running in Indiana definitely exceeds all of my expectations. I enjoy running cross country very much. I really like to practice with the team and it is a big motivation for me. In Germany , we don’t have cross country or sports teams at the school. So I usually practice once a week with my team and the other time on my own. I love it to cheer for the other Tigers and to spend my time with them. It was also a great way for me to make friends." 

ECI: You have steadily emerged as the frontrunner for the Yorktown Tigers, how have you been able to handle the added pressure of being a star athlete and a foreign exchange student during this season?

MB: "I was used to the success because I got the state champion and champion of northern Germany last year, but there is definitely a difference between running in the US and in Germany . More people notice your performances here because you run for your school. I had less pressure in the beginning because nobody really knew how fast I am able to run. It was more of a motivation than pressure to run as a Yorktown Tiger and to help my team. Now I know that the state of Indiana has great athletes and there is always a goal to practice harder!"

ECI: How do you like to prepare yourself for big races?

MB: "I usually stay very quiet before great races and focus on the race. I also need to walk the course with my team and listen to my iPod to have a song stuck in my head during the race."  

ECI: Who is your idol?  

MB: "My idol is the German runner Dieter Baumann. He was the last very fast German long distance runner and he ran the 5 Km in 12:54’70 (German record). He also won an Olympic gold medal 1992 in Barcelona ."  

ECI: What is your favorite music to listen to before a race?

MB: "My favorite music to listen to before a race is punk-rock. It motivates me a lot and gives me the will to beat everyone. My favorite bands are German bands, but I also like American punk-rock like The Offspring, Rancid or Green Day."

ECI: What is your favorite pre-race meal?

MB: "My favorite pre-race meal is spaghetti and granola bars with peanut butter!"