Track and Field Blogs - Flotrack Blogs

I had a great blog all written up, it talked about training, racing, and Michigan winter. There was a little part about sunsets and maybe a mention of the short story, “How the Water Feels to the Fishes”. It was entertaining, emotional and had just the right amount of humor. The whole thing was great but I’m sorry to say it is gone. Sometime between writing the perfect closing line and 1am, I woke up with the letters F, T and J embedded into the left side of my face and a screen filled with little i’s. On top of… more »

I'm among the six of us hanson guys who are training for Boston. It's exciting, because I feel pretty good right now, but it's also intimidating because I've never put together a solid marathon. I saw this video today on line and it encouraged me. This is a guy with no limits! When I watched this video it gave me peace about Boston and inspiriation to train the best that I can and race the best that I can for the glory of God! more »

Well I'm back from Japan and training in Michigan again. We have had some great training during the last several months. After Houston we went down to Florida for a week. This was a nice mental break from the the winter mix in Michigan, and it was a chance for us to really see where our fitness levels were. Florida really helped our confidence because once we got some clear footing and a little sunshine our workouts really picked up. A few of us ran a 3k at the beginning of February. I can't remember being so nervous for a… more »

Coming into the 2007-2008 season, Texas Senior Leonel Manzano had already won NCAA titles in the 1,500m, the Mile and qualified for the World Championships by placing 2nd at the US Champs in the 1,500. In doing so, he defeated eventual 1,500m and 5,000m World Champion Bernard Lagat. That is an intimidating resume which put him in a different stratosphere in the eyes of most other college milers. During his senior campaign, Manzano was undefeated amongst collegians, including relays. That is virtually unheard of. Like all reigns, however, King Leo's had to come to an end, as he moved on… more »

I’ll be running my first track national championships this weekend. I’m very excited about it. I am not the quickest guy on the planet, my fastest 400m ever is 58.8, now that was in college and I have been able to drop my 200m speed over the four years since then from a pedestrian 28.8 to a startlingly mediocre 27.2. Those are of course hand times, in spikes, with a flying start. I’m hoping for a big PR this weekend. I really like the Reggie Lewis track. I have raced there dozens of times from HS through college and right… more »

We have debates about many things on runs. Topics range from greatest lead singer of Van Halen(David Lee Roth, of course), to the greatest place to train for a marathon(Rochester Hills, MI, of course). One of the most common subjects (between Kyle, Morgan, and I, at least) is the greatest WWF (sorry World Wildlife Fund, I won't punch a koala in the face today) wrestler of all time. My far and away winner is Ravishing Rick Rude. So, without further ado, here are the top 5 reasons why: 5. Rick Rude's finishing maneuver was the "Rude Awakening". Many people love… more »

Ever since I was a little kid, I've been obsessed with the desert. I remember watching the Roadrunner and Coyote cartoons and asking my dad if that was a real place when the Coyote fell off of a mountain bluff (presumably in Sedona). Last year was the first time I actually went to the desert. After Boston, I got ahold of some friends that live in Phoenix and we agreed that it was time to pay them a visit, so I got a plane ticket and left on one 30* May morning from Detroit and set out to Phoenix, where… more »

It looks like everyone put off their blogs to the last minute just like myself. I may be the last one entering though. I did think of this blog the other day on the run with Morgan but haven't gotten a chance to type it up till now. Morgan and I were running along around some snow covered roads of Rochester, and some cars were coming by and Morgan brought up a new feature in some of the new Ford's where there is a tree and as I understand it as you press on the gas harder the leaves on… more »

After a couple weeks of training in Florida and Boston we are back to Michigan putting in the miles for the Boston marathon on April 20. I have not run Boston before, so training on the course was definatly helpful. The course is challenging but I also really like the course. One thing that I have learned from past marathons is that you have to run your own race. It is easy to get caught up in the competition when you are feeling good, but 26.2 miles is too demanding to run someone else's race. This is something I am… more »

Recently, my wife and I went green and purchased a couple of those hoity toity grocery bags, you know the ones that you can reuse if you remember to bring them back the next time you go. I know I must do better to help out mother nature, but how you might ask? I have decided to take my greenness to Hanson's Running Shop. We have a store meeting this Thursday and here are a couple of ideas that I am going to bring up to Kevin and Keith to cut costs, save energy, and most important, save the planet.… more »

February brings an annual custom in the Hanson camp- the kick off of Spring Training in the Flrida Orange groves. It's certainly not a "vacation" per say, as we use it as our first week of big miles. Coming from the tundra where our runs are usually pretty slow, as soon as we hit the the roads in Florida- it feels like every run is all out. So we are working hard, but do manage to get some fun in. However, now that the average age of our team is 47. Brian is 58, Kyle 52, Morgan, 48, and myself… more »

