There were just millimetres between first and second in the Under 20 men’s race at the South of England Cross Country Champs this year, but Tomer Tarragano was anything but disappointed to be given the silver medal. The sprint finish marked one of his best memories ever and the race was part of a phenomenal season for the up and coming Sussex athlete. Kate Matthews caught up with him to chat about his background in the sport, his training and how he is dealing with changes following isolation and Coronavirus.
Kate: Who are you?
Tomer: 18, living in Brighton, club Brighton and Hove AC, coach - John Clements, currently on a gap year, looking to study Chemical Engineering at uni (probably Birmingham) next year. 
Kate: What are your favourite distances/disciplines?
Tomer: Cross Country has always been my favourite because time doesn't matter and it's all about racing people head to head. The conditions also play a factor, and the mud and hills just add to the fun! In the summer, the 800 has grown to become my favourite race on the track because of its real test of speed endurance; going flat out for 2 laps!
Kate: How did you get into athletics?
Tomer: Sports day at primary school led to trying out and enjoying my local parkrun, then when I moved to Brighton, I joined Brighton and Hove AC where I later joined John’s group and that was when I started to take athletics more seriously in terms of dedicating time to regular training. I never liked track because I wasn't much of a speedy runner but after a few years of consistent speedwork with John in the track seasons I have definitely grown to like the shorter distances a lot more. XC remains my favourite discipline and it’s one that as you gain experience with it, what might be very difficult for someone starting out will become second nature after a while.
Kate: What do you love/hate about the sport?
Tomer: I love racing, testing myself after training and seeing it pay off and training with friends. An evening track session can definitely be the highlight of the day especially after school, work and exams. Most importantly, running regularly means I never have to worry about how much I should eat! There isn't much I hate about the sport. Running in the lashing rain and wind is never ideal but it rarely stops me from getting out.
Kate: What has kept you in it? 
Tomer: Enjoying the sport is most important when it comes to staying in it and for me having a great group of guys to enjoy coming back to is key to keeping me training. John has always spoken about being a 'long-term athlete' coach, and his coaching has been instrumental in keeping us as a group all engaged and enjoying athletics for so long.
Kate: What is your most proud athletics' achievement?
Tomer: This XC season has been the best of my life so far, and has given some incredible moments. South of England silver in the closest sprint finish, medal at the cross cup in Belgium for England are some highlights, but my England debut in Stirling was just a surreal experience and gave me a lot of confidence for the races in the latter part of the season.
Kate: What has been the toughest moment?
Tomer: I can't remember a 'tough' moment where I might have considered taking a break, but for probably 3 seasons in a row, I never made it to English Schools in the shape that I would have liked. I was either ill, injured or just unfit on the day. As English Schools XC was always the highlight of the season and the race everyone wanted to do well in, it wasn't great to know that I could have done better. But I kept at it and have been very lucky since with illness and injury.
Kate: How often do you train?
Tomer: 6 days of training a week, which can be anything from lactic sessions to easy running. I've nearly always had a rest day in there to step back and not be consumed by running every day of the week. Sessions will be with the group, a mix of grass, road and track. Easy runs may be alone but a few of us look to meet up for a group run, especially on a Sunday.
Kate: Have you had any bad injuries and how did you deal with these?
Tomer: I've had a few recurring problems which I've been patient with, but nothing too serious. When I get an injury I'll make sure I find out what the weakness is through a physio and target it as part of an ongoing S&C program.
Kate: Other than actual achievements/PBs, what has athletics brought to your life?
Tomer: Meeting some great people and having some unforgettable experiences.
Kate: Best athletics memory?
Tomer: This year: South of England sprint finish, the mud at the national XC.
Kate: What would you say to younger people wanting to get started?
Tomer: Go for it, but don't burn yourself out early on. Make sure you keep enjoying it and if you stay in the sport then you'll get far in it.
Kate: How do you juggle training/competitions around during school/college and now work during your gap year?
Tomer: I find routine is best to keep training up during school and work. If you know what your session days are, where you'll be and what those days will consist of, then it can easily fit into a busy schedule. Races are always a highlight for me, so I'll always find a way to be there, especially if it’s a big national event. My work are always happy to give me an afternoon off on a Friday if I need to get up the night before which is very useful. 
Kate: Favourite athlete (past or present)?
Tomer: I don't really have any favourite athletes, but the current British middle-distance guys are really making a mark internationally which is great to see; Jake Wightman and Josh Kerr at Worlds and Grice in Monaco. A couple of us met Jake at a Sussex Endurance in 2019 when he was coming back from a big injury and his positive attitude to the situation was brilliant.
Kate: Any other favourites i.e food, music?
Tomer: Food: Fish and chips, and before a race- a pizza and pasta combo. I tried it for the first time at Liverpool Cross challenge and I've had it before every race since!
Kate: How are you managing to keep fit/train during Covid19? Any tips?
Tomer: Training without a group is never easy especially with no other social interaction! I'm doing everything I can to make sure I get out and run, and as much as possible to get a session in. I'm lucky to have my dad and we keep each other company. Just out the back door is the South Downs so there are plenty of choices when it comes to longer runs, and just below us is the seafront so I do my tempo runs there. I'm doing the Virtual National Road relays as part of the Brighton and Hove team, which will just be a flat out 5k on the undercliff pass from my house! Hopefully, if it all goes well, there will be more virtual races this summer, which will be very useful for those looking to keep up a high level of training during the track season, as it can be very tough without any short term goals to aim for.