A Relaxed Pace Helps Thousand Oaks’ Fairman

Doug Fairman is typical of many middle-distance runners. He usually gets nervous before a race, especially a big one. But not at last Saturday’s prestigious Pasadena Games at Occidental College.

“I didn’t feel nervous at the starting line,” Fairman said. “I don’t remember ever being that relaxed before a race.”

The Thousand Oaks High senior attributed that relaxation to his subsequent third-place effort of 4:14.80 in the 1,600 meters. “It definitely helped,” he said. “I just went into the race with the attitude that I was going to run with the leaders for as long as I could. I didn’t worry about anything else.

“In the past I’ve had a tendency to worry too much about pace. This time I just concentrated on my place. I didn’t worry about times.”

That concentration led to a personal best by 10 seconds but Fairman intends to run faster. “I’d like to qualify for the state meet and I’d like to break the school record in the 1,600,” Fairman said.

The Thousand Oaks school record of 4:10 is held by his brother Steve, who qualified for the state meet as a junior and a senior.

“It’s one of my major incentives,” Doug said. “I’d want to break the school record even if someone else held it. But it would be extra special because it belongs to Steve.”

Doug Fairman, the defending Ventura County and Marmonte League champion at 800 meters, attributes part of his success to Steve’s advice.

“He’s run in a lot of big meets before so he knows what I’m going through,” Fairman said. “He’s really stressed the importance of staying relaxed in the big meets.”