The next race on my schedule along with a few other Hanson athletes is going to be the US 15k championships in Jacksonville. Training has been going better than it has in years for me. Kevin, Keith, and myself thought it would be a good idea to take a small break from marathoning and do a speed segment. I've hardly even touched the track since finishing 8th in the 2004 Olympic trials 5k. I was happy to find out the speed is returning to my old legs as I managed a 8:07 3k last weekend. It wasn't a pr but… more »

After taking nearly a year off from the old blog, and two weeks into our marathon-specific training for Boston, it's time to get back on here and give an update from the winter wonderland we train in. Actually I take that back, luckily we just got back from a week down in Florida to kick off our marathon training, so we haven't had to endure quite as much of the frigid temperatures and poor footing as of late. The time in Florida was spent wisely, making the most out of the nice temps and footing and getting some really quality… more »

Well, it seems to be about time for my annual Blog Post. I got back from my first Trip Overseas just a few days ago and it was awesome. Thanks to the Amazing people at the BAA for sending out to represent them at the Ome 30k in Japan this past weekend! If it weren't for them I would not have had such a great first international race experience. The Ome 30k is the Sister Race to the Boston Marathon, together the BAA and Ome Race organizers work together and send Top American/Japanese Runners to each other's race. I was… more »

As time progresses, I’m getting slower and slower. I knew this would happen and I’m embracing it. Sure I miss my teammates. I meet them every morning, only to see their backs and hear distant laughs within a mile. There are days when I run almost every step alone. Then there are other days when I get to run with the daily grinders. They are the runners I’ve known for years. Rochester, MI community runners with real jobs, people who run because it makes them feel good. It’s been great getting know these ladies better. I once was a daily… more »

With another Valentine's Day behind us, one might have noticed the abundant number of couples around. Looking around this website, one may even notice that an ample number of elite distance runners are engaged, married, and having children. I am not just referring to the 'one more season before retirement' crowd, either. A high percentage of young distance runners are making their way to the wedding chapel. In the 1970's the average age for an American to be married floated around 21. Since then, that number has steadily increased and stands in the high-20's today. One group has been driving… more »

Running confidence is a tricky thing. For some, a single workout can tear it apart, yet they require multiple workouts to build it up. Some will look for an outside source, be it a coach or confidant, to erect the tenuous pillars upon which this trait lies. Others will look inside and set their own standards and measures upon which they determine their level of running confidence. Perhaps, I should pause and clarify what I mean by running confidence. I don’t mean a broad sense of surety in the general meanderings of the world, but simply certainty as it applies… more »

“We don’t need to fragment it any further…I sympathize…but that’s our job to do on a larger scale.” There I was. Sitting at my computer, volume turned up, listening to this fat-cat CEO…the man with the future of USATF in his palm…tell me that I can’t do something that would make my life just a little easier. I mean, I’m thinking to myself… “Dear Mr. Logan, What you think might last 6 weeks, is my 6 months. I don’t need your sympathy, I need you to get the hell out of the way.” What if I could get discounted groceries… more »

There is a lot happening in the world of running right now and I am avoiding all of it. I am in the middle of my third week with team Running USA and I am getting fit. I have been doing workouts with the crew and turning my body into a finely tuned machine. I'm not proud to admit but until the last few weeks I have avoided the weight room, been pretty lazy with core routines, rarely stretched and never had a massage. Everything is different now, we meet at the gym 6 times a week and rotate through… more »

The weekend in Boston was sensational! First off I have to give a BIG thanks to Art from Global and Patrick from Reebok for inviting me out there and making the trip unforgettable. Here are some of the more interesting things I got to do:1. Lakers-Celtics game. I know all the other high school milers are a little jealous that I went, but it’s time to get over it guys. I had to put up with your dumb Alaska jokes the whole weekend haha. This is definitely one of the most fierce and historic rivalries in sports, and I was… more »

Hey Everyone, Training is going really well. I am in Mexico training hard doing altitude training. I am really excited since this is my first year running professionally, i finally have more time to spend on workouts, and all the other small things that are important to having a healthy running/training experience. I have been in Mexico now for about a month and a half and expect to be here till the end of Feb. It is really hard to be away from friends and family but i know that it is a sacrifice that i have to make to… more »

As part of the sport of track and field, most of us have resigned to the fact that beyond family and friends, a track meet will rarely draw a crowd. There are, however, a few competitions that contradict this very notion. Some have the right location, like the Prefontaine Classic. Some have major media attention, like the Olympics. And some have history, like the Penn Relays Carnival and the Millrose Games. The latter celebrated its 102nd running this past weekend and there was no shortage of excitement echoing throughout Madison Square Garden. The meet begins with some high school 4x400's,… more »