manhattanaeronauts

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Did you miss us?

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No doubt, it's a weird year for running. No Olympics, no World Championships, and really just yourself to run for. Some athletes find it tough -- some take time off, some have babies, and on the flip side, some shoot for National or even World Records with no championships to peak for (but only if ideal conditions arise).

Ryan Vail though, has just decided to straight kill it.

I started following the Brooks athlete because of his blog. Nothing outstanding, nothing super eye-catching, but really, really informative. I followed his training through the 2013 NYC Marathon where he had a decent race in bad conditions (2:13, top american, 13th overall), and man, does he put down the miles. 130+ miles a week for week after week. The dude is an absolute workhorse.

Then he started up training for London (which included a detour in Gasparilla, FL for a half-marathon win) and even though he didn't crack 2:10 (2:10:53) it was still a personal best, another top american, and 10th overall. Now he's casually taken to the track and hitting quick times (close to a PR in the 1500), getting podium performances (3rd at USAs in the 10k) all while training for his next marathon in the fall. Dude is a baller, and he's putting everyone that's going to show up at the '16 Marathon US Olympic Trials in LA on alert.

Ryan Vail is slowly taking over as a threat to all American Marathon Runners whether we like it or not. And to be honest, I'm 110% on board.

**And If you wanna check out his newest venture, Ryan just launched his coaching website PREVAIL COACHING. It's cool because it focuses strictly on remote coaching, yet still maintaining a 1 on 1 relationship with unique plans for any and all athletes. Check it.**

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There were a lot of awesome races this past weekend with a lot of stellar times. Rudisha is back to his winning ways, Jordan Hasay had wins in the 1500 and 10k within 30 mins of each other, Wheating looked strong with a win in his first race in what seems like forever, and Molly Huddle got a win along with an American Record. 

It's weird how this post has nothing to do with any of those races, right? Well, it's not that weird if you knew anything about Andy Bayer.

2012 1500m NCAA Champion, Countless Big Ten titles during his collegiate career at Indiana, and has PRs of 3:34 (1500) 3:52 (Mile) 13:32 (5k). F'n solid, right? And he pretty much stole the Outdoor track scene show in the summer of 2013 after graduating from Indiana hitting some of those PRs while touring the European track circuit. But since last summer, he has been bitten by the injury bug and hasn't been able to get anything going. 

Building foundations, then getting injured, then building foundations, and then getting injured. It hurts physically and mentally. But sometimes, all you need is a change of perspective on things in order to punch through   to the greener side of the grass. And Bayer did that this weekend.

After what, most likely, has only been a month or so of true training, Bayer came out at the Portland Track Festival on Sunday and lined up for the 3k Steeplechase. For someone who has been a dedicated miler, and for someone whom his coach, Jerry Schumacher, has said will be a dedicated miler, to come off an injury and into such a unique event is a little bit of a risk. 

But then he won. And not only did he win, he qualified for US Champs in the 3k Steeple. Pretty F'n Solid.

So, yeah. Even though there were some better results, and some better times, I think Bayer needed some spotlight on him for getting over a long and tough hump, trying something new, and killin' it.

Nice Job, Andy. And good luck.

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It's a humbling experience to have a successful "race", but be off your PR by 2 minutes, and be behind 1st by almost 3 minutes.

Everyone has to start somewhere. http://nycruns.com/nycruns-riverside-park-series-2/#/results::1403012514012

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Be a Fan of Josh McDougal

I followed him when he moved up to the NCAA ranks (chose Liberty over the likes of Stanford, Oregon, etc.) and eventually evened the score with Rupp by edging him by 1 second at NCAA XC champs his senior year.

"Why do I care?" I know, it seems like you shouldn't. He was an awesome runner in school, but no one cares that much about any runner (let alone an outstanding one) unless you're Usain Bolt or an Olympic Medal winner (which McDougal is neither). But here's why you should (the first part of why at least).

Immediately after college, McDougal became infinitely injured. Whether it was all the mileage at a young age or just a string of bad luck (or what he eventually believed to be everything he did cross training wise that wasn't running), he couldn't get back to his elite form. After 2+ years of rehab and attempt after attempt after attempt of becoming even a shadow of his former self, he finally found some people to help him get closer to toeing the start line again. Except he never did.

McDougal did indeed begin to run again, but he chose not to use that talent that was definitely still there, buried but still breathing, to get back to being stride for stride with his former rivals. He moved on to coaching after a year or so deciding if he ever wanted to be apart of the sport he thought he now hated.

And now, back at Liberty, coaching a team he knows all too well, and sensing a feeling he once was completely engulfed in, he did something no one thought he would do ever again. One June 8th, 2014, Josh McDougal laced up his spikes for the first time since 2009. For someone who ran a 3:57 mile once (in another lifetime), notching a 4:10 doesn't seem like that great of an achievement. But I'm just as excited for him as I was back in 2003.

Feel free to read more about McDougal on his website so we can all be fans together.

-MD

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They Might Be Ryans - Runner's World

I’m torn as whether to like or hate this piece. The term ‘professional’ is thrown around a little too loosely, but I’m envious of the ambition and courageousness to escape life in order to run as if it were a full-time job. Sadly, it seems like a lot of them have moved on from this hope (but, maybe, not before inspiring others to follow in their footsteps). -MD

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Tough and slow run to cap off a solid week. It's a tough road but it's not an impossible one. Slowly but surely. -MD

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Luke gets the Aeronauts' second victory of the year at the Mother's Day 10k in Norwalk, CT. This one's for you, Joan!

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John Davis runs 2:32:46 at the Boston Marathon.

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John Davis wins The Celebrate Half Marathon in Rock Hill, NY with a course record 1:13:17. Alicia Burillo is 1st female with 1:28:34. 

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Matt Duelka (3rd overall) and Martin DeLong (2nd in his age group) celebrate 2 straight years of bringing home some turkeys. 

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The Aeronauts' pose for their first team photo on the grounds of their XC debut.