McMillanElite :: Andrew Middleton

It is not easy to write about running when running itself is not going well. As runners, our confidence comes from recent workouts, from looking back on our logs and noting improvement from races. Without this, we must look to other sources. The other day, I watched as my teammates completed one of their final Fast Finish Long Runs in great form. As I found out, confidence in one's self can come from the achievement of others, especially those you train with day in and day out. It might seem a strange source, but as it is, it is the only one I have at the moment. I know as soon as I am healthy, I will be right back there with them and that is all the confidence I need right now.

Outside of running, I have found the difficulty of being a single parent. My wife, Casey, traveled to Reno for a weekend conference, thus leaving me with our ten-pound fuzzy bundle of joy, Scooter. I can't complain, however, as quirky and strange as he might be, the only complaint I have is that he is like an old man with a prostate problem, it takes him forever to use the bathroom!

Tonight, I am initiating Burger Night at the Middleton residence. On the menu: Pesto Provolone Burgers with Tabouli and Black Beans. Other recent dishes have included Pesto, Potato, and Parmesan Pizza, Panko Fried Chicken and Tortilla Encrusted Tilapia. Good food is like a high-octane fuel for race cars or jets, the better your fuel, the faster you will go. And if it tastes great, then tha'’s even better!

This past weekend, newcomer Ian Burrell posted his second top-ten USATF Championship finish in the past three weeks at the US 5k Championships in Providence, Rhode Island. Everyone else has been turning in great workouts as well and the mileage keeps coming as we all look to a great fall season.

Thanks for visiting McMillanElite.com to check up on your favorite post-collegiate team. Be sure to look for us on the roads and fields as we demonstrate our gains in fitness and continue to improve.

andrew middleton

With all the miles ahead of me, I am truly thankful for the awesome training partner I have in Trent Briney. He is my Mr. Miyagi, old and wise, but deceivingly strong and fast. We have been training together daily this spring and I have learned a lot from him already. At times, Trent can get really distracted and speak of crazy adventures he would like to try, but I have been able to pull him back to reality so far. On the other hand, I can get too serious too often and Trent will put a smile on my face and keep my mind occupied for a few more miles. We might be an odd couple of sorts, but when it comes down to getting in a 15 miler on Monday morning, I have no doubt he will be by my side the whole way.

This past weekend, Brett Gotcher culminated his first year at McMillanElite with a strong race at the US Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon. It has been awesome to train with and watch Brett run this year. He has responded tremendously to Greg’s training and this next year will really be his time to shine.

Andrew Lemoncello

Andrew Lemoncello has also been competing well as of late. In dominant fashion, Lemon has swept his past two races in Europe and even finished third at the European Cup in France. His times are right on schedule and he is poised to a take a top showing at his Olympic Trials for the Steeplechase coming up on July 13th. To top it all off, Lemon is currently gracing the track and field world with his image on the front of Athletics Weekly.

Every four years I eagerly wait for track and field to be in the spotlight. Even as a kid, I understood the significance of the Olympic Games. When my cousin accidently unplugged the TV during Michael Johnson’s record breaking performance in the 200m back in 1996 I nearly broke down. Thankfully, they replayed the blazing 19.32-second race several times thereafter and I was able to experience the amazing performance. In my mind, there is no single spectacle of the human experience more poignant and concentrated than the Olympics. Four years is really not that long to wait, especially for something so meaningful. So be sure to make time in your schedule next month for what will be more dramatic than any Law & Order episode, more magical than any U2 concert, more suspenseful than a buzzer beater at the Final Four and more meaningful than any Superbowl, World Cup or Wimbledon Championship combined.

Beijing

08.08.08

middle

Pitchin' Shoes
The Cooper House has a penchant for fun around the house to fill the void between runs and workouts. Last fall it was ping-pong and Guitar Hero. Not long after, the Wii kept us occupied.

Around February it was a ten-foot sledding hill in the front yard. This time around, Jordan Horn, assisted by three cups of delicious Café Espress coffee, got the ball rolling on the next backyard project. Jittery Jordan came through with a horseshoe pit of professional standards. Similar to the Top Gun beach volleyball scene, we have begun to form 2v2 games, which provide more excitement to the game. It's nice to hang out in the backyard pitchin' shoes with my teammates, especially since the weather has been great.

