At least he Crossed the finish line! -- Picture form http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/comments/newsome-runner-collapses-crawls-to-finish-at-county-championships

So in 197 days, 23 hours 11 minutes and 52 seconds (at the time I hit “publish”) I will be lined up for the Marine Corps Marathon, running 20 miles further than my current “longest run” (since my surgery).  Now, I have never done any sort of formal training plan for any run I have done as an adult.  When doing 5Ks, I just went out and ran them (literally.. When I started running again as an adult – I started off by doing a 5k road race.. Wasn’t that bright?).  I worked my way up to 12.5 miles last fall – just by gradually increasing my mileage and going out.

Somehow, being less than 30 weeks away from my marathon – I don’t think that’s going to cut it for this. Read more ›

My apologies for the lack of posts over the last week – I have been down and out due to having Strep, and my wife’s insisting I should be healthy again before running. (That will teach me to tell her about the medical advice and runners advice I read online.)  So last night was beautiful (though not as nice as the 79 degree weather on monday) – especially since I got to go running for the first time in a week!  I decided on a nice three mile run in my Vibrams (which I just found out was pronounced Vee-brams), ending at my wife’s work-place, ideally allowing me a nice ride home if I arrived right as she finished her day. (it did work out perfectly!) 

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One of the great things about having a blog, is it gives me another place to whine!  On a serious note though, I skipped my run yesterday, even though it was just a small one planned.  It seems my throat was developing that familiar scratch.. My muscles were starting to ache, and no matter how many layers I put on  still cold… With occasional bursts of being REALLY hot.  Yup, time for my Spring illness that I get every year as the weather hits the “hot one day, cold the next” stage..  But it did raise a question – Do I run while sick?  I had seen several places on line over the last month, that if your illness was below your neck, you could run.  This didn’t sound very medical to me, so I decided to do some research on it. Read more ›

Last nights run wasn’t quite what I had hoped. It was humid, and I had dressed for the 40’s, not for 58 degrees. (Why on earth would I think it would be 58 degrees? It was snowing a couple of days ago!!!)  The rain didn’t pickup until right near the end.  And it was one of those days that the weather was having fun with me – the wind was in my face the entire time, except for 30 feet that i ran through a tunnel.  I have never understood how the wind can move around to always be coming at you – but never let it be said mother nature doesn’t have a sense of humor!!

Though, as negative as that sounded, I had a great run. I did six miles, with an average of 6.3 mph – not to bad considering I did stop and walk part way on the Read more ›

This morning, I could not convince myself to climb out of my nice warm bed, despite its being in the mid-upper 40’s outside.  Well, as the forecast told us – it is raining.  My near future is a not as pleasant jog out in the cold, wet rain, or a boring run on the treadmill… I am Definitely getting what I deserve!  Though, I am actually looking forward to it – I’ve always enjoyed running in the rain, and I actually own all the appropriate gear to do so (ie: waterproof jacket and pants), so I don’t think its going to be a big deal at all.   I’m more concerned about getting my blue tooth headset to work, then i am getting wet!

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One of the nice things about running – is the camaraderie that exists.  Even if you are running around with your music blaring in your headphones, as you go by another runner you can’t help but do the “head nod’ or perhaps a “hey’ as you go by.  In the road races as you find yourself slowing down, a complete stranger will go by with a word of encouragement.  There was a race I was running with a friend, he had always beat me in this running incarnation.  His knee had been bothering him, and he was more than happy to let me go by him and beat him – right at the very end.  I was gasping words of encouragement to him – things like ‘I haven’t beat you yet, why would you let me now?”  and “YOU have a kick at the end of your race – use it!” (Even back in my highschool cross-country days, Read more ›

I think every sport, perhaps every activity, has it’s milestones that we strive to reach.  When we pass these there is a sense of accomplishment, and a setting of that new goal to reach.  In baseball, it might be a certain batting average.  In a drive across country, each state that is entered.  And in running our milestones are usually.. well.. Miles.  Most runners I know see the 5 mile distances as being noteworthy milestones.  5 miles, 10 miles, 15 miles, 20 miles that can be run without stopping (or perhaps run without causing pain, or in a certain time..)  Last night, I ran over 5 miles – with no crippling pain during or after.  For those that have been following along, you may recall that I ran 5 miles on March 16th, but then had fairly crippling calf pain that kept me from running again until March 24th.)  This is also important as my best friend and I are going running on saturday to do five miles.  I thought it might be important to be sure I could actually run that distance. Read more ›