Snow feelings...

I think i am finally recovered enough to start running again. I went out on saturday for an easy 5 miles and felt alright, just trying to shake out the cobwebs in my muscles. My calves still get tight when i run and i am a little worried about it. I can't really take any more time off from running. My marathon is in less than 4 weeks.

I went out again today and did a moderate 8 miles. Felt a lot better than saturday but my calves still got tight at about 4 miles. Now, its snowing and the roads and sidewalks haven't melted from the last storm. This is my least favorite part of running during the winter. I absolutely cannot do treadmills, which means, i just have to make do with the conditions i live in. I have to work back up to my endurance level and i should be set for the full in january. I am thinking that one way or another i am going to finish that full marathon. I have too many friends giving me encouragement to wimp out on it. The next few weeks will be key.

Recover, recover...

Recovery has been my mantra this week. I knew it was going to be a stretch running a half marathon only 6 weeks before my marathon. And a stretch it has become. A stretch of quads, hamstrings, and calves.

My week started with a few days off, seeing as though it was a struggle to walk. I think the combination of a bad warm-up before the half and a mostly down-hill race with a little speed mixed in made for a long recovery. I went on a 5 mile, easy day today and felt absolutely horrible. My legs were tight in the first half mile and living in flagstaff means no flat ground...anywhere. I am obviously a little worried about my preparedness for the full marathon in january. If it was a struggle today to run 5 miles, its going to be a struggle to finish my long runs.

I did swim on thursday and rode my bike yesterday. I have not been totally dormant. I am thinking i need to add some more cross training to my schedule next week and resume full running by next weekend. Ultimately, i am regretting my decision to run the half, but seeing as though it was a friend's first race of any kind, i wanted to be there to support him and get a feel for my fitness at the same time. Its going to be all on time's shoulders to tell if i am going to be prepared for the full in 5 weeks, but the race organizers have an easy transfer of races: Just start in the half marathon. It might be a race week decision on which race i do.

Tucson Half Marathon...

Thank you to everyone who came and watched, offered words of encouragement, and most of all prayed for myself and all the runners yesterday. Here is my race recap.I was up at 4:30 yesterday morning because we had to park in a lot behind Ventana Medical in Oro Valley by 6am. I ate a bowl of instant oatmeal and threw my jersey on. I put on all my sweats cause i knew it was going to be cold.I rolled up to the Medical center at about 5:15 and there was a line of cars, literally, two miles long. Obviously, the parking of cars was difficult and taking a long time. I finally got parked at 5:45. Took my "drop bag" and water bottle and headed to the buses that were going to take us to the start line. They didn't have space at the start line for all the cars to park, hence the bus ride. The ride was about 15 minutes long up to the entrance of Biosphere 2. Again, the organization was horrible. We sat on the bus for almost 40min. They didn't have space for all the buses at the start line. They had them wait at the entrance until a bus left and then the next one would go and unload its humans. Took forever, people decided to just walk the mile to the start line because it was only 20 min til start and we hadn't warmed up. I was one of the people in the mass exodus form the buses. Warmed up, gave up my 'drop bag' on the bus that was going to take it to the finish line and did my normal stretching and warm up. We started about 15min late. Everyone was lining up. I got in the front and people were filling in around me. I ended up being about 3 rows back from the start line. I looked around and I was thinking "no way are these peolpe faster than me." Some were older, some women, some overweight, no way were they faster than me. I took my self out of the line and went right to the front where the 'fast' looking guys were. Annoucer says, "ready, set, go!" We're off.I start out a little faster than expected but want to roll with it and see how my body reacts. There are about 7 or 8 of us at the front by the first mile. 5:27. We drop 2 or 3 people between miles one and two. mile 2 split-11:09. By mile 2 there are five of us. The first aid station comes up, i come up empty handed because the volunteers don't necessarily understand how to hand out water. A runner moving at an increased rate of speed stretches out a hand to a resting cup. Every action has an equal or lesser reaction. In this case, the reaction was a smashing of the pepsi cup and water going everywhere when one hand comes in contact with a resting hand. See if you can't visualize my frustration. Mile 3 split-16:41 By mile three, there are only 4 of us and a large gap back to the rest of the pack, with one runner in no man's land between the two groups. My shins are starting to feel tight already, but i keep pushing despite thoughts of slowing down. Mile 4 split-22:22 Two of the four in our group have started pulling away from myself and the other runner next to me. I start feeling a cramp in my side which affects my breathing. I haven't slowed down but i can't go any faster. Mile 5 split-27:53(?) By this time, i am looking forward to seeing what my 10K split is going to be, because i know regardless of the time, it is going to be a personal best. 10K split- 35:23 I PRed my 10K by over 2 minutes! my previous 10K was 37:47. During the last mile the runner i was with starts pulling away from me and i am not able to keep up. I am now safely, for the time, in fourth place. Right about the 7mile mark, a runner comes blazing passed me. He looks really strong. He ends up winning the race. Mile 7 has our first gradual up hill of the whole race. I am also starting to fade a little. One of the front runners from the beginning of the race is fading quick and i feel like i can catch him. Close to mile 8 he stops and takes his shoe off, i figure he has a blister. After the race i find out his toe was bleeding for one reason or another and bled through his shoe. He dropped out. I am back into fourth position. But there is a huge gap. I shake my cramp at mile 9. But my legs just don't have anything left to give. It is just a battle to finish now. I come through mile 10 at about 57 or 58 min. I don't remember my splits as well because my mind is just set on finishing. But i wanted to be under an hour at 10miles and i was safely under that. Now, my goal was to finish under 1:18. Another runner passed my at 10.5 miles. I tried to stick with him, but like i said earlier my legs just didn't have anything left. The last few miles, i was just cruising. They were the hardest miles of the course as far as elevation goes and i just didn't want to get passed again. My last 5k ended up being about 20min give or take a few. I finished in 1:17.36. Better than expected and i ran personal best times at every distance from 3 miles and up. And i was only off my 2mile PR by 5 seconds. So, it was a good day. I am too sore to even walk straight and now its time to recover so that i will be back in running form by January for my full marathon!

