Mind Games

I got out the door at about 7:30AM Sunday morning to head to the park for a planed 6 mile run. I have learned that if I want to go for a run in the morning that I need to get all my stuff laid out the night before. If I don't I will try to talk myself in to not going. I wish I could have started a little earlier because I felt the heat with the first step out the door.

I get to the park and get moving. Right away my legs hurt and I have to start playing mind games. The first one is the one that everyone uses, I tell myself to run to the mile marker and then I can stop and stretch. As I get closer to the marker and start to feel a little better I tell myself to just get to the end of the loop (2.2 miles). I know that I can’t stop at the end of the loop because that is where my car is parked and I may head to the parking lot if I stop. I say just run a little beyond the end so you won't want to go to the car. I know that if I start another loop I will keep going. I have a thing about turnign around. I would rather run 2 mile forward then go ½ mile back.So now it is just make it to the half way point in the run (3 mile) At 3 miles I do stop and try to get my legs to loosen up. I walk for a 1/10th of a mile and I just feel worst then before I stopped. I start sweating bad and I can feel my legs start to cramp. So I get moving again.

As I continue to run I get to play the best mind game for me because a fast runner passes me going the other direction on the loop. Now this allows me to think “We passed at this mile marker and I will have to pass him again at that marker to be running at his pace”. Because the loop is 2.2 miles it takes me a little while to figure it out and then I question my math then add it again. By the time I figure it out I've run another mile. I do pass this guy again and we are running about the same pace. I know I'm not a fast runner and lately I've been even slower but I do keep up with some people that look to be moving quickly. They must stop and walk or I move faster then I think.

I get to 5 miles and start counting the markers and with ¼ mile to go I’m starting to struggle. I look back and can see some fast dude catching me and I play one more game, don’t let him catch me before I finish. It works! I hit six miles and start to walk. It felt good to finish and I had ½ mile walk to the car to get cooled down. I didn't get 10 steps and the fast dude passes me and says something like “come on, you’re almost at the end”. He had pulled the BIG mind game on me and smiled as he did it. I thought ya right, jackhole. Now, do I puss out and walk to the end or try to run to the finish? He ran way fast but I stuck right on the heels until the end. He kept going on for another lap and I turned towards the parking lot. I’m not happy that I let him make me run, I think I’m hurting more today from the last ½ mile then the first 6. Damn Pride!

Random Stuff

Music on my IPod: Guns and Roses ALWAYS makes me run faster. They use a lot of cow bells in their songs and that makes me run fast.
Van Halen (OLD) songs have the best intros, U2 has the worst intros.
- I realized that my son didn’t know the band Van Halen was named for 2 members of the band. I feel like I’ve failed as a parent. Don’t we have a obligation to teach our young? He has a short time left until school starts and I’m going to put him on a heavy diet of old school rock.

I ran today for 30 minutes at lunch and my legs were heavy. I’m starting my 20 week plan a couple of weeks late so I have to get up to speed fast. I am enjoying it again!

I have my 20 year high school reunion coming up next week and I’m starting to get a little excited. They have started a Facebook type site and I’ve been reading about old friends and see how old and bald everyone has gotten. It’s kind of neat to see the pictures of my classmates and their families. I’m going to have a blast.

I’ve had another death in the family. Too many this year! It does make me take a look at my life every time. I have also got some crap going on at work that sucks. I need a new job close to home.

I have been reading race reports from the latest Ironman finishers that I know and it just makes me want it! I want to push myself to those levels, to see what the body can do.

I’m tring to make this a little long so that I can get rid of the picture of my in my swimsuit off my page. I’m tired of see it and it starts to creep you out after a while. Forget i, I just took the picture down.

Running again!

I didn't run far but I pushed further when I wanted to stop.

Good to be Home

Had a great time and even got in some short runs.

1 more day!

One more day of work and I'm on vacation and it can't come soon enough. It's been a tough couple of weeks. I'm looking forward to running on the beach and drinking a lot of cold beer. I'm also taking my bike with me so that I can ride on the flat streets of Florida.

Here I am modeling my new swimsuit that I just got and I think it will be a real head turner when I wear it on the bike.

Good luck to all who are racing this weekend. Post reports and pictures soon.

Run, Fat Boy, Run

OK --- Today I start!


How many times have you said today I start training? Well today is the day for me. I’m starting my running again in prep for a marathon. Running a marathon is something that has always been a LIFE goal. Something that just sits in the back of your mind saying someday I’m going to do that! After speaking with some folks and looking around for the perfect race I have decided that The Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon is the race for me. I was looking for a cheap, close, small, race in November that would not interfere with the holidays. This race more then fits the requirements and I have heard nothing but good things about it. I’m really starting to get excited and I now have a goal again.

Now the training starts. I have been looking around at the many, many plans out on the internet and would like any input as to what others have used. HELP! I’m looking for a plan for beginners that is easy to follow and that give me some off days or cross training days. This race is still a long way out and I want to keep on swimming and biking. I have my eye on a few sprints that I may mix in to keep up with the triathlons. After watching the Irongirl triathlon this past weekend I can feel the itch to do another tri. Those girls were awesome.


I’ll take any advice please.