Trick or Treat

Hello Everyone,
Things are starting to get cooking in the Upper Valley. This past week I hit 65miles in 6 days and I did my first hill workout! I did 6x600m with David. David continued on and did 1000m  while I jogged to the bottom and did a 200m interval then jogged back to the base of the hill just as David finished up his rest. It worked out great! Its never fun to do hill work alone. Unfortunately this week I will have to do my hill workout alone cause David is home for the week in Michigan. Coach is also home for the week  so its just me the Withrows and Ben in the house for the week. But before everyone took off we did have a pumpkin carving contest that I think went well but I will let all of you be the judge of that... 

I also went home this weekend and went out to dinner for my mothers 50th Birthday! It was a great time as my one year old nephew Frankie stole the show! All in all it has been a great past couple of weeks for my training and Im looking forward to the next couple of months of training. Its going to be getting pretty intense and I will make sure to keep you all posted on how it goes! Oh yea we start our charity work this week so look forward to hearing all about that in the next blog!

Brian

Hills, Hills, Hills

Good Morning, 

Everything in the upper valley has been going fantastic since the last blog. Great training, Great people, and Great Halloween movies.

Im excited for the next week, I am taking a week trip home to Michigan to watch the Mid American Conference Cross 

Country Championships and spend some time with the family. Somewhat of a early Thanksgiving because I will be racing during that time and wont make it home again until Christmas. 

Instead of talking about how training has been going I had a fun idea while pondering about what to write for this blog. I would like to invite everyone in on one rep of a hill workout we did the other day by watching the clip below. If you are really ambitious you can run in place in front of your computer. You could also join us on 6x1000m hills by watching the clip six times. Or you can just watch the movie clip like a normal person. 

I give special credit to Lex for selecting the music. Good Night!

David 

There's No Place Like Home

Someone looked at me last night, after a fun filled evening of dancing and asked, “why did you come here?” As if moving to Hanover from Boston was the stupidest thing I have ever done!  

If you had asked me three months ago if I would ever leave Boston I would have looked at you and said “Are you kidding me? NO WAY!” especially if you asked me to move to the upper ‘stix’ - as people would call it- of New Hampshire. Now I am not bad mouthing New Hampshire at all, I’m actually a native of this fine state, which is exactly why I would never have decided to move back here. Boston is just filled with wonderful things to do and there is never a quiet moment so naturally the thought of moving to a town where I would probably see the same people day in and day out seemed a little…monotonous. I have walked down the same streets of Boston for six years and can honestly say I have seen new and different faces every single day. Not only that Boston is filled with street performers, restaurants, concerts, museums, the wonderful Charles River, the infamous Fenway park…you name it Boston has it. So why am I here?

I spent the last three months training alone in Boston. For anyone who has ever had to train alone, you know it isn’t easy, especially if you are looking to improve. I realized that I needed a change, that if I wanted to improve my running, I needed to train with people who are as dedicated to running and training as I would like to think that I am. So I started looking around. I heard of this new group in NH that would be training under the well-established runner Tim Broe from a wonderful athlete and fellow ITA member that I met out at the Bix 7 miler in Davenport Iowa (awesome race by the way!). To make a long story short, which is hard for me to do since I am quite the chatter box - as some of my teammates have come to painfully discover – I visited/talked to other running groups and nothing seemed to compare to this group. Not only do I get to run with some amazing athletes and really awesome people, I also get to use my running for the greater good. As a team we get to do what we love to do and motivate others to lead healthy and active lifestyles. If there is one thing I love more than running, its working with children. There is nothing more rewarding than seeing a child’s face who has just learned something new and is excited about it. Needless to say I can’t wait to start that aspect of the program!

In the mean time we have spent our days running, eating, sleeping and just spending time together as a team. This entails, potlucks, competitive games of halo, shooting at animated jungle animals (including spiders, why you would shoot at a spider is beyond me) and all sorts of other fun adventures. I have thoroughly enjoyed every minute I have been here thanks to this wonderful group of people and I want to thank everyone – teammates, my coach and In the Arena – for giving me this wonderful opportunity.

