Corpus Christi

Shooting up some people!

The Bridge

Flexing my muscles

Me and the Beach

Me and the boys at the beach

LSC XC Championships

This weekend I had the oppurtunity to go and run the LSC conference meet in Kingsville, Texas. I knew that our conference was really good, but every team showed up and ran the best that they could. We ended up taking 7th as a team, but it was more dissapointing that i took 8th on the team. I didn't have that great of a race, my legs felt like they didn't have a different gear and I could stay with anyone. I hadn't been out of the top 7 all year which was even more frustrating but I'm glad that I get to run in regionals is about a week and a half. The workouts of late haven't really been good for me either because my body has just been so tight and fatigued. I was really glad that the other guys on the team stepped it up and picked up my slack. We did get to stay in Corpus Chrisit which was very nice and my hotel room was literally on the beach. I had never been to the gulf of mexico before but I decided that it had alot more salt in it then the beaches in California. Overall it was a good trip but in the end, I really do wish that I would have ran better so maybe my team could have done better. I guess all I can do is work harder and come back and redeem myself during track.

And the Curse lives on.....

When the Cubs won their division and Zambrano pitched the no-hitter. I thought that there was no team that was going to be beating the Cubs this postseason. But as I write this right now, they are no longer in the playoffs. I was embarrassed to even watch them after a while. They didn't look like the Cubs that had played so well in the regular season. They were sluggish and looked like they had already booked their trips to the Bahamas. I will give the Dodgers credit from brining out the broom and sweeping the Cubs but come on Lou. How can you just let all of the Cubs faithful go through another hearbreak for this. Everything looked so good until the Cubs started to forget how to catch the ball and throw it to first. We even had home field advantage too, come on guys how do we lose in Wrigley field where we were untouchable all year. Dempster let me down because those were the boys who were going to bring glory to Cubbies Nation. Zambrano and Harden pitched well in Game 2 and 3 but it was either the offense didn't show up or they couldn't play defense. I think Lou should have just went crazy on them and just told them to stop pussy footing it and play ball. Well I'm almost done with this rant but atleast we have next year...............

Run, Sleep, Eat, Run!

Alot has happened these past couple of weeks that has really helped me in my life. We are still running 65 plus miles a week and school everyday is just fantastic. I ran at Texas Tech a few weeks back which I think was really good for me mentally because I went out fast on my first mile but I didn't let certain people get away from me. I feel like i'm in the best shape of my life and just need to see how far I can push my body now. Conference is closing in on us and I really want to run good so that we can show the other colleges how much we have improved. I have been basically injury except for some soreness here and there, but that can happen when you are putting in alot of mileage. We have been doing some longer runs out at "Grulla" which I think its really rough but in the end its going to pay off for us. School has kinda been tough for me these past couple of weeks cause I have had alot of things to think about but i'm planning on starting to just think about running and school. I have tried to date a few girls this semester but I keep getting the whole your just a great guy but I have too much to think about but oh well I guess that it is there lose. I really can't wait to run at regionals that are going to be in San Antiono, Texas. I just want to go and see the Alamo and run against some of the best people in the nation. I can't wait to go home for the holidays and see my family and everything else that has been going on.

Back for some more........

When I first came back to Eastern, I didn't really know why I was giving running a second chance. I didn't really run that well my freshman year and that was really kind of discouraging but I guess that life goes on. After a month of running my life away, I know why I'm hear. I think that I needed to prove to myself that i'm better than I thought I ever could have become. I'm running really good right now, but thats not the only thing that is going good for me right now. Life has been fantastic and school hasn't been too bad but I have a feeling that its going to be getting better. I never thought coming back to Eastern would make me this happy, but to be honest there are some days I wake up and I don't want to go running or school. But I have to stay motivated if i'm going to get anywhere in life. Also, living in my own house with four other guys is just insane. We do tend to get on each others nerves but when it comes down to it, were still going to be friends. Its crazy that Trav and Dev are going to be coming home in around a year, wow time just flies when you are living the dream. My sister went to homecoming this past weekend, I was sad that I wasn't there for her but I knew that she was in good hands. I'll try to get on her more but like I said earlier, life is hectic.

Track and Field Part I

With so much hype being surrounded with the USA distance team, I was expecting some great racing from them. As they easily advanced into the semi finals I had no doubt in my mind that atleast Bernard Lagat would atleast qualify for the finals. But as I got back from practice and I checked my laptop to a headline which was very stunning to me. None of the Americans had advanced into the final, but Lagat was the closet. It was very upsetting that we had people on our team that could have medaled but didn't run the race that they needed to. After that dissapoint, I was still dealing with Tyson Gay not making the 100 meter dash final. The so called showdown was not going to happen and Usain Bolt just blew away the field. Him running 9.69 is a little suspicious to me beacuse you just don't jump down from 9.9 to 9.72 which has happened to Bolt in the past new months. But the Americans have redeemed themselves in the past few days but the yet is best to come.

