All About Running

Nothing but miles ahead.

[ourrunning101-blog]

Annotated Bibliography 3/29/19

Fitzgerald, Matt. “Easy Does It: High-Mileage or High-Intensity?” ACTIVE.com, Active.com, 31 Jan. 2008, www.active.com/running/articles/easy-does-it-high-mileage-or-high-intensity.

Summary- The sources talks about a study about how in a short amount of time runners doing a high intensity and low mileage program improved better than those doing high mileage.

Evaluation-  It comes from ACTIVE.com which is a sports and fitness website.

Synthesis- I have another source that I can use to counter this one’s claims.

Hanc, John. “How Veteran Runners Can Race Well on Lower Mileage.” Runner's World, 11 Mar. 2019, www.runnersworld.com/training/a20790231/how-veteran-runners-can-race-well-on-lower-mileage/. 

Summary- This article talks about Mike Baard trained for a half marathon trained using low mileage. It also says how when you are younger you want to do many miles.

Evaluation- It comes from runners world which is one of the most well known magazines in the running community.

Synthesis-  I would love to use the quote,  “Regardless of how old a runner is, the single biggest influence on performance is total weekly mileage.” By Jason Karp who is a coach, has a Ph.D, and wrote a running book.

“Run Less to Run Faster.” Executive Style, 30 Apr. 2013, www.executivestyle.com.au/run-less-to-run-faster-2iqng.

Summary- This is another article on running less makes you faster. It talks about some things that could happen when training at high intensity.

Evaluation- It comes from Executive style and has an interview with someone who is a runner. 

Synthesis- I can use this to bring up the other point in my argument. I can also talk about how what they say may be false.

User, Super. “Aerobic System.” Top caasn2 New, www.caasn.com/sports-nutrition/energy-systems/aerobic-system.html. 

Summary- The source talks about how the aerobic system is the system used heavily in exercises that are longer than 2-3 minutes.

Evaluation- The source comes from a Canadian medical website. 

Synthesis- I can use this to basically say that long distance running is longer than 2-3 minutes. So, this system is important.

[ourrunning101-blog]

Research Report: Monday Blog

I have put my annotated bibliography. I mostly used sources from my annotated bibliography, but I plan to find a few more sources for my actual paper. I will have to wait and see what I will need for all my points,  but luckily that is done. I have started working on my literature review, but I have not yet finished it. I plan to finish tonight or Monday evening, but regardless I will make sure I finish it before tomorrow night. Next, I will start writing my paper and make sure I have at least 4-6 pages written before the conference meetings. I have been very busy with my other classes and unfortunately I have had to put off doing my paper because I can be more flexible with writing it. I think after this week I will be a lot more available to write and work on my paper. Although my schedule has been thrown for a loop I think that I will be  able to get my research back on track. It will be a lot easier to complete my goal. However, If I do continue to get busy I will probably rewrite my schedule and follow that.

[ourrunning101-blog]

Annotated Bibliography 3/22/19

“Aerobic System.” Sports Science, sportssciencekaylahfink.weebly.com/aerobic-system.html.

Summary- This is a brief description of why the Aerobic system is important. It talks about how endurance based activities use this system to help.

Evaluation- It comes from Sports Science which is a source that talks about the science involved in sports and working out.

Evaluation- I can use this source to talk about why running slower is going to help from a science stand point. I can talk about how running slower will improve the aerobic system and why that is an important thing to begin with.

“How Fast Should Your Easy Runs Be?” Runners Connect, 23 June 2016, runnersconnect.net/aerobic-training-run-faster-by-running-easy/.

Summary- This talks about how running slow makes you faster. The article brings up a few studies to prove this point. It also talks about how running slower helps your aerobic system grow.

Evaluation- This comes from Runnersconnect which is a company that is involved with running. This makes the source a credible source to use.

Synthesis- I am interested in using this to show that the slower running helps you build your aerobic system which is very important in running.

Marturana, Amy, and Amy Marturana. “How Running Slowly Helps You Get Faster.” SELF, SELF, 21 Dec. 2017, www.self.com/story/how-running-slow-helps-you-get-faster.

Summary- In this article they also discuss why running slower helps you get faster. It says how running slower helps you avoid injury and eases your body into the stress of running.  It also discusses how running slower helps you gradually increase your speed.

