The 50-Mile Month and the Attack of Pooperella and Mr. PP

It's been an exciting week. Earlier this month I made a resolution on Nike+ to run two marathons this year. As part of that resolution I was asked to set a goal for the month, which I did. That goal was 50 miles.  I didn't think it was even realistic, and then I took a look at where I stood last Saturday. 23 miles later and I reached my goal with 3 miles to spare!!!!! I'm totally psyched and feel like I've finally got some momentum going.

  This was the first 50 mile month I have run since completing the marathon LAST January, which has me feeling pretty good. Interestingly I logged a 57-mile December in 2006, after only getting my iPod on Christmas Eve. Yes, that is 57 miles in 7 days. It's been a long time since those days. I'm hoping to one day see them again.

  All three of my runs this week magically kept me out of the rain. It rained every day I ran, but I managed to get out and back before it all started. Not bad, not bad. Tuesday was 7 miles and it was a nice run. I was to do them in a 9:56 pace, and I managed to do that despite a massive attack of the Pooperellas and Mr. PP. At mile 4 I was considering looking for a bush, and when at 6 miles I finally got to Deetschei's favorite Berkeley port-o-pottie I was able to get Mr. PP off my back, but sanitary conditions precluded Pooperella. That would have to wait until I got back to the gym. I now know what Dr. PP would often go through. This was the only run I ever considered giving up due to bodily functions. Discomfort would be the best description of it.

  Thursday it was back to the Berkeley Fire Trails for a 9-mile run. Again, that's 4.5 miles uphill and then 4.5 miles down. It was intense to say the least. I still haven't reached the top of the Fire Trails since the now infamous JW Run. Perhaps I will find it at 10 or even 11 miles. I'm not sure. Either way, I must say there are few day-to-day running accomplishments that compare with the knowledge that at the top of that incredibly long hill, it's all downhill from there. I felt like Jack, as I hollered "I'm King of the World!" (Psyche!!!! I didn't make a Brokeback Mountain reference.)

  All in all a great week and more than I had expected this early in the game.  My times are good, my distances are better and I'm feeling pretty good. I'm still running with a Hip Flexor, but that is also getting better.

Week in Review:

Miles: 24

Overall time: 4:01:15

Average Pace: 10:03

Overall Impression: Marathon, I Thought I Could Quit You, But I Can't! (MITICQYBIC!)

Drunkrunner Approved Food

Nearest and Dearest Drunkrunners and Drunkrunner Fans,

I wanted to share this absolutely freakin' fabulous meal with you. Ben, my personal chef, um... I mean my husband, prepared this brilliant savory pie (Deetschei, you will appreciate this), based on a recipe from Jamie Oliver (formerly known as the "Naked Chef").

Drum role please....... it is the Guinness and Steak Pie. Now, alone the fact that it contains Guinness OBVIOUSLY makes it an approved Drunkrunner food. Don't even get me started about the sharp cheddar (preferably Wisconsin, duh!) and the puff pastry crust. Not to mention, I can personally attest that there are no adverse affects of consuming this dish the night before a long run (in fact, I credit it with my fast, time-bending, blinding speed) ;) I would have to say it registers a green (low risk of vomiting and cramping) on the food threat advisory system.

Voila!

I won't post the recipe here, but if you are interested, let me know and I will pass it along to you. It is so pretty. Too bad it is all in my belly! BWA HA HA HA! (And has probably worked its way to my hips and thighs) :(

The McClard Family Bratfest

Forest hasn't had a chance to enlighten you all, but the Drunkrunner evangelical movement is taking hold. Through Forest's hard missionary work recruits for Bratfest are increasing daily.

So far, all members of the greater McClard Clan, entrants are:

Forest, myself, Sandi F. Patti and of course MamaSchu (for those that are counting, and know the count, that's the entire ensemble of Backman Siblings), Sandi's daughter Jillian, our cousin Scooter, our cousin from another mother Angel, and our cousin from yet another mother Robin and her son Dexter. There may be more that I just can't remember right now. All of the above mentioned will be tackling races from the 1/4 marathon, to the 1/2 marathon, and a few full marathons. For most of them Bratfest will be the longest race they have ever run. I believe the only exceptions to that are Forest, Angel and myself who have all run marathons, although I can't recall if Angel has or not, but that's not important right now. These family members are all from the McClard side of the family, a scottish clan well versed in drinking and adversity. All in all, perfect candidates for a marathon.

There are now two things to look forward to.

1.  If I've said it once, I'll say it a thousand times: BRATFEST.
   
2. Ray, Scooter's step-dad, will be waiting at the mile 24 marker with a cold bottle of New Glarus Brewing Co. Beer. Yes, you read that right, Beer at mile 24. Trust me, once you've made it that far, your body is too starved for energy to notice the alcohol.

Over the coming weeks I hope more McClards will join in, so welcome them all when we hear from them. And thanks Forest for the amazing recruiting efforts!

