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Nov
2
Desire to Win
Filed Under Running, Spotlight Runner | Leave a Comment
MVXC flew down to Portland this year for the Nike Pre-National race. It is a preview of the national championship course. My coach brought me along as the 8th guy, not to run on varsity and represent my team, but to run by myself in the JV Junior/Senior Race and Represent JV alone. The week leading up to the trip was filled with questions I had and the research to figure it out. I set the goal of winning the race.
Multiple times I would ask my coach if I could do it, to which he would blow the question off or just look at me and say something like, “What do you think?” I kept my goal and watched the course in videos and pictures online.
On the day of the race me and my coach left the hotel and went to the course alone. He late-registered me and I went on a lonely warm-up. At the starting line I met a kid named Daniel Rieger. Dan and I talked after a couple strideouts and he shared that he wanted to place top ten. I told him I wanted to win.
From the gun I had my mind set on 1st. At the first mile I was in 6th, the second mile I was in 3rd. Before the final turn I was in 2nd place. I was drafting off of the 1st place kid, who had led the entire race, and my coach told us both as we passed, “There is a group coming fast, you two need to go now.” I didn’t wait a second and I took off sprinting as hard as I could with about 600 left.
In those 600 meters, I lost everyone behind me by 10 seconds. I collapsed at the finish, pupils dilating, unable to see or walk straight, and wondering what the heck had just happened. Here is the video of my race.
You can see me at 1:05, 2:10, and 3:10. My finish is embarrassing to watch now, but I know I left it all on the course.
Daniel, the kid who I met and talked to before the race, finished in 2nd place. You never know what can happen if you run hard.
My coach wrote this paragraph about me on the team website:
Without question, the best performance was turned in by none other than JAKE TAYLOR- also one of the best, guttiest, and awesome displays of cross country running that I have ever seen. Several times throughout the race Jake could have packed it in and settled for 4th or 3rd or even 2nd, but he had set a goal for himself and he refused to settle for anything less than what he had set out to do. On paper there is no way Jake Taylor should have won that race! So much for paper. 16.34!!!! UNBELIEVABLE! What a performance and what a race to watch and learn something from. I talked to both varsity teams about Jake’s performance before their races and how never quitting and never giving up are are traits of Mountain View XC racers. Jake went out and proved it on race day! Not bad; one entry- one victory.
The proudest moment of my XC career so far has been the moment he came up to me after the race. I had PR’d by 54 seconds, set a new standard for the team (which they broke when it was their turn to race later that day), and had given it my all.
If you skip to 4:18 in the video and listen closely you can hear my coach yelling my name, the best moment of my xc season.
Aug
28
Success isn’t an Accident.
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I broke 5 minutes in the mile about a week ago. After getting 5:07 three times, 5:03 twice, and 5:01 in the last race in track season I finally hit 4:58 in the first mile time trial of cross country. Breaking 5 was not an accident for me, I trained hard over the summer and pushed myself in running. My goal was breaking 5 minutes and I made it.
Success in running doesn’t come from accidents, runners who hold world records, state titles, or get their goal times in a fun run all have worked hard to achieve what they have achieved.
This year MVHSXC’s team slogan is “You GET what you GIVE.” It rings true to almost any sport, the more curious you remain and the more you pour your heart and dedicate your mind to something, the more you will get out of it.
My goals are high this high school season, I will dedicate myself to running and my team. Set a goal and put your heart into it.
May
16
The Wall
Filed Under Quote, Running, Training, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
My first marathon (first as in more to come) was completed today. I had a plan of 9 minute mile pace the enitre way and was on my way to accomplishing that goal when I hit the infamous “Wall” at mile 20.
The wall is the point in a marathon around miles 18-20 when your body runs out of Glycogen, the compound we use as a basic fuel for our bodies. Most people contain 20 ‘miles’ of Glycogen in their bodies, even the most fit people, and when they run out their bodies must turn to other things for fuel.
When running the marathon earlier today, my mind was the only thing that kept me going. But alas, during the last mile of the marathon tears streamed down my face as I felt physically, and mentally beaten.
