VIDEO:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ftOVyCZiWI
AYE AYE AYEEEEEE, ARRIBA!
Sorry for the delay in blogs! Before diving into the adventure that is training in Mexico, I want to talk briefly about my indoor season. Although it was short, it was beneficial to my development as an all-around mid-distance runner. Running the mile twice, I set a PR of 4.04. I also had the opportunity to mix it up with some of the nation’s best 800 runners. I’ve come away from indoors with a taste of how things are done in post collegiate track and field.
Fast forward to today, I am in Mexico! I’ve only been here for a couple of weeks now, but I want to blog about this experience as often as I can ( so stay tuned). So far, it has been an exciting and eye-opening experience. I’ve confronted my heritage in a way that just hasn’t been possible in the States. For the most part, these confrontations have gone smoothly thanks to some familiar faces (e.g. starbucks). However, I sometimes catch myself saying "Si" and "gracias" when I don't need to…this mutterings are usually accompanied by a confused/dumb look on my face. I mean lets be honest, I should know spanish. Hernandez is probably one of the most mexicano names in the book.. its kinda embarrassing. I have a long way to go, but I’m pretty sure my translational team (Rosetta Stone, Leo, Ruiz, and Torrence) can pull me through.
San Luis Potosi is a small, but beautiful city that we sometimes visit to get away from the running shoes and dri-fit for an evening. It has the basics of any modern town and is dotted with tons of authentic little places to eat. As I mentioned before, familiar chains have eased my transition, but I am still surprised when I see another Starbucks or even Wal-Mart down the street. One thing I didn’t expect was that even the American chains have their own little twists. For example, MexicanTony the tiger has a tan, the shelves at wal-mart are shorter for reach and los ninos soccer teams are sponsored by Corona...and you can buy pig feet right next to the bannas (not even playing, you can't make that up).
Overall, we have a pretty nice set up, we are staying at an apartment right across from the training centre ( La Loma, check out some pictures that I posted), we are rolling around in a 1990 throwback candy green-suburban with a tape deck with a sweet selection of music that this guy left us (serenta, google it), and perfect weather ( 70 cool in the morning, gets up to 80 during the day.. im getting to be tanned latino heat). Aside from the training centre where we do a lot of our work, there are endless places to run. Tangamanga park, where parades, soccer games, gardens and even zoo animals exist, is a runner’s paradise. Not to be cheesy, but it has endless soft trails and great scenery to go along with it. If you get tired of that, you can just head out to a trail immediately outside of the city and get lost in some mountainous terrain (where you can see sheep herders and real cowboys).
As far as training, its only the second week and I am tired. We are working hard, but it comes easy when you have to line up with these guys everyday (Count on Shannon for pushing the easy days).
Everyday I wake up and think. Today all you need to do to be one of the best in the work is: Get up, drink coffee, work hard, eat, sleep.
I am planning on my first meet on being In Jamaica on May 1st. So there is something to gear up for. Stay tuned, I will post more pictures and blog more! I hope to hear from some of yall!
Vive la Me·hico! Look for more blogs.. it wont be another three months
J
P.S. -- For some reason my aluminum package Sprint plan-text messages are not going through ( or maybe its because I don’t have any friends). So if you really want to talk to me, email me or face me.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ftOVyCZiWI
AYE AYE AYEEEEEE, ARRIBA!
Sorry for the delay in blogs! Before diving into the adventure that is training in Mexico, I want to talk briefly about my indoor season. Although it was short, it was beneficial to my development as an all-around mid-distance runner. Running the mile twice, I set a PR of 4.04. I also had the opportunity to mix it up with some of the nation’s best 800 runners. I’ve come away from indoors with a taste of how things are done in post collegiate track and field.
Fast forward to today, I am in Mexico! I’ve only been here for a couple of weeks now, but I want to blog about this experience as often as I can ( so stay tuned). So far, it has been an exciting and eye-opening experience. I’ve confronted my heritage in a way that just hasn’t been possible in the States. For the most part, these confrontations have gone smoothly thanks to some familiar faces (e.g. starbucks). However, I sometimes catch myself saying "Si" and "gracias" when I don't need to…this mutterings are usually accompanied by a confused/dumb look on my face. I mean lets be honest, I should know spanish. Hernandez is probably one of the most mexicano names in the book.. its kinda embarrassing. I have a long way to go, but I’m pretty sure my translational team (Rosetta Stone, Leo, Ruiz, and Torrence) can pull me through.
San Luis Potosi is a small, but beautiful city that we sometimes visit to get away from the running shoes and dri-fit for an evening. It has the basics of any modern town and is dotted with tons of authentic little places to eat. As I mentioned before, familiar chains have eased my transition, but I am still surprised when I see another Starbucks or even Wal-Mart down the street. One thing I didn’t expect was that even the American chains have their own little twists. For example, MexicanTony the tiger has a tan, the shelves at wal-mart are shorter for reach and los ninos soccer teams are sponsored by Corona...and you can buy pig feet right next to the bannas (not even playing, you can't make that up).
Overall, we have a pretty nice set up, we are staying at an apartment right across from the training centre ( La Loma, check out some pictures that I posted), we are rolling around in a 1990 throwback candy green-suburban with a tape deck with a sweet selection of music that this guy left us (serenta, google it), and perfect weather ( 70 cool in the morning, gets up to 80 during the day.. im getting to be tanned latino heat). Aside from the training centre where we do a lot of our work, there are endless places to run. Tangamanga park, where parades, soccer games, gardens and even zoo animals exist, is a runner’s paradise. Not to be cheesy, but it has endless soft trails and great scenery to go along with it. If you get tired of that, you can just head out to a trail immediately outside of the city and get lost in some mountainous terrain (where you can see sheep herders and real cowboys).
As far as training, its only the second week and I am tired. We are working hard, but it comes easy when you have to line up with these guys everyday (Count on Shannon for pushing the easy days).
Everyday I wake up and think. Today all you need to do to be one of the best in the work is: Get up, drink coffee, work hard, eat, sleep.
I am planning on my first meet on being In Jamaica on May 1st. So there is something to gear up for. Stay tuned, I will post more pictures and blog more! I hope to hear from some of yall!
Vive la Me·hico! Look for more blogs.. it wont be another three months
J
P.S. -- For some reason my aluminum package Sprint plan-text messages are not going through ( or maybe its because I don’t have any friends). So if you really want to talk to me, email me or face me.
I am a huge track fan and miss racing. Jacob, take in every minute and keep working hard. Us "has-beens" want to see you kill it this year!
Peace easy, bro!