Summer Olympics

After all of the conterversy about the air quality and whether or not there would be enough "good" air days in Beijing. It is good to finally to have the Olympics upon us and its time to support the USA. Alot has been made about how the Mens' Basketball team has not achieved a gold medal in International competition in 8 years. But this group of young, talented players has vowed to end the "depression" and bring the glory back to USA basketball. But then there is Michael Phelps, who could be the best Olympian ever? Phelps is chasing history and a gold count that no one has ever achieved! Phelps is trying to one up Mark Spitz's 7 golds in Munich, but is it humanly possibly to go through so much pain and still have some left in the tank for the later races? Only time will tell, but I'll be cheering for Phelps not only because I'm a fellow country men. But its not everyday that you get a chance to witness something that could possibly never happen again. I am so stoked to watch all of the track events because after the Trials I think this could be one of the best teams in years! With Bernard Lagat, Ryan Hall, Nick Symmonds, Tyson Gay, Jeremy Wariner, LaShawn Merritt, and Walter Dix just representing the mens team. Will Lagat finally win the gold in the 1500 meter? Will he win double golds just like at last years World Championships? How will Tyson Gay be after taking a spill at the Trials? Not only will some of the athletes be fending off the best from other countries but Jeremy Wariner has to worry about a fellow American. LaShawn has shown the world that Wariner is beatable by beating him at the Olympic Trials. But I'm thinking that Jeremy is going to have that on his mine when he toes the line in Beijing! Wariner has said that he would love to get the world record here also but he is going to have to run alot better than he has of late. But the most interesting event at the Olympics has got to be the Mens Marathon. Never before has such a star studded field been assemblied to fight for Olympic Gold! Kenya has thrown all of their big guns in there, Haile doesn't think his asthmna would handle the air quality. But Some people are overlooking the young American Ryan Hall, who is coming into the race feeling like he can stay with the big boys? Anything is possible in the Olympics, but I'm predicting that Ryan Hall will medal in the Marathon, Lagat will win atleast one gold, Jeremy Wariner will beat our countrymen LaShawn Merritt, and Walter Dix is going to win the 200 meter!

Bowerman and The Men of Oregon

I had always wanted to read this book because I have always heard how great a coach Bill Bowerman was. I learned much more from the book than I could have ever expected. Not only did I learn of him being a great coach but he was a much better person. I couldn't even choose one of my favorite stories of the book because the whole book just has so many! He helped establish Nike, which has become one of the most successful if not the most successful sporting company in the world. He also helpede get jogging started in Americfa so that most Americans could get in shape without trying to run fast. I would recommend this book to anyone who has ever wanted to learn about track and field and the University of Oregon.

Lindsey Anderson = 2008 Olympian

Entering my senior year in high school I had a new coach in Lindsey Anderson. She was still running from Weber State and was just starting to break out. At first I started to wonder how I was going to respond to her coaching techniques and training methods. As the season went on I got to know her alot more and I knew that she was going to have a huge breakout season eventually. After the season we kept in contact a little bit but as I started to hear that her times started to drop, I knew this was the time she was going to show the world what she was all about. After taking 2nd at the 2007 NCAA outdoor championships she had the oppurtunity to run for the World Championship team which she did qualify for. But late Thursday July 3, 2007 I was watching my coach have the chance to be on the 2008 Olympic team. As the race started I just knew that she was going to make the Olympic team but it seemed like everyone was doubting her and saying she would have to run the race of her life. But with about three laps to go, she was up there with the big dogs, Barringer and Williard! But with a lap to go it was certain that she would make the team if she didn't fall and break something but that was only the beginning. As Anna Williard started to pull away with her American record, Lindsey made her move and took 2nd place and held on to 2nd place. She is so amazing and I can't even explain how much she has affected my life and I know that she is going to do amazing in the Olympics!
-Jex

My summer so far....