I'm back

Please keep the theme from Rocky playing as I announce my return from retirement.
It has a been a long struggle both with age (aches and pain) and just not enough time and or energy ( Anatomy and physiology kicked my ass and brain). But Boys and girls Friends and DOCTORS I'm BACK!!!!! (lower theme music in head while I tell you the story).
Since the Madison Marathon I've been thru a few trials both physical and mental (yes I've gotten professional help for both, thanks for your concern). The back is feeling good and they repaired my rotator cuff Jan 3rd. The Pt has given me the OK to start back running, but I have to start slow so I don't end up with tendinitis. (please switch music to "Eye Of The Tiger") I have set up a revised training plan, I will be a bit behind but will catch up. I've been running the chickens on the tread mill and built a bigger chase pen. This year speed training will be a blast. When I cross the finish line for my second marathon I can proudly yell "YOHHH Adrian I did it".
I would like to extend an invitation to all to join us in Madison. We will again start at the Capitol and end at "The Worlds Largest Brat Fest" Oh and they have beer as well. I'll keep this short, just wanted to let you all know Forest has entered the race.

P.S. I have had and will have limited access to the www but will keep posting and supporting my fellow drunk runners.

In Honor of Kenya

In honor of the Kenyan Method, I decided it was okay to meet some friends at the pub Saturday night, knowing full well I had to run ten miles on Sunday. I drank anywhere from 4-7 pints before stumbling home on the last train, resolving to run at 8 AM. Around 1PM I finally laced up and rolled down the stairs. It wasn't pretty.

Thankfully, I knew going into my run that my A game wasn't an option, so I took it easy and just focused on grinding through it. My main objective was to avoid some of the steeper slopes in Greenwich Park, and I spent a lot of time trying to figure out a way I could get to the second half of the park, which is on a high plateau, without resorting to either donkeys or being pulled on baskets attached to long ropes. Ultimately, I settled on a path that diverged before my normal run, which skirts the outside wall. I figured it would approach the hill more gradually than the usual route, which runs directly at the incline.

Against all logics of topography and probably physics, I somehow messed it up completely and ran up an entirely different hill before being deposited at the base of the very incline I was hoping to avoid, rendering my hangover-addled plan a complete failure and my hangover-addled body a complete wreck. Hills and beers simply don't seem to mix. Which must be why bars are generally built on flat terrain.

I ditched my usual hill strategy and got up to the upper area with a strategic combination of bitching, hating, and moaning that I learned on the fire trails. After that, the run was solid (endorphines + downhill) if uneventful, and I just rolled home and logged the time (around 9:20) without any further event.

Since I was tapering in the first week of January, I will end up about four miles short of my monthly goal in my attempt to run 1000 miles this year. But I feel pretty confident I can make that up in February, because um, it's a longer month (?). This week will be twenty two miles if the pints don't have anything to say about it. Next week, being German Karneval, promises to offer all kinds of challenges in balancing alcohol intake and running. I might be forced to attempt that elusive goal of actually drinking while running, something that Forrest perfected in the last miles of his marathon. I am, however, always up for a challenge.

refreshing run in a Cailfornia freeze!!

AHHHHHH!! Today I had my first run of week 4. I was able to venture outside today into a wonderful 45 deg afternoon (I understand that that is freezing in Cali). It was what I believe to be my best run to date! 3.2 miles @ 11:34. It felt good, I felt like I could have easily gone 5 today, but I didnt want to break training. Forest has become my mr Myagi(sp.) a little 80s flashback.
Week 3 was a little harsh. I began to develop a "hip" early on . I still was able to log 10.5 but it was tough. My right hip was giving me some pain and I can still feel it just not as much. I am trying to not over do it, I have been taking a boot camp class at the local Y on M,W,F in the morning before I head in to the office. The class is a really good cardio/core workout. I took forests guidance and today started to scale back my excertion in the class as to not further my "hip" I will see how it goes over the next few runs then re-evaluate the class. My fireman training class has begun to get into the more physical aspect. But that is just making me sleep better at night.
I will update after my 5 miler and let you know how the hip is comin along.

Running with a Hip Flexor and a Back!

Neither my hip flexor nor my lower back are "injured" per se, but both are little tight and painful. I've begun some extra stretching in an attempt to alleviate some of it. My hip flexor actually hasn't been the same for a few months now, but I tend to forget that because it only really hurts when I go up an extremely steep hill, like say the fire trails.

  My run on Sunday, 8 miles, was mostly uneventful. It was long, that's for sure. It took me 8 miles through the city and was quite beautiful. I managed to sneak it in between rain storms, which was nice.

  It was a 14 mile week, and has me on track to start the intense training next Monday, which, Drunkrunners, marks 16 weeks until the Madison Marathon, or as I prefer to call it "The Longest I've Ever Run to Get a Bratwurst!"

