Running Through Life

Well, which marathons should I run this year? With so many awesome ones to run it is a tough decision. I try to run them in different states. Not because I think I can do 50 states, but because.... well just maybe so why not. But it also gives my a chance to run in different parts of the good ole US of A.

A friend of mine is trying to get back into shape and running in general and he has decided on the St. Jude Marathon in Memphis. I agreed to run it with him. I was considering Country Music, but St. Jude is a good cause. That takes care of Tennessee.

I have a friend in St. Louis so I have been considering an inaugural marathon. Though Missouri was taken care of miserably last October (Lewis and Clark - which the Running Doc preformed admirably), I am thinking of a mulligan and doing it over. Rock n Roll bought out that marathon and is putting on an extravaganza in October.

I have another friend in Savannah where Rock n Roll is having another inaugural marathon as well. It just seems doing something the first time would be awesome. I have been to Georgia (never Savannah) and it is some pretty country. It should be an awesome run through some beautiful southern neighborhoods.

There is always the Illinois marathon here in town. I did run it the first year. I could always do it again as it is a local event. It is flat and fast (for the fast runners, not me). Brittany Spears, oh sorry. Got distracted.

A friend of mine is running the Martian half marathon April 2. I could always drive up there and do the full. I think I might be in shape to complete it without hurting myself (I have a scheduled 20-22 mile run the next day). But a 6.5 hour drive back doesn't seem real appealing (and the hotel - though the gas may cost more).

I also have a friend in Florida now and a few relatives. Though those would probably have to be towards the end of the year or early next year.

And to confuse and confound even a little more, Indiana and Iowa both have marathons that are close by as well.

So, I count 8 marathons. Not bad for a year. 4 more and I could be a Marathon Maniac - Gold level. Crazy talk there Sybil. You better watch the tongue of yours.

Noe to decide on which marathons. St. Jude is in. Who else wants to step up the the plate? This is going to hurt and require a lot of work on my part. Hell, a lot of work on my friends as well. They are the ones going to have to keep me motivated, keep me moving, keep on keeping me trucking. but I have faith in them. In person, by email, by blog, I rely on them more than they realize. Sounds like a helicopter at the airport again. They are the ones that make me a better runner and person. All of you take a bow.

Ok, it is decided. The marathons that are in (and maybe a secret one not listed below).
Rock n Roll - St. Louis
Rock n Roll - Savannah
St. Jude - Memphis

What a trip it could be. Now to save some money.

- the beginning of the end

Not a bad week in running world. Only 18miles but still ok. It was a cutback week. Next week has bigger mileage including the long run of 18 miles on Sunday.

Weather is starting to turn for the better here in central illinois. That makes it good for outdoor running. The new running club I have been meeting with one the weekends is one big club. Especially the half marathon group. Huge.

"once I get my hooks into a woman she never gets free"
"like ringworm?"
"if you like."

LOL!!! Watching "How to lose friends and alienate people". That scene was funny.

Back to blogging, sorry for the interuption. Oh shit, that was funny too.

Scheduled runs for the week -
M7/W10/F6/S18 = 41
my biggest ever in my life. WOW!!

Also, I noticed that I have crossed the 1000 mile plateau since using runnningahead.com. I crossed that on Saturday. It only took 3 years of my sometime running. Maybe the second 1000 won't take another 3 years.

Hopefully in the next few days I will have a hint at an unexpected idea that feel into my brain earlier today. As my friends would say - an idiocy of an idea. Maybe, not.

- the beginning of the end

I was up most of the night importing 28,000+ loans for work so pretty much felt like shit this morning.
Hence no morning run.
Therefore, feeling sorry for myself I had McD's.
That was bad.
Worked suck.
No communication again.
How to fix it?
Hell if I know.
Left work a whole 30 minutes early.
Really windy at home.
Extremely tired from no sleep.
Forced myself to plug in the treadmill.
Actually hopped on it.
Got back off and got water.
Turned on treadmill.
Ran 10k.
In 56.55.
Not bad.
Feel better now.
Still tired, but restful.
Eating pizza.
Then watching V.
And too bed.

- the beginning of the end

I got an email last night about some of the old gang getting together at Lake of the Woods. I wasn't decided. I wasn't decided when I woke up this morning. I also did not run my scheduled Friday run (5 miles). Work, personal just couldn't get out of the house to run. Sunday is my last scheduled run of the week (16 miles)

The end of the Challenge.

I got up, rolled over, got up again. I decided to see some of the old gang. I got there early figuring I run my 16 today and then hopefully use Sunday to make up my Friday run. I ran the trail out there. A 5 mile hilly grass course with several water crossings. The first one was nice.

The third one was hard.  But I did it. 16 miles on my own. I rock.

The gang was still at Hen House when I finished and I met them there. It was a good time and the chocolate milk was cold. Sweeeet!!!

