McMillanElite :: Training Blog - 2008 Postings
Entry #87 Hello and Happy New Year to everyone! I hope the holiday season has treated you well thus far. The McMillan clan just returned from visiting family on the east coast. We got caught in the travel delays on Saturday and got to spend two unexpected extra days in Charleston with the McMillan side of the family. That was nice, and much warmer than Flagstaff! What a year 2008 was. It started with an amazing miracle—Martin’s marathon in Dubai—just kidding! The miracle was the birth of Angus Scott McMillan (while Martin’s run was impressive, I think I may have beat him on the pain spectrum a few days later!). I could never have guessed that parenthood would be so much fun, work, enjoyment, happiness and just pure joy, really. Everyone was right when they said cherish every day because they go by so fast—I can’t believe that Angus is now 11 months old and walking. It seems like yesterday when I looked up in delirious exhaustion to see Greg cradling our son for the first time. It was snowing the night Angus was born so the first snowfall of the season was special this year. We then had a good spring with races and a great summer of recruiting. We feel we brought in a great group of athletes who are excellent people as well, a requirement for our team (though I haven’t met many track & field athletes who aren’t good people!). The late summer and fall were chock full of training and racing, culminating with the great U.S. Club XC race, which you’ve already read so much about. 2008 seems like it went by in a whirlwind for so many reasons, but each day involved focus on the part of everyone involved in McMillanElite, whether it be athlete or support staff. For my own part, it was challenging at times to juggle my many roles in life—new mom, business owner/consultant (in my non-McMillanElite identity), spouse, and business manager for the team. I felt sort of like I did as an assistant professor at a high level university; trying to give 100% to everything, yet always feeling like it was 50% (though everyone was nice enough to tell you it was 100%). Either way, it was tough at times. At least I won’t ever be “up for tenure” with the team! But I love what I do for everyone, the team as a whole and each athlete individually. Organizing the travel, race communication, team events, etc. appeals to my nature to plan things (whether it be travel, meals, research projects, college course curriculums, you name it!). I love interacting with the road racing/running community across the U.S.; it is a small but happy family that I love seeing each time I travel with the team. We appreciate the support and friendship of so many folks out there—thank you for believing in our vision. I guess I’ll end this blog with my personal goals in relation to the team for 2009: 1. Focus on fundraising at the local level: 2008 was a good year for us in terms of obtaining support at the national level for the team; that support is critical and we will work to maintain or increase that in ’09, but we must also work on increasing the support of local sponsors. 2. Help athletes achieve success at the national level: I get a kick out of reading the message boards. It seems most elite athlete programs are blessed because of the presence of either “blue chip” or “blue collar” athletes. Having not been born of any “blue blood” in a particular direction myself but feeling like I’ve succeeded thus far in life, I believe it is as much nurture as nature (and self-belief, determination, etc…) that will get people where they want to be. We have athletes that want it bad, and work hard each day for it. My goal is ’09 and beyond is to help them get there. 3. Have fun each day (or most!): what each person in this program is doing is hard. When the athletes come for recruiting visits, we tell them that the life they say they want to lead is not normal for a 20-something; that you will be challenged every day in training and by life outside this cocoon we call McMillanElite. They have to want IT; as I say, you cannot approach this commitment thinking that you are sacrificing something (e.g., that “normal” 20-something life). THIS has to be norm you want. NOT living this life is sacrificing something, the chance at something big, whether it is ultimate athletic success or fulfillment of a life dream. That goes for the athletes and the supporting staff (Trina, myself and Greg). I am sure I have more but that seems plenty for now! Sometimes, I am overwhelmed when Greg and I discuss our goals for the athletes. However, if you could just see them, and him—you can’t help but believe. Our door is open in 2009; please come visit the team in Flagstaff, AZ.
Entry #86 Winter has started off with a bang here in Flagstaff. The new season announced its arrival with about 60 inches of fresh snow in the past two weeks. The mountain is looking pretty nice for skiing and snowboarding, but places to run are becoming scarce. Luckily for me, the first storms hit while I was taking a week long break from running, and I spent the second week in Colorado Springs for Christmas, so I've been able to put off trudging through the snow for the time being. One thing I haven’t been able to avoid is the daily battle with the snowplows. Sure, they keep the roads clear, but all that snow and ice from the road is built into a four-foot wall at the end of my driveway. With gas prices the lowest they’ve been in years, I’m thinking of buying a six-gallon barrel and setting the barricade on fire whenever it becomes a problem. Although, shoveling has done wonders for my biceps and lower back, so maybe the plows are doing me a favor. As I mentioned before, I went back home to Colorado for Christmas. It was great to get back home to see my friends and family again, and I always enjoy running in the foothills of the Rockies. Although I now prefer training in Flagstaff, Colorado Springs still has some of the best trails and scenery in the country. You could easily run a different trail every day for two weeks (as long as you don’t mind hills). However, during my time there, all I wanted was easy, flat running. After taking a week off of running, it has been difficult to get back into the groove. Usually, it takes me about a week to start feeling decent after a break. Right now, the goal is to be in decent shape by the time mid-February and Indoor Track rolls around. Lastly, we’ve made an addition to our new family. Last month, my wife and I rescued a puppy from the Flagstaff Humane Society. We’re not sure of the different breeds that comprise this little mongrel (she looks like a jackal to me), but she has made for an excellent early Christmas present for the Burrell household. We named her Chilidog, and like her name, she always brings a smile to our faces (it would be nice though if she would stop peeing on the floor).
