Day 6 - 74 Days to go - THE WHEELS FALL OFF THE WAGON TODAY!

Yep, I feel like the wheels fell off today!  I was planning on only one rest day every week, but life took over today and I didn't/couldn't make time to get out - although I needed it today more than any other day recently.  Maybe a two workout day tomorrow?!  We'll see.  Anyway, think happy thoughts for me - I'm going to need it! 

RUN HARD!!!!!

Day 5 - 75 Days to Go! All Systems Go!

I officially survived the rest day after my first long run.  I stretched out my calf all day and ate Ibuprofen and Aleve like they were Sweettarts.  That's a hell of a combination!  Ran 3 miles today - Averaged 8:57 per mile with a WICKED fast finish!  I finished with a 3 minute last half mile!  I secretly want to be able average 9 minute miles for the marathon and finish with a 6 minute final mile - A stretch I know, but that's always how I've ran.  Lofty goals are what keep us motivated, RIGHT! :-)  Another crazy stat from the run - my heart rate averaged 172BPM with a Max of 197BPM.  Patti's response to that was "And that's alright?"  My recovery time is improving - I was back down to 122 after only 60 seconds of cooldown. 

On track and feeling pretty good.  Keep the comments, advice, and trash talk coming!  I live for that stuff!  I'm feeling less and less like a lunatic every day!

RUN HARD!

Day 4 - Rest Day! 76 Days to go!

When I was younger, I almost REFUSED to take rest days!  Hopefully I'm a litttle wiser now.  Took it very easy today.  Cut the lawn (Yes, with a push mower!) and ran slowly for a whole mile!  Afterwards stretched A LOT and tried to get the kinks out of the spot between my calf and my achilles tendon.  Also started doing some middle school exercises - pushups, situps, pullups, etc.  No Jumpping Jacks for thoise who are wondering!  Let's see what day 5 brings.

Day 3 - 77 Days to go! I feel like San Diego!

Yes - San Diego!  If you're a Ron Burgundy fan (Will Ferrel's Character on Anchorman), you'll understand that.  If not, ask your son or daughter - they can fill you in!  :-)  Or for those web types, you can go to http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Anchorman:_The_Legend_of_Ron_Burgundy and see for yourself!

9.36 Miles today, plus 1 mile walk warmup and 1 mile walk cooldown.  I haven't run that far since my good buddy Eric Goodman drug me through the Atchafalaya Basin Adventure Race in 2005!  I averaged just under 10 minutes per mile.  One thing I take away from my first long run - I won't have an evening run followed by a morning long run.  That's a pretty bad idea!  I did find LOTS of new pain spots today!  All the goodies surrounding my knees hurt like a BIOTCH after 5 miles or so.  Same goes for my feet.  I'm certain this will go away after I actually have a base behind me.  Note to self - establish a base BEFORE you start training next time - DUH!  Oh yeah, I also have a pair of blisters - one on the arch of each foot and one also on my pinky toe.  Looks like Daddy is going to RunTex this week to have them fit me for some new kicks before it's too late! 

OK, enough of my being a sissy!  Looks like tomorrow will be my rest day with probably just stretching, Aleve and an afternoon swim.  And some more Aleve!

I did have some excitement on the road today.  Even though I've been running in a part of the Texas Hill Country with a large redneck population, everyone has been very runner friendy, moving over whenever possible and even waving - the type that doesn't include just one finger!  Today, however, I think I must have met up with a large older man, wearing a REALLY big hat and driving a dually that was late for breakfast or missed his morning coffee.  He actually moved as close as possible to the white line and gave me not one BUT TWO "You're Number One" signals!  Oh well, no harm, no foul.  Sometimes you can't fix stupid!

To summarize - lots of pain during and after and I'm certain tomorrow will be miserable, but I feel good.  I'm looking forward to when it doesn't hurt every time I do something new.  San Antonio, I'm going to make YOU feel like San Diego!  :-)

RUN HARD!

Day 2 - 78 Days to Go!

