Way Overdue Update + Possible Revival of the Blog?

Hi everyone!

Wow, I didn't realize it's been over a year since I updated this blog. A lot has happened since the last post, and to be honest I was pretty much going to let this blog die until I met quite a few people lately that mentioned they used to follow my blog. (as well as occasionally getting nagged by close friends who aren't on most social media platforms who would like to know what I am up to, but apparently don't want to pick up the phone to just call/text me:)) I can't promise frequent updates, but I'll try to post some race/trip reports that are hopefully entertaining as well as share some of my training insights for those that are interested.

A quick update on what has happened in the last 14 months - with probably more details to come.

1. U.S. Olympic Trials Qualifying Quest - Well, the chase ended with a few disastrous and unsuccessful attempts. I had finished up my summer training cycle with 10 solid weeks of training while averaging 130 miles per week. However, when I took my first shot at the sub-65 standard in Rock n' Roll San Jose Half the race day conditions were just slightly on the warm and humid side. If I ran smart and listened to my body I might have been able to squeak under 66 minutes for a small PR, but that wasn't the purpose of the race. I was on pace for about 4-5 miles before the conditions got to me and I ended up cruising in to save myself for another attempt in a couple of weeks. 2 weeks later I took another shot at the Middle Half in Tennessee but almost didn't make it to the race due to an iOs update to my phone somehow turning off my alarm and again bailed on my attempt at about halfway. 4 weeks later, I ran the Monumental Half and again fell off at halfway. It was weird, I had somehow lost a couple of steps since I put together some really solid workouts in August so I saw a doctor and it turned out I had been running with a sinus infection for the last few weeks, go figure. The doctor prescribed me a first round of antibiotics and I was able to run get in a really solid tempo run. Then, apparently the first round of antibiotics didn't do the trick and my infection came back with a vengeance, so I took a second round of much stronger antibiotics that knocked me flat on my butt for the next week or so.

By the time I was able to resume training again and attempt some semblance of workouts, it was 6 weeks before the qualifying window would close for the trials. One of my good friends talked me into switching paths and going for the sub-2:19 full marathon standard. I went through a quick 6 week cycle and gave it a go in Houston. I thought I was in shape but it just wasn't my day - but at least I would get to take a break for awhile, or so I thought...

2. Birth of a new dream & A Link to the Past - During my quest for an OTQ, I started uploading my training to Strava, and met a few runners through the site. One of them turned out to be a Taiwanese student studying in the U.S, and after a couple of message exchanges I found out that I may have an opportunity to try to qualify for Taiwan's Olympic marathon team since I was born there. I ran 3 marathons in the next 6 months, running a small PR (2:21:52) in my first attempt on a windy day in Hamburg, and came within 20 seconds of qualifying via finishing top 10 in an IAAF Gold Label race at the Ottawa Marathon a few weeks later, but ultimately it was not meant to be.

3. Looking Ahead - I had always planned on training and racing through at least 2020 to see how much faster I can become, because I just never felt like I had fulfilled my full potential as a runner yet. However, with the knowledge that I have an opportunity to race internationally and qualify for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo, I definitely feel just a bit more motivated to head out the door and get my training runs. Currently, I am attempting to qualify for the 2017 World Championships next August in London, which also requires the sub-2:19 standard. I took my first shot at it yesterday in the Chicago marathon and ran 2:21:02 on a somewhat windy day. My next attempt on that standard will come in the Houston marathon in 3 months.

There you go, that's the cliff note version on the last 14 months. I'll try to post a race/trip report from this past weekend's Chicago Marathon within the next couple of days. (Although knowing me, it may turn into a couple of weeks or couple of months).