Entry #85 I can't begin without giving another shout out to our men's team for their national championship. Despite the worst racing conditions imaginable, you guys made it look easy. You took the win in style in one of the more exciting races I've seen. For me, this past week has been my down time from running so I'll fill you in on the other exciting happenings around Flagstaff. It snowed nonstop for 4 days straight and our neighborhood was quickly covered by a pure white layer of ever-falling snow. Being from California, I eagerly followed the example set by the natives around me and fell into the leisurely pace of a mountain town during the wintertime. Paige became a gym rat and I tagged along. I think I actually started to enjoy running on a treadmill! However, had I attempted a Paige-style 2.5 hour run on it, I might have second thoughts. I have to give a shameless plug for AC and my newly formed band, featuring AC on guitar and a joint effort on vocals. We are about to finish our first single, which is guaranteed to be a huge hit! We've conceded to the fact that we may very well be a one-hit-wonder but I have to admit that AC would be a lot more successful as a solo artist, as I tend to "sing off key and forget most of the words" as he puts it, but he's taking me along on his quest for fame. Becky is band manager and booked us at gigs all over town last week. Unfortunately they were all snowed out...I suppose we'll have to wait to debut in '09. The weather may have squelched our performances but it couldn't stop our team dinner before everyone departed for home. The evening was complete with Tracy's fabulous pasta and delicious cake and ice cream courtesy of Trina. Greg and Paige made heartfelt toasts and recapped our team's successful fall season. Greg, Tracy, Trina and all, thank you so much for all of your support, encouragement, and wisdom. I know good things are on their way in the New Year. Finally, I write this as I head home for the holidays and I have a ridiculous amount of excitement built up. Not only do I get to see friends and family, but with the holidays come constant gatherings, lots of eating, and some of my favorite traditions. I hope everyone has a wonderful time with their loved ones and a happy and safe holiday season. See you all in the New Year.
Entry #84 Well this weekend was a pretty exciting time for our team. After so much hard work, dedication, sweat, pain, and anticipation, our men's team are officially National Champions! Congratulations guys, it gave me chills and I'm so honored and proud of all of you! Uh…just so proud of you guys!!! With Christmas only a week away, I've decided not talk about running this time around. The holiday season really makes me reflect and appreciate the people in my life that have always been there. The ones that let you know they will love you when the last workout is over, when the last race has been run. Mom, thank you for never accepting that your "babies" are now 27, 26, and 23. Thank you for sending care packages, phone calls, and not minding when I would announce that I am a grown-up, then asking for a "magic foot rub" that very night cause my feet are tired. Dad thank you for taking me out on my first run. Thank you for being so selfless and always making sure we stick exactly to the "plan" before my races. Thank you for sending my fish "balloons to heaven" when they jumped out of the tank or I forgot to feed them. Shannon thank you for insisting that EVERY conversation, email, or phone call ends with " I love you". Thank you for calling me Paigie during races. Thank you for dancing around as Debbie Gibson on our porch in Virginia, with Patrick and I as your "band". Patrick thank you for being as good at doing absolutely nothing as I am, then going out and trying to concur the world. Thanks for the inside jokes, the nights of "One Tree Hill", and getting my sense of humor the way no one else does. Thanks for still laughing like a little girl, even though it's in the deepest voice I've ever heard! Mike, thank you for being the best big brother I could've ever inherited via Shannon. You always know exactly what to say to me, whatever the situation. You know me better than I know myself sometimes, and it makes me so happy when I think I've made you proud. I wish everyone a Happy Holiday and wonderful New Year!! What a wonderful time to appreciate and realize the things and people in life that truly matter. All the best! Paige
Entry #83 Things just keep going up and up and for the team right now. A couple of weeks ago we all had good results in our respective road races and this weekend the guys came back with what we hope is the first of many USA titles. The guys were really focused on doing well at the USA club cross country championships and they did just that. It is great to have such positive results from just training through our base phase. I’m really looking forward to moving on to our hill phase of training now as the intensity of our workouts will increase and hills are also my biggest weakness so although I won’t enjoy it, I will relish the task as I know how strong I will come out from the training. We did have a little bad news from this weekend from Europe where Martin was competing in the European cross country championships. Whilst leading the race through 4.5km, Martin took a bad tumble on a typically muddy Brussels course and was unable to recover his position and ended up further down the field than he’d hoped. I got a running commentary of the race and it turns out that as soon as Martin had fallen, the other leaders decided that that was the perfect time to get rid of him so they accelerated right at that point! Cunning stunt huh?! Anyway, he’ll bounce back quicker than anyone I know but first he has got a nice two week rest to enjoy back home in Ireland. As for me, I’m still just continuing to train well and my fitness is slowly starting to increase every week. It’s such a strange feeling having been so fit during the summer and then taking a break and then trying to regain all that fitness again. But I am enjoying the training more than ever right now because I can just go out and run lots of miles in the snow covered trails with the guys. I just confirmed my next races for me and they will actually be back home in Britain which will be great as I can see some friends and family while I am there. I am running the Belfast international cross country on the 3rd of January and then the Great Edinburgh cross country the week after. The only downside of this is that I fly out of Phoenix on the evening of December 31st, which means I will celebrate new years somewhere over the skies of Florida! At least that means I will stay out of trouble…maybe! I hope everyone has a great Christmas and an enjoyable new year! Lemon
Entry #82 Wow...I can’t believe it’s December already and 2009 is just weeks away. It seems like it’s been a whirlwind of activities, travel and racing these past few weeks with more coming. Even with the busy schedules, the team has managed to keep a solid routine going and continues to improve and develop. It has been fun to run more often with the women’s team. A few weeks back we were doing a distance run at Campbell Mesa and I was tucked in between Lindsay and Becky when instantly, I found myself on the ground in pain. My foot caught a rock and I went down hard and fast. Thankfully, I only scraped up my forearm and palm of my hand pretty good. I was glad that nothing hurt on my legs or hips and that I was able to jog back to the cars after a few minutes of recovery. Both the men and women are rounding into amazing shape just at the right time for the USA Club XC Nationals in Spokane December 13th. They have all been so patient and diligent doing the workouts and training that Greg has set before them this Fall. For some of them, it is very different from their college training, but they are now seeing the value of what we are doing and reaping some big rewards. Many of them have raced a few times in the past few weeks and almost all of them have set new prs or run right at their track prs on the roads. We are sending a full men’s team () this year and we are excited to see how they do. Good luck to Andrew Carlson, Brett Gotcher, Jordan Horn, Giliat Ghebray, Cele Rodrigquez, Ian Burrell, Matt Clark and Lindsay Allen and Becky Guyette who will represent the women this year. We have one more workout on grass on this week before the team leaves for Spokane. While Becky and Lindsay prepare for cross country, Alvina, Paige and I are all preparing for the US Championship ½ marathon in Houston next month. I was able to accompany Paige to Phoenix this weekend. She ran the Iron Girl 10 miler in Tempe as a workout. Thanks to my mother in law for watching my two daughters this weekend while my husband was hiking in the Grand Canyon so I could go with her! Even though it was a quick trip, we had a lot of fun together. It started with a funny waiter at Olive Garden that within two minutes forgot what our drink order was: a complicated 2 waters. Then, he gave us each the other person’s order and finally spilled my leftovers when he tried to box up my food. We then weaved our way around Tempe trying to find our hotel that was tucked away in corner and Paige accidentally “cut” in front of a man that was waiting to check in. It was rather amusing from my angle to watch him confront her. She handled it graciously and we laughed it off as we made our way to the room.
