Dorian Ulrey

Travel, Turkey, and Transit.

2011-11-28T13:14:00.000-08:00

These past few weeks have left me road weary and tired of planes, hotels, and bus rides. Too bad as I write this entry I have just finished checking out of a hotel, am currently sitting in an airport, and waiting for the eastern sierra transit to take me back to Mammoth. Out of the last two weeks I have spent more than 10 of those days on the road. The first trip was to L.A. to see Dr. Vincent, A chiropractic, ART specialist. After 5 months of being frustrated and having my training continually disrupted I had had enough, and decided to take my problems to L.A. Within one hour of my assessment with Dr. Vincent he had diagnosed my injury, something that no other doctor, chiropractor, or athletic trainer had been able to do. The injury? Nothing more than some tendonitis of my iliacus. Chronic inflammation of improper running mechanics is all that stands between myself and being truly pain free. I am already on the right track, now that I know the injury I can do the proper exercises and stretches. This was not only physically very important, but also mentally relieving.

My second trip was to Houston for Thanksgiving. What an amazing trip. There was plenty of great food, great people, and of course, the whole reason that I would go to Houston, Rachel. I loved every minute of my trip, except for the minute of saying goodbyes as everyone went their separate ways. Seeing Rachel for the first time in nearly 6 weeks was the greatest treat I could have wished for.

Now as my trip from Houston back to mammoth winds down, I am left to ask myself one question, how can life get any better than this? well, minus riding a bus for the next 4 hours, for me, it will, shortly. I will be seeing my family for Christmas, attending my niece Hazel's birthday party, and spending most of that time with Rachel. My bus is drawing near now so I suppose that is it for now. I will post again in the next few weeks.

Chlorine....my new scent.

2011-11-12T12:11:00.000-08:00

As you are all aware, my hip has not been very cooperative over the past few months, and for a runner there is only one place to go when you can't pound the pavement....the pool. I have been in the pool twice a day using the kick board. I'm sure this sounds like a child's device, used to get kids comfortable in the water. I am also sure that if you are anything like me, you laughed at the thought of using the kick board for a workout. Trust me when I say that it is an evil device, used to torture ailing runners, making them wish they were any but the pool. Hopefully this will not last much longer, as I am heading to the greater L.A. area next week to pick the brain of one of the worlds foremost authorities on athletic injuries. Dr. Vincent is a A.R.T./chiropractor, located in Santa Monica, CA, and is considered by many a "genius" in the the profession. I will be in Santa Monica from Monday night through Friday, going through various tests and drills to narrow down the causes of my hip issue. Hopefully I will be able to once again begin jogging within the next few days. I am optimistic that this will be an extremely fruitful trip. This will mainly be a business trip to solve my mechanical problems, which I'm sure will be painful, but I will also be enjoying all that L.A. has to offer, beautiful weather, beautiful beaches, and a little mini vacation from the relentless snow here on the mountain. Why just this morning I was heading to purchase batteries for my camera after my pool workout, so that I could share some of the sights and sounds of Santa Monica with you all, when I noticed that my camera had been stolen at the gym! I suppose I have done something to deserve this, karma doesn't just kick people in the groin like that for nothing. Hopefully I don't run into any celebrities while being cameraless! I'll update the blog during or shortly after my trip. Peace out!

Mammoth update #1

2011-11-05T13:26:00.000-07:00

I am very well aware that this update is long overdue, but trust me people, I have my reasons. I will start from the beginning and move forward from there. For those of you who don't know, flying to California is EXPENSIVE. Now, make that Mammoth Lakes, CA, and the ticket price only goes up. Only one flight a day is offered into the Yosemite/Mammoth regional airport. So to find the cheapest flight I decided to drive to Fort Smith, where I would then fly to Memphis, from Memphis I would fly to L.A. and from L.A. into Mammoth later that night. As if this day wasn't going to be long enough already my flight from L.A. to Mammoth was canceled due to weather concerns. This meant spending the night in L.A. and then waiting around until 6 pm the next day for my flight. By the time I had finally arrived in Mammoth there was no gas left in the tank for a run, so I opted to head straight to dinner to meet the other runners. The food was great, the beer equally great, and the company was warmly welcomed after spending nearly 24 hours by myself on planes and in hotels. Since this point there has been little to brag about. I ran for about a week before my hip once again got the best of me. I have been spending most of my time at the gym on the bike or eliptical. I am probably getting in more work than I would have had I been running this entire time. Since there is little or no pounding on the body involved in cross training I have been spending at least an hour every morning working my aerobic system, and in the evenings performing a bike workout or easy 45 minute ride.

Now, on a brighter note, the town is absolutely beautiful, and the weather was great for the first week and a half of my trip. Since the beginning of November the temperature has dropped considerably and we even had about a foot of snow recently. The best part of my trip so far was being told I could get out of town for a few days for Thanksgiving. Upon being informed of this, I went home and bought a plane ticket to Houston. There was no way I would have been able to go almost 9 weeks without seeing Rachel, so this was just the pick me up I needed.

Lastly, on my way home from grabbing a few drinks and playing some pool last night I experienced my first bear sighting! It was amazing. What a beautiful animal. I was stopped at a stop light when the black bear crossed the road about 50 yards in front of me. He ended up walking through the parking lot I had just left, so I drove immediately back to the lot and got out of the car to get a better look. Black bears are known to be pretty peaceful and even scared of humans, so I felt pretty safe standing about 10-20 feet from the beast. It probably wasn't my brightest moment but very much worth it. Well that is it for now. I will post again next week. Hopefully I will have some more bear sighting news!!

A familiar feeling...

2011-10-09T09:47:00.000-07:00

These past 7 weeks of training have meant many things to me. They have been the beginning of what is hopefully a long and fruitful career as a professional athlete, they have opened my eyes to the joys of running, not racing or working out, just running, and they have been my emotional release, allowing me to remain sane in a time of uncertainty and doubt. But now, just 8 days before my trip to Mammoth I find myself taking yet another unplanned break, resting my hip as my running shoes collect dust, and my training log begins to look naked. The familiar feeling settles back down upon my shoulders, the feeling that I have been down this road before, the feeling of injury. After 7 weeks of believing this was my time, that this year would be different than the others, I am back on the shelf, feeling betrayed by my own body. I am 5 foot 9 and I weigh 125 pounds, nothing about these numbers screams strong, resilient, or capable, yet I have run under 4 minutes for the mile, I have represented team USA at the highest level of international competition, I am a national champion, and I am fragile. It is simply in my DNA, it is who I am, and it is most certainly a part of what I do. I have God given abilities that I surely do not deserve, but do not take for granted. Maybe this is life's way of slowing me down to peak just perfectly for London, or maybe it is Gods way of saying now is not my time, either way my body is speaking and I am listening. This may be a road that I have traveled down before, and it may not seem fair or just, but at the end of the day it is not my right to question the path laid out in front of me, but instead to walk it with pride and a burning passion, knowing that this road will come to an end, and when it does I will be off running faster than ever on a road somewhere in London.