More to come...

It is the last day of november, and i am counting the days til the end of the semester. Review, finals and a few papers for good measure are all i have left. The end of this week could not come soon enough. The academic aspect of my life is coming to another 4 week halt, but the training is just heating up.
The Tucson half marathon is next sunday, a week from today. I am slightly resting this week. My legs have felt pretty tired the last few days from the longer miles i am not used to. After that, it is the final 6 weeks til marathon day. Oh goodness, do i hope i don't just fall apart during the marathon. I could have a fabulous day, or i could just blow up and not be even close to my goal time. The next few weeks are going to be imperative to the success of January 18th.
I have also caught a small duathlon bug. The Desert Classic Duathlon looks to be the next big race after the marathon. Its in Phoenix and its a US world duathlon qualifier. I have an outside chance of qualifying and i hope to put on a good show. I definately need to work on speed after the long monotonous miles of the marathon. I don;t have any zip in my legs during workouts, which could be a side effect to the longer miles i am doing as well. Either way, i need more speed and some good rest after the long weeks of training.
I am pretty excited about the Tucson Half because i haven't raced since the end of september. The racing keeps me motivated to train, so a couple months of training is ready to be released on the roads of oracle.

Yo, Yo....

I think i speak for a lot of college aged adults when i say that i can finally feel the end to the semester. It is still 3 1/2 weeks away, but the general feeling is gaining momentum. Along with the end of the school semester, means the holidays, as well as more races to look forward to.
I am officially registered for the Tucson Half Marathon. I am pleased to say that my friend Cody Elzey is running it with me. I couldn't ask for a better partner in crime.
I am also rejuvenated in the prospect of running for the glory of God. It is easier for me because I race for a team of christian athletes. But, i still do not feel like i give enough to God, who gives me the talent and strength to compete in the first place. After watching Ryan Hall's (olympic marathoner) video testimony, i am excited to be running for God and can not wait to share in his glory with non-believers. Or for that fact to help strengthen the faith of believers.
I am starting to feel better about running. I am starting to see improvements and am glad that the weather is holding up for a little bit longer this fall. My long runs still bring me some apprehension. I don't tend to feel very good about them and i think it is mostly mental. The prospect of having to run 16 or more miles at once seems very far. Which is odd because i just went out for an 8 mile run on monday at a fairly quick pace and that was nothing. Long runs are not fast and i shouldn't feel so bad about them. But, i am a very mental runner and i need to get over that aspect of my training.

Check up...