New Benefits
We are very fortunate at McMillanElite to have the sponsors and coaches who provide us with all the tools necessary to perform well. This past week our new benefits package was announced. It has been amazing to be a part of this developing group and it just keeps getting better. Coming out of college it is hard to imagine there would be a group that would meet all the needs of a post-collegiate distance runner. Greg and Tracy have poured their lives into this team; in less than a year an amazing training group was formed and all the resources have been provided. Our sponsors have also been amazing to trust us in our vision and help us toward our goals. adidas, McMillan Running Company, New York Road Runners, the High Altitude Training Center at NAU and Wharton Performance have seen the amazing potential we have here in Flagstaff and have given tremendously in helping us pursue our goals. You can read more about the benefits here.

Love and Marriage
In less than four weeks I will be beginning a new chapter in my life. For the past five months I have been looking forward to one day. Usually that day would be a race day. However, this time around it's an occasion more important than any race I could ever run. I'll be marrying my lovely fiancée, Casey. I must thank her now for the sacrifice she has made the past ten months. Had she known we would be apart this long, she may not have let me go. But thankfully she has been, and will continue to be, my most important fan and supporter.

A Parting Word
If there were one thing I took away from my Head Coach at the Univ. of Texas, it would be this simple quote:

"Don't forget who you are, where you come from, or who you represent."

Take it as you will, but I find one can get out of it exactly what they need in just about any given situation.

Thanks for reading, now it's time to train. Be sure to check out the new videos!

Back in Flagstaff, the Cooper House Crew soon became re-engaged with an ongoing winter project. After morning runs up and down Mount Elden Road, what began as shoveling the walk and driveway soon digressed into building the neighborhood’s new sledding hill in our front yard. With three of the four Cooper House residents being from states where snow is not an expected part of winter, you can only guess the excitement involved in the construction of this oversized pile of snow. As it progressed, our sledding skills soon attracted the neighborhood sixth-graders and before we knew it we were twelve years old again. Of course, we couldn’t let our pre-teen neighbors out-do us, so it soon became a game of who could get the biggest air off the ramp. As told by the picture included in this blog, the award for biggest air and ensuing biggest flop went to our own Mike Hanlon.

With McMillanElite scattered across the globe the past few weeks, I can proudly announce that the team is back in full force. Having spent several weeks at home in Ireland, Martin, who recently secured his spot for the Beijing Olympic Marathon, has triumphantly returned to the states. As it has become tradition, a potluck was in order and this past Sunday was the day; tremendous dishes were prepared by all, including Beijing Chicken (Michelle), Stew (Tracy), and Curry Potatoes (Middle and Jordan). At the end we toasted to Martin’s successful race in Dubai and to a great racing season in 2008. My favorite memory of the night was re-learning Martin’s accent and deciphering the conversations between him and Lemon. These are the nights that I will best remember from this year in Flagstaff. The family bond that I am building with my teammates and coaches are truly solidified when we can meet together to share a meal. It is not the same when a member of this team is not with us, and it was evident these past few months by Martin’s absence. I could really tell that everyone felt a little better seeing and hearing Martin on Sunday. We are all really glad to have him home.

Running has been especially tricky the past few months with the high snowfall. From July till November we were spoiled with perfect conditions, amazing trails and clear skies. The past few months have helped me appreciate that a whole lot more. Even so, the running here is surely better that 95% percent than most places even when covered in snow. One of the best aspects of Flagstaff is its proximity to lower elevations such as Sedona and Camp Verde (both at 4000’ or lower). We often make the short drive down the hill at least twice per week for workouts and long runs. Each of these locations can boast their own unique and visually stunning scenery that helps the miles go by. After our Sunday Long Run in Sedona, we made a stop at The Coffee Pot – ‘Home of 101 Omelettes.’ Without hesitation Martin stunned us all by ordering the one omelette we all wanted to try, but dare not order: the ominous #98, Peanut Butter, Jelly and Banana Omelette. Needless to say, his plate was clean at the end of the meal.

On Thursday, the Cooper House plus Trent Briney and Greg drove east to a small community called Twin Arrows. This interstate exit is unmistakably identified by two 40 foot wood arrows standing in the ground. The run was an out and back on the straightest, most out and back route I have ever run. You could see for miles in each direction, and we even managed to spot a pack of coyotes scattering in the distance. With so many unconquered roads to run, I have no doubt we will ever get bored of Flagstaff running.

Thanks for taking a minute to check out the McMillanElite Blog. This has been a great way for us to let everyone in on our lives. I hope winter is treating everyone well; be sure to look forward to Spring because I know I am!

