Stressed

Running with the weight of the world on my shoulders is always evident in my pace.

I felt smooth and efficient till a young boy passed me like I was standing still. The boy and his blazing pace didn't bother me much. My pace dropped significantly lower at every mile split.

Run:
4.0 miles
37:02
9:15 pace

Walk:
1.26 miles
19:47
15:42 pace

Body Weight:
195.25 lbs

Bike

Body Weight:
196.0 lbs

Andrea and I biked to and from lunch. Andrea hasn't been on her bike in a couple months and struggled today. I hope this is a wake up call for her to spend some time in the saddle.

Trail Bike:
11.35 miles
1:02:10
10.95 mph

Video of Kingwood Lake

Long Run at Marathon Pace

After two days of eating crap I'm ready to get back to a normal routine. The nutritional value of my diet has been so bad I'm craving fresh fruit and veggies. I felt ill last night due to all the sweets.

This morning I barely squeezed under 200 lbs, which was a HUGE wake up call.

Body Weight:
199.25 lbs

Tom, Andrea, and I ran with KWFIT this morning. KWFIT had a visitor from Austin, who is visiting family in the Kingwood area while on school break. It was nice to have another runner match us step for step and contribute to the effort. The visiting runner (I forgot her name) ran the first nine miles with us. Once she left we ran another six miles for a total of 15 miles.

Our average pace was within 15-seconds of marathon pace. Whats even more important, the run felt good. My last couple long runs have been less than stellar. Today's run was a reminder that a 4:30 marathon is still within reach.

Run:
15.03 miles
2:28:51
10:34 pace

Walk:
1.0 mile
17:01
17:01 pace

Running with a Stick

Nice little run with Tom and Andrea. We started at Town Center and ran to East End Loop. Once we arrived at the park we ran the outer loop and returned back. Nice run.

I've finally found a way to enjoy East End Park. Once I enter the park I find a two-foot stick and run with it. It's a shame it has come to that, but I'm reclaiming my park. The unleashed dogs will not stop me anymore. Interesting how the dogs stay away from a runner with a large stick. The friendly curious dogs aren't too worried about me and my stick, but I'm still forced to give them a gentle nudge with the stick so that they don't interfere with my running. I've actually been tripped several times by dogs wanting attention.

East End Park is mine again!

Run:
8.1 miles
1:29:45
11:04 pace

Walk:
1.0 mile
16:39
16:39 pace

Rain on Last Mile

At work.

First three miles were nice and dry, then out of no where the skies opened up on me. No worries, I've grown to like rainy runs.

Run:
4.0 miles
45:27
11:21 pace

Walk:
0.95 mile
15:26
16:14 pace

Body Weight:
196.5

Party

I have a small group of friends and every one of them are truly good people. I’m lucky to say I know them and consider these guys, GREAT friends.

Last night Josh, Wyatt, Tom, and Westin treated me to a bachelor party, which was both wickedly fun and adventurous. Even though I drank enough liquor for ten people, I managed to keep the food in check. As expected, I woke up with a massive headache and tired (didn’t get home till well after 3am).

I didn’t let last nights shenanigans stop me from running. Andrea and I ran eight miles through the greenbelts. It was raining and it was dark, but it was also an amazing run!

Night time has become my favorite time to run. Normally the greenbelts are pitch black, but the trees have lost most of their leaves, which has yielded way to nearby light sources. I also assume the moon is nearly full because the overcast skies seemed oddly bright. We ran the entire eight miles without the use of our headlamps. Actually, I turned my light on for a few seconds when we entered the pedestrian tunnel. There was water and I didn’t want to get any wetter than necessary.

My fitness level and legs felt good. I had an odd feeling in my right hamstring. I’m not sure how to describe it, as I’ve never had this issue before. It feels sore, similar to the soreness I experience when lifting heavy weights after a long time off. I’m not too worried about it, but I’ll keep an watchful eye on the area.

Run:
8.0 miles
1:33:54
11:44 pace

Walk:
1.2 miles
20:13
16:51 pace

Body Weight:
194.5 lbs

As you can see, my body weight has been steady at 194-195. As usual, Vic’s last comment was very insightful. I’m not ready to push the panic button nor will I ever throw in the towel. I simply need to make better choices! Now I just need to survive Christmas, my wedding, and a week of vacation. After that I’ll be out of excuses.

Road to Recovery

My body has responded nicely to the added recovery days. Today I enjoyed another thirty-minute stroll along the greenbelts.

I’ll be glad when the holidays and wedding are over. The struggles of social eating have proven difficult.

Body Weight:
194.25

Walk:
1.87 miles
30:54
16:31 pace

Back to the Basic's

It's time to pull back on the reins before I lose control. I've been at this exact spot before and watched all the hard work slip away. I'm taking a step back mentally, physically, and behaviorally. With my typical mindset it is not easy for me to ‘Go with the flow’. I’m a creature of habit that thrives on consistency, patterns, and schedules.

Today and tomorrow is all about feeling better with no regard to my original training/dieting schedule.

No running for the next two days and I’ve increased my calories equal to my BMR at a factor rating of 1.375. In other words, I'm allotting myself 2600 calories which was derived from my age, gender, weight, and light activity factor.

I enjoyed a relaxing walk along the greenbelts. It is absolutely beautiful outside and would have been a nice day to run.

Walk:
2.0 miles
32:47
16:25 pace

No strength training today, but I’m considering the E2 workout tomorrow.

Body Weight:
194.75 lbs

What Was I Thinking?!?!

