Slow White Guy

Faster still...

2011-02-26T18:48:00.000-08:00

Laura and Zach with me at the Battle of Mobile Bay 5k

Yeah, I know. I'm not blogging much......at all. But the running is great! I've run 4 straight sub-20 5k's, and I don't think I'm done yet. Last week, I ran 19:20 at the Battle of Mobile Bay 5k for my current PR. Now I'm thinking about sub-40 for the Azalea Trail Run 10k in a month. Sure is enticing. I might have a shot if I stay healthy and the weather cooperates. I ran it in 42:41 last year, and thought I'd never top that. Now I'm 12 pounds lighter and running hills.....lots of hills. Seems like ever since my marathon flop last October, I've been PR'ing constantly. I guess I paid my dues back in Apalachicola, all 4 hours and 26 minutes of them. What a pain, literally. Anyway.... Happy trails everyone.

A Good Year

2010-12-31T16:19:00.000-08:00

Hello from L.A.(lower Alabama). I know I haven't blogged much in recent times, but my running has been going very well. I had to start the fall with another flop marathon experience. I slogged through the Running for the Bay Marathon in Appalachicola, Florida, in 4:26:30 back in October. That means I PR'd by 1 minute.......yeeha. But since that fun day, I have sported these PR's:
10 mile: 1:10:23
Half Marathon: 1:35:20
5k: 19:47!!!!!
Finally I get under 20 minutes in the 5k. I even placed 3rd overall. Nice way to end the year for racing.
Hope for more PR's next year, which is only about 5 1/2 hours away.
Happy new year, and run like an animal!!

Football!

2010-08-31T17:40:00.000-07:00

Kick-off for Alabama vs San Jose State is 6:07 pm on Saturday. Not much longer, guys. I've got the pantry fridge stacked. Friday is grocery day, and the menu for Saturday is pretty low-key pub type food:
NACHOS! (read rotel/velveeta)
Sausage Balls (home made by mama....awwww yeahh)
Vegetable platter
BEER!
On the running front, the Hurricane Run 5K is next Saturday. I'll take another crack at sub-20. It's still hot down here in L.A. (lower Alabama), so we'll see how it goes. I know I can rattle off the first 2 miles at or below the 6:25 pace necessary to get below 20 minutes, but that third mile is a bitch.
Later..... oh yeah.........

Roll Tide!

Can't wait for Fall!

2010-08-06T04:13:00.000-07:00

Hello, gentle reader. I'm sitting here, patiently waiting for Fall to arrive, cuz the heat index has been 105-110 this week! That didn't help on Tuesday evening when I ran the Crime Prevention 5K in 21:04. I had hopes of getting south of 20:00, and I was right on pace at mile 1 with a time of 6:24. Then it was all downhill after that....figuratively, not literally. I ended up with about a 6:46 pace overall. I knew it was over at about 1 1/2 miles. Just too damn hot, and I'm not good enough to run through that kind of weather. Some people can. Not me. I did, however, place second in my 40-44 age bracket. Nice medal. Lots of beer. Laura ran the race, also. The kids were with the LSU in-laws, so we both could hang out and enjoy the after party.
Well, it's back to the drawing board. I have some ideas about improving in the 5k. More tempo runs. More hill work. And oh yeah, cooler weather.
Not that I'm whining. I'm just sayin'....

Hittin' the road

2010-07-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

This week figures to be one of my highest mileage weeks in quite a while. I should finish with just over 50 miles. That's pretty good for my fragile lilly white legs. We'll see what sort of injury I bitch about next week. Seriously, I hope to maintain this sort of mileage into the fall. Maybe 40-50 miles/week, anyway. Racing season starts soon, boys and girls. You know what that means? Running in the morning, and college football/beer/spicy food in the afternoons! Can't wait.

Roll Tide!

Pilates Hell

2010-07-04T18:35:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday, I was foolish enough to attend a pilates class. A running buddy had suggested it, stating "It will improve your core strength, and make you a stronger runner." He neglected to add, "You will suffer immeasurably....not just during the class, but for days to come." Apparently, I have muscle groups that have never been stressed before, because my abdomen and upper legs are SORE!" But I won't whine anymore.......
Okay, I'll whine a little more. My long run tracked a dirt road yesterday. This was also a route suggested by the same guy who got me into the pilates class...............he must not like me. This road somehow went uphill going out, and also coming back in, defying the laws of physics. I don't mind some hills, but come on, man! The positive side is that the dirt is indeed a softer impact for my feet. That's the only good thing about the course.
The fresh bear tracks were pretty cool, too.
Gotta go. Happy 4th!

Marathon stirrings

2010-06-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

I've been listening to a lot of chatter between my running "peeps" about the "Running for the Bay" Marathon in Apalachicola, Florida. It's an October marathon, so there's plenty of time for me to get ready. Everyone's talking about BQ'ing. Not so much for me. I've only got one marathon under my belt, and I discovered this distance is not my bread and butter. But I'm thinking about it again. It would be nice to pace with friends. Maybe sub4. Maybe 3:45ish. Maybe I'm full of it. We'll see. I do feel like I'm a smarter, definitely lighter runner than I was 1 1/2 years ago at First Light Marathon. So time will tell. One concern about this particular marathon is the oil spill. Will it reach Apalachicola by October? If the course is over water, how bad will oil fumes be? I can't believe I even have to consider shit like that. Crazy world, man. Crazy.
Peace out.

Not Dead Yet

2010-05-31T09:30:00.000-07:00

No, I'm not dead yet. Just lost the blogging bug for a while. Running has gotten markedly better. I've literally PR'd every race this year! My best 10k time is now 42:41 from the Azalea Trail Run back in March. My 5K PR is 20:14. I'm preoccupied with the idea of sub20 5k's this coming racing season. Here in Mobile, the season starts in August with Crime Prevention 5k. It's hot, but the course is flat as a pancake. And cops service the beer kegs at the afterparty.
Anyway, hope everyone's enjoying running in the heat. Run before sunrise if possible. Have a nice Memorial Day. Or better than mine.....it's raining here.
See ya.
Run like an animal.

Turkey 10 miler

2009-11-22T08:09:00.000-08:00

For those who doubted the Slow White Guy's grit, I returned to racing yesterday. I ran the Turkey 10 Miler and did okay, considering I've been a couch potato lately. My finish time was about 1:19:30. That's a 7:57 average pace. I went out 8:14 the first mile, and managed to stay around a 8:00 pace the next 8 miles. After passing the 9 mile marker, I finished out with a 7:30 mile to get my overall average sub-8.
This brought my mileage for the week to 26 miles.....the most since early August. Hopefully this week I can do better than that. And for those acquainted with it, the Iron Bowl is in 5 days. Rollllll Tide!!!!!!!!!

Pickin' up the pieces

2009-11-07T17:47:00.000-08:00

I have run a few days this week, and feel better. I ran 10 miles last Sunday, and 8 miles on Tuesday. Those were my longer runs, and they were SLLOOOWWW. But it feels good to get out and just run. Forget speed. Forget marathon crazy distance. Just get out and run. This will be my motto for the next few weeks. No pressure............ just do something.

We had a LSU vs Alabama party today, and I drank all the beer and ate all the party food I could stand. So if it's alright with you, I think I'll go to bed now. 10 mile run in the morning and everything, ya know. Have a good weekend. And Rollllll Tide!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Peace!

Another SEC Weekend

2009-10-16T12:53:00.000-07:00

I've resumed running, but will be taking it slow until I see Dr. Ringold on the 26th. So, in the meantime we're renovating our kitchen. New countertops, sink, faucet, paint, etc. Right now our kitchen resembles a meth lab. Hopefully, it'll get better in the next 2 WEEKS!

Tomorrow, Laura and I will be free (grandparents have kids) to watch football and drink cold beer. Don't know what we're gonna cook yet.

Alabama's homecoming game vs South Carolina should be fine to watch. Rollllll Tide!!!!!!!

Catching up

2009-09-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

During my respite from running, we have discovered an island up the Mobile River delta called Gravine Island. It's nothing exotic, but there's a sandy beach on it's north side that's pretty kid friendly. You can anchor your boat right at the beach, and swim in fresh water (read no jelly fish). So far, no gators/snakes either. The sand was dredged out of the river, and built up on the beach, so that there is about a 12 foot high dune you can sit up on and enjoy a great view of the area.

Today, I began running again. I ran 3 miles slowly, and I'm not sure how to feel about it. I didn't have any outright pain, but I still don't feel like everything's normal. That's 5 or so weeks post-injury!!!!!!!!!!! I'm gonna try again tomorrow, and see how it goes. I just don't see how a groin injury can take this long to heal. I mean, DAMN! I could have had heart surgery and been running again by now! Not that I'm bitter or anything.

Anyway, enough whining. I have also discovered a recipe for homemade salsa, which I made for this past week-end's Crimson Tide football game. Good shit, I wouldn't lie to ya. Here it is.

1 28oz can diced tomatoes, undrained
2 jalapeno peppers (handle with gloves)
2 teaspoons lime juice (fresh squeezed)
2 teaspoons finely chopped cilantro leaves
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
Pour tomatoes and juice in a blender, and pulse a few times, put in glass bowl;
Place jalapenos and lime juice in food processor until pureed
Add cilantro, garlic, cumin, salt, sugar. Mix well. Let sit for 2 hours before serving with ice cold beer/chips while watching SEC football.
Enjoy!