The Running Doc completed her scheduled runs successfully this week. Let's see if she runs any extra on Sunday. I feel good this week. About my running.

Next week is a kick back one.
T6, T8, S12

- the beginning of the end

Running Doc got her scheduled run in earlier today. I had a 9 mile EZ run scheduled for today that would have put me a few miles ahead of her. Let's go to Webster for the definition of easy.

Webster says - causing or involving little difficulty or discomfort. And to me that means a 10 to 10.30 pace. Unfortunately my body likes rebel against my brain. And brain is kind of a wimp and gives in. 


Warmup - 9.05.79 - too fast
Mile 2 - 8.39.05 - wtf!!!
Mile 3 - 9.30.35 - water break adds an extra 30 seconds, but I am pleased
Mile 4 - 8.51.68 - impressive
Mile 5 - 9.25.77 - getting dark - had to slow down to read street signs
Mile 6 - 8.57.22 - rebound for last mile


Total - 55.04/9.08 pace


I could have continued. I was tired but not beat. I made not have continued on a 9 minute pace. I was also a STUPID runner. It would have been very dark before I finished and I wore dark clothes. How dumb is that? So after 6 back in the parking lot at car the I grabbed water and called it quits. A hard 6 = an EZ 9. 


I am still happy. 


Challenge total - 6.1 + 6.0 = 12.1


Now I have to lay a disclaimer - the Challenge really isn't about who runs more (the Running Doc is likely to get out at 11pm just to grab an extra 5) but more about getting my lazy, slug-like ass off the couch. I actually have more miles scheduled for the week than she does, but I am far better at skipping runs or shortening them. Tonight's run.... but I am glad for the Challenge and super happy than the Running Doc has got my back  and keeping me going. 


- the beginning of the end


P.S. - Boo to the BAA that is lowering qualifying times for slow middle aged runners like me.

I may need a clarification, but since I slogged through 4 -6 inches of mush and snow checking the fence around all pastures (dog getting out again), uphill and downhill, I am counting the 1.3 miles that the Garmin recorded. I then hopped on the 'dread for another 4.8 at 9.24 pace. Let me tell you - a 10 day layoff and I am beat. Right shin even hurts a little. Hoping it isn't a shin splint and feels fine in the morning.

No scheduled run for tomorrow but I will try to get in 3 anyway. I really need to make up some of the miles I missed from being lazy. I know that is a BAD thing to do and I tell all my fellow runners not to do it. But that is why I am going far or fast. My base mileage really needs to be higher than what it is.

Indy Mini - I signed up for it last year and I really would like to come within a few minutes of my PR. My awesome goal would be to break it, but we will see. I am looking forward to a perfect scenario come May 7. And there is bad news for that day already. Same day as the I80 Alpacafest. Oh well. There will be other alpaca shows.

Challenge Day 1 - 6.1 miles
Challenge Total  - 6.1 miles

- the beginning of the end

Sisters? of Providence?
yes, saturday I and a good friend will be visiting the Sisters. not sisters from the same mother but religious Sisters. Sisters of god and sisters of the farm. they will show us, teach us and feed us. they are eco-friendly. i think it will be a very good time. can't wait to visit saint marys of the woods.

and i am thinking of making my small goat herd into a real farm. yep, going to register it as a corporation or llc. not sure which yet. any business people out there? of course i really don't expect to make money but hopefully enough to pay for their winter feed and some of the electric costs for heating their water. might even looking at getting one or two of these little crias.

I made the long run this week. 13 miles. A nice morning to run. Wasn't sunshiny like the weather girl said it would be, but above freezing. The first six were fairly easy and uneventful. Right on the 10 minute pace I dared to dream about the night before.

The next three were close to pace but the last three were difficult. Besides being almost hit - by a car and a not an angry woman. Yea, driver not paying any attention and trying to blow a stop sign to beat oncoming traffic. I have never been almost hit before.

The last three required walk breaks but I made it in a 10:15 pace. Well below my 11 minute I wanted. I also ended up having a bloody foot. Never has happened before. Damn stray, pointy toenail. Gonna have to get a pedi now.

Now the big question. Retotaling my mileage for the month brings me to 49.3 - short of the 50 I thought I would have from the last post. So, the does month end on the 31st or now that the last full week ofJanuary is over? That is my dIlemma.

Looking at next week's schedule I will be running 115 miles for the month. That's a lot for someone as amateurish as me. January should have been 80 miles but for some reason I took a whole week off. That was bad of me. But still I did almost good. February will be another month and hopefully I can be fully successful.

Yea me!!!

Yea to all my running friends that are staying in the swing of things and running as well. Here's to one foot in front of the other.

