A Jog by the Infirmary

My boys are down. My girls are out.
Man, talk about the grind of running. To paraphrase George Burns (I know,I know...again):

Running is a hideous bitch goddess.

Here are my runs from the past week:


I pulled off nine miles on Sunday after about five beers on Sunday night. I was pretty proud, because I really wasn't feeling it and the sun was absolutely murder. I had a six miler and then two four milers after that. I'm trying to hover around 20 miles a week, but I don't want to run more than four times a week. So I...holy christ this is boring...okay...time to get sensationalist...

I ran by my Doppelgänger two weeks ago.

No, seriously. I was running by the canal that leads to the stadium, when I happened to chance a look up. This in itself is odd because my running posture usually dictates that my head is pointed straight down to the point I'm actually looking slightly behind me through my legs. I always have a great idea of where I just was.
Anyway, I saw this guy, and I swear to christ, He looked just like I look in pictures of me running. Same form, same gait...the guy was even wearing a tight bright yellow top and blue shorts...I mean come on, I'm the only straight guy on the continent that dresses like a swedish figure skater. Something was up.
Anyway, I sped up and I caught him, and even his face looked like mine. Well, it was perched on one hell of an adams apple and it had a nose...and I have a nose...it was uncanny, really...and it literally freaked me out a little. What does it mean? Is it a harbinger of my running doom? Is it a harbinger of your running doom?

Christ. I wish I didn't see me.

Anyway, two things of consequence:

First, I hope all of you who are injured and overwhelmed with real life get a breather soon and get a chance to lace up and get out there. I'm pulling for all of you.

Second, Tessa and I are moving to London soon. That means I'm going to be updating more frequently as I figure out where to run there, how to run there, and when to run there. It'll be a new adventure, and although it won't be as great as the "Wedding-Day-Something-Km.", it should make for an interesting Autumn.

Woe is Us!

Well, the Backman boys are on the sidelines at least for the short term. I'm pissed, but I too am having back pain. Can anyone say genetics? It started at the beginning of summer camp. Yes, I was a cabin leader, i.e. role model, and was the only guy in the cabin that had to have someone else lift his camper. With shooting pains down the back of my right leg, and constant pain in the right hip, I couldn't take the chance that I might injure something further. Add the pain to an insane schedule. In the span of 6 days I was able to take two 20-minute naps, and aside from a few moments snatched between 11:30 p.m. and lights out at 12 a.m. this amounted to my free-time for the week. needless to say there was no running. I wasn't sure how far or well I would run on 5 hours sleep anyway, so it's probably just as well.
Keep adding. I also manage to run my left leg into a wheel chair while playing Baseball on Thursday, leaving me with a cut on my ankle that I have to at least treat kindly, if not gingerly. This means I'm out through at least the weekend. I'll try to get back running on Monday, after the anti-inflammatories kick in and the ankle heals.
It did earn me another referral to physical therapy. Jesus, I just finished the last round. Is someone/something trying to tell me something? I mean, I have I brought down upon me the wrath of some deity? I mean, really! WTF?

My P.T. put the smack down on me

You read it right. I went back for my first doctor prescribed P.T. appointment and after the new examination and some question and answer I got the news that made my heart sink. Mind you Wendy is some one I have the utmost respect for. Well the news was I have a choice to make. I can either keep my current job or keep running but I can't do both, My back won't take it. I put some serious thought to what she said, I am already back in school part time and as soon as I get admitted in Physical Therapy Assistant school I will be quiting my current job and finding a part time job. I absolutely can't stop running it does so much for me that the benefits from it out weigh the benefits of my job. It's time for me to keep my eyes peeled for a new one. I am off work for two weeks trying to give my back some rest, I will not run during this time adding to the fact that I was just back to running this last week and only got in two runs before the news. Well I am going absolutely insane, I want to run so bad I can't stand it. I bought a bike a week and a half ago but that doesn't quite cut it, I'm going to try swimming and see how that does until I can get back in the saddle. So I guess I'm on the sidelines with PP. Wish me luck in finding a job that's at least close to my income level and less lifting and twisting and turning. I raise a tear filled glass to those of you still running, I hope to join you all again soon.

Alive and Kicking but not Running

Hi. I suck. I suckity suck suck suck. If there was an award for the biggest and best sucker, I would win it hands down.

In an attempt to

a) finish my dissertation by the summer deadline
b) finish it by the deadline so I don't have to pay between $4-10,000 that I don't have
c) avoid being disowned by everyone in my family, who spent their hard earned money to travel to CA to watch me walk across the stage at graduation

I have had to hunker down and have placed myself in a self-imposed, Paris-Hilton-style lockdown (minus the orange jumpsuit and having to take out my weave) until July 1st. That means there has been no all-night partying on the Vegas strip, no getting paid thousands of dollars to show up at parties and clubs, no catfights with other celebrity rehab sluts, and the greatest tragedy: no running.

