Wednesday, November 26, 2008

What's Next?

I need to find a new job next. I think this one is coming to an end.

I walked down to the expo for the Atlanta Marathon yesterday. I had thought about running the 1/2 but I didn't want to fork out the money. I think I'm done for the year. I'm trying to get a feel for what I would like to do next year. I know I would like to do Ironman 70.3 Augusta , at least 1 marathon, and some sprints. I would really like to do a big open water swim if possible. I have it on my list to one day do the one in San Franciso that goes from Alcatraz Island. How cool!
I want to go bigger but I don't have the time or the money. If I win the lottery I'll be doing Ironman Cozumel.

I just watched this video on another blog http://imnotfittorun.blogspot.com/ and had to share it.

Friday, November 21, 2008

Thanksgiving


The best of all the holidays. My first meal will be tomorrow!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

What moves me?


Lately I have been just sitting back and doing nothing that you could call exercise. I have been doing some thinking as to what I like in sports. I have determined that I like watching the people who are mentally strong.

Sports like marathons, triathlons, distance swimming, ultra –anything is what is now catching my attention. When I read about people doing an Ironman race it’s always the people that struggle and overcome that make me want to sign up. I love to see people want to stop but keep going. They overcome and do more then most.

Overcome! A few weeks back I was flipping through the channels when I saw what I thought was the Olympic opening ceremonies. I flipped back just in time to see a man in a wheelchair hoisting himself and his chair up to light the Paralympic flame. I jumped up and ran to the other room so that I could record it. I watched as much I could until I had to leave. WOW!

That night my wife and I watched these folks swim, run, wheel, and just plain compete. They did a bunch of athlete profiles that my wife said depressed her. A co-worker said the same thing as I spoke to him the next day about the games. I think the opposite. I see mental strength beyond what most could imagine. I watched a person who can barley walk to the pool get in and swim like a fish. I watched a man frozen with ALS move gracefully in his boat on the water. You can almost see all they have overcome in life just to compete. I see the fire in their eyes and it makes me want to be better. Now I just need to get up and get going.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon

I finished the race in just under 4:50. Not what I was hoping for but at least I crossed the line. I ran the first half of the race in 2 hours so that should tell you how much I struggled on the 2nd half.

The ride up Friday night was just what you would expect. We left the house at about 4:30 on a rainy Friday in Atlanta. My butt was numb by the time we got to the hotel. I quickly checked in and headed to packet pickup. I was happy to get a shirt and hat in my packet and I seriously thought that I could just go home and people would never be the wiser.

Race morning was cold. I bundled up and headed out. By start time it was a little warmer but I was glad to have my mittens. As I waited for the start I put on my music and had to laugh when Vanilla Ice came on because all I could think of was a dancing gorilla. In a blog this past week someone danced to this dressed in a gorilla suit . It put my in a good frame of mind to start. I thank you.

The gun went off and I was off. It was a little crowded for the first mile or two and then I settled in to a comfortable pace. Things were going good. I planned on drinking water at ever station (about 2 miles) and eating a gu about every 45 minutes. I stopped to duck behind a tree at about mile 5 and lost a mitten. Darn! I tossed the other one in a pile of clothes others had discarded. If you ever want running gear just clean up after a marathon because people were getting rid of all kinds of shirts and such.

After another woods pit stop, I hit the halfway mark at about 2 hours and change. Between the walk at the start and my pit stops in the woods I figured I was right on pace. I was picking up time on ever mile and feeling good. My back was fine, my legs were good and the music that I picked out was perfect. The course was super also. In the early morning you could almost imagine the battle with the cannons and the fog rising off the fields. The hills were small and most of the run felt like you were running through the woods. Just NICE!

I crossed over mile 14 or 15 and my legs started cramping. I tried to keep running and I almost feel over because the cramp in my calf made me toes point down. I tried to stretch and started running again. I made it about another 100 yards and again almost feel over. I ran as far as I could and would then have to walk. I noticed something when I walked, I walk very slow. I could see others walking and they would pull away quickly. The mile marker signs seemed to be getting further and further apart. I ran as much as I could and finally got passed by a lady that had to be 80. That sucked so I tried to run more. I then got passed by the 4:30 pace runner and I ran with him for about a mile until my leg locked up. It sucked because my mind was still in this thing and I was not feeling real bad except the cramp. I started taking in Gatorade hoping it would help. Nope. I ran as much as possible until I got to 25 miles. At this point the some lady that was power walking passed me. I just could not let that happen I was determined to beat her and finish under 5 hours. I ran and walked and just stayed in front of this lady. It was like one of those Friday the 13th movies where the murder always keeps up. I hit the 26 mile marker and asked God to let me finish running. It was all downhill and I ran up to about 10 yard from the finish and I locked up. Some guy told me to suck it up so I did and hobbled to the end. I’m sure my picture will show the pain.

After the race they gave me my framed race number and took my picture. I thought that this would be a good one until I later realized ho much salt was one my face. It was caked on bad.

I have been sitting and eating ever sine the race ended and feel like I may be walking normal in a few more days. I’m proud that I finished but I could have done so much better. Maybe next year, maybe not!

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Baby I was born to run!

I’ll be hitting the road with the family tomorrow as soon as the boy gets home from school. I’m having a hard time clearing my mind of all the negatives. I don’t remember ever thinking that I may not finish until this week. I always just thought that if things go bad I’ll just walk some. I’m not worried about the foot pain but my back is a game stopper. I hate to fail at anything and I know I’ll push it to the brink. I sure don’t want to look like a failure to my son.

I have completely changed the songs on the mp3 player for the race. I have everything from AC/DC to the Beach Boys. I pulled new and old songs, anything that mad me smile made the list.

I’ve been thing about what to do exercise wise come Monday. I want to keep up some kind of running and may go back to the Power 90X. I never gave it a fair shot because I was training for St. Anthony’s at the time. I’m also going to make a real attempt to lose some more weight.

Monday, November 3, 2008

I Feel Pretty!

I feel like a girl because I went out the weekend and got me a new running outfit for the big day. Nothing special but it’s at least running cloths. The shorts that I usually run in are heavy and just get heavier as the run gets further.

My running has been non-existent for the past 2 weeks because I'm just plain done, I'm burnt out. My mind and body just want to stop and take a break. It’s mostly my mind. I need something new and fresh to get me excited again. I peaked a few weeks ago with the running and I never recovered. When this is over I’ll take a week or so off and then start running without thinking about the time or distance again.

I don’t know what to expect for this weekend. I have been tossing around goals in my head and that has just made me miserable. So, I now have just 2 goals: finish and be able to go to work on Monday.

I still have not nailed down nutrition. The good news is that I can eat just about anything and I don’t feel sick. The bad news is that nothing seems to give me any kind of lift; I may just need to eat sooner and more often. That is what I’m planning for Saturday.

As I write this the nervousness that I have been feeling are starting to change to excitement. I think it was just me saying that I now have no time goals. I think that I forgot that I’m doing this for fun (and so I can brag to my older brother).


ATLANTA FALCONS FOOTBALL RULES!