The course was two 5 mile loops which allowed me to see Paige several times. She looked strong and focused but was not happy when the lead bike left her at four miles. Thankfully, she did not get lost since the course was not that well marked and she was way ahead of everyone else. It did make it interesting when she had to run through the back of the 5k pack during the first lap and then the back of the 10 mile group on her second lap. She won by over 9 minutes and was an instant celebrity to those around us. She didn’t sign any autographs, but did pose with some young girls that ran the 5k for a picture. Here’s a picture of Paige at the awards by the AFLAC duck. The ladies also enjoyed the 2nd annual cookie exchange at Tracy’s house last night. We enjoyed some delicious soups, salad, bread and of course cookies of all types! We each traded cookies with each other and came home with box of a wonderful assortment of holiday cookies to enjoy. Tracy prepared a scrumptious truffle mix and had chopped nuts, candy canes, powdered chocolate and coconut in bowls to roll them in. They were not only fun to make, but incredible to eat! Thanks Tracy for opening up your home and for the yummy truffles. It was a sweet night ( no pun intended) with the girls! Finally, I have to mention that my high school girl’s cross country team (Flagstaff HS) won their state meet after three consecutive years of taking second place. It sure felt good to be the bride this time and not the bridesmaid! I was so proud of those young ladies. It was a total team effort. In honor of their victory the parents have arranged a quick trip to Disneyland to celebrate being state champions. We’ll be headed to Anaheim right before Christmas. Entry #81 Well, we just finished our last week of substantial workouts for the fall and we're less than a week away from the race we've been gearing up for this whole season. We capped our last week off with a solid 5 x mile workout, despite most of us still being a little tired from our races and travel a few days before. It's crazy when I look back now on this fall and see how far everybody has come. The level of everything has been raised, from our pace on steady state runs to the way we race. It literally scares me to think where we go from here, but in a good way. I mean, Jordan just smoked his 5k pr by 15 seconds in a road race...in November...off of only base training. The tone has been set, and I think it's almost expected to have breakthrough races like this. The confidence of the group as a whole is at an all-time high and it has really shown in the results. Sure, everyone has their little setbacks here and there, but I think almost everyone has had a really solid performance sometime during the fall. Going into races now, the people I'm most worried about are my own teammates. I know that our guys are there to race, and just when I'm starting to hurt, they're going to throw in a surge. I love the attitude we have and how we can take control of a race. It's a whole different mentality than we had last year and people are placing really high and running extremely fast because of it. I also think we've really honed in on the proper base training. Greg has done a great job of figuring out what works for us and how to integrate this into a solid overall training plan. We can all be very confident that we have the tools to achieve success.
On another note, life in Flagstaff is good. It's starting to get cold and I'm anxiously awaiting the snow. I'll probably think it's cool for the first week, and then I'll be ready for the sun and the heat again. But hey, that's Flagstaff! Also, my pup and I would like to wish everyone a Happy Holiday season!
