Prioritize

Well unfortunately for my running i had to prioritize between family, church, school, and running. Some people have running over everything but i wouldn't be able to wake up in the morning knowing that i'm choosing to run over everything else in my life. It doesn't pay bill and probably never will. It won't get me to heaven. It's not going to look at me with sympathy and love me when i need. In fact it does the exact opposite of all three. Its a passion that puts me in debt, puts me through hell, and never has a sympathetic feel...ever. I guess thats why its so appealing and unforgiving at the same time. But, none the less, i had to slow my running down to make sure i was going to break in any other area. Well, now that things seem to be easing up a bit i am picking up my miles as again.
Over the last several weeks there have been several transitions taking place including a back injury that had me crippled for a few days. I was in a lot of pain just walking from one point to another. I got it from chopping wood...holy crap does this mean i am getting old? I will be 30 this july and i am planning to run a race on my b-day again this year. I just want it to be a memorable race.
I had to miss out on the 50 mile race i signed up for. By all accounts, according to Shelly B., it was a beast of a run and had a greater than 50% attrition rate.....woo hoo. I "need" to make sure i prepare for it next year. I will write again soon.
"If you ain't first your last"
Ricky Bobbi

Hard as a Diamond

I can't help but feel inadequate in the lack of miles i am putting in. I ran 15 on friday and felt great but i can't help feeling like i should be doing this every day, ya know. I will work it out i guess.
OK in other news I got a copy of "Once a Runner" by John L. Parker. I was able to get reprint that isn't suppose to be released until April on ebay..........wooo hoooo!! The book is incredible so far and i realize i don't have exscuses for painfull days, or fat days, or shin splint days, or tired days, or any other excuse i can muster up. Today i am going to run until i have to stop.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eXqAWjJ_dE

"Quenton Cassidy knew what the mystic-runners, the joggers, the runner-poets, the Zen runners, and others of thier ilk were talking about. But he also knew that thier euphoric selves were generally nowhere to be seen on dark, rainy mornings. they primarily wanted to talk it, not do it. Cassidy very early on understood that a true runner ran even when he didn't feel like it, and raced when he was supposed to, without excuses and with nothing held back. He ran to win, would die in the process if necessary, and was unimpressed by those who disavowed such a base motivation."
John L. Parker, Jr.
"Once a Runner"

Picking up miles

This last week i hammered about 30 miles. I switched up some extra miles i could've posted for a different type of a workout. I got in the school's pool and ran in the pool for 40 minutes. I ran back and forth in the pool until my feet were literally raw. The skin from some old blisters tore with some new blisters causing some discomfort. I have to admit, this was a welcomed change from my typical runs. I was very sore the day after. My calves and quads were hit like they haven't been in a while. Good stuff. I also started working out in my school's dry sauna. Why? Its a great workout and I really believe it calouses you.
I have been running in my Nike pegasus on a regular basis now due to foot and shin problems that i couldn't shake while wearing brooks.
I am about 2.5 months away from my first 50 mile run and i am pretty jacked! My plan is to get at least 2 20+ mile runs and one 30 mile run between now and then. AHHHHHHH lets go!

Miles again

I logged about 30 miles this last week. Not to bad considering. I am still having what i can only describe as a "stiff" pain in my solais'. I think my spelling is correct. I hate running at night in this weather but it looks like i am going to have to in order to get my mileage. I am planning 35 this week. It is time for some new running shoes. The blisters that the brooks glycerins are causing is getting ridiculous. I have tried mole skin but i sweat so much it just ends up sliding across the bottom of my foot and i get more blisters. I have seen several people using duct tape in place of mole skin so i figured i will end up giving that a whirl. Last night i purchased a new pair of Nike Pegasus, again, so while i wait for them to come in i should only have a few more blister days of running remaining. A bit of a strange phenomenon, i have increased my miles and my weight has increased also. I am baffled. Whatever. Its more of a mind game then anything. My clothes fit better but i look at the scale and myself in the mirror and very disappointed. Oh well. Its not always about me, in fact it never should be about me. Success always comes when i take the attention off myself.
On another note my wife and i have decided to run the NYC marathon together. It is going to take place NOV 1 and registration begins in feb. This will be her first marathon and even more exciting is that fact that we are going to do it together. She has already started working hard and i am hoping in a few months she still has the same drive and dedication. She has never run more than six miles at a clip which caused her to feel pretty overwhelmed when you consider 26.2! Ahh well. The feeling after is one you can never put into words. Things are just different.

"If you don't think you can then your not going to"

Coopers Rock round 2

I have been running on and off since the race for the diamonds on thanksgiving day. A few days ago i ran about 8 miles and felt amazing. So yesterday i hit the trails.

Well matt and i went out to coopers rock for some trail running. We had a course all mapped out so we were ready to go. Well.....we got off course twice due to bad course markings. The run was beautiful. The elevation differences were pretty dramatic as we were running. We started off running on ice, literally. With in 45 minutes the snow was gone and with in an 1hr and 15 minutes it warmed up roughly 10 degrees. We got slightly lost at one point and found ourselves on the side of a mountian overlooking a large creek.

Matt looked great tackling several hills by sprinting them as i did the truffle shuffle. It was my first double digit mile run since the marathon in early November. I have no idea how far we ran but we ran for about 2hrs 10minutes. There was a few times towards the end were i had to walk for 1-3 minutes but all in all pretty good. I used my La Sportivas with out much problem at all. In fact I may just wear them for my 50 mile run. I had a little bit of heel pain but other then that they held up great.

My quads and hip flexors where really tight due to just being fat again. In another week or two of solid running and a descent diet that will change.

"He who suffers remembers"

Coopers Rock trails

So i hit the trails out at coopers rock and it was friggen ridiculous. It was in the high 40s which i can obviously handle. It was raining slightly when i started and the next thing i know i am literally caught in a friggen down pour. The wind started blowing so hard that the tops of the trees and large branches started breaking off and landing all around me. It sounded like a mixture of gun shots and thunder at the same time. Scared the crap out of me, but dang it was awesome.
By the time i was done with my run i was standing outside my car stripping off all my clothes before i got hypothermia, comical yes i know. I was laughing because anyone with in a 5 mile radius was blinded by my pastey whit butt running around my car to unlock the doors. Oh what fun it is to run on a on person trail. FUN.

"Constant forward motion is the key to finishing anything life throws at you"

Trail Running

My apologies for not posting in a while. I have been running but alot of it has been on treadmills. Today was an increadible break from that. I got to run out on some trails with a good friend and his girl. We were out for about an hour and i have to tell you for Dec it was incredible. It was about 58 degrees! with a light drizzle and some wind. Good lord it was beautiful. Its always nice running with others because it takes your mind off what your doing. Thankfully Matt and Hillary like to talk so i ran very well.
****Hillary challenged me to a race in the summer.......its on.... i just have to pick one.

I was going to wait until Jan to start my big training for the 50 mile run but after todays run i think my body is ready to start. The plan is going to be two races between now and March. The next two are

-The last chance marathon in Feb that takes place in Oh
-50mile run in Va on March 28* (I'm already signed up for this)

Matt talked about pacing me for the last 20 miles which would be great if his little girl ankles can hold up, lol.
I will post again soon, happy trails!

"I am as hard as a diamond in an ice storm"
--Ricky Bobby