Today is the third day I've been sick. I had no business trying to run, much less 19+ miles. I ran ten miles before I crumbled. Truth be known, I'm surprised I made it that far. I toughed out another eight miles running, which was followed by three miles of walking.

Tough day.

At least the run gave me time to think about my plans for this week. I've decided to do the smart thing and listen to my body. Listening to my body means taking a couple days off. I'll try to walk or cycle 30 minutes each day, but that is it. I'm also going to increase my calories equal to my BMR. Hopefully I'll be back on the wagon in a few days.

Run:
18.18 miles
3:40:49
12:08 pace

Walk:
3.35 miles
1:01:14
18:16 pace

Body Weight:
195.0 lbs

Damn. Not again...

The scale wasn't as hard on me as expected. It’s a new day with new beginnings.

Body Weight:
194.5 lbs

I’m at work today. Still have the overall feeling of lethargy. I’m not sure if I’m on the verge of getting sick or if I’m not fueling my body correctly. Maybe a combination of the two?

At work today and it has been a busy day. At least I’m working with my good friend, Josh.

Started the days workout at 7pm and didn’t finish for nearly three hours. Very glad to complete the entire session without being interrupted by an emergency response. I ran three miles around the fire station, followed by a small cool-down walk. Good temperatures resulted in a good run. My pace felt like a crawl, but I was pleasantly surprised at the sub-11 pace.

After the run I finished the mid-body workout that did NOT get done yesterday.

I rode the recumbent bike for the better part of 1.5 hours. Sitting on the bike gives me an opportunity to read. Tonight I read a couple chapters in my newest book called, “Vegetarian Eating for Endurance Athletes”. It’s been a good read thus far, although it is mostly science based.

I finished the session with an uneventful lower body workout.

Run:
3.0 miles
32:47
10:56 pace

Walk:
0.29 mile
5:00
17:14 pace

Recumbent Bike:
21.0 miles
1:27:00
14.48 mph

Strength Training:
Mid-body and Lower Body

The second I finished showering we made an EMS call, which we transported to Hermann Hospital-downtown. I was hungry before working out and that was hours ago. We returned to the station around 2am in the morning. I was going to make a large glass of green tea to fill my stomach. As luck would have it there was a plate of cookies on the counter.

And it happened... again. Although not as bad as last night’s binge, I didn’t have the willpower to stop myself. I ate about five small cookies. The label said they were 120 calories each.

I’m letting myself get too hungry. I would have been fine if I would have gone to bed at a reasonable hour, but it’s not that easy when you’re a fireman. When I ate the cookies at 2am, it had been nine hours since my last meal.

I need a new direction before I lose my way. These are minor occurrences as compared to years past, but this is how it starts. I got to find help somewhere, somehow….

Where Did I Go Wrong?

I’m stuck deciding whether I should stick to a training schedule and diet, or listen to my body. Today, I tried to do both and it was a complete flop.

All day my energy levels have felt depleted. Truth be known, its been an issue all week. For the last two days I thought I was getting sick. Either way, I lounged around the house all day, pushing my cardio workout later and later.

When Andrea got home she helped me get out the door. Even though I felt crappy the run felt GREAT. We ran 5 x 1-mile intervals at marathon race pace. My legs were heavy on the first interval, but the following four intervals felt like butter. The quarter-mile recovery walks were longer than usual. I was trying to accumulate cardio time during the run, so I wouldn’t have a lot to do later.

Run:
5.0 miles
52:21
10:28 pace (actual marathon pace is 10:21)

After the run I was excited to FINALLY feel energized, but it was short lived. Within minutes I was back to feeling like a slug. The only thing I “wanted” to do was sit on the couch. Once the run was done it was 6pm and I was starting to get hungry, which didn’t help matters whatsoever.

It took a lot of gumption, but I finally got on the treadmill and started walking. I needed 45 additional minutes of cardio to complete the scheduled two-hours. At 30-minutes I abruptly stopped the treadmill. I couldn’t take it anymore. I sat there on the couch and had a small pity party for myself.

At this point I decided to lift weights and get the strength training over with. As you can guess, that didn’t go well either. I completed two exercises and once again…. found myself back on the couch. Finally, I got back on the treadmill and finished the last fifteen minutes of cardio. I also convinced myself I was skipping weight training for the day.

My periodization schedule has me doing two hours of cardio and I’m also on my high end of my allowable caloric intake, which is 2400/day. I was out of calories for the day, yet I felt completely depleted. Somehow I persuaded myself it was okay to eat something small, to help me feel better fueled.

The first option was a small portion of left over vegan chili mac (noodles, tomatoes, beans, chili powder). Within seconds I devoured the chili and was rooting around the kitchen for more.

This is the exact point when the day turned ugly.

It’s the holidays, so there are cookies and cakes everywhere around me. On the counter I found a container with ten or so homemade cookies, which I consumed in seconds. I thought that would be the end, but I transformed into some kind of non-human eating machine. The next victim was a bag of sweet potato fries. The sweet potato fries took 25-minutes to cook. I can honestly say I hoped the cook-time would help me feel full and release this demon inside me.

I showered while the fries where in the oven. The moment the timer went off I was in the kitchen ready to demolish another 650 calories. To my surprise I still didn’t feel satisfied. I finished the binge with a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich. I felt better mentally, but it came at a price... guilt.

I’m trying not to dwell on the episode, but rather learn and move forward. The total estimated calories was approximately 2500, which is in addition to the 2400 daily max. It hurts just to type that number. After all my hard work it is disappointing to realize how fast things can change. I don’t consider this a step backwards, but I certainly didn’t gain any ground today.