Reading up of marathon training I found Breaking Through the Wall. My favorite passage from the article was this:
When a person first starts training, there’s more physical than mental effort required. As we push ourselves harder, as we make the decision to test our own personal limits, that mental line - the mental effort necessary to accomplish our goals - increases faster than the physical line.
Nearly every post on this blog mentions the importance of mental training in running. Work it into your races and runs. Push yourself beyond your limit. Never say that you cannot do something, because impossible is nothing.
This marathon was one of the best things I have ever done, push yourself in whatever sport you do and Remain Curious always.
Nov
20
Road Racing
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After completing my first half-marathon on November 1st the first thing I said was, “That was horrible.” For the first time ever, I had walked in a race. When I told my parents about my expirience later that day they told me I did great and I should be happy that i could just finish it. But I knew why I walked.
During the cross country season I had run 6 days a week consistently and did speed workouts, easy days, and honestly just whatever the coach said. The week of the half-marathon I didn’t do squat. Laziness and over-confidence kept me from performing at my best and it hurt at the finish line. (see picture)
When signing up for a road race, don’t forget that this is a race like any other. Race to get a new PR, or to meet a goal of your own. Remember to train for the race you are running; when I trained for the Zeitgeist Half Marathon I ran under thirty minutes for a week… not something I would recommend.
Training for a long race, or a fast race is hard work. Here is a quote from Sir Roger Bannister fitting for this:
“The man who can drive himself further once the effort gets painful is the man who will win.”
I would just like to change the word ‘win’ to ‘meet goals’. Running is not about winning all the time, but it is about self-improvement.
If you have never run a race unattached, take some initiative and sign up for one! Find a fun run or a race for a cause you support, you will enjoy it (with the proper training).
Sep
15
The Race
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A teacher of mine showed this poem to me, and I absolutely loved it.
The Race
By Dee H. Groberg
“Quit! Give up! You’re beaten!”
They shout at me, and plead
“There’s just too much against you now.
This time you can’t succeed.”
And as I start to hang my head
In front of failure’s face
My downward fall is broken by
The memory of a race.
And hope refills my weakened will
As I recall that scene
For, just the thought of that short race
Rejuvenates my being.
A children’s race, young boys, young men
Now, I remember well,
Excitement, sure! But also fear,
It wasn’t hard to tell.
They all lined up so full of hope
Each thought to win that race,
Or, tie for first, if not that,
At least take second place.
And fathers watched from off the side
Each cheering for his son.
And each boy hoped to show his dad,
that he would be the one.
Aug
31
The Day Before
Filed Under Quote, Running, Training, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
There are many opinions on what you should do on the day before a race. Here I have put together a list of what I do before an event to be prepared.
- Get at least nine hours of sleep two nights in a row! Two good nights rest makes quite a difference versus one night of rest.
- Eat healthy the day before. Have complex carbohydrates for dinner, and stay away from soft drinks.
- Go on an easy run. It doesn’t have to be long or hard, 30 minutes will be just fine.
- Plan out your race! Planning your race the day before means it will be fresh in your mind. Think about the plan as you lay in bed. Think about it when you wake up the day of, and then stick to it during the race.
- Start hydrating a little extra. If you hydrate a little bit extra the day before, you know you will have plenty of water starting off on the day of the event.
- Pack a ‘race pack’. Having everything you need in a pack that you can grab is nifty. If something comes up and you need to be ready in 20 minutes, have no fear! You already packed a bag with your spikes, socks, race clothes, water, and a snack. Throwing in your ‘lucky’ items would be a good idea too, because then you will be sure to have them if they are a must.
Whitney M. Young Jr said it best:
“It is better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.”
Jul
29
Running Two a Day
Filed Under Running, Training | Leave a Comment
Many runners up their mileage by running twice every day. I have heard many opinions on the helpfulness of two-a-days. Some people believe running twice in a day is more hurt than help.
This article on two-a-days goes through the benefits of running twice and when you should start your new training.
My personal opinion is that it can’t hurt to run twice a day, but if you are on low mileage maybe only run two-a-days on 2-3 days of the week.
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About
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This is where I write about running, training, races, and anything else running related. Because I run for Mountain View High School I may write about my team and opposing teams in the Treasure Valley. Everything written in this blog is my personal opinion and does not reflect the views of my coaches, my teammates, or my school.