Indian Summer

2009-09-12T12:44:00.001-07:00

It's Saturday afternoon, so that means college football. And ya always need a good cold beer to aid in the football spectatorship. I thought I'd share with you, gentle reader, my latest favorite beer pick. You may not have heard of the Mississippi brewery, Lazy Magnolia. But they make a beer called Indian Summer Spiced Ale. Kind of reminds me of Blue Moon, but has a smoother after-taste. We found it in Louisiana last week. Liked it. Bought about 4 six packs of it. We also picked up Wild Dog Blueberry Lager, and some Abita Satsuma Beer. All great stuff.
I'm two weeks into my rest/healing period. I haven't gotten fat yet, but I'm still eating like I'm running 40 miles/week. I'll try some slow miles after another two weeks off. Looks like the marathon is a no-go. The closest I'll get to a marathon now is my relay team for the First Light Marathon in January. Time will tell.
Oh yeah...............
Roll Tide!!!

Injury Report

2009-09-01T18:51:00.000-07:00

Sports hernia. Anybody heard of it? Neither had I until I encountered it personally. That's why I haven't posted in a while. I've been dealing with this pain in my lower abdomen/groin area when I try to run. I've talked to an orthopedist and a general surgeon. They both think that I've probably torn my rectus abdominis muscle where it attaches to my pubic bone. The treatment? Rest, and lots of it. Like a month at least. And Marine Corps is October 25th.........well that sucks! Laura is still training, so the trip is still on. I may try to complete the marathon if I somehow find myself healthy between now and then. I will NOT get my goal of sub-4 hours at this rate. But just running pain free is priority 1.
Besides that, life is not so bad. I'm not in pain all the time. And college football starts up this week. Like #5 Alabama vs #7 Virginia Tech. Damn, what a way to start the season. So as long as I can hoist a cold beer Saturday, I think I'll make it.

60/60's

2009-08-21T20:20:00.000-07:00

Earlier this week I had the privelege of doing a speed workout with a fellow Blue Bell Bomber named Rick. This guy is 60 years old, and can kick some serious ass. He races 5ks and 10ks in the low 6 minute range. Just who I need to train with, because that's where I want to race- solidly in the 6's.
So I show up Tuesday evening and run about 3 miles of warmup, and Rick shows up talking about running "60/60's." What the hell is that? Well, how about 6 miles of torture for yours truly? We started out jogging slowly for 60 seconds, then run about a 6:10-6:30 pace for 60 seconds, then repeat..................for 6 miles.........with a nagging pain in my lower abdomen for 5.5 miles of it. Still don't know what was up with that. I've been injury free for most of this year. I'm feeling better today, but a little concerned about future problems with that business.
Agony aside, this was a decent speed workout. Don't think I'll do it very often, but it is something to break up the monotony of intervals and tempo-runs.

20 miler Sunday

2009-08-16T18:16:00.000-07:00

Today I started running at 4:00am..................Damn, that's early. But after doing most of my 20 mile run before the sun came up, it's the only way to go for long runs in the summer. I stayed around 9:00 for the first 10 miles, then some of the Bombers showed up, and the next six miles went at about an 8:30 pace. The last few miles slowed down significantly to mid 9's.
In past long runs this summer, I've noticed that my shoes get "water logged" after passing about 10 miles. I've finished with squishy/heavy shoes that seemed to weigh me down. Today I tried switching out a new pair of socks and shoes after 10 miles. Definitely better. I don't think this will be as big an issue in the winter, but right now my long runs are sweat spectacles.
I still don't know what kind of time to expect for Marine Corps, but right now anything under 4:00 will do just fine. The 3:50 pace group might be the way to go. Time will tell, and it's winding down fast.
Happy trails.

Summer doldrums

2009-08-12T10:40:00.000-07:00

When the hell is summer gonna end? I ran 5 miles around 9am today, and thought I was gonna have a heat stroke. I really am ready for some sort of cool down. I know it's weeks away, but hurry up already. I'll run 20 this weekend, so I better get up EARLY for that one. The morning sun and humidity really make those last few miles tough.
In other news, I field stripped my M1 Garand for the first time last night. Initially, it was intimidating, but is quite easy to do once you get it "down pat."
And oh yes, college football season is about 3 weeks away. Roll Tide!

New 5k PR!

2009-08-05T10:45:00.000-07:00

Chalk up another 5k PR for the SWG! It was hot and humid yesterday evening, but I still managed to run the Crime Prevention 5k in 20:59. That's about 50 seconds faster than my previous 5k PR of 21:49. All I wanted was to get in under 21:44, which would put me running a sub-7 average. Instead I averaged 6:45, which is about what my mile splits were.

I came out fast, read 6:30-6:40-ish in the first mile, and felt good. Still, I'm not used to running that pace for distances over a mile, so I waited for "the slowdown." It never came. I ran strong through the middle and end, even sprinting the last 150 yards.

Laura also ran the race (thank God for babysitters) in 35:47. As soon as she came through the chute, we "hydrated" close to the beer keg. I guess the guys manning the keg were cops, because they were wearing handguns on their hips. Never been served beer by a dude packing heat before.
Anyway, gotta go.
Happy trails.

Crime Prevention 5k

2009-08-03T18:54:00.000-07:00

I've been sick with a cold for the last few days, but feeling better now. My energy is returning. For a while, I felt like doing nothing but laying in bed feeling depressed. It's amazing, just a low grade fever grounds me. So anyway, there is a 5k tomorrow evening. I suspect it will be hot as hades, with the only positives being friends aplenty, and a flat course. Maybe beer. Not sure if beer is served at the after-party of a race called "Crime Prevention 5k." But hope springs eternal.

It's a wash----literally

2009-07-28T19:16:00.000-07:00

I had big plans for intervals today, until a freakin' hurricane came through Mobile. Rain, rain, and oh yeah, lotsa lightning. So Laura and I fell back on plan B: we bought a new sofa, and took the kids to eat Mexican. In order to destress from the expense of our purchase, we split one big-ass margarita. I mean, it looked like a fish bowl, it was so big. And it was quite tasty.
Tomorrow's plans call for weights and a 6 mile run. Thursday is slotted for a tempo run. All fascinating stuff, I'm sure. There is a 5k race next Tuesday, and I'm planning on running it. I'm hoping to PR (read anything under 7:00 pace). It seems that I'm running faster lately, so we'll put it to the test.
Happy trails.

The Long Run

2009-07-27T18:03:00.000-07:00

I know the "long run" has been hailed as the bread and butter of marathon training, but it sure can be a pain in the ass to do. Such was my experience yesterday morning. First, I had to regulate the beer consumption Saturday night. We were at the beach for the weekend, so that was really a bummer. Next, ya have to get up EARLY to beat the heat. I was up at 4:30 AM, and running by 4:50.....in the dark, down streets shared with drivers who DID NOT regulate their beer consumption. So I survived Sunday morning NASCAR, only to be greeted by our friend the Sun, at around 6 AM.
Even running slow, read 9 minute miles, it gets hot quick when the Sun shows up. Around 7 AM, I'm having to drink Powerade every 2 miles to keep up with my water losses.
But I got it done. 18 miles for this week's long run. Those last 3 were pretty tough. I'm hoping cooler weather this fall might help make these long ones get easier.

Last week was a good week

2009-07-20T13:29:00.000-07:00

While I'm stuck at work, I'll briefly brief you on last week.
Monday: 6 miles of hills
Tuesday: 7 miles slow, then six 1/4 mile intervals at about 90 second average, then 2 mile cool off.
Wednesday: 3 miles junk run
Thursday: 15 mile long run. Felt good for 13, but last couple were troublesome. Almost hurled afterwards. WTF? Never done that before.
Friday: Work-beach-beer-fishing
Saturday: 6 miles junk run-beach-beer-fishing
Sunday: 6 miles back and forth over Perdido pass bridge.
This week? More of the same.
Oh yeah, the shoes fit better now.

Shoe Trouble

2009-07-11T11:08:00.000-07:00

No. I haven't died. Life has just been busy. And now I'm having a shoe crisis....

So here's the deal. I've been running in New Balance 990 series shoes for over 2 years. They have treated me decently. Fairly comfortable. Not many injuries. But they are heavy, over 14oz heavy. And I've had several runners whom I respect tell me that they are not good running shoes. So I set out to buy "something better." I tried several Asics shoes, but they just didn't feel right in the store. I finally bought a pair of New Balance 769's last week. They are advertised as light stability trainers that compete with the Asics GT 2140. Sounds great, right? Well I ran 11 miles with them about 3 days ago, and my body is still a wreck. My lower back hurt, my legs hurt....holy shit. It was just 11 miles at about an 8 minute pace. Nothing that should have bothered me. But I swear these shoes just don't cushion nearly as well as my 992's.

So what do I do? Dunno right now. I may resume long runs in the 992's until I come upon a better deal. I did try on the Asics Gel Nimbus 11, and it felt dreamy. Just couldn't find the right size. I mainly need a long run shoe. I can find something really light to race 5/10 k's in. But I can't run long in a shoe that's gonna tear me down.

More drama to come later.

Long run in the dark

2009-06-27T19:36:00.000-07:00

So how do you get in a long run this time of year in the deep south? Apparently, you have to get up EARLY. I mean, I was running at 4:50 this morning. It was actually kinda nice around 5 AM, probably about 76 degrees, a slight breeze, and a well lit course. Sunrise was around 6 AM. Still not too bad. But around 7 AM, the fun was over. I stayed with it until about 7:45, finishing 17 miles at about a 9:45 pace. The course I ran today is kinda nice for long runs. It's a loop of 3 or 4 miles, depending on exact route. So I can go out for a loop run, and return to my truck where the Powerade/water is stashed. Then go again. I don't have to carry water, or look for water down the road. This course will probably be my bread and butter through the summer.
Post-run nutrition consisted of steamed shrimp, boiled crabs, and crawfish at R&R Seafood. I also hydrated thoroughly with Corona/lime.