Evaluation- It comes from a website that focuses on health and personal maintenance. It is a very credible source.

Synthesis- The biggest part that I want to use from this article is how it talks about being “slow” is a relative term that is different from person to person.

“Train Slower, Race Faster – Competitor Running.” Competitor Running, 18 Jan. 2016, running.pocketoutdoormedia.com/train-slower-race-faster_52242

Summary- This article talks about the benefits of running slower for your races. It shows interesting things like how some of Kenya’s best runner run very slow on their easy days and how in the 2004 Olympic marathon trials 3/4 of the training for men was slower than marathon pace and 2/3 for woman.

Evaluation- This source comes from a running website. It is a very trusted source.

Synthesis- I can use this in my paper to show that even some of the most elite runners run very slowly and even do it often when they are training. 

[ourrunning101-blog]

Annotated Bibliography 3/15/19

ELITETRACKdotCOM. “Why You Need to Build an Aerobic Base by Chris Graham.” ELITETRACK, ELITETRACK, 20 Mar. 2017, elitetrack.com/need-build-aerobic-base-chris-graham/.

Summary- This is another article expressing the importance of building your endurance base. It lists many of the benefits and explains why you need to do that.

Evaluation- This comes from a credible running source. The article also lists references.

Synthesis- This article helps me show how important it is to talk about the building of an endurance base.

Luff, Christine. “Should New Runners Try to Improve Their Distance or Speed?” Verywell Fit, www.verywellfit.com/should-i-try-to-improve-my-distance-or-speed-2911117.

Summary- This article talks about if people new to running should start by training speed or by training endurance. The article says that new runners should start by working on endurance.

Evaluation- This is an article posted on a well credited health website.

Synthesis - I can use this article to talk about how people are generally skipping this step and immediately working on training. 

Russ, Matt. “Aerobic Base Training: Going Slower to Get Faster.” ACTIVE.com, Active.com, 8 Nov. 2005, www.active.com/articles/aerobic-base-training-going-slower-to-get-faster.

Summary- This article talks about how you need to develop aerobically, or running  more miles at a slower pace, to get faster. It also talks a lot about the benefits of building that base.

Evaluation- This article is on active.com which is a very credible site for working out articles.

Synthesis- I can use this to show that building the base of endurance is a first priority to running faster.

“Why Running Harder Won't Help You Get Faster.” Runners Connect, runnersconnect.net/coach-corner/how-to-run-faster/.

Summary- This article talks about the improvements of running faster vs running at a more moderate pace. The research shows that the runners that ran more moderate improved more in the long term, and the runners that ran faster ended up gaining a lot of improvement at first, but it slows down greatly.

Evaluation- This article shows and credits a lot of credible sources to support their claims.

Synthesis- This article is perfect for me to show that people that train at a more conservative pace tend to show a lot more improvement than those who train their hearts out and leave it all out there every time.

[ourrunning101-blog]

Interesting Share

During the research for my topic I have come across a lot of interesting things to support my claims. In my eyes one of the most interesting things is the fact that pro runners and Olympians all run higher mileage in their training. So, in my eyes it shows that there is a strong comparison between running higher mileage and running faster. Otherwise these professionals would not be interested in running these high miles. I think that this really helps my side of the argument. Why would all these runners be wasting their time with high mileage running if it would not help them at all. It also goes along with my first hand experience. I ran much faster in high school when I focused on doing more mileage rather than running my heart out every day. I think it is a very strong point into my favor. Hopefully, I can come across a lot more correlations and facts that can show a lot more strong support to my point of view. I plan on also doing some potential interviews on current and ex runners to maybe see if they have anything to say about running higher mileage versus running less mileage, but that is only if they are available.

[ourrunning101-blog]

What I want to learn about my topic

During high school there was always a lot of debate about what our running training should consist of. My track and cross country coach were always wanting to run shorter and faster intervals, and there are some members on the team that also loved that training. A few of us though were more interested in running more miles at a comfortable pace. It ended up sparking a lot of debate about which of the methods were the best. In the end none of us actually got our way, and it ended up being very split.