Better luck tomorrow. I’m officially calling this a binge, which is the first one in a really long time. I take ownership of my actions and I'm not looking to make excuses, but I think I’m pushing my body pretty hard. Over the last few months I have gone to new limits with my running.

Eating extra and adding calories isn’t a big deal, but the foods I chose and the manner in which I ate them was not a normal thought process. That was purely impulsive overeating.

I forgot to mention, this morning’s weight was the lowest I’ve been in 15-years. I really, really, REALLY hope this is not some type of subconscious self-destructive behavior.

Walk:
3.86 miles
1:09:00
17:53 pace

Body Weight:
192.75

No Time For Feeling Puny

The moment the alarm clock woke me up I felt a significant loss of energy. I don't really feel sick, just puny. As soon as I got home I had breakfast and went back to sleep. I only slept a couple hours and I still didn't feel much better. Hunger pangs were in full effect, so I rode my bike to grab a sandwich.

Once I ate lunch my energy level received a much needed boast. I'm glad it was a fuel issue, because I don't have time to be sick.

Trail Bike:
5.77 miles
33:26
10.35 mph

Tom and I made plans to meet at East Park at 4pm for a small three-mile loop. Before driving to the park I walked on the treadmill to 'knock-out' the bulk of my cardio. During the treadmill walk I found a show called Grizzly Man Diaries. It's really interesting, albeit sad. The "grizzly man" spent 13-years in Alaska watching, studying, and documenting the behaviors of bears, foxes, and other wildlife. The project ended at 13-years because he was killed by one of the bears. The series is a compilation of his actual pictures, videos, and written diary entries. I found the show very interesting, even though I know how it will end....

Walk:
2.94 miles
53:20
19:08 pace

The run in the park went well. I still feel tired and fatigued. I'm growing worrisome that I might be getting sick. Preston had a runny nose and cough last weekend. On Monday he was diagnosed with an upper respiratory infection, which was way after he gave me a few dozen 'snotty-nose-kisses'. Since I'm not feeling 100% I chose to run a pedestrian pace. I appreciate Tom and Andrea slowing down, so we could all run together. It's hard to have a bad run when the weather, scenery, and camaraderie are near-perfect.

Run:
3.09 miles
37:18
12:04 pace

At 6pm I had to go back to the fire station and work a few hours for Wyatt. Wyatt worked for me Saturday morning and now it's time to repay the debt. At work I lifted weights and caught up on some reading. It was nice to work for Wyatt and not make any calls. It has become normal for me to make a couple responses while he is out.

Strength Training:
Upper-body

Body Weight:
193.5 lbs

5-miles at 5am and 1 Hypocrit

Started the day with a five-mile run at 5am. Tom and I met at Town Center and ran 2.5 miles South on West Lake Houston Parkway before returning to our trucks. We finished with a 10:50 pace and both of us had a good run. I'm not an early morning runner, but it's nice when the daily run is over before the day starts.

Run:
5.0 miles
54:10
10:50 pace

Warm-up Walk:
0.80 miles
13:12
16:30 pace

At work today.

The majority of the day was productive and fun, but the hypocritical behaviors of one person has me bothered. I blew off a little steam in the weight room with a recumbent bike ride and strength training session.

Recumbent Bike:
14.4 miles
60:00
14.4 miles

Strength Training:
Lower Body

Body Weight:
196.25

Proud of my Girls!

Andrea was scheduled to run the FLS 30k this morning. When the alarm went off at 4am she didn't seem enthused about an event that was an hour away. After laying in bed for a couple minutes Andrea told me, "I'd rather sleep a little longer and run around Kingwood later".

Admittedly, I was concerned about Andreas ability to cover 18-miles unsupported. The facts are this, her knee pain still surfaces from time to time and she has never run more than 15-miles.

In the end, she ran the miles like a CHAMP! She ran the entire distance, maintained a respectable pace, and her knee pain was minimal.

Way to go, Andrea! You're a great runner and will be ready for your marathon debut next month...

While Andrea was out running, I took Alison and Preston bicycling. Alison biked the five-mile loop like an athlete. Preston enjoyed his ride with me. He has nearly outgrown his bike seat, so I'll have to find a bike trailer soon. The kids also "worked-out with dad" in the gym. The entertainment they provided me was priceless. Alison's strength is amazing. At one time I heard Alison say, "Look how strong I am, dad". When I looked over she had both hands on a 50-lb dumbbell, which she had lifted a foot off the floor. Seriously, her arms are so tiny.... how can she lift that much weight!?!?

Trail Bike:
5.5 miles
43:12

Strength Training:
Upper-Body and Mid-Body

The kids and I also went for a walk to encourage Andrea on the final mile of her run.

After a yummy lunch at Schlotzski's I walked on the treadmill to complete two-hours of cardio for the day.

Walk:
4.31 miles
1:15:49
17:35 pace

Body Weight:
195.5 lbs

Only 12-miles...

Tom and I got off work just in time to run with KW FIT. I was glad to see more runners out this morning, as compared to the last couple long runs. My group ran seven strong!

With a 5:30am start the KWFIT head coaches tend to keep the routes on lighted streets, which does not appeal to me. I'd rather run in the trails with head lamps. Of course I know we have to do what is safe for the runners. The route took use directly in front of my house. The temperature was perfect. Unfortunately, the humidity was 100% and the roads/pathways held ankle deep water in many areas.