Entry #80 Tonight on my second run, I took a Tour de Cheshire (my neighborhood) and because it was dusk I got to enjoy the holiday season by admiring all the beautiful Christmas lights that people have begun to put up. I really take pleasure in my solo second runs because it gives me time to think and tonight was especially serene. I felt as though my body went into auto pilot; my legs glided along as my eyes were attracted to the colorful lights, and my mind danced about all the exciting recent and upcoming events. With the new addition of Alvina, and a female recruit last weekend; a full woman’s team is almost in sight! Club National’s is also in view. Although Lindsay and I are eager to go to Club Nationals and compete on an individual level we definitely look forward to next year when we get a chance to compete with a full women’s team. This year our Men get to make their team debut as they go up against other clubs from across the nation. It is almost hard to believe our cross country/base season is drawing to an end. Looking back over the fall there has been so many breakthrough performances by teammates displaying all their hard work: from stellar championship races, incredible marathon performances, and personal best smashing. I was fortunate enough to see one of the breakthrough races on Thanksgiving as Giliat exhibited his fitness and was not even a second off of his already flying track PR. Then Jordan obliterated his previous 5k PR, breaking 14 minutes by 13 seconds! I also witnessed Lindsay set her new personal best of 16:24. One of the awesome things about being on a team is the feeling of pride for your teammate’s accomplishments and sharing the feeling of victory. On the other side of the country in Manchester four more of our men amplified the team’s successes when Martin claimed his Thanksgiving Day victory, with Carlson, Lemoncello, and Cele working as a strong team close behind him. Trent did not miss out on the glory and also won his local turkey trot. An up and coming trotter to keep your eye on is Angus McMillan. With the help of his personal trainer Courtney Burrell, his first steps are due any day now. Similar to each of us on the team, he has been building his base. He has quickly advanced from scooting, to crawling, and is now freestanding with assisted baby steps. His focus, determination, and resilience are to be admired. Soon his hard work will pay off, and we will all share in his triumphant victory. I feel like fall flew by almost without me realizing how many changes occurred through the base phase. Now we can continue to take joyous strides forward with the holidays, a new teammate, recruits, championship races, and recent successes. As we begin to wrap up phase one and advance to the second phase of training there is a calm feeling of confidence for moving forward because of the strong foundation the team has successfully built for winter and spring.
Entry #79 Amazing results poured in on my cell phone Thursday morning. Greg was texting me, super excited as he should be, to announce all the PR's and great finishes our team recorded on Thanksgiving Day. On the East Coast, Martin Fagan took home the top honors at the Manchester Road Race. He was followed by a trio of McMillanElite athletes, Andrew Carlson, Andrew Lemoncello and Celedonio Rodriguez finishing 4th, 5th and 8th respectively. I was definitely thrilled to hear my training partners took four of the top eight spots at such a high quality race. Several thousand miles away on the West Coast, McMillanElite athletes took to the streets of San Jose, California, criterium style, in a invitational elite 5k Road Race. What followed was Four Road 5k PR's and Three All-Time (both road and track) 5k PR's. Major congratulations to Jordan Horn and Becky Guyette; they obliterated their previous personal best by over 14 seconds each. I am really excited about the progress our women's team is making this fall. With the racing by Becky Guyette and Lindsay Allen in the past few weeks, it is clear that they are on a mission to run fast, not just this fall but on the track in the spring as well. Not to forget Paige Higgins' amazing 7 minute PR at Chicago. To add to all of this, another super-talented, experienced elite has joined them to create a solid training group the likes of which Flagstaff has never experienced. Alvina Begay has been in Flag longer than most of us on the team and knows her way around town, but it was awesome to finally have her join McMillanElite to reach a new level of fitness. Next in news, we have a new sponsor on board with McMillanElite. The Houston Marathon has been very supportive of our group from the beginning and has now stepped up their commitment in the form of the Houston Marathon Foundation. You can read all about the new sponsorship here: Houston Marathon Foundation. We really appreciate all our sponsors do to make this amazing training group possible. It is because of their generosity that McMillanElite runners are making huge strides in becoming the top in our field. Thanks to everyone who makes their way to read our blogs each week. If there is anything you would like to see added to the site or questions for our bloggers to answer, send us a line and we would be glad to make it happen. Have a great week! middle
Entry #78 Greetings! My name is Alvina Begay. Hmmmm, where do I begin? Its funny and amazing to be writing my first blog as a runner of McMillan Elite. It makes me look back and remember when I first met Greg and Tracy. I was living in a townhouse furnished with heavy dorm furniture down the street from the townhouse that Mike Smith, Lemon, Martin, and Fasil currently live in. Mike Smith and I took turns hosting dinners or potlucks for the Flagstaff running community. Greg and Tracy would attend the potlucks and talk about creating their professional running/racing group based out of Flagstaff. They have come a long way in making their dream a reality and it has been great seeing all the success that has come of it. I moved to Flagstaff from Ganado, AZ about three years ago to focus on qualifying for the Women's Olympic Trials in the Marathon. Ganado is located on "The Rez," or the Navajo Reservation in northeastern Arizona and at an elevation of ~6000ft. Ganado is a small town where everyone knows everyone and there are endless dirtroads and trails. I have one sister, three brothers, and two nephews. My family has a ranch so I grew up riding horses, herding sheep, and rounding up cattle. I was a pretty ambitious active and adventurous kid. I have the scars on my legs and head to prove it. My dad was a runner so my childhood was spent watching him train, race, and sitting or sleeping in a camper traveling to races on the weekends. My parents entered me in fun runs and I hated losing. Running was easy and fun to do. I remember my mom telling me as a kid all the things running could do for me if I just kept at it and kept working hard - like help pay for my education, allow me to travel, and meet cool new people. I never forgot what she said and it served as motivation to run in high school, college, and professionally. Hard training and life events in the year leading up to the Olympic Marathon Trials left me injured and exhausted emotionally, physically, and mentally. Since the trials in April, I focused on getting healthy and enjoying my runs. As I was getting healthy, I was looking for someone or something that would provide positive support and help me focus on becoming a better runner. Greg and Tracy have been there during my running highs and lows so it wasn't hard to see that their program might be able to provide me with what I was looking for. Getting back into racing shape has been fun. Ummm, maybe not fun everyday, but fun most days. I get frustrated when I struggle to run times that are easy when I'm in shape. Greg and Trina Painter do an awesome job telling and reminding me to be patient and smart. I also have to remind myself that I should be grateful to not be running in discomfort and pain. Core exercises leave me sore after every session. Its been good to have people to run with daily. Trent made french toast with rye bread the other day and it had an interesting taste. I saw a desk in one of the guy's house that I swear was for sale at my neighbor's garage sale. I'm optimistic that my new life adventures with McMillan Elite will be positive. In closing, Happy Thanksgiving! I think that all professional runners would agree that it takes the support of so many people to keep their dreams alive. That being said, thank you to everyone that is involved in the life of a professional runner. Thank you to family(ies), teammates, and friends. Families, teammates, and friends are usually the first ones to know about or feel the happiness, pain, or disappointment of an athlete. Thank you to coaches and therapists. The coaches and therapists are usually the ones who know what is going on in the minds and bodies of the athletes. Coaches and therapists give so much time and energy. Most times, the payment they receive comes in the form of PRs, success, and achievements of their athletes. Thank you to agents, bosses, and co-workers who provide work environments that allow athletes to pursue their dreams. Until next time. Have a great Holiday season! A special THANK YOU to the Begay Family. I love you and thanks so much for all your help and support. Alvina Begay
Entry #77 Exciting news this week as we add another female to our women’s team. It is great to have Alvina Begay on board; we’ve known Alvina for a couple of years now and she brings strength and experience to the team. The women’s team is shaping up just like the men’s, with excellent breadth and depth across the distances, and with a nice mix of more experienced women a few years removed from college and young talent fairly new to the post-collegiate training/racing scene. It is great to see them all training together and I admire the dedication they have and how they help one another each day as they travel this path. Since this will likely be my only blog during the holiday season I wanted to take a moment to give thanks to all who support the team: thank you to our many sponsors who provide the resources it takes to develop world-class athletes; thank you to our friends who are there to remind us that although this journey is challenging at times, it is worthwhile; thank you to our families, who are always there to guide us, pick us up when we fall and cheer us to the finish line; and finally, thank you to the athletes, for being great people that I am continually proud of in so many ways, and for living this dream with the McMillan Family. Happy holidays, everyone.
