Jacob's Running Log

In my last post I forgot to mention that it was my birthday. But that would probably mean that I am trying to promote myself, and we wouldn't want that. Regardless, I am 24 years old now.

Just to sum up the week. I am now training full time in Racing Flats. The Adidas Adistar Comp Racer to be exact. I'm not sure what I think about this, but until Nike comes out with a shoe comparable to the Nike Zoom Hayward, these will have to do.

Wednesday was 9 miles on Merrifield. I ran 6' pace, which felt good again. Yesterday, I nearly died in the heat when I did 6 miles on Merrifield at 2 p.m. in the afternoon. I managed to cut down throughout the run though and finished off with a 5:40 mile. I had problems recovering yesterday though, as usually once I walk back to my office I am okay, but this was not the case yesterday.

This morning I did 20 minutes very easy and have 3x300m in :43 tonight. We'll see how it goes. My legs are getting beat up, but we should be fine. Tomorrow is 1x1000m in 2:34 and 1x600m in 1:32...then 5x300m cut downs.

Getting there.
Btw - I recommend everyone read "The perks of being a wallflower"...

What a day yesterday was!?! Seriously, I went Friday night to the movies and endured a terrible storm in GP and Arlington and all I could think was, "Please do not be raining so we can get the workout done in the morning..."

So, luckily, there was no rain in the morning and I made the drive out to SMU to meet up with Matt Daniels and some other guys for a track workout. On tap for me was 1x1000m + 1x600m w/ 5x300m cut downs.

The 1000m was supposed to be in the 2:34 range with the 600m in the 1:32 range. This was the first time I actually hit my goal! It was amazing and it was great to have someone to run the workout with.

Matt had 3x600m w/ 1 minute rest...therefore I could run part of their workout, and give him someone to push with.

Workout was as follows:
1x1000m in 2:34 -- splitting 1:30 for 600m, 2:02 for 800m, finishing in 32 for the last 200m.
1x600m in 1:32 -- splitting 1:00 for 400m, finishing in 32 for the last 200m.

Matt had a great workout as well running strong for his 3x600m.

It was a fun atmosphere and I'm glad I made the trip. I followed up the workout with brunch with one of my best friends from back home, the colonel, aaron alford. We had Einstein's and then exchanged birthday gifts!!! He got me a biography of F.Scott Fitzgerald!!!

I then ran another 4.5 miles in the afternoon before a night out on the town.
...
Wanted to congratulate LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers with their victory last night! It is sort of bittersweet...Chris Webber, my number 2 all time favorite player was eliminated, but I hate the Pistons!

Also wanted to recommend "The Perks of Being a Wallflower..." Great book!

Holland, 1945
The only girl I've ever loved
Was born with roses in her eyes
But then they buried her alive
One evening 1945
With just her sister at her side
And only weeks before the guns
All came and rained on everyone
Now she's a little boy in Spain
Playing pianos filled with flames
On empty rings around the sun
All sing to say my dream has come

But now we must pick up every piece
Of the life we used to love
Just to keep ourselves
At least enough to carry on

And now we ride the circus wheel
With your dark brother wrapped in white
Says it was good to be alive
But now he rides a comet's flame
And won't be coming back again
The Earth looks better from a star
That's right above from where you are
He didn't mean to make you cry
With sparks that ring and bullets fly
On empty rings around your heart
The world just screams and falls apart

But now we must pick up every piece
Of the life we used to love
Just to keep ourselves
At least enough to carry on

And here's where your mother sleeps
And here is the room where your brothers were born
Indentions in the sheets
Where their bodies once moved but don't move anymore
And it's so sad to see the world agree
That they'd rather see their faces fill with flies
All when I'd want to keep white roses in their eyes

Not sure if I have used this title yet.

Sunday -- 5k w/up (6:00 pace) + 3x150m sprint-float-sprint + 5k c/down (5:50 pace).

Monday -- 4 miles a.m. + 800m simulation p.m. (300/200/300) -- (41/50/44)

Tuesday -- Luke's Locker 800 meters. Goal is 1:55. I'm going to try and run 55/60.
We'll see!

Men 1500m
1 - Leo Manzano - University of Texas
2 - Vincent Rono - South Alabama
3 - Russell Brown - Stanford
4 - Pablo Solares - Rice University
5 - Lopez Lomong - N. Arizona
6 - Max Smith - Providence
7 - Stephen Pifer - Colorado
8 - David Torrence - California
*This is probably the deepest field in my opinion. I'm not sure that Lopez Lomong can lose, but at the same time, I wouldn't take anyone, anyone, over Leo Manzano! I feel like Russell Brown is an underdog and Max Smith has looked freaking amazing. Vincent is the defending champion and has a crazy kick, but it's hard to repeat.