Hopefully, I'm not peaking too early, because I feel good.... really good. There isn't any evidence that I even ran this morning. I'm feeling extremely confident about my fitness level. I ran 23-miles the five-days after completing a 50k. This morning I ran 12 miles on concrete at a decent pace (for me) and it was like a leisure walk.

Who would have known trail running and ultras would be the key to unlock running bliss!?!?

Run:
12.28 miles
2:21:13
11:30 pace

Body Weight:
195.0

With the kids at home this weekend, I got lazy and didn't lift weights. I'll try to find time tomorrow after Andrea's 30k race.

What time is it?

Bob and I drove to Lake Houston Park for a run-hike.

For the first time in years, I ran without any form of technology. Trust me, this was NOT a planned idea. My OCD went into hyper-drive, because it drives me NUTS running without my Garmin. If that wasn't bad enough, neither of us had a watch.

I explained to Bob that my selective OCD weighs heavy on parts of my life, which includes running. If Bob would not been there I would have drove home and retrieved my watch before running.

As tough as it was for me, I ran anyways. I TRY not to let my OCD effect other people.

About a third of a mile into the run we stopped at the nature center to glance at the clock. At a minimum, we would know the total time for the workout.

As for the run, it was another great day in the forest. The trails were muddy and holding water, yet we managed to navigate through the trails without getting wet. Bob spotted a pack of wild hogs twice, which was truly a delight. On the drive to the park I mentioned the lack of wildlife in this park, then we spot a pack of wild hogs. Too cool!

We ran what we assumed was four miles out and walked the same route back. With the assumption we were running an 11:00/minute pace that would have been 44-minutes. The walk felt like a 16:00 minute pace, which would yield 1:04:00. If you add in 15-minutes to and from the nature center we should have been close to two-hours.

Once we reached the nature center the clock showed we had been out for 1:45:00 minutes. Add the other 15-minutes and we were DEADLY ACCURATE with a total time of two-hours. Needless to say I was impressed with our estimates.

At home I crunched the numbers and it looks like we ran a little longer than four-miles.

Run:
4.4 miles
47:40
10:50 pace

Walk:
4.4 miles
1:12:20
16:25 pace

Body Weight:
194.75

Struggled in the gym. Everything that was easy last week seemed really heavy today.

Strength Training:
Mid-body and Lower body

Three's Good Company

What a great day to run at East End Park. The tranquility of the San Jacinto River, the winter foliage, and the lack of urban life was exactly what I needed.

I’ve not been in a talkative mood today, which is often mistaken for being in a ‘bad mood’. Seven magical miles through the forest squeezed the silence out of me. Before the run was over I found myself being chatty. I love the way running always heightens my mood in a positive way.

Tonight’s crew included me, Tom, and Andrea. The 40-degree temperatures kept most of the dog owners at home, but a few still made their way to the park to let their dogs roam free without a leash. Early in the run I saw four large dogs ahead of us. In a last minute decision, I picked up a long four-foot stick… just in case the dogs were not friendly. Two dogs were off leash, but they were friendly, although they wanted us to stop and pet them. Tom nearly tripped as one of the dogs was looking for his attention. When the dog came to me, I GENTALLY used to stick to push him aside. The stick worked well and I ended up running with it the entire time. I probably looked like a weirdo, but I don’t care anymore. It didn’t bother me to run with the stick and I felt safe.

We started at 4:30 and enjoyed the opportunity to log some quality nighttime trail running. This will come in handily in future races.

Andrea and I left the park and grabbed a sandwich a few miles from the house. Thirty-minutes of cardio still remained to be completed, so I decided to run home and let her drive the truck.

It’s been a good day to be a runner. I ran three more miles than scheduled and I would have liked to done more.

Run:
9.05 miles
1:38:04
10:50 pace

Walk:
1.16 miles
20:29
17:39 pace

Body Weight:
196.0

I skipped the gym workout. I’ll double up tomorrow, because I want to add more back exercises. Yes, my back still aches when I run.

I’m not sure what I was thinking, but today I registered for the Rocky Raccoon 50-miler. I’ve been contemplating my ability to cover the distance for a few days. Instead of fretting over it for days, I decided to treat the registration like a band-aid and “just do it real quick”.

Wish me luck. I’ll need it, plus some!

Devoted, without being a Slave

I'm at work today.

I had an incredible run around the main fire station. Unfortunately, it was cut a half-mile short when we got an EMS call. After the call I finished the run and lifted weights. Not sure why, but I lacked any form of energy in the gym.

Once we returned to station two I watched the Biggest Loser finale. I was bothered by the bias "offer" made to Shay by Subway and Biggest Loser. As the heaviest person on the ranch, she should have lost more weight. Seriously, did you see her percentage of weight loss? It was not in line with the other participants. I also remember the first couple episodes where they showed a glimpse of her personality, which was shitty. I understand she's had a hard life, but that's life. Lots of people experience similar obstacles. Some experiences worst than hers, some less. I just think there are more deserving people and or organizations for the money. Shay did nothing to deserve this kind of "surprise". For crying out loud.... she didn't even act grateful by the offer.

When the show was over I set up my bike trainer for 1.5 hours of cardio. Before I had a chance to start cycling we got another EMS call. We returned from this call at 10:30 pm and I still found the devotion to complete my workout.

I'm not happy about my lack of weight loss. Therefore, now is not the time to slack off or make excuses. When times get tough, I'll adjust and get tougher!!!

