The upcoming outdoor track season will undoubtedly include a multitude of prep boys running faster than I did in High School. Many of these kids are seniors and they are likely looking for a fresh home and a new team next year. No matter how fast you are, if you want to run in college then there is a college for you. There are plenty of places to turn to for advice when you are making this decision but hopefully this story helps. I chose to go to a small school and I flourished but there are many options for you. First, seeing as this is my blo...
Yesterday the world was treated to yet another great match between tennis’ biggest stars Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer. This grueling and exciting tennis match was watched by millions of people around the world. It is matches like this that have raised the profile of the sport of Tennis far above Track and Field and this match wasn’t even the final of the Australian Open, nor is it likely the last time that Nadal and Federer will face this year. (I'm not some sort of huge tennis fan, I just couldn't help but notice this) The l...
Heading into the Houston Half Marathon I was more excited to watch my teammates run the Olympic Marathon Trials the day before than to actually run my own race. That said, my training was going very well and the Houston Half Marathon gave me a great opportunity to test that fitness. The splits on my watch were: 4:50, 4:42, 4:35, 4:40, 4:43, 4:45, 4:46, 4:28, 4:46, 4:41, 4:38, 4:43, 5:08 (1.1 mi on last split). I am glad that Jon (Grey) and Luke (Puskedra) went out slow with me for the first mile because it is really easy to get carried aw...
If you are looking to be inspired to run please read my last blog here, or go ahead and read any of the blogs written by the marathoners looking to run the race of their lives this weekend (particularly Pat's). If you think smoothies are delicious, then keep reading. If I were trying to cultivate the blue collar runner image then I would blog about how I refuel after long runs with a cold, possibly large, beer. Well, if I were truly blue collar, I wouldn't blog. I also realize that smoothies might not be ideal in January where you live. I ...
The following is a Holiday letter from a fellow runner. Doug Ryan is a friend of whome I had a chance to read the letter over the recent holidays. For years Doug has been selflessly dealing with his wife Sherry's Multiple Sclerosis which does not appear to be an easy task for anyone, but his love for her left him with no other option. The only contact I have ever had with Doug was when he chose to run 100 miles on an elliptical machine to raise money for MS research. This idea of spending hours on an elliptical machine still baffles me to ...
The holidays are a great time of the year. I can't wait to spend time with family and eat good food. I love seeing the world around me decorated with holiday cheer and other than people frantically shopping for last minute gifts, everyone seems relaxed and in good spirits due to some well earned time off of school and work. Over the past few years the holidays are also a time where my workouts magically transform from miserable to good in what seems like over night. While looking at my training plan will show you that I have followed a pretty s...
If you would have asked me at the beginning of the year what would be more likely: Would I run a PR or would I make the World Championship team I would have definitely said PR. In fact I was fairly convinced at the beginning of the year that there was no way I would make the World team without improving on my 27:48 from three years ago, but that’s exactly what I did. Hardcore track fans love times. Times are sexy. With times you can definitively say “I am this much faster than someone else” or “only this many people are ...
One of the favorite casual questions I get about my running is "what do you think about?" Well hopefully this blog might be able to answer those questions. Yesterday I had the chance to run the Rock n Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon with my teammates Pat Smyth and Jon Pierce. We would have loved to find a more competitive half marathon but Las Vegas is not too far from Mammoth and has a relatively fast course. However since the competition wasn't too stiff we had a chance to control the race and be sure to run a good hard pace without having to wo...
With the 2010 ING New York City Marathon in the books I wanted to give my take on the year of Marathons. Granted there are still a few Marathons to be run before the years close but I doubt that either the world lead or the USA lead will be challenged. First I should admit that I have a keen interest in the Marathon. Perhaps you share this interest with me. Of course I have never done the marathon but my joining the Mammoth Track Club was very influenced by my desire to do one eventually. The topic of my eventual debut is something that has com...
Here is a list of reasons why I am excited about friday. 1. Outdoor begins. 2. My wife will watch me race. 3. New uniform. 4. Chico state kids will yell obnoxiously at me for 12.5 laps. 5. Racing in California for the first time since last May. 6. There is no snow in Walnut CA. 7. Racing under the lights. 8. The field is quite good. 9. I think I can win if all goes well. 10. Outdoor begins!