- the beginning of the end

January is about to come to a close and it has been a pretty good month. 11 more to go. It is going to be a 50+ mile month. I would like to have hit 80 but for January I am happy. Most of these miles have been on my dread mill.

Speaking of - I ran 7 miles on it Wednesday. My longest run ever on the mill. Man it was tiring. But I did it. Then I went to log it and found out I wasn't even scheduled to run until the next day.

Tomorrow is the longest run of the month at 13. Can't wait. Trying to hold on for the long run in the winter months. So much easier to run in the spring, summer and fall.

Work is going better. Hired another minion to work for me. Now I have three. This should make my job easier and many, many less hours.

- the beginning of the end

Treadmill, how I hate thee. Let me count the ways.
1. You're indoors
2. You make me sweat
3. You make me run at a steady rate
4. See 1 - 3

But I suppose the steady pace will be good for me. I am running on the treadmill right about the speed/pace I want to run my next marathon at. So, this should be good training therefore I suffer.

Been a good year in my running so far. Does it count that it has only been 13 days. I say, YES. 22.9 miles and the week isn't over yet. Saturday is the group long with, dare I say it? No, I shall leave them nameless until others come to realize I will fully be one of Them. But I do need the company on the long runs.

The pacers are great. Bonnie has run many, many marathons and is a great pacer. Mike has run a few and in terrific shape (a lot due to his profession) and both seem to be good people. But, in general, I have found that most runners are good people. They are all seem to be friendly and helpful. I like the camaraderie of the group.

I also miss the old group a lot. I will have to go to LOW on Saturdays I am not running with the other group to see them, if not run a little. The LOW group are fantastic, awesome, fun people to be with. I became a runner with them and I do miss them.

That's it for now. Going to read and relax for a while and fall asleep with the TV on again.

- the beginning of the end

Slip slidin' away
Slip slidin' away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you're slip slidin' away

Tip of the hat to Paul Simon.

That's what tonight's 5 mile run felt like. Living in the country and with a road that never saw a snow plow tonight, it was rough. I gave up after 2 miles up and down my half mile lane. So I came in, and put a miserable 2 miles on the treadmill.

And to top that off I though MTV might have some good videos. WTF??? MTV does not show videos anymore. '16 and Pregnant' - back to back. Where's my MTV? Oh, change the channel you say, yeah, dropped the remote and it went off the end of the tread. I'm a man. I suffered.

The run felt pretty good considering the slidin', the blowing snow, and then the dreadmill. But it is done and almost the distance. I know it is short, but I think the shoveling I did before the run has to count for something. So be it. Another 4 miles in the books for the run. Think I will also workout with Kendra tonight after this short blog. She if she can give me a proper workout.

Disappointment - 
I missed the showing of the Hood to Coast Relay movie. I missed the 'Spirit of the Marathon' last year and now this one missed as well.

Work - 
I am driving back and forth to Bloomington every day this week for a security class. I am taking it to see if I want to go into the networking security field - maintaining baselines for servers and equipment, verifying proper procedures are taking place, looking at new ways to make my company's security tighter. it could be a helluva lot of work. From just the first 2 days, we are behind the curve. I knew this before the class, now I have just had it told to me. But, I have to admit that there have been a lot of changes in the last 9 months at work that have made us much, much better.


Jury is still out on whether I would like this new position or not. It is also not a guarantee that it would be given to me, just a consideration. I do like what I do now with my hands in most everything and getting them into more and more with each passing month. But..... job promotion and showing that I can and will..... mean a lot to the mucky-mucks. =;o)~


Other stuff - 
I helped a displaced co-runner, TNT teammate, friend with her running plan the week. Looks like she will bust it at the Martian half (which I may have to do someday - sounds like fun) and the Cleveland full. Of course, after her last full, I expect nothing worse than a 4.19 now. How's that for pressure Running Doc?


And you know it is just in fun. Any time you post is fine as long as you give it your all and don't follow my less-than-give-it-your-best footsteps.


Enough of this, I hear Kendra calling to me.


- the beginning of the end

- the beginning of the end

I have one week of running under my belt. And what a rough week it was. As I have been told by some of my peeps, it may have been too much. But I will carry on. I think my treadmill speed might be off. When I run the last half mile at 8 mph it just seems like that half mile ticks off the counter sooooooo sloooooow.

It can not be that I am out of shape, can it? Be gentle, you know I bruise easily.

Tomorrow is the first group run with Second Wind Running Club. A 10 miler. I am not sure if 'mean shirtless guy' will be there or not.

It should be an adventure tomorrow morning. I am tired from the running and aerobic workouts with Jillian and Kendra. I will see them next week and eventually I will kick their ass.