I'm glad it's all done. Heck, I'm even proud of myself. Its after 1am and I could have been asleep hours ago. Maybe the scale will be nice to me tomorrow...

Run:
3.08 miles
32:10
10:27 pace

Bike Trainer:
22.63 miles
1:28:04
15.42 mph

Strength Training:
Upper Body

Weight:
199.0

I'm a Runner

Only two days after an ultra run and I'm on the road again. And boy did it feel good! The knees were slow to respond, but after half a mile my legs were ready to blaze a trail. I ran a comfortable effort with little regard to pace.

The weather sucked, so you would think. It's cold, gloomy, and raining. A lot like my knees, the first half mile was spent adjusting to the rain. During that short time I embraced the weather. The change in mindset made for a wonderful run!

Andrea and I ran together. We ran six miles to Schlotzsky's for dinner. The store was empty. As we approached the store clerk watched us running across the parking lot. When we walked in the store soaking wet he said, "That's impressive". Moments like these fuel my life!

Earlier in the day I made an attempt to ride my bike. It was cold and wet, which I don't enjoy when cycling. I scrubbed the ride before the odometer reached two-miles.

Lifted weights in the gym. Uneventful workout.

Run:
7.0 miles
1:19:53
11:24 pace

Walk:
1.65 miles
28:25
17:13 pace

Trail Bike:
1.87 miles
12:44
8.97 mph

Body Weight:
198.0

Texas Trail Run 50k review has been posted. Back dated to 12/05/2009 (race date)

Recovering Nicely

Still sore. Still recovering.

In an attempt to loosen my aching knees, I went for a two-hour walk. The walk fixed my knees, but now my back is starting to ache... again.

No weight training today. I'll lift and try to run tomorrow.

VERY happy to report my body weight stayed under 200. After yesterdays free-meal, I was worried my weight would sneak above 200 lbs for one last sucker-punch.

Walk:
6.97 miles
2:02:25
17:34 pace

Body Weight:
199.0

Working on my Texas Trail Run 50k report. I should have something posted tomorrow.

Texas Trail Run 50k

When I’m running an endurance event I think of hundreds of great topics to discuss on my blog. Somewhere between the trails and my computer something happens. It’s almost like I have too much to talk about. There’s a virtual bottle neck of thoughts that can’t make it to the keyboard. How can I have so much to say, yet not sure where to start?

I’m searching for a standard format for race review’s and recap. Awww, the beauty of having selective OCD, everything has to be standardized or at least organized. With that said, here’s the Texas Trails 50k race review:

Pre-race:
For nearly three-weeks I’ve been telling everyone I have my sights on a 50-miler. To be completely honest, I have a specific race in mind, the Rocky Raccoon 50-miler on February 10, 2010. My objective was simple. Finish the Rocky Raccoon 50k and Texas Trails 50k without any serious complications and I’ll register for RR50 miler. Well, both of those runs are now complete, but I’m not sure where I stand…

I assumed the second 50k would be easier than the first. The distance and the course were the same, but this was not an easy run. In fact, I found this run more mentally demanding than the first. RR50k was my first ultra, so there was a fair amount of hype and “the unknown” encompassing the run. While running TT50k, I knew the distance “could” be done, yet thoughts of failure tirelessly flooded my mind.

Weather:
Over the last week I’ve been nervously watching the weather. The forecast varied daily, depending on which television news channel I watched. The one thing they all had in common was a unified forecast of freezing temperatures with snow, ice, and/or sleet. Without stressing too much, I made a few purchases to ensure sufficient warmth during the run.

There was a chance of icy roads, so Kevin was hospitable enough to allow Andrea and I stay at his house in Conroe. Kevin’s home is 45-minutes closer to Huntsville State Park than Kingwood, which was safer and enabled us to sleep later. If that’s not enough, we saved $75 by not staying in a hotel. Thanks Kevin, you ROCK!!!

On race morning we were out the door by 5am. The morning temperatures were in the low 20’s. I knew it had been freezing all night by the crunching sound I heard as I walked across Kevin's lawn. It was so cold my truck door was stuck closed. Of course I pulled at the door till I freed it loose.

We arrived at the park 1.5 hours early, partly because we left a safe drive-time margin and we also thought the race started at 7am. We spent a lot of time meandering around the lodge and starting line. We got a true feel for how cold it was walking between the lodge and our truck. I tried acclimating to the temperatures, but it was not possible to keep warm while standing still.

Don’t allow me to paint the wrong picture. It was a beautiful morning. The temperature at the Lodge was 23 degrees with clear blue skies. The forest canopy was still covered in snow from the prior night’s winter storm and for those first few hours the sun glistening off the ice and snow was absolutely surreal. I wonder how many people know what it feels like to run in a forest while the sun melts the snow over your head, allowing smaller pieces of ice to fall all around you? If only I could run with a camera to capture these divine portraits, I’m sure I could sell them for thousands of dollars. I made time for a couple mental snap shots. These virtual snapshots will forever be personal treasures.

Timing:
The first three hours of running went great. I took my first walk break at nine miles. The pace was 11:30 for the first two hours, much faster than planned. I took two more walk breaks on the third hour, which only slowed my pace to 11:45. From that point forward I ran 15-minutes, followed by a 5-minute walk. This was all part of a master plan to run a sub-seven hour 50k.

As I mentioned above, I struggled mentally with staying in motion during the later parts of this race. Once I hit the marathon distance I walked all the hills. I was surprised how much walking the inclines helped. I continued my walk/run regimen with a bit more confidence. Walking the hills enabled me to greatly improve my overall pace, which was the result of running the flats and downhills faster.