New 5k PR

2009-06-22T11:29:00.000-07:00

I braved the heat Saturday morning to run the Causeway 5k, and actually PR'd. There was no plan to run a race, but I got up and just didn't feel like running alone. So it was either train by my lonesome, or pay $25 to run with a whole bunch of other fools on a day with a 100+ heat index. I met Michael, Rick, and Leah (all Blue Bell Bombers) at the race, and aside from the running part, I had a good time. Here are the splits:
Mile 1: 6:50
Mile 2: 6:55
Mile 3.1: Low 7-something.
I finished at 21:49, which is a 7:01 average.
So speed work can help even a Slow White Guy. Guess I'll keep doin' it, and hopefully race some sub-7 5/10k's in the fall and winter. We'll see.
Gotta go. Happy trails!

Bridges! I hate bridges!

2009-06-17T18:53:00.000-07:00

Perdido Pass Bridge to Hell

And summer heat. Yeah, I hate the heat. I ran 10k this morning in Orange Beach, and thought my shoes would melt, it was so hot. I took along a bottle of water, but it was woefully inadequate. It's gonna be a long summer for long runs, pilgrims. I sweated through about 15 miles on Monday morning, and ran/walked another 3 at the end of that. I watched my Garmin pretty closely, and tried to maintain about a 9 flat pace. This was pretty easy to do until about mile 13-15, when the sun came out from the morning cloud cover. I sweated so much, my fairly new blue New Balance 992's oozed blue dye on my feet. And that crap doesn't wash off. So I'm pretty sure I got strange looks from folks noticing my necrotic looking feet this week.

Anyway, we're back home now. Three days at the beach come and gone. Next up? Maybe a 5k Saturday morning it it ain't too damn hot!

Speed week

2009-06-12T12:20:00.000-07:00

Life continues to be crazy busy lately. But yesterday I did some speed work with one of the Blue Bell Bombers. We started out with a slow 2 mile warm up, then we ran a 2 mile tempo run. My ego hurt me on this, because my buddy is faster than me. His tempo run is about 6:50ish. My tempo run is around low 7's. But I wanted to REPRESENT! I took off like a shot, running the first mile in 6:30, and slowed to a 6:58 coming back on the second mile. It was sooo hot, too. I thought I was gonna die. We rested for about 8 minutes, then did another 2 mile tempo run. I was waaaay slower this time. My first mile was about 7 flat, and the second mile was 7:40. I so did not enjoy that second mile. We briefly rested, and ran a 2 mile cool down. My friend assures me that running fast in this heat is gonna cut my race times in the fall. Well..............IT BETTER! I look forward to my long run just for the opportunity to go slow.
No matter how much I might whine, I am enjoying running with these guys and girls. I think the fall race season with them will be interesting.
Happy trails.

Busy Busy Busy

2009-06-03T20:00:00.000-07:00

This past week has been crazy busy. Let's break it down:

1) TBall hell (which is finally over)

2) Beach time

3) Uber Overtime at work

4) My M1 Garand arrived and has not bitten my thumb yet

5) Scenic runs with the Blue Bell Bombers like the Dauphin Island Bridge pictured above. Yeah, Sunday we ran across that bitch 3 times. 10 miles of Bridge Hell.

More of the same this coming week. Except for TBall. No more, please! This weekend looks good for the beach, and ice cold Michelob Ultra. I'll post pictures of the M1 soon.

See ya

Rest Day

2009-05-26T19:22:00.000-07:00

I ran 13 miles yesterday at a 9:10 average. Can I tell ya it was HOT! I'm really gonna have to get those long runs in at the butt crack of dawn. I did not run after work today, and this evening we had TBALL. Zach did great. He made two forced outs at 2nd base, and caught a pop fly. We actually won!
Later this week I hope to get in two runs with the Bombers. The workouts are real, not just social. But these folks are also fun to talk smack with. And there is no shortage of that. These guys and girls would rather talk shit than breathe.
Anyway, Happy trails.

Weekend Off

2009-05-22T11:26:00.000-07:00

I'm off work for the weekend. And Monday..... shit, that's a lotta grilling and beer drinking to do. I'm sorta intimidated with having all this time off. Somewhere I'm going to have to run long. Maybe 15-18 miles. Nice and slow. Don't know which day yet.
This week's work:
Monday off
Tuesday 5 miles
Wednesday 7 miles including 1/2 mile intervals
Thursday 8.5 miles tempo included
Friday off
Saturday probably 5-7 miles
Sunday probably the long run
So maybe about a 40-42 mile week.
Happy Memorial Day weekend.

Sunday report

2009-05-18T19:22:00.000-07:00

I ran 16 miles yesterday, averaging 8:14. My new Garmin 205 worked fine. I can't believe I waited this long to get one. Congratulations to the Blue Bell Bombers. Six of the first ten finishers in the Chicasaw Kiwanis Freedom 6k were Bombers. I'm tellin' ya, these guys are fast.
I took today off from running, and expect to do about 6 miles or so tomorrow. Speed work is on tap for Wednesday. Laura ran 12 miles today, using the Garmin. I think it's a hit with her, too.
Anyway. I'm stuck at work for a while. Can't wait for this weekend. THE PLAN:
1) Cold beer
2) Grilled tuna
3) Repeat #1
Later.

Christmas in May

2009-05-15T11:10:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a good day for 2 reasons. First, I got my Mustang back from the body shop, and the repair is flawless. It's good to have the old girl back home. Second, I received my Garmin 205 via UPS. And I guess there was a third reason. I worked 11-7 last night in L&D, and didn't get the first page. Sweeeet!
This morning I donned my 205 and went out on a 5 mile run. It took a little trial and error to get the program I wanted, but it worked just fine. I ran an 8:11 average through stifling humidity, and walked into the gym at the end of the run looking like I had just crawled out of a swimming pool. Soaking wet, with people looking at me like "WTF?"
Zach and I are gonna catch Star Trek tonight after a boys dinner somewhere. The previews look good. Overall, it's shaping up to be a fine day.
Hope the same for you guys.

Awwwwww Yeahhhhh!

2009-05-09T18:00:00.001-07:00

It was a hot and humid morning, but I still managed to bust my previous 2 mile PR of 14 minutes today. I ran the Bulldog 2 mile run in 13:12. The mile splits were close together, with a 6:30 first mile, and 6:42 on the second mile. I finished 4th in my bracket, and 11th of 120 (I know...it was a slow bunch). The guy that won finished in 9:56! He did kinda look Kenyan. There were a few other freaks that ran sub-6 miles, a few low 6 milers, then me. Looks like the speed work I've been doing the last few weeks might have helped.
Now I can shift gears, and get into long runs more. I think I'll still do speed work once a week. It kinda helps break the monotony. But the clock is ticking for Marine Corps, and for the fall in general. If all goes well, I may run another marathon in the fall/early winter.
Gotta go. Run well, pilgrims.

Quatro anos de Jillian

2009-05-05T14:16:00.001-07:00

Today is Cinco de Mayo, and also Jill's 4th birthday. All good reasons to drink beer. So here I sit with a cold Blue Moon, writing a quick update.
I did 1/2 mile speed repeats yesterday, so today I just ran 3 miles and lifted some weights. The Bulldog 2 miler is Saturday, with a PR of 14 minutes to beat. Can...I....do it? I'm feeling froggy, so we'll see. I'm thinkin' I can get in about 13:40. Or maybe It's just the cervesa talkin'.
On the marathon front, I have booked a hotel for Marine Corps. Hotels in D.C. are not cheap!
Gotta go. Una mas margarita, por favor!

Some very fast dudes

2009-04-29T17:28:00.000-07:00

I've recently started training once a week with a group of guys and girls who call themselves the Blue Bell Bombers. I've run a couple Sundays with them, and held out fine on some 10 mile runs. Yesterday, they introduced me to their idea of speed work.....holy shit.
I met up with the group around 5:30, and I ran a couple warm up miles. Then we did 3:10 1/2 mile runs, with a 3:10 rest after each. We did this six times. My quads were not happy with me. Of the group I was the slowest, of course. Everyone was older than me. Wonderful. Quite a humbling experience, but something I look forward to doing again. Just not today. They also run on Thursdays, but I'll miss tomorrow. And I'm on call this weekend, so no big run plans. Probably lots of yardwork.

Baby's goin' to the beauty shop

2009-04-24T18:41:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago, someone was kind enough to bump into my mustang and then drive off anonymously from the CHURCH parking lot. After I finished throwing up and crying, I took her to the body shop where she was painted just 4 years ago following restoration. Repair estimate-$582. I've now filed this with insurance, and got the green light to proceed with the repair. So hopefully next week this little love bump can disappear.

Meanwhile, I ran 7 fabulous miles yesterday:

Miles 1&2 warm up @ 9:13/minute pace;

1/2 mile @ 7:03 then 1/4 mile jog;

1/2 mile @ 6:50 then 1/4 mile jog;

1/2 mile @ 6:43 then 1/4 mile jog;

2/3 mile @ 6:20 then 1/4 mile jog;

1/2 mile @ 6:43 then 1/4 mile jog;

Finished to 7 miles with slow jog.

Felt freakin' awesome the whole time. You know, every once in a while, ya have that mysterious peak run or breakthrough run. Yesterday was one of those days. Can't explain it, but I did have on new shoes.......

Today was an off day, and we once again visited R&R Seafood for fresh crawfish/fried shrimp and cold BEER. This seafood habit is becoming expensive.

Anyway, I'm sure you've got better stuff to do, like the dishes. So I'll say adios. And enjoy this fine weekend.

10 miles

2009-04-21T15:17:00.000-07:00

The weather was perfect today for 10 miles of running. The only drama was a showdown with a "wiener dog" at about mile 2. Little bitch better mind her own business!
I ran a 2 mile warmup, then:
1/2 mile @7:03 with 1/4 mile slow jog
1/2 mile @ 6:40 with 1/4 mile slow jog
1/4 mile @6:30 with 1/4 mile slow jog
Afterwards, I ran the remainder of the 10 miles on the "usual" course at about an 8 flat pace.
I know...not exactly top gun training. But I am improving.
The Bulldog 2 miler is coming up in about 3 weeks. My PR is 14 minutes. I'd like to break under that this year. I guess we'll see.
Enjoy!