I love the Fall!

2011-10-03T07:08:00.000-07:00

This last week was a great one. Many great things happened, I hit my first 50 mile week, (still on single runs and Sunday off) found the greatest chiropractor ever, I am wrapping up the second season of Mad Men on dvd, and yesterday was the best Sunday or any other day for that matter that I have had in a long time.

Lets start with the running, this is after all a blog about running. The weather has been the best I have ever experienced in my 4 years here in Arkansas, and great weather leads to great running. I held at just over 8 miles a day but kept the pace pretty relaxed for the most part, there was one day where my last 4 miles were all well under 6 minute pace. This was a planned run, but the best part was how smooth it felt. This was certainly my best effort thus far and it felt like I was gliding. The first half of this week I will stay at 8 miles for each run, but if the legs are feeling pain free I will make another little jump in mileage, no more than a mile for each run though.

Secondly: I have found the best chiropractor in the entire state of Arkansas. DR. Blair Masters is from Iowa North Iowa community college to be exact, and a graduate of Palmer chiropractic. school in Davenport, Iowa. Now if you know where I hail from (Port Byron, Illinois) you will understand why this seemed like a sign from above. I stumbled into Dr. Masters clinic purely by luck. I had actually been very frustrated recently as my hip flexor pain had been creeping back in the picture, so I decided to log onto my favorite running website, flotrack, to watch some videos and see if somebody knew something I didn't, and surely enough I found exactly what I was looking for. It was a video with Bernard lagat, and he was talking about an old injury he had managed to get about 85% healthy but still dealt with pain on a daily basis. Long story short he was utilizing a combination of very interactive muscles testing, chiropractic adjustment, and low-level cold laser therapy to help rebuild the damaged muscles. (I highly suggest finding the video) Lagat said within 2 minutes of his first treatment he was pain free! 2 minutes! So I thought I would see if any chiropractors in northwest Arkansas were doing anything remotely similar, I was very doubtful of finding anyone who even new what a cold laser was. Boy was I wrong! Not only did I find nearly the same exact modalities offered at a nearby rehab clinic, but much like Bernard I left my first session nearly pain free. I will be going back twice a week as the cold laser therapy has an effect that gets better each time used. This was the second most amazing find I have made in my four years here, Rachel being by far the best.

I have recently been watching seasons of Mad Men, big shout out to Target for selling the seasons for 12 dollars! The show takes some getting used to, just like any other, but once you have adjusted to the time warp back to the 50's and 60's it is great. This show has been my form of recovering after my daily run. Plopping down on the couch and vegging out for an hour or two each day seems to give my legs a bounce they didn't have before.

And last but certainly not least, a recap of the greatest Sunday of all time. Rachel and I don't see much of each other before 5 or 6 pm these days so sitting down and eating breakfast together would have been enough for me but it gets better. We packed a picnic and headed to our favorite park, Wilson park, and enjoyed a delicious spread for lunch before laying around for a bit enjoying the perfect weather and amazingly refreshing silence that comes with being in a park the day after a motorcycle rally has finally released its stronghold on your town. From there Rachel and I bought and carved some pumpkins, then shortly after jumped in the sauna. A little while later Rachel and I made our best pizza yet, a barbeque chicken pizza that I dare say was better than any other I have eaten. We rolled out the dough, buttered the crust, put down a base of barbeque sauce, then cilantro, chicken, a blend of Italian cheeses, some more cilantro, and the cherry on top, a light swirl of barbeque sauce, absolute perfection! You may be thinking to yourself, wow! What a day! But no, it isn't over yet! For dessert we prepared the pumpkin seeds with olive oil, salt and a bit of garlic, Yumm....... Greatest Sunday ever. Period.

Monday morning blues

2011-09-26T07:10:00.000-07:00

The Monday morning blues now take on new meaning for me in my post collegiate days, instead of the thought of going to class I am struggling to find the motivation to get out the door for my run. Now that I take every Sunday off from running I find it is getting harder with each new week to bounce break from my lazy Sunday ritual, which mainly consists of grazing through the cabinets for spare scraps of food while watching the bears lose. If you had asked me a couple of weeks ago what my favorite part of the day had been I would have said without a pause, "my run of course!" Now that may still be the case once I break the cycle of laziness and actually start my first run of the week but until that happens I am content to sit here and tell you all just how lazy you can actually be and still be considered a professional athlete (not sure what just happened to my font but I don't know how to fix it, so deal with it!)

In other news this is actually quite an exciting time, as the miles continue to build up and up (shooting for 50 this week) and the weather cools off I find myself in the midst of signing my official contract with nike, (I know what you are thinking, and yes, it does take that long to sign the official contract) receiving my first pay day, picking up my diploma in a couple of hours, my Fall shipment of shoes should be coming any day now, and preparing for Mammoth, which is now just over a month away. Exciting times for someone who makes a living sitting on their butt. Today also marks my first massage since my return to running over 5 weeks ago, this sounds like a lot of fun, but trust me, it's not. running massages are different from the massages portrayed in movies. There are no ocean sounds, no dim lights, and I certainly will not be so relaxed that i fall off into a deep peaceful sleep. It will go something like this, Robin (my massage therapist) will inevitably find every tight/sore/aching muscle in my body and beat them into submission. Along the way there will be lots of leg hair being pulled out, and me breaking into terror sweats on the table. I usually leave these "massages" feeling a little emasculated, very tired, and despite all the pain inflicted during the massage, phenomenal! Well folks, its time to pour a hot bath and get my muscles warming up for the run! Until next time.....

Is it Fall yet?!

2011-09-18T11:53:00.001-07:00

This week started very much like most other weeks in Arkansas around this time of year, temperatures in the mid 90's with no rain and no wind, well that all changed on Wednesday. I woke up Wednesday morning mentally prepared for another run in the scorching heat, but to my surprise it was barely 50 degrees outside and as gloomy as I have ever seen here in Fayetteville this time of year. It was more than a little uncomfortable having the temperature drop 40 degrees over night, now add in zero sunlight and lots of wind and you have yourself a rather unpleasant run! This continued to be the norm for the rest of the week. Yesterday was a planned easy run so I didn't mind the torrential downpour that lasted for about half of my run, it was actually quite calming. I have never been a big fan of running in the rain but all that has changed now that Nike provides me with killer rain gear. I have four different ultra light rain jackets that are perfect for days in the 50's, 60's and even 70 degree range. With my amazing rain jacket and hat I was in 7th heaven as the rain poured down, killing off the wind, and finally giving the skies a reason to look so gloomy. I wasn't the only runner out on the cross course that day, but I was the only one not huddled under a tree ( bad idea for future reference) trying to wait out the storm.