My goal in doing this topic is to settle a debate that I have been arguing for years. I have been exposed to this subject for all of my high school career, and so I want to find the evidence and put it into a well written paper to show what the correct answer is. I hope to learn that the argument I have been making for years is in fact a solid and true argument. This question is not just something that my high school has been asking for years, but also countless other people that are involved in the running community. I hope to learn what the best possible method is.

[ourrunning101-blog]

Annotated Bibliography 4

Grant, Mick, and John Molvar. The Youth and Teen Running Encyclopedia: a Complete Guide for Middle and Long Distance Runners Ages 6 to 18. CreateSpace, 2014.

Summary- This book talks about a large range of different things in running. But, in the part that I plan to use the book talks about endurance running. It uses the comparison that endurance running is like putting money in the bank, and this will load your running arsenal. It also talks about health benefits like development of the heart, muscles, and raises the body’s basic speed. The book also talks about how aerobic running, slow and longer running, is the foundation to success in all races from 800 meters and up.

Evaluation- The book was written by Mick Grant and John Molvar who are very successful and well known running coaches in the fandom.

Synthesis- I can use the information in this book to talk about how important aerobic running is and it is coming from coaches with a lot of success. I can also talk about their ideas and analogies surrounding aerobic running. There can also be some talk about how it affects health because they do talk about that in the book.

Miller, Nicki. “Everything You Need To Know About The Benefits Of Slow Running.” Women's Running, 11 Oct. 2018, www.womensrunning.com/2016/09/training/slow-running-benefits_64145.

Summary- This talks about the how much “slow” running a runner should do. It also covers how the meaning of slow running is different for everyone. It says that slow running is a pace which you can comfortably hold a conversation. The article also talks about the physical benefits of slower running.

Evaluation- The author of the article is a certified running coach through the Road Runners Club of America. She also has her article posted on Womensrunning.com, which is a credible source for running.

Synthesis- I can use this to reinforce my point that slow running should be the majority of running. I can also use this to talk about how slower running is benefiting the body and the muscles in it.

Person. “Is Your Injury Caused by Pace or Distance?” Runner's World, Runner's World, 25 May 2018, www.runnersworld.com/health-injuries/a20797660/is-your-injury-caused-by-pace-or-distance/.

Summary- This article talks about injury related to mileage and to training intensity. Overall it says that if you are experiencing knee pains then it is probably related to running too many miles. Then it says that almost every other injury is contributed to running to hard or fast.

Evaluation- This article is by Runner’s World which is one of the most well known magazines in the running community. They are considered to be very credible.

Synthesis- I can use this to show how running too hard/fast can cause so many running injuries. I can also warn people about overdoing it on miles too.

“Why High Mileage Beats Interval Training.” The Active Times, 17 July 2015, www.theactivetimes.com/historical-case-aerobic-development.

Summary- This article talks about the relation to amazing runners in the 2 mile run specifically, but also overall, and popular training methods. He talks about how the norm of training in the 60s was a lot of aerobic running and building the aerobic base, and how many runners were amazing. But, every decade leading up to 2000 was getting less people running faster in the 2 mile, and he says this is when most coaching was focused on a lot of faster interval training. However, he says that since 2000 runners have been getting faster, and the norm of training is shifting back to higher mileage, aerobic training.

Evaluation- This article is from a website that talks a lot about running and athletics. There is a lot of data that is available to the reader also.

Synthesis- I can use this to show the statistical trend between higher mileage and faster race times.

[ourrunning101-blog]

Final Research Paper- Topic

My final paper in English will be a twelve page paper on a topic of my choosing. I decided to do my research on one of the longest running debated topics ever. Is it more beneficial to run shorter, faster miles or run longer short miles. This is one of my favorite questions due to running, and I think I know what is more beneficial, but I will do my research to make sure that I am right on my prediction. 

I chose this topic because it was on of the most debated topic in my high school running group. My coach and some of the athletes believed that running shorter and faster miles was a lot better, and Alec, who has been mentioned in other blog posts, and I believed that longer slower miles was better. The reason I believe this is because I tested on myself. I spent a few years doing nothing but fast runs almost everyday, and I really only ended up getting hurt. However, when I was running in between my 7th and 8th grade years I only ran longer and slower runs. My 8th grade year I was significantly better. Then after that year I went back to faster running and I got a lot worse. Then my junior year I spent my time running only miles that are slower and more of them, and I got  a lot better. However, there are stories for the opposite argument, and I want to get the correct answer, or as close as I can get.