Beer and crustaceans

2009-04-16T16:41:00.000-07:00

I took my hungry, thirsty family to R&R Seafood on Mobile Bay yesterday for some bitchin' seafood. We munched on 5 pounds of spicy Louisiana crawfish, and plenty of fried shrimp. My beverage of choice was the reliable Yuengling Lager. We had a great time. Perfect weather, hot crawfish/shrimp, and cold beer.

Speaking of beer, I also drank Imperial, from Costa Rica last week. Pretty tasty. And there was some Tecate on another night. And Blue Moon. It's been a good beer week.

I'm gonna try a long run this weekend. Maybe 12-14 miles or so. It's been over 5 weeks since I've ran above 10 miles. I did 8 miles on Monday and Tuesday without problems, so I'm hopeful that I'll do well this weekend. No races in the near future. Just lots of road-running.

Hope Spring Break goes well for all.

This might hurt

2009-04-10T14:26:00.000-07:00

Now I've really gone off the deep end, folks. I have registered Laura and myself for the Marine Corps Marathon this October. The decision had come down to either Marine Marathon or Chicago. We went with this one because the run looks to be more scenic, if it is "hillier." Chicago is still on the "to do list," but it may be next year.

The runs already seem more important. Now a 4 mile day stretches into a 6-8 mile day. And speaking of stretching, we're taking that more seriously, also.

Here's some stuff already on my mind:

1- Training over the summer. Heatstroke!

2- I've never ingested gels, or goo, or whatever you call that crap.

3- Never been to D.C. Heard the traffic is wonderful.

4- Can I beat Oprah's time? Wouldn't that just suck, getting beat by Oprah?

5- I've read about a hill at the end of the race, but what about other hills?

6- What about injuries? Can I stay injury free?

Anyway. I gotta go. Just thought I drop that bomb. Anybody run this before?

One fine Saturday

2009-04-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

Race time weather conditions:

Temp: 57

Fair skies

Humidity: What humidity?

Wind: None to speak of.

So with the weather cooperating as such, I went out my first mile of the Old Mobile 8k at a 6:58 pace. Things settled a little on mile 2, with about a 7:04 pace. I managed to keep it at a 7:03 average to finish in 35 minutes and change. And I beat Joe...... I have never beaten Joe before. I've come close in the past, but never had enough gas at the end. Yesterday changed that. Awwwwwwww yeah.

Laura plans to run the Bunny Hop 5k next weekend, so I'll be watching the kids on the sidelines. I may try to get Zach to run the 1 mile fun run with me afterwards. That should be interesting.

Happy trails!

Maybe next time

2009-03-29T17:31:00.000-07:00

It was hot. And it was sticky..................get your mind out of the gutter. I'm talkin' about the weather yesterday for the Azalea Trail Run. I ran in 100% humidity with a temp around 70 under a bright, smily sun for most of the way. My time was 48:58, about a 7:58 average. Nowhere near a PR, but considering the elements, it was about as good as I could expect.
So, now that I'm past the ATR, what's next? Don't really know. Sure, there are a few smaller races in the coming weeks. But then it really starts to get hot down here in L.A. (lower Alabama). Looking ahead to the fall, another marathon may be in the cards. Someplace cool and flat.
Whatever happens, gentle reader (all 3 of you), I'll certainly keep you faithfully informed.
Anyway. Gotta go. Housework to do. Always freakin' something....
Happy trails!

Disney World. Been there, done that.

2009-03-25T18:35:00.000-07:00

Do you know how hard it is to get two cracked-out kids to pose for a decent photo-op at Disney World? Just about impossible. Even with a good digital SLR camera that shoots a gazillion frames a second, it proved to be a frustrating task. I learned that the best approach is to shoot a lot of pics, and hope a few will turn out decent.

So that's where I've been this past week. We hit Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Animal Kingdom. I've walked untold miles. Stood in long lines for short rides. I've eaten way too much fast food. You get the picture. Sounds like a typical Disney family vacation. My foremost advice for anyone toying with the idea of going to Walt Disney World: if your child is less than about 8 years old, bring a stroller, or be prepared to rent one at the park. All the mileage wipes out little kids quick.

Anyway. Gotta go. Gotta help unload all this crap. Thank goodness we drove a mid-size car there. If we had a bigger vehicle, we probably would have loaded up more stuff.

Happy trails.

New 10k PR.........sort of

2009-03-16T21:07:00.000-07:00

I say sort of because I ran it on the treadmill today, all 44:40 of it. And that was all I had. My heart rate immediately upon finishing was 190. So I am glad to say I ran this time, although I might forget to tell people in the future that it was a treadmill time.
This nice little jaunt comes less than two weeks away from the Azalea Trail Run. So is it a boost to my confidence? Sure. But it doesn't guarantee I'll get anywhere near my PR of 46 1/2 minutes at the ATR. Just makes it a little more interesting.

Here come the Azaleas

2009-03-10T20:12:00.000-07:00

Springtime is close, folks!

It was a fine day, and I spent just about all of it in the yard. The Azaleas are starting to bloom out, and I wanted the rest of the place to look half-way decent. So out came the mower, and the rake, and the weed-eater....you get the picture.

I ran 5 miles in the dark this morning before work. It was perfect for running, and I managed to average low 8's with plenty of reserve. I hope to get a long run of 10+ miles later this week. Better be early, because the afternoons have been downright tropical lately.

Later, pilgrims.

Crunch Time

2009-03-08T19:37:00.000-07:00

I managed to extract 6.2 miles of quality running from my sorry carcass today. Yesterday's chili experimentation did not adversely affect me as badly as I thought it would. I averaged a mid 8 minute mile, and felt fine throughout.

But now as a new week begins, I'm feeling the Azalea Trail Run loom closer. At this point, I don't know if I can threaten my PR of 46 minutes. I'm running well, but things will have to go extraordinarily well to get under 46. Honestly, I'm thinkin' 47-48 and change.

So the next 2 weeks will be crunch time. Lotsa miles. Some speed workouts. Tune up the food intake some. The last few days will be tapered in order to let my skinny legs get some rest.

And I need new music for my IPod. My old stuff has gotten kinda stale. I heard a song in church today that really inspired me. I mean, I was really moved. At the end of the song, I just wanted to go "Wooooooooo! Rollll Tide!" But I refrained, and just clapped. My wife advised me that was the correct response. I gotta get that song. It could be just what I need for mile 4.
May the farce be with you.

Chili, Beer, and Boats

2009-03-07T18:21:00.000-08:00

Here I sit with a belly full of chili and cheap beer. Bloated and gaseous, I am. Laura and I went to a chili cook-off downtown, where we hung out with friends and tried multiple different chilis. And drank $5 Bud.
We then walked a few blocks to the Mobile Boat Show, and checked out a whole bunch of boats that were overpriced. I've owned a boat before, and I feel the itch again. But damn! Boats have become very expensive.
Anyway, I got in 20 miles so far this week. Tomorrow, if my gastro-intestinal tract isn't too ravaged by today's excesses, I'll try to get a few more. I have 3 weeks left to get my act together for the Azalea Trail Run. It's amazing how this race seemed so far off, and now it's practically right around the corner. Guess I better lay off the chili and Bud until after race-day.
Happy trails, pilgrims.

A day in the low 7's

2009-02-28T20:11:00.000-08:00

I ran the Girl Scouts Thin Mint Sprint 5k today in 22:35. Not quite PR material, but not bad. Actually, better than expected. Here is the story:
Mile1: 7:10
Mile2: 7:15
Mile3: 7:20
Mile3.1: Do the math.
Overall, it was a 7:15 average. Once again. Low 7's. One day, I'm gonna get into the 6's. Anywhere in the 6's would be fine with me. One thing that may help me get there is taking longer strides during the race. I worked on that today, and it seemed to pay off. My natural stride is a little shorter, but I found today that I can force out a little more stride without feeling over-exerted. And it really helped keep the speed up.
Laura ran in 34:20. This was a good race for her, and will hopefully bolster her confidence as we approach the Azalea Trail Run in late March. I think as long as she can get in about 20 miles a week up until then, she'll do fine.
We finished up the day with friends at Guys Gumbo Shack in Fairhope. Gumbo and beer. Awwww yeah! My only complaint is that I developed elbow tendinitis from some aggressive fooseball.
Long run tomorrow. Bring it.
Have a great week.

6 mile Friday

2009-02-27T09:30:00.000-08:00

I got in a slow 6 mile run today in great weather. And it looks like a go for the Girl Scouts Thin Mint Sprint 5k tomorrow.... I know, not the most masculine sounding race. But Laura is running the race too, so I get a pass. I'm thinking there will be some hills on this one, because it's out at Langan Park. When I ran First Light, there were ups and downs behind the park. Guess we'll find out tomorrow.
On another note, I just read a pretty interesting book called Outliers. It's by Malcolm Gladwell. I heard a friend at work discussing it, so I went to Barnes and Nobles and bought it that night. It was so good, I finished it within a day. It's not running related, but still a fine read.
Happy trails

Back on the road

2009-02-23T16:55:00.000-08:00

I ran 5 miles today without dying, so I must be better. I regret that I missed the Joe Cain 5k yesterday. I think there were around 600 runners! There's a local 5k this coming weekend that I hope to run in. No records upcoming, I'm sure. But just getting back into a race, any race, will help me feel like I've gotten over this crud I've had for the last 2 weeks.
The Azalea Trail Run is a month away, and I'll need to really get after it, if I'm gonna make a good showing. I doubt I'll get below 45 minutes. But hopefully something around 46-48 minutes will feel like a reward.
Hope springs eternal.
Happy trails.