Today is my day off and I am making the most of it! I slept in until 9, sad, I know, but that is great for me, at which point I made my healthy yet delicious breakfast of oatmeal with brown sugar and a piping hot cup of coffee. After a mid morning shower I washed some dishes, folded laundry, wrote out my dinner menu for the week, and just finished grocery shopping. Now all that remains is a sauna session later followed up with some dinner. Now that I am done with school and don't dread Mondays, Sunday is by far my favorite day of the week, once again sad, I know, but I'm not the party animal I once was and I rather like the calming feeling of a day spent doing chores around the apartment, and not to mention the day off from running!

Holding steady.

2011-09-12T12:02:00.000-07:00

Having the day off on Sunday definitely recharged the batteries and rested the aching legs. I'm not running that much but it still takes a toll to run 40 miles in a week, even when you are used to running two times that. The run today was a really great run, the weather is beautiful, the cross course was peaceful, and the run felt really smooth, and I'm still not entirely used to running pain free so that is still really exciting. I have a great loop, well actually two loops and a final mile loop at the cross course that covers right around 6.6 miles. This distance is perfect for right now and running on the grass feels great compared to the bike bath. I am holding steady right around 40-45 miles per week for the next couple of weeks and focusing more on my breathing and body. I have no races in the near future so I can really focus on building up slowly, this will not only keep me healthy but also fresh for future races. My new motto "less is more," obviously not an original idea but a great one nonetheless, is the basis for my fall training. Rather than really hammering away on a daily basis I am going to try to reign in the daily runs and instead focus on key runs that maybe only come once every couple weeks. I do have to keep some secrets now that my running is my business so I can't spill all the beans but overall daily training will take a backseat to very select workouts and races in the future. I am trying to think of something to say at the end of each entry and this is my first idea, let me know what you think. "A run a day keeps the aging away."

Week Two Overview

2011-09-06T11:06:00.000-07:00

This week was the start of my third week back to training, and so far it had been a smooth transition back into running. As always there are aches and pains, such is life for a runner, but for the most part training is progressing ahead of schedule. Last week consisted of mainly four and five mile runs around 6:30 pace at the trails, but yesterday Rachel and I ventured out the the bike bath at lake Fayetteville, where I ran as Rachel biked by my side, to my surprise the trail was actually quite beautiful. I had run there before but it had been a serious run, yesterday was more like a scenic run, taking in the sites and sounds of the trail. Granted it was a hard bike trail, the path winds around the lake through some beautiful pine forests and a disc golf course. It was Labor Day yesterday so the trail was packed with bikers, joggers, walkers and everything else imaginable. And the cherry on top, the weather was perfect, sunny and 70's with a light breeze, it doesn't get better than that in Arkansas. I got so caught up in the scenery and beautiful weather that I had run almost seven miles at nearly six minute pace without hardly noticing. Having rachel there next to me on the bike certainly helped big time. I logged 30 miles last week, and so far this week I am on pace to hit right around 40 miles. One thing that I am very excited about is my most recent purchase! I bought the first season of Mad Men on dvd and am very much looking forward to what will surely become one of my favorite shows. Now, on that note, kind of, I went to go see Apollo 18 with Rachel and another couple a few nights ago, SPOILER ALERT: It stunk. Save your money, or go see Harry Potter again, either way it is a win win for you. Well I made a list of things to do today and now I am off to clean my car! Chao!

Labor Day weekend!

2011-09-01T11:13:00.000-07:00

The week is beginning to wind down into what appears to be a great weekend! Not that I am a huge football fan but The Razorbacks will be kicking off their 2011 season, both the mens and women's cross country teams will be starting their long seasons on Friday night, and it's a long weekend! As most of you know, last night the men's track and field team was at the Chancellors house yesterday for some good eats and an award ceremony. It was my fifth trip to the chancellors house in the last three years, and sadly enough my last. For a brief moment last night I had almost completely forgotten that I was no longer a teammate, no longer in college, and no longer a piece of the puzzle that I had been trying to perfect for the last five years. Today seems a bit lonelier than most after coming to the realization that my time here in Arkansas, like this week, is winding down. I will see less and less of the people who have made my life into what it is today, as I become more and more aware of the path I have chosen for my life, and the solidarity that this path demands at times. Ok, enough is enough, and I have an appointment with the chiropractor! Enjoy the weekend, and go hogs!!!

The Week at Hand.

2011-08-29T07:07:00.000-07:00

While training is only occupying a small fraction of my time I am going to start updating this a little more often, but not necessarily about my running. This week should be an interesting one, I know it is only Monday but Labor day weekend is on the way along with the first Razorback football game of the year, but not to be forgotten is a trip to the Chancellors house which takes place Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the 2011 Arkansas outdoor SEC track and field champions! Being part of such a successful program means that we have made this trip once or twice before, actually four times before to be exact. It is a great opportunity to get the whole team and staff together, combine some delicious eats and drinks before an award presentation by athletics director Jeff Long and Chancellor David Gearhart and you have got yourself a nice little Wednesday night! This will be a bitter sweet (mostly sweet) moment since it will be my last opportunity to get together with the team and celebrate our past achievements. This brings me to my next topic, now that I am no longer on the team or in school and running only takes up 1% of my day I am looking to work a part time gig, just to get a little spending cash, any suggestions? Well everyone I am off to carpe the diem and I suggest you do the same!

One week in the books!

2011-08-26T10:26:00.000-07:00

The first week of training has already come and gone, and better than I had expected. After taking a month off I really didn't expect much at all these first few runs back but it seems as though my body really has responded well to the rest and was ready to get back into some easy jogging. I was running right around 3 to 4 miles each day, I even managed to get up to the trails these past few days and get in some easy hill work. The good: One week of pain free running, this probably hasn't happened in a couple of years. The bad: It was only one week, and the week only added up to about 25 miles. The ugly: Me trying to stretch after a month of sitting on the couch eating potato chips and watching It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. After this first week back I have but one reflection, running is hard, sweaty, dirty work, and I love every second of it! Ok, so now for what you all really want to read about, my new training location! Starting November first I will be heading out to Mammoth Lakes, CA for a six week stint of altitude training. Does this sound like an extremely short period of time? Well thats because it is! I don't feel like I will really be in any kind of shape to train at altitude until late October/early November and my graduation ceremony is December 17th, so I have to be back for that. Training in Mammoth will probably become more and more common for me in the future as I move up in distance, but for now it is an ideal place to do my base training this fall/winter. I will be running with the Mammoth track club guys and gals who are all trained by Terrence Mahon. There will be a slew of other elite distance athletes in town as Mammoth is probably one of the best altitude training locations in the world, consisting of great trails, beautiful scenery, and plenty of great training partners on tap. This is one place that I will definitely be taking my camera so I can upload some pictures onto the blog! Well everybody, thats all i've got for you for now... I'll keep you posted on the training every couple of days but in the meantime get out and enjoy the weekend!!!