So to answer the question asked of me last night “why did you come here...” I came here to be with the best athletes and to make a difference in someone else's life. I came here because this is where I feel like I belong, its home to me and there really is ‘no place like home.’

Cheesy I know but its true! :)

 -Andrea

Winter in October?

Fall in Hanover has been beautiful!  I’ve never seen the leaves these kinds of colors before in my life.  It is a picturesque and ideal place to run during this time of year.  We are officially starting to get into a routine and enjoying the views of the mountains, rivers, and trees on our runs.  But recently…

Yep, that’s right!  It seems that winter has already arrived in the beautiful Northeast.  While driving through rain last week, I watched as the rain turned to sleet which turned to hail which then turned into full out snow.  I’m not talking little flurries, I’m talking snowflakes and plow trucks!  Don’t get me wrong, I love the winter and Christmas time and the holidays, but its not even Halloween yet!  And snow… already!!  What happened to the gorgeous fall weather, the crisp air, and the trees changing colors?

I guess we’ll have to enjoy the fall colors while they last.  Lucky for us we can start thinking about where we will take our winter getaway to enjoy warmer training.  Stay tuned to find out where we will be headed.  Leave a comment if you have any suggestions on great places to train in the winter.

VO2 Max Testing

Part of the group visited Burlington, VT to do some treadmill work this past Wednesday. So, I spent some time yesterday with the footage that was accumulated and created a fun short video. Thanks to Declan, Lauren, and the University of Vermont for all there help!!!!

Enjoy!

David

"That's How I Roll"

Hello everyone!

This is my first blog, so I guess I’ll start off with a shortlist of some of the highlights of my experience in the northeast thus far: Dracula potlucks, Getting to know my new teammates, the abundance of trails in Hanover, Ramunto’s Brick & Brew Pizzeria, New York City for the fifth ave mile, the internet, West Lebanon, Average Wayne’s, and Halo Reach.

I could probably go into great detail on any one of those topics, but I think I’d be more comfortable talking about them all (in no particular order).

1) Dracula potlucks. This is where we drive to the farm (Tim and Bekah’s apartment) and all bring a “spooky dish” to pass while we watch bad Dracula movies with Keanu Reeves and/or Tom Cruise. David Brent is the only one to go the extra distance with the spooky food by bringing his world famous mummy hotdogs and spooky potato salad in cauliflower brain bowl.

2) The abundance of trails in Hanover. To give you an idea of how beautiful it is out here, one of our runs is named “The Sound of Music.” Ben has been our tour guide for the most part, but David and I ran for 2 hours on a set of “new” trails that Ben neglected to show us. We decided that he either A) didn’t have time because of all the other trails, or B) doesn’t like those trails.

3) Ramunto’s Brick & Brew Pizzeria. This is where we go on Tuesdays to test our knowledge on topics about New Hampshire, Pulp Fiction, and Harry Potter. Every week, the loser gets to choose one category for next week’s trivia - we’ve avoided this.

4) Average Wayne’s. This is where we go to get strong. Wayne, or “Wayne-kster” as Tim calls him, is a Dartmouth track alum who knows his way around a weight room. He listens to good music composed by Afro-man, LMFAO, and Eazy-E.

5) West Lebanon. This is where we go to feel at home. There is Wendy’s, Best Buy, and Walmart.

6) Halo Reach. This is where we “pwn the n00bs on the styx, yo,” or in layman’s terms, “play beginner’s on xbox.”  I almost wrote my entire blog about this game, its flaws and inferiority to previous Halo games, but I refrained.

7) New York City for the fifth ave mile. We came, we saw, we conquered. None of us raced (this year). We actually didn’t even watch the race, but did get to visit with and make some good friends!

8) the internet. This is what we use to keep in touch with people from home. It’s a good invention. Thanks Tim Berners Lee!