At one time I thought a 6:30 finish was a real possibility. My original goal was to run a sub-seven hour 50k and I thought I would smash my first 50k time. In the end, I stopped the clock at 6:55:38, which was good enough for an 11-minute PR. It wasn’t pretty, but I’ll take it! A PR is a PR, right?

Route/Course:
I thought I saw everything Huntsville State Park had to offer on the last run. I was wrong. The first 6.5 mile loop took us along the North side of the Park, which was not part of the RR50k route. The second and third 12.5 mile loops took us atop of the dam, which was scenic and also new to me.

For the most part, terrain and surface was the same. There’s not a bad run in Huntsville State Park. The entire place is a trail runners paradise.

As I approached the FINAL aid station, my Garmin 310 showed 29.1 miles. Knowing 50k is 31 miles, I was happy to know the pain would end in less than two miles. That was before the final aid station volunteer yelled out, "only 2.8 miles to the finish". The extra distance completely took the wind out of my sail.

I wasn’t the only one struggling, so I had a chance to talk with other runners over those final miles. Most of these runners had GPS watches too and we were all showing the course anywhere from 0.75-0.90 mile longer than 50k.

I have to realize trail races are an entirely different creature. Very few trail races are “certified” and I need to learn to be okay with that. An older runner said it best… “I like getting more than I paid for”. What a great point of view! In an attempt to cheer myself up I kept silently repeating, “It’s a good feeling to PR on a longer course”.

Damage Control:
I’m tired and I’m sore, but I’m NOT broken. My back bothered me a lot during this run. The issue started as early as the second hour of running. I went through multiple stretches trying to mitigate the pain. Nothing made the discomfort go away. On the other hand, the pain remained a constant and was never severe enough to stop me.

The big toe on my left foot was rubbing against my shoe. It was annoying in the beginning, yet never caused any real issues after the halfway mark. I also found a small blister on the bottom on my right foot.

As with most distances over 15 miles, my knees became extremely sore once I stopped running.

It sounds like a lot, but I fared well on the run.

Race/RD/Aid Stations:
One of the coolest features was the use of chip timing. I don’t hide the fact that I’m a total nerd for the numbers. The chip enabled me to see my time at each loop, pace, and place. Very cool!

Months ago I read somewhere that this race was the resurrection of the old Sunmart Race. I wasn’t expecting a lot, but I was a tiny bit disappointed at the price point in relationship to what I received. I’m not trying to sound stingy; I’ve just come to except swag from long distance races. I received two items for my endurance run. One was a nice technical shirt. The second item was a very inexpensive white hoodie. Those who run a lot of races get tired of useless medals and ask for more useful items, such as the hoodie. Because I’m still a newbie, I cherish ribbons and medals. These are tokens of my accomplishments. Call me shallow, but I also wish they would print the distance larger on the shirts. Seriously, I just ran 31 miles and I want everyone around me to know it! It’s difficult to see the distance on either shirt, especially the RR50k.

The aid stations were very well stocked, which you’ll read about under “Fuel”. At the finish line they provided warm food in the form of pizza and soup. Both had meat, so I chose to pass. Andrea said they had veggie pizzas at one time, but they went fast.

Gear:
I broke a cardinal running rule. I started the race with several new items. One was a Nathan Hydration Race Vest. I wore it on last week’s 18-miler and it rubbed a large raw spot on my back. I still have a 2-inch x 5-inch scab from last week’s run. I called Nathan and they talked me though the proper adjustments and assured me the rubbing issue would not happen again. Indeed they were correct. The vest fit well and didn’t cause any issues on today’s run.

As I went for my first drink I realized a major problem that was not a manufacturer’s defect. The freezing temperatures froze the water inside the hose and valve. When I realized this problem I blurted out loud, “You gotta be kidding me!!!” followed by a devilish laugh. A couple runners nearby looked at me with a puzzled look before I explained my problem to them. I stuck the hose in my shirt and within half a mile I was able to take my first drink. I assumed everything was in good order, so I decided to leave to hose on the clip. But once again, the water in the hose froze. Now that is cold!

Another new item I wore was calf compression sleeves. I’ve been reading about the benefits and seen lots of runners with them, so I figured I’d give them a try. I was hoping they would help with recovery. An added bonus was a smidge of heat retention for my lower legs.

I’m still not sure if they were a wise investment. They did well at keeping my legs warm, but that’s not entirely why I bought them. My shins are sore, yet my calves feel good. I’ve not run enough endurance runs to be able to feel the difference with and without the compression sleeves.

As important as what I wore is what I did NOT wear. I skipped the compression cycling-style shorts. They help me with thigh chaffing and I usually wear them when I run over 12 miles. It’s been a while since I’ve had any chaffing issues; therefore I skipped the compression shorts. A couple small areas chaffed, but everything was minor.

For 20 degree weather I wore: head band to keep my ears warm, long sleeve shirt, short sleeve technical shirt, race ready shorts, calf compression sleeves, Brooks Cascadia shoes, and gloves. Within three miles I was 100% comfortable.


Fuel/Hydration/Supplements:
As mentioned under ‘Gear’, I wore a hydration backpack. I took water at every aid station and conserved the water I carried with me. I refilled the pack on the start of the final loop, although I think I could have made it without refilling. I need to work of refilling the back in a race. It felt like I wasted a couple minutes trying to get the bladder out, filled, and secured.