I know what you are all going to say, and I know that you believe what you are saying. But it ain't happening. I simply can't justify taking an hour or even half-hour out of my day right now to run (because as we all know, it isn't really just the actual time it takes to run. You have the warm up, the run, the cool down, the lie around until your brain starts functioning again, and then the shower). Big production.

I am in super overdrive mode right now, which consists of 4 hrs of sleep and pots (plural!!!!) of coffee. Shiiiiiit, I can't even drink my regular pint-sized vodka tonic right now because if I do, I go sleepy sleep! That is to give you an idea of just how bad the situation is.

Okay, enough sob story. The point is that I haven't been posting because there is nothing to post. I have run a few short (3 mi, and 1.5 mi) runs, and I would totally post about them, but it would sound something like this: "I HATE TEXAS IN THE SUMMER!!!! If I wanted to feel like I was running through warm, sticky mollases at 8pm at night, then I would f*cking fill my bathtub with warm, sticky mollases, etc." But since I do not want to be a big complainer, I haven't posted.

Starting in July, I will be back on the road, starting from the beginning and trying to get back to where I was a month ago. (I hate that). But, it is a challenge and it is a challenge that I welcome right now. I miss running. I do. Who knew? But I really do! Stupid advanced degrees and stupid swimming pools. I am pretty sure that I can attribute this month of hell to the fact that I spent all last summer lying by the pool getting a gorgeous tan and "reading" for my dissertation.

Anyway. That is it for now. Keep your eyes peeled for my posts next month. In the meantime, KEEP TRUCKIN' people!!!! If anything, reading about your successes only makes me want to get out on the road even more. I need that! So keep posting.

Playing with Nike + (again)

So it looks like Nike+ has developed widgets you can embed into your blog in order to show people your running progress. Shall we test? I concur:



Look at that! Now you all can see the little-green-line-that-is-my-run! For my last five runs! And by restricting the swoosh to the top right corner, we're only providing Nike with moderate free advertising. Except for the fact that I'm dedicating the title of this post to them. Again.


(But seriously kids, that Nike+ sure is something.)


The week has been pretty chill, as you can see by my times. I'm in no hurry to get anywhere, just happy to log me some miles without the effort of going fast. I figure I'll work on speed again soon enough, but I'm not interested in burning out right now. I realized in my quest to reach those sub-7 minute miles that I wasn't enjoying my runs as much as I used to. I didn't have the time to reflect on my day, or organize my thoughts about work. I also couldn't rehearse catty comments I might have used in certain past situations, just in case similar opportunities to be passive aggressive arrive in the future...and I love doing that, it's why my delivery is so good. In short, all focus on breathing and footwork, but no zen.

I've basically been running about four times a week, trying to hover around 20 per week, and trying to just stay ahead of wherever Don might be while he's running circles around his camp. ("This one time, at band camp, I went so fast that I ran into my own spit!") BUT, as I have no idea where he is, this race to 100 might already be decided and I'll be polishing my silver medal with my tears.

The real running story in Cologne this week is Tessa. She finished three miles today in spite of a medley of maladies (ha ha, see what I did there?). I have to be honest. I thought she was going to puke by the first mile marker. But she always kept on going, puke free, while utilizing this cute little right-leg-swing running style that makes it look like she's running with an invisible Skip-It.
Basically, every time I would have fallen down, rolled over, and started sucking on mud for water and valuable earthwormy sustenance, she not only didn't fall down, but, um...kept going...

She's unstoppable when she decides she'll finish a certain distance. It's simply "how she rolls". So I'm saluting her for her dedication and also to remind her that when she started running earlier this year her goal was to be able to finish a 5K. Now she regularly runs four miles at a go and is looking squarely down the barrel at running not only five lousy kilometers, but 5 miles. How cool is that?

Two weeks off.....Time to RUN!!!!!!