Overall impression:

Total miles: 14

Time: 2:27:02

Average pace: 10:30/mile

Overall Impression: Slow and Steady Wins The Race. I'll Work On Speed Soon! (SASWTR.IWOSS!)

Quelle Surprise!

So, I think I have discovered one factor causing me to "have an ankle and a calf." During my last few runs, I had developed a sore spot on the top of my foot where the tongue of my shoe and the knotted shoelace rested. On a whim yesterday, during my 10 mile run, I decided to loosen the laces. Quelle surprise! The calf and ankle pain almost vanished entirely. Now, that is not to say that my calves weren't still tight, but I certainly wasn't getting the same shooting pains I had previously been experiencing. It seems like such a little thing, but it can have such an unbelievable affect on how you run. I simply assumed that I should lace my shoes snuggly and tightly to increase stability and avert any potential ankle injuries. Hmmmm. Apparently they were just a little too snug and tight.

Anywho, since I last posted, I have logged 27 miles (incl. last week's 9-miler and the aforementioned 10-miler). My speed work and tempo runs are going really well, which unfortunately means that I have not been sticking to my New Year's resolution to slow things down. I simply find it - and this is going to sound wrong - easier to run faster. I would love to talk about momentum, velocity, acceleration, and forces acting on objects, etc., but I skipped Physics in high school. Simply put, it is all psychological with me. When I catch myself running faster than my scheduled pace and I think about slowing it down, my next immediate thought is: "If I slow it down, what if I keep slowing down and then I am running slower than my scheduled pace and have to push to try to speed back up. BLAH BLAH BLAH." It sounds absolutely stupid, I know, but these are the thoughts that go through my mind over a 90-minute period of time. I blame it on my competitive nature. In my head I am competing with myself and my previous paces and the idea that I can always do better and go faster. This is where a running partner would come in extremely handy, somebody to help keep me on pace and get me out of my head!

Speaking of being in my head, it also dawned on me around mile 5.5, that I couldn't remember the last time I was plagued by side stitches - something I used to struggle with and which could wreck even the shortest run! Of course, after coming to that realization, I promptly began worrying that I had just jinxed myself and that suddenly I would become the victim of a paralyzing side stitch. Tragedy, however, was averted.

Besides all the mind games I am playing with myself, I am feeling really good. This week will be my recovery week (5-5-5). The week after next I will be challenging myself to run the furthest I have ever run (a 16-miler) and it will only go up from there. But, I am feeling optimistic, now that I have that whole shoe lace business sorted out! Let's hope that is the end of the ankle and calf!


Week's Stats:
Distance: 18
Avg. Pace: 9.06
# of Rabid Dogs Chased By: 1
Overall Impression: Mental Note To Self, Need To Start Carrying Mace To Ward Off Wild-Eyed Dogs (MNTSNTSCMTWOED)

Hey! Where is Forrest by the way? How is your recovery going?

WWJWD?

I headed to the gym today on a blustery cold, for California, day with the task of running 6 miles. When I say cold we're talking somewhere below freezing. In fact, the weather channel registers the current temp as 47, but with a note that it "feels like 40", thus substantiating my claim that it is well below freezing out there.

  As I dressed in the running clothes I had brought to school on Monday and neglected to use until today I contemplated who actually packed those clothes. Somebody, and I'm not pointing fingers here, somebody thought it would be a good idea to run in a sleeveless shirt and shorts. As I changed I contemplated logging those 6 miles on the treadmill. Once I had stretched I found that all of the treadmills were full, which means I wouldn't be able to comfortably, i.e. guilt-free, be able to occupy a treadmill for in excess of an hour while others waited to complete there requisite 30 minute workouts. So, I asked myself "What Would JW Do?"

Answer: He would run the Berkeley Fire Trails. So I did.

3.25 miles uphill, one complete right foot submersion in a puddle, and a path that felt like a slip and slide.  Then turn around and do it all again. My favorite part of the fire trail run these days is getting to run past the tree sitters. I don't know why this brings me joy, but to see a bunch of nut bag vegans protesting the removal of 15 trees that were planted within the 20th century, BY the University, while acres of forest are being removed in South America in order to produce beef, just instills in me a feeling of irony that is not easily surpassed.

  Overall a great run. Sloppy, muddy and cold, but you get used to the cold. I did get a few stares when I was nearly finished and was actually walking in my sleeveless shirt among the parkas, scarves, and hats on campus.

