The Ultra Bug...

Oh my. Do I ever have the ultra bug. Lately all I can think about while at work is doing the Wheres Waldo 100K!!! I've been googling different trail shoes along with different navigation type watches that have compasses, barometers, etc. Of course for the "worst case scenario"... aka, I end up in the middle of nowhere in the Oregon mountains. After the Little Rock Marathon last weekend my love for running has come back like it was a few years ago. I'm just so excited to try something totally different and WAY outside my comfort box! The watch I've been checking out is the Suunto Core. I've also been checking out the Suunto Vector. So far I really like the looks and functions of the core. I'm just afraid that either one of those watches are going to be way too technical for me. I guess I'll have to go check them out in person at REI soon. Like I said earlier, I've also been checking out some trail running shoes. So far I've focused a lot on the Brooks Cascadia 4, and the older Asics Gel Trail Attack 3. I like the fact that the Asics shoe is fairly light weighing in at something like 11.4 oz. The Brooks is just a bit heavier (I think) but has more cushioning. I really like the looks of the Cascadia, but when I'm running 100K I doubt I'll be too worried about the looks of the shoes I'm wearing.

Its such a great feeling to be adventuring into something thats totally different from anything I've done before. (other than the Pikes Peak Ascent that is...) It's fun getting to do all this research and gear hunting. I've discovered things like "Gaiters" that people where around their ankles to keep rocks and dirt out of their shoes. I'm starting to look into different head lights I can wear since I'll be doing the 3AM early start.

It's also exciting because I have an uncle up in Eugene, Oregon that Courtney and I will be able to visit and stay with while we're up there. I think it will be a great chance for Courtney to meet him and his wife. Hopefully we'll be able to stay for a few days before or after. Hopefully my student teaching doesn't intefere too much.

So, enough with my trail running antics... Last weekend Scott and I ran the Little Rock Marathon!!! Oh man, what a great event and course! We nailed Scotts goal of sub 3:30 with a 3:29:09!! Talk about perfect pacing. You can check out our splits and run down of the actual race on my training log by clicking HERE. With that time Scott qualified for the Boston Marathon! That was our goal going into the race and it happened. Now we'll both be able to travel to Boston next year to run the marathon. As for the marathon in Little Rock I LOVED the course. The first few miles were relatively flat, but then around 13-16 it gets fairly hilly! After 16 its ALL downhill for ONE mile. Literally. Then from 18 till the end its all flat except for a nice little hill at 25. Man what a course. I loved it, and look forward to running that one again. Downtown Little Rock was much more than I expected and even had a Flying Saucer that we hit up after the race. Once again, congrats to Scott for training smart and racing hard. I'm proud to say I was there when he crossed the line.

The rest of this week has been pretty good. The weather in the DFW area is GREAT right now. Mid to upper 70/low 80s all week and blue skies! I cycled almost everyday, and went out for my first run since Little Rock today after a 1.5 hr ride. I did an easy four miles and felt great. Had a few tight spots but that was it. Now its time to throw in a little speed work so that I can at least break 2:10 at collegiate nationals in a month or so.

Alright, back to work for me! I hope everyone is doing well and training hard!!

Included are a few pics of me and Scott in Little Rock.

_Jacob_

Stupid weather...

So once again I'm sitting in class... History class. I love most history classes, but this one is killing me. This professor just stands up there and talks... yadda yadda yadda.. blah blah blah... yadda yadda yadda. Exactly like that.. No exaggeration. It's ok.. It'll be over sooon :)

So this weekend is the Little Rock Marathon! I'm really getting excited. I'm going to be pacing my friend Scott in hopes that he can Boston qualify! All he needs to do is sub 3:30 which is sub 8:00 miles. Should'nt be a problem. I'm also excited to see how it feels to just go out and run a marathon. I'm honestly more worried about making sure I recover properly than I am about the race itself. I really haven't specifically trained for it, so it should be interesting. I have done 3 half marathons in the past two months, plus last weekend I did a 15.5 mile run, and it was a breeeeeze.

Continuing with more positive news! Spring break is next week! Not that I have any super awesome plans other than working, and working out! :) Like I said earlier, focusing on recovering properly... So that I can keep that build up for college nationals in a monthish.

The weather the past two days has been absolutely gross. Horrible. I thought yesterday was going to be the worst, but today the high is going to be 40 degrees and its still raining :( I'm changing my workouts a bit... but It's probably a good thing with the marathon this weekend.

Alrighty, I gotta get back to class/studying for my test coming up this afternoon. Good luck to everyone racing St. Pattys this weekend!

_Jacob_

My thoughts on triathlon coaches..

So lately I've been thinking a lot about all the different coaches there are out there for us to use as triathletes... I know people that use coaches exclusively online, some in person... others by phone, email, etc. I've looked at prices and some are just OUTrageous. A lot of these "coaches" I don't see as legit coaches. Just because someone starts a company that coaches people, and the owner/coach is damn good at triathlons, does NOT make them an expert, nor a professional. Most of these "coaches" out there, maybe have a few 1-2 day clinics they've attended, maybe some 1-2 day certification in who knows what... These "coaches" have just scratched the surface... barely... But after 4yrs of Physical Education, Biomechanics, Adapted P.E., Applied Kinesiology, Fitness Principles, Exercise Physiology, and Motor Development classes, I do feel somewhat qualified. You tell me... What makes a good coach of a triathlete? There are a few industry leading coaching companies that I feel are more brainwashing specialists than anything else... So when and if I ever look for a coach for myself, I'll be looking for more than certificates from some 1-2 day clinic, or that coaches race resume... and I hope that you'll do the same.

_Jacob_