I’ve continued with my regimen of one S-cap every thirty minutes and Gu every hour. They say there is a first time for everything. Well today was the first time I had to “chew” Gu. The freezing temperatures turned the gel into a solid.

After the first hour of running I noticed I was extremely hungry. I fought the urges to eat at the aid stations for a few hours, but then I could fight no more. By then I wasn’t thinking logical and I walked out of an aid station with a Payday candy bar (240 calories). And that’s not the worst of it… I did the exact same thing for the next two aid stations. I finished the candy binge with a hand full of M&M’s. The abundance of simple carbohydrates played havoc on my stomach. I was nauseated and felt horrible. During the last two hours I skipped my Gu’s and fought the urge to throw up.

I knew better than to eat candy, but I couldn’t resist. I consumed nearly 1500 calories during the run. Once again, valuable lessons learned about fueling during endurance events.

Runners/Friends:
I saw several runners I knew in the crowd; Karen, who is also a blogger and placed SECOND in her age bracket (Congrats!), Helen Grant, Roger Boak, Yong Collins, and few other people whom I don’t know their names.

We were warned of the ice on the wood bridges, but surprisingly, I didn’t see anyone fall today. It would appear that everyone was extra carefully. As for me, I only stumbled once. Thankfully I didn’t fall. Being cold and striking the ground would have been atrocious.

Andrea ran the 12.5 mile race. Everyone was amused by the Race Director and how he repeatedly referred to the 12.5 mile route as the “Fun Run”.

We picked up our race packets last night and all the runners were divided by gender into 5-year age brackets. Andrea and I looked over the list and counted seven other women in her age group. Within minutes of this information her race strategy changed. Andrea decided she was in pursuit of hardware.

Andrea had a solid effort and ran an impressive 2:00:13. Her route was long too, which measured nearly 13 miles on a trail! Unfortunately, they only awarded the top three in ten-year brackets. She came in sixth place, but would have won third with five-year age brackets. I felt bad for Andrea. She put it all on the line and walked away empty handed. At a minimum, I would have liked to seen the 12.5 mile runners receive a token finisher’s item.

No need to worry too much. Andrea is only getting faster, so hardware is in her future.

Well, there’s my Texas Trails 50k race review. We forgot the battery to our camera, so I only have a few phone pictures to share. I’m leaving lots of small details out, but for the true experience you need to lace up your shoes and leave a little sweat on the trails. It’s the only way to really experience endurance trail running!

Cycling with Friends

Today was a flex day built into my schedule. The flexibility enables me to take the day off if I am tired & sore or go crazy if I feel good. I fell somewhere in the middle.

I ran two and a half miles in the cold. It was hard to get out the door, but I felt better once I started.

At noon Bob, Eric, Steve, and I met near Duessin Park for a bike ride. I was worried about the cooler temperatures, because I don't like cycling in the cold. I bundled up with several layers, including tights. The other guys were aggressive with the pace, so I end up getting warm. I dressed appropriately, had it been a leisure ride.

We had a good ride. When it comes to endurance events I feel strong, but of the four of us, I was the weakest link. It's good to ride and run with stronger athletes. By chasing faster people, I reap the benefits of becoming faster and stronger myself. On the final two mile stretch they put the hammer down, but I had to let them go. With a 31 mile run less than two days away, I had to show some restraint.

After the ride I started 48-hours of recovery with a GREAT sports massage. I asked the therapist to work on my legs and back only. She did wonders with her hands, but ran out of time before letting me flip over and work the front side of my legs (Quads & shins). My right ITB was clearly tight. I broke out in a sweat a couple times due to the pain. She also found several "knots" in my calves. It hurt like hell, but it will pay off in the end.

Skipped strength training. I don't want to take a chance of being sore Saturday.

Run:
2.75 miles
28:58
10:32 pace

Walk:
0.6 mile
9:54
16:30 pace

Road Bike:
17.89 miles
1:01:40
17.41 mph

Body Weight:
196.5

Better Forecast.... PLEASE

I'm at work today.

Thankfully Tom joined me for a run around the station. It is brutal running small circles at work, which is only tolerable with a running partner.

It was cold outside, but as usual we warmed up within a half mile.

Run:
5.75 miles
1:02:00
10:47 pace

Walk:
0.6 mile
9:25
15:42 pace

Finished the day by lifting weights.

Strength Training:
Upper Body

The forecast for Saturday's run is starting to make me nervous. I don't mind the cold temperatures, but sleet and ice worries me.

Body Weight:
198.75

Life is Good

Nasty weather killed my evening run. I was hoping to run hills tonight, but it's 40 degrees outside and raining. If I was a tough man I would run in the cold rain, but I'm not! Plus, Taylor is home this week and she is still too young to stay home alone.

No problem... time to execute plan "B". I have a big race this weekend and a build-in 'flex' day. The last minute change of plans will not be a problem on the schedule.

I set up the bike trainer and rode for an hour while watching the Biggest Loser. Whenever I skip a run I don't truly feel like I worked hard enough to burn significant calories. Not to discredit cycling, but cycling seems too easy. Tonight I cranked the resistance waaaay up for the last ten minutes. When I finished riding my thighs were HUGE from all the blood in the muscle. It was kind of cool looking.

After the ride I completed a lower body workout, which felt great. As an added bonus, Andrea joined me in the gym. Its been months since she lifted weights, yet she did really well. I was out of the gym for a couple months myself, but I'm officially back. This week I've resumed all my prior weights from where I left off.

I feel strong, both mentally and physically. More importantly... I'm happy.

