New and Improved Goal List

As I mentioned in my last blog post, I will be moving to Boulder, Colorado this upcoming summer, and along with the change of scenery, I have designed a shiny new goal list.

1. Get tenure.
This one is pretty obvious.  The tenure system at CU-Boulder runs on a seven year clock, so this is one of the long-term goals on my list.  In the meantime, I hope to submit at least five journal papers and three grant proposals this upcoming year.  (Yeah, I really don't see much sleep in my immediate future.)

2. Become a first-time home buyer.
I was originally planning to wait to buy a home, but interest rates are ''historically low'' and there are signs that housing prices in Boulder will rise substantially in the coming year.  Besides, it would be really wonderful not to hear my next-door neighbor's every move late into the night.  With that in mind, Sarah and I might just have to move into the mountains.

3. Break 36:00 at the 2014 Bolder Boulder.
I really miss being fast or, at the very least, faster than I currently am.  So, when I officially decided to move to Boulder, I became increasingly excited at the possibility of getting back into shape and running the famous roads in Boulder and up and down mountains.  Next year, I am aiming to get down into the high 16:00's for the 5K and break 36:00 at the Bolder Boulder 10K, but in the future, I also hope to start doing some trail races/marathons.

4. Climb all of Colorado's Fourteeners.
There are 55 lofty peaks in Colorado that top 14,000 feet, and I want to conquer all of them.

5. Get serious about homebrew.
Sure, I have been having a whole lot of fun with the homebrewing experience.  I concocted a tasty sweet stout out of chestnuts and crafted a cider that will kick you in the pants.  However, I have only begun to scratch the surface.  In the coming years, I hope to up my game by taking various measures, including the following: (i) putting together an all-grain setup, (ii) kegging, (iii) purchasing a genuine cider-press, and (iv) building my own house bar.

6. Build a BBQ smoker.
I love BBQ and everybody knows it.  Unfortunately, I have tasted some of the 'cue in Colorado, and it just isn't up to snuff.  This has inspired me to build my very own BBQ smoker in the hopes that I might someday rival the likes of Aaron Franklin and John Mueller (okay, that might be a stretch).  In all seriousness, my uncle has actually managed to produce some quality BBQ on his own smoker in Denver, so I have some reassurance this isn't too misguided of a goal.

Goals Update #2: Marathon Training

Today, I continue my series of updates with the second goal I set a year ago:

Run sub-3:00 during the 2013 Austin Marathon.

When I set this goal a year ago, I figured it to be a bit conservative based on my previous racing experiences.  However, I just needed to get my feet out the door.  I started off on the right foot, bringing my mileage up to about 50 miles/week by the end of the summer.  I signed up for the Austin Distance Challenge, a series of races leading up to the big kahuna itself, and even purchased a copy of "Advanced Marathoning" by Pfitzinger and designed an extensive six month training plan.  Then, fate struck, and I tweaked my back during an easy eight mile run around the neighborhood.  As I hobbled back to my apartment, I thought it was just a minor tweak, but as the weeks went by and I still was not able to run, I came to grips with the reality that the 2013 Austin Marathon was not going to happen.

I finally got out the door for a run about two or three weeks ago, and during the run, I realized that my back was out of sorts even after all this time.  So, I decided to see a sports chiropractor to see what was going on.  I had my first appointment this morning, and it appears that I have a lumbar sprain/strain as well as lumbar joint dysfunction.  It will take a little time for me to get back to normal, but I honestly should have called someone months ago.  Stubbornness got the best of me, and I thought that time was the only medicine I needed.  During the last few weeks, I have also looked into various marathon options for next fall and/or spring.  I would like to visit somewhere I have not been before rather than run a marathon in my backyard.  This way, I would be able to see some new sights, and I would have substantial financial investment in the race between plane tickets, hotel reservations, and registration fees.  Hopefully such an investment will inspire me just a tad bit more.  Right now, I am leaning towards the Portland Marathon in October, but I am hesitant to make any commitments before my back heals up.   With any luck, that will be sooner rather than later.

Goal Status: Sidelined but Inspired

Running is a contact sport.

I really need to buy a headlamp for when I run at night. Sheesh.

Holy smokes Batman.

I won't spoil the surprise, but what a race.

Some Interesting Perspective

Gaza Strip's first-ever marathon was held this past Thursday, with runners trailing the entire length of the coastal enclave. None of the runners had numbers and the roads along the enclave were not closed off. As one of the spectators put it, "The people find it strange -- if they see someone running, they think they are crazy. Usually Palestinians only run when there are air strikes or when they are frightened." This sure puts the popularity and relative safety of running in the United States in perspective.