Well folks it has been two weeks since the marathon, I had a few lingering effects but not bad. On the Monday after I could hardly walk, but by Tuesday I was 75% better ,Wednesday 95% and I stayed there for a while as I ended up with tendinitis in my left ankle. Kind of weird, when I would move my ankle it sounded like I was pooring milk into a bowl of Rice Krispies. PP I met your Dr on That Thursday. I went to the same clinic I always go but the docs I normally see were booked up so I said it was fine to put me with someone I'd never ever seen before. Well that was a waste of time; I went in he looked it over and told me I just needed to rest and that I should stop running, that it's bad for the human body and that if I continue I will have lasting effects for the rest of my life.
Well I said to him, "would those lasting effects be feeling better about yourself, Like being more confident than ever before.....a natural way to cope with depression.....more energy..... a longer life and better sexual stamina, cause that's what I've found so far!" The funny part, he got pissed and said I was one of those people that was hooked on running like some people are on drugs and that I was impossible. I told him thanks for nothing, told the people at the front desk that he was a QUACK and left. I went right from the Dr. clinic to the Physical therapy clinic. I walked into the office told the lady's my story, Wendy grabbed my foot took my shoe and sock off, examined it and told me it was tendinitis. She told me what to do for it, a few stretches and do some brisk walks or real short (1 mile) runs at a slow pace to get the circulation going good in the ankle. Within a week I was better. In the past year my most serious medical problems, a torn stomach muscle, a sciatic nerve problem and this tendinitis were diagnosed by PT's not Doctors! So what the hell? I think if you have the sniffles they should make an appt. with a doctor, if you have a muscle or joint problem make an appointment with a PT. But you have to waste your money with a doctor first so they can refer you to a PT. OK done whining, I just wanted PP to know the big quacks weren't just in Texas, Wisconsin has them as well.
Well back to good things, I have finished my last epidural in my back it was a series of three. Which are supposed to reduce the inflammation in my lower back. It has helped some, I can at least do my exercises for my back now without pain or as much pain, which will help to reduce the pain even more. Hopefully it will be gone for good.
I am going to take the summer and work on my speed. I have joined a miler training group which should help drop my times and help me with my form. In the mean time I will be training for a half in Milwaukee in the end of September. It's going to be tough to fit it all in with working a full time job and going to school in the evenings, but I'll make it work. I bought a bike on Friday for cross training and Wendy is going to teach me how to swim properly so I can use that as well. I never had swimming lessons as a kid, never thought I would need them as an adult, but I want the the cardio and upper body work that it gives. Plus I'm thinking about trying a few Tri's next summer if I can master the swimming .
Well today was the first day back in the sneakers since the 27Th of May. I went out for a short three mile run at a leisurely pace and it felt good to be running again. I got to the half way point and felt like I should just keep going further but I thought if I do that I'll go to the next road, then the next county, then the state line. Well we've all seen it before, the next thing you know I'd be drawing a crowd and running down a peer at the ocean, so I turned around at a mile and a half and headed home.

Miles: 3

Time: 30 min 30 sec

Pace: 10:07

Overall impression: Some doctors need a running shoe in the ASS and an open hand in the back of the head. Oh and being back in my shoes felt good! (SDNARSITAAAOHITBOTH.AOBBIMSFG!)

Lost Luggage. Be Told!!!

Yes, it's happened again. First Amie, now me. I had a really tight connection in Denver. In fact, I took my time getting off the plane and didn't dawdle, but was in no hurry to get to my gate. When I got to the gate, I realized I had forgotten to account for a one hour time change, which meant that my boarding started as soon as I got to the gate. Whereas I can cross the airport in 10 minutes, it seems that my bags couldn't. The last report I received was that my bags were in Chicago and that they are looking for them.

This means no shoes, no undies - Can you say Commando Vacation? - no running gear and no toiletries. Should be an interesting day or two hear. I dread the thought that camp would start without my bags.

I hope this doesn't happen to you!

Summer Hiatus

Alas, my dear friends, I wanted to post quickly to apologize in advance for my upcoming absence from the blog. I leave in a few minutes for the airport, and will have limited access to our blog until Saturday, at which point my access becomes non-existent for 6 days. Yes, there are places on earth where there is no internet!!!!

In my absence I hope you all have great runs, few run ins with the FTAS, and live happy and healthy lives. I'll be talking plenty of smack with people at Camp, so you needn't fear your leader will lose his edge while he is away.

Peace.

The Race

No, I'm not counting this as one of my weekly posts. But, I wanted to let everyone in on a fantastic race Moose and I are waging right now in the cyber-crazy world of Nike+.

Basically, we are are running a 100 mile race against each other.

And, after about two weeks of Trans-Atlantic smack talk (actually, we're quite nurturing in our competitive ways...for now), a mere .5 miles separate the two of us! How intense is that?

Food Terror Alert System

Where does this fall on the FTAS? I was having dinner this evening in Berkeley, and look what I found on the menu. What does that mean exactly? Do we even serve free-range organic humans to our cannibals in Berkeley?

Just a thought!