Back to school!

2011-08-22T10:50:00.001-07:00

Well I guess it's that time of year again, when the summer ends and school begins, there is just one barely noticeable difference this year, I'm done with school! I made it a point today of all days to sleep in extra late as nearly everyone else I know was waking up and going to class. There was one thing on the agenda for me today, my third run back, and it was a dandy. Ok not really, but it went pretty well. I am still only running 20 minutes but the time is passing a little easier, my breathing a little lighter, and my legs a little fresher. The real highlight of the day was running for the third straight day pain free. This is not a feeling that I have grown completely accustomed to yet as the last two years of my athletic career have been plagued by injury. It looks like the month off was just what the doctor ordered! I will continue to run a meager 20 minutes a day for the first week, and depending on how I feel increase my runs by 10 minutes each week. I will continue to keep you posted on the day to day improvements, and explain the lifestyle of a professional athlete along the way. SPOILER ALERT: My next post will also include my plans for fall training, and they don't include Fayetteville...

Pain free running, nothing beats it!

2011-08-20T10:25:00.000-07:00

Today is a great day for many reasons, I will be seeing Rachel for the first time in nearly 7 weeks, it's Saturday, and last but not least today was my first run back after taking a month off to nurse a strained hip flexor. The old saying "nothing comes easy" certainly holds true 99.9% of the time, but today, well today I fell into that grey area that a runner rarely ever experiences. The run was pain free, effortless, smooth but most important of all, did I mention pain free!!! For the first time in nearly 2 months I have done something so completely pain free that I still cannot believe it as I sit here and tell you all about it. I was afraid to look at my watch for fear that my pace would be comparable to a snails pace, but once again I was in shock as my garmin watch had my pace right at a 6 minute mile. Not only was this the most pain free run I have ever had coming back from a break, but it was also the fastest! Now I feel that I should confess that this run was only 3 miles, but, you have to start somewhere and this was the perfect start to a long year that will hopefully conclude in London! Enough of this blogging about a 20 minute run! I have some cleaning to do before Rachel gets back! I'll keep you posted on the slow build back into training every couple days.

Back from vacation!

2011-08-17T09:40:00.000-07:00

After a much needed break from Fayetteville and the ensuing boredom that comes along with living in a college town during the summer months I am back from vacation and bored as ever! Although I say this like it is a bad thing being bored isn't the worst possible thing, I read a quote a couple weeks ago and loved it, it went something like this, "you have to be bored to get in really good training. To have two good runs a day you have to be really bored, that way the running feels like an escape rather than torture." So I have been trying to live vicariously though this quote the past couple of days, using the boredom as motivation to get out and ride my new bike (still resting my hip flexor). It appears while I was gone on vacation the cable company finally realized they had been giving me free cable for the last four months and now unfortunately my free ride is over, so needless to say I am really wishing I could get out the door for a run to kill some time. On that note my hip is feeling 100% better and the only thing that is left to do is actually go for a run. This is my last week of break and I am more than a little nervous to head out the door for that first run and experience that same sharp, stabbing pain that has become so familiar these past several weeks. I guess the next logical thing to do is force myself out the door and forget everything, just run, with no purpose or pressure, just to feel the freedom of running without pain. I'll post again after the run, so be looking for another post this Saturday!

Vacation!

2011-08-06T12:37:00.000-07:00

Well as most of you know I have been on my break from running these past few weeks in an attempt to heal my lingering hip flexor issues and recharge the batteries. This means a lot of laying around with the occasional round of golf, in other words life has been great! This coming week I will be meeting my family in Eureka Springs for a relaxing weekend on the lake. This should be a good distraction from life in Fayetteville, which lets just say has been somewhat lonely. This coming week will be my last week of down time (assuming my hip is ready to go) and training will resume the following week. I can't say that I am too disappointed to have missed these past few weeks of training seeing as it has been the hottest two weeks of my life. The average temperature here in Arkansas has been right around 105 or higher and I don't remember the last day the temperature didn't reach into the triple digits. Hopefully this message finds you all in good health and spirits!

A break in the action

2011-07-29T10:57:00.000-07:00

After nearly a year of continuous training, whether it be mileage in the fall, running on the banked oval in the winter, or battling the spring and summer heat on the big boy track, there is really only one way out, on a stretcher. Okay so I didn't literally end my season on a stretcher but it was close. A strain in my hip flexor was leaving me nearly unable to walk, so you can imagine how painful it was to run. After miraculously running the second fastest 1500 of my career (3:37) I decided to cash in my chips and head back across the pond to get some much needed rest and rehab. I have now been resting for one week exactly and my hip is finally starting to respond to the treatment. After seeing my go-to chiropractor/acupuncturist my hip is finally starting to feel like it is getting better! Coming home to an empty apartment broken and burned out definitely was not the way I had envisioned this summer ending. Yet I still have much to be thankful for with a new contract with Nike, my new agency Global Athletics, my family who never cease to amaze me with all their love and support, and a very helpful athletic training staff here in Fayetteville who are still willing to help me out even though I am no longer on the team. And all this all leads up to Rachel, she will be back soon and life will be as close to perfect as it is ever going to be, she is the one person that I can always count on to make just any day seem like the perfect day.

Sign on the dotted line!

2011-07-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

5 years, 2 Universities, 11x All American, National Champion, Graduate. The last 5 years have been the greatest years of my life. I have met new people, traveled to foreign countries, and now, finally, signed a professional contract. For the next 3 years I will be represented by Mark Wetmore and Global Athletics, with my sponsor being Nike. I have so many things to be grateful for and so many people to thank for helping me finally see my goals come true. One phase of my athletic career has ended but another has just begun. So to anyone who has ever lend a helping hand or words of encouragement, thank you!

In my next post I will try and upload some pictures from my brief but very fruitful stint on the European track circuit. It should be up within the next couple days!

I'M BACK!!!!

2011-07-25T19:58:00.000-07:00

I just want to let everyone know that this blog is once again up and running! It has been too long since my last post and I have been very busy, but rest assured I will inform you all of everything! Stay tuned for my next post.

SEC champs!!

