Today is the farthest I have EVER ran . . .

15 miles! This is the first of my "firsts" until the marathon. This is the hardest physical challenge that I have faced. I know that when I run 18 miles, 15 won't seem so bad . .etc . . .but TODAY is the only day that I know and I ran 15 miles! After mile 7 as usual, my legs felt heavy and I had to drag them the remaining 8 miles. I don't think 20 ounces is enough because I was REALLY thirsty when I got home. I put in one of the NUUN hydration tablets in my water bottle. This is where I had GU:

15 minutes before run       mile 5            mile 9               mile   13

It was the Strawberry/Banana GU and didn't taste bad with the lemon flavored hydration tablet.

Came home and walked a quarter of a mile with my wife (I downed a 20 ounce GATORADE). Layed on the chair on the back patio and drank chocolate milk, ate an apple and a breakfast bar . .all the while taking turns icing different parts of my body. My right thigh really is bruised but I don't think that it is a running injury. I think I banged it on Friday when I was on a roller coaster with my kids!

Mentally I really started having doubts that #1 I was going to finish this 15 mile run without stopping (and I didn't except to duck behind some trees in the park! Not cool huh? )and #2 that I will be able to finish a marathon.

I started at 6:00AM and got home at 8:23AM . .not sure how many minute mile that is but I am sure it isn't a land speed record. At about mile 2 I ran in the fog for several miles. It was incredible. I felt like I was running on top of a mountain in the clouds (like when I climbed Devil's Head in Colorado). While I was in the fog (literally) the Van Morrison song "In The Garden" came on and I was struck by this line: "felt the presence of the youth of eternal summers in the garden." I know what that feels like and will understand it even more when I die and run in the garden. I have 85 songs on my marathon playlist and simply hit "shuffle" at the beginning of my run. I had no idea what song what going to be next but knew that GOD had whatever one it was picked out for me for that EXACT spot in my run. I don't believe in random.

I want to be that "old guy" that the young guys say, 'I want to be like that old guy" when I get old. Make sense? Speaking of old guys. I saw 2 old guys today watering their lawns while smoking cigarettes. I don't judge. I envy. . . .

More later . . .when some of this soaks in and my legs and thighs quit screaming.

Home Is Wherever I'm With You . . .

This is a line from an Edward Sharpe song (Home) that I listen to after every run when I am stretching. Ran 3 miles tonight. First time all summer that I have ran later than 6:00 in the morning! It was 7:30pm when I left and it was still well over 90 degrees! I have had a pain in my left butt cheek since my 7 mile run yesterday. I am a little nervous because there is a nerve back there (sciatic) that can cause all kinds of trouble. So now I am not only icing my left foot and knee but I am also icing my left butt cheek. You can only imagine how sexy my wife thinks that is. My training plan does not call for me to run tomorrow or Saturday. Sunday is 15 miles. I have never run 15 miles. I am excited about all of the "firsts" that this journey will bring me. Speaking of "firsts", my daughter starts kindergarten in a few weeks . . .I am going to have to ice my heart as well.

10 miles the last 2 days

3 miles yesterday morning. 7 miles this morning. This morning I ran the first 5 miles without music. The first 2 miles were in the dark. Without music, it is quite odd for me to hear the natural rhythms that my tired body makes. Even as "clunky" as my running tends to be - - -the music is uniquely my own. My breath (that my GOD, my mom and my dad gave me) and my steps make this cool sound that IS my running. While my breath and my steps are doing their thing I'll periodically cough or sigh or laugh or have a conversation with somebody in my head and slip out a few sentences out loud. Running is a complete isolation of body, mind and self yet it all works together to create this "experience" that I call my morning run.

I was thinking today that running is not a sport for me. It is a release. It is art, in a sense. It is a mode of transportation to see "things" at different times of the day. It is alot of things, but to me, it is NOT a sport. If it ever becomes about HOW FAST I CAN GO - - -I won't do it anymore. Not that I don't want to push myself but I won't let this be about the numbers (except 26.2!). I have enough numbers in my life.    

Sunday - - Longest run ever . . .