Entry #76 Today I'll try to let you into a little aspect of my running mixed with the social unity of runners that can be found in Flagstaff...We had our first snow dump last Monday 10th. That was a great day! So many emotions, realizations, and self-growth took place the entire day from morning till I laid down. The team received an e-mail the night before telling us that Monday's run would be on our own. That morning Gil and I headed into town along highway 180, because 'someone' did not want to run in the snow covered trails. I, on the other hand, can't see what could be better than having the cold wind hitting my face as I hear the snow being crushed underneath my sole with every step I take. All at the same time trying to avoid the falling piles of snow flakes that have been caught on the branches of pine trees which fall
Later that day I did make it out to the Fort Valley trail system and put in six more miles. The snow was gone but that did not deter me from getting the pleasure of running in such a breathtaking place. I was feeling rested from the morning run so I ran as the trail dictated and enjoyed the run, maybe a little fast...The day of running was not over yet. This day many of us had three runs! The McMillanElite team met up with about fifty members of the Flagstaff running community at the NAU track for a one mile silent run in honor of our teammate, husband, role model, and friend; Ryan Shay. I was reminded of how simple life is and how important friends and family are to cope with life's harsh realities. I've heard that in life we can't choose our family, but we can choose our friends. And I could not be more proud to say that the entire running community in Flagstaff is an extension of my family, a family I'm thankful has allowed me to be part of theirs.
Entry #75 Greg had his connections, as it seems he does everywhere, so our entire team was housed by members of 'Movin’ Shoes,' an adidas club team in San Diego, led by George Vontsolos. They were a great group of people who graciously opened their homes to us and showed us around the town. Thanks so much to all of you!
This race was primarily a tune up for the big dance this fall, the US Club Cross Country Championships in December, so we all tried to have fun with it. We took advantage of the opportunity to race on some grass and hills and really work together as a team. The guys ran first and set the tone for the meet. The gun went off and then next thing I knew, all five of our guys were running away with the race and the next competitor was nowhere to be seen. It was really exciting to watch and gave both Becky and I a sense of confidence. In our race we were able to work together for a few miles and ended up finishing first and third overall. It was nice to get out of Flagstaff for the weekend and I began to convince myself that I could tough out the snowy winters up here. Of course, this thought came as I was lying on the beach in San Diego! This confidence quickly vanished as we rolled into Flagstaff the following night to find the city dusted with a few inches of snow. Amidst internal panic, I tried to admire the beauty of the snow. This came more easily than anticipated, as my run the next morning landed me on a snow covered dirt road with nothing but snow coated trees in sight. It was surreal and more beautiful than I had ever expected. Needless to say I'm excited to see what the snow has to offer and to build up my cold weather tolerance. adidas will just have to bring the heat!
Entry #74 * Long Sigh * Ok, where to start? Well, I guess a few things have been going on since I last “blogged” and I'd be lying if I said everything was fine n' dandy. Since my horrible run at the San Jose half a few weeks back I've had some real inconsistent training and I think I may have hopped back into the higher mileage too soon after the race. I had been dealing with tightness in both legs that carried on for quite some time and am currently fighting a calf issue that just won't go away. I'm starting to speculate whether it may be a fatigued calf, rather than an extremely tight calf. It seems as if I cannot catch a break up here with my recovery after runs and workouts, and seeing as my decision to move up here is probably my only real shot to improve AND still be able to afford food and gas without having to mooch off the parents, I'm determined to turn things around and I won't let this little setback be the end-all-be-all, so to speak. Other than that, Greg and I have talked and altered my workout/training regimen to better coordinate with my recovery cycle and the next big race that I'll be shooting for is the Houston Half. So, that's the running aspect of the blog covered. As far as work goes, I've quit my job at Home Depot after about two weeks of working there and have got in with this married couple that own a business called, “Inconcrete.” They deal with the production and installation of custom concrete counter tops and they are the coolest bosses ever! They let me eat while working, listen to music in the shop, let me take breaks if I need them, come in late if I need to, and even trust me enough to let me work by myself when no one is there. And I make more than I did at HD. Alright, we've got the work and income section out of the way, so that leaves us with entertainment and joy/joyness next. To boost up my joyness levels, I continue to play a ton of Call of Duty on Xbox Live, hangout with the roomates and watch movies, browse the world wide web, and eat. Aaand, that's pretty much it, hope everyone had a happy Halloween and have a jolly Thanksgiving. :0) -Charlie
Entry #73 I'm living at the Cooper house now, with Lemoncello, Jordan, and Brett. Also, Wicket and Tazzy, the two dogs have been pretty welcoming to me. The guys over here have been great so far, and seeing them living the lifestyle of a professional runner each day has helped to teach me many things about what it takes to get good. I have a long way to go though as far as my ping pong skills go, but since I'm doing secret practice sessions I plan on ruling the household in that aspect pretty soon. This weekend I'm heading down to San Diego for a 4 mile cross country race to make my McMillan debut. Brett, Jordan, Ian, Giliat, Lindsay and Becky are also going, so it's a quality group to say the least. I'm excited to see where I'm at with all the work that's been put in over the last few months, and also want to experience running at sea level for the first time in a while.