- the beginning of the end

Yes, it is almost years end. And while I have many, many things to be thankful for, it was a year of ups and downs. Yea, I ran some hills, but I really am talking about the ups and downs of life. Ups and downs for me, for family and friends. It really was a tumultuous year.  While I won't bore you with every intricate detail of my year, I will list 20 - good and bad in some order that they are locked away in my mind.

1. the Running Doc placed third in her age group, then had an appendectomy that night
2. the Gangster went away to school and is kicking ass at her studies
3. my son went to Kuwait, he'll be back in April 2011
4. Randy lost weight improved his half PR by around 30 minutes
5. the Running Doc kicked my ass at the L&C marathon and set a 27 minute PR
6. the Hooker watched Missouri beat the Illini then threw up on 3 different interstates
7. Karmen had a beautiful baby girl
8. I got promoted at work, then worked more than ever
9. I signed up for the Indy half and never went
10. the Rogue, was just the Rogue on more than one occasion
11. I tore my TV room down to the studs, it is still not finished
12. some of the bloggers I follow had awesome years
13. I had 2 girlfriends and lost them both
14. I had the best 6 months of running in my life
15. my family is all healthy
16. my horse boarder still does not pay on time
17. I survived a year living alone, it was lonely and nice
18. I did not make my yearly running goal
19. my friends and running buddies are all awesome
20. there is always next year

There you have it. My life in 20 lines. Except for my lack of running at the end of the year, it was a good year.  I have some lofty goals for next year (I'll list them early next year) and will strive to them to bed.

I think 2011 will be a good year. I have signed up for the Indy mini. I will run it. Hotel is already booked. I am looking at at least one marathon and a couple of other halfs. Just haven't decided yet. And hopefully, i will blog more often. Of course, when I run, I blog. So run I must.

Read you soon friends.

- the beginning of the end

Winter came to central Illinois late Friday night and all day Saturday. Of course a buddy and I decided that a night on the town was necessary despite the falling (6 inches) of snow. So out we went. The night was uneventful. That  is a good thing people.

I still haven't run a lick since the Lewis n Clark marathon in early October. I need to get the motivation pills out and start overdosing. Most of running buddies are still consistently putting rubber to ground. For them, yes, carry on.

Work  - gosh that should be WORK - I get working extra only to find I had so much to do at home. I am not complaining - I enjoy my little slice of heaven. 6 acres of pasture, outbuildings and a house 3 times the size I need, but it does require work. Doing it all alone takes time. So I found myself doing more at home and still no time for running. I also, noticed that by not working so much, more work was piling up. Not sure why this is. The work is not difficult.
It just needs done.
By anyone.

So, I get to work Tuesday night, probably Wednesday night and at least 6 hours Saturday night. Good thing I am single and everyone thinks I have no social life. No other obligations.

My tv room renovation is coming along slowly, but I truly am in no hurry. I will finish when I finish.

Has anyone out there used an incline trainer before? One of those treadmill things that can do 30% or more inclines. Do they work? Better than a tread climber? Kind of the same thing. Let me know please.

-the beginning of the end

Kreg Tools makes awesome tools for helping the woodworker, remodeler or homeowner for woodworking projects. They make tools for pocket holes (hidden holes for screws to go into so they are not seen), tools for hassle free cutting of crown moulding and many more items.

Check back later to see how it goes.

Thanksgiving is tomorrow. Per Encyclopedia Britannica - Thanksgiving Day, annual national holiday in the United States and Canada celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year. Americans generally believe that their Thanksgiving is modeled on a 1621 harvest feast shared by the English colonists (Pilgrims) of Plymouth and the Wampanoag Indians. The American holiday is particularly rich in legend and symbolism.

For most people I know, it is a time to bring extended families back together, to re-connect with family and friends, to talk and come together as a whole.

This year I want to acknowledge things I am thankful for (in no particular order) -
Thankful for my mommy
Thankful for my dad who did his best to teach right from wrong
Thankful for my health
Thankful for Tori who may not want to be daddy's little girl anymore, but always will be
Thankful for my son who has decided to fight for me to have Thanksgiving every year
Thankful for friends
Thankful for my job and the learning opportunities there
Thankful for my Hookers who have stood by me in decsions gone bad
Thankful for my openmindedness to accept others as they are
Thankful for new friends made better over the year past
Thankful for being accepted as I am
Thankful for those of you who have not tried to change me
Thankful for being strong enough to withstand those that did
Thankful for my running friends and their trail counsel
Thankful for being a left-handed, color-blind, diabetic, Lithuanian
Thankful for not being right-handed
Thankful for the years I have lived
Thankful for the years I have left
Thankful for you those that read this humble, sparsely written blog
Thankful for friends not yet made
Thankful for the blanket on my bed

But most of all I am thankful to be here, with all of you. Some electronically, some in person. Some close, some far. But all of us, here, now and in the future. Remember 'Cherish Yesterday, Dream Tomorrow, Live Today'.