Getting better

2009-02-16T19:02:00.000-08:00

I've hopefully turned the corner on this crud I've had. I'm not ready to run yet, and I think it may be the weekend before I do so. The Azalea Trail Run is still over a month away, so I'm kinda glad I went ahead and got this illness out of the way now instead of then.
I'm still looking to post a decent time at the ATR (read sub 49). Training may be a little more time-compressed after this layoff. But I think there's still time to get ready. Time will tell.
Have a great week.

Sidelined

2009-02-14T06:19:00.000-08:00

Looks like Pensacola is off the books for me. I've been sick all week, and remain so now. High temp of 104 on Wednesday afternoon was absolutely no fun at all. I doubt I could run a 5k in this shape. Maybe I'm through the worst of this, and can pick up the pieces next week. At least my legs will be well rested!
Too bad I will have missed this opportunity for another marathon. It seemed like I was near a peak period last week. Now I'm down in the trough.
So what does a sick dude do for Valentines Day?

Here we go again

2009-02-08T07:13:00.000-08:00

It's been busy at work, so I haven't posted much lately. Can you believe the nerve of some people, getting sick and needing surgery on the weekend?
The Pensacola Marathon is next Sunday, and I still plan to run it unless sickness/injury occurs before then. As with my first marathon last month, I'll enter this feeling vastly unprepared. But hey, what's a few hours of pain on a Sunday?
I've reviewed the course map online, and I can't tell what kind of elevation changes are in store (read big-ass hills). But I'm hoping since a lot of the race is coastal, it'll be fairly flat. I'm gonna go without the Gay Marathon Fanny Pack this time. No cell-phone. No candy-corn. Just my attire+2 band-aids. The weather report so far has a low in the 40's, with probably a finish time temp around 50ish. Nice.
More to report on this little adventure later.
Have a great week, and watch out for the pot-holes.

Ron M. is a maniac

2009-02-03T18:02:00.000-08:00

So I'm at the gym at the buttcrack of dawn this morning, and I ran into my neighbor, Ron M. You may remember from a previous post that this is the gentleman who smoked my ass at the end of the First Light Marathon back in January. I'm tellin' him, "Yeah, I'm trying to get ready for the Azalea Trail Run in March." And he says, "I'm going to run the Pensacola Marathon in 2 weeks."
Wait a minute. He just ran the First Light Marathon January 11th. Now he's recovered, and rarin' to go on the Pensacola Marathon February 14th. He's 63 years old. Awww hellll naw!
Now I'm achin' to do Pensacola. I'm not sure about some of the logistics, but the gears are turning. Ron caught me at around mile 25 last month, when there was blood in the water. Left me in the dust. So could I find redemption in P'Cola? Not considering running maniacs who live down the street, could I run better this soon? Or would I do worse? Should I go for it, and run another marathon virtually unprepared, or wait and train for a Fall marathon?
Lots of questions, for sure. Answers will come soon.

Feed Me

2009-01-31T17:38:00.000-08:00

First off, I didn't run today. But I did visit my mother. And I took Zachary on a bike ride down some of the old streets that I rode as a child. That was kinda cool. Talk about a trip down memory lane. He's doing well off the training wheels, but I still get nervous when a car passes by.
This evening, we grilled some sirloin steak while drinking some adult beverages. Laura drank WindMill Estates Old Vine Zinfandel, which was "okay." And I drank Wild Blue Blueberry Lager, which is 8% alc/vol. That stuff is definitely okay. We cooked the steak medium to medium rare, along with some onion and bell pepper and garlic. We cut the steak into little pieces, and served it with sharp cheddar cheese, ritz crackers, Mezzetta tamed jalapeno peppers, Dutch Garden smoked goudam cheese, and the grilled veggies. Freakin' awesome. Here I sit with my buzz and a full tummy, and all is well.
I hope to get a long run in tomorrow. At least 10 miles. Maybe 11 or 12. I do enjoy the downtown/midtown route, partly because it's flat, and also because of all the historic houses.
Enjoy the Superbowl tomorrow, everybody. Not that I give a crap about either team, but it's the spectacle that is at least entertaining. For me, football season ended when Bama lost to Utah in New Orleans. But hey, Bourbon Street was fun!
Happy trails!

Running in the dark

2009-01-29T17:19:00.000-08:00

I ran 4 miles in the cold/dark this morning, and thought about the DVD I just watched last night, called "Spirit of the Marathon." I saw this mentioned on someone else's blog, and immediately ordered it for myself. It's about 90 minutes of watching other people suffer for the 26.2. I even made popcorn and burned a fire! I tell ya, watching other folks run from the safety of my own couch is quite entertaining.
I learned that Chicago is supposedly a pretty flat course, unlike that hilly bitch I just finished a couple weeks ago. Flat sounds good. I'm concerned about trying to navigate through a crowd of 40,000+ runners, though. That's insane. Seems like you would spend the first 10 miles just trying not to get tripped up. Running a marathon is tough enough. Running a marathon while bleeding certainly ratchets up the difficulty factor.
But I feel a tug towards Chicago.
More on that later, one of my kids is screwin' around in the kitchen.
Happy trails!

Long Run

2009-01-26T17:21:00.000-08:00

I ran 11 miles today through a downtown route. Nice and flat. I averaged about a 9 flat mile, fanny pack and all. I've done some speed work lately, and I like the results. This past weekend I ran a mile at 6:50, another mile at 6:40, and felt pretty good. Note these are isolated miles with cool downs in between. I tried to run a 6:00 pace, and got about 1/3 mile, and was like "to hell with that!" I don't call this place "Slow White Guy" for no reason.
Enjoy!

Work weekend

2009-01-23T19:26:00.000-08:00

Here I am again. Stuck at work. Not much going on lately. Got a good run in yesterday. I look forward to more of the same tomorrow. No races this weekend, but plenty coming up in the next several weeks. I hope to include Zach in a 1 mile race soon. I think he'll like all the excitement.
I hope to purchase my first M1 Garand next week....FINALLY! More to come later on that.
Good luck with those Saturday races!

Mucho dinero

2009-01-18T16:51:00.000-08:00

My son has started riding his bike without training wheels, so I figured I would dig out the mama and the daddy bikes from storage today. Count 4 flat tires. Inner tubes shot. Tires pretty much dry rotted.
So off to WalMart I go. Can't be too expensive just replacing bicycle tires and inner tubes, right? Well, they had the right stuff, but not the right price. I had to shell out $90 to get out the door! No groceries. No beer. Just tubes and tires. Seems like just LIVING is expensive. Forget exotic trips and lavish appointments. Just goofing off around the house on a Sunday can drain the checking account.
But I guess it was worth it. We all rode bikes around the yard way past dark. The weather was awesome. Maybe those new tires will still be inflated tomorrow.
Happy trails!

Alright.....so what now?

2009-01-15T14:54:00.001-08:00

Well, my legs aren't sore anymore. People have stopped asking me, "Did you finish?" Like it was something I would quit...yeah right. I'm 4 days out from my first marathon, and I'm already thinking about what my next obsession will be. It didn't take long to figure it out.
The Azalea Trail Run 10k race is March 26th. That's what, maybe 9 weeks or so away? That's time enough to make a go at a sub-46 10k. Last year, I ran 49 and change at the ATR. I think I'm a better runner now. So I really wonder if I can break that 10k PR. Certainly, anything under 48 minutes would be satisfying, but a record at the Azalea Trail would be bitchin'.
So after some googlin', I have armed myself with a Hal Higdon 10k training bible. It's an 8 week program, so there will be plenty to write about. I've never done any formal speed training. That should be fun.
Anyway. Duty calls.
Stay warm, pilgrims!

My first marathon- 4:27:40

2009-01-11T13:11:00.000-08:00

All right. I did it. I paid my dues. Now I'm a certified, genuine marathon runner. Or maybe I should call myself a marathon shuffler. That's really what it must have looked like during those last miles.
As far as time goes, I finished a little faster than I expected. I was thinking it would be more like 4:45ish. Here's a general breakdown of what happened with the clock:
Mile 1: 9:45- That's about where I wanted to come out.
Mile 10: 89:35- Nice conversational pace. It felt almost too easy.
Mile 20: About 3hrs-11 minutes. I don't know who plotted out this course, but he must be a real sadistic MF'er. Talk about Hills from Hell. This whole 10 mile section is up/down. Big hills. I mean, hills you see coming up ahead, and ya just wanna cry. The one that ascends to the heavens past Springhill Fire Station was probably the worst.
Miles 20-26.2: 4:27:40. So this is the Wall. It's really unfortunate, cause once you descend from the himalayas around mile 20, the rest of the trip is essentially flat/mildly downhill. But my legs really hurt those last few miles. I wasn't out of breath. Nope. Couldn't be something simple like that. If it was cardiovascular, all I would have had to do was either slow down or walk until I could resume running. But my legs didn't care if I walked a while. When I would start back running, they'd hurt just as bad as before. Oh well. Now I'm just sounding like a whiny little bitch.
Congratulations to Ron Mitchell, my neighbor, who passed my shuffling corpse around mile 25. He left me to loiter on the course and finish about 2 minutes behind him.
Thanks to Michelle Morgan for coming down to the finish line to watch me ooze in.
And of course I thank my wife Laura, who has pampered me since I came out of the finish chute. I was quite pitiful.
More to come later.
Have a great weekend.

The Gay Marathon Fanny-Pack

2009-01-06T16:47:00.000-08:00

Since my last post, there has been some confusion regarding my comments on the fanny-pack I have chosen to use for the upcoming First Light Marathon. I referred to it as my gay marathon fanny-pack. Now certainly this can be misconstrued in reference to sexuality, but let there be no mistake. I am a card carrying heterosexual. Chicks are hot. Dudes are not.

