Love this saying - Thanks Ginny!

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Thanks Ginny, I needed to hear this! I totally agree with it, and I am doing it right now!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

March 20, 2010

6 mile run on the Longleaf Trace

Time: 53:17
Pace: 8:52
The Breakdown:
Mile 1: 9:08
Mile 2: 8:55
Mile 3: 9:06
Mile 4: 8:48
Mile 5: 8:47
Mile 6: 8:33
Temperature was 70 degrees with 54% humidity. Summer is approaching. I am enjoying these runs while they last.

Well this was a last minute run today. I actually went to a gathering last night and decides that I wouldn't run until Sunday since I planned on having a few beverages.
I worked in the office for a few hours this morning and had to get outside. I decided at about 4:00 pm that I would go ahead and do my run today. I didn't expect it to be a great run, but it felt really good. I actually ran a faster pace than I wanted to, oh well. I guess you never know what to expect until you get out there. Got to love running.

Week 34 Totals:
Run: 16 miles
Bike: 10 miles

Thursday, March 18, 2010

March 18, 2010

5 miles on the Longleaf Trace
Time: 45:33
Pace: 9:06
The Breakdown:
Mile 1: 9:10 right where I wanted to be.
Mile 2: 9:11
Mile 3: 9:14 a little slower than I wanted to be.
Mile 4: 9:01 better
Mile 5: 8:53 good strong finish.

Good run today. Stayed between my 9:00 and 9:30 target zone. Right hip is a little sore today. Hope this goes away soon! I think I need new shoes.

Wednesday, March 17,2010 Track on Tap

Track on Tap - St. Patrick's Day Style

This evening Jenny, Terri, Kim and I decided to join the pacers for "Track on Tap". This is a run that they do where we run from bar to bar and sit and talk while having a few drinks. This was the first time that we had done this fun run with the pacers, and we really enjoyed it.

Course:

Southern Miss Gateway Station on Longleaf Trace to Mugshots

Mugshots to The Alumni House

Alumni House to The Endzone

Endzone back to Gateway Station

We had a great time, can't wait to do it again!

Reading Delight...

My wife got me this book for our anniversary and I immediately started reading it. I could not put it down! I have seen Bart Yasso's name in a number of Runner's World issues, but never really knew that much about him. Honestly the only thing that I knew about him before this book was the "Yasso 800's".

This book was a reading delight! It is about the very interesting life and different runs that Bart Yasso has experienced in his lifetime. This is not a "look at me, look how much I have accomplished" book by any means. This is the honest truth about a man, that came from very little education, overcame addictions, and got lucky enough to have the best job in the world! I am not going to give away much about this book, but If any of you runners are looking for a good read, I highly recommend this book.

March 16,2010 Training Log

Went to the gym today to lift some weights and do some cross training.

Did 10 miles on the stationary bike, which I realized today that I hate that worse than the treadmill!

March 15,2010 Run Log

March 15,2010 Run Log

Quick 2 miles on the Longleaf Trace
Time: 17:27
Pace: 8:42
The Breakdown:
Mile 1: 8:52
Mile 2: 8:33

Had a good run with great weather. A little faster than I wanted to go, but oh well. I am tired and really wanted to get it finished.

Half and Full Marathon Year in Review

Half and Full Marathon Year in Review

February 01, 2009
Mardi Gras Half Marathon
New Orleans, LA
Time: 1:49:19 PR
Pace: 8:20
This was my first ever half marathon. Can't believe that this personal record has held up all year.

September 06, 2009
Disneyland Half Marathon
Anaheim, CA
Time: 1:51:16
Pace: 8:29
Was expecting a personal record the weeks before until I came down with the swine flu. The doctor said he could get me feeling better by the race, but told me not to expect a great race time. I still tried, but like he said it was not fun. Great race, just hate that I felt like poop.

December 05, 2009
St. Jude Full Marathon
Memphis, TN
Time: 4:03:33 PR
Pace: 9:17
Trained hard for this race. Followed the book, "4 months to a 4 hour marathon." This book prepared me well for a 4 hour marathon. What I wasn't prepared for was the hills that were in Memphis! I was extremely happy with this time for my first official full marathon. Planning on getting under 4 hours this year.