Kenyan Marathoner Killed

Here's another reason to worry about what's happening in Kenya. The very people who inspired our patented drinking/running method are dying.

http://www.kpho.com/news/15105634/detail.html

Catching Up

I don’t know how many of you read the “The Sports Guy”, but I’m guessing its not many. The reason I bring it up is because about two years ago he began poking endless amounts of fun at sportscaster Al Michaels for excising the word “injured” from his injury reports. Michaels would say things like, “Tom Brady is out with an abdomen”, and this forced the viewer to derive that the abdomen was not healthy. If the player played on with the injury, then Michaels would presumably say, “Iverson is playing with an elbow.” The humorous bit is, naturally, that of course he is playing with an elbow. They all are. Two of them, in fact. (Interestingly, Al Michaels has never mentioned that Manu Ginobli has played basketball for years with no testicles.)
Anyway, in the spirit of all this, I want to remark that I am currently “running with a leg”. It is an injured leg, to be sure, but I like the look of a sentence that implies I am somehow doing all of this pogo-style.
The leg isn’t too bad, really. I just have a perpetually tight hamstring that is slowing me down and making me crawl up and down the stairs that separate our bedroom from everything else in our apartment. Classic post-race fatigue. I’m capping the miles and slowing the pace, and I’ll let you know in a week how it goes. In the meantime, we have a lot of catching up to do, and quite a few photos to dump.
My last month of half-marathon training took place in America, where I mostly had to re-learn how to dodge SUVs. This is similar to dodging buses in London, but at the same time quite different. You see, they come from a different side. It doesn’t sound like rocket science, but it’s a miracle I’m still alive. Partially because I’m not a rocket scientist.
Most of my running was in Phoenix, which is a place in which I’ve never really enjoyed running. There’s too much suburbia, and not enough burbia. However, my parents recently moved into a new house even further from the airport than before and as a result, I did most of my running in some very high quality desert.



No smog, no commotion, just me and the medicine men. I even had a fight to the death with coyotes, and saw a scorpion. Well, the coyotes ran away from me as soon as I got close enough for them to smell me, and the scorpion was hiding under the beer cooler in a decidedly non-running moment. But you get the idea. It was different, and I enjoyed the temporary shake up.

During training and pre-race preparations, I scored all kinds of running loot for Christmas, which can basically be summed up by the twin phrases “running tights/unitard thing” and “new shoes”.



For some reason, the sleeves on my new running outfit are long, and have a hole through which I can extend my thumbs. I do not understand this at all, because although I now have warm knuckles, I have a disconcertingly cold thumb.



I can’t even ignore the thumb-hole. I have to use it, because it is there. The shoes, meanwhile, are New Balance. I switched from Brooks because the sales lady implied that to not do so would be boring. Listening to her weak sales pitch might make me the stupidest consumer alive. I like New Balance, but I loved my Brooks and will immediately switch back after I dutifully kill these with miles. They are just not the same.
Anyway, after about twenty total miles on a treadmill in Chicago, I returned to Phoenix and ran my last “big run” before the halfer, which was supposed to be 12, but ended up being longer than 13 because the treadmill screwed up my Nike Plus for all eternity. I am convinced of this. (Pre-treadmill: near metronome-like accuracy. Post-treadmill: drunken weatherman-like accuracy. This is proof enough for me.) The run was smooth, but not fast, and pretty much set me up well for the half-marathon that was (interestingly) fast, but not smooth.



The actual race itself was a bit of a blur. There were bands at every milepost, and a lot of junior high cheerleaders. I mostly listened to “Car Talk” and tried to hover around 8:20 miles. I think my best mile was around 7:54, and my worst mile was around 8:56. I suppose if you put those two together, then you will arrive somewhere near 8:20. At the end they gave us medals, popsicles, and silly foil capes so we could pretend we were superheroes.



I then tried to find my family among the 34,000 participants. Luckily, they found me right as (this was weird) an impromptu dogfight broke out when a pit bull attacked a Labrador. Needless to say, that part was fucking nuts and I failed my first test as a superhero by running away.
Okay, that brings us up to date, and I again beg forgiveness for my lack of posts over the holiday. There is something about the blogosphere that is so unappealing when bowl games are on ☺. Right now, I’m in maintenance mode, which means logging twenty-mile weeks until I decide whether I want to run another half-marathon in March. And then, I will sit down at a small table in a dark room and seriously discuss running a marathon in either Berlin or Cologne with Sixpack. I’ll keep you posted.

2 in the bag

Well, here I am.. Week 2 is now history!! The week went well, I am adhering to the program religiously and I am still feeling great(and i'm still alive) 4 months ago I never would have imagined running for anything with the exception of another double cheeseburger or beer!! Know I am on the run 3 times a week have had no fast food or beer since mid September and unbelievably have never felt better!!
My only complaint is that it is only mid Jan. and it is colder than @!#% outside!! I am so ready to hit the outside and get off of the treadmill.
Week 3 will be a challenge but I am up for it.

Post #300!!!!!!

Yes, it's true, this is the 300th post on Drunk Runners!

Congratulations for all those miles, all that kvetsching, and all those typos!

Now, down to business. It's been a pretty good week here, although, I'm feeling a little sluggish. The week started well with a 6-miler, and a couple workouts then Friday happened. For those not in the know, which I think is all of you. I was diagnosed with a Schatzki Ring in November. It's kind of like a knot in your muscle, but instead of tightening your shoulder it can cause obstructions in the esophagus, see my November 21, 2007 post for further details. I've spent the last two months working through the insurance hoops, flaming hoops, and all other obstacles placed in my way, so that I could go in yesterday to have the Ring fixed.

