Saucony 2009 - fam "Attitude of Gratitude"March 25, 2009 I just got back from a run on one of my favorite single track trails in Sedona, AZ. As I've said I love the solitude of running there and I enjoy taking that time to reflect. I had a lot to reflect on having just returned from my win at the U.S 15k Championships in Jacksonville, Florida. I enjoyed every step of that race and I ran alone from the front never looking back once. Having such a close finish also added to the value of the win. Reflecting on the race and my running career today has reinforced my "Attitude of Gratitude." That is the team motto for the Sedona high school track and field team. I was fortunate enough to talk to the team again this year and get a team shirt with their motto. I have discussed some of my feelings of gratitude towards running in general on here, but would also like to take the time to recognize all of those who have helped me along the way. Running at a high level takes an immense amount of commitment and sacrifice. Having a great support system is essential to moving forward year after year and staying committed. I'm really fortunate that my wife made the trip up to Flagstaff with me this season. She spent four weeks with me in a hotel and took care of just about everything. I've been living in this hotel for about six weeks now and it can be difficult and unusual at times. Spending so much time away from home dedicated to one task can be overwhelming. Staying motivated and focused during times like this can be challenging. I'm blessed to have such a good support system of family, friends ,coaches, and sponsors who help keep me driven. Having Dr. Jack Daniels in Flagstaff full time is a great asset. He has been able to work with me quite a bit with workouts and feedback. There are so many coaches that use his formula and who you could say, "make it their own". He is an incredibly valuable mind and asset to the entire running community as well as myself. I certainly hope he is able to stay in Flagstaff for many years to come. I'm also very grateful to my coach George Watts who has helped me develop into a true elite athlete. I've been working with him for over 10 years now and am thankful for the doors he and the University of Tennessee has helped me open. For the 15k championship I mostly used the four week altitude training buildup that George and I developed through years of trial and error. It has been a great stepping stone to my success. My newfound health food interest and much improved diet has also helped me greatly during this trip. I have friends in Knoxville to thank for that as well as my wife for keeping me on track and preparing meals. Staying injury free is also key when training at such high intensity. I've been fortunate to work with Geoffery Bishop of Stay Tuned Theraputics here in Flagstaff. His myoskeletal alignment and massage techniques have helped keep me intact after very hard workouts. Across the board I have some great positive people around me right now. From the very beginning I've had many people supporting my efforts in running. My high school coaches Frank Oliva and Tom Julian were instrumental in getting me started in running and went above and beyond the call of a coach. These are just a few of the people who in small and big ways help me move toward achieving ever greater goals. When I race you see me and only me. You don't get to see all of the small things that add up to a big performance. I love the individuality of running. I love knowing that what I put in is what I get out. The race effort is mine and mine alone. Off of the roads or the track though my success is built and fostered by my family, friends and coaches. I consider myself very fortunate to have had so many people supporting and/or encouraging me. With their help I truly think there will be quite few big performances ahead of me in the coming years. If you are starting out in running or trying to get to the next level I strongly encourage you to find and surround yourself with people who keep you motivated and energized. Choosing friends, coaches, colleges or training partners is very important in this way. Find people who will inspire you to achieve your best everyday. When you do this and race you'll see you can't lose. |
About fam