January 10, 2010
Disney World Half Marathon
Orlando, Fl
Time: 2:04:13
Pace: 9:28
Terrible time, but a fun run. A lot of people at this race made it really hard to even attempt a personal record, so I decided to slow down and enjoy the scenery. Thinking I might have to try the Goofy Challenge next year. 13.1 on Saturday and 26.2 on Sunday.

February 28, 2010

Inaugural Mardi Gras Rock n Roll Half Marathon
New Orleans, LA
Time: 2:33:35 unofficially due to the fact that I wasn't officially registered for the race.
Pace: 11:43
I ran this race with my friend Brittany to provide her with support. It was so much fun to run and not worry about pace and personal records. I was supporting someone that really needed it, that is what this sport is really all about. Too bad some people run all of their lives and never experience what I experienced that day!

March 13,2010 Run Log

March 13,2010

~ Life is a marathon, not a sprint. This means you must balance, prioritize, and pace yourself. ~ unknown author

6 mile run on the Longleaf Trace.

Time: 54:18

Pace: 9:03
The Break Down:
Mile 1: 8:51 a little faster than I wanted to start.
Mile 2: 9:03 better, if I can stay here I am happy.
Mile 3: 9:13 not bad, I am supposed to be between 9:00 and 9:30. Still running strong and feeling good.
Mile 4: 9:05
Mile 5: 9:02
Mile 6: 9:00 good finish. My body is definately not use to this, but I am getting it back.

Had a great run this morning. The weather was in the upper 40's. Accomplished what I set out to do. Actually I ran it a loittle faster than I expected, but stayed in my zone that was laid out for me. One week down, 34 weeks to go until San Antonio Full Marathon.

Week 35 totals:

Run: 18 miles

Bike: 10 miles

March 12,2010 Run Log

March 12,2010

Cross Train
10 miles on bike at the Longleaf Trace
Time: 36:18
Pace: 3:37

Beautiful weather today after work. Had a good ride. I am having a problem with both of my big toes going numb about 3 or 4 miles into the ride. Anyone out there know what might be causing this? It sucks and makes it really hard to keep riding without stopping and letting the feeling come back before I start again. Any suggestions??

March 11,2010 Run Log

March 11,2010

About a month ago I decided that I really wanted to try to qualify for the Boston Marathon. I also knew that this would be a very tough goal to strive for. For my age group, the qualifying time for Boston is a 3:20:59. I ran my first marathon this year in 4:03:33. Not too bad, but I also realized that I would have to shave off about 45 to 50 minutes off my time. I know that this will be just about impossible in the next year so I am going to give myself two years to try. I figure I could cut it down about 20 to 30 minutes this year and another 20 to 30 minutes next year.

OK, so I have a goal and a time frame now, but have no idea where to start when it comes to training for a race like this. I thought about it for awhile and talked a lot about it to my fellow running partners Jenny (my wife) and Terri Ward, the two people who have pushing me toward this Boston goal since I started running. Terri told me that she had talked to a fellow pinebelt pacer, Terry Lawhead, and that she thought I should talk to him about how I could train for my goal. I told her that I didn't even know him, but I guess I could shoot him an email and see if he had any suggestions.

Let me start by saying I was intimidated to even email this guy. Don't get me wrong I have heard nothing but great things about this guy, but let me give you a little background about him. This is what I know, which is very little but I will try my best to do him justice:
First off let me say that every local 5k that I run this man's name is constantly called in the top 3 times, usually the top time. Mr. Lawhead has qualified and for Boston a number of times. I a not sure how many to be exact, but it is more than most people could ever dream of doing.
Now you see why I am a little intimidated to even think about asking this man about how to get into Boston.

I sent an email to him asking for some advice and low and behold he actually emailed me back. All I asked for was some advice and this man offered to write me a training plan. I was astonished! Within a week I had a 35 week training schedule made just for me and my running style. Terry was brutally honest with me, which I needed. He said that if I trained hard enough I might be able to get around a 3:40:33 at the San Antonio Marathon in November. That would be amazing to me if I can get close to that time.

