Episode III: Team Tarther to Albuquerque

First off. I would like to wish Momma Mulcahy a very Happy Birthday!!!!

This past weekend was quite eventful as I traveled to Albuquerque, New Mexico for the USA Indoor Track and Field Championships. Please note that I have not driven my car for more than a 2 hour trip since last April when I drove to California. Needless to say, I was quite excited for a little road trip and a chance to watch Sara (my training partner and the other member of Team Tarther) compete for a national title.

Sara's first race was the 3k at 6:10pm, Saturday evening. My plan was to get up, do my long run, eat a good meal, get oil, filter and tires rotated on my car, gas up, then get out of Flagstaff before the storm hit. Thus, leaving around 1pm, I should have enough time to drive the 320miles to Albuquerque and make it to the Convention Center with time to spare before Sara's race. For once, things worked out the way I planned!

Brett, Nick, Lemon and I began our long run on Lake Mary Road at a little past 9am. This is actually the first long run I have done in at least 5 or 6 weeks due to racing on Sundays and also feeling under the weather. Needless to say, I hit the wall around 9 or 10 miles and began dozing off from focus. It wasn't until Brett yelled to me that I finally snapped out of the funk. Overall, it was a good run and very helpful to have conversation and friends encouraging me along the way. I also feel like it cleared a lot of the junk left over from the chest cold I recently had.
"Long Runs are the best medicine for hangovers"- Shane Zanetti
I feel Shane's quote goes for illnesses as well.

After the run it was a slight rush to get things completed before I hit the road. I ended up leaving town at 1:32pm. Vince (My boss from the Running Store), let me use his GPS for the trip so I wouldn't end up lost. Hah, I never get lost...I'm a Geographer!
When I began driving, the GPS read that my arrival time would be 6:48pm. Yeah Right!
I arrived at the Albuquerque Convention Center by 5:41pm which included 2 pit stops and no speeding tickets. Ryan, Sara's husband met me at the entrance with my tickets. Once I got to track-side and I felt much more at ease, until 5minutes before Sara's race. I was extremely nervous for Sara as I knew it was going to be a 2 person race with her and Jenny Simpson. It was exactly that... Sara shadowed Jenny and tried to slingshot by her with 150meters to go and she could not get by. Sara finished in 9:03 for 3k at 5300 feet (I think).


The men's 3k was next and it included two Flagstaff runners Aaron Braun and Scott Smith, along with one of my good friend, Kyle Alcorn. I met Kyle this past fall when he lived at our house during his altitude stint. When the race really began, it was awesome to see both Aaron and Scott respond well to the different moves made by Galen Rupp and Bernard Lagat. At about 2k a big move was made and Aaron was right in the mix of it and Scott also latched on for the ride. This was awesome to watch as both Aaron and Scott ran great races and finished 3rd (Aaron) and 5th (Scott).

After the meet, Sara, Ryan, Dena (Sara's Coach) and I got take out from the Shooting Star Cafe. This place was awesome! I decided to get their Fish 'n Chips and it did not disappoint. After dinner I called Kyle and we went downtown to hangout for a bit. I felt that he could use a little out and about time to clear his head from the race. We met up with Scott and Nicole (Scott's girlfriend) by chance at Maloney's. The Bar scene wasn't very good and apparently the single talent doesn't arrive until after 11pm, which is too late for me to be out, since it is past my bedtime...most evenings.

Sunday was a pretty simple day. I was really tired from the long run, the drive and watching the races. So, I slept in. I got up around 11am, checked out of Hotel Blue, then wandered over the the Flying Star Cafe. Come to find out, they have a stellar "everything" bagel and the spiced chai latte isn't too bad either.

Sara's mile race was at 3:10pm so we began warming up at 2:20pm. I started the warm up with Sara and Dena, then tacked on another 25min before the start of her race. Once again I was very nervous and excited for Sara's race. I thought it went well considering her racing the 3k the evening before. She finished 4th in 4:38, but you could tell the normal "Sara Hall Blow-By" wasn't there. I believe it was just simple fatigue from back to back days of racing.

I caught the men's mile before heading out with Sara for her cool down. It was awesome to watch Aaron Braun put on a show! I believe he hit the half mark in 2:06 then went 1:57 the second half. From where I was standing on the backstretch, there were roughly 20 people yelling and cheering for Aaron, including his college coach Damon Martin.