  Well, my precious, in order to fix it they had to go back in with an endoscope and then blow up a balloon to expand my throat until the knot broke and "relaxed" the muscle again. Although I never complain about anesthetic, the recovery can be a bit taxing. I was groggy all day yesterday and am still not feeling 100% today. I will, thus, go for my run tomorrow. 8 miles! Can I do it? Yes, I do believe I can and will!  I'll keep you posted.  In the meantime, I'm feeling really good, and can swallow anything, thanks for asking.

Run-Schmun

Can't I just sit on the couch pounding a bag of potato chips and guzzling a 2-liter of Dr. Pepper in order to train for the marathon? I think my dear friend "Smells" had it absolutely freakin' right when she gave me her take on exercise. (For those of you who don't know Smells, she was not only my drinking buddy back at Berkeley but she was also my workout buddy.) One day, while punishing ourselves on the Precor Elliptical machines at the RSF - machines we waited probably a good 45 minutes for and fought tooth and nail to get by glaring at the skinny 18 year olds who were talking on their cell phones while "working out," but I'm not bitter - Smells noted that the higher powers that be should have given us "hot bods" in our youth with a sort of "repayment plan." You get the great, in-shape body up front and then have to workout to keep it. If Smells were running for the office of said higher power, she would totally get my vote. What a brilliant motivation to stay in shape and to stick to your training plan!

Wait, how did I get on this topic? Oh right, the weather it total crap today and I was running the risk of getting behind in my training plan. However, a quick trip to the local sporting goods store for a pair of running tights (yes, it is true! I bought a pair and I don't look half as good in them as Sixpack does!!!!) and a new longsleeve shirt to motivate me to get out in the cold drizzle to do my 5 miles. Mission accomplished. It wasn't as bad as I had imagined and I feel good to have it out of the way so that I can start thinking about my 9-miler on Sunday.

Like ROWC, last week's training flew by without a hitch. I think the three weeks off over the holidays gave me "fresh legs" because I am running faster than I was before the break. However, I am still sticking to my plan of "slow and steady." I was scheduled to run last week's 8-miler at a 10:39ish pace and managed to slow myself down to a 10 min. pace. I think that if I can focus on slowing down, I will minimize my risk for injury before the marathon.

Anywho, I hope that everyone is having a good week. For those of you with access to indoor treadmills, I envy you! Keep up the running and posting. Scooter, how are things going and are the miles getting any easier? Ginifer, how is your training? ROWC, post a pic of those big ol' honkin' new shoes of yours when you get them. Sixpack, when do we get the promised Speedo pics? And Deetschei, what about the photo of your running suit???

Hitting My Stride, I Think....

So I know it's only week 2 in my training, but I can already tell a difference. Thanks to a little field trip out of the gym and onto the road this weekend with Dr. Pavement Pounder I found a good pace (faster than a brisk walk) and was able to do the whole run today without stopping. It was only 2 miles, but trust me--that was a personal accomplishment.

I followed some other very good advice and made a beeline to the Fleet Feet store in my area last week. I have to say, for a beginning runner, it was a terrific experience. The salesman had a lot of good suggestions and with the aid of a video camera, a treadmill and a skeleton's foot (for illustration purposes only--no voodoo involved) got me into a great fitting pair of shoes. Unfortunately, with my freakishly large feet, they had to special order them, so it will be another few days before I actually get to wear them.

P.F. Changs 1/2 Marathon Result

Hey All!
Well, it's nice to see so many new faces and so many great posts after my holiday hiatus. I'm just checking in to give my result, then running off to pack since I fly home very early tomorrow.

Total Time: 1:49:15

All in all it was a good run, but I had one bad mile that cost me a personal best. Basically, I got blisters for the first time, then cramped from gu, and then my knee went wonky...all at the same time. So I ended up with a 8:59 mile between 11 and 12. I recovered in the end, and still finished very strong with a 8:11 final mile. I'm not complaining one iota-- It was a great run and a LOT of fun.

Keep up the great work everybody! I look forward to getting to know some of you over the next year :)

I Love You, Lance Armstrong!

Another week of running is over. Yes, it's true. It's the second week of training and things are going very well, I do have to say.  First, I scaled the leg workout way back this week, and saved my energies and soreness for the run. So far I think it's going to work. I'll add a few pounds to the leg workout next week and see how that goes.

The run today, because I blogged about run one earlier this week, went really, really well. It was the usual Glen Park Monster, which entails a two mile run to the bottom of the hill (Yeah, take that Midwest flatlanders! It's two miles just to get to the bottom.) and then three miles up the hill, a mile running in circles at the top and then another mile home. It's a great run, and a very fun one. The best news? SUN! We saw the sun today for the first time in over a week, making it a beautiful run. So beautiful, in fact, that I almost took my shirt off, but it was a little chilly. Outdoor temp when I left for the run was 59 degrees. Not bad, not bad.

