Meghan Armstrong 's Journal

January 19, 2009 (Posted January 22, 2009)

1:14:57. This is the time it took me to complete my first half-marathon with blisters on the balls of both of my feet. The USA Half-Marathon Championships in Houston Texas, on January 18 started off with a bang—literally, because they used a cannon to start the 7:00 a.m. race—but with seven miles remaining I was struggling to stay with the lead pack because of the pain coursing through my right foot.

“Relax and run normally - give your best right now” is all I could repeat to myself. However, three miles later my left foot was on fire too and the front runners had left me behind. By then I was in the dreaded “no woman’s” land and was doing my best to maintain my tempo despite my feet. In the end, the product of my efforts was a bitter-sweet 16th-place finish.

However, even though the race resulted in me gimping around after its completion, I can say without a doubt that it was a good experience. It was wonderful to take a short break from the - 40 degree weather of Minnesota to participate in the Aramco Houston Half-Marathon.
It gives me confidence to know that despite adverse conditions I was able to place in the top 20 competitors. Also, it gives me hope that in three weeks when I go to Maryland to compete in the USA National Cross Country race that I, new shoes in hand, will be able to compete with the best of the best to make the World Cross Country team.
Until next time, God speed and may 2009 prove to exemplify the saying “run hard, live easy.”

November 10, 2008 (Posted November 14, 2008)

The road race is an entirely different kind of beast, but in a good way. Since starting my career here with Team USA Minnesota, many things about my running have changed. I have had many “firsts” - such as my first road race. Sure I have grown up doing cross country, but that is far different than racing on the road.

Road racing should be better because it is a hybrid between cross country and track, and anything hybrid these days is an automatic hit right?! When you think about it, road racing is a very important hybrid form of racing that impacts both the United States and the World. Every year millions of people get out and participate in road races, for millions of different reasons from raising money to support a cause or just for the camaraderie.

The road racing community is much larger than the cross country and track communities by far. And, I must say that I am proud to be an inducted member of this very influential group. Furthermore, I am a better person for having had the privilege of watching the road racing community’s power in action.

For example, when I went to Boston for the Tuft’s Health Plan 10K (October 13), I joined 7000 other women all with the shared goal to “Start strong, [and] finish stronger.” In addition, when I was watching the news on Saturday I witnessed the inspiring story of Captain Jeff Bibeau (currently in Iraq). Captain Bibeau got members of his Unit together to run The Roseville Area Schools Race where he is stationed just 50 miles north of Baghdad, just so he could feel closer to his family and community, who happened to be running the same distance at the same time in Roseville, Minnesota (WCCO TV, 11/8).

Every day I feel lucky to be part of the running community, and thankful for the support I get from fellow runners, team mates, coaches and organizations. I look forward to competing in my next road races: the Life Time Fitness Reindeer run in the freezing Minnesota December and the Aramco Houston Half- Marathon in the balmy Texas January. Wish me luck!

Introductory Entry (Posted September 15, 2008)

10 years and still running….It sounds like a Chevy Truck sales plug, but it is not. It is a personal statement that has shaped my life in more ways than can be counted. When I started running in seventh grade at West Lafayette Jr./ Sr. High School (West Lafayette, IN), due to the urgings of a grade school teacher, I did not have a clue what I was doing. During our training runs my coach, Coach Fry, would tell us to run a specific amount of time and come back. So of course, being rebellious pre-teens we ran a short way down the road to McDonald’s, sat in the cool air conditioning with a cup of cold water and talked until we decided it have been long enough to jog back. So started my running career.

 I began taking running more seriously once I entered high school. At Tualatin High School (Tualatin, OR), under the coaching of Paul Zitzelsberger, Brent MacDermot, and Frank Francis,  I was a six-time state champion, narrowly missing  a seventh title by .04 sec. my freshman year in the 1500 meters. With these accolades under my belt, I took my “watch out world” attitude and started looking for colleges….

…Enter Iowa. After taking a few recruiting trips, one of which was to the Hawkeye state, I decided I was going to continue my career as a Hawkeye, under the coaching of Layne Anderson. When I started running at Iowa the only thing the team could boast was that it was part of the prodigious Big Ten conference….and that we ranked dead last in it. So why Iowa right?  Don’t worry, you wouldn’t be the first and probably will not be the last to ask me that question. Coach Anderson had a vision not only for me but for the University of Iowa Hawkeyes.

In my four years at Iowa, our team went from being dead last in the Big Ten conference to placing 10th at the 2007 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships. And I excelled as well. During my time at Iowa I competed in nine NCAA Championships, was a four-time All-American, a two-time Big Ten Champion, and a school record holder. I ended my career at Iowa by graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Integrative Physiology and placing sixth in the 10,000 meters at the NCAA Championships. This accomplishment earned me the privilege to represent the USA in my first international competition at the NACAC U-23 Championships in Toluca, Mexico. But what next?

During my college career I had my doubts about the reality of running post-collegiately. Yet, my dreams urged me to keep running. I didn’t have a clue where to start. I said many times during my last months at Iowa that someone needs to write a book Running Post-Collegiately for Dummies.  I don’t think anyone has heeded my suggestion yet, but there is money to be made!  I eventually got some pointers about where to start and was contacted by Team USA Minnesota. I came to visit Minneapolis and was instantly impressed with the team, its supporters, and its coach, Dennis Barker. After exploring a few other options, I decided that Team USA Minnesota was the best fit. I soon joined the team in Minneapolis to begin my next stage of training…and boy what a trip so far. In the short time that I have been here I have worked harder than I ever have in my life (within reasonable limits, don’t worry) but I have had fun along the way and all the support one could ask for. THANK YOU Team USA Minnesota and all its supporters for making the next stage of my career possible. Until next time, God speed.