I got my start at Watauga High School in my current home town of Boone, NC. We won the 1996 NCHSAA cross coutry team title which propelled me to a walk-on spot at NC State University. At NC State I spent 5 years running cross country and track for an xc team that didn't finish lower than 11th in the nation during my tenure. I also earned All American honors on the track at 5,000m and won 3 ACC track titles. I then spent 2 1/2 years running for the Nike Farm Team in Palo Alto, CA before heading to Florida to start my chiropractic career and turning solely to road racing. In 2008 I came back to Boone and started my appropriately named chiropractic office... Marathon Chiropractic. In 2009 I ran my first trail race. Since I've been racing trails and roads and maybe one day I'll even toe the line for a track race.
15 years in 15 sentences or less. Less.
Back to present day and the kick start of my "Runnings and Ramblings" blog. It's a great time for me and my running and I want to start sharing these events with friends, family, patients, running peers, and future me. I've got a great upcoming schedule and I want to document and share the miles and climbs that lie ahead. In just the next two months alone I'll be running the prestigous Mt Washington Hill climb, competing for a spot on the US Team for the World Mtn Championships, racing two more La Sportiva Mtn Cup events, racing the NCUSATF 5k Championships, and even competing for the umpteenth time in my local hill climb "The Bear."
Not only do I have a great upcoming schedule but I've kicked off this run with my best road 5k since 2008. Last Friday at the China Grove 5k I posted a 14:46 to outkick Stuart Moran and John Compton. Garmin of race. It was ideal June conditions in North Carolina's piedmont as the 92 degree temperature dropped dramaticaly in the 90 minutes before the race from a neighboring storm. Luckily the storm just blew in cooler air without a drop of rain keeping humidity levels shockingly low. Stu took the race out from the gun and led us through the first mile while I purposely and consciously sat back and waited. Well, with about 8 of us together through the first mile I got impatient and started pushing. John, Stu, and I were then alone and we stayed tightly together till the last quarter mile. John set most the pace while I surged several times thinking I could pull away. I couldn't. But that last quarter mile I opened up like I haven't done in several years and pulled away. The Garmin put me at 3:51 pace for the last .11 miles which was about what the previous .11 miles was. I don't think I could go to the track right and do that.
A fast overall time and a big kick has momentum riding high.
But back to the notion of a blog. I plan to update with my runs of course but I'd also like to talk some about healthy and nutrition as well as running equipment and some of the great pleasures in life... beer, wine, dogs and cats (Timber and Charles Henry). We'll see how it all develops. I encourage any and all to follow and comment. Up next is Mt Washington on Saturday. 7.5 miles long and 4500 feet up. Right now it's game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Go Bruins!
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