HamJambo everyone, (yes, that’s right I am still taking Swahili this semester.)
I thought it was about time to write another blog as it has been one long time since I last did. I meant to write one after NCAA regional cross-country, and then I ran really badly so decided not too. Then I said I would write one when I returned back to the UK for Christmas holidays, then I was too lazy to write one. So as I am sat here in a rather reflective mood, trying to avoid doing reading for my Vikings class, I am writing my latest blog. (That’s right I am taking a class on the Vikings, and they are one awesome group)
So last time I surfaced on here it was October and I was in the middle of some pretty non-descript rather boring training; of lots of miles (well lots for me anyway) long sessions and the occasional nap… And if I am going to be honest not a lot has changed in that respect since then, other than I am finally allowed to run on the track again!
As I said I spent the Christmas break in the UK, I didn’t get to spend much of it with the family as was back in Loughborough for most of it. Which did mean though, that I got in some really good training back with the guys, and just about managed to keep up with Lewis on the track sessions. Some of the sessions I was doing over that period were like, 6x1km, 15x400 off 30seconds, 6x3min hills, 10min tempo 3x500 4x200 5min tempo and then the odd grass session. But all in all was a very good training block. I did get a race in up in Edinburgh, which didn’t exactly go to plan as was a little to soft and muddy for my liking so ran quite frankly awfully but it was nice to get a run out and was a brilliant race to be involved in, even if I was a long way back and just about the only person who didn’t beat Bekele… But was nice to see some of the other Brits running really well and mixing it with the big names, especially Andrew Wiles who outkicked a couple of Olympic champions.
Since coming back to the states, I have turned 20 (starting to feel seriously old; sorry to the older readers of this blog) my classes have gotten a little harder, as I actually chose some proper classes and I have dyed my hair black… only joking. So for this semester I am taking an Organic Chemistry class, a writing class, my Swahili still, which is still brilliant! And then a class on the Vikings and Nordic mythology which is pretty cool as a load of the guys on the team are also taking it, so I am looking forward to story time once a week with the guys when we get to the sagas in a couple of weeks. I have still managed to find plenty of time to nap though, so all is dandy.
Running wise, since being back I have kept up my miles and still been on the longer stuff like 20x400s off a minute, 5mile tempos and long grass sessions. I am actually starting to enjoy doing these types of sessions. How things have changed since this time last year, when I used to beg John to let me off the longer stuff… The begging never worked mind…
This past weekend has been a pretty fun one; on Friday night, I made my track debut for Harvard, in the DMR relay on the 1200m leg in the Battle of Beantown. It was so nice to get out on a track again. I split like 3.01 or something like that for 1200 off a dead slow first 200 winning the leg by like 10 seconds. So the time was pretty average, but I felt very much in control and pretty sure I had at least another 300m in me, which is a nice way to kick off the year. Overall both the men’s and women’s teams won the battle, so congrats to everyone that ran. Then later on that night, I had my freshman formal, which was pretty cool to get all dressed up. On Saturday I got a grass session done in the morning and then went and spent the day at the Boston Indoor Games. There were some really good races, although I was very disappointed to see Mo fall as would have been a great race, but these things happen, and for him to run a 3.57 mile with a big fall shows how good that guy is! It’s rather scary. Then I spent Sunday evening pretending to be an American and watched the Super bowl where my team the Patriots lost, it was a lot of fun and I actually got quite into it for like the last 30seconds or so.
I am now looking forward to this week and racing in my first ever 3k this weekend, which I am very scared about, mainly for the fact I hope it’s not a disaster and end up being embarrassing, but at the same time I am really excited to see how it goes, I have been training really well, and hopefully I can run quite fast. Johns email reply when I said the splits he wants me to run sounds very painful, was simply: no pain no gain. Which is I suppose is very true. So yeah time to get stuck in and hope all the training pays off.
Its now time for me to clock off and do a bit of reading about the Vikings before I go to bed. Will be a solid 10pm bedtime, just like the true student that I am.
Before I go, two more things, congratulations to Lewis Moses who ran a big pb in Vienna a couple of weeks ago, we joked when I was home that he better beat my pb, and he said he will try and run what I did, and then he only went and ran the exact same time as my pb, so congrats Lewis, massive run! Then I want to wish everyone good luck this weekend at the World Trials.
If anyone is interested about how I get on this weekend, I am sure I shall be tweeting about it, as long as I don’t run outside 9minutes… touch wood. (that’s right, I just shamelessly plugged my twitter, www.twitter.com/adamcotton92)
Peace out people.
In the words of Mo Farah: Go big or go home.
