Track and Field Blogs - Flotrack Blogs

This past Memorial Day weekend, the string of major professional and DI collegiate meets took a break while the local 5ks took center stage. On Sunday the 24th, Trav's Trail Run went off at Muadslay State Park in Newburyport, Massachusetts for the 9th consecutive year. This isn't the most competitive trail race you'll find, or the most difficult, but every year it stands out in my mind. It is a 3 mile memorial for Newburyport native Travis Landreth. You may have never heard the name before, but those who have, remember it. Every August before the cross country season officially… more »

Live it up. These are three words I've heard quite often recently. Normally they just roll through my psyche without much effect, but recently I've started to really dwell on this little mantra. If any of you know Jack Daniels then you know this is Jack's personal mantra whether he recognizes it or not. If you show up for a workout and feel unsure, Jack will just say, "Live it up". Got a big race coming up and you're feeling the pressure, Jack will say, "Live it up". Stop in Jack's office up here in Flagstaff and on your way… more »

The two things that worried me the most going into the marathon were being able to handle the pace and my legs holding up for 42.2km. To be specific, I was worried that I wasn’t going to feel comfortable running 3:12/km (5:12/mile) right from the gun, imagining that it would take a few km to warm-up. And, I ultimately thought my calves would let out on me or completely seize up towards the end of the race. Throughout my cross training (pool running, biking, elliptical and XC skiing) I never extensively worked my calves like I did other leg muscle… more »

The season has started! I hope all is excited and tuned in. Let's focus on having fun and keeping it simple: The Lone Ranger and Tonto went camping in the desert. After they got their tent all set up, both men fell sound asleep. Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, "Kemo Sabe, look towards sky; what you see?" The Lone Ranger replies, "I see millions of stars." "What that tell you?" asked Tonto. The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says, "Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies. Time wise, it appears… more »

Alright, the first part of this blog is aimed at a certain young man whose name happens to be Mike Kilburg. Since Mike has come to the team he has managed to steal Kyle O'brien's guitar and taint it with that Starbuck's drinkin', flannel wearing, screatching Seattle based noise!!! Well, listen here PAL, if you are going to live in the Midwest, then you need to learn some good ol' Midwest, Motor City, Rock and Roll Harmony! Here are two suggestions. First start with Detroit's Own White Stripes cover of Son House's 'Death Letter' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t1_ETuWIbE Once you get this down,… more »

So I have about two hours until I will be racing the 3200 in my last track meet in my hometown. My freshmen year seems like yesterday when I so excited to be running in my last "regular" season ending home meet because the Dinnan twins were coming to race. They were a pair of seniors who ran around 4:20 in the 1600 and it was my burning desire to try and keep up with them. So I ended up having my breakthrough performance that day as I ran a huge pr for the 1600 in 4:27 and barely stole… more »

Every year, records fall. It is inevitable. Some broken records are easily predicted, while others stun you into silence. After a bounty of new records indoors, the outdoor season has shown no signs that the pace is slowing. Already this season, the Tennessee women at Penn Relays took down a collegiate record in the 4x800 and world record in the 4x1500, with 2 other teams under the old NCAA record. Jenny Barringer ran a solo effort 15:07 CR in the 5k and Sam Chelanga quietly ran an NCAA record in the 10k. New Bern NC and Albemarle VA ran some… more »

the line between legal and illegal should be in plain sight and it should be blatant. but today, in our sport, it's cloudy. i agree whole heartedly with shannon's take on PED's and USADA. no one is offering advice or counseling on the matter. i take protein, a multivitamin, and pre-workout amino acids. i have been taking the same thing for 3 or 4 years now and have been tested around 30 times (give or take 5) in and out of competition. i love the product and trust in the results i've seen and experienced. but, i still have to… more »