  Today is what running is all about. A beautiful day, some time outside in a great city and a good workout. Things feel good and I'm moving on. And when it was all over Lance Armstrong came on my iPod and congratulated me for running my longest run yet! I love hearing from Lance. Strangely it really does motivate me. Not because I have some delusion that Lance really does care, but the knowing that when I hear him I've pushed myself even further just gets me pumped.

As an aside, I read an interesting article by Kristen Armstrong (the ex-wife) in Runners World and I thought I would share it here.  It's entitled: Pretty Strong and  it just pulled at my heartstrings in it's honesty, it's motivation, and the way she works so hard to set a good example for her kids.  Enjoy.

Zusammenfassung der Woche:

Distance: 13 miles

Total time: 2:00:28

Average Pace: 9:15

Overall Impression: 

Factual Error

This comment came in yesterday in response to my post "New Year, New Marathon....New Tattoo (?)":

" The race staff is pleased that you "joined the bandwagon for the Madison Marathon." We would like to clarify one thing in your post...the race was stopped due to extreme weather conditions (90 degree heat and high humidity) but thankfully everyone was fine (ie no deaths to report)!

Glad you enjoy finishing at the World's Largest Brat Festival. We have some great things planned for 2008 and hope your readers will join us!

Madison Marathon Staff"

1. My apologies to the Madison Marathon Staff for insinuating there was a death at their race. To be honest, I couldn't recall exactly when I posted and was too lazy to look it up. Here's to no deaths in Madison, but a moment of silence for the fallen in London, the Olympic Trials, Chicago and others during the last year.
2. Readers? I didn't even know we had readers. Is the phenomenon growing? Am I becoming the leader of a cult? It's exciting to know that more people read this thing than just those of us kvetsching about our running. Does this mean others have heard of our Kenyan theory? Is that something we want getting out?

It's a family affair...

OK, so with a little bit of arm-twisting, here I am (that would be Kay, sister #2 to Dr. Pavement Pounder). My lovely sisters put a little of the G. family guilt-trip on me and I now find myself, very much used to a few miles on the elliptical machine at the Y every week, training for the OKC half-marathon.



I started today with a training plan (definitely the beginner one) from the Runner's World website DPP recommended. I think I need to tweak the pace a little bit--my "easy run" pace was more of a brisk walk. I'm wondering about the treadmill though...once you get off the treadmill, does the sensation of moving faster than you actually are disappear after awhile? It's a little unnerving....

That's a Good Boy!!!

I wanted to post today and tell of my winning the battle with that demon that Forest refers to as Sybil. I would call mine Heinrich, but he's much nicer than the voice I was battling with during my run today. For argument's sake, why don't we call him Jason Whitt. So, I've got my fancy "new" iPod on (it's an old model that was replaced under warranty right before Christmas) and I'm going for a treadmill run at the RSF. Past experience tells me that the Nike+ doesn't measure well when using a treadmill. Something about the strange gait on a treadmill throws off the rhythm or something, ask Deetschei, he's the one always using words like coefficient.

  Today, however, the measure was WAY off. I was on one treadmill and it told me I had run more than a mile when the mill itself hadn't yet registered .88 miles. Then my favorite machine came open so I thought I would switch to it. There things got worse. While running at a treadmill described pace of 9:20/mile, my iPod was clocking in at 7:30. As I said, WAY OFF!  As I'm approaching 6 miles (today's goal) on my iPod the treadmill reads only 4. Then the voice begins!!!! "If I keep the iPod running, then the distance will show that I ran over 7 miles when I only ran 6. So, I'll have to shut off the iPod."

"If I shut off the iPod then I can just meet the distance halfway, and run only 1 of the 2 miles I still have left to run." 

"If I shut off the iPod no one will ever know that I didn't really run the full 6 miles."

So I shut off the iPod. Then continued to run and run and run, until Jason Whitt had been struck down, and I had run the full 6 miles according to the treadmill. So, Nike+ thinks I ran 6 miles incredibly fast, but I know in my heart of hearts that Jason Whitt can't always talk me into not finishing a workout, and that I am going to beat this thing!!!

Rock on all you marathoners, half marathoners and Ben's that refuse to blog!!!!

A World of Marathons!

Who knew? Out of curiosity, I was checking out the course map for this weekend's Houston marathon. Interestingly, the banner at the top of the website had photos advertising various "adventure" marathon's around the world including The Great Tibetan Marathon, The Great Wall (of China) Marathon, and The Polar Circle Marathon. Sounds absolutely fascinating and grueling! Definitely something to consider AFTER running my first marathon at/below sea level! :)

Speaking of which, today marks the first "official" day of training for the OKC Marathon. I ran a short 4.5 miler last week, as I believe I mentioned in a previous post, just to make sure the ol' machine was still working. Which, I am pleased to report, it is.