Andrew “middle” Middleton

As for my teammates, I don’t know much of what they have been up to, so the following is only speculation: I know Martin is in good company as Greg defied the U.S. Government and made contact in a secret rendezvous point somewhere along the coast of Portugal. Brianna likely didn’t have to travel far, as her family lives a short drive away in Phoenix. Brett is likely catching waves back home, camping on the beach and playing his guitar. Mike Hanlon was kicked out of his parents’ house and had to come home the day after Christmas. I honestly have no clue where Mike Smith is, but last I heard he was pumping out endless quarters in 87 seconds in preparation for pacing duties at Houston. Lemon is murdering his base phase work, getting ready to defend his Scottish homeland at the World Cross Country Championships. As for Jordan, our fantastic local Chili’s Server, he is holding down the Cooper House, catching up on missed video game time.

A little more about my week
Monday I spent the day traveling. Starting at 3am, Greg, Tracy and I made the drive down to Phoenix. Once there I had a few (five) hours to hang out and kick it with the local Phoenicians in Terminal C. Luckily, I brought the laptop and found a great documentary on the Kenya v Ethiopia Distance Running Rivalry on YouTube filmed by PBS. (click here to watch the documentary) Later that afternoon, I finally got to stretch my legs and run. If you have ever trained at altitude for an extended period and returned to sea level, you will understand that it is like seeing colors you have never seen before. The oxygen just tastes sweeter and it actually satisfies the burning thirst your lungs demand when your legs are churning and heart is pumping at 160bpm.

Tuesday was Christmas, my favorite day of the year to run. Having trained in Flagstaff for the past six months, I have become accustomed to solitude on the trails and absence of vehicular traffic coming from the roads while training in the national forest. However, growing up in the city back in Texas, the only day I have found that will provide me with the rare opportunity to not see a single soul or hear a car whizzing by is the 25th of December.

Wednesday I headed to my fiancées parents’ house in Bastrop to see the other side of the family. Bastrop is located in what is called the Lost Pines of Texas. A small outcropping of pine trees in the middle of what is typically an oak tree and grazing pasture region, the Lost Pines are an amazing oasis of red dirt and towering pine trees that remind me of my new home in Flagstaff. My runs on Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday consisted of winding trails in Bastrop State Park and McKinney Roughs.

A Conclusion to the Week
As the year 2007 comes to an end, I feel the need to reflect and learn from all that I have experienced and gained. First and foremost, I am most thankful for my wonderful fiancée. Also, I feel the need to be grateful for my new friends and teammates at McMillanElite. Greg and Tracy have created an amazing situation up in Flagstaff. I know of no disadvantage that we have that will prevent us from competing at the highest level. 2008 will be an awesome year for American Distance Running, especially so for McMillanElite! One last thing; a running challenge to all for the coming year, don’t let your mind limit what your legs are ready to do.

Late to bed, Early to run
On Wednesday, most of the team made the drive down to Phoenix to begin our journey to New York City to watch the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon and the NYC Marathon. The night before our 7a flight, I made the suggestion to get a quick run in before the flight. Thankfully, by the end of the night I was able to coerce my teammates into joining me for the run. So, at 3:45a, we hit the roads in southeast Phoenix. It was painfully early, but in the end it wasn’t so bad as we were able to nap and rest on the plane.

New York, New York
Dinner on Thursday was one of the more interesting experiences of my life. Combine a Moroccan Restaurant on the Lower East Side, Belly Dancers and an energetic Pirate and you’ve got a great time. The food was great, the mood was light and the entertainment kept us laughing during the whole meal. Honestly, that’s all I have to say about that. I will let the photo do the honor of describing the rest.

The High’s and Low’s of Distance Running
The week of the Men’s Olympic Trials Marathon is a huge weekend in distance running. Four years separate the chance to fulfill our dreams of Olympic Glory. That’s four years to prepare, four years to abstain, four years to hurt, four years to dream.

If you have ever run a marathon, or other long distance race, you know of the ebbs and flows of energy levels throughout. At times you feel above the race itself, merely floating along. While others, it seems putting one step in front of the next takes all the strength you have. In this way, life is full of moments of joy and periods of suffering. One thing we are promised in this life is that the times of pain will never be more than we can withstand. The comfort of family and friends is just one of the reasons we can overcome anything.

As you might have heard, one of our closest friends in the running community, Ryan Shay, passed away Saturday morning during the Olympic Trials. It hurts to write about this loss, knowing we will never have the chance to run with him again or be able to enjoy his presence again in this life. But in this time of grief, I find it important to bring up the impact of his life and the great attributes he brought out in all of us.

Ryan Shay, the ‘Workhorse,’ as we laughingly and affectionately called him, was one of the hardest working athletes I have ever been around. Without a doubt I looked up to him and respected his ability to train at the highest level. Upon arriving in Flagstaff, my first long run was spent chasing him and Abdi on the dirt roads at A1 Mountain at 7000 feet. After getting dropped before the halfway mark, I began to understand that these guys train at a level that would take me some time to reach; I knew I would have to dedicate myself to that purpose to one day race with them, and for that lesson, I am thankful.