Well at the first of the summer I just thought that I was going to chill and work every now and then. But as has time has past I have been doing a whole lot of working and not a whole lot of chilling. Working 4 x 10 hour shifts doesn't really leave you a whole lot of time for yourself but I have found a way to keep running and have some fun. Work has really helped me realize that things aren't free and you must work hard to get where you want in life. Also, it made me realize that I don't really want to be a plumber for the rest of my life(Thank goodness for college)! But I really do like working with my brother becaues he can teach me so much but also get mad at me sometimes too. It was my birthday a few days ago and it was just nice to have some family members around, eat cake, and just talk. I've got one left of being in Utah and I plan on doing some fun things and trying to stay out of trouble because I'm sick of the police and fireworks. Until next time!
-Jex

The Adventures of Blazz and Jexyboy

Blazz and I had been talking about getting our hike on for awhile but one Saturday we both decided that it was time. After doing some chores that included mowing my lawn, we started off on trying to find the trail that would lead us to the waterfall. Blazz thought it was on 24th street but in my mind I thought it was on 29th street. So after driving around everywhere, I decided to go to 29th street and what did we see? I had been right the whole time and I was so excited to begin hiking. After a little bit we started to jog up the hill but after a while we both agreed that maybe we should save some of our energy. As the hike went on it started to get tougher but I was tired for some reason and that was not a good thing at all. Some lady thought I was from Wisconsin and told me that there were alot of people from Wisconsin here and I just started laughing. But about half way Blazz found this little rock climbing which he had to climb but I decided not to. The closer we got to the top, the more my calves started to hurt but I was so glad when we made it to the waterfall. It was so amazing to know that there is a place I could come and just relax. While at the the top, Blazz decided that he wanted to go to the top which I decided not to because well I didn't want to fall. As he made it to the top, he was so far up there and I was like wow that kid is crazy. On our descend these two gentlemen offered us some food, which looked really gross but we kindly declined. This was only the begining of me and Blazz's adventures so you better watch out!

- Jex

The Marathon that never happened........

When i signed up for the Ogden Marathon, I had the all of the intentions to run it even if I did get sick. But when it came down to it, I could barely go and pick up my packet neverless go and try and complete the 26.2 mile course. I had gotten sick last Wednesday early in the morning I guess because when I woke up, I felt horrible. But before all of this I had felt really good in the training runs and felt confident that I could run a 3 hour and 30 minute marathon. But as I look at the Ogden Marathon shirt that is sitting on my bed, I just think WOW that is one expensive t-shirt. Also, in a way I feel like i had let some of my friends down because I was always the crazy one who was going to run the marathon but I know that everything happnes for a reason. I will have more chances but now I just need to focus on the upcoming cross country season. Well i'm going for a run, but until next time be safe and peace out!
-Jex

LSC Track and Field Championships

As I boarded the bus, I was ready to run my fastest times of the year. After the Adams State meet I was really wanting to run fast because my training had been going pretty good. When I was warming up for the 3k steeplechase, I was really just trying to focus on the positives. When the gun went off, I was really focused on running my race and doing my best. When I was half way through the race I was feeling good but my water steeple was subpar just like it has been all year. When it came down to it, I took 7th place with a new personal record of 11:11. I was very satisfied with how I ran because I know that i can improve for next year. On Sunday afternoon, I ran the 1500 and I knew that it was going to be race with alot of fast runners. But as I stepped to the line, I knew that I could pr. For the first 200 hundred meters, I was just sitting back but then I made the move like no other move that i had made before. I decided to pick up my pace and get up with one runner. My first lap was 59 seconds which kinda suprised me but I stayed focused. With only 250 meters left I decided to make my move and try to pass the person in front of me. When it came down to it, I had made my move a little too early but I still finished with a 16th place finish with a time of 4:22, which was a pr by 10 seconds. My bold move to move up in the first 200 meters really did pay off for me. I plan on racing like that for the rest of my running career, leaving it all on the track.

-Jex

Track meet @ Adams State

As excited as I was to run at Adams State, I was equally as nervous becase on Friday night I had gotten a phone call from my mom telling me that my family had made the trip to Alamosa. This really did suprise me but I knew that I needed to focus because I need to run fast still. I had not ran the steeple for two weeks and was really neeeding to focus on the water barrier because I lose alot of time on it. The night before the race I went to eat with my family which was really nice becaue I hadn't seen them in a while. But as I was lying in bed, I just couldn't fall asleep for some odd reason. I really needed to sleep because I had one of the earlier races. As I started to warm up, I could kind of feel the altitude but I trying not to let it affect me. The race started off at the pace at which i had been training for with a 80 second first lap. But about a lap and a half in, my body started feeling really weird. On the third lap I came close to eating it on the second steeple but on the third one I just nailed it with my groin and just fell to the ground. As I got up and went towards the water barrier I was determined not to fall again but as I landed on the ground I totally crashed again. After all of this I did finish the race but my technique and everything was horrible. I had the feeling that I had let my family down but my mom just told me people have these days. I guess I just need to forget and move on and I need to stay mentally focused for conference in two weeks.

Hello!

Well i just thought I would join because well I like to write certain things down, haha. Life has been pretty good but its almost the end of the spring semester. I have so many memories already and I can't wait to come back next year, not only for them but to try and run fast. My life has really changed in a year and that just seems really weird to me. There will be more to come, PEACE!!!
-Jex