[ourrunning101-blog]

Annotated Bibliography #3

Murray, Rob. “The Weekly Mileage of Great Distance Runners Like Mo Farah & Paula Radcliffe.” Training a Runner, 9 Feb. 2015, www.trainingarunner.com/2014/11/18/the-weekly-mileage-of-great-distance-runners-inspired-by-sharkeyjon-fragilerunner/.

Summary- This is an article that talks about the how many miles professional runners run. This article shows countless times that the best runners do very high mileage, and that there must be a correlation from high mileage and better race times

Evaluation- This is an article by Rob Murray who has written many articles about running, and they did research to show a trend in running.

Synthesis- I can use this to show that the greatest runners run high mileage, and although many people can do this it shows that higher mileage makes them better. I can show the audience that this helps with eventually running faster.

Nystrom , Michael. “Is It Better to Run More Miles or Faster Miles? | MapMyRun.” Under Armour, 28 Sept. 2018, blog.mapmyrun.com/is-it-better-to-run-more-miles-or-faster-miles/.

Summary- This article says that most of the miles you run should be slower. It says that 80% should be slower, 10% should be medium intensity, and 10% should be high intensity. It also gives some example runs

Evaluation- The article is posted by mapmyrun which is also a popular running app that many use to participate in the running fandom. The autor, Michael Nystrom, has a few articles all about running.

Synthesis- I can use this in my paper to tell the audience that the majority of your running should be slower and longer miles, with only 20% of the running should be faster.

Sugar, Jenny. “You Asked: Long Slow Run vs. Faster Short Run.” POPSUGAR Tech, 25 Feb. 2009, www.popsugar.com/fitness/You-Asked-Long-Slow-Run-vs-Faster-Short-Run-2829224.

Summary- This was a question asked by someone about the calories benefits comparing running slower to running faster. It was concluded that running slower and longer you will burn more calories.

Evaluation- This was an article about Jenny Sugar who has written a lot of articles about fitness and health.

Synthesis- I can use this article to talk about how running slower and longer is more beneficial from a calorie stand point. So, running slower is better with burning calories.

Walker, Carolee Belkin. “Why Running Slow Can Eventually Help You Run Faster.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 7 Aug. 2018, www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/why-running-slow-can-eventually-help-you-run-faster/2018/08/02/83d8a546-8ac0-11e8-a345-a1bf7847b375_story.html?utm_term=.da5f99a9f963.

Summary- This from a starting runner, and it talks about the benefits of slower running. She talks about the medical side of things, and says that it allows you to build your aerobic running ability. This helps you convert oxygen to energy and allows you to run more miles

Evaluation- This is an article by Carolee Walker who did a lot of research on running to figure out the benefits on slower running. It was posted on the Washington Post which is a well known and reliable website.

Synthesis- This can be used to talk about benefits on running slow from a more scientific perspective. This can be very beneficial to actually talk about what is happening to the body when you run slower

[ourrunning101-blog]

How I Research Running

Researching running can be easy. I spend a lot of time doing it and I love it. It can consume hours of my time looking at running times.

First, I like to look at a website called Athletic.net. It is a website that posts times of runners. I like to look at local times of colleges and runners. I also am I big fan of looking at the fastest times in the nation. Unfortunately, this is an imperfect website. Not all races are entered on this website, and they can be entered wrong. So, I try to vary my websites and I look at Indiana Runner,  Max Preps, and if it is high school times I am looking then the IHSAA website.

Next, I like to read articles. I just simply google things or look at trending topics. This is better to learn about more famous athletes like those that compete in the Olympics or in world events. I also like to look at these to learn about tips and tricks, advice, training programs, and things like that. It really can vary.

I also like to read books. I own three or four books about running. These books talk about a few different things. My favorite of them is one that talks about a training program that involves higher mileage. The books goes into a lot of things that talks about ideal weather temperature, how to not get bored, and over all how to get better. Then some of the others talk about coaching, training, proper footwear, ect.

Lastly, I talk to friends that have similar interests. This has gone down since coming to college, but it still happens. I like to bounce ideas of my friends and talk about effective running and people running. The biggest person I talk to is my friend Alec, who was mentioned in my first post.  