Entry #72 Well it's been a great last few weeks. My marathon at Chicago went really well. I was happy that four months of total dedication to the sport I love came together that day. It was invaluable to me to have the support of my family, who came out to cheer. Greg, Tracy and Angus made the trip out as well for Bri and I. Angus is the greatest traveling almost-one-year-old I have ever seen. Such a happy kid! It was really nice having him there the morning of the marathon. I had so many things running through my head. Then I saw Angus, just chillin’ in his stroller, looking a bit like "why the hell am I up so early?" but taking it like the rockstar he is (he actually is a rockstar, I just finished making his guitar for his Halloween costume!). Anyway I would like to thank everyone and especially my family, Greg and Tracy for coming out and cheering for me not only in the marathon, but for the past four months. You guys are the best and none of this would even be close to possible without your love and support. So after a pretty long trip home (It took about 5 hours longer than expected, but I was just so darn happy nothing could've ruined my day) we all were happy to be back in our hidden haven of Flagstaff. I took some time to enjoy sleeping in, eating cake, drinking wine, and enjoying not running for a few days. My body on the other hand didn't appreciate it; I got sick. No worries though, Rob and I had Vegas to take on! Now when Vegas comes to mind I can imagine it is followed by words like: gambling, dancing. "Classic Vegas" is not my style. Rob and I did it "Paige style." We went to three of the most fabulous shows I have ever seen: La Reve, The Phantom Spectacular, and Mystere. They were all such beautiful displays of what the human body can express and achieve. La Reve took my breathe away. We stayed out late finding amazing food (I still dream about the chocolate cake we ordered the last night), looking at the beautiful architecture and lights of the city, and just enjoying each other's company. I had a blast dressing up trying to look pretty for Rob (thanks for the dresses Linz!!!) and holding his hand. We didn't spend one penny on gambling. It was one of the best trips and most memorable times I have ever had. I'm now getting back into the swing of things, excited for what is to come, thoroughly satisfied with my down time. I get to cheer on my teammates as they really start to get fit and ready for their big races. Once again thank you to all the people who love, support and care about me. Like Greg said, "this is the first step"… I'm excited and ready to see what's to come!
Entry #71 Hello world. This is my second installment out here in Flagstaff. Things have been going pretty well for me training and racing wise. I am averaging more miles per week than I ever have and I feel very little fatigue. Greg's training methods have been strengthening my aerobic capacity at an amazing rate and I am eager to see what the future will bring. My first race some weeks back was an 8k competition down in Tucson, Arizona. I placed second there to Brett and ran a personal best. I just couldn't believe I could run my first race of the year at such a quality rate. The second event was a 5k race over in Santa Monica, California. After leading much of the early stages I placed second and ran a road PR. Although slightly disappointed by my result I still came away with a sense of achievement. I am already way past where I was this time last year - a period of running I considered to be my best. I am happy my athletic endeavors have been going well so far and hope to continue to race at a high quality. The only hitch I have found in life out here is my job situation. It's hard coming from a strong job market back in the Bay Area to one not so steady in Flagstaff. I am sure I will figure something out hopefully in the near future. Well, that is it for now and I hope to continue to make my family and friends proud as I continue to scale the steep mountain of athletic success.
Entry #70
Entry #69 Today I fly back home. The past four months has been the longest that I have been away from the Treasure Valley in the last 11 years. I am imagining it will feel surreal to be there as a visitor and see all the changes. Living in Flagstaff can sometimes have an unreal feeling as well, like I am living in a parallel universe or on a vacation in running paradise. I love the trails, team, and Flag but the cliché 'living a dream' really seems to accurately describe my feelings. Thinking back to the way I lived in Boise I always had someone to help take care of me whether it be my family who would always be there (even if it meant coming to jump my car after I accidentally left the lights on...again), or a roommate who did the cooking (most likely out of fear of the house burning down), or friends who supported and understood my Becky ways. When I left I questioned how I was even going to survive and deal with not having my network of loved ones around. Having to depend more upon myself in Flag has helped me grow in a lot of ways and I feel as though I am maturing as both a person and a runner. I find myself seeking ways to learn things I have always wanted to know, taking more responsibility for myself, and working towards achieving personal goals. I have Paige and Lindsay to thank for a lot of my growth; both have been role models in different ways, probably unknowingly. I respect Paige's discipline, and Lindsay's constant awareness. Not to mention they are both amazing cooks, which inspires me to try harder because normally what they are eating looks a lot better than what I have made for myself. My abilities as a runner are developing by learning how to listen to my own body and doing what is best for me. I really appreciate the encouragement and patience that I have received from Greg and Trina in workouts as they try to help me raise awareness and figure how to take control of my running. There are still times when I mess up and do something that is completely 'Becky' and I feel frustrated at myself but all I can do is take responsibility and focus on improving. It is amazing how steadily change transpires if we continue to try to better ourselves. I think those transformations are what is helping McMillan Elite excel; everyday as a whole we are steadily building our bodies and focusing on improving. There is a lot of excitement and pride on McMillan Elite as the team continues to progress and have some stellar races. This weekend the team will all be rooting for Martin and Andrew Carlson (making his McMillan Elite debut) racing in England. When I came to McMillan Elite it was to make advances in my running career and everyday I live and work towards that dream no matter how unreal it feels. Getting to go back home to family and friends is going to be wonderful because I miss them and without their support and encouragement I never would have made it here (I probably would have burned to death while trying to cook pasta, or froze in a parking lot because my car battery was dead). So thank you for all of those years of taking care of and loving me. I am very excited to come to visit and hear about all the things that have happened since I left and share stories about my new home and team. Hopefully I won't be the only one noticing changes.