2010-11-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

After a two year drought that surely seemed more like ten the hogs are back! Putting all five of our scoring runners in the top ten, and scoring only 34 points, we made sure their was no doubt that we came to win. This was the perfect race for the team as it felt more like a steady state. We ran as a pack until about the last 1k, keeping the guys under control, while at the same time controlling the race. An early contingency of about 6 runners made a break, about half of that group were reeled in by the next mile, and they just kept coming back. The plan was to run as a pack for as long as possible, all the while making sure no team had their fifth man anywhere near ours. The strategy paid off bigtime as we ran to 3rd place (me), 6th place (eric fernandez), 7th place (dey tauch) 8th place (solomon haile) and 10th place (bryan cantero). Now we are going back to the training table to get in some more work before regionals and nationals. We are slated for an 8 mile steady state today but this is subject to change. I will post again after the workout.

SEC madness!

2010-10-27T12:01:00.000-07:00

With four really high quality workouts behind us and one more to go the team looks poised as ever to provide what we have been missing for two years, an SEC cross country championship. We have come off chile pepper really well in regards to recovering physically as well as mentally. We will be leaving this Saturday morning for the University of South Carolina, where we will be dueling over 8k to see who has put in the base work and times their fine tuning just right. We have come up empty handed the last two years at this same meet but this year something just feels different. The attitude around the team is one of confidence yet humility, and eagerness yet patience. Keep your eyes peeled for results next week. We are racing Monday morning, so make sure you are wearing your red and calling those hogs! Woo Pig Sooie!

Chile Pepper recap

2010-10-18T12:11:00.000-07:00

After a great workout and some easy recovery runs early last week the team felt poised to have another great performance, this time at 10k. With the exception of one runner coming up with a side cramp and being forced to step off the course nearly every runner in the race set a new pr, my 4 second pr being the smallest margin. After somewhat of a non reflective third place team finish we look on to the SEC championships which are only two weeks away. The workouts and mileage will return to slightly normal levels this week and taper off again next week to insure another SEC cross country championship (my first as a razorback hopefully!!) I will post an update after the workout tomorrow to let you all know how it goes.

falling leaves....smells like championship season

2010-10-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

With Chile pepper rapidly approaching and the championship season right around the corner training has really been picking up, often leaving the legs feeling heavy and the lungs burning but nothing beats the feeling of accomplishment. Although we the team is still over two weeks from conference and 6 weeks to nationals the workouts have been amazing. Last week we ran repeat miles at the cross country course and quarters at the golf course. The miles were the sticking point to the midway point of the cross season. Many of us felt tired but all of us finished the workout right on pace, the miles went as follows (4:35, 4:30, 4:29, 4:26, 4:28). Later in the week came the quarters, one of the most grueling workouts imaginable. The workout consists of 17x400m, half up a hill and half down. Down the hill we averaged right around 63 seconds for each quarter while averaging 68 seconds up the hill. After the week from hell we gathered one last time for a beautiful 95 minute long run on the cross course. We managed to drag ourselves out of bed early enough to catch some lingering fog on the cross course and temperatures in the 50's. With chile pepper this weekend we ran our only workout for the week yesterday, but I am going to keep this one a secret (maybe I will leak the workout after SEC's). If you are in the northwest Arkansas area this saturday make sure to come catch the nationally ranked (#6) Arkansas Razorback cross country team. The gun goes off at 9:45 for the mens race. Woo Pig Soooie!!!

repeat pain

2010-10-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

This past tuesday the razorback cross country team ventured off the beaten path and out to the cross country course. The call was for 5 miles with 4 minutes rest, each mile was to be at 4:30. As many of you know we are in our heavy training cycle (workouts, mileage, intensity of everyday runs) and the ability to workout at 100% is somewhat of a luxury, if possible at all. The first mile went off without many problems running 4:35, the second mile was nearly perfect as we hit 4:29-4:30, cue the pain, only 300m into the third mile I was about 90% positive that I would not finish the workout, maybe not even the current mile, but luckily my inner coach Bucknam told me to "nut up" and shut off my brain. Finishing the third one in 4:30 was a great mental weight lifted off my shoulders. Our fourth mile felt a little easier even though the pace quickened as we hit a 4:26. Closing out the workout with a near effortless 4:28 was a great way to end they day. With this workout behind us but still with a grueling 400's workout at the golf course looming we had two days to recover, logging between 12-14 miles a day on wed, and thurs. In just a few hours we will be meeting for our workout and I will be sure to post an update letting you know how the workout and saturday morning long run goes.

Great end to a great week

2010-10-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday started as most usually do, a wake up call at 6 am, out the door by 6:30, treatment on my knee till 7 then out to the dirt road for a 14 mile long run. What made this saturday different than any I can remember was the fact that our entire team ran together as we forced the pace faster and faster over the rolling 14 mile course. The average pace of the run dipped under 6 minutes as we finished the long run in 1 hour 23 minutes and some odd seconds. At about 3 miles to go we meet our first real challenge of our run, this challenge comes in the form of a monstrous man eating hill. We had been hitting our last few miles in about 5:40-5:45 pace, but covering the uphill mile in 5:47 set the tone for the last two. The 13th mile was run in 5:12 with the 14th mile not to be outdone, run in 5:09. Needless to say, this team is special, unlike anything I have ever seen before and maybe something I will never see again.

Our next race is the chile pepper cross country festival right here in Fayetteville, Ar, on Saturday, October 16. Come out and support the hogs! Wooo Pig Sooie!

on a roll

2010-10-01T10:03:00.000-07:00

Well as many of you know we had our workout this past Wednesday, and not just any workout either, a workout that was the benchmark measured by athletes like Alistair Cragg and Josphat Boit, but this all changed on Wednesday. The mandate was 3x mile and a half in 6:55. The workout got off to a good start with 7 flat, next came a 6:43, and the workout was capped off by a 6:48 after being told to ease off! The hog's are on a roll after our successful trip to Stanford. We have our long run tomorrow morning to cap off a great week of training. The month of October will surely be the most important of any month of training this season. I will post an update as to how the long run goes come Saturday morning.

I'm Back!

2010-09-29T11:59:00.000-07:00

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.

2010-09-11T13:06:00.000-07:00

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!

2010-09-02T10:40:00.001-07:00

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!

stateside

2010-08-23T08:42:00.000-07:00

After 3 countries, 2 continents, and nearly a full day of riding on planes I am finally back stateside. It was bittersweet leaving Australia, I didn't want to leave but it is nice to be eating salty, greasy American food again! I just couldn't stomach bread or cheese anymore. The jet lag hasn't been unbearable as I managed a full 12 hours of sleep last night, but I fear that needing a nap only an hour after waking up cannot be a good omen. I spent much of my last day in Australia on the southern coast which was blasting 40 mph winds, rain, and cool temperatures, so being greeted by a 70 degree day in Chicago was quite splendid. I am eager to start training with the team again for the cross country season. The team has now been together for a little over a week so I am a little tardy in my return but rest assure I needed the vacation. I have been feeling pretty lonely the last 24 hours seeing as Rachel was by my side everyday for the last 2 weeks, but we parted ways in L.A. yesterday morning. This blog is about to heat up! I will be competing for the Razorbacks this fall and for the first time since last March. So stay tuned folks!