Training: Week 1

Well the family left and left me an absolute wreck. After 10 days of constant alcohol I needed several days just to dry out. I'm not kidding when I say my body was retaining at least 40 pounds of excess water due to my alcohol consumption. Another reason I think the Kenyans are on to something. I mean think about it. Drink like a fish and eventually you become a camel and have all that extra water that can be used during the race. It's the best plan ever!
So after a week off, training began last Tuesday. The first training session was speed work. 12 x 400 with a 20 minute warm-up and a 10 minute cool-down. If you're counting that ends up at about 7 miles! So much for those short mid-week runs. They evidently won't be happening this time around. The workout went great. I had a goal pace of 2:00 per lap, and stayed under it for all but one of the laps. Not bad, not bad. And the 20 minute warm-up run to the track overlooking campus is always a nice strenuous one. Think a 1.5 miles straight up the side of the Empire State Building and you'll start to get an idea of how it feels sometimes.
Thursday was atomic meltdown. I'm totally on board with the Food Terror Alert System. Food Item: 6" Subway Turkey Sub with extra Turkey and with Pepperoncini. FTAS Rating: Red. I was to run a 6 mile run and I was in Berkeley. I headed out from the RSF to the Ohlone Greenway planning to run 3 out and 3 back. I was uncomfortable the entire time. I was so full of gas and rumble and burping that I could barely run. I was starting to feel light headed, sweaty (I know you're thinking, "Duh, you're running!" but it wasn't like that.) and overall crappy. I, in my Sixpack wisdom, decide to complete the 3 miles and see what it feels like. By mile 3 I'm seriously considering a visit to the land of bulimia and seeing what that finger down the throat really feels like. Instead I decided to just walk. So here I am, 3 miles from campus and I have to walk back. If you know the geography this puts me somewhere across the Albany border, but still shy of Sabrina's house. The walk back was a bit more enjoyable - less rumble, less gas, less cramps, but still chilly, sweaty, dizzy, and weak feeling.
AFter that failure it took me some time to get the gumption to go back out, which I finally did this morning. The distance today was 8 miles. It was an intense one. The goal pace was 9:35, which I didn't quite hit. I'll blame it on the hills. The first two miles were ahead of pace, on account of the fact that they were entirely downhill. The uphill of miles 3,4,5,6 and 7 kind of blasted the pace. The whole run just felt bad, I have to say. My legs felt like bags of jello, kind of like my carnival fish somehow ended up in a bag of cherry jello and inexplicably attached to my hips to be used for conveyance. They were not cooperative. I didn't feel like I was even "enjoying" the run until I hit mile 6. Awful late in the game to be hitting my first wind. The good news is that I finished the whole thing. No knee pain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FTAS Level: Green Food: 1/3 cup All-Bran, 2/3 cup Fruity Cheerios, 1 cup 2% milk. Went down easy, and ran 8 miles right afterward.

I'll be resting and bracing myself for a bike ride tomorrow and for more speed work on Tuesday. Wish me luck.

Stats:

Miles: 18 run 3 walked

Overall time: 2:52:38

Average Pace: 9:28

Overall Impression: I'll Be Running Up That Road, Be Running Up That Hill, Be Running Up That Building, With No Problem. (IBRUTRBRUTHBRUTBWNP)

And I'll issue another call for everyone to check in here! Let us all know where you are at! Especially you Stroller. We're dying to hear how your training for the Marathon is coming along! You too P.P. Where you at?

Checking In

You know what I love about starting running again? The optimism. The blind faith that you can pick up exactly where you left off months before. It's especially acute when you read about the amazing accomplishments of other people (Hi, Forest!). Not only do you think you can run as fast as you could before, you somehow ball them into your dreams and assume you'll just run as fast as they do, too.

Needless to say, I'm slower.

It's not my fault though. When we got married, Tessa took my name (kinda) and I took two behemoth legs made of concrete because we couldn't find anything blue. If I had my old, svelte yet muscular calves, then I'm sure I could keep kicking ass. As it stands, I'm happy just to be logging miles. Which, I'm sure, is how it should be in the grander scheme of things.

BUT, I'm not logging them as quickly as I thought.

If you dial back to last week's post, you will note the aforementioned enthusiasm with which I claimed I would run 25+ miles a week starting, oh say, now. I even set up a goal to run 80 miles in four weeks! I figured if I could do it before I drank all of Italy's wine and ate all of their gnocchi while doing nothing else but nap, then I should be able to do it twice as easy afterwards. Bad math, I guess.

Anyway, I'm somewhere in the gray area now. I'm not at square one, but I'm not on whatever square I used to be on, either. I might not even be "on" a "square". I do know that I felt comfortable enough running today that I experimented with my food. After reading entries from both Don and Forest about eating more while running, I decided to eat a giant bratwurst covered in mustard before I ran five miles today. It was singularly amazing how quickly it turned into a cinder block. I have never felt my stomach really do that sort of thing before, and there aren't really words for it. If I could describe it in colors, it would be an orange kind of pain. But after the first couple of miles, I do admit I felt fresher. In fact, I got a lot faster as the run went on. This means that either A) It got easier to run because I stopped cramping, or B) The much-needed bratwursty nutrients passed through the sausage casing and straight into my quads, giving me the energy I needed to be the best runner I could be.