Men 3000m Steeple
1 - Andrew Lemoncello - FSU
2 - Peter Kosgei - Arkansas
3 - Barnabas Kirui - Ole Miss
*Lemoncello is the class of this field, and while I have thoughts that he might not even win, I can't bet against him. Kosgei is too good to get beaten by anyone else.

Men 5000m
1 - Brent Vaughn - Colorado
2 - Chris Solinsky - Wisco
3 - Josh McDougal - Liberty
4 - Bobby Curtis - Villanova
5 - Tonny Okello - South Alabama
6 - James Strang - Arkansas
*I'm wrong on this prediction. But I feel like Wetmore will have this guy ready to roll. I could be very wrong in this statement. I half way feel like McDougal is going to get his Championship, but I don't trust that he'll win. Solinsky and Curtis are popular picks. My heart tells me to pick my friend Tonny Okello!

Men 10,000m
1 - Galen Rupp - U of Oregon
2 - who cares
*This is Rupp's race to lose. Bottom line.

Waited to update about my racing last night so that I could get the official time.

Ran at Luke's Locker All-Comer #4 and must say that it was quite the event. I watched several buddies run extremely well in the mile, in really hot conditions. Matt Daniels was the victor for the second consecutive week with his 4:18 for victory (we actually had 4:17 but the official results had 4:18??). He was running with the pack until about 800m to go and then just dropped everyone. He looked good, especially for being sick yesterday.

I was there to race the 800 meters and set a goal of running 55/60 for a pr of 1:55...before the race I couldn't get awake. I was just out there, hot and tired and not feeling very fast. Fortunately for me, when the gun went off I woke up and ran my first lap in 55, right on. This time I didn't feel strong though and began to really hurt, passing 600 meters in 1:24 which was actually a full second faster than last week's 1:25. I finished in 1:57.13 and had the worst lactic acid headache I've ever had. Mike Hummel won easily in 1:53 something. He ran smooth once again and just proved how much better he is at the distance than everyone else in the area. Matt finished 3rd in 1:58 right on my tail. He was sick like I said earlier; but still a very impressive double.

Mike and I then raced over to the 200m start to get in some speed work. I ran about 25.xx for a last place finish.

We then put together a mile relay: Myself, Mike Hummel, Matt Daniels, and Jeff Arnier. It was good fun as we won that race. Splits: 54.x, 52.x, 53.x, 63.x with Jeff holding off second place. I believe we ran 3:44 something?

Fun night, couple of prs, and some great conversations.

800m simulation tonight.

Yesterday's 800m simulation did not go well at all. I would like to blame it on the wind, but am going to have to be honest with myself and realize that I just over-did it Tuesday night running all of those sprints. My legs are still trashed this afternoon!

This morning I did 4.5 miles in 27:08 and felt horrible in doing so. I just couldn't get the legs to feel good. But, I just hopped out of an ice bath and hope that helps, at least a little. Was supposed to do a 45' fartlek tonight, but my coach and I have decided against that since my legs are trashed. I'm probably going to get in 45 minutes with Katie Noss.

Other than that, I've got a pretty tough workout scheduled for tomorrow and a pretty laid back weekend planned.

----
made two excellent purchases last night -- Scrubs Season 5 and Eagle Eye Cherry

It has taken a while, but my legs are finally back under me. I think. I did the 800m simulation Wednesday afternoon and struggled mightily hitting splits of 62-46-32 when I was looking for 56-45-28...so Thursday I just recovered, running easy in the a.m. and then again the p.m. with Katie.

Friday I was looking to run 3x800m in 2:03 + 6x300m cut downs...again I chose to do this at the hottest point in the day and called it quits after the 800's. I just wasn't recovered from Tuesday's racing efforts. My legs were dead, my arms were dead, and mentally I had lost it. I ran the 800's in 2:07, 2:09, 2:14...

Saturday I ran 7 easy in the a.m. with Matt (3 of those with Katie) and then got in another 25' in the p.m. (4 miles) and began to feel better. So Sunday morning when I woke and got in my 4+ on Merrifield I was really beginning to feel good. After sitting outside all day with Katie at a baseball game and then getting in a 45' nap, I decided to head to the track and get in my second workout. 3x400m + 20' run.

I warmed up and felt pretty good. Ended up running :59, :58, :59 which isn't bad considering the week and the depletion/recovery issues I was having. Still not satisfied though.

I've got a Luke's Locker mile tomorrow (I'll try and hold 64's) and then a 5k in Dallas on Saturday.

To be quite honest I don't feel like I am in 5k shape, but as Buster Mottram says, it's all about the size of your balls.

It's almost time for the 2007 USA Track and Field Championships, so I thought that it would be time to put in a few predictions and then talk a little about the World Championships. I don't really know what is going on right now in the WORLD of running as I have been fixated this summer on my own running and haven't even had the opportunity to watch the NCAA's or the Pre Classic which were both televised on consecutive days! What am I doing?

