The racing season has finally arrived!

It seems as if a few weeks ago, the running world was in relative silence after the conclusion of the World Cross Country Championships, the NCAA Indoor Championships, and the New York Half Marathon, and it felt like I would be waiting forever for the first wave of big outdoor races.  Next thing I know, and we're less than 24 hours away from some serious track racing in California, along with the Boston and London Marathons this weekend, and less than 2 weeks until an outdoor debut for me.
In California, some of the world's top talent will be coming from far and wide to compete at the Mt. Sac relays.  With guys like Chris Solinsky, Matt Tegenkamp, German Fernandez, and Miles Batty, it's almost a given that there will be something big to talk about the next morning. But let's be honest, it wouldn't be much of an event unless us Canadians got in on the action.  Among the bunches of Canadian athletes heading down south for a fast race, are a couple of my training partners who will both be racing the 10,000m tomorrow.  It should be an exciting race, but I'm afraid I will have to wait for the flotrack video the following morning, as the race is scheduled for 10:40pm PST which is almost 2:00am in Toronto.
Then we have 2 of the most anticipated marathons of the year both in one weekend!  London is always one of the best shots a marathoner will get at a world record, and with 6 guys in this year's field under 2:06, you can expect a quick race.  While the North American contenders may be lacking in London, the Boston marathon is quite the opposite.
Most notably, Ryan Hall will be making his coach-less marathon debut in Boston, and the running world is waiting in anticipation to see what he has up his sleeve.  He didn't fare too well in his first half marathon in New York, finishing well back of the main pack, but he insists that the marathon is a whole different ball game, and that he is ready to rumble this year.  I guess we'll just have to wait and see.
And finally, I am slowly approaching my outdoor season opener, which is scheduled for the 24th of April.  I have only run one race this year, which was a sub-par 3k run indoors.  I did spend most of this winter visiting schools for next year, but now that I have got that out of my way, it's time to rip up the outdoor track!

A few more cool videos

Ok, this is going to be a dual-purpose blog post.  So, with a little less than 4 months until I depart to the big AK, I am getting pretty pumped!  I couldn't resist posting a few more videos that reveal more of what this great land has to offer.  If anyone reading this is considering ever visiting Alaska, these are definitely going to get you excited as well.

Additionally, I have to give a shout out to my friends over at UAA.  The Seawolves have been tearing it up on the track so far, with some huge PB's and records set in a bunch of races in the lower 48.  Keep it up Seawolves, and I can't wait to run with you guys next year!

Spring is here! And you know what that means...

This past week has shown what living in Toronto is all about! After a flash snowstorm ten days ago, we've been consistently at a balmy 10 degrees for most of this week.  Spring has finally arrived in T-Dot, and I couldn't be happier!

After a winter of slipping on icy roads and heaps of snow (precipitation falling from the sky in the form of ice crystals - for all my american readers), I am practically salivating at the opportunity to run in a t-shirt without suffering from frostbite.  

Additionally, my days on the indoor track are done! It was a great way to get in a solid workout on a snowy day, but I've had enough of the sharp turns and stuffy air.  And the lack of places to spit after a workout really was a deal-breaker.  On the outdoor track, the rain washes it all away, and you don't have anyone yelling at you about it!

And I know all the ladies are going to like this one.  As the warmer weather approaches, the days of shirt-on workouts are numbered.  Soon enough, shirts will only serve to wipe sweat off my face, as I prance around the outdoor track wearing nothing more than a pair of way-too-short-to-be-shorts shorts.

But on a more serious note, the outdoor track season will also be my last of high school, as I will be going off to University this fall.  I am in great shape now, and I really think that if things go my way, I will be poised to challenge for the podium in a few big races this year.