Famiglietti won his first national 3,000m steeplechase title since 2002 at the 2008 Olympic Trials in bold, front-running form. Famiglietti took the lead early in the final and ran alone throughout the race, running 8:16 pace for all but the final two laps. Although he slowed somewhat in the final 800, "Fam" won easily in 8:20.24. Famiglietti ran a season’s best in the opening round at the Olympic Games when he clocked a personal best 8:17.34 (bettering his previous PR of 8:17.91 from 2004), which also was the fastest time by an American in 2008. Known mostly for his prowess in the steeplechase, Famiglietti’s 2007 season was highlighted by his 5,000m runner-up finish at Mt. SAC on April 13 in the year’s second-fastest time by an American of 13:11.93, which is the fastest time by an American ever on U.S. soil. Famiglietti’s 2006 season was highlighted by personal best performances in the 1,500 meters (3:35.83) and at 10,000 meters (27:37.74). He posted a then personal steeple best with his runner-up finish of 8:17.91 at the 2004 Olympic Trials. Famiglietti made his breakthrough in 2000, improving his personal best by more than 17 seconds and placing seventh at the Olympic Trials. He headed into the 2001 GMC Envoy USA Outdoor Track & Field Championships with the fastest time by an American in 2001 and came away with second place, a personal-best time, and a berth on Team USA for the World Championships. His victory at the 2001 World University Games is the first international title by an American in the steeplechase since John Gregorek captured the WUG title in 1991. While in Beijing, he cut his hair into a mohawk and bought a bicycle so he could travel around the city. He gave the bike to some children before he left for home…was a psychology major at Tennessee but has no plans to practice psychotherapy: “I’ve got to figure myself out first”…is an artist, with a particular interest in abstract expressionism. Famiglietti has a quotation from the 1980s New York graffiti artist Basquiat (aka “Samo”) tattooed on his forearm…has an interest in Eastern religions. 2008: 13th at Olympic Games (8:31.21)...Olympic Trials champion (8:20.24)… 3rd in opening round Heat 2 at Olympic Games (8:17.34 PR, U.S. Leader)…ranked #1 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 8:17.34. 2007:4th at USA Outdoor Championships steeple (8:27.64)…USA 8 km champion (22:35)…1st at adidas Track Classic 3,000m (7:41.27)…2nd at Mt. SAC 5,000m (13:11.93PR)…ranked #6 in steeplechase, #5 at 3,000m & #10 at 5,000m in the U.S. by T&FN…bests of 8:27.64 & 7:41.27. 2006:4th at AT&T USA Outdoors 5,000m (28:27.73)…U.S. k km champion (13:50.1)...3rd at Stanford (27:37.74)…3rd at Reebok Grand Prix (3:55.71)…8th at Stockholm (8:24.41)…7th at Rieti (3:35.83PR)… 5th at Linz (8:19.77)… 9th at Roverto (13:24.47PR)…ranked #2 U.S. in steeple, #5 U.S. at 1,500m by T&FN…bests of 3:35.83, 8:19.77, 13:24.47, 27:37.74. 2005: 2nd at USA Outdoors (8:20.49)6th in opening round at World Outdoor Champs (8:21.84)...1st in at adidas Track Classic (8:25.16) 1st at meet in Columbus (8:20.04)...2nd at Rieti (8:19.46)...best of 8:19.46 2004: 2nd at Olympic Trials (8:17.91PR)...8th in opening round at Olympic Games (8:31.59); 1st in 1500m at Sea Ray Relays (3:43.38)1st at Penn Relays (8:25.02)7th in 3000m at adidas Oregon (7:50.70)14th in 5000m at Mt. Sac (13:38.29)ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN bests of 8:17.91, 7:50.70 & 13:38.29. 2003: 3rd at Pan Am Games (8:40.22)best of 8:31.03 in opening round at USA Outdoors...ranked #4 in U.S. by T&FN. 2002: USA Outdoor steeple champ (8:19.07); 4th at USA Indoors 3 km (7:59.15)4th at World Cup (8:32.27)13th at USA 4 km XC (11:47)4th at Gresham (8:21.05 ); ran 8:23.30 in Monacoran 8:24.49 in Stockholm ranked #1 in U.S. by T&FN best of 8:19.07. 2001: World University Games champ (8:21.97); 2nd at USA Outdoors (8:22.68)...4th at US indoor 3,000m (7:59.41)...11th in opening round at World Outdoors (8:44.54)10th in 4 km at USA XC Winter Nationals; 3rd at adidas Oregon Track Classic (8:23.20)...ranked #2 in U.S. by T&FN...best of 8:21.00 in Stockholm. 2000: 7th, Olympic Trials (8:25.37) ...2nd SEC Outdoors 4th, NCAA Outdoors (8:42.49) best of 8:25.37. 1999: 8th in heat, USA Outdoors (8:42.58)... 6th at NCAA Outdoors (8:50.11)...best of 8:42.58. 1998: Southern Conference champion in steeple and 5 km...11th at SEC XC...75th at NCAA XC...best of 8:52.12. 1997: Southern Conference XC runner of the year runner-up. 1996: Southern Conference freshman of year in XC Sign Up
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I know I will NEVER ignore core work and all that again if I ever come back.
We 70's guys used to laugh about that stuff...