I thought it was about time to write another blog as it has been one long time since I last did. I meant to write one after NCAA regional cross-country, and then I ran really badly so decided not too. Then I said I would write one when I returned back to the UK for Christmas holidays, then I was too lazy to write one. So as I am sat here in a rather reflective mood, trying to avoid doing reading for my Vikings class, I am writing my latest blog. (That’s right I am taking a class on the Vikings, and they are one awesome group)
So last time I surfaced on here it was October and I was in the middle of some pretty non-descript rather boring training; of lots of miles (well lots for me anyway) long sessions and the occasional nap… And if I am going to be honest not a lot has changed in that respect since then, other than I am finally allowed to run on the track again!
As I said I spent the Christmas break in the UK, I didn’t get to spend much of it with the family as was back in Loughborough for most of it. Which did mean though, that I got in some really good training back with the guys, and just about managed to keep up with Lewis on the track sessions. Some of the sessions I was doing over that period were like, 6x1km, 15x400 off 30seconds, 6x3min hills, 10min tempo 3x500 4x200 5min tempo and then the odd grass session. But all in all was a very good training block. I did get a race in up in Edinburgh, which didn’t exactly go to plan as was a little to soft and muddy for my liking so ran quite frankly awfully but it was nice to get a run out and was a brilliant race to be involved in, even if I was a long way back and just about the only person who didn’t beat Bekele… But was nice to see some of the other Brits running really well and mixing it with the big names, especially Andrew Wiles who outkicked a couple of Olympic champions.
Since coming back to the states, I have turned 20 (starting to feel seriously old; sorry to the older readers of this blog) my classes have gotten a little harder, as I actually chose some proper classes and I have dyed my hair black… only joking. So for this semester I am taking an Organic Chemistry class, a writing class, my Swahili still, which is still brilliant! And then a class on the Vikings and Nordic mythology which is pretty cool as a load of the guys on the team are also taking it, so I am looking forward to story time once a week with the guys when we get to the sagas in a couple of weeks. I have still managed to find plenty of time to nap though, so all is dandy.
Running wise, since being back I have kept up my miles and still been on the longer stuff like 20x400s off a minute, 5mile tempos and long grass sessions. I am actually starting to enjoy doing these types of sessions. How things have changed since this time last year, when I used to beg John to let me off the longer stuff… The begging never worked mind…
This past weekend has been a pretty fun one; on Friday night, I made my track debut for Harvard, in the DMR relay on the 1200m leg in the Battle of Beantown. It was so nice to get out on a track again. I split like 3.01 or something like that for 1200 off a dead slow first 200 winning the leg by like 10 seconds. So the time was pretty average, but I felt very much in control and pretty sure I had at least another 300m in me, which is a nice way to kick off the year. Overall both the men’s and women’s teams won the battle, so congrats to everyone that ran. Then later on that night, I had my freshman formal, which was pretty cool to get all dressed up. On Saturday I got a grass session done in the morning and then went and spent the day at the Boston Indoor Games. There were some really good races, although I was very disappointed to see Mo fall as would have been a great race, but these things happen, and for him to run a 3.57 mile with a big fall shows how good that guy is! It’s rather scary. Then I spent Sunday evening pretending to be an American and watched the Super bowl where my team the Patriots lost, it was a lot of fun and I actually got quite into it for like the last 30seconds or so.
I am now looking forward to this week and racing in my first ever 3k this weekend, which I am very scared about, mainly for the fact I hope it’s not a disaster and end up being embarrassing, but at the same time I am really excited to see how it goes, I have been training really well, and hopefully I can run quite fast. Johns email reply when I said the splits he wants me to run sounds very painful, was simply: no pain no gain. Which is I suppose is very true. So yeah time to get stuck in and hope all the training pays off.
Its now time for me to clock off and do a bit of reading about the Vikings before I go to bed. Will be a solid 10pm bedtime, just like the true student that I am.
Before I go, two more things, congratulations to Lewis Moses who ran a big pb in Vienna a couple of weeks ago, we joked when I was home that he better beat my pb, and he said he will try and run what I did, and then he only went and ran the exact same time as my pb, so congrats Lewis, massive run! Then I want to wish everyone good luck this weekend at the World Trials.
If anyone is interested about how I get on this weekend, I am sure I shall be tweeting about it, as long as I don’t run outside 9minutes… touch wood. (that’s right, I just shamelessly plugged my twitter, www.twitter.com/adamcotton92)
Peace out people.
In the words of Mo Farah: Go big or go home.
That may be the real statement, but Go big or go home is what Mo says. Maybe it does have something to do with Big macs, you never know.