Bike Trainer:
17.64 miles
1:00:04
17.61 mph

Strength Training:
Lower Body

Weight:
197.75

Aching Legs

From the moment I woke up, my legs have been aching endlessly.

I usually log a couple miles the day after a long, but this week I didn't run the day after. I assume my aching legs are the end result of changing routine.

Once Andrea got home we ran half mile intervals with a long recovery (0.15). The pace was quick and now my legs feel great! Had I run a couple miles yesterday I wouldn't have had all the dull pain today. Once again, lesson learned.

Run:
5.34 miles
52:23
9:49 pace

Walk:
1.64 miles
26:06
15:49

Lifted some "big weights" in my home gym. It always makes me feel good to throw around some heavy iron.

Workout:
Mid-body

Weight:
198.75

I attached a few pictures from our photo shoot. I'm really proud of them.

Recovery Needed...

At work today and I'm tired.

With Saturdays 50k quickly approaching, I'm growing concerned about the heaviness of my legs and lack of energy. I'll make a few changes in my training and schedule a massage.

One-hour on the recumbent bike followed by an upper body workout.

Recumbent Bike:
15 miles
60:00
15.0 mph

Strength Training:
Upper Body

Body Weight:
202.75

Bad Run

Ran eighteen miles with Kevin and Tom this morning. I remember why I love running trails, because the concrete is b-r-u-t-a-l.

Not a lot went right on today's run. The morning started with me waking up late and skipping breakfast. If I knew then what I know now, I would have stayed in bed.

We ran the first nine miles with four other Kingwood FIT half-marathoners. The KWFIT-half group was scheduled to run 11 miles, but Kevin, Tom, and I decided to run the entire 30k distance.

This morning I wore a new Nathan HPL 020 hydration pack for the first time. The fit was nice, but I struggled to get water out of the bite value. The water was there, but I had to work hard to get a nominal amount of water. For this reason I didn't drink as much as I wanted or needed too.

Around 13 miles I ran out of gas. I took S-caps every 30 minutes and Gu every hour, but neither of these items stopped me from falling apart. It was a hard week, so there are a number of reasons why I bonked. These excuses can include all or any mixture of:
-Limited water intake due to the hydration pack value
-Hard mileage this week
-New E2 workout
-No breakfast
-No dynamic stretches before the run
-CONCRETE surface
-Tiny bit faster on the first ten miles

On the last water stop I drank several cups of Gatorade and noticed a significant improvement. Unfortunately, the feeling was short lived... very short. We took 0.10 mile walk breaks on miles 15, 16, and 17. Some how I finished. I'm really glad I had the guys there to support me, because I would have done a lot more walking if they weren't right beside me.

When I finished I realized a bigger issue. I hadn't urinated since I left the house 5 hours ago, nor did I have an urge. I was dehydrated. I weighed myself at home, which revealed a four pound weight loss during the run. This week I need to work hard to rehydrate. I've read that it can take upwards of one-week to rehydrate once you've been truly dehydrated.

I sat in a tub of cold water for a 30-minute soak and realized the new hydration pack rubbed a raw spot on my back. Needless to say, I'm not happy at the moment. This run beat me up. On the bright side... it's DONE.

Run:
18.28 miles
3:42:43
12:10 pace

We had a tasty and "somewhat" healthy lunch at New York Pizzeria. Once we got home, Preston and I took a nap while Andrea ran.

This evening we attended a Couples Bridal Shower that was thrown for us by Heather. The event turned out to be no more than dinner with a few friends. I think Andrea's feeling were hurt. Andrea has lots of friends that she would do anything for, yet only a few took the time to attend her shower. I feel her pain, because I've been there. At one time I had a lot of people around me that I called friends. It didn't take a rocket scientist to realize they were only my friend when it was convenient to them or when they needed something of me. A few years back I axed all those people from my life and I don't have a single regret. She has to find a path that makes her happy. Tonight she learned that most of the people she loves are merely Fair Weather Friends. Sad to admit, but true.

Thanksgiving Day

At work today, on Thanksgiving.

From this point forward I will post my weight. Typing and reading my weight everyday will surely act as another form of accountability.

Rode the recumbent bike, ran on the treadmill, and completed another E2 workout.

Recumbent Bike:
14.44 miles
57:00
15.2 mph

Run:
2.5 miles
34:39
13:52 pace

Workout:
Engine 2 Beginner

Weight:
198.5

I don't typically talk about work, but we just got back from a weird call and I'm bored enough to share. Apparently a driver crashed into a wrought iron fence that borders Rosewood Cemetery. During the collision the driver ruptured a gas line and water line. When we pulled up, the roadway was blocked off by the police department due to the overwhelming smell of gas. We found a large one-inch line flooding the area with natural gas due to the meter being seared off. Todd brought me a tool from the truck and I shut the gas line off, followed by the water line. Then the call got weird... We could tell by the tracks in the graveyard that the driver was still inside the fenced property. Not knowing if there was any more property damage or if the driver/occupants were injured we decided to walk through the 40-acre facility. Let me paint a picture for you; we were walking around a cemetery, at night, on Thanksgiving, looking for a truck. We never found the vehicle, but the police found an open gate which they escaped. Even so, it gave me the heebie-jeebies walking through a graveyard in the darkness of night.

Weird, even by my standards.

SCORE!

Ask and you shall receive. This mornings weight came in at exactly 199.0. The long wait proved to be a challenging test of my discipline. I thought my weight shouldn't dropped below 200 a week ago. Everything happens for a