Sub 2:40 in a year. The new goal.

Over the past few weeks, I have been sitting on my butt, watching my friends run various marathons and the American elites set new indoor track records.  And it made me feel extremely lazy.  So, yesterday, during an easy run, I set a new goal.  I am going to try to break 2:40 in the Austin marathon next February, 6 days before my wedding.  Bit of a reach goal?  Probably.  But I am still going to give it a shot.  So if you see me, make sure to hassle me about running.  I am going to need all the motivation I can get.

And in other news, it is now March, and that means I can now drink Coca Cola (hoorah!).  But I am going to try to resist drinking Coke (and any other soda) for as long as I can handle.  Let's see how this goes.

Jerseys!

As most of you are probably well-aware, I coach one of the undergraduate clubs at the University of Texas, the Texas Running Club.  Last night, the club had its kick-off meeting, and at the meeting, jerseys which were ordered in the fall were finally handed out.  And I have to say: they turned out damn sexy.  Hot damn.

I guess it's time for new racing spikes.

Second Update: Shoes!

Last week was a wonderful week for a multitude of reasons. In this post, I go into reason #254: my new running shoes. This past spring, I began to try to abandon my ways of the past (heavy clonkers) for a brand new vision (training in flats). A crucial part of this transformation was a conversion to the Brooks Launch. From the moment I tried the shoes on, I was in love. They were lightweight at 9.9oz yet super springy. They forced me to run on my midfoot, making me feel light and fast. There was only one downside: the obnoxious and ugly color scheme.


Simply put, I was not a fan. But alas, things have changed! With a new school year came a new color scheme and with that a wrong was corrected, especially as I now have landed a pair of these beautiful shoes.


Black/Nightlife, you are alright with me. Especially when you are coupled with a sweet pair of Asics Hyperspeeds.

Finally! An Update of Sorts!

It has been a little while since I have updated. I originally wanted to get about one post in a day, but it has been almost a week since I last wrote a post. Hence, today I shall write three different posts. Excited? Well, you should be.

Topic number one: The elite running scene.

The particulars: Chicago.

Holy. Monkeys.

The last 10 minutes of the Chicago Marathon was a battle for the ages between Kebede and Wanjiru. Wanjiru was dropped no less than 3 times as he attempted to surge past Kebede for the lead. Then came the final attack: Wanjiru dropped the hammer with less than a kilometer to go, leaving Kebede in the dust. In the last 500m, Kebede gave up almost 20 seconds to Wanjiru! Yes, you read that correct. 20 seconds! Rumor says Wanjiru finished the last 800m in 2:04-2:05, and I can very much believe that, no matter how ridiculous it sounds. Check out the video of the end of the race at NBC Chicago.

Perhaps even more ridiculous is the fact that the finish of the Eindhoven Marathon in the Netherlands was even closer, finishing in a virtual photo finish.



Finally, I would like to mention Molly Huddle won the women's US Road 10K Championship today, and Jen Rhines finished second. Why am I so ecstatic about this? Both women grew up in upstate New York. Upstate pride, y'all. Upstate pride.

Pre-race pasta? No, it's all about the MEAT.

A pre-race pasta dinner is a religious tradition in the running community. Supposedly, it is the most effective means of carbo-loading before a big race. However, in high school, I soon discovered I ran much better the day after eating a gigantic steak with a side of mashed potatoes. It makes much more sense now that I have been diagnosed with Celiac, but I still make it a point to eat piles of meat before race day.


So, when I was faced with a Sunday race this past weekend, I went all out on Saturday night with the meat. Grilled T-bone steak and pan-seared shrimp with homemade seasoning. I topped it off with cilantro-enhanced jasmine rice and a pile of fresh spinach for a delicious meal. However, I might have been a bit stuffed for the race on Sunday.


The race itself went fairly well. It was a full-blown marathon relay, with five people completing separate legs to cover the full distance. I had anchor responsibilities, so I got to play the waiting game before trying to blast off a fast 5k. A few things I (re-)discovered during my portion of the race:

1. I am a racer, not a pacer. I need to learn how to run fast by myself.
2. If you are passing a lot of people who are running much slower than you, you will feel much faster than you actually are. Pick it up.
3. A 5k race should not ever feel like a tempo run. Pick it up.
4. Finally, pick it up.

I finished slower than I wanted to, but I had a nice kick. I think I will need to do a few more road races before I get used to 5k racing again.

