It's so sad to see the world agree...

Tis the last week of my season. It actually ends tomorrow! Wow. What a season. What a year. The vacation is very welcomed though.

Sunday, June 24 -- 10 miles around whiterock lake in 67 minutes with Mike Hummel. Pretty tough run considering the humidity; but we kept it chill and didn't worry about catching anyone of the 40 runners that started about 3 minutes ahead of us. I will say that for my last run around whiterock for the season, I wish it would have been more climatic...or something. I just felt every step of this run and couldn't wait for it to end.

Monday, June 25 -- 27:09 this afternoon before the rain storm. Felt good. Just needing to end the season. Wasn't worried about pushing the pace or anything like that. Just rolling through Merrifield, taking in the sites, thinking about tomorrow night. 24 hours until the biggest race of the summer. Nothing but positives can come from this. I'm learning how to race. Trying to PR. Trying to win.

Tuesday, June 26 -- Peter Snell Championship Mile, Dallas, TX--Rain out. Season is over. Didn't get to race in the championship. Firmly believe that there was a sub 4:10 effort in these legs. Will have to wait and see...

Wednesday, June 27 -- Regeneration

I can't figure out what it takes?

For as long as I can remember I have wanted to be an Olympian. For a time, I actually believed that it would be something that I would get to. I would just be patient, try and tap in to my "potential", run very hard, and then BOOM it would happen and I would be national and world class. I'm sort of a dreamer and extremely naive, but I never thought those qualities would disturb me quite like they have.

I want more than anything to be a great runner. I dream about it every day. I think about it constantly and I try and do what it takes to improve. More times than not, I actually do things that slow my improvement, but it's not on purpose. I always have the best interest in mind, but what can you do when you are your own worst enemy?

So to the point of this post...what does it take? I can't believe that genetics have determined who will be good and who won't be. I can't believe that, because if that is the case, to me there is no point in training any longer.

I've run hard; but I fear that is only about half of the formula. The problem is that I don't understand what the rest of the formula is. I preach to my own athletes that running hard is the path to improvement; but there has got to be so much more. Nutrition, rest, altitude, strength, etc. Right?

So my quest now begins to find the missing pieces to my puzzle. I have to figure out what it is that differentiates the elite from me. What makes me barely a local elite and what makes runner x a world elite?

Wish me luck on my journey...

Bulls On Parade

My coach pointed out the similar foot strike of myself and superstar Anthony Famiglietti (Adidas). This piqued my curiousity and so I went to Fam's Website to do a little background work on the guy who has the same foot strike as myself. I'm a fan of Fam.

Just listening to his soundtrack and his interviews, it is obvious that he's totally intense and really does run like hell. The website has also inspired me to an afternoon of Rage Against the Machine. Let's just say I am kicking it old school today.

I must belong somewhere?

Two weeks left of Track Season 2007. I began on March 19th and have traversed one of the more rigorous and demanding schedules I have ever had the opportunity to try. On tap for racing is an 800 meters tomorrow night at the Luke's Locker All-Comer's and then the Peter Snell Mile which serves as the summer championship for the mile at the Luke's Locker All-Comer's Meets.

Training Week June 17-June 23

Sunday, June 17 -- 66 minutes w/ Andrew Cook and Matt Daniels around White Rock Lake. Felt really good as it was actually one of the faster paced long runs I've taken part in this cycle.

Monday, June 18 -- 34:22 for 5 miles in the a.m. on Merrifield; felt horrible after the long run yesterday. Had an 800 meters simulation in the heat of the day (4:30 p.m.). 10 minutes warm up + stretching and strides before 200m in 28.38, 200m in 51.94, and 400m in 60.45...so not necessarily what I was looking for as far as times, but was definitely a good effort. I finally ran strong through the last 400m...my 200m split on the 400m was 30, so that means I ran even split into the wind. Not bad. Take it as it comes. Tomorrow I will ice bath (maybe) in the a.m. and race in the p.m.

Tuesday, June 19 -- 800 meters @ Luke's Locker All-Comer's; Goal is to run 1:56 (57/59)

*Actually ran 1:58.xx (unofficially). I planned on going through in 57 which I did. I wasn't sure how hi or low it was, but my pacesetter, Richard Nassar, pulled me through perfectly. Unfortunately, I couldn't turn it over and ended up running 60.high for the last circuit. I just felt dead. Couldn't wake the legs up. Had a huge cool down.

Wednesday, June 20 -- 2 miles warm up + 2x5x300m w/ 90" between 300m and 3' between sets + 3 miles warm down.

Splits: 43.92, 43.62, 42.59, 43.40, 43.23; 43.57, 42.44, 43.80, 42.95, 43.43

*Felt great on this workout and probably ran too fast as goal pace was 45"...but felt much better than the race last night and thought, hey, keep it rolling. 9 miles recovery tomorrow. Getting sharp for Tuesday!

Thursday, June 21 -- 9 miles recovery around White Rock Lake. Let me just say that this 15k endeavour took 58:49 which is the slowest I have run around the lake in quite sometime. It wasn't that I didn't feel good (I didn't by the way), I just didn't care to push the pace. It was a nice easy stroll (though I was sweating like a man out of control) for about 30 minutes under and overcast sky. Unfortunately the clouds broke and the Texas Sun began to shine and it was downhill from there. Was nice to finish though.

Friday, June 22 -- 9 miles easy around whiterock lake. Nice and easy...58:06.

Saturday, June 23 -- 2M warm up + 5x60m strides + 8x200m in 28" w/ 80" recovery + 2M cool down. Ran at eleven a.m. so it was sort of hot, but it was good nonetheless...29.24, 28.82, 28.17, 28.96, 27.64, 27.66, 27.21, 27.14...

Total -- 57 miles

Progression through the season


UTA 1500m -- 4:01.25, PR (7th place)


Belterra 5k -- 15:51 (1st place)


UNT 3k -- 8:46.82, PR (1st place)


UT 1500m -- 4:04.76 (4th place)




Rice 1500m -- 3:57.70, PR (7th place)


Summer Kick Off 5k -- 15:50 (2nd place)


CAM (mile) -- 4:12.51 (5th place)


Luke's Locker #1 (mile) -- 4:25 (1st place)


Luke's Locker #2 (800m) -- 1:58.00, PR (2nd place)


Luke's Locker #3 (800m) -- 1:57.13, PR (2nd place)


Luke's Locker #4 (mile) -- 4:20 (4th place)