Woke up today and ZERO soreness anywhere! Calm before the storm tomorrow, I think! Ran late in the day with the plan to run easy to prepare for tomorrow's long run. Did 4 miles today in 33:44 - 8:36/mile. Felt great and could have gone much longer today! Typical to all of my workouts, my heart rate averaged 183 BPM - that always alarms me, but several doctors have told me that my heart shouldn't beat out of my chest! :-) I also maxed out at 198 BPM on a wicked steep hill about half way through the run.

After a full day of letting this little adventure soak in and feeling more confident about it, I have set some preliminary finishing goals for myself. I would LOVE to shoot for 4 hours, so that's what I'm working towards. For those who don't have a mileage chart nearby, that's about 9:10/mile. That sounds easy, right?! At that pace, I could qualify for the Boston Marathon! Well, if I was 60 years old I would qualify with that time, or 45 years old if I was a woman!!!

The pic above is from me finishing today - I don't think I'm supposed to look that worn out after only 4 miles! Thanks for the reading!

RUN HARD!

Day 1 - 79 Days to go!

OK, first day of training since I decided to do this thing! Very uneventful run, but felt great! I took yesterday off and that really seemed energize me today! A buddy gave me a copy of a 12 week training schedule I planned to use. Well, since it starts off with Week 1 having a 13 mile run, I'm thinking I'm looking for an alternate now! Any suggestions/ideas?

I ran 3.5 miles today in 28 minutes. Now if I could only average 8 minutes per mile for the entire 26, I would be WAAAAY happy! Not holding my breath for that one. My weight this morning was 176 lbs - will I get lazy and gain or run crazy and lose another 10? Hmmm . . .

It was actually cool today here - ONLY 95 degrees! FYI - It has been 100 degrees plus for 67 consecutive days now!

RUN HARD!

WHY AM I DOING THIS?!?!

OK, so here's the deal. I've done lots of endurance events since I was in Middle School. On a dare/bet from a classmate, I ran my first 10K when I was 14 and finished it in 52 minutes with no training. AN ENDURANCE JUNKIE WAS BORN! From then on, I loved it! I ran track and cross country in high school, along with lots of road races and running events. In the Air Force, I continued that habit and started riding/racing bikes. I am overly competitive, to say the least! Even after the military and during/after college, I continued to compete. Basically, I was game for any event that would hurt a lot and sounded like fun!!! Competive accomplishments at this time of my life were many, and included:

• Running - 4:23 mile
• Running - 10:15 2-mile
• Running - 16:12 5K
• Running - 36:00 10K
• Lots of age group and overall wins!
• Too many road and mountain bike races to list

As life progressed and I started a family and had children, time became tougher to find, but I still liked to compete. That means that I have done a load of races/events with little to no training - I think there should be a competitive class that requires little to no training - I WOULD ROCK! I usually go out and compete like I think I'm still 20 years old and train 6 days a week! The list of those accomplishments/stupid choices are too long to list, but many of you have been involved in them with me.

Anyway, it has been a desire of mine for a long time to run a marathon - particularly before I turn 40. For those of yu that aren't running term savvy, a marathon is 26.2 miles, or 26 miles 385 yards, or 42, 195 meters, or 138,435 feet. Why I didn't do this when I was young and more prepared I will never know! Nonetheless, I'm going to play with the cards I've dealt myself. The San Antonio Marathon is on November 15th. Thanks to a crazy feeling I had personally and encouragement from many of you, I signed up to run. That means I have a whole 79 days to prepare for it. I could go out today and walk a marathon, but I would really prefer to show up semi-prepared and make someone hurt besiddes just myself! My running base is pretty short, but I hope/have to build up some endurance quickly!

I hope you'll all check back often for updates here. I plan to post my progress daily or nearly daily. I'll log my weight, distance, speed, dog bites, twisted ankles, blisters, heat exhaustion, etc. Hopefully I can entertain you a bit and you can keep me motivated so I don't wuss out like an 8-year-old girl! No offense intended to any of you 8-year-old girls out there! :-) I need your support and encouragement. Speaking of, thanks in advance to my lovely bride Patti and my kids Alex, Zachary and Abigail for being OK with me taking the time to do this right. You don't wanna see daddy being carried across the line on the sag wagon or find me in the medic's tent at mile 12 with IV Fluids!

RUN HARD!