Holiday

2010-08-18T05:32:00.001-07:00

The days are getting shorter as the time draws ever closer to mine and Rachel's departure from Australia. Since arriving in Melbourne 6 days ago everyday has been a reminder of just how blessed my life has been. I am visiting a foreign country with my beautiful girlfriend Rachel, my knee is 99% healthy, and nearly all my friends are getting married....or so it seems. Not all epiphany comes from running, and this trip has reminded me that each moment needs to be a constant reminder of just how precious life is. carpe diem!

Making tracks...literally.

2010-08-16T18:27:00.000-07:00

The past few days I have been going for my run in the mornings to catch the short but amazing pockets of sun. I have been running along the coast taking in great views of the beaches and the Melbourne skyline. The cool temperatures have really helped me extend my runs which are now right around an hour long. My knee has stayed pretty much pain free throughout the extended runs. Luckily I stumbled upon a nice dirt path that winds through the trees along the coast, making for a soft running surface with views to die for.

Australia.

2010-08-13T18:24:00.000-07:00

Well After nearly twenty hours of flying Rachel and I finally arrived in Australia. It is quite a bit cooler than what I am used to at the moment but it sure feels nice when I am running. I went for my first jog since shaking my serious case of jet lag. It was a beautiful run along the ocean with a great view of downtown Melbourne in the distance. My knee feels surprisingly good at the moment which is very encouraging for future runs here in Oz! I will try to keep you all posted on future events! Later mates.

Let the summer begin!

2010-08-03T17:54:00.000-07:00

This summer has been a little backwards for me, but this all changes this thursday. Until now I have been attending class everyday so far this summer with the occasional weekend trip or wedding to break up the daily grind. This Thursday I will be leaving for home, where I will be an usher in my cousin's wedding, hitting downtown Chicago for a couple nights and then leaving for Australia for ten days! NOthing like starting your summer while most people are wrapping theirs up.

Training has been going well, so well in fact I have recently bumped my runs from 40 minutes to 45. I am also getting a little better adapted to the heat, which right now at eight p.m is still 96 degrees! Seeing as it is winter in Australia I think it will be a nice reward running in the mid 60's as compared to the daily temp of anywhere from 110-115 here in Fayetteville. I will post again before leaving for Australia, and then again while I am in the land of the kangaroos. Hopefully I will get some sweet pictures to share with you all.

Hot off the press!

2010-07-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

Well folks we are once again closing in on another week in the books, and you know what that means! My interview is now up and ready for your eyes. I have already had a couple people send emails and texts saying that it was really well done by flotrack and Tony Casey (the writer). So check it out!! http://www.flotrack.org/articles/view/2118-dorian-ulrey-kwik-e

Flotrack Kwik-e tomorrow.

2010-07-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

Hey guys. My interview with flotrack will be featured on the website tomorrow. It's titled Kwik-e, and for all purposes this interview serves as an update on how training has been going this summer, what my individual/team goals are for the rapidly approaching school year and several other topics. I can't spill all the beans but this is going to be a good interview as flotrack always does a top notch job. Make sure to check it out! here is the link to the site. http://www.flotrack.org/. Let me know what you think!

40 minutes of awesome pain!

2010-07-26T15:31:00.000-07:00

Today was yet another milestone in my effort to recover from some lingering patellar tendonitis. Until this week I had been splitting my run into two runs, one on the anti gravity treadmill and one on the ground, each lasting only about a half hour. After meeting with my trainer today and discussing how another week of running had passed with the pain still absent we decided to up the stakes! So today started two weeks of running for 40 minutes, all outside. The only pain I was feeling was the pain of being out of shape, and the boiling temperatures which have been hovering right around 100 degrees, and that is before you throw in the humidity! But barring a heat stroke or side cramp everything has been exceedingly great. It always feels nice to be reminded just how easy it is to let things slip. It keeps us grounded, and forces us to challenge ourselves everyday. On that note, I pose a challenge to anyone reading this: Ask yourself, what do you desire more than anything? Once you have an answer, make a positive change, take a step in the right direction, go get whatever it may be that you are desiring.

Flotrack

2010-07-25T13:55:00.000-07:00

As some of you may know Flotrack is one of the only websites that offers great interviews along with race videos of track and field these days. This friday they will be featuring a q&a done with myself earlier today. It lasted about 45 minutes and covered nearly all running related topics past and present. Make sure you check it out! I will post something about this again just to remind everybody.

100% gravity has never felt so good!

2010-07-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

If you know me then you probably know that when it comes to listening to people I am a little slow to react, especially when it comes to running. Recently I have been running on the Alter G treadmill ( a gravity defying treadmill) but that all changed yesterday. Initially I was given the green light to hit the ground running next tuesday but slowly I have been showing a lot of progress with my knee rehab and strengthening. So yesterday I ran on the alter g for 45 minutes and then ran for 15 minutes on the infield at John McDonnell field. Today I ran for 30 minutes on the alter g then another 30 minutes outside. The end result....pain free running!!! The feeling of running outside is one that I will probably take for granted most of my life but not today. It was great to feel like a real athlete again proving to my body that it can run and be pain free at the same time. My biggest test will be leaving for home in just a few short weeks and then Australia, with no trainers for nearly 20 days. With the way things are going these past few days I have no doubt that the only thing bothering me will be the chilly winter temperatures of Melbourne.

No news is good news.

2010-07-21T11:19:00.000-07:00

These past few days I have been feeling the aches and pains of running as I slowly creep back into the routine of a distance runner. One thing I am proud to announce is of the many aches and pains I have been feeling lately my knee has not been one of them. Slow and steady surely won't win any NCAA titles but luckily the only race I am running right now is the race to injury free running. I have been plugging away the last few days, logging anywhere from 45 minutes to an hour of running. This surely has been one of the hardest summers for me as I have gone without family, friends, Rachel, and until these last couple days running. Luckily for me it appears that my prayers are being answered as I not only have three weddings to attend in four weeks, but I will also be home for 3 days, and after those three days I will be in Australia with Rachel for another 10!! So it looks like everything I have been lacking all summer is slowly starting to come back, including running. Once again my first run outside at 100% gravity will be this Friday! I will most certainly keep everyone updated on this most special day.

baby steps

2010-07-19T15:50:00.000-07:00

I have been blessed to be on a strict regimen of Alter G 3 times per week and aqua jogging twice a week for the last 2 weeks, lets just say that at the very least this can get extremely boring and leave me feeling like less of a runner and more like a fish. Well this all changed today. My trainer and I agreed that running on the Alter G everyday this week would be the best idea for right now, he even sweetened the pot by offering a 20 minute jog on actual ground this Friday!!! I ran at 70% body weight on the Alter G for 45 minutes, in that time I covered just over 7 miles. Today was a baby step for now but a huge move in the right direction for the long haul.