Anyhow, onto the predictions:
USA Men's 800m:
1 - Nick Symmonds - looks to be unbeatable
2 - Khadevis Robinson - experience and returning champ
3 - Jonathan Johnson - running hero from college

USA Men's 1500m:
1 - Bernard Lagat - 2nd fastest 1500m runner in the history of running
2 - Alan Webb - getting there
3 - Christopher Lukezic - always runs well at the USATF's

USA Men's 5000m:
1 - Bernard Lagat - doubt he will double but win's if he does
2 - Matt Tegankamp - probably misspelled his name, but that is how much of an under dog he is
3 - Adam Goucher - just looking for a filler here

USA Men's 10000m:
1 - Ryan Hall - again, not sure he'll run it, but he wins if so
2 - Dathan Ritzenhein - maybe looking to run fast and well
3 - Galen Rupp - might be a headcase, but has the talent to do well here

*Anthony Famigletti (spelling?) will be in the top 3 if he chooses to run the 5k. He will win the steeple if that is what he chooses.

World Track and Field Championships
Not really at any sort of mindset to make any predictions, other than these:
1 - Rashid Ramzi will make a return appearance but Bernard Lagat will win the 1500m. I believe he will then double back ala Gerrouj 2004 and win the 5000m, upsetting Mottram who seems to be the clear cut favorite (in my opinion).
2 - Bernard Lagat, Alan Webb, and Fam will all medal. I believe that Tegankamp has the ability to, but don't think he will.
3 - Hall breaks the American Record at one point whether it is at USA's or World's.

I realize that I did not put Meb or Abdi or Torres in the 10k mix and that is simply because I don't believe they'll be in that mix. I like Ritz and Rupp and Hall. The young guys!

Originally I was going to title this "Attempting Minimalism"...

I however thought against it, because while I have been attempting minimalism for about a month now, I can honestly say, what does it matter what I attempt? Sort of like the last comment that was left..."Are you moving to flagstaff?"

No. I am not. I had the opportunity presented, and actually took the "thought and idea" into consideration, but to be completely honest, I am in a good situation and setting and at the moment, this is what my life needs.

Switching gears, which is something I have not been able to do in a race all year....I ran the Luke's Locker All-Comer's Mile Tuesday night and placed 4th!!! 4th nonetheless in 4:19. I remember when 4:21 was the fastest mile of the summer and yet this year Matt has run 4:17 twice, and then Tuesday 5 other's ran 4:21 or faster!!! This is the summer that we've sort of stepped it up. Nice.

The race -- was extremely hot. In fact it was 95 degrees by one thermometer out and warming up I felt cotton mouthed and just really fatigued. I could awake, so to speak. Which could be a problem being this race was stack. Lining up was myself, Clint Bell, Brock Simmons, Andrew Cook, and Mike Hummel. The only person missing was Matt because of his bronchitis.

The gun fired and Hummel took to the lead. I sat on his hip and passed 400m in 62.91. I held that position through 800m in 2:06 (1:03.52) and maintained through 1150m when I decided to make my bid to win. Passing through 1200m in the lead in 3:11 (65.00) I was feeling really good. However, that feeling was short lived as 150m later I was suddenly shocked of all of my energy as Mike ran by me, then Brock, then at 200m Clint. I was defeated and just finished, running 68.44 for my last circuit and finishing in 4th in 4:19.

I will say it was faster than my goal (which was 66's), but it was a horrible defeat mentally for me as I completely let those guys go with no fight!

That will change.

The rest of the week has been good. Granted, I've been on vacation, but I got in my runs and am pumped about the 5k tomorrow benefitting The World Craniofacial Foundation. There will be some really good competition, so you have to be excited about that.

I must belong somewhere. and I am missed.

Butterfly Boogie 5k -- Benefitting The World Craniofacial Foundation
Saturday, June 16th, 2007

3rd Place Overall - 15:22 (Unofficial)
4:54, 4:57, 4:59, :31

*Ran out of gas once again. Felt that I was actually running smart for the first time this season, but was unable to capitalize on that as even going out as slow as 4:54 felt like hard work. Great race for Derek Yorek (1st place) and Clint Bell (2nd place); both of those guys dropped me from 2-3 miles and I just could not get back into it.

Katie ran well, 19:01 (Unofficial) for 2nd place overall. Not bad for doing no work for the past 2-3.5 weeks!

Yesterday was able to get in a great long run with Andrew Cook and Matt Daniels. I met the group at the lake and enjoyed a good circuit and then a little extra to add on. Afterwards most of us grabbed breakfast at Einstein's Bagels.

Tomorrow I've got the Luke's Locker 800m. We'll see.