From now until September 25 most all of my weekend long runs will be the longest run I have ever done. 13.5 miles on Sunday. My left hip is not very happy with me today. I tried GU and GATORADE and found that by mile 4 this wasn't a combination that was going to work. I dumped the GATORADE out at mile 5 at the gas station and filled my handheld with water . . .almost instaneously my stomach felt better! I was watching a storm to the north throughout the first part of the run. At one point the wind blew for about 30 seconds . .seems like it was the first time the wind had blown in years around here. It was still 85 degrees when I stepped out the door at 6:00AM! I was watching lightning throughout the first half of my run . .by the time I was at about mile 7 out in the middle of nowhere on a county road when I realized that the storm was moving in my direction. There were 4 lighting strikes in a row (the "jagged, fingery type of lighting") and they were close enough that I could hear the thunder over my ipod - - -needless to say, I turned around and sprinted for about a half mile. I ran home and checked my mileage (sat at the computer for about 5 minutes) . .I was at 10 miles so I went back out for another 3.5 miles. The run wasn't very smooth. It wasn't very satisfying but it is the farthest that I have ever ran. My shoes have 465 miles on them so I will replace them next weekend . .not this weekend. SPA day at the YMCA today. Stretched for about 20 minutes and sat in the SAUNA for another 20 minutes.

Today

Today was a rest day. We sat by a pool for 4 hours this afternoon. It is well over 100 degrees here with the heat index. Tracy did YOGA in the park. I have been awake since 4:00AM. I couldn't get comfortable and TRIED to sleep in 4 different places in my house last night! I am going to run 13.1 miles tomorrow morning early before the sun wakes up. I put together a long run playlist today . . .70 songs. I am in trouble if 13.1 miles takes me 70 songs. I am going to hit "shuffle" and be surprised. I handpicked every one of the songs so they will all take me "some" place that I have been before. . . .A friend recently introduced me to the singer, Ryan Bingham. At 5:00AM this morning I watched him on Austin City Limits. I am digging it . . . I am going to put gatorade instead of water in my handheld water bottle for my run tomorrow. Going to a friend's house tonight for fish . . .it will be one beer and water the rest of the time as this marathon training is a lifestyle that can't be compromised just because it's hot and he offers me two beers!

13.1 miles this weekend . . . .

Today is a rest day . . .

I floated this morning and I don't know why

I floated this morning on my 3 mile run and I don't exactly know why. Couldn't have been the 3 McDoubles I had last night. I think some of it was the fact that I didn't carry my handheld waterbottle and I had my Brooks Ghost 3 shoes on instead of my Mizuno's. The Brooks are lighter, cushionier (prnounced: cushion-ee-er) and springier (pronounced springy-er). However, on runs longer than 4 or 5 miles I need more protection. In all of my years of running I have only had one setback with my "bad" knee. My "bad" knee is the one that I blew out playing basketball when I was 31. I had the ACL and MCL repaired. My scar is huge and turns an interesting shade of pink in the summer. My training calls for a day off tomorrow. I am going to the Y. I haven't been there in a while. Saturday I will take a 5 to 6 mile walk with my wife. On Sunday morning I will run 13.1 miles. Since this heat has been so crazy, I have been thinking about heading out at about 5:00AM. I sat through a 401K meeting at work yesterday and realized (not the first time I have realized this!) how fleeting our lives are. . .even though I am a christian, it is very sobering to think about how short our stay here on earth is and just how long eternity is. . .

My supper tonight . . .

This is what I ate today:

6 mile run burned 600 calories this morning

breakfast: 1 banana, 1 breakfast bar

lunch: 4 cups of trail mix

supper: (this is where it gets good) 3 McDoubles, large fry and a chocolate sunday

80 degrees at 5:30AM

Ran 6 miles this morning at 5:30AM - - it was 80 degrees. Here are some of the random happenings on the run: left home, ran past the hospital where my grandpa's died, ran past the nursing facilities where my grandma's died, ran past my mom's house, ran past the hospital where I was born - -ran home. It is a blessing and a curse to live where I grew up. . . life and death happens in my head when I am on the road by myself. Interesting how I can let my mind wander back in time while my body pushes itself forward. I'm not sure that this "running thing" is for people who can't be alone with themselves in their own head.

I am on old war plane . . .