In elite running news, Laalou took the men's Fifth Avenue Mile with an incredibly fast finish, and Rowbury took the women's title in an extremely exciting race. I somehow managed to get home from my own race in time to catch these two races. Unfortunately, I was not able to watch the Berlin marathon, which surprisingly ended in a sprinting race. Check out the video below.



That's all for now. Until next time - have fun.

You know you are getting back in shape when...

Your metabolism is skyrocketing. Easy runs are truly feeling easy again. Your legs begin to feel like springs after a few days off. You are finally getting back in shape. This is the position I am in, and I am very happy about it.

This morning, I had a breakfast before my morning run and a second breakfast AFTER the run and still felt hungry! My metabolism is seriously getting out of control, and, if I am not careful, my food budget will surely get out of control too. With the increased metabolism, I have been very careful to make sure I eat a lot of home-cooked meals and snacks. It is cheaper and healthier. So today, after breakfasts #1 and #2, I made myself a helping of BBQ red potatoes. The recipe is super straightforward - wash and slice up 2 red potatoes, "boil" them in a little water plus a dash of extra virgin olive oil for 10 minutes in a skillet, drain the water, and then "fry" them for about 4 minutes with the slightest of extra virgin olive oil. I usually add a dash of salt, some pepper, and a bit of chili pepper between the boiling and frying stages. Finally, serve with your favorite gluten-free BBQ sauce (I now use Stubb's as it has recently been made gluten-free!). Its a delicious treat for the super voracious.


In running related news, the Fifth Avenue Mile is really stacked this year. On the men's side: Bernard Lagat, Leonel Manzano, Nick Willis, Andy Baddeley, and Alan Webb. On the women's side: Shannon Rowbury, Sara Hall, Carmen Douma-Hussar, Molly Huddle, and Kalkidan Gezahegn. I am not entirely sure who I should cheer for either race. I should cheer on Leo as he is the hometown (Austin) favorite, but I am really excited about Webb's comeback (and, for what its worth, my roommate is going to his wedding). As for the women, I am a huge Rowbury fan, but I grew up seeing Molly Huddle race in the many of the same high school invitationals as me. In any case, I am super excited about the mile, and I am hoping some records fall. It would be about time - the men's record was set during the first Fifth Avenue Mile 30 years ago.

Finally, I just wanted to mention one article. As a preface, let me talk about a particular running website I spend a fair amount of time on - Letsrun. Now Letsrun is a fantastic place to get news about the running scene, focusing more on the elite side of things than magazines such as Runner's World. I have really appreciated that over the years. However, what Letsrun is really known for is its message board, where college athletes and assistant coaches often make race predictions, shit talk, and generally troll about. Now, I will be honest - a large number of the posts on the board are complete shit. However, there are a few fantastic threads to read through, especially with elite coaches such as Renato Canova regularly visiting and posting. I have never posted on the boards, but I am a frequent lurker. Well, apparently someone over at Running Times finally got fed up and wrote a response article to all the bashing. Letsrun is never explicitly mentioned by name, but it is incredibly obvious who the target of the article is. When I first saw the response article, I was highly amused. Someone had finally called out the Letsrun boards on some place other than the boards themselves. However, the article was unfortunately ill-placed - Running Times is not the correct medium for such a rant. I believe most Running Times readers have never even heard of Letsrun. To make matters worse, I honestly can't think of another place to put such a rant besides Letsrun itself - and I don't think that would accomplish anything at all. Just some random thoughts.

14:44.76!!!

Molly Huddle gets the 5K AR! It is always awesome seeing people you saw (or competed against) during high school races all the time performing so well.

Wow. What a display at Monaco.

I am really becoming more and more excited about the state of American mid- and long-distance running. We had an amazing showing at the Monaco Diamond League Meet this past week. Andrew Wheating showed that he truly belonged in Europe with a fantastic time of 3:30.9 and fourth place showing in the men's 1500m. Lopez Lomong came up less than two seconds behind Wheating with a new personal best - not bad considering Lopez has been sick the past few weeks. Alysia Johnson destroyed her competition in the women's 800m with a 1:57.3. Shannon Rowbury finished third with a big PR (8:31) in the women's 3000m. The American sprinters and hurdlers also performed well, exemplified by David Oliver's big win in the 110m hurdles with a fast time despite a bad start and hitting some of the hurdles. The only blight at the meet for the Americans seemed to be Leo Manzano's choke job in the men's 1500m, finishing over ten seconds behind the leaders. Leo seems to be really struggling with a two-face summer as he just recently set a PR in the 800m. Let's hope for the best during the rest of the summer for Leo as well as the rest of the Americans.