Interview By Justin Gaymon // Photo by Karthik Adimula

New York, March 11, 2015 – Garden State Track Club’s Anselm LeBourne broke his fifth 55-59 age group masters world record this year at Tuesday’s NYRR Night at the Races. The 55-year-old crossed the mile finish line in an impressive time of 4:34.79, lowering his previous world record of 4:37.05. His other current world records include a 2:01.60 in the 800m and 4:19.80 in the 1500m. We took some time to talk to LeBourne to find out how he does it!

You’ve had a lot of success at The Armory. What is it like for you to compete here?

I feel at home here at The Armory. It’s only 45 minutes from my house. I can come here relax and run my race. Today I ran my race.

What pushes you?

World records. When I set a world record, the next goal is to break that world record. So that’s what keeps me motivated to keep going and going.

How do you do it?

I don’t know how I do it sometimes. Coming here today I was worried, but I felt good throughout the whole race. It was just fantastic. It’s all due to hard work, though.

What’s your training currently looking like?

My coach Rodney Wiltshire is the mastermind behind everything. Right now I just train two days a week by myself. I don’t overtrain. I run around 25-30 miles per week. It’s quality over quantity now. I don’t do 50-60 miles, that’s not for me. We do quality workouts like 200s, 300s or 400s with short rest. It’s all about being mentally strong, but physically everything is fine.

What’s your diet looking like?

I’m a vegetarian. I eat a lot of vegetables and proteins. I have a secret shake that I’ll be marketing on the Internet soon. It’s all-natural stuff that I have for breakfast in the mornings and that gives me the energy to keep on working hard.

Can you tell us a few of the ingredients?

We have flaxseed in it, plant proteins and lot of grains. A lot of natural stuff.

What has been your hardest race recently?

The toughest one was around 10 days ago in Boston. I ran 4.13 for the 1500. That was hard because I went out in 2:10. I struggled for the last half mile, but my training had me able to run hard and keep running through the pain.

Are you one of those guys who enjoys the pain?

I know the pain is going to come, and I say to the pain, when you come I’m ready for you. I’m waiting for you to come and it’s going to be a fight between you and I to see who’s going to win. And most of the time I end up winning.

What’s on the horizon?

I think my indoor season is done after tonight. Outdoor the goals are to try to break the masters records in the 800, 1500 and the mile and then go to World Masters Championships and try to win the 800 and the 1500. I think next year I can break these indoor world records again. I’m already thinking down the road, but that’s just the way it is. That’s my mindset.