It has been over a month since i worte last. Been a change of life, as far as school and work and all that is concerned and the blog kind of dropped off the radar. I am going to try and fill in the holes of the last month and the new goals i have for the next few months.
At the end of september i ran in the 3rd annual Flagstaff half Marathon. It is an off road race at the local cross country skiing venue outside of flagstaff. It is located at 8000ft of elevation and the course itself had over 1100ft of elevation gain. It started off good. I am not really great on hills but i was in 5th place after the first two miles and stuck there for the rest of the race. I was splitting under 7min miles until mile 9. Miles 9 and 10 were clocked in at 17min, because they were all uphill. I couldn't believe how long that hill was and when it was going to come back down. I finished in 5th place with a personal best time of 1:30.08. I wanted to break 1:30 but i was pleased to have gone under 7min mile pace on such a hard course. That has been the only race i have done since my last post.
I have been nursing some knee pain the last few weeks. I took the two weeks after the half marathon easy to try and rehab my knee. I am still feeling pain, but it isn't getting any worse, so i have resumed training on it.
As of this week, i have about 11 1/2 weeks til the PF Changs Rock n Roll Marathon in Phoenix in January. As stated above, i have resumed training and it is going good so far. Yesterday i ran 1000m repeats on the new track at my old high school. They were in 3.55, 3.50, 3.40 3.31, 3.24. I purposely started my first 1000m in 6:15 mile pace (since that is my goal pace for the marathon) and increased them each time. I meant to go 5 seconds faster every 1000 but after my third one, i was feeling really good and went a little faster on the last two. I have an 11mile long run on thursday and am increasing my long runs by 1mile every week until i get to 20miles which will be two weeks from the marathon and then a two week taper.
I am also planning on running the tucson half marathon on december 7th as a tune up run for the marathon. I want to see that i can hold the 6:15 pace and get more accustomed to a road race in the desert.
I do not have any plans passed that. Tentatively i am looking at racing the Desert Classic Duathlon in February and perhaps the Tempe International Triathlon in May. That is it.

Future Endeavors...

I do triathlon because i am selfish. I like looking good when my shirt is off, i like competing and having others bring out the best in me, i like crossing the finish line and accomplishing something and most of all i like trying to inspire others to make their life better as well. I know that friends of mine have taken a liking to triathlon since my first one in july of 2007. Whether it was because of me or not, i might never know. Its one of those cliche sports that 75% of people do, just to say they've done it. And thats ok. Because they still had to train and accomplish something that 95% of the world has never done.

I have always said, when someone asked what i want for my birthday or christmas, that i just want a call or to hang out, maybe some homemade cookies. Something that means more than just a store bought object that has no real meaning. That is kind of why i am writing this note. I have races coming up in the next 12-14 months that are really going to mean a lot to me.

Everyone knows i race, probably too much. And, to ask friends to come to every one of those races would be more selfish than my justifications for doing triathlon. But, i want to put the power in your hands and give you every opportunity on my part to share in my mile stones.

When a group of friends showed up at the butt crack of dawn to come watch me race in this year's mountain man triathlon, i was so over joyed that they felt the want, whether begrudgingly or not, to come and watch. Eventhough, i know how boring watching my races can be. Everyone could see how much that race meant to me when i started crying because my mom was so proud of me for winning my age group (finally). I put a lot of effort into what i do and i don't race without the intent to accomplish something great.

The bottom line is: if you feel the need or want to come and watch me race this year, i am giving you all the information you need to get the wheels turning.

September 27th: Flagstaff Half-Marathon
Flagstaff Nordic Center 8am

November 22-23: Ironman Arizona sign-up
Tempe, (this isn't an actual race, just a sign-up for one, but feel free to come keep me company in line as this is the first step to completing Ironman next year.)

December 7 (tentative): Tucson Half Marathon
Tucson 7:00am

January 18: Rock n Roll Marathon
Tempe 7:40am

November 24(?) 2009: Ironman Arizona
Tempe 7:00am

Goals...

I was thinking about how much my plans have changed, for the better, in the last few weeks. Some of the plans maybe far fetched and unreachable but without goals, nothing gets accomplished.
I wanted to study in Greece in the fall of 2009, but i also want to race Ironman Arizona in November of that same year. Doing Ironman is much more important to me. That is the first change. In order to do reach that goal i want to run a marathon, the Rock N Roll marathon in phoenix in January. Doing that requires that i not race a couple triathlons in September and December. There is the second change.
The third goal i have is probably the most far fetched idea. I have caught the olympic bug and want to try and qualify for the 2016 olympics. The problem with this idea, is the time it is going to take to train for the olympics. It is a full time job and i need a coach to help me train. Coaches are explensive things. And i have to stay i don't have the best motivation. Everyone i have talked to think that i have a chance of qualifying and i think that i do if i can put the effort in.
The only thing that i can do know is see how things unfold along the next few years.