Nor is the marathon itself gay. That I know of. Really, this is my first marathon, so I don't really know for sure. More like a regular, gay/ungay/don't care marathon, I'm thinking.

So it all comes down the fanny-pack, which my son modeled above in his masculine Transformer outfit. Since all fanny-packs are inherently gay, I have decided to relabel it as my MAN-PACK(tm). Or the MARATHON MAN-PACK (tm). This should clear things up.

Happy trails!

And go Utes! (WTF?!)

6 days left

2009-01-05T17:16:00.000-08:00

I have six days left to do the following:
1) Rest my legs
2) Eat like I'm still running and get fat like in a hurry
3) Hopefully not get sick
4) Obsess over running a marathon for which I am not formally prepared
5) Decide how much crap I can cram into my "Gay Marathon Fanny-Pack"
6) Think about those hills "in the middle" of the course
You get the picture. First Light Marathon is less than a week away, and I'm trying to remember how I prepped for the half marathon I did so well in a few weeks back. The week or two prior to that race, my knees were hurting, and I cut WAY back on mileage leading up to it. As it turned out, my legs were fresh the day of the race, and I turned in a respectable first half marathon time of 1:46. So I'll abstain from running this week. It's not like rushing to get in more training would make a difference at this point.
As far as time goes...who knows? I'm not setting a target finish time on this first go-around. Just finish.

My running sucketh

2008-12-30T19:30:00.001-08:00

Ya know, I hate to sound like a little whiny bitch, but my running this past week has been flat and uninspired. Verily, I am low unto the pit, the trough of performance in which today's 4 mile run I had to TRY to finish. 4 milers should be automatic at this point! My legs feel tired. My cardiovascular system seems well enough, but my legs just seem tight/fatigued.
I feel that I need to rest my legs this coming week for the Marathon. Start slow with fresh legs. Right? Shuffle down Dauphin, hitting every Gatorade station, and digesting candy corn/pretzels for sugar and sodium.
Fresh legs led me on the Holiday Half Marathon. Can I expect more with First Light?
Stay tuned, pilgrims!

Azalea Trail

2008-12-27T19:08:00.000-08:00

I'm kinda bored stiff with my usual run route. I can run different variations for different distances, but the overall scenery feels stale. I broke the ol' habit today by driving into downtown Mobile, and parked at the start-up of the Azalea Trail route. This is a popular 10k route with it's namesake race held every March. Needless to say, there are a lot of Azaleas on the roadside.
The Government Street and Dauphin Street legs have plenty of "Old Mobile" houses to admire. Some are restored "painted ladies." Some are newer and bigger, like the Clampets took up residence. Real nice and pretty. Just the thing to take my mind off just how crappy my run was.
Now everyone has their share of crappy runs. I'm thinking I can blame mine on all the Holiday pig-outs I had. Hopefully, this will come to pass, if ya know what I mean. Also, this may a trough. I peaked a couple weeks ago, now it's time to push through the low spot. When I ran the Holiday half-marathon, I felt like I could do no wrong. Today, I was a bloated sack of intestines, and damn proud to finish 6.2. So tomorrow I'll try to get a decent run in, and avoid holiday leftovers.

Merry Christmas

2008-12-24T12:46:00.000-08:00

The problem with baking cookies is that I eat about 1/4 of them myself. This greatly reduces the portions that I can dole out to my neighbors. Add in a couple beers tonight, and my caloric intake is off the charts. Thank goodness this only comes around once a year.

Merry Christmas!

14 miles today

2008-12-20T09:03:00.000-08:00

I have been curious about the First Light Marathon course, so this morning I got up and drove to downtown Mobile for a look see. I've seen the route map on the internet, so I had a vague idea of the major streets the run took.
I parked on Government Street, and clicked on my dandy new fanny pack before taking off. For $4.99 at Academy, this little gem is the pinnacle of masculine running apparel. But if I'm gonna run some long distances, I need to take some sort of pack for hauling stuff.
I ran slow and comfortable (that reminds me of an old drink called a "slow comfortable screw") up Government, then Old Government, over to Emogene, then up Dauphin. Most of the first third of this race is flat. But when Dauphin Street dead ends into McGregor, hold on. The hills start. Now I didn't run nearly the entire route, but it looks like the second third of the race will be rough, with lots of hills. I stopped at a friend's house on Stein Street long enough to drink all the OJ in the house, potty, and get back on the road. Note to self, buy Frank some OJ.
I got over to Springhill Avenue, and headed back past the interstate. This part of the route is once again flat. I ran the length of Springhill, hooked right on Broad, then back on Government to finish up. 14 miles. Gee, sure felt longer.
I finished with some gas left, but I don't know how much. The good thing about this run is that the last third is flat. If I could survive the hills and get back east of I-65, it would be a matter of one foot in front of the other.
Now where's that motrin?

7 days to Christmas

2008-12-18T17:28:00.000-08:00

7 days left to buy more cheap-made Chinese toys. Like we could possibly need more toys. I gotta get it done this weekend. Shopping and wrapping. This could require a few beers.
I ran 7 miles this morning before work. Nothing exciting. I did get a new PR for sit-ups. 80 on my first set. I know....life in the fast lane.
Hate to leave it short, but I'm tired. Work has been tough lately. I need some zzzzz's.
Happy trails.

After the half

2008-12-16T16:51:00.000-08:00

Okay, the euphoria has retreated. The confidence has fallen back to slightly above normal levels. It's time to move on. But move on in which direction? Well , there is a marathon/half-marathon next month. I mean of course that I would run the half-marathon. Not the marathon, silly. That would be crazy.
But yesterday, crazy thoughts did fill my mind. What if I slowed down, and ran a 10 minute pace? Why, that's almost walking! Surely I could do that..... And then I educated myself on the "The Wall." Now I think I'll stick with the half. No wall there. Running the half Saturday, I wasn't even in the yard. Much less hitting some stinking wall.
Later, I'll strike out on a long run in search of the wall. Find it. Evaluate it. Deal with it privately, instead of in the middle of a race. It shouldn't be hard to find it. Most everyone says all ya gotta do is run about 20 miles, and it'll be there waiting to kick your ass.
And the half cannot be taken for granted. I ran 4 miles today in warm, muggy weather, and my hamstrings were TIGHT. So for now I'll stick with the shorter stuff. Anyway... gotta go. The kids are apparently tearing the house apart in another room. I better see what that crashing noise was.................................

1:46:30 Half Marathon

2008-12-14T06:36:00.000-08:00

I ran the Holiday Half Marathon yesterday, and was pleasantly surprised with myself. I had been nervous about running 13.1 in a race, but it was easier than expected. No wall. No cramps. NO KNEE PAIN! I started out slow, running the first couple miles at about an 8:45 pace. Through the middle, I eased up to about 8:00 even. And The last 3 miles or so, I ran high 7's. This slow start/faster finish allowed me the pleasure of passing up a lot of fellow pilgrims during the last 6 miles of the race. The last guy I passed was about 20 feet from the finish line, and had slowed down to take a picture of the finish clock, and I squirted around him right at the line. Sorry dude, but you looked like you might be in my age bracket.

Things I learned:

1: The band-aids really work... x 2.

2: I brought a dry change of clothes for the after-race. Good idea, or I would have been COLD.

3: Don't wolf down pizza and fried chicken RIGHT out of the finish chute. Bad idea.

4: Running + drinking= aspiration.

5: Women can purchase running apparel that resemble lingerie.

6: Don't try to figure out how that geezer beat you out to mile 7. Just pass him, and say hello.

Anyway, I'll approach future long runs with a little more confidence. So maybe next year could yield my first marathon. Who knows?

Happy trails and Merry Christmas!

Another Dreadmill Day

2008-12-10T18:19:00.000-08:00

I had to run inside today, since it was raining and becoming cold and I wasn't in the mood to deal with all that crap. So I enlisted the help of one of the trusty treadmills at the Y. I ran a comfortable 7 miles before I had to go home. No major pain. I don't think I'll run much until the half marathon this weekend.
Unfortunately, when you're on the dreadmill, you have to watch CNN recycle bad news over and over again. Even my IPod couldn't drown out news of the Illinois governor fiasco. What a piece of crap. This just reinforces my suspicion that most politicians suck. And this is just one of them that got caught. If we only knew how deep the corruption goes, we'd probably revolt. Ya know, it's okay to revolt occasionally. Thomas Jefferson said so in the Declaration of Independence. But I'm getting above my pay grade. So I need to focus on running my first official "half." 13.1 miles. Did I mention the low Saturday morning is around 34 degrees?
Got band-aids? Two of 'em?

Nice Run

2008-12-08T15:15:00.001-08:00

M1 Garand

I got 5 miles in this afternoon. Nice and easy. No aches/pains. I was kinda worried how I would do, since I hardly ran at all last week. After about 2 miles, I felt fine. More leg extensions at the gym. And a PR for sit-ups. I got 70 sit-ups on my first set.

I'm still thinking about the half-marathon this weekend. If I continue to run well through mid-week, I may try the half this Saturday in Point Clear. I think it's flat. I hope it's flat. As a freakin' pancake.

Now that college football season is almost over, I must turn to other obsessions. How about guns? Like the M1 Garand. I don't own one yet, but I've shot two, and really enjoyed it. More to come on this later.
Happy trails.

Tough Loss

2008-12-07T14:57:00.000-08:00

The Alabama Crimson Tide played admirably last night, but it still was a tough loss. Looks like Sugar Bowl time for us. It will be interesting to see how Oklahoma adjusts to Florida's pass rush. As a SEC fan, it will be fun to watch.
I ran 3.1 miles yesterday, but not in a race. It was ran gingerly on a treadmill, as I awaited the verdict from my knees. So far, so good. Just a twinge of discomfort around 2.5 miles. And I've started with the leg extensions. 6 sets of about 10-15 reps to failure. That's a whole new world of hurt. My goal is about 10 sets twice weekly. I hope to get this behind me quickly. To run pain free would be a pleasure.
Have fun Christmas shopping. And watch those crowds at Walmart.

