Princeton steeplechase runner Cabral living in a bubble

cabral.JPGPrinceton's Donn Cabral, second from left, shown at last year's Penn Relays, is training for next month's Olympic Trials in the steeplechase by sleeping in an altitude tent.

PRINCETON — Donn Cabral could be the poster boy for Princeton University athletes. Actually, bubble boy would be more like it.

The senior track standout has already qualified for next month’s Olympic Trials in the steeplechase event, and, as a two-time runnerup in the NCAA Nationals, he is leaving nothing to chance.

In addition to running more in preparation for the 3,000-meter (1.7-mile) race, and working on his speed and strength, he has been sleeping in an altitude tent in his dormitory bedroom.

“It’s an air-tight tent with a hypoxic generator,” he explained from his Patton Hall apartment, which sleeps six roommates. “(Thursday) morning I measured I was breathing 13.5 oxygen. It simulates 12,000 to 13,000 feet altitude. It helps the body to be more efficient with oxygen.”

With no air-conditioning, the 90-degree heat last week made sleeping a bit uncomfortable.

But Princeton students being Princeton students, the guys have a plan.

“We’re thinking about putting buckets of ice in front of a blowing fan. We’re not sure if it will cool or actually add heat from the motor and friction.”

That’s Princeton distance runners for you. At least according to this 5-foot-9, 150-pounder.

“There are a lot of things distance runners in general share, and things about Princeton people we share,” he said. “In general, we kind of are the quirkiest of the quirky. Most of the population will go for runs and not enjoy it. But I think the great distance runners love what they do. Going out to train outside sounds like a miserable experience and a miserable existence, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

“I’m addicted. If you told me I couldn’t run for a day, I’d go bonkers. But, I mean, this whole campus is nuts. In order to go to Princeton and enjoy your experience and excel here, you need to have a very present nerdy side. You need to enjoy learning, going to lectures and doing work, and kind of pushing yourself off track as well.

“This year,” he added, “I am leaving no stone unturned in pursuing the limits of my potential.”

All-American in both cross country and the steeplechase, Cabral has also run a four-minute mile and right now has the best college time in the nation in the steeplechase (8:39.9). His personal record is 8:32, which he ran at last year's NCAAs.
A time similar should put him among the top half-dozen steeplechasers at the trials, with only three qualifying for the U.S. Olympic team.

“Donn has an athleticism that is unique to runners,” assistant track coach Steve Dolan said, “and sort of an aggression and toughness that’s good for the steeplechase. He’s a two-time captain here and one of the best competitors I ever coached in my 20 years on the college level.”

The steeplechase consists of five 36-inch-high immovable barriers, one of which includes a 12-foot-long water hole with an upward slope.

Runners can actually jump onto the barriers as well as over them. A race with seven laps, runners must make a total of 35 jumps, seven over the water.

Cabral fell into the water in the 2010 NCAA finals, and in the 2011 finals crashed into a barrier that left him sprawled out on the track.

Both times he got up and finished second.

“It can go from good to ugly much quicker than flat races,” Cabral said.

Enrolled in business school at the University of Colorado, he will bring his undergrad degree in economics. He wants to run professionally and take another shot at the Olympics in 2016.

“My degree here should allow me some freedom and an opportunity to pursue my dreams a little bit longer before I do something that will hopefully contribute to society in a more meaningful way, and allow me to build and support a family,” Cabral said.

His family for now is a typical college dorm, which is to say quite sloppy.

A hollow-body guitar was on a brown wrap-around couch next to a crumpled Princeton T-shirt, and Cabral’s keyboard was next to three mini-fridges by the door.

On one wall was a huge world map and on another was a map of the U.S. A large black-and-white poster of a young Bob Dylan graced another wall.

"We have some retro stuff going on," Cabral said with a laugh. "We're renaissance men."
Including one bubble boy.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.