Oh the crazy things i do...

Today sounded like a good day to hike humphreys. Except hiking might be an understatement. I have always wanted to run it. Yes, run it. It was more like going as fast as i could without dying or feeling bad, but i guess we could call it jogging.
I once warmed up with an olympian who said that he had made it to the summit in 30 minutes. I was blown away because the fastest i have ever done it was 2hr 15min to the saddle and back down which is over an hour up to the saddle, let alone all the way to the summit. Since then, and this was junior year in high school, i have wanted to try it myself. Today was the day.
I started out at about 10am and didn't stop at all until i got to the top. I passed a few people. Mostly the ones who were more ambitious than me and got up a lot earlier then i did. Never the less i still made it up in 1hr 17min 42sec. I felt unbelieveably good surprisingly. I haven't run that far for months let alone up a mountain.
So, i was glad i made it.I was very flattered when a woman i passed going up stopped me as i was going down and asked if i was an olympian or something. I said, "no, just crazy" and thats exactly how i feel. By the time i got down i was so done with that mountain. It was a bad choice overall. I rushed back home, ate a popsicle, a cold glass of ice water and took an ice bath. I ate lunch and took a nap. The morning pretty much drained my whole day. I made it from trailhead to summit and back down in 2hr 21min 51sec. Not bad.

Mountain man triathlon 2008...

I have felt really blessed over the last 24 hours. I have gotten numerous texts and calls asking how i did yesterday at the triathlon. I wanted to update everyone and thank everyone for their support of myself and the one and only Dave Tessmer, who also completed this triathlon with outstanding results!Sorry its long! Please read all of it. This is my biggest accomplishment so far in triathlon and i am very proud of it and Tessmer for doing it with me.

Let me tell you about Dave. This was tessmer's first real triathlon. He had done the FAC sprint tri last year, but it was nothing compared to this. He has been training so hard for this race and he ended up 77th out of 302! He swam 700m in 19:24, Transition 1 in 2:56, 18K bike in 37:00, T2 in 1:07 and finished it out with a 5K run in 26:20 for an overall time of 1:26.44! And, he might not want me to say this, but, he had to pee the whole time. In fact, he crossed the finish and we were looking for him. I mean, come on, how do you miss tessmer? He ended up being in the bathroom. Fantastic job by him!

My race was also just as great. I felt very calm the morning of. The transition area opened at 4:30am i was the second person there at 4:20. I checked my bike and gear and headed to the transition to set up my area. Once that was done, sitting around ensued as i still had over an hour and a half to wait before my race started. I found tessmer about 5:45 and we went over last minute questions that he had about the race and watched the other races before us start. We walked to the start boat ramp and said a little prayer. A gentleman next to us listened in and told us that he was going to be a campus crusade leader next year. I thought that was really great that other christian's were doing the same thing i was. It really strengthened my faith. The race started. Last year, i struggled immensely with the swim portion. I was not prepared for the open water swim and i lost my head. I honestly have never been more scared in my life. I hyperventilated out in the water and thought a couple times about quitting. I don't quit. I ended up finishing it and had a terrific bike split last year. God picked me up from a struggle and gave me strength to accomplish much more than i expected after faultering. I vowed to change that this year. I prepared myself better by swimming in lake mary a few times before race day. This helped a ton. I swam freestyle the whole way, i only stopped once to check if i was going towards the bouy. I finished the swim in 15:51. Transition 1 was a little slower than i wanted but i was in and out of transition in 1:27. An improvement of 36 seconds from last year.The bike was the only portion of the race i went slower on than last year. I know, I know, it shouldn't have been. I think i got caught up in my excitement and went to fast at the beginning. The whole way back on the out-and-back course felt slower. But, no one passed me. In fact, no one passed me at all after i was out of the water. About three minutes ahead of me was the kid i wanted to beat. Transition 2 is coming. My bike split was 31:05, 32 seconds slower than last year.Transition 2 was fast! Had some struggles with my shoes but still only took me 1:03 to get out on the run course.Remember the kid i wanted to beat? He was only 20 seconds ahead of me out of T2. I passed him and 4 others in the first mile of the run. One of those four, was a teammate of mine on FCA Endurance. Again, it gave me strength that others are out there racing for God. It gave me an extra push to do well. The run course was also an out-and-back course, which gave me an opportunity to see who was beating me. I was the sixth man. A couple times on the run i wanted to start crying because i knew all my hard work and training were paying off. I couldn't believe that i was going to be top ten and win my age group. It was way more than i ever imagined. I ran the last 2miles through a cramp in my right side. I still finished the 5k run in 21:40, which ended up being 1:41 better than last year and the fourth fastest 5k split out of everyone yesterday. The closest person behind me was over a minute back. I had done it! After the race my mom came up to me crying and congratulating me because she knew how much this meant to me and how much time i have put into training for this race. It made me cry too.I finished the race 8th overall (two women beat me, they started 5min after the men, which meant they didn't physically cross the finish line before me but had faster times) 1st in my age group, in a personal best sprint triathlon time of 1:11.04