I hope that, over the next 16 weeks, you will also be hearing from my sisters as they log their training miles for their first race ever and their first time to run at distance. Ben has already stated that he will NOT be posting as he trains for the half-marathon. I leave that up to him to explain. So, it appears that the OKC Marathon will be a family affair. I only wish that I had my tried-and-true drunkrunner buddies along for the ride.

More to post at the end of this week!

Deetschei, how is the final week of training going for the AZ half-marathon? Be sure to give us a report!!!

Weightlifting Pitfalls

I'm checking in for the week although there's isn't much to post about.

I ran 5 miles on Thursday, and it went well. Average pace of about 9:40, not bad, not bad. Then lifted on Friday. Saturday and today I was way too sore to do any running, so had to lay off.

This brings me to the point that I need to seriously re-evaluate my weightlifting during the week. I'm overworking my legs so much on the workouts that I'm unable to follow up the running the next day. So this week I will scale back to step one and see what that does for me. I'll be doing the whole workout, but without weights this week. Just the body. Maybe that is enough. I'll let you know. In the meantime, I'm happy to have run 5 miles and begun training for the race.

Keep up the great work!!!!!

Week in review:

Distance: 5.06 miles

Time: 48:59

Pace: 9:40

Overall Impression: Will Cutting Back Leg Workouts Jeopardize My Buns Of Steel? (WCBLWJMBOS?)

Fluid Tips

Scooter asked for some assistance on hydrating techniques for runs, so this is a good time to go back through them for the gang. If you have any tips or hints that don't get covered here, please feel free to post them.

1. Hydration is extremely important for runs over 6 miles. My experience tells me that before six miles it's not a big deal. I mean, I've run a few 6 milers still drunk from the night before (at least that's how it felt) and was just fine without fluids.
   
2. That said, regardless of the run length, I like to have a glass or two of water before hitting the trail. With a drink or two before the run, its possible to extend that non-hydration rule mentioned above to runs of even 7 or 8 miles. If I recall correctly my hydration is more conservative than other contributors here, but it is in the end an individual sport.
   
3. When it comes time to take water with you on the run, I highly recommend Gu. They have a product called Gu20 that makes a great hydrating drink. There are, of course, many others on the market, Gatorade, etc. Mix your own and carry with you. Gu also has Gels, Espresso Love and Vanilla being my favorites. These provide more electrolytes and some caffeine to keep you going on that 20 mile run. I generally use Gels on any run over 7 miles, and use liquids on any run over 6 miles.
4. Hydration belts: mine is a Fuel Belt. Again, pick the one that's best for you, but don't be afraid to spend the money. The Fuel Belt is so much better than thinking you can carry the water bottle in your hand for 14 miles. Don't even kid yourself. Find something that will strap it to your body so you can forget about it until you need it. My only complaint about the Fuel Belt is that tying a shirt around your waist becomes impossible. It throws off the tension and becomes very awkward, and if I tuck the shirt in my shorts then they start to fall down, but enough about my shorts. Do some research and find the one that is best for you.
5. On the topic of Gels and Drink mixes, you'll need to discover for yourself how much you need. It's best to be over prepared than to find yourself begging for water, wearing nothing but a pair of shorts and a smile, in a New Berlin gas station on a 90 degree day (Not that that has EVER happened to me.) Race day, is also a day not to mess around. In my two races I've found I needed way more fluids to complete 26 miles than I had needed to complete 20. There is an equation there that I don't understand.

That's the long and the short about hydration from my end. We did complete some 12 mile runs without fluids back in the day, but at least my performance suffered because of it. Stay hydrated even when you are not running. If you don't have clear pee by noon, consider taking in more water.  Right, PP?

T.G.I.F. Thank god I finished

I just finished my first mile & a half. sweating hard but feeling grrrreat!! If only spring would get here. Midwest winters are the best for running.

New Year, New Marathon....New Tattoo(?)

Yes, it's a new year!

A quick look at Nike+ tells me I ran roughly 300 miles last year. I can recall at least 15 miles that were undocumented, giving me a total of 315 for the year. OH! I almost forgot that I didn't have my iPod chip with me for the marathon, that puts last years total at 341.2 miles (just shy of 1 mile per day). Not bad.

The year in review:
I started off with a bang running the Carlsbad Marathon which I blogged about. It was amazing, and put me through another loop. I spent 5 months in physical therapy. In fact, I've spent so much time in PT over the past 18 months that I almost cried when my therapist quit. He was great, and his replacement was not quite my cup of tea.
By June I had begun training for a marathon again, the Nike Women's--I think. I went for a ten mile run in Milwaukee (actually ran all the way to New Berlin and back.) and came back feeling great. The next day I had a back ache that lasted for months and eventually worked to my feet. Of last year's 341.2 miles only 88 of those came after that run to New Berlin. Acupuncture is the next attempted cure. I'll keep y'all posted.
In the meantime I'm feeling much better and would say I'm 98% recovered, but won't give up treating this until it is 100%.

