My journey to today

Ahh... the traditional first blog post. This is a project that has been long in the waiting, so it's time to put my good intentions into action.

My journey as a runner began back in my freshman year of high school. When I signed up for the track team I swore I would not put myself through the punishment of cross country. I joined the track team in the spring where I said I could run the half and the mile, but I wanted to dabble in pole vault. The latter dreams were dashed pretty quickly as I was neither built, nor had the drive to become a great vaulter.

It was through Tommy Calcaterra, a man to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude, I began to realize the potential I had as a distance runner. I soon established myself as a serious contender in NY section 6 track and cross country. Looking back, I can see how a flirted with serious drive, but my ambition had its limits.

My freshman year of college was an awakening for me. I realized what serious training was through Ed O'Goreman, a man who didn't understand me at all, but knew his workouts. I peaked that year in the 5k at 16:08, not where I wanted to be, but a signficant improvement over my barely sub 18 minute high school 5ks. At this point I let personality differences wedge me off the team. I maintained an excellent fitness level and miles in the summer of 2001 running a 27:30 hilly 8k run for charity, but it was after that I put running on the back burner and focused on the rest of my life.

8 years later, I still have a hunger for competition that comes and goes. After moving to northern VA for work, I somehow developed this reputation... this lore of how great a runner I am. I realize now that these things are relative, and what I can still do today due to the great base I built up in the past puts me in the upper half of the running spectrum. I am by no means a fantastic runner these days, but I will not deny I have the wisdom of many miles.

I have received a lot of fantastic advice over the years, and have developed my own take on training and diet. I am no expert, I just know what works for me, and I will try to keep track of that here. I will refer to Buffalo Sprocket for cross training as he is the biking expert in my world.

And so begins my blog...