[ourrunning101-blog]

Annotated Bibliography 2

“Billy Mills.” People, vol. 46, no. 3, July 1996, p. 84. EBSCOhost, proxy.bsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=9607107634&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Summary- This talks about Billy Mills’ upset win in the 1964 olympics. It was impressive because no one had ever heard of the runner, and inspired a movie, and allowed Mills to become a motivational speaker to young Indian Boys.

Evaluation- This was an article found in people magazine. Which is a well known magazine.

Synthesis- I can use this to show that running can make impact in more ways than people geeking out over times. This shows that Movies and other things can come from runners and the fandom of running.

Laskaris, Sam. “Williams Doesn’t Let Blindness Slow Him down.” Ontario Birchbark, vol. 4, no. 1, Feb. 2005, p. 11. EBSCOhost, proxy.bsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=16090450&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Summary - This article is about Phil Williams. He is a blind runner, who just got back into it. The article talks about how he is the first Native American runner in their Toronto chapter. It also expresses his desire to run a marathon eventually.

Evaluation - This was found on the Ball State academic search premier database. It was written by Sam Laskaris who has written many articles about sports.

Synthesis - I can use this article to show how dedicated the fans of this community are, and it is a very good example of the dedicated fan. The story is also very inspiring.

SAPORITO, BILL. “For This Olympian, Run Thing Led to Another.” Inc, vol. 40, no. 2, May 2018, p. 108. EBSCOhost, proxy.bsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=128792499&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Summary- This is very brief, but this talks about Nick Symmonds and his affiliation with a company called run gum. It also talks about some of his awards as a runner, and also brings up that he has a biochemistry degree.

Evaluation- This was written by Bill Saporito who talks about business and economics in a lot of his article, which is why he wrote an article about this and the company Run Gum.

Synthesis- This helps me by showing that the fandom has companies that simply just create stuff for runners. This also talks about one of my favorite runners, Nick Symmonds, and his part in Run Gum and some of his acomplishments.

“Terry’s Journey.” Canada’s History, vol. 91, no. 3, June 2011, pp. 20–25. EBSCOhost, proxy.bsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=61028391&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Summary- This is a brief timeline of Terry Fox, and his run across Canada. He started the run to raise money for cancer and his goal was to run across Canada. Unfortunately, he was stopped early because the cancer had spread to his lungs and he died shortly after. There is still a memorial run every year to remember Terry Fox.

Evaluation- This article was found in Ball State’s academic search premier database. The article was published by Canada’s History. Making it very trustworthy.

Synthesis- This article will allow me to help demonstrate how members of the running fandom can help society and even gain attention from it. Terry Fox left an amazing impact of Canada’s future, and this would be a good demonstration of positive fandom impacts on society.

[ourrunning101-blog]

How I participate in the running community

I have been running for years. I picked up my fandom in running when I was in the 7th grade. So, it is pretty easy for me to say how I participate in this community. I run! I love running and I still try to run whenever I can, even though it is not a sport I do any more. I love reading articles about running. Runner’s World is my favorite running magazine, the articles in there are very good and I would recommend to anyone. Next, I also love to read books! I have a few books about running that I have read multiple times. I actually just bought some new running books and I am very excited for them to come in. Another way I love contributing to this fandom is by looking at times from anywhere. These things I do are mostly how I am fan without sharing my love. I do it on my own. But I also do my fandom publicly 

I love going to track and cross country meets. It is a passion of mine. I have yet to go to any track or cross country meets at my college, but I would love to attend some soon! Then, most obviously my blog is based around running. I contribute to the running community with my blog!

In the future I plan to contribute to my fandom more when I graduate and get my job as a teacher. I plan on also being a coach in cross country and track. Unfortunately, I can not become a coach  until then! 

[ourrunning101-blog]

Annotation #1

Moore, Kenny. “Heaven Sent.” Sports Illustrated, vol. 100, no. 25, June 2004, pp. 38–40. EBSCOhost, proxy.bsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=13460109&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Summary: It briefly talks about Steve Prefontaine and his legacy. I talks about the time he got the record in the 10,000 meter run, and the fact that he had 7 records ranging from 2,000 meters to 10,000 meters. It also talks about the Steve Prefontaine Classics, which is a race held yearly in Oregon. The article also goes into how he had died at the age of 24.

