McMillan Elite member Aaron Braun has been one of the most consistent runners in the U.S. over the past two years, turning in great performances both on the roads and the track. With a runner-up finish in the mile at the 2011 Indoor Track and Field Championships, numerous second and third place performances at U.S. road race championships and a fifth place finish in the 10,000m at the Olympic Track and Field Trials this past summer, the former Adams State All-American continues to impress.

This weekend at the Chevron Houston Marathon and Half-Marathon, Braun will be debuting at the half-marathon distance. As the next Olympic cycle starts to ramp up, Braun is testing his talent over the longer distance. We caught up with Braun heading into this weekend's race, discussing his current training, his expectations for this weekend, training with McMillan Elite and much more.

Scott Bush (SB): With the Houston Marathon and Half-Marathon this coming weekend, how has your training been shaping up and how ready do you feel heading into your half-marathon race on Sunday?

 Aaron Braun (AB): My Training this season has gone very well overall; I have been able to accomplish training goals I set out before the season of being able to do more mileage, the majority of my workouts being of higher quality, and staying healthy the whole season. The last couple months haven't gone as great as I would have liked; it took a little longer to recover from Manchester Road Race than I would have liked, and trying to get in high quality training in winter months is always difficult. But I have been very encouraged by my final few workouts leading up to Houston and can't wait to race.

SB: With such strong competition in the race this weekend, how do you see it playing out from a pack standpoint? Obviously there's a group going after a sub-60 clocking, but what is your ultimate goal? Have you talked to any other Americans who want to chase a specific mark with you?

AB: I forsee a few of the very fast Africans to go very fast from the start; and then there to be a  large, competitive chase pack; who could end up catching all but one or two of the lead pack when all is said and done. I am very excited to see Meb, Luke, and Ben also in the race. I haven't talked to any of them yet, but imagine we all have similar goals for this race, and will be willing to share the work of getting to the finish in a fast time.

SB: Last year seemed like a big stepping stone year for you, finishing second at the US Cross Country Championships in February, then coming back at the Olympic Trials and placing a strong fifth in the 10,000m. Along with some terrific road race results, what do you attribute to your successful 2012 season and what are you doing this year to try and take it to the next level?

AB: I consider 2012 to be a good, but not great year. I was very close to a lot of my goals but just coming up short. I attribute the success basically just to the years of work I have put in. Running is such an awesome sport, because the longer you can have solid, injury free training; the better runner you will be. I may not be the most talented runner out there in terms of leg-speed or other stuff; but I do consider myself to be very blessed to have the talent of being able to put in a lot of hard work; and for the most part, stay healthy.

SB: Your McMillan Elite team is strong, but still on the smaller side. Do you have a primary training partner in the group or are most of your workouts on your own?

AB: I love being able to train with my teammates in Flagstaff. There are plenty of times where I do end up having to do a hard workout on my own; but even just meeting up with a team-mate to warm-up and cool down together makes a big difference compared to doing everything on your own. This build-up for Houston I've done more stuff on my own, which hasn't been a lot of fun. But come track season, most of us will have similar goals and be doing the same or similar race schedules so we'll be able to workout together a lot more which I'm looking forward to.

SB: You were a collegiate standout at Adams State, where you obviously had some great training partners and were a leader on some very good teams. A lot of fans of the sport don't know much about Adams State. Could you talk through what it was like going to school there, being part of a very accomplished program and what the training environment is like?

AB: Going to Adams State is one of the best decisions I have ever made in my life. Academically it was a great fit because I was able to be in small classrooms where I would be able to ask professors specific questions, tell them when I would be gone for meets, and I ended up being able to earn my bachelors degree and masters degree only one semester longer than my eligibility lasted. Athletically it was an amazing experience. I made so many great friends, and got to be a part of a long, proud tradition of competitive excellence. The team is full of a bunch of blue-collar guys that just want to work their butt off to be the best runner they can be.

SB: In a post-Olympic year, it's easy to find athletes experimenting with different distances and types of races. What are your racing plans in 2013? Any chance we'll see you in a marathon this spring or fall?

AB: I am very excited to be debuting at the half-marathon distance. The original plan was to do this race last year; but I got a little injury in November, and my training leading up to it made me feel that I wouldn't be prepared for the distance so decided to do Cross Country instead. This year I have been fortunate to stay healthy so will do this race then take a break. I have been tempted to do Cross Country again this year, but feel that taking a break after Houston instead of USXC will be better timing-wise forme to try to make the US Track team this summer.

SB: Looking back on the Olympic Trials, I am sure it was disappointing not to finish top three, but a top five performance is outstanding. What did you take away from the race and how are you using that takeaway in your training now?

AB: I did have and still do have a lot of mixed emotions about the trails. It was heartbreaking for sure to be so close to making the team, especially when I travelled to Europe to do a couple track races and had to see all the Olympic stuff landing in Heathrow airport. But I was happy to be able to be as close as I was and to run a PR when I was peaking. Therefore my big take-aways from the Trials were to keep believing in what I'm doing, as it has lead me to get better every single year since I started running; and also to be willing to take a few more risks in races; be willing to stick my neck out a little further.

Quick Six

SB: Shoes you race in?

AB: Adidas Adios: So light, yet so comfortable

SB: Favorite workout?

AB: Mile repeats

SB: Best part of living in Flagstaff?

AB: The community: people to run with, therapists willing to help runners, etc.

SB: Favorite post-race food?

AB: Anything really unhealthy; usually some kind of fast-food (cheat day!)

SB: Favorite event?

AB: Although I'm not the best at it; I'll probably always love the mile the most

SB: Best band?

Tough one; my top 3 are The Killers, Kings of Leon, and Lady Antebellum (gotta have a little country sometimes)