So that brings me to today's run log. This is week 1 of my 35 week training plan. Today I had to do 5 miles at a 9:00 to 9:30 pace. I have to admit it was a little tough. I actually had not ran at that pace since running the Disney World half marathon back in January. I decided after that race that I was getting a little burnt out and just ran when I felt like it. I probably was only averaging about 10 miles a week and didn't care about my pace. It took me running the Mardi Gras half marathon with a friend of mine to fall back in lobe with the sport and finally get motivated to train again. Thank you Brittany for showing me what running is really all about. You told me at one time that Jenny and I motivated you to run, well you just did the same to me.
I realized today that I had lost a lot of what I had and that it was going to be a long road back, but I am ready for the challenge. Let's Roll!

5 miles at the Longleaf Trace
Ran With: myself
Time: 45:33
Pace: 9:06
The Breakdown:
Mile 1-9:03
Mile 2-9:22
Mile 3-9:16
Mile 4-8:59
Mile 5-8:51
Temperature: 80 degrees. Hot, but felt pretty good.

Run Log - March 08, 2010

7 mile run on Longleaf Trace
Time: 1:08:25
Pace: 9:46

Had a nice relaxing run out on the Trace today. It was just what I needed. The weather was beautiful, 68 degrees at the start of my run. This was my first official run of the year with my shirt off. That means spring is slowly getting here. I know in about a month or so I will be dreaming of running in cold weather.

Run Log - March 06, 2010

March 06, 2010

6.54 miles on the Longleaf Trace
Time: 1:04:37
Pace: 9:47

Great run today with Jenny and Terri. Been awhile since I got back out on the trace and really felt like I wanted to run. Maybe running the New Orleans Rock n Roll Half Marathon was exactly what I needed to get myself back up and going. I am focused now on November 14th when I will be trying to lower my personal record for a full marathon. Time to start training hard! Let's roll!

February 28, 2010 - New Orleans Mardi Gras Half Marathon

February 28, 2010

New Orleans Mardi Gras Rock and Roll Half Marathon

Today was interesting. I woke up this morning not know what the day was going to have in store for me. All I knew is that I had decided to run this half marathon with very little training at all. Last week I did a whole 8 miles total of training. Hell, I had only done a total of Miles since the Disney World Marathon back in January. I figured I could do this one with a friend to give her support.
I found Brittany about an hour before the race and we made our way to the corrals for the start of the race. There were so many people there. We were in corral 17 and my wife Jenny and her training partner were in corral 7, so I told them good luck and that we would see them at the end.
Side note: Jenny got a PR with a 2:04... 7 minutes better than her previous PR. Terri got a 1:55... 5 minutes better than her previous PR. Proud of my girls!
Anyway, back to the race. Brittany and I were planning on keeping about a 10 to 11 minute mile, so a PR was not even on my mind, but it was for her! We said that we were just going to enjoy the race. We were enjoying the race and talking as we went by a lot of the bands that were playing during the race. We got to about mile 8 when I realized that my friend was getting really quiet. About that time she said to me, "you are going to hate me when I tell you this." I had no idea what was coming next. "I couldn't find my inhaler this morning, and I am having a hard time getting a deep breath." I knew that this was going to be a very interesting race from this point on. I asked her if she was going to be able to make it through the rest of the race and she told me she could.

All I can say is that this girl is a trooper! Brittany told me that she was sorry that she was "holding me back" during the race, but all I could think of during this run was how amazing she was to keep going with this asthma kicking in. She was the strong one here, and I have never seen anything like this. I ran four half marathons and one full marathon in the past year and this had to be the most amazing race of the year. It was the only race that I did for someone else besides myself, I wasn't worried about my time, and I saw the biggest display of endurance and drive that I have ever seen. Thank you for showing me what running is all about Brittany!

Jenny and Terri laying on the floor after the race at our hotel.

Me and Amie, an old friend from college.

Brittany and Tiffany at the cut off, have a good full marathon Tiffany.

Tiffany and Brittany on mile 3.

I just help the phone up and took this picture.

Terri and Jenny before the race.

Me and Jenny

Terri, Pat and Jenny

Terri's family.

Terri and Jenny

Terri, Toni and Tracie

Jenny and Terri.....again!