I headed out this morning at 5:15AM for a short 3 mile run. My goal was to be quick like a fighter jet. By mile one my engine was still getting the kinks out. My right hip would sputter, my left ankle would creak, my shoes would feel like they needed tied (again) and the playlist I chose for this 3 mile "flight" didn't seem fitting. I realized that I am like one of those old war planes that they sometimes feature on the History Channel. Not flashy, just determined and dependable - - a "work horse" of sorts (like a fullback). I am the war plane that takes a little extra runway to get going but once in air will refuse to stop unless my wing gets clipped by enemy fire OR God just says its time to stop flying and swoops me out of the sky. When I was younger, if I had ran, my personality would have dictated that I would have been more like one of the more sleek and furious fighter jets. The kind employed for quick and deadly 3 mile missions. Oh, but with age comes wisdom. My wife reminds me, my physical therapist reminds me and for the first one mile of every run,the "old war plane" that is my body reminds me that slow and long is better than no flight at all. I have 6 miles tomorrow to run  . . it is only 6:00AM TODAY and I already can't wait until tomorrow. Until that time . .I will put this poor body in the hangar and oil myself with water and gatorade. Need to sign off - -I am trying too hard to be clever now!   

12.3 miles today and a hair net at mile 7

12.3 miles today. Here are the highlights:

1 GU 20 minutes before run

.5 miles  (whig in the middle of the road)

3.5 dead possum in the road smelling to "high" heaven

4 miles (4 rows deep in a cornfield to "get rid of" all the the water I consumed to get ready for the run!

5 miles GU GEL

6 miles I thought about if the Beastie Boys pulled me up on stage, what song would I rap with them.

7 miles (found a hair net in the middle of the street)

8.5 miles met a 73 year old man who was training for his first half marathon. I stopped and walked with him for 5 minutes. We were in the middle of the road with cornfields on both sides talking. .it was almost surreal. His name is KC - -I told him I would pray for his continued health.

9 miles GU GEL

9.5 miles Felt like my legs were going to fall off.

10 miles I thanked God for my kids. I thought about who I love who is alive and who I love who is not alive.

10.5 miles I smelled a juniper and was taken back to Colorado in my mind.

12.3 miles HOME!

Instead of just "running" today I started thinking. It is like pitching, putting, giving a presentation . . .you can't THINK you just have to DO. When I think - -I fail. I kicked out of it but several times I asked myself what in the world I was doing out here in 85 degree humid weather. I asked myself what I was trying to prove, who I was trying to prove it to and tried to convince myself that this was some sort of vain attempt to get back my lost youth. The bible says that "the mind controlled by the spirit is life" . .I hold on to that promise. I was met by my family (and niece) who walked around the block with me to cool off. I then "iced" myself for about 20 minutes. I feel good. Through God, I won the battle once again.

My mind is water logged

I obsess over things. I didn't used to. I am now obsessed over my "hydration" plan for 26.2 miles. When I was younger I would have headed out the door and tried to barrel through 26.2 miles. Not sure whether I would have made it or not but my ego and youth would have carried me well past my breaking point. Not so now. Now I worry about what I should drink, when I should drink it and how I am going to carry it. I want somebody to tell me exactly what to do . . .and nobody can. I went to see my "running buddy" at his running store today to get advice (and to buy one of those stupid looking belts!). He told me since I was already used to carrying a 20 ounce handheld bottle that I really didn't need to spend the extra $50 to carry it around my waste (however that one had 4 10 ounce bottles). He helped me with a plan and I think this is what I am going to do . .for now . . .I will fill up my bottle at the beginning of the race (20 oz) . .drink it all by mile 13 and then re-fill it with water at one of the aid stations at mile 13 for the remainder of the race. Throughout the race then I can get gatorade at the aid stations.  I have a 12 mile run tomorrow. As far as GELs he told me to take one 20 minutes before my run, one at 5 miles and one at 9 miles. I am going to have my shoes "miled out" at the beginning of August so I tried on the new ones I am going to buy (same model Mizuno Nirvana 7's they just changed the colors). I took my "change" bottle to the bank and have saved $91.00 worth of change since October! I have another $30 on my gift card so I am just a couple of bucks shy! Twelve mile run tomorrow morning at 6AM . .I have been drinking water all day and have downloaded The Cars, The Little River Band and all of Coldplay onto one playlist so I won't have to stop in the middle of my run.

6 miles 4:45AM Rain

Yesterday morning at 4:45AM  ran 6 miles in the rain. It was dark for the first couple of miles. The morning reminded me of early January mornings when I leave for my run in the dark and return from my run in the dark. The rain, sweat, the dark turning to light and the clicking rythym of my heart beat and footsteps onc again reminded me of why I do this. This morning was a quick 3 miles. 5:15AM  . . .I listened to Coldplay today. I wore my Brooks Ghost 3 shoes (I wear them on runs under 4 miles) . . .they are my favorite shoes however I don't feel like they have the support to carry this ackward frame 26.2 miles. I have a long day ahead of me. . .  