To me, Ryan represented a guy who maybe didn’t have the talent as his competitors or the slight body physique of an elite distance runner, but what he lacked in those areas, he made up for in his desire and determination. No one could count out Ryan Shay when it came time to race. His toughness was unmatched.

Ryan, thank you for the long runs, for the pain you put me through on Sunday mornings and your ability to make us all strive to train harder and race faster and live with all we have.

McMillanElite wishes to send our prayers and thoughts to the Shay and Craig families, as well as all of the many friends and competitors who were honored to know Ryan.

Four Years From Now
As the week comes to a close, I find myself looking four years down the road. For the next four years I plan to prepare myself for a two hour and ten minute race. Many miles will be run, many hours of stretching, and fine-tuning will be done to prepare myself for this seemingly distant and brief moment in my life. I can’t wait.

The Journey
Since graduating from The University of Texas, I have made a smooth transition into the life of a post-collegiate distance runner. This past July, after capturing my third consecutive Polish Pickle 5k in Bremond, Texas, I felt poised to take on the world. With the $100 cash prize and 1 Gallon Jar of authentic Polish Pickles, I made the journey to the new running mecca of the United States, Flagstaff, Arizona.

After two solid months of training, I opened up my professional career with McMillanElite this past weekend at the 30th Annual New Haven Road Race. Armed with the great support staff of Coach Greg McMillan and his wife Tracy, I was able to post a strong showing in my first US National Championship over 20 kilometers. Everything about this race was first-class. From the moment I arrived in New Haven, until the moment I left, the race management and USATF made me feel like a professional runner. Overall, I enjoyed the 20K distance and I look forward to returning to New Haven next year to improve on my time and finish. My teammate, Mike Smith, and I want to thank the New Haven Race Management, USATF and the New York Road Runners for their hospitality over the weekend.

Cooking Tip
As mentioned by my teammates, I do a lot of cooking. While the hours spent behind the grill or stove may present me as a seasoned chef, there are only two motivating factors behind this pastime: my insatiable metabolism and my love for eating.

Much of what I prepare is done through experimentation. Rarely is a recipe required. Take Saturday for example: After an invigorating run with Martin Fagan and Brett Gotcher, I returned home to create an original dish, a Turkey Chili Omelet.

Now to my cooking tip: omelets can be tricky, but with practice they can become your post-run staple.

Tip #1: Add some milk, just a splash to get the eggs light and fluffy.
Tip #2: Make sure your pan is large enough; if the egg mixture is too thick it will not cook thoroughly. Two to three eggs will make a good size omelet.
Tip #3: Add any ingredients you want, eggs are versatile. Leftovers are always great add-ins. Even something as far-fetched as a Turkey Chili Omelet. will taste great. I have never created an omelet. I did not like. Be original!
Tip #4: Make sure your ingredients are at least room temperature.
Tip #5: Listen closely to this one…cook the eggs slowly…by cranking up the heat and scorching the eggs you will be left with a dry and crispy omelet.

Trials of Miles
Training has been going great for all members of the McMillanElite Team. In exactly one month, three of my teammates will be toeing the line for the US 10 Mile Championships in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I can say from first-hand experience that Brett, and ‘the Mikes’ are in the best shape of their lives and will be eager to let loose their fury on their competitors. Brianna is impressively logging her miles week in and week out, building up towards a high finish at the Olympic Trials. In a quick turn around, I will be gearing up towards the Chicago Marathon to post a Trials Qualifier. We can all train and race with confidence knowing we have the best coach and best training grounds available.

Back To The Future
In lieu of the classroom and the college life, I have taken up the task of becoming a renaissance man of sorts. Putting away my typical college classes of economics, government and calculus, I have created my very own course schedule consisting of Outdoor Grilling, Guitar Hero, Conversational German, Reading and Ping Pong - an even more modern version of the Modern Pentathlon.

This coming week is an exciting one for me with the visit of my girlfriend, Casey. Leaving her behind in Texas, with all my friends and family was not an easy move. However, I know now is the time in my life to chase the goals I have set up for myself and I am blessed to have her and my parents as my unwavering support back in the Lone Star State.

I will be the first to institute a quick list of questions for the following bloggers:
What I am reading: The Plague by Albert Camus
What I am listening to: No One Like You by Scorpions (too much Guitar Hero)
What I am cooking: The Soon-to-be-Famous Turkey Chili Omelet