9) Getting to know my new teammates. (that includes you too Tim and Bekah, Amory and David and Thea and Torin!!). Really, this has been the best part of being in Hanover because pretty much every highlight on my list we’ve done together as an ITA team. It’s comforting to be surrounded by great people even though I’m far from Ann Arbor where I lived my whole life until September!  

Thanks for reading,

-Lex 

Operation: K.B.S.

Well, it’s been a little over two weeks now and “Operation K.B.S.” (Keep Ben Sane) is in full swing.  While things had been (notice tense) going great every since I decided to move back east from my brief stint out in Eugene, OR –everything changed that fateful day, the dreaded fourth of October.  That, my blog reading friends, was the day “Bam-Bam,” my ever so prudent and tender alter-ego came out to play.  It was then, during a brief and momentary lapse of judgement, that I, yours truly, forgot to dorsiflex.  The team was doing barefoot drills and during one particularly dynamic straight-leg bound, I stubbed my toe.  No big deal, right?  I mean, “I stub my toe at least six times a day” you must be thinking.  But you see, when I do things, I do them right.   

By the end of practice my foot had swollen to a size that would make Sasquatch jealous (although slightly less hairy) and the deep purple color, while neat to look at, did not bode well.  A few hours later it was confirmed by x-ray: I had received an avulsion fracture to the base of the left great distal phalanx.  Say what? Translation to English: I stubbed my toe so hard that the tendon that articulates my big toe ripped a chunk of bone off, as well as doing a number to the tendon itself –i.e. no running for three weeks.  And yes, my toe now hangs limp and lifeless whenever I pick my foot off the gound… a somewhat disheartening sight to say the least.   

Someone say sanity check?

So now what?  Now is when I delve into the under workings that is K.B.S.  Let me explain.  First off, I love to run.  Secondly, I don’t like the idea of injuries, nor what they entail, and thirdly, fall in Hanover is not only beautiful, but it is the best time and place to build your fall mileage.  Wait… I don’t think I wrote that sentence with enough gusto.  There is no better place, nay, no place even comes close to fall training here in the Upper Valley –anywhere.  The hills, the trails, the foliage, ah, you can’t beat it.   

And where am I?  I’m stuck in a pool, drowning by aqua jogging, staring at turquoise tiles as elderly women swim laps and do water aerobics.  How dreadful, how appalling atrocious.  Alas, my one escape is the road bike where at least I get a faint glimpse of the outdoors.  But, sadly, biking is no substitution for running and every time I come home from a ride and take off my bike shoes, gingerly placing them next to the barely used and annoying pristine running shoes, I can’t help but feel a glint of guilt –as if I had been cheating on a loved one.  No, nothing can fill the void left from not running.  I spend my time marking the days off the calendar, willing –commanding –my foot to heal.  But as much as I mope, as much as I pine away in despair, I know that the season is long and I will return, better, stronger, and faster than before.  So until then, it is time for me to keep the chin up, my stick on the ice, and my mind fully engaged, for I am ready. 

 

Until next time, yours truely

Ben

Greetings from Hanover

Autumn is upon us here in Hanover, and it feels like my favorite coat from high school – a bit discolored, a little chilly and tattered, but always cherished. After spending the last two years in an unmentionable state where seasons fail to exist, I have been longing for the fall. Real fall. And fall in New Hampshire does not disappoint. 

And for the first fall since before I can remember, I am not making a joyous trip to Staples to load up on Five-Star notebooks and three-ring binders. (I’m not going to lie, the nerd in me misses this; I do not, however, miss spending hundreds of dollars on textbooks.) Luckily for me, my academic career is not entirely over yet. In order to earn a pair of particularly desirable letters to follow my name (i.e. R.D., as in Registered Dietitian), designating me as a nutritionist, I have to pass the Registered Dietitian’s exam. Unfortunately I spent this past summer celebrating the conclusion of my seven straight years of college instead of studying. Not to worry though, I have plenty of time to prepare in the coming months.

