Former KU track and field star and current Olympian Charlie Gruber answered questions from kusports.com readers across the country Friday, just a week before the opening ceremonies. He discussed his training regimen, how it feels to represent the United States and many other topics.

Moderator: We'll begin our chat with Charlie Gruber in just a few moments. Thanks to Charlie and our readers for their time today.

Dan, Kansas City: What's your secret to being able to build the speed to run 1:46 in the 800 after training to make a world cross country team in the winter?

Charlie Gruber: I focus on speed all year and then work on endurance towards the end.

Tim, Michigan: What are your expectations going into the heats of the 1500 in Athens and do you have a specific race tactic that you feel will help you to advance? Good luck in Athens

Charlie Gruber: I am going with the expectation of making the finals. I really haven't thought about the heats, since they haven't been posted, but will sit with my coach, Doug Clark, to figure out a plan that would involve getting in good position in the start not leaving a finishing 200 meter kick.

Paul, Lawrence: What are your feelings as you represent your country in the Olympics?

Charlie Gruber: It is a great honor and when I represent my country, school, and the city of Lawrence. I use the support as a benefit to push me, and don't view it as a weight on my shoulders.

Paul, Lawrence: Are there any landmark workouts that you have completed that have helped you know you were capable of running so fast this summer?

Charlie Gruber: Once, I did a 2x800 meter workout with 10 minutes rest in between. I went 1:49 and 1:53 by myself without a pace setter.

Scott, Pittsburgh: Alan Webb seems to have started a trend of not completing college eligibility and going pro early. Please comment on your experiences with the collegiate system and if Webb, Ritzenhein, Galen Rupp, and Allyson Felix would have benefitted or been brought down by this system.

Charlie Gruber: I think multiple plans work for different people. If your goal is to be an elite athlete, leaving could be good. I wanted the education and to be a part of a team.

Steve, Aurora CO: We've discussed this before, but your answer to this question is invaluable to me and I think important to other people reading this. In making the big step from being a formidible NCAA runner to now an Olympian, what was the biggest realization about yourself that helped you emerge as one of the best and brightest USA distance runners?

Charlie Gruber: I realized that I can be a happy person with or witout track. That relieved pressure and made it easier to compete.

Charlie Gruber: By the way, hello to the boys at 19th Terrace.

Cal, Colorado: Do you expect an international field to be more physical than the US trials where you did nearly stumble.

Charlie Gruber: Definetly. At the same time, I will be more physical and prepared for International/European type of racing.

Toby, Independence: Do you prepare for a major event like the Olympics any different that you prepare for other events?

Charlie Gruber: Physically I will taper my training leading up to the meet. Mentally the Olympics is no different than any other race, so I will prepare the same as any other race.

David, Lawrence: Now that you're in a class with Jim Ryun, Billy Mills, Wes Santee and Glenn Cunningham (KU's Olympic distance runners) what will it be like to run in front of the home fans at Kansas Relays after Athens?

Charlie Gruber: I am not sure I am in that group yet, but I am excited to come back and continue the KU tradition. I hope I can uphold the distance tradition and inspire the current KU guys as well.

A Michigan runner: Charlie, I was really pulling for you and hoping that you'd make it to Athens. You deserved it. What was it like running with Hicham El Guerrouj and Medhi Baala in Belgium a week ago, and what type of strategies will you use to defeat them this summer?

Charlie Gruber: It was an honor to run with the current record-holder, but I made it a point not to star gaze and be awwed, they are my competitors and I need to focus on me and my race, not who else is in the race.

Angie, Baldwin: My question is, are your parents and coach Clark be able to watch you race at the Olympics in person?

Charlie Gruber: Their tickets are booked, along with my brother, girlfriend and college buddies.

Mike, KC: How beneficial has it been training with the current KU guys, even though they probably can't push you as well as someone at your level?

Charlie Gruber: Real beneficial. I don't meet with them everyday, but it is good to get the synergy going with them several times a week.

Allison, Kansas City: When you were in high school, were the Olympics part of your future goals? Good luck!

Charlie Gruber: No. When I came to college my goals were to be an All-American and be under 4 minutes. It was a thought, but I never truly considered it.

Andy: Do you feel that the race in Life was a good learning experience? Did McGinn circle your name?

Charlie Gruber: Every day was a learning experience, but life was especially a learning experience because I saw Andy Tate cross finish line in front of me. I don't know who circled my name.

Jerry, Lawrence: Have you been able to find partners to run with for work outs and off days.

Charlie Gruber: Not really for work outs, but I have found some people for off days. Sometimes the guys from the team are around. I enjoy working out by myself and feel that I don't need a partner to have a good workout.

Cal, Colorado: If you have time, what other events/venues are you looking forward to watching in Athens?

Charlie Gruber: I probably won't watch any other events. If it works out, I would like to watch other distance events.

Matthew, Watertown, WI.: How many rest days to take in a week and what is your nutrition focus on?

Charlie Gruber: I do 2-3 workouts and a long run each week and the rest of the week is recovery. I try to have a general healty balanced diet and don't stress over small details or count calories.

Melaney, Dodge City: Are you originally from Kansas?

Charlie Gruber: I am originally from Arvada, Colorado. It's a suburd of Denver.

Briana, Ohio: Will you be staying in the athlete village at the games?

Charlie Gruber: Yes. I am in Munich now and then will travel to Crete for training and to the Village a few days before my race.

Jerry, Lawrence: FYI Happy Birthday Charlie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Charlie Gruber: Thank you. The big 2-6.

Tom, Boston: Do you do any hill work?

Charlie Gruber: Yes. Lots actually. More in the fall, but I try to keep in contact with that all year.

Matt, Lawrence: How many miles are you running in a typical week right now with multiple races to concentrate on?

Charlie Gruber: I am doing high 40s to low 50s with multiple races.

Scott, Greenville, SC: Regardless of how you do at the Olympics, do you think your exposure puts you in a position to help grow the sport here in the U.S.? In other words, would you be willing to take on a role as a spokesman for USATF and other T&F organizations here stateside after the Olympics?

Charlie Gruber: Sure, I enjoy doing things to promote the sport.

McGinn, New York: Every runner's first dream is obviously the Olympics, but a secondary one for many of us would be to experience the atmosphere of running in the European Grand Prix meets. How would you compare running in Stockholm with meets like Drake/Trials?

Charlie Gruber: Both meets such as Drake and the Trials are great, but European fans are much more involved in the meet and bring a higher excitement level than fans the states.

Matt, Lawrence: With your win in the 4k at Nationals, do you feel you'll start to race longer distances after the Olympics?

Charlie Gruber: Not this season, but next season I might try a 3k indoors and a 5k outdoors in the early part of the season.

SFBay, Lawrence.: How many prelims do you have to do to get to the finals?

Charlie Gruber: Two. The 20th and the 22nd. The finals are on the 24th.

Julie, Lawrence: What was the advantage to competing in Europe to achieve the qualifying time? Was it simply the timing and frequency of the events or some other factor?

Charlie Gruber: The competition was high and the fact the leaders went out in a fast tempo.

Peter, Salina: I think you have a great coach to work with in KU's Doug Clark - can you talk about what role he plays in your training and success.

Charlie Gruber: He writes my work outs, but more importantly makes me believe great things are possible and has helped me eliminate limits.

Charlie Gruber: I want to say thanks to everyone for all of their encouragement and support throughout the year. I really appreciate it.

Moderator: That does it for our chat with former Jayhawk and current Olympian Charlie Gruber. Thanks again to Charlie and our readers for all their time this afternoon, and good luck to Charlie in the Olympics.