I'm Back!

This meaning can be taken two ways: 1.) I am back from a much too long hiatus from updating the blog, and 2.) I am back in shape and it feels great!  Many things have happened since my last post,  mainly a ton of training, and a trip out to Palo Alto, Ca.  The Razorbacks started the cross country season ranked a mighty underdog 13th in the country, this all changed last weekend as we put our scoring five runners in front of the scoring five of the number one team in the country!  The workout have been stellar but at this point the most important thing has been keeping the team together for our everyday runs and making each moment count.  This team is destined for great things and nothing will stand in the way of us achieving our goals (SEC conference title, and a top five nationals performance).  On a personal note, I managed to run 23:38 for 8k, setting a personal best by a minute in only my first race and fourth week of training!  So needless to say things are going quite well and way ahead of schedule.  We compete next Oct. 16th at the Agri park in Fayetteville, Ar, at the chile pepper festival.   I just want to end by apologizing to the handful of people left reading this blog after my two week break from the blog.  The time consuming nature of two, sometimes three workouts a day, a full schedule of class, and juggling a personal life have kept me quite busy.  I will do a much better job of updating the blog now that things have settled down a bit.  So check in again soon!  We have a killer workout today so I will be updating the blog with all the juicy info!

Bringing out the rescue clubs.

As the leaves begin to fall and the temperatures begin to cool (I wish) cross country season rears its ugly face.  For much of the last two weeks the Razorback cross country team has been getting in great quality aerobic work while rounding into better and better shape.  The team competed in their opening meet last weekend right here in Fayetteville, Ar.  The Arkansas men swept spots 1-10 while gliding along the course seemingly effortlessly.  While not everybody raced we did get our chance to attack the cross country course bright and early the next morning for the team long run.  Usually these runs can last anywhere from as little as an hour to as much as 1:45.  This run fit into the category of the long run only in distance but not in time.  As it became evident quite early in the run this would be no normal long run.  The pace quickened with each step all the way until the last.  Bryan and I finished our 11 mile run in 59 minutes, for those of you who don't make mental math a habit that is roughly 5:15 pace.  Enter the rescue clubs:  After much of this week followed suit with the long run last weekend Coach Bucknam issued an executive order, an easy weekend of running with a day off on Sunday.  This came as a huge relief to much of the team.  The long run this weekend was an easy 80 minutes which felt like jogging in place.  As Stanford draws closer the workouts will begin to pick up, at this point we have only done 1 real workout.  We have been promised a grueling set of quarters at the golf course this week so I will post after the workout to let you know how everything goes!

Wooo Pig Soooie!

Well I am back in the mix with the hogs and it is safe to say that this team is as poised a team as any other out there. The team is looking incredible with the additions of some great new recruits many returning guys, and a desire to win! I have been running with the team everyday since arriving back on camous in late August. It has been a great change of pace literally. After running most of the summer by myself at my own pace I am finally back in the mix with a team and the dynamics are completely different. We have our first meet of the season tomorrow! It is hard to believe that my last cross season is already starting but luckily not just yet as I will be sitting out the first couple meets as I round into better shape. I will keep you posted on how the meet goes on friday and the long run on saturday!