7 Days and 25 miles later

Been 7 days and 25 miles since I have written anything on here. When I was putting stuff on here all of the time I found myself thinking about what I was going to write when I was running. I am not that guy and I don't want to be that guy. This morning I ran 3 miles with no music. Seems like when I don't have the Beastie Boys beating in my ears, my other senses come alive. In one quarter mile stretch this morning, I smelled pine, oranges, cigarettes and maple syrup. I weighed myself at the Y yesterday morning (spa day!) and weighed 177.2. I have no idea how I am going to run 26.2 miles. I am going to look at fuel belts this weekend. I don't really want to be THAT guy either but I'm not sure else what to do. I can't carry two handheld bottles and I AM NOT going to rely on water stations. I lost my toenail last week . .the other one is growing in just fine thank you very much.

Tuesday

I ran almost 6 miles yesterday. I have concluded that regardless of how tan or how many miles I put on them - I will always have chicken legs. At this point, nothing really hurts on my body. I have my normal aches and pains but nothing serious seems to be rearing its ugly head. I have 5 miles tomorrow morning and I am excited. I didn't run today and I feel fuzzy. I am not sure exactly where I "stand" on myself today - - however, I am home now and I can love my wife and kids tonight the best that I know how to.

I feel "change" coming into our lives. Not bad change, just change. When I was younger, I lived for change. As I have gotten older and go to bed earlier, I have "settled." God made me too wild to settle. Everybody seems to "settle." I don't want to be "everybody." I like that line, "God made me too wild to settle." It is an original. I may get a tattoo of it on my chest. . .  

What I Want . . .

I want to live simply and humbly. God has showed me (and is showing me!) that through him, both are attainable. Running helps me with clarity . . .and clarity helps me live simply . . .and when things are clear and simple . . .I am humbled.

Sunday

"Today is the day the Lord hath made, rejoice and be glad in it." My legs will rejoice that I'm not going to "run" them today. The heat here in our little pasture of the universe has been "searing." I plan on walking with my kids in the creek this afternoon. Pronounced CRICK. We're going to slosh through the brown water with old shoes on and explore. Tracy won't go for fear of being eaten by a crawdad. My body feels good today. My mind is once again not right but so goes the battle. . .there is always something to battle isn't there?

10 miles 5 schools 12 years in 90 minutes

I ran by 5 of the schools I went to as a kid today. Didn't run by my college as that would have added another 120 miles to my run. I left at 5:15AM. It was already 85 degrees and the dewpoint had to be in the mid-90's. My shirt got heavy with sweat by mile 2. In a sense, I ran from 1975 to 1987 in 90 minutes. Fairly symbolic of how quickly my life seems to be moving right now . . .my kids lives seem to be moving even quicker than that. Ten miles in 90 something degree heat won't buckle me . . .but thinking about how fast my kids are growing up - - -that hurts.

BACK

I ran in Florida last week.  A few of the highlights: I made black lizards jump. I ran in the rain in Daytona Beach. My longest run was 8 miles. Running in the south is like running in the sauna at the Y (minus the old naked guys who don't have "long enough" towels). Tomorrow is going to be a tough one. This whole training thus far has been easy because I am really not racking up much mileage. It is going to change tomorrow. I will run 10 miles tomorrow. The heat index will be 95 to 100. I have been drinking water all day today. I mapped out a course where I am going to run past every school I went to as a kid. At about mile 6 I am going to climb the 4th Street Bridge. Whereas the 4th Street Bridge isn't the Golden Gate Bridge - - it will be enough of a climb to make my sweaty quads bark. I look forward to the challenge. All of this comes down to one question: Am I tough enough to run 26.2 miles? With all of the crap that I ate in Florida I only gained a couple of pounds. I met a guy today who runs 55 miles per week. He didn't have any body fat. I think I am still carrying around a couple of Keystone Lights from 1991 around my mid-section. Tomorrow I will fill up my 20 ounce water bottle, tie my laces and hit the streets. Last week in Florida I went on an "Aerosmith-inspired" Rock-N-Roll rollercoaster - -I went from zero to 65 mpg in 2.5 seconds. I won't be going that fast tomorrow . . .it messes my hair up.