They'll kill your ass for a $795 42" Plasma Vizio!

Runner's Knee

2008-12-03T19:01:00.000-08:00

Okay, I took off 5 days before I ran again. And my knees still bother me quite a bit. After consulting Dr. Internet, I have diagnosed myself my Runner's Knee. Here's what the good Doc told me to do:
1) Back off on the mileage until this is under control.
2) Ice packs to the knees for 30 minutes at night.
3) Ibuprofen.
4) Consult a running shoe expert for advice on foot support/possible new shoe for overpronation.
5) Work on developing my quads with leg extensions. Apparently, an imbalance in strength between my hamstrings and my quadriceps muscles can cause overpronation, which contributes to runner's knee.
So it's back to the drawing board. Thanks for your insight, Bill. I'll try to get on with knee therapy this week.
Enjoy your week, and don't forget to root for Bama!

36-0

2008-12-01T05:44:00.000-08:00

Well, Auburn fans can hold up 7 fingers anyway. They incurred 7 losses this season. Not exactly what they were hoping for. Wow. So now all we have to do is beat Florida this Saturday. Like that would be so easy. But anyway....
I haven't put in a run since Friday, and my knees are still sore. Maybe another day or two off, and I can get ready for the Jingle Bell 5k this weekend. Looking ahead, there is a half-marathon in 2 weeks. I know I can run the distance, if my knees (especially the left) are cooperating. It has been almost a year since I suffered a running injury, so I guess I'm due up for one. Last winter, it was a calf-strain. A week off took care of that. I guess time will tell.
Gotta go.
Happy trails!

Tired legs

2008-11-28T13:20:00.000-08:00

Thank goodness Thanksgiving is over! I can tolerate overeating and bad football games only so long. Don't get me wrong. The food was excellent. The company was fine. But after sitting around the house all day doing nothing but eating/visiting/watching tv, I feel like a slug.

I did, however, get in some morning runs for the last four days. I didn't pay close attention to the mileage, but they were 4-5.5 miles each. Now I think I need a day or two off, 'cause my legs are SORE. I'll pick up again Sunday or Monday, and get ready for the upcoming Jingle Bell 5k next weekend. Then there's a half-marathon coming up in two weeks. Hmmm...that might be a date.

The Iron Bowl is tomorrow. If Tommy Turberville trots off the field holding up seven fingers, I'm gonna puke! Pray for 12-0, believers.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T04:21:00.000-08:00

Let the cooking begin!

Remember to be careful if frying your turkey.

Try to get an early morning run in BEFORE the all day buffet starts.

Thanksgiving:

Too much food and not enough football!

Happy Trails!

My first 13.1

2008-11-23T12:16:00.000-08:00

When I got up this morning, I still felt sorta guilty about running the 5k and missing out on the 10 miler yesterday. So I decided to run 10 miles for my long run today.....and wound up extending to my first half-marathon distance.
The first 10 miles treated me kindly. I averaged about 8:40/mile. I don't monitor my heart rate, but my breathing was well controlled. At the end of 10, I decided to go for 11 miles, just to set a new personal record. When I stopped at my truck after mile 11, I downed a Gatorade and still felt a little froggy. So off I went for that last 2.1 miles. My legs started talking to me the last mile or so, and I was glad to finish.
Today wound up a 36 mile week. Definitely one of my longer weeks.
And in case you didn't know, the Iron Bowl is in six days.

Roll Tide!!!

Mission accomplished...sort of

2008-11-22T19:48:00.000-08:00

Well, I got up and braved the cold today. It really wasn't as cold as predicted. Sunny. I'd say long sleeve-T and long pants with gloves weather. No bleeding nipples.

I ran my second best 5k time of 22:27. That's a 7:13 pace, and it was all I had in me. I did place 3rd in my age bracket, which is the second top 3 finish for me. But then I found out they only gave out awards for the 1st place finisher in the 5 year age groups for the 5k race. And it wasn't even a medal. It was some lame-ass tote bag. Oh well. It's not such a big deal. I did what I set out to do.

What's next? Maybe a half-marathon and an M1 Garand. More on that later. Stay warm!

It's gonna be cold

2008-11-21T15:49:00.000-08:00

28 degrees tonight. Around 30 degrees at race time tomorrow. Al Gore, kiss my ass. I'm glad I'm not running the 10 miler. I predict there will be some chafed nipples coming off that 10 mile route tomorrow. Ooooh! That's a whole new classification of pain.
Anyway. Gotta go.
Happy trails!

5k taper

2008-11-19T18:53:00.000-08:00

Yeah. You read that right. I'm tapering for my 5k race Saturday. How does one taper for a race that's 3 blocks long? Well, since I'm not a marathoner yet, I have to use a little creativity. And to fuel this creativity, I drank one Yuengling, and 2 glasses of Merlot.
Okay, so here's the plan: no further runs after today, and light weight-lifting Thursday and Friday. Then try to run my ass off Saturday Morning. Now I'm not exactly trying to PR here. I just need to do well (read 7:20-7:40 average). If the participant demographics aren't drastically different from last year, I should at least secure a top 3 medal for my age group. Did I just jinx myself?

Vacation flies by

2008-11-18T19:41:00.000-08:00

I'm off work this week, and I find it amazing how fast time passes. If I were working this week, it would still be about 10 AM Monday morning. Maybe noon at the latest. However, due to the fact that I'm enjoying myself (i.e. not at work), time as we know it has accelerated.

On a brighter note, I ran 10 miles today in the arctic tundra of Saraland, Alabama. It was about 40 degrees, with a wind chill of about 30 (or so it felt). I ran well, considering that no matter which direction I went, I had a head-wind. I was cold, yet sweated profusely. Is that possible?

It's so cold tonight, we brought the dogs in after a flea bath/treatment. They usually sleep in an enclosed garage, but it's gonna be REALLY cold tonight. Hope the cat doesn't mind.

What to race

2008-11-17T18:35:00.000-08:00

Okay, we're back from Orange Beach. My friend Frank was kind to let us stay at his condo over the weekend. I always forget just how trashy the Flora-Bama really is. But Saturday night I was once again reminded. We sat at one of the bars long enough to catch the first half of the Alabama game, then had to leave after choking on cigarette smoke. I mean, come on. Just how many cigarettes does somebody have to chain-smoke in one night?

Anyway... were back home, and I'm obsessing over this race coming up this weekend. It's called the Turkey Ten Miler. There is also a 5k that shares the start-up. Here's the situation. I want to win some hardware. And this is one of those races where just about all the fast freaks are running the 10 miler. I'm thinkin' maybe I could sneak in the 5k and place in the top 3 of my age bracket. My age group (35-39) is VERY competitive. When I run in a big race, I place in about the 80th percentile overall. But in my bracket, I'm not even on the radar. It's these overlooked runs that afford me the best chance for a medal.
As far as the 10 miler goes, I ran this last year and really sucked hind quarter. I think I averaged about 9 1/2 minute miles. A week or two ago, I beat that pace handily on a 10 mile practice run. I'm feeling a little guilt about fagging out on the long race, but a medal is a medal. Right? Maybe?

One more day

2008-11-13T17:17:00.000-08:00

Just one more day of work, and I get an entire week off. An entire week of goofing off and acting irresponsibly. Yeah, right. But at least I won't have to drag my ass out of bed for work.

Laura's parents are going to be watching the kids here while we go to Orange Beach for the weekend. Plans are for a long run Saturday morning, shopping in the afternoon, and beer/football Saturday night at the Flora-Bama Lounge. The bad thing about this place is it's a dive. The good thing is it's a dive. It's close to the condo, so we can walk to it via the beach, albeit a cold beach. The low Saturday night is about 38. Er, no skinny-dipping in the Gulf that night.

Shout out to Theron

2008-11-11T17:40:00.000-08:00

I recently received some email from my sister in law's husband, Theron. He's stationed overseas in the military. Maybe he's doing some badass commando stuff. Maybe he's sitting on his ass, sipping some cold beer. It's all highly classified. Hope you're doing well, my friend. Ice cold brews and barbecue are on me when you get back home. And yeah, we'll go on a long run (before beer/barbecue).

To all the vets out there: Thank you and God bless!!!

Another great Saturday

2008-11-08T18:37:00.000-08:00

I'm sitting here writing this just after Alabama pulled off an OT win against LSU. Laura and I went to the Mellow Mushroom for the game, along with a few friends. Plenty of beer and EXCELLENT pizza. This really was a close one. Bama has a knack for losing this type of game, but somehow came away with a "W." Can you believe Penn State got beat by Iowa? I mean, isn't that a high-school team? Junior Varsity?
Earlier today, I met a couple friends for an 8 mile run. We had a nice leisurely pace of about 8:35/mile on average. Everyone had a good time. We talked most of the run. The weather cooperated just fine. We've made plans to do it again soon. Right now, I'm feeling right as rain. I'm hoping for more of the same next week.
Happy trails.

Roll Tide!!!!

10 miles for Tuesday

2008-11-05T07:19:00.000-08:00

I went out to run 4 easy miles yesterday morning. Instead, I ran 10 miles for the second time ever. It was another great day to run, with cloudy skies, 50ish degrees, and no dogs. I intended on getting a short run, but as I finished 4 miles, I felt like going further. So I went 6 miles. Still felt good. So I went 8 miles, then further to 10. Finally at that marker, my legs said, "Alright, dumbass. That's enough." I doubt I'll run today. After work, I'm meeting some buds for beer and pizza. Aaah. Ya gotta love those rest days.

