http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/ Taking the long way to achieving my goals... en Copyright 2008 Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:32:46 -0600 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/ http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss (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.]]> http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/i_must_belong_somewhere.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/i_must_belong_somewhere.html Mon, 18 Jun 2007 09:32:46 -0600 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. http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/austin_trip_number_5.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/austin_trip_number_5.html Fri, 15 Jun 2007 08:11:12 -0600 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! http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/predictions_that_arent_clearly.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/predictions_that_arent_clearly.html Mon, 11 Jun 2007 15:50:23 -0600 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. http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/in_terms_of.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/in_terms_of.html Mon, 11 Jun 2007 09:05:53 -0600 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 http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/save_tonight.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/save_tonight.html Thu, 07 Jun 2007 14:33:34 -0600 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. http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/no_one_would_riot_for_less.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/no_one_would_riot_for_less.html Wed, 06 Jun 2007 15:30:27 -0600 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. http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/ncaa_predictions.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/ncaa_predictions.html Wed, 06 Jun 2007 11:11:39 -0600 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! http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/four_winds.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/four_winds.html Tue, 05 Jun 2007 10:31:52 -0600 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 http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/holland_1945_the_only_girl.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/holland_1945_the_only_girl.html Sun, 03 Jun 2007 21:01:44 -0600 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! http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/nine_stories.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/nine_stories.html Sun, 03 Jun 2007 12:38:55 -0600 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"... http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/the_perks_of_being_a_wallflowe.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/06/the_perks_of_being_a_wallflowe.html Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:21:30 -0600 Tuesday, May 29th, 2007 Luke's Locker All-Comers 800m -- 2nd place -- 1:57 Personal Best *I can't describe the monkey that is now off of my back. I had been really panicking about my training, about my body, about my motivation, just about everything and last night in one 800m race I cured all that ails me mentally. For so long I had been listening to everyone but my coach and thinking, "what am I doing?" and "why am I doing this?" Well, last night I got my answer, and in the most positive of ways found out how to find my legs once again. Gabe was right...how do you run 1:57? You know you can run 1:57... After 14-16 minutes of warming up and some decent strides and feeling horrible, I lined up in the sub 2:15 800m heat of the Luke's Locker All-Comers. It was to be just Matt D, Clint Bell, and myself in a heat, but they threw us into this heat so that we could have more people. My goal going in was to pass through 400m in :57 and then just hang on the best I could. 400m into the race I was leading coming through in :55 (which happens to be a personal best for the 400m for me)...I felt really strong and put in a surge to try and gap Matt Daniels who was running off of my hip. Around 250m Matt passed me on the outside of the straight and began to control the race. Mentally I shut down, but as we passed 600m in 1:24-25 I suddenly woke up and thought, "this is my race...", unfortunately about 75m from the finish my mind was working, but my legs were not. I locked up, but finished in 1:57 to Matt's 1:56(?)... I made a ton of mistakes but know that I can run 1:55 now. I'm pumped. The season has been saved. Now time to get back to work. 9 miles tonight. http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/05/return_to_cassadega.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/05/return_to_cassadega.html Wed, 30 May 2007 08:41:04 -0600 Friday - SMU - 800m Time Trial + 2x400m So I made the trip to SMU to run with Mike Hummel for an 800m time trial. This guy has pr's at least 10 seconds faster than me in the 800m and so I asked if he could at least push me through 600m. He kindly obliged by running the whole 800m w/ me. I was really hoping for a 2-sub 2 effort. I warmed up, felt good, and then had nothing once we went to work. I ended up running 2:02.1(?)...we'll just say that it equals my PR. I was not very happy. At 600m I was at 1:29 and at 700m I was at 1:45. I just don't have it right now. Following a decent recovery we did 2x400m in 58-59...so that was good. But man, I wanted a good 800m. Oh well. That's what tomorrow is for. Saturday - GP - 2x200m So you might be thinking, 2x200m? Well, I ran 20' easy and then knocked off 2x200m in 28,27. Not impressive speed, but just could not get rolling. Finished off the day with another 20 minute run. Sunday - GP - 3x400m Starting to try and get some turnover in. Woke up and got in 4 miles w/ Dan on Merrifield in the pouring rain. Warmed up for 12 minutes in the afternoon, ran 3x400m in 59,58,59 and then added on 20 minutes of cool down. Monday - Merrifield Road 2 x 4 miles. Tomorrow I am racing an 800m at the Luke's Locker Meet. We'll see how it goes. http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/05/its_like_watching_paint_dry.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/05/its_like_watching_paint_dry.html Mon, 28 May 2007 14:38:13 -0600 I've got about a month to go and my track season will officially be over and then I will start focusing on the cross country season. I'm excited about this last month; I'm going to really focus on running as fast as I possibly can and not have any excuses (try not to anyways) for the rest of this month. I think the physical part is clicking. I believe the mentality is lacking. Yesterday was a pretty easy day with the run in the a.m. with Dan and the 7 miles in the p.m. Today I decided to combine my two "recovery" runs into one recovery run. I need the longer effort right now. Tomorrow will be an easy a.m. run with Dan and then an 800m time trial. We'll see how it goes. Jacob P.S. "Around 10 seconds..." which if I did win by 6 seconds, would be around 10 seconds...right? http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/05/one_month_to_go.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/05/one_month_to_go.html Thu, 24 May 2007 09:30:55 -0600 Used the Luke's Locker All-Comer's Track Meet as a workout last night and had a pretty good showing. I was to run the Mile and then do 6x300m cut-downs (or simulate it in a fartlek style if I could not get onto the track). The goal for the mile was to run 65-65-65-60ish... Splits: 65; 2:10 (65); 3:15 (65); 4:24 (69) Once again, I really blew up on the last 400m of the race. The wind was horrible, and running 65's felt like running 62-63's so I'm not "unsatisfied"...I believe I won by about 10 seconds in the mile, so it was exactly what I wanted. A good, hard effort that served more as a workout than actually going to the well. The fartlek was good to and then enjoyed a very long cool down w/ Mark Ashley, Will Rogers, and Jeff Arnier. This morning Dan and I got in 26:20 worth of running; ran the same course we've run the two previous times and each time we've knocked off a minute. The first time we ran together it was in 28:20ish, the second time 27:20, then today 26:20. I've got 7 miles tonight. http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/05/semisuccessful_tuesday.html http://www.running-blogs.com/jacobrunning/2007/05/semisuccessful_tuesday.html Wed, 23 May 2007 09:04:17 -0600