For those of you . . .

For those of you who follow this, let me give you a quick update.

I was in Mexico last week so I didn't write. I ran. I just didn't write.

I have tendonitis something fierce right now in my bad knee (the one that I had ACL/Meniscus surgery on).

It doesn't really hurt when I run . .however I really pay for it when I am finished. Simple things like laying on the beach last week were so miserable I couldn't even sleep.

I am not going to run in the Des Moines Marathon next month. I am in my 19th or 20th week of training but I think I need to pull the plug for several reasons. I'll write about those reasons later.

Our dog of almost 16 years died a couple of days ago. My heart is very heavy and very sad and at this time even running doesn't help. When my heart hurts I usually run . . it isn't really helping this time. Or . . .when a run does help, my damn knee hurts when I am finished!

In the meantime .. I am going to rest my knee by working out at the Y and running short distances. I am going to wallow in my own self pity over our dog . .and when I am done wallowing . .I will put my big boy pants on and get back at it.

More later.

20 miles . . .

I am back from doing 20 miles. This was my experience:

Mist over a bean field
Rising Sun
Attempted dog bite - -successful kick in the little doggie jaw.
Hills
Pain
More hills
More pain
If I didn't hit the wall at mile 19 it sure resembled the one that I hit in my marathon a year ago. If there ANOTHER wall - -I don't want to hit it.
SLOW.
After mile 7 I once again just focuses on pain management.
Like all long runs . .this one too was bittersweet with conversations with God, self epiphanies and attacks from the enemy to stop running . .to stop living . .to stop being a good husband . .etc . . . you face alot of battles when you run long distances.
4 GELS
30 ounces of water
Hot bath
we'll see how the rest of the day stacks up.

5:30AM - 20 miles in 20 minutes

5:30AM
45 degrees
body full of water, carbs and butterflies
I am going to run 20 miles this morning
If I THINK about it, I get hesitant . . .so I'll just DO it.

I tried to eat decent yesterday. I drank close to 100 ounces of water. I ran 3 miles around the track just to remind my legs what running felt like (I took Thursday and Friday off to try to mend some tendonitis.)

I shall return . .

I'm still kicking . .

I'm still kicking.

I'm still kicking out the miles.

I have tendonitis in a big way.

I write for a living and haven't been very inspired to write on this thing.

I am going to run 8 miles on Saturday and 20 miles on Sunday.

Somebody asked me today why I am doing a second marathon - - I didn't have an answer.

I am convinced that the real battle is going to come at mile 21! It is mile 21 that I cannot prepare for!

I weigh 177.

I love my wife.

I have had alot of people ask me to pray for them when I run. I am honored.

Last week a coyote ran only 15 feet in front of me. It was so close that I could hear his claws scratch against the pavement.

I am currently waiting for 2 albums to come out . .the new Killers album and the new Mumford and Sons. Both will make their way onto my marathon playlist. This is the song that stirs me of late:
It is by "Passenger"

8 miles 12 hours ago . . 18 miles in 30 minutes

5:40AM

8 miles yesterday . . .I wore my trail shoes. It once again poured rain on me for 5 minutes. 5 minutes was long enough to get everything waterlogged so I felt like I was lugging around 250 pounds.

In 30 minutes I am going to run 18 miles. My knees hurt. My feet hurt. I truly am not looking forward to this. I know, however, that about a half mile into the run I am going to start feeling alive.

My plan is this:

GELS at 3.5   7    11 and about 14 miles

I ate spaghetti, lasagna and manicotti last night and a bowl of oatmeal.

I will drink 22 ounces by mile 14 and then fill up again for the final 4 miles. I don't want neglect of nutrition and hydration to be the factors that cause me to stumble . . .here's the deal . . .after mile 7 my body starts to ache anyway . . I want it to ache because of the running not because I was too lazy to give it energy.

18 miles .. ready or not...

Saturday . . .

I postponed my 8 mile run today.
I am going to run 8 tomorrow and 18 on Labor Day.
Remnants from a hurricane have moved their way this far north and have dumped our area with rain off and on for the last 15 hours.

I didn't skip because of the rain. I skipped because a long run on Monday fits my schedule better. 98% of the time I won't skip a run . . .

I did an abs workout with my wife this morning . . .I am in good running shape but not in good shape!

I realize that my life is only a breathe. I hope those of you who read this realize that too.

This song puts that in perspective: The band is Passenger. The song is Life's for the Living.