Entry #68 A lot has happened since my last blog. Running-wise, our team has been pretty impressive this fall. Highlighting the performances have been Trent and Paige with their huge marathon results. Having seen the training they've put in, it was nice to see them have some well-deserved success. Although the marathoners have taken most of the spotlight this month, there are plenty of other runners on the team that are having a good October. The 5k/10k group dominated a Tucson road race two weeks ago, and also competed well in a 5k in Santa Monica this past weekend. They have had excellent, consistent workouts throughout the fall and their success should come as no surprise. Lastly, our teammate Cele definitely deserves some credit for earning top ten finishes in his last two US Championships and qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Marathon Trials. As you can see, the bar has been set pretty high. As for my own running, we decided to use October as a training month. August and September were filled with a lot of racing and traveling, so this month is being used to establish a solid base. This base phase has been characterized by hard long runs on Saturday and Steady State workouts on Wednesday, both of which have been the most difficult things to get used to since joining the team. However, with running, the training you like the least is usually the best for you, so I just concentrate on keeping my head down and improving every week. In my personal life, one big aspect has changed since the summer - I'm married. So far, everything has been great. The food is good, and my new roommate is much better looking than any of my previous ones. Joking aside, it's hard to imagine how I would be able to pursue my running career without her. She has done so much for me in the way of support, encouragement, and providing an outlet for when running sucks. I definitely owe her some thanks. I would also like to thank my parents for the support they have given me throughout the years. Without my family, none of my athletic accomplishments would have been possible. That's about all I can tell you about what's been happening in Flagstaff. We are building more and more momentum with every successful race this fall, and by the looks of everything right now, we should be able to ride that momentum into the track season and beyond.
Week of October 6, 2008 by Trent Briney Hi all,
All this and my mind hasn't settled down from the good step forward my training has been taking over the last 6 months. Piece by piece I have shed some unfit weight, toned up my core section, and rebuilt the necessary components of my mileage and intensity of running to start to test my body out again.
I've been lucky because my instructors and my coaches have all been really supportive of what I'm trying to accomplish. Greg and Tracy have been great, encouraging me as an athlete and as a person. Jordan and Andrew C. even volunteered to star in one of my films. So it's a good feeling to know my friends are behind me on this. Later. Brianna.
The best part is that I have an even bigger pool of athletes to train with from when I left. There is now a big group to meet with everyday and we all help push each other so we can achieve our goals whether it's a 5km in the summer or a fall marathon. The old adage of you only get what you put in has really sunk in and I am excited to get back into full training up here at 7,000 feet. The best part about being back in Flagstaff is the routine. I have been away for the whole summer, travelling to lots of different races and it feels good to have taken a break now and come back here and get back into way of things with the team. Meeting at eight in the morning everyday sets the day up nicely to get enough rest, do circuits and core, a second run and then go to work. Don't get me wrong, I love being back in Scotland and running on the track circuit but I feel so much more at home now that I am back in Flagstaff. We are getting into an exciting time for the team as everybody has been up here training for a while now and the racing season is starting to kick off. Almost the whole team is away racing this weekend leaving only a few of us to anxiously wait for the results to come in. This is the other great part of having a team dynamic, we motivate each other with our results. If one person does well, we all feed off of that and get excited to race again. Good luck to all the team that are running this weekend and to any of you out there reading this who have races coming up. Lemon
I've been here for almost 2 months now, watching my teammates dominate workouts and put in the miles, so I know they're ready. As for me, I've put in 3 consecutive weeks of more mileage than I've ever done before, so while I'm a little worn out, I know it will soon pay off. That's the beauty of running, you get what you give and patience is the name of the game. I can say that now because of all my teammates and their constant advice and encouragement. Whenever I get down they are right there to pick me back up and remind me of all the positives, which I tend to easily overlook. Paige reminds me that it will all come together and that this is a building process, Becky is always cheery no matter what and Brett is Mr. Patience himself. With this great supporting cast I know I can stick through the rough times and will come out on top.
That's about it up here, be sure to look for us in coming results and thanks for all the support!
