2/2/2009

Well, it's a new season, and frankly, it's a new me this year. When I decided to turn professional ater my career at Oregon was over, I made a two year commitment to myself to take a shot at the 800m and at the 2008 Olympics. I made no promises to myself about anything beyond. In my last blog (after the Olympic Trials last summer) I stated that I had a new drive, new motivation to succeed in track and field. Since that blog I have had alot of things change but that new, stronger drive is still there and now even stronger. Let me catch you up on all the things that have changed since the end of the 2008 season.

A New Coach:
After the trials, my coach, Frank 'Gags' Gagliano, announced he would be retiring from coaching the Oregon Track Club Elite. The move was not a surprise to most of his athletes but was still a little hard to take after all that he had done for us, me especially. He had pretty much single handedly transformed me from a 400m sprinter into an 800m middle distance runner, and a fairly successful one (at least by my standards). I had complete trust in Nike and Vin Lannana that I and the rest of the OTC team would be put in good hands with a new coach. And after just a few months of training under my new coach, Olympic medalist Mark Rowland of Great Britain, I am certain that we are in great hands. The coaching styles of the two differ is some ways and are very similar in alot of ways. But one thing I know is that I will continue to improve under Coach Rowland.

A New Agent:
Without getting into any reasons in any direction, I decided to get a different agent. In December I signed on with Total Sports Managemen, Inc. and Chris Lane. I really liked the reputation they carried and their exciting wilingness to take a chance on me. If you check out their website you'll see that they have several alot of world class athletes, including one of my training partners and 2008 Olympian Nick Symmonds. I am definitely excited to start working with Chris and the rest of the team.

A New Contract!
After teh 2007 season ended, Nike exercised the option year in my contract that took me through the 2008 calendar year. In early January I signed a new two-year contract with Nike that will take me though the 2010 season. I am super excited to stay in the Nike family. Over the past 2 and a half years they have been absolutely great and nothing but supportive. There is no way I would still be a competitive athlete without their help and support.

A New Website!
I have switched over SchererSpeed.com to be hosted by RunnerSpace.com software. It makes it alot easier for me to update content and add photos, videos, and bogs. Hopefully you like the new setup. And with how easy things are to manage now (since I'm on RunnerSpace half the time anyway) I will do a better job of keeping things up to date!

---

Now on to the present:
Training has never been better, I've got a great living arrangement with only mild partiers for neighbors and the best housemate I could ask for in Louie Luchini, I made a new friend last week :), and RunnerSpace is continually growing, expanding, and becoming more popular!

I had my season opening race this past weekend in Seattle, WA. I placed 3rd in the 800m in an indoor personal best 1:49.16 (Video), currently 4th in the US. I led through 500m but still finished well in the last 150m. I did accomplsh what I set out to do which was to have a solid race physically and mentally and to get a good qualifying time for the US Indoor Championships at the end of February. One of my training parnters Mark Wieczoric ran a great race and finished in 1:48.43. I mention that because I'm excited for him to run so well. So now with no pressure to get a time I travel to Arkansas in two weeks to compete in the Tyson Invitational, a Visa Championship Series event. I believe that two of last year's Olympians, Nick Symmonds and Christian Smith, may be in the race, a very exciting opportunity for me.

---

I hope to keep this year's blogs a normal and regular thing. If I start slacking the please send me messages to get with it!

Final thought: I want to commend Keith on a valiant effort this past month in the RunnerSpace Arcade. Keith came very close to avenging his 2008 award of the Most Hopeless Gamer when he almost snuck one in on me. I just squeaked out a victory by 8 points. But good try Keith, "Congratulations,you *almost* won. Of all the losers-you came in first of that group. You're the number one *loser*. No one lost ahead of you!"