Evaluation: The article was written by Kenny Moore. He has posted multiple articles on running, and has his work published under Sports Illustrated. Sports Illustrated is a well known and credible source when it comes to sports news.

Synthesis: I can use this information to talk about one of the most famous runners, Steve Prefontaine. It talks how he has shaped the running community, and it fits in well with my other sources because he has a large impact on running. 

The Back Page.” Running & FitNews, vol. 27, no. 1, Jan. 2009, pp. 22–23. EBSCOhost, proxy.bsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=44497327&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Summary: This article might seem a little off, but it shows how invested the group is. It shows that the running community has made a run a mile day and encourages everyone to do it. At the events that are held they sell DVDs of Sir Roger Bannister’s historic run in 1954 when he broke the 4 minute barrier in the mile. 

Evaluation: This was published in Running and FitNews which is running magazine, and is presented by the ARA (American Running Association) which is a group about running.

Synthesis: I can talk about Roger Banister and his groundbreaking run, and talk about how the community hosts runs to get people more active in the community.

Layden, Tim. “A Bond Born at Speed.” Sports Illustrated, vol. 116, no. 9, Feb. 2012, pp. 42–45. EBSCOhost, proxy.bsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=72027225&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

Summary: In this article it talks about two Olympic runners from two very different areas. It talks about Mo Farah and Galen Rupp, who competed in the London Olympic games together. It talks about how they have been training together for a while, share a coach, and share passions.

Evaluation: This article is written by Tim Layden, who has created countless sports articles. It was published under Sports Illustrated, which is a credible source for news in sports.

Synthesis: I can use this article to talk about how runners get along even from different walks of life. This also introduces the way most people are introduced to the running fandom, which is the Olympics.

Karen Rosen. “Distance Runner Could See Gold on Horizon.” USA Today. EBSCOhost, proxy.bsu.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=J0E319542633712&site=ehost-live&scope=site. Accessed 1 Feb. 2019.

Summary: It is another article about Galen Rupp. It talks about how he has the chance to win the 5,000 meter race and the 10,000 meter race in the London Olympics, which was in 2012.

Evaluation: This article is by Karen Rosen who writes articles in the USA Today sports section. She has many sports related articles.

Synthesis: I can use this to talk about how Americans root for the olympians to win races, and participate in the the running fandom that way

[ourrunning101-blog]

Conspiracy Theory Project

I

I have a project coming up in English that is all about Conspiracy theories. It will be a podcast that involves three other people, and it should be a lot of fun! We are not sure what to talk about yet, but our possibilities are endless. There is everything ranging from aliens, to the Illuminati, even all the all the way to the US Government. I am very excited, and it should be a lot of fun. 

I have some knowledge about this going into this, but the topic is so large that there is still a ton I don’t know. I have heard of the obvious  ones such as Roswell, New Mexico aliens, the government being ran by lizard-people, and the Illuminati running a new world order. (Hopefully they don’t get me for knowing, yet.) Along with a few others I am sure, including a few that are a bit to controversial for my blog post for my college English class! 

My hopes are that we do a podcast on a topic that is new to me. I want to learn about a conspiracy that I had no idea of before, that would be awesome. It would be pretty hard for me to swing that if the other members didn’t want to do that, but I have my hopes up!

[ourrunning101-blog]

My Running Start

One of my passions in life has always been running. I started doing track and cross country in middle school. I loved meeting new people and learning about how the sports work. By the time high school came around, I was hooked. I began reading books and spent all my nights looking at times or watching races on YouTube. I started researching running history and came across Gerry Lindgren and was baffled by the acclaimed miles he put his body through. That is when I started a running program where I would do miles upon miles, and all the time keeping a log and doing more research. Thankfully, I had one of my best friends to assist me in my journey, and he may have loved the grinding even more than I have. Unfortunately, I had gone through an injury that had stopped me from participating my senior year of track, and I have taken a break since then. I am not a Freshman in college and I start my running schedule tomorrow, I hope to build myself up to completing a marathon before I even think about retiring again. I am hoping injury free this time, wish me luck!