Inch by inch.

2010-07-16T08:36:00.000-07:00

It seems that everyday as I enter the pool I dread the ensuing pain a little bit less, and everyday as I exit the pool I realize I have swam a little bit further. As the days get easier and the pool gets more inviting, I realize that day by day and inch by inch I am getting healthier and more focused on the year to come. I have many things with which to focus on, a senior campaign for the mighty Razorbacks, a degree, a job, but the one thing that I set my compass to each and everyday is what I did the day before, and what I can do tomorrow. One thought enters my mind as a crawl into bed after a long day, what did I accomplish today? Just as the night before, each morning that I summon the strength to crawl out of bed one thought enters my mind, what can I do better today? Thoughts come and thoughts go, just as quickly motivation can come and go. What will you set your compass to today? Who will you chase, follow, idolize, mimic? Today I strive to be better, but not better compared to another person, just a better me. Challenge yourself today, take risks, leave nothing left!

Back to the daily grind...MInus the gravity.

2010-07-14T14:46:00.001-07:00

I have been slowly starting to get back into some physical activities these last couple of days, apparantly lounging on the couch eating ice cream cake doesn't get you back in shape! I have been receiving tons of help on my knee from the U of A's newest athletic trainer Aki. We try something new almost everyday. We have been on a strict regimen of rest, rehab, treatment, and ice the past few weeks, but I finally got the go ahead to start running and pool jogging again! I was on the alter G for a short 20 minutes run Monday then in the pool yesterday for a grueling 20 minutes, today I was back on the alter G for 30 minutes and I am getting ready to head to the pool now with some fellow Razorbacks. I will be attempting my first run outside next Friday....Wish me luck!

23 BIG ONES!!!

2010-07-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

Whoever said that wisdom comes with age obviously didn't make it into their twenties. Yesterday was my 23rd birthday and for the second straight year I spent most of my big day in various airports trying to make my way back to Fayetteville, Ar. Upon waking this morning feeling sleep deprived, dehydrated, and sore from cramped and uncomfortable plane seats I realized that getting older brought me no new wisdom or insight, only pain and a fleeting feeling of morning sickness. On the other hand I did get to spend my birthday with some truly great people. Between spending the morning with my beautiful girlfriend Rachel (NOT RACHAEL) and her amazing family, and some friends later in the evening It was a nearly perfect day. The only reason I say nearly perfect is due to a rather lame World Cup final that resulted in the loss of my pre-cup favorites (the Dutch). So to all those that made my birthday the best one yet, whether you sent a text, posted on my facebook page, called and sang to me, or I had the pleasure of being with, thank you for everything. I am a lucky guy to have so many great friends, the love of the best girlfriend imaginable, and a family I wouldn't trade for the world. Who needs wisdom when you already have everything else?

Houston we don't have a problem!

2010-07-07T20:45:00.000-07:00

Well as some of you may know, I have been undergoing some pretty extensive treatment and rehab for my knee and I am proud to report that I haven't felt pain in nearly two weeks! I haven't worked up the nerve to run yet, and quite frankly I'm not sure I am ready to be done with my summer break yet..... My week continues to get better everyday as I get closer to thursday. I will be heading to Houston for the weekend to see my girlfriend Rachel. This will surely be the highlight of my summer! As of now these are my only blog worthy tid bits of info. I will keep you posted on how the knee continues to rehab and try to load some pictures along the way. Peace out!

The long road to recovery

2010-07-03T06:48:00.000-07:00

Since The big race in New York City a few weeks ago I have been undergoing some serious treatment and rehab for my knee. We have a new trainer here at the U of A named Aki. He has really helped to speed up this process by thinking outside the box and not just treating the problem. We have been working on strengthening my hip flexors and stretching my I.T. bands to take pressure off of my patellar tendon. The recovery is coming along quite effortlessly actually. My knee is feeling better everyday. Until the time comes that I feel 100% confident that the problem is gone I will be in the pool in the morning and on the Alter G in the afternoon. I have tried this approach to my training before and the results were really great.

On a side note, I am in Branson, Mo this weekend with my family celebrating the 4th of July. happy birthday America! We have rented out a boat for the whole day, and the men are golfing tomorrow morning on one of the best courses in Branson. I might add that while driving by the course on the way to our cabin I caught a glimpse of the course....I think it may also be the toughest too. Wish me luck!

CHECK IT OUT!!!

2010-06-23T13:59:00.000-07:00

Hey guys and gals,

Recently my good friend and training partner Scott MacPherson started his own running website. I checked it out and I know what you are thinking, could his website possibly be as cool as Dorian's? Well folks believe it or not....but it is!! Check it out when you have some free time. www.scottymacrunning.com

All things new

2010-06-21T10:36:00.000-07:00

Forgive me for this rather overdue post. Many things have happened in the last couple weeks which I really wanted to fit into one new entry on the blog rather than having 4 or 5. As many of you may have seen on TV, New York did not go well. I ran just behind the leaders mid pack for a little over half the race, with 500m to go the leaders began to quicken the pace and push for home, and it was at this point that I realized there were no more gears. The last 300m proved to be the hardest of my running career thus far. I managed to put 100m between the leaders and myself in only 300m.

In the weeks since NYC I have been getting some long overdue treatment on my knee. I have been having trouble with my knee since december of 09. Thankfully my knee is feeling better and better each day. Today I will attempt to run for the first time since last thursday.

I faced a very tough decision this past week while trying to decide whether or not to run at the USA championships at less than 100% healthy. In light of returning to The University of Arkansas for my final year of eligibility in cross country and outdoor track My coach and I decided to take this time to rest and get my knee better. So as this means no USA champs it does mean I can take a little break and get my knee better. In the end the right decision was made and I am very excited to come back for my senior year and run with a young yet very talented razorback team. WOOO PIG SOOIE!!!!!

Let the good times keep on rolling.

2010-06-07T16:41:00.000-07:00

Well last week was a great week for many reasons but running was a definite highlight as I had a great time trial sandwiched in between two other really solid workouts. First and foremost was the time trial. The goal was to run a 1k or 1000m time trial in around 2:20-2:22. I had expected a pace around 1:54 through the first 800m. My good friend and apparently world class rabbit Patrick Russell led me through the first 400m in just over 54 seconds. Many thoughts rushed through my head at this point but none were as loud and clear as the feeling in my legs....AMAZING!!! We continued to glide through 800m almost effortlessly in 1:50.xxx (which was a 7 second pr for PR) and finished the 1k in 2:18.1, which would have been a collegiate record had I run this time in a race. My other two workouts consisted mainly of speed work, which was something I had felt was lacking previous to the beginning of the outdoor season. The workouts went off without a hitch as my stride finally opened up and let it rip! My confidence is at a really good point heading into the Adidas Classic this weekend in New York City!

Back on track. Literally.

2010-06-01T10:53:00.000-07:00

Well after a great week of training I feel as if I am back on track for a fast race in NYC. The Adidas Classic will surely be one of the most competitive races I have ever raced in as all four of my world championship 1500 teammates will also be in the race, along with countless other world class professionals. This week will surely be my hardest week thus far in training but I look forward to it all that much more. I will be doing a workout in a couple hours from now, another workout on thursday (the kill workout,) and a time trial on saturday! Wish me luck. I will keep you posted on how everything goes.

Speed city

2010-05-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

Well yesterday proved to be another great track session as I felt light on my feet and fast on the track! It was a milers special, 12x200m with a jog across the infield for the rest. The workout was broken down into three sets of four with each rep getting faster. The first four were run in 30, 29, 28, 27, the second set was 28, 28, 27, 26, and the third set was 28, 27, 26, 24. I am really starting to feel good again after kicking my cold. New York city here we come!

Workouts, wind, travel

2010-05-23T05:50:00.000-07:00

Well since my last post I managed to have my best workout yet since the start of the outdoor season. The workout was 9x300m with about a minute recovery. The times were as follows, 43, 42, 41, second set, 44, 42, 40, third set, 42, 40, 38. I felt fluid and relaxed during the first set, but gradually began to feel sluggish and slow during the second set. This was gut check time, as my coach told me to quit after the 7th 300, but I pushed through and started to feel better, so much better in fact that my coach decided to throw 3x150m on after the workout. The 150's were cutdowns as the first was 21, second was 19, and the third was 17. This was a great confidence booster heading into competition season.

As some of you may know, my Grandma Blanche, possibly one of the greatest/funniest women to ever walk this planet passed away this past week. She was 92 years young, and lived a more active life than most teenagers. She survived a tornado, started her own beauty salon, and did just about everything else in between. So in light of this I have made the trip to her hometown of McPherson, kansas this weekend.

My first, and possibly only run was quite an experience as I got lost, wandered across a golf course and jumped a barbwired fence, just to name a few things. The wind was howling at about 35 miles an hour and had gusts up to 50! My run consisted of running down a dirt road with no end in sight, that is until I came to where the road looked as if there had once been a creek or raging river. At this point I decided to turn around and try my luck by turning down another random dirt road with no end in sight. Once again I had turned onto the wrong road but I could see where I was trying to go over the plains of the old golf course my grandparents used to play on. I ran across the course, trying not to get hit by any golfballs, and when I reached my destination the only thing standing in between me an the house was a barbed wire fence. After all I had encountered all ready this came as no surprise. Needless to say I made my way over. My suggestion to everyone....don't get lost in backcountry Kansas. It's not flat, it is windy, and I don't know where the hell anything is.

The good, the bad, and the funny.

2010-05-19T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well folks I have a lot of things to write about today. For starters, the good
I had a great workout yesterday which consisted of 6x400m followed by 6x100m. The rest was basically just getting back to the line, but overall it went quite well. The 400's started at 59, then dropped to 58 for 2 reps, then dropped to 57 for 2 more reps, and a 56 to seal the deal. The 100s were just an attempt to shock the system a little bit, while working on maintaining form and efficiancy. They were all 12 seconds or faster.

Secondly, the bad
I will no longer be running the F.O.M in St. Louis this weekend. I have been excited for this race since late march/early april, and all my training had been geared for my opener on may 22nd, but family issues have pushed my opener back to the Adidas classic, in New York city, on June 12. I hope all goes well for everyone who is still competing this weekend in St. Louis.

Lastly, the funny
I was on on way out the door monday afternoon, headed for my first lab of the summer semester but upon opening the door who should I see? The answer: USADA (US anti doping administration.) So instead of going to lab, lab came to me, and made me pee in a cup. Being drug tested always seems to form a special bond between the testee (me) and the tester (the other guy.) It must have something to do with the exchange of bodily fluids and seeing one's private parts. I wish all relationships could be this easy....

Gearing up for St. Louis!

2010-05-17T07:58:00.000-07:00

I thought I would take advantage of some free time in between summer classes to update the blog. I entered in the Festival of miles, a meet made up almost completely of mile races, which will be held in St. Louis this coming weekend, almost two months ago. It is hard to believe the race is almost here, finally! Training got off to a great start, with a solid month of base mileage which transitioned nicely into track workouts. Recently I have been battling some allergy problems which hasn't helped the training any, but it certainly hasn't hindered it either. I had a great run just a couple days ago while I was back home in Port Byron. I ventured out for an 8 mile run along the mighty Mississippi river and as I began to check my splits I found myself running really fast. I covered the last 4 miles in roughly 20 minutes flat, and felt great doing it! I will be doing my last hard track session before St. Louis tomorrow, I will let you know how it goes!

Hola mi amigos!

2010-05-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

Hey guys,

Thanks for checking out my blog. This blog will be focused on my running, so you can keep up to date on my training, races, and hopefully some funny running stories. I am new to the blog scene, but very excited to share my running experiences and stories with all of you. As you may have already noticed, I have attached a couple race videos along with some interviews, so for those of you who don't know me you can watch some races and get to know a little bit more about me and my running.

Upcoming Races

2010-05-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

My first running event of the season will be in St. Louis next weekend, 5/22. Here is some info about the festival of miles

Video Interviews

2010-05-15T09:09:00.000-07:00

Dorian Ulrey after 3:56 DMR anchor Texas A&M Challenge

Dorian Ulrey Arkansas 6th 2009 NCAA XC Championships

Dorian Ulrey thru to semis Berlin World Champs

Dorian Ulrey after missing the final in the 1500 at the 2009 IAAF World Championships

Dorian post race part 2 Rome Golden League

Running Videos

2010-05-15T09:02:00.000-07:00

M 3k H01 (7:55 Ulrey, Texas A&M Challenge)

M 3k H02

M DMR H01

NCAA T&F;Mens 1500 Championship 2008

5:36 Add to queueAdded to queueGolden Gala 2009 - M-1500m6,026 viewsnumbersix8