After running the cool down with Sara and Dena along the river path, I decided to begin my journey back to Flagstaff. Since I was extremely hungry and needed something good before hitting the road, I went to the Flying Star. Fish 'n Chips once again!

The trip back to flagstaff was uneventful. Basically, I entertained myself by eating tropical skittles, flipping through the radio stations, counting casinos or talking to my Dad on the phone. If you have ever made this drive, you know it is very boring.




Things I learned from my Roadtrip:


1. New Mexico drivers are just as bad as Arizona drivers.
2. All Semi trucks on I-40 should not be allowed to touch the passing lane.
3. There are way too many country music radio stations throughout those 320 miles.
4. Aaron Braun is a Boss!
5. The bar/club scene in downtown Albuquerque is pathetic.
6. Jen Suhr's husband must have been a wrestler as he has cauliflower ear in both ears.
7. The Flying Star Cafe is amazing!

8. Sunsets on I-40 can be quite amazing.

9. Dinosaurs still exist in Arizona.
10. Dan Seriani no longer has a sweet moustache.
11. Radio stations seem to play Rihanna's music directly after Chris Brown's.
12. Ryan Hall gets asked for an autograph approximately every 12 minutes.

13. Nickelback is one of the worst bands ever....I heard them at least 12 different times within the 640miles...
14. The graffiti murals in Albuquerque are sick.

15. Albuquerque can not compare to Flagstaff!

(Leaving Flagstaff and heading East)

(I-40 is very boring!)

(When you see red rocks, you know the New Mexico border is near!)

Thanks for reading.

-rtm

Episode II: "The Meaning of Patientia"

In the introduction I said I would explain the meaning of the title.

"Patientia" is a word I came across in 2006. It is Latin for Patience, Endurance and Suffering.

In 2006 I went through a very difficult phase of my life. I had made running my entire focus. The whole reason I was at all motivated to go to college was just to have the ability to run for another 4 to 5 years. My freshman year was decent with very few downs. But, by the time my sophomore cross country season came and went, I was in shambles. Not only was my running going poorly, but my grandfather was also struggling with cancer. This was all a recipe for disaster. Needless to say I felt very alone and empty inside.

The morning after the indoor track conference meet, I was running with teammate and close friend Tyson Evensen. I mentioned to Tyson that I was thinking of transferring out of Elizabethtown and somewhere closer to home. He knew how tough of a decision this was for me. It meant a lot at this point to have the support of my closest friends and family because they knew how much attending Etown meant to me. But I felt I really needed to be closer to home and a new start would be a great thing.

During another roller coaster low, I came across the word "Patientia". For some reason it pulled things together. More than anything, it reminded me that I needed to Persevere during the toughest times. The thing I have learned about life is it is anything but ideal all the time. I learned from an early age that just because you work hard, doesn't mean that things are just going to come to you or be easy.

I am humbled on a weekly, if not daily basis, with work, running and daily life. I have come to figure that I fail my expectations at least 7 to 9 times out of 10. But the success I am striving for within those small endeavors isn't always what I am to learn in the grand scheme of things. At times I feel that I learn more from failing or struggling than I do from having great success. But don't get me wrong, I love to do well at everything I do and I also learn a lot from my successes as well.

-rtm

Episode I: "Introduction"

This being my first blog, I would like to kick things off with an explanation of why I am putting this together and to explain the title. I'm not sure how popular this will be, however, that doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things as this is dedicated to my family and friends.After speaking with my sister (Shannon) the other evening I realized how much my family has been wondering where I am and what I am currently doing in my life. She suggested I put together a blog to keep everyone up to date. So, I hope you can get some enjoyment out of it.

My family is my support crew. They are my daily motivation for work, for running, for life. Often when I am running, I think back to the earlier years of my life when we would be at wrestling tournaments all day with my Mom, Dad and brother (Sean) there to support me.  I always felt that I was on top of the world when I stepped onto the mat with my family in my corner.  I figure this is where my confidence came from early in life.

I have been so fortunate in my life with the love and support of my family. There were hardly any events where one of the three were not present, even in college. Not a single one of them has ever missed a National Championship that I have competed in (wrestling or running). How many people can say this?

 ('05 Me, Mom and Sean Thanksgiving Day, post Pie and Glove Race)

('06 Dad and me after my first college win at Haverford College.)

(Last Stride at the NCAA meet fall '06. Shot by Mom or Dad)

Nothing too fancy for the first episode.

Thanks for reading.

-rtm