In September Steve and I started Body for Life, before we were mowed down by the Mack Truck that is the holiday season, I had lost 15 pounds, and 2% bodyfat, Steve had lost 30 pounds. Now the holidays are over and the results weren't too bad. I stepped on the scale yesterday, and I had only gained 2 pounds, but had converted several pounds of muscle into gingerbread cookies and beer and spritz cookies and wine and a gingerbread house and beer. You get the picture. The diet started again yesterday and I've never felt better. We are both amazed at how good it feels to eat this way. I would honestly continue to do it even if I didn't lose weight. It's great. So, look for bigger changes, and yes, some more pics as soon as I've decided I'm in good enough shape to be seen in public. 

The coming year:
2008 promises to be awesome!! I've joined the bandwagon for the Madison Marathon (the fact that someone died there two years ago will not deter me!). The best part of the Madtown Marathon? The fact that the finish line is also BRATFEST, of course!  Will there also be a new tattoo at the Madison Marathon? It's hard to say, but it's a definite possibility. I won't bore you all here with ideas, but will definitely post a pic if/when it happens.

  This will hopefully be followed by a summer of happy running in preparation for the Berlin Marathon. It's early enough to begin planning for it, any takers?

The Dr's Year in Review

After reading Deetschei's accomplishments and after briefly glancing at my own distance for the year, I was a bit disappointed that I hadn't managed to put in more miles. But then I took a look at my distance for 2006 and cheered up a bit. I increased my distance for the year by more than 100 miles (over 200 depending on the accuracy of last year's calculations).

I didn't meet the goal of running a marathon, but I have signed-up for the OKC marathon in 2008, and I begin training next week. In addition, following Sixpack's example, I got my sisters running this year and have gotten them to agree to run the OKC half-marathon. While my times were significantly slower this year than last - due to my training for the Houston marathon - I achieved a personal first by completing a 14 mile run. It almost broke me, but I did it. I also learned that training for a marathon in 12 weeks isn't "smart training." My fastest mile this year was 7:31 on a 3.5 mi. run. My fastest average time was 7:53 on a 5.5 mi. run.

All in all, I think that 2008 holds lots of promise in terms of new personal firsts and bests. I want to thank everybody, especially Deetschei and Sixpack, for their advice and words of encouragement this year. We might be scattered to the four corners, but we're still running!

JUST STOPPING IN TO SAY HELLO

Hello All,
I am new to the blog. My Name is Scott (a.k.a Scooter from here on out). I have been a "walker" for the past 3 months. I started walking to lose weight and became addicted. I used to run with Forrest years ago and had to stop due to recurring knee injury. The walking has paid off well (50 lbs in 3 months) But as I have hit yet another plateau in my quest for the all american body not to mention the pressure from Forrest and the encouragement from Sixpack Chopra i have decided to kick it up a notch and begin to train for the Madison marathon in May. This will be a task for me. I am the father of 2, little league coach for 2 teams, and I star Fireman training school in 1 week. All this said I am scheduled with the program from runners world to begin full on training on Moday, Jan. 7. I have been running a mile a day this week and will begin searching for local 5k runs in the near future. Thank you for your time and thanks for the invite Sixpack!

Year in Review

First, I can’t believe that an entire year of drinking and running has passed again. I remember writing this entry last year in Cologne while lying in bed and wondering whether I would be able to run much in 2007. I believe I had compiled 600 something miles over the course of 2006 before sitting down in a post-marathon funk that lasted until late December. As a result, I had to run two-a-days through most of January in order to get back in shape.
I was not only able to run in 2007, but January gave me a solid base that carried me through the entire year. Although I didn’t run another marathon in 2007, I was able to maintain a consistently high level that saw me hit a variety of new goals. During my speedy Spring, I ran my fastest mile probably ever (6:59) and also hit a personal best for the 5K (21:50).
After my legs nearly fell off, I decided to withdraw speedwork and focus entirely on more base building. That culminated in two consecutive months with more than 100 miles. I ultimately ran over two hundred miles more than I did in the previous year (835) with an average pace of around 8:52 per mile.

So I got that going for me, which is nice.

This next year will hopefully build upon the last. I am running a half marathon in one week, and am in discussions with my coaching staff (Tessa) about potentially running another marathon, perhaps in Hamburg (Spring) or Cologne (Fall). I’m still not sure I want to go back to that distance yet, though. The one goal I have set that I am excited about is to run 1,000 miles in 2008. If I can manage 20 miles a week for the entire year, then its in the bag. That’s all.

So, I know there were a lot of accomplishments on this blog last year. I can think of at least two marathons and a lot of Texan ass-kickings. I’d love to hear your thoughts about 2007 and what you are looking forward to in 2008.