We all know I like to play loose and silly with the scientific method, but this was obviously a case for the latter.

Next test: Spaetzle covered in cheese with some Leibniz cracckers.

The Training Begins

With Forest having shattered the Drunkrunner Marathon world record, it's time to get down to business. Julie and I have begun training for the Houston Marathon, and this is the official call out to all of you to join us in this. Over the next 34 weeks we will complete an 18-week 1/2 marathon training, and a 16-week marathon training. Don't ask me why it takes two more weeks to train for 1/2 the distance, but the gods at Runners World say so. I'll be following the FIRST programs at Runners World. I'll post the schedule if anyone is interested. It involves only 3 runs per week, with cross training on two other days. In the meantime this means dusting the cobwebs off my bicycle. I"ve ridden this morning to the coffee shop and will venture to Noe Valley soon.

Yesterdays training run was already intense. 7 miles! And that was the speed work. It's gonna be a long training, but I'm hoping that doing the two will encourage less strain and less injury. In an ideal world, I will qualify for Boston in Houston, which will mean another trip for a marathon, shucks. But my real goal is to kick Forest's ass!

It was a long hard road but I made it!

Sunday was a great day for a marathon. Allow me to take you thru the paces.
Saturday night The American Cancer Society had a dinner for the charity runners, Pasta and chicken with a video which was really inspiring and a few speakers. I was home plenty early 8:30, which gave me time to put the chip on my shoe put my bib on my shorts and washed the marathon finisher shirt I had gotten when I picked up the bib and chip. Now when I packed my clothes to change into I packed that shirt, but I also packed another shirt because I knew if I didn't finish that I could never where the shirt.
Sunday morning I got up at the butt crack of dawn that's around 4:00 am showered, had my breakfast and left for Madison about 5:00. I got to the finish line about 5:30 and looked it over, then I stretched and left for a quick mile run and then stretched out again which was the advice of my PT. I was feeling good when I boarded the shuttle for the Capitol which was the start of the race. We kicked off at 7:10, it was a little chilly, 52 with a slight breeze which is actually perfect running weather. I jumped in with the 4:30 pace group figuring I could always drop out if I started to feel fatigue coming on to soon. The pace felt a little slow so I went out in front which turned out to be good. When I stopped to pee they were coming by when I got back out to the road so I could just pick back up with them and work my way back out front. At the half way point my back was giving me trouble the nerve in my right side was pinching to a point that my leg was becoming useless. This forced me to stop and stretch out again I spent about 8 minutes getting myself ready for more. When I started running again I had to stop within a half mile to stretch again not near as long this time, but this time I felt good and it carried me thru to the end, well that and some codeine. I have found in the last few races that hills are my strong point, this is where I do most of my passing. I found yet again though that I waited to long to take in my first nutrition (PP My suggestion is start early and consume often) I played catch up for the next hour but finally got back on track and was feeling better. My plan was to start before the race and continue taking my Cliff blocks every three miles or thirty minutes which is what my pace was. But it was mile six and I was already feeling really hungry. As I said I got back on track and kept my plan the rest of the race with a pack of sport beans as my last nutrition pack, which is like eating pure sugar. It's a quick pick me up but it only lasts a few miles.
At mile twenty-two I felt like someone had switched my shoes with cement slippers HEAVY YET COMFORTABLE. My legs were on auto pilot at least that's what it felt like. At mile twenty-four finally saw a person I knew I yelled to him and he jumped up reached into his cooler grabbed a beer and cracked it open. I of course stopped and slammed half of it thanked him for the carbs and took off again. I was actually feeling good I was the annoying person telling everyone I passed from this point on ( which really wasn't many) that they were doing great and had come to far to quit or to even walk, that they could finish just dig deep down and go. As I did the last small hill Into the Coliseum parking lot I was thinking how great this was, how I had pissed and moaned about the weather all winter about how good it felt as I conquered each long run. Even how good it felt to hit a wall during a long run and dig that much harder all week to make up for it and get it done. And about all the encouragement I got from my fellow drunk runners, you were all great and made my first marathon possible. I also looked at all the friends I have made in the last six months because of my running and how it has changed my life for the better. As I rounded the corner I saw someone holding a run forest run sign but I was starting my final kick and didn't take time to see who it was. When I saw the finish line I felt like I was in an all out sprint, I know I really wasn't but I did still have some kick left. I finished the 200 meters without letting anyone pass me, but I have to admit one woman came close. The feeling of crossing the finish line was like no other. It felt like I had won the race, which I did, I won the race with myself and I beat all those that doubted me. That is a feeling I will never forget. Sixpack thanks for planting the seed.