Gone to the dogs....

2008-11-03T07:47:00.000-08:00

I had a good 8 mile run this morning. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, about 50 degrees and sunny. And I had an unexpected running partner. A Rottweiller (did I spell that right?) about the size of a Sherman tank. I was about 4 miles into my run when I spotted him. This big beast of a dog running around loose on the street. He didn't pay much attention to me until I had run past him, then he decided we were gonna be best buddies. He ran right alongside of me, almost tripping me up several times he was so close. Never barked or growled. Acted like he wanted to be petted. The whole time I'm thinking, "Holy shit, that's a big dog!" He ran with me for about a mile, and I guess he got bored and split. I'm glad he was a nice dog. He could have chewed my ass up if he had wanted to.
Anyway. No races are nearby this weekend. I will try to log some good long runs through the week. Maybe another 8 miler on Saturday.
Happy Trails. And don't forget to vote.

What a fine day!

2008-11-01T19:03:00.000-07:00

Let me count my blessings today:
1) Got up and ran my second best 10k time ever--47:20. The Senior Bowl 10k Charity Run is almost flat as a pancake, and the weather this morning was made for running. The skies were clear and the temp was about 50 degrees at start time. I slummed it my first mile, running about 8:12, then every mile got better afterwards.
2) Purchased Halloween decorations for next year 75% off at Lowes. Cha-ching!
3) Played in the woods behind the house with Zachary.
4) Burned a bonfire this evening and drank cold beer.
5) Auburn lost. Tennessee lost. Alabama won.
What a day.

Roll Tide, baby!

Trick or Treat, fool!

2008-10-30T17:31:00.000-07:00

Now that's classy!
Tomorrow night is Halloween, and we're hitting the streets with Bumblebee and Princess. Hope to score some quality junk, like Twix, M&M's (peanut), Kit-Kat. Yeah, if my kid tries to stop me from lifting the Kit-Kat out of their bag, they're going down.
Saturday morning, I may run a local 10k race if my immune system allows. Exactly how long can a F'ing cold last anyway. I mean, come on now!!!!
Saturday afternoon is football time. Alabama plays Arkansas State. Auburn vs. Ole Miss. Texas vs. Texas Tech. And, oh yeah, that little game between Georgia and Florida. I'm stocked with Yuengling and Blue Moon. Margaritas are available if needed. Bring it.

Saturday call

2008-10-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

I'm on call for the OR this weekend, and so far today, I'm getting my ass kicked. I'm waiting for my 4th case of the day. Not good. At least there's a little down-time for football on tv. So far, Georgia is leading LSU. Texas is rolling. Bama has yet to play. Florida beat the crap out of Kentucky. What's up with that?
I ran the previous 2 days, and fared pretty well.
Day 1: 5 miles at a 9:40 pace.
Day2: 8.5 miles at a 9:20 pace.
I don't know how much I'll get to run with my OR call this weekend. Definitely Monday, I'll get a good long run. I gotta get up for the Senior Bowl Charity 10k next Saturday.

Maybe I'll live after all

2008-10-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

Terrence Cody report: Sprained MCL. Out at least 2 games. Heal fast, big man.

I feel better tonight. Apparently, my affliction with ebola/west nile/bird flu is coming to an end. I'll likely hit the streets tomorrow or Thursday. I can only wonder how far back this has set my pace. I guess the upside is that my legs have had a vacation! Woo-hoo!

I am pondering a half-marathon in early January. I have been running up to 8 miles on my long runs lately, so it seems plausible. Hopefully, I can stretch out to 10 miles in the next 2-4 weeks. Research is in order. Tonight, I'll google some half-marathon training schedules, and begin plotting the whole fiasco.

Margaritas and football

2008-10-18T15:53:00.000-07:00

I'm still fighting the crud today, so I laid low and watched Alabama hang on against Ole Miss. I don't feel really that bad, but I have little energy, and this bad cough. So I'm treating it with plenty of R&R and Margaritas. I don't know if this is FDA approved, but it's fun for watching football.

My running arch nemesis, Karen Steed, ran the Saraland Harvest Festival 8k in 36:41. Nice job. Definitely would have waxed my ass today. So I think I'll have one more margarita, and tune in the Texas/Missouri game. Hopefully I'll get back on track this week. Happy trails.

Sick Day

2008-10-16T06:54:00.000-07:00

I'm sick with the crud, so I'll probably miss this weekend's race. It's been passed around the whole family, and now it's my turn. I ran seven miles Monday morning, and felt great. I dragged my ass for three miles Tuesday, and thought death had overtaken me. Now I'm doing well to make it to work.
I guess the rest of the week will be down time. Maybe I can break out the Halloween decorations this weekend while the tv is locked on football. Still I have ambitions for the Senior Bowl Charity 10k coming up. Hope springs eternal.

Can I go sub 49 on a 10k again?

2008-10-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

My PR for 10k distance is about 46:30. It was at the Azalea Trail Run and I was 30 years old. Now I'm 38, and wondering if I can threaten that time again. Earlier this year, I ran 49:24 at the Azalea Trail Run. That is right around an even 8 minute mile average.
Okay, so here's the deal. I think I can run faster than 49 minutes for a 10k right now. I don't think I'm quite there to beat the 46 minute mark, but I would expect to finish maybe 47-48 minutes. Which brings us to the Senior Bowl Charity 10k coming up in about 2 1/2 weeks. I'll try my luck, and hopefully the weather will cooperate. The course is nice and flat. Brother, let us pray for some cold temps.
Gotta go.
Remember.....................................

Roll Tide!

5k PR shattered!

2008-10-12T08:15:00.000-07:00

Two weeks ago, I set a 5k PR of 22:30. Yesterday, I ran the Guns and Hoses 5k in 22:07. That's a 7:07/mile average. Here's how it went down:
Mile 1: 6:55
Mile 2: 7:05
Mile 3.1: Slowed down some, but not too shabby.
I had to pass up quite a few firemen and policemen that last mile. Sorry, guys. Maybe if you laid off those donuts.....
And if the day wasn't going well enough, Auburn and Tennessee lost, too. Awesome.

So, how's your retirement doing?

2008-10-10T07:37:00.000-07:00

My retirement portfolio is sucking wind, babe. I just wonder where the bottom is, like everyone else is wondering. I just don't want to look at the news anymore, cause it's all bad news.

Anyway, that's all the whining I'm going to do today. For now. There is a 5k race tomorrow I'll probably run. Hope it's cool like today. But the big news is that I plan on running the Food World Senior Bowl Charity 10k next month. My last 10k was about 49:24 at the Azalea Trail Run back in March. I think I can beat that now. Maybe 47-48 minutes. That depends largely on the weather and my legs. I plan on cranking up the mileage in the next 2 weeks, and then tapering the week of the race. No beer that week. No spicy Mexican food (numero 38, por favor).

Gotta go. Good luck with your greenbacks.

2008-10-08T14:30:00.000-07:00

The in-laws are coming over for the weekend, and there will probably be some beer drank for this game. They are LSU fans, so to make it fun I'll root for Florida. Of course, I also do this because Alabama is in the SEC West. No offense to Tiger fans. It is what it is.

I may run in the Guns and Hoses 5k Saturday morning if I have time. It's been a little warmer, so I don't know how that will work out. I ran 5.5 miles this morning and it was HOT.

Beer selection has been made and Blue Moon and Yuengling are loaded in the beer fridge.

Hill work in the Smokies

2008-10-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

I ran some bitchin' hills last week while we vacationed in Gatlinburg. The downtown strip runs about 1.5 miles from stoplight #10 up to the Exxon station before you leave town towards Pigeon Forge. So every morning I'd drive down from Ski Mountain, and run up and back the strip twice to make six miles even. That first morning it was 40 degrees, and I almost froze my ass off. Fingers? What fingers? Yeah, the second day I wore some cotton gloves, and they helped a lot with the cold. Despite the whining, it really was an enjoyable route. I finished each day feeling fine. See the sign above? Rainbow Falls? Not a good idea for a day hike with two small kids. I can't tell you the exact elevation, but it kicked our butts. Laurel Falls is a lot more kid friendly. Those were the two big hikes we went on. Cades Cove was alright if you like traffic jams. We walked downtown one night, and that was enough. Touristy. Very touristy. The mountain views and the trails were great, and we'll be back for that. Oh yeah.....

Roll Tide!!!

It's gotta be Blue Moon in Gatlinburg

2008-09-29T10:51:00.000-07:00

We're going to Gatlinburg this week with the kids. God help us. I have a new game for Zachary's Leapster, and movies for the portable dvd player. This is the first long road trip (about 8 hours) we've taken with everybody. And this is why Laura and I will treat our nerves with Blue Moon Belgian Ale once we settle in at Ski Mountain. If you haven't tried it, don't forget an orange slice served with the brew. What a fine beer!
As far as logging in some miles underfoot, I look forward to running the streets of downtown Gatlinburg in the early mornings. I'm sure those hills will be loads of fun.......not! Maybe the kids will like some easy trail hikes. There are a couple decent trails that lead to waterfalls. We'll see.
Anyway, Happy Trails. And Roll Tide!

New 5k PR!

2008-09-27T20:59:00.000-07:00

I ran in the Bayfest 5k race this morning, and finished 47th out of 350 at 22:30. This is about a 7:14/mile average. It was 67 degrees, and the course was flat as a pancake. That helped a lot. Plus there was a runner with whom I am competitive, right on my ass the whole race. She forced me to keep running fast especially the last mile, when I could hear her about 30 yards back, going, "I'm coming! I'm gonna' catch you now!" That shit was downright scary. So I pushed on and finished with a new PR. And I beat her, too.

And in case you might have missed THE GAME Saturday night.......

Alabama 41 - Georgia 30

Roll Tide!!!!!!