As for my training, things have pretty much started where I left off last year. I've been able to consistently run more miles than I ever have and my workouts are already as fast as my fastest ones last year. I haven't raced yet, but this is not from lack of motivation. Seeing Ian and Cele already doing their thing has had me fired up for days now. I feel like their results have translated into momentum for myself and for the entire team. When you see the people you train with putting on performances like that, it's hard not to think you are going to do the same thing. Luckily, many of us will have a chance to put this momentum to the test very soon. This coming weekend we will have people running all over the country, from a little 8k in Tucson to the U.S. men's marathon championship in the Twin Cities. This is exciting stuff as we head into the thick of the fall racing season, and hopefully we can continue to build momentum for each other all the way into the winter. Life outside of running is going very well right now too. Let me say that it is great having Lindsay up here now. Life is so much simpler now that she lives about 10 houses down from me, so instead of a phone call, I can just walk down there and talk to her in person. Also, the printshop that I work for just opened a new shop right in the heart of downtown and I think it is really going to be a hit. We are going to focus on more artsy stuff instead of boring old blueprints (sorry dad) and we are going to sell a bunch of cool Flagstaff merchandise too. I fully expect to be a millionaire come January, but I guess we'll just have to wait and see! Last but not least, I have to say hi to the fam. Lia, this shout out is for you because I know you think you don't get enough credit in my writings. Tazzy and Wicket say hi. Thanks. BG
Or hanging around early 20-somethings all the time who didn't just have babies and are fit and trim?! I'm working on the fit and trim part. Angus and I are now doing a mom & baby exercise class in beautiful Buffalo Park - Stroller Strides! I am shocked at how sore I am sometimes - it is quite a workout! The first time I went I thought "why do I want to work out around all of these crying babies?" (not Angus, of course...:-)). But you know, there is a nice camaraderie that has developed amongst the moms, and I find myself now confident to ask questions about being a new parent to the other women rather than just searching for answers or support on the internet. It's nice. Plus (leading into my second constant), I think the team gets a kick out of seeing all of us moms and babies in strollers when they do their Wednesday workouts at Buffalo Park! Team: Everything with the team has been exciting so far. It is incredible how we've essentially doubled in size this summer. We finally became complete last week with the return of Lemon. Everyone is here now, and it is wild to see the team runs - such a big group. However, with the training underway another emotion arrives as well - race anxiety. Not them - me! I get so nervous when they race! I want them to do so well, for themselves, for the team, for Greg. Of course, they do as well. In the past I traveled to races as often as I could but that decreased somewhat this year with the pregnancy and the baby. Now I am forced to endure restless nights and early morning searches of the message boards, waiting for the first word of results (the downside of living in the west!). Luckily, the U.S. 5K Championship race started at 11:15am east coast time this past Sunday, so we got to sleep in a bit (great race, Ian!). This is just the team - how in the world will I be if/when Angus competes in sports?! Food: Finally, food. I am a self-admitted foodie. I love food - preparing it, eating it, sharing the experience with others (this surprises my mother who claims I hardly knew how to boil water growing up). One of the things I love about the team is the group dinners. Sometimes we do potluck, but other times I just make the whole meal because I love thinking through the menu and striving to prepare a meal that is healthy, fresh and nutritionally well balanced for them (there may also be some deep-seated control issues popping up here...). However, this has become more challenging as the team has grown. The menu options change when you go from feeding 8-10 athletes to feeding 20-25! So, as I prepare for another team dinner next week, I am making a request to all those who read our blog: if you have a good main meal recipe to serve a group, please pass it along! Remember the criteria above: healthy, fresh and nutritionally well balanced (carbs, protein, fat). You can send it to me at tracy.mcmillan@pphpartners.com. I'm making dinner Monday night so any ideas are appreciated! Have a great weekend. 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 that'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
When I got home, I found a box filled with my big sister Shannon's homemade cookies. Then I received another package with the racers I will wear for Chicago. About an hour later Bri and I got a formal invitation to be part of the Elite field at the Chicago Marathon. Becky and Lindsay weren't home and it was probably a good thing because I think I was spastically running around the house yelling at the top of my lungs for a good 10 minutes. It was a "dream come true" phone call to say the least. I was riding off a high because the day before I was able to talk to my brother Patrick, whom I am so proud of. He is currently an Army Special Forces Infantry Officer in Germany. I laugh thinking back to when I threw a frozen Cadbury Egg at his head and almost gave him a concussion. Now he's in charge of an entire unit and I'm hoping he has a freezer full of those apparently effective little tranquilizers to keep him safe...ha. Other really fun things for the week included an absolutely delicious team pizza party courtesy of Lindsay, and talking to my Mom about the possibilities of getting my own place up here one day (Anyone who knows me could've probably bet I wouldn't have ever left Colorado, but now Flagstaff is what I think of when I think "home"). Every week I only further appreciate what I have been given and try to do my best to earn it for the runners who haven't been given this gift - runners and all athletes who have to hold down a full time job while still trying to pursue their dreams. Props to all you out there, I humbly tip my hat to you. Sorry I always end up rambling in these things, but thank you to everyone who supports this program and this team, you have given me what I only thought I could dream of...I'm doing the best I can to respect and honor this gift. This is the last blog for me before Chicago, so a special thanks to my family, friends, and teammates who have been there through it all, the good times, the injuries, my moodiness (stubborn? ME?), my quirks...all of it. My official "thank you" will physically manifest itself on October 12th. I'll be running for all of you... Everything I have, Paige
He is a looker! Finally a good-looking kid with the last name of Horn! Good job and congratulations Jesse and Tiffany. Running has been going great even though I have been sick. I've kept up the miles and have had the most consistent base training in my life. It is easy to run that much and that fast when you have the guys that I train with. Everyone has their days and it shows, but it's good when you're in the hurt having the boys pull you through a run or a workout. Things are looking good for the runners in Flagstaff; everyone from the McMillanElite group to the local runners that we run with on Thursdays and the runners at NAU. I just want to say thanks to everyone that has helped me and the rest of the team through our individual journeys as runners, as members of McMillanElite, to becoming the best that the United States can offer. Thanks Jesse, Zordon and the rest of the U.S. military for giving me the opportunity to chase after my dreams of becoming an Olympian!
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