Miles 26.2

Time 4 hrs 29 mins 51 secs

Pace 10 mins 18 secs

Overall impression:If I had known how good all this hard work would feel and how great finishing would be I would have done it years ago. (IIHKHGATHWWFAHGFWBIWHDIYA.)

P.S. PP I agree with Dee on the training group. I joined the ACS charity runners which gave us free training thru Fleet Feet. I had a group to run with on Thursday and the long runs on Sunday. I only went on the long runs and only made about half of them, all of the long mileage ones. They gave me a lot of advice and a ton of different nutrition packs to help find which one works best for me. If I ever had questions they had someone who could help me find the answer. The normal price they charge is 50.00 which I would have gladly paid. Well i would now knowing how valuable it was. With the hydration thing I found that drinking a can of V-8 daily and an extra after each workout kept my sodium level up which really helped me. I also found that and a bagel was something i could have before a long run that didn't want to come back up.

Calling on Marathon Men for Advice

Alright boys, since you all have (will have) completed marathons, I would like to profit from your wisdom.

I set up a training plan with runnersworld - first training for a half-marathon & then training for a marathon - to prepare for Houston in January.

My first question: given my current pace, I find the pace set by the training plan, even for the short runs, to be a big step backwards (going from an 8 min. pace to a 10:54 min. pace). Will I increase my chance of injury or make it harder on myself by keeping my current pace for short runs? I find that I am too competative with myself to slow down. When I run longer distances (10+) and notice that my pace is "too fast" I have a hard time allowing myself to slow down. Any mental tricks or do I need to just have a talk with my competative side?

My second (and last) question: I may have lovely lady lumps (have I mentioned how much I hate that song?), but I am no camel. Help me with hydration tips. If it isn't coffee or alcohol, I am clueless. What can I do the night before a long run to ensure that I am hydrated but not having to pee every 15 mins. during my run? I am sure that I have followed the Kenyan method to the t: pint-sized Vodka tonics the night before a run (I am almost certain that is what the secret Kenyan running manual states). At what distance do you find gels necessary/most beneficial?

Ok, I am sure I will have more questions as I get further into my training. I trained for a half-marathon last year with Sixpack and Deetschei, but I wasn't in the shape then that I am now, so I feel like I could push myself harder than the training plan. HOWEVER, I want to minimize the potential for injury, since I am having some knee pain and I have been experiencing a shooting pain down my left calf and into my ankle (shin splints, no doubt).

Oh oh oh. One more thing, remind me again what the general rule of thumb is for changing shoes? 300 miles or 500 miles?

Bay 2 Breakers Weekend

The big challenge over the B2B weekend was taking it easy! That's the simplest way to put it. Here's the run down.

After Forest and Sandi's arrival on Thursday, we were all too tired to do any running so it was all put off until Friday. This meant the beer could flow like wine from a Jesus Jug on Thursday. I don't think one family has ever before single handedly filled the blue recycle bin, but we certainly gave it the ole collige try.
Friday morning Forest and I went out for a 5 mile run. From the hotel to Golden Gate Park and a little bit in, then turning around and coming back. Their hotel was 2 miles from the finish line, so it was a great location. We got to run the last 1/2 mile or more of the course before the actual day of the race. It was cool and foggy out and made for a great run.
Friday night we all had dinner at Bubba Gump's Shrimp Company. Wayne, Dad and I sat at the bar for a few hours before dinner having a few beers. We had a long dinner of fried fishes and various other fried foods. I so wished P.P. had been able to join us. At 6:15 it was time to head for the 6:40 boat to Alcatraz. We got out of the restaurant and off the wharf at about 6:30. We quickly learned that the boats no longer depart from Pier 39, but from Pier 33 - over a 1/4 mile away. Thus began the true Drunkrunner 400m Dash! We had 10 minutes to at least claim the tickets and we had no time to waste. Wheezing under the strain of 2 liters of beer and 1 pound of fried fish, we pulled up to the will-call booth with minutes to spare. As the rest of the family arrived Wayne and I were sober as preachers and wishing we were back at Bubba's!
Sunday morning we were at the starting line at 7 a.m. and enjoyed the sights and chatting while we waited for the whole race to begin. I was giddy like a school girl waiting with Tequila and Forest at the starting line! We had all put so much work into getting ready that it was great that it was finally here! We don't see many costumes up front, but there were a few.
At 8 a.m. the horn rang out and they were off. We did very well the first mile, clocking 9:01 together. Mile two was clocked at 9:25, but by the time I reached that mile marker I had had to leave the two of them behind. I felt bad, but I was seriously in danger of hurting my race by running it too slow -- you know how you tighten up if you run too far at a pace slower than your body is used to -- so I broke out ahead of them.
You can tell by my pace that the Hayes St. Hill was the worst part of the race (I played the Powersong twice to make it to the top). That's the dip in the pace there, ending at the top of the hill. The rest of the race went great. I ran an 8:00 mile 6 and I was totally psyched. I was even happier that my pace was picking up all the way through the last half of the race. Not bad.