In the absence of academic pressures, my time in Hanover has involved little else other than sleeping, eating, running, and the occasional studying session. This is not to say that life as an ITA member is stress-free. There is a little event known as ‘Trivia Night” that takes place on Tuesdays at a local pizza joint in the area, and it is entirely stressful, especially with categories like “Famous Dartmouth Alum”, “New Hampshire” and “Tuck School of Business”. Looks like I found something else that I need to study for.

On another (and more important) note, training has been going great so far. I’m starting to get used to the overabundance of hills and hours of Tim’s drills. My mileage reached a somewhat respectable level of 60 miles this week (highest ever for me!), and we are looking to commence workouts soon.

This fall has brought the lion’s share of changes with it – a new state, a new coach and a new focus. I’m looking forward to what’s to come. Cheers to the fall!

Toni Salucci

Heading Back to the 4th Grade

For starters this is my first time blogging so bare with me.

Today was orientation day at Mt. Lebanon Elementary School. We are joining a program called Everybody Wins. In this program each mentor will be assigned a 4th grader and at lunch time we will get together and read with our 4th grader. I'm excited to get started with this program and be able to be a positive influence on these kids and help them with there reading.

On another note the training is going great and I'm finally starting to get use to the hills around here! I'm up to 60miles a week and lifting twice a week with our strength coach Wayne Burwell who is a Dartmouth alum. Next week coach said will have our first workout and I'm fired up for it. Things are starting to come together in the upper valley. Our Ice Tub is in the works as well as our Alter G and my Altitude tent (Thanks again Coach McDonough) is in the process of being put together and soon ill be sleeping at 10,000 feet!!

Thanks  everyone for taking your time to read our blogs and thanks for supporting In The Arena. Look forward to more updates from the rest of the team soon as we will be posting at least twice a week!  Also in the works is a video tour of our house so stay tuned!

Brian

A Month In Hanover

First off I would like to start by thanking “In The Arena” and everyone associated with it for giving me this great opportunity to continue training and chasing my athletic goals. I am grateful for the generosity and welcoming attitude that everyone has had since I arrived in Hanover.

The Upper Valley is proving to be a great place to live and train. Moving from the flat pancake known as Michigan, it took me a while to get use to the hilly terrain in New Hampshire and Vermont. Just yesterday our run concluded by running continuously up hill for the last 25 minutes. It was great! there is nothing like that back home in Michigan to train on. The trails are extraordinary and seem to never end. The scenery is top notch as well, mix in the fall foliage and it doesn't get any better. 

The town of Hanover is a great place to reside. Everyone is pleasant, welcoming, and easy to get along with. Hanover is in a perfect location. One minute you are in a college town, next on the Appalachian Trail, and in a short drive you can be in Manchester or Boston. 

The house ITA has provided for us is tremendous. All the guys are fantastic roommates and even better training partners. Surrounding yourself with people that all have the same goals makes training and getting out of bed on those rainy days that much easier. Everyone is motivated and ready to do what needs to be done to be the best we can be in preparation for the 2012 Olympic Trials. I also believe I have proven to be the most valuable Halo player on the xbox. A few days ago I obtained the all time leading low score of -1.

When I decided to come to Hanover I knew there was a possibility that my new coach was going to be more of a redneck than coach. However, he has proven himself to be the man at both. He knows his stuff when it comes to track and field. There is no doubt in my mind that I will be able to accomplish anything under his guidance. He is motivating, knowledgable, and knows what it takes to be successful at this level.

I am excited to start community work with ITA. During my high school and college years I worked at summer camps and numerous other events helping youth and giving back to the community, all which had been gratifying and enjoyable. Anytime you can give back to the community or help those less fortunate is a rewarding endeavor. 

I am looking forward to the next few months of training and getting to know the area even more than I already have. I hope everyone enjoyed my first blog and thanks for reading!!!

David Brent