Latest Inspirations

A couple podcasts and a youtube video that I have found inspiring while riding the trainer indoors lately or between sessions.

• Simon Whitfield podcast
• Jordan Rapp podcast

When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe then you’ll be successful.

Triathlete.com Article – Going Pro: Meet 5 New Male Pros

I made it into my first article as a triathlete, Triathlete.com’s Going Pro: Meet 5 New Male Pros! It is quite brief, but as I was telling a freshman on the track team yesterday, “it’s important to celebrate the little victories.”

Note: the original quote was, “When Barb Lindquist with USAT’s Collegiate Recruitment Program contacted me, the dwindling flame within me got a shot of fresh air.” Read the article and you will see the confusion.

Jason Pedersen Talks with NAU Athletics

Cross country and track & field media relations stud Eric Desalvo asked if I would do an “exit” interview before leaving Flagstaff for the summer. I was very happy to share some of my experiences over the last 5 years at NAU — it turned out to be an 8 minute interview. Thanks Eric.

From NAU Athletics:

Pedersen Completes Five-Year Running Career on Top
It was quite a run for former Northern Arizona student-athlete Jason Pedersen. The five-year member of the track and field and cross country teams recently wrapped up his time at NAU by reaching the NCAA West Prelims for the first time. He sat down with NAU Athletics to discuss his running career, blog, and future role with the track and field program.

Catching up with David McNeill and Bernard Lagat

David McNeill??? Bernard “The F’n G” Lagat??? Yep, right now they are training in the running meca of the world, Flagstaff, Arizona. And I have shared a few meals with them.

I envy myself.

EDIT: As I’m sitting here watching some recent “Workout Wednesday’s” that were filmed in Flagstaff and the surrounding areas (Sedona), I thought it would be fitting to share those here. Like I said, “running meca.”

Watch more video of Flotrack’s Workout Wednesday, Season 5 on flotrack.org

Northern Arizona ‘Team to Beat’

Running Times Magazine just released some preseason rankings for the 2010 cross country season. The article’s writer, Brian Metzler, chose NAU as the “team to beat.” Read the article.

Metzler also picked David McNeill as one of the contenders for the individual title, citing his two wins against Sam Chalenga at 5000m in the last six months.

Check out the great photos that say “courtesy of Northern Arizona University.” I’m pretty sure those are my Dad’s!

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Metzler also interviewed Coach Eric Heins here.

Breath of Life Video

Thanks to my Dad’s great photography, my Mom’s steady video camera work and Weezer’s great music, I have put together a little video of my race at the Breath of Life triathlon last week in Ventura. Hope you like it!

I’m dreamin’…

“It Makes It Really Fun”

I’m a little late here (about one week), but my teammate David McNeill deserves some massive congratulations for winning his second 5000m NCAA title this year! After running away from NCAA cross country champion Sam Chalenga in the indoor 5000 back in March, McNeill put himself in a familiar position in Saturday’s final with 500m to go. Watch below as the final ~800m unfolds.

A tremendous effort. I was watching the race live on TV at my brother’s house in Davis, CA with my family. We cheered Dave on — clapping and yelling at the TV. Honestly, I think I will remember this moment for a long time. Now that my siblings and I are “all grown up,” opportunities to have the whole family together have become few and far between.  So a big thanks, as well as congratulations, to my friend and teammate David McNeill for putting on a great performance for me and my family to share.

The second video is a rather long one (9 minutes) of an interview after winning his race. He is always very well spoken and often includes a few gems. A couple minutes in he talks about how much fun competing at that level is. A good reminder to keep things in perspective.

What a great sport

Being an Optimist, Jack Daniels Way

The great collection of running videos that is Flotrack has a series called “Thirsty Thursdays with Jack Daniels.” Of course Jack Daniels isn’t their drink of choice on a lonely Thursday; Jack Daniels is one of the most famous American distance running coaches (Daniels’ Running Formula). Each Thursday, more or less, an interview with Daniels is posted with him commentating on various subjects. Yesterday’s subject was about being optimistic.

When coming out of an injury, being optimistic is easy. There is no doubt in my mind that tomorrow will be better than today, that next week I will be able to handle 5 more miles than last week, that I’ll be back racing in a matter of months. It is when the tough training begins and the biggest races loom that being optimistic is most important, but also difficult.

Daniels, and his infinite wisdom on all that is distance running, has a little more to share… (broadcasting from a common training location in Flagstaff, Buffalo Park. Notice the beautiful peaks in the background!)

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

You can view the rest of “Thirsty Thursday” videos here.

Recommended Read

Real quickly I want to direct your attention to Jordan Rapp’s most recent blog post, “Mementous.” I met Jordan at the Lasse Viren 20k in December and he seemed like a great guy. Unfortunately, he was injured while on a training ride about five weeks ago which left him full of screws and some plates in his face. Apparently he is doing much better now, even starting to exercise again, but is suffering from a bit of insomnia. If you read the post, you will see his lack of sleep is our gain. Brilliant writer with a great perspective of things. I highly recommend checking it out.