You can also tell by the distance on the Nike+ that it's not so well calibrated. It was a little rough to have it telling me the race was over almost a 1/4 mile before the finish line, but I pushed through it. Finishing the race in 1:06:31 (official chip time).

That gave me an average pace of 8:55. I was aiming for 9:00, so I was more than happy with that. This was the longest distance I have run since January 21. Not bad. Not bad.

Sandi Patti sent me an SMS at 12:00 stating: Where are we? After some negotitations, I convinced her that naked men in San Francisco were not landmarks. She hung up and called back when she found something that was neither tree, nor lamppost, nor capable of moving from it's present position. We picked her and my niece and her girlfriend up at mile 5.25. Thus rescuing them. Sandi's inability to finish the race due to intoxication certainly earned her entrance into the Drunkrunner's Hall of Fame.

Summary:

Official Results: 1:06:31, Place: 2309, Gender Place: 1890, Age Grade: 50%

Distance: 7.46 miles

Naked People: 5 (I must have run faster this year)

Paris Hilton costumes: 30+

Beers Consumed at the Beer Tent: Personally: 4, insgesamt: 12 or more.

Dead People: 1 (sadly a 53 year old man collapsed at the finish line)

Overall Impression: Sandi Patti, The First To Verge On Passing Out, Won The Drunkrunner Award!

Mea Culpa

It occured to me today that I haven't posted since February 14th, the night of the "infamous bike incident". This is entirely my fault, and I apologize. (I still love you all.) I had to finish a book review, an article, and work on my dissertation, which meant that whatever words I had remaining came in the single syllable variety and were used exclusively to provide myself with nourishment (Do you want more soup? "Yes"). Then I got married in England and went on honeymoon in Italy.

Quick Review of Events Since My Last Posting:

1) Winter turned to Spring, and there was much rejoicing.
2) London and Boston Marathons were run, and there was much stretching.
3) Bay to Breakers was run, and there was much nudity.
4) I ran a Personal Best mile in a run of three miles and longer- 6:59
5) I amassed over 300 miles by the second week of April.
6) I ran a Personal Best 5K- 21:53
7) Don and I contracted Foot and Mouth Disease (i.e. sheep herpes) when Nick took us on a cross country tour of the Essex countryside.
8) I explored the benefits of those "interwebs" and bought a pair of Brooks on-line. I now run in cyber shoes.

Except for a two week gap though, I ran the whole time. Here's proof:



Basically, I had a nice seven week stretch of 20+ mile weeks going when my brother arrived in Cologne to "help" us "prepare" for the wedding. for those of you that don't speak Henderson, that translates roughly into "drink". I still maintained a good bit of running until I finally convinced him to acccompany me on a bike shortly before we left for London. About 4 miles into a 6 mile run, a large dog ran under the front tire of his bike, causing Steve to catapault over the handlebars like a cow over a castle wall. I was convinced he would be maimed and I would have to explain to my friends why one of my groomsmen didn't have a lower jaw. Luckily, however, he remembered our Gymkata training as children and rotated at the last second. His face was saved, but his shoulder turned into mincemeat. This is okay, because you can't see that in wedding pictures.

Needless to say, I was scared to run with him again, and seeing as how we were leaving for London anyway, I quietly put my shoes away and concentrated on other important stamina-building exercies, like spending my Bachelor Party on Brick Lane trying to prove I could eat the hottest curry on the East End. I stand by my choice.
As Don and Nick both already mentioned, the "Wedding Day Something-K" was a success. I had assumed that since Nick knew the entire 4 mile distance already, he had already run it the night before (my favorite line- "Now this part is cool. We're going to go through somebody's yard, but don't worry. It's a public footpath." He said this as he slowed down to open their gate). But it turns out that he had already run the entire distance that morning, then came back to pick us up.Then, after we were finished, he couldn't walk home with Don because he wanted to do another run! Simply awesome.