My new 10K PR

I ran my first 10K in about two years on June 7th. It was probably the most difficult course i have ever run for a 10K. It was all on trails and up and down hills. The race started and you went right up a very long hill. No time to leg your pace set in or anything like that, just straight into the hill. I looked at my watch at the top and we were already 7:30 into the race, meaning the first hill was more than a mile long! The rest of the race were rocky rollers through the forest and the last bit was back down the hill we first came up, which was a nice reprieve. My goal was to break 40 min. I had never done it before and i just barely made it in 39:58. I got 9th overall and first in my age group, which was a nice bonus to a hard day of running. I have super bad allergies right now and i am kind of drained because of it.
The Summit Center Classic is in a couple weeks. It is a two-day, two-stage road bike race and i am looking forward to it, but i might have to work and that would kill my plans to race it. We will wait and see. Until then i have to get over the pollen attack and hopfully feel good enough to get back out and keep training. Only 5 more weeks til the Mountain Man Triathlon!

my representation...

My brother asked me tonight about what tattoo would represent me. He, i assume wants to get something to represent his family tattooed on somewhere. It took me a little bit to think about what represents me and this is what i came up with:

this sounds kind of gay but here it is...a sunrise, because you don't know what the potential of the day has to offer, just like me, no one knows the potential of me yet, it brings light and warmth, and everyone can enjoy it, it is understated and people don't necessarily embrace it but they know that every time they see it, god has blessed them with a new day. I think that would be the best description of me

As i think more i have to add this too. A sunrise can be hard to deal with as well, for those going through cancer or another illness, another sunrise means another day of pain but also another day to fight back the demons. The sun could be clouded and a cold wind could blow. No one said every sunrise was going to be gorgeous and i think that explains every human as well.

Not every person has good days, they are not always going to be exactly like you want, but there is always the reassurance that the sun is going to rise and things will get better. God has made a promise to us that the sun will always rise and every day will be filled with new challenges. I think that is a pretty good representation of my life.

Back to swimming

I got back in the pool after a 3 week hiatus. It was nice to get a break to heal and recover, let the muscles become stronger and take a break. I have started running again consistently as well. In fact, i did 4x1mile repeats the other day. I didn't do them on a track because it has always been harder to keep pace on a track, so i did them on the streets around my house. Keeps the pace more realistic too. I ran 6:21, 6:08, 5:51, and 6:12. I figured the last one was slower and it was time to stop. But, i thought about it and it was only 4 seconds slower than my second mile and it was the same direction on the streets. So, anyway it was a good workout and felt good to run (relatively) fast again.
Back to swimming. I got back in the pool. Swam 1300m yesterday and the last 700m was in 13min 30sec. Which is very motivating. I have a triathlon planned for July 20th. And it has a 700m swim and i want to get my swim down to around or under 13 minutes at the very slowest. Ideally a low 12min swim would be great. My bike and run splits are going to be my strong points and if i could drop my swim down, i am looking at, maybe, a podium finish. At least maybe an age group podium finish. That would be the highlight of my triathlon career thus far.

Runners Suck!

Don't get your knickers in a tiffy, i really do not hate runners. I am one myself and i could not imagine a world without running. I have spoken on this very blog about the wonderful environment i live in. The one with all the professional runners meandering through flagstaff. This is a true blessing to have these talented men and women using my home as training for their many worldly exploits. Many of them find great success due to their training at high altitude. I take for granted the absolutely wonderful conditions i get to live in and amongst throughout the year.
I am writing this blog because of those very runners i speak so highly about. Let me preface this story a little: Last year, i was ending my senior campaign on the track. It was two weeks after my last race and there was a 5K, the "Run for the Mountain" to be exact. I decided to run it and ran well, and won the race. I ran last week in Denver and won my age group, and got 8th overall in a 5K. Today was the same 5k that i won 365 days ago. I think i could win it again. I sign up, the gun goes off and as we are running the first mile of the race, i am in the top 10 individuals. The 10K and 5K races start together. The differentiation between the racers is the color of their race number, 5K is red, 10K is black. I am glancing over at all the fit gentlemen around me and find that there are some familiar faces. A lot of the local pro runners are running right next to me and they have red numbers! These professionals are running the 5K! There goes my hope for a repeat title. But i end up running my best, i am 28 seconds slower than last year and am the first non-professional runner to finish. Makes me feel good, seeing as though, including the race, i have only run maybe 9 times since mid march.
Overall, i am bitter that the pros were there but it makes me more excited to train to try and beat them next time. It also makes me excited that they are even there even though my repeat title was stripped from me and went to someone who run professionally. It is also a great show and tell of my fitness right now, and i am excited for the rest of the summer to see just how fast i can go.

SNOW IN MAY

I hate the cold! I can't say it enough, I hate the cold. I like the snow, hate the cold that comes with it. It is May here in arizona and the rest of the world. May is when the weather starts getting nice, the bikes come out and the sun is always shining. Phoenix starts inching toward 100 degrees and here in flagstaff the temps become perfect in the mid to high 70s. The spring winds that flagstaffians are so used to finally stop and the weather becomes down right awesome.
Not today. No. Not today. The wind came back yesterday with avengence. 45 mph gusts and a horrible start to Bike to Work Week. I rode. Don't count me out, i toughed out the wind with fury. 24 miles, half of which were right into the darn stuff. But, not in recent memory can i remember a day during bike to work week when we had snow. thats right, snow! i wake up to maybe a consistent 3 inches on the groud and huge, ominous flakes floating to the ground, heavily. We had a forest fire just yesterday! And now it is snowing! Unbelieveable. I am going to try and tough out the snow and hop on my bike for at least a couple miles today. Its bike to work week and i can't leave snow as an excuse for saving the planet and my wallet from the ravages of gas.

Denver

I have never been to denver realistically. I had driven through it on a family trip through the states once, but never stopped and looked around. As far as cities go, it is pretty clean and their downtown is really nice and busy. But, i get claustrophobic in cities and would never like to do more than visit them.
I took a trip to denver last week and it was a blast. I visited a friend of mine who goes to the University or Denver or DU. That campus is absolutely gorgeous! The whole campus was thought out and built with a lot of open space and grass and the architecture is fabulous. It is a really great compus.
Anyway, i went to denver, saw the sites, went to a rockies game, got my ears pierced. It was a blast. I went to denver and the first day i was there, there was a flyer for a 5K race happening on Saturday the 10th, the day i fly out. Well, being a competitive person my self, i decided to run it. I looked up results and figured in my horrible shape right now, i could get top 20 or 25. Which is good enough for me. I went running the next day, ran about 5 miles and averaged just over 7min miles. this is maybe only the 5th or 6th time i have run since the middle of march because i have been trying to heal a stress fracture in my foot. It has only since started feeling good enough to run on. I thought about the race a little more and i didn't know if spending $30 on registration for the race was worth it if i wasn't going to get a medal. Remember, i am a really competitive person. Just running a 5K isn't enough for me. So, i decide against the race. The day before, a couple friends of the friend i am visiting are running and they end up talking me into it after much persuasion. I hope for under a 20 min 5K maybe top 20. Which i decided i would be happy with.
The gun goes off and i am feeling pretty good, the weather is perfect for running, high 40s to low 50s and a slight breeze that ends up turning to a brisk wind by the awards ceremony. I start ou tin about 20th place and slowly work my way up. The pack is starting to spread out and by the 2 mile mark i am in 8th place. i move into the 7th, my highest overall place throughout the race and end up getting passed once more. I finish in 8th place overall, 1st in my age group with a time of 19:17. Totally blew my expectations out of the water. God was looking down on me. I am so blessed to have the fitness i do. I don't take it for granted any day of my life.
I have not ran a low 19 min 5k since i was in high school. I need to run a little more and try to drop it under 19min now.
This was a great end to a great trip to dnever, i couldn't have expected or imagined any better of a trip.

The pain felt in your hands as you try and speed down rocky trails on a fully rigid single speed is horrible. It goes away and you feel so much better when you finish your ride and look back on everything you accomplished that most people do with gears. It feels pretty great. Only through hardships do you grow stronger. And i think that holds true even on a bicycle. I am stronger because of it, i learned and i think i need to buy suspension for my bike.

Bucket List...

I need to write things down in order to keep them straight in this dome i call a head. Here is a bucket list of things i want to do before i die...which, hopefully, is far off. But, who knows what God has planned.

• Learn to play banjo
• Blow a glass bowl and/or learn glass blowing
• Learn to speak Arabic
• Learn how to sail
• Finish in top 10% at Ironman Worlds Hawaii
• Help a poor village become sustainable
• Speak at a National Youth Gathering

That's all i have right now, i hope to update this list as time progresses. Just copy and paste the thing, so that i know the date i updated it. The downside is that i don't think i can start crossing them off until i am out of college. Bummer.

Luck of some

I am a broken record in repeating how lucky i am to live in flagstaff. Especially when the luck is due to running. Running in Flagstaff is like snowboarding in Aspen. Everyone has done it at some point and the top pros come to train. Case in point: Lumberjack Stadium.On any given day during the afternoon, you might see the (literal) top runners in the world. And, if not the top in the world, the top in the US. Here is my story.I had a class cancelled today. It afforded me some time to either swim or run and i chose run, because i haven't done it in 5 weeks or so. I cruised on down to lumberjack and found it full with people. Not in the stands but out running. You could tell from the skinny, yet fit physique of these athletes that they were pros in their respective distances. I always feel intimidated by the presence of someone who i, although without motivation, aspire to be. As i jaunt across the field i can see one man of african descent is striding down the front stretch of the track. another couple are jogging the grass just inside the edge of the track and even more doing 200m repeats, in what i overheard, were about 23 seconds. The final few were stretching or giving assitance to other running comrades with starting instructions or stretching advice.You can get the friendly assumption that these guys were all friends. All there for one similar purpose. In flagstaff for the legal "doping" that occurs when at high altitude. Although an air of competition can be felt and the knowledge of these men racing each other for those few coveted spots amongst the rest of America at the Olympics.I couldn't tell you who 90% of them were, but i recognized a few. Chris Gomez, a local, who, and i say lightly, isn't as fast as some others on that field with a low 4:00 min mile and a solid 1:49 800m. The man of african descent who was alluded to earlier, was no one but the unique Abdi Abdirahman. A marathoner and 10,000m specialist, who has Arizona roots as well, attending high school, community college and ultimately university in Arizona after his transfer from Somalia. He is one of the top marathoners in the country with a PR of under 2:10 in the 26.2 mile slog. Unfortunately, he suffered a small injury at the marathon trials and eliminated his chance of making the team in new york.The last and final familiar face i saw whilst spending time at the stadium might be the most acclaimed and tenured runner of all. Another African transfer, but fully american in his ambitions. Bernard Lagat. Where to start with this gentlemen may lead to a wrongful view of his accomplishments, as there are so many. His recent trophies came at the World Championships in Osaka last July where Lagat became the first american to get gold in the 1500m.. He was also the first to pull down the gold in the 5000 in american history, and it happened to be the only medal of any kind at that distance for America. An Olympic veteran of the last two games, and a medal winner at both, lagat might be the top hopeful for a medal at the games in august.i could go on and on about the accolades of these runners filling the elite niche in flagstaff this year, but i will leave you with this. Be aware of your surroundings because you might be passing someone who might be on TV starting August 8th.

Reasoning for this

I decided, after many internal arguments, to create a blog. I think there is a lot I can say and this gives me an outlet to do so. We will see how long this thing lasts. But, for now, i want to explain that i picked the cliche black backgroud template because the energy used on a black background is much less than that of a white one. A little earth saving everytime someone reads or views my blog. Excellent. Now for new blogs...