I picked back up last Wednesday and if it doesn't storm tonight, then I should log 19 miles for my first week back. I should be back in the mid-20s next week, and am hoping to log around 30 a week before I start training for something again. I'm still debating on whether I want to start getting really serious about anything right now, but P.P. might need some company in her quest, and I need to spend some quality time chatting with my cowgirl, anyway. I'm posting AT LEAST once a week now. It's my mid-May resolution.



PS: How was B2B?!?!?!?!?!!?!?!?

One is the Loneliest Number

It is true people. Everything you've heard about that running slut Sixpack is true! Ha ha ha.

Seriously, it was great to be back with one-half of the original DrunkRunners - Pacemaker, you were sorely missed (especially because Don would much rather have looked at your ass than mine). In addition to our dirty, slutty run on Saturday, Don and I conquered Twin Peaks (no, not what you are thinking, although I can't blame you...) on Tuesday. It was totally Hounds of the Baskervilles with the fog but minus the hounds, Sherlock Holmes, and Watson.

It was a challenging and great run, especially getting up at 7am after a night of drinking with Donno. Speaking of Don, don't let his talk fool you. He still has the better looking legs! That man does do a pair of running tights proud.

Anyways, since I am all eji-micated and graj-iated I did very little running while in Berkeley. I should have taken advantage of the gorgeous weather. As it stands now, I have returned to the mid-80s/low-90s in Tejas and will have to either get up at 4am or wait until 7pm to run. Boo hoo. Whatever. Ain't gonna stop the Pavement Pounder! I've got a marathon to start training for.

Good luck to EVERYONE this weekend and enjoy the costumes, naked runners, Hayes Street, and most importantly the beer tent. Ginifer and I are scheduled to run it here, albeit without the hills and naked bodies [sigh].

Quick Stats
5/1-5/6:

Total Distance: 19.8
Total Time: 2:48:57
Avg. Pace: 8:32
Observations: Booo! I slowed down my pace by 14 secs. Grrr! (B!ISDMPB!@S.G!)

5/7-5/14:

Total Distance: 16.5
Total Time: 2:18:00????(runs got erased on my watch sometime during my flight (*@!#$***%)
Avg. Pace: 8:21
Observations: Enjoy the hills but they do nothing for my pace. That is why the Houston marathon is one of the fastest courses!!! (ETHBMDNFMP.TIWTHMIOOTFC!!!)

The Drunkrunner Slut

Last week it was Braintree with Nick and Deetschei, this morning it was the Nimitz trail with the Pavement Pounder, next week it's the Bay to Breakers with Tequila, Forest, Sandi, Thirtypack, Mamaschu, and Mom. What can I say? I get around!

Seriously, last weeks run in Braintree was great. Running through the brush and brambles of the English countryside made every moment of those nettles worthwhile! Forget the fact that I was still suffering from a Poison Oak like rash, at least I had the ointment with me to lessen the symptoms. It was awesome meeting Nick and seeing just how thoroughly he is capable of kicking my ass. We did a 4 mile run, but before we met, Nick had already run at least 2. When we were finished and I was ready to collapse, Nick went back out for a few more miles. Not bad.

Today, the day after Julie's graduation -- That's Dr. Pavement Pounder to you! -- we went for a run on the Nimitz trail. I hadn't run Nimitz since last year, and was surprised just how hilly it was. Her sister, Ginifer was with us, and I was glad to have someone there who was also hurting, because Jules was out front and I spent the entire 5 mile run looking at her ass. The weather was great, a little chilly and windy, but once we got moving I didn't notice much.

The Week's summary:

Miles: 12

Overall: 1:52:40

Average: 9:23

Impression: Need To Get A Running Partner! Where Have They All Gone? (NTGARP!WHTAG?)

I'm down with being the mean guy

So I just got back from a little trip across the pond to see Deetschei get hitched, and was informed by 6-pack that one of my mini-diatribes here caused a minor ruckus. Sweet! I'm sure my post was too harsh but I think it was ultimately well-intentioned. Or maybe I was having a bad day. Anyway I'm maybe kind of harsh in general when it comes to running advice, but the best coaches I've had haven't been the ones that have told me to take it easy when I'm not feeling good. So I'm glad to pass the meanness on. Really, it's for your own good. Also, being mean is fun.

Took a nice 4 mile run with Deetschei and 6-pack in the UK countryside on the wedding day. The plan was 9-minute miles but it was closer to 8 through the first 2 or 3 miles. I think we brought it back down near the end and ended up at 9s. I think we all could've hit 8s or better, and Deetschei was downright chomping at the bit, he's ready for 6s. Or maybe that was the wedding-day jitters. Maybe I'll plan to get married on Patriot's day so I can try using those jitters for a good Boston time. Thanks for the run guys, I think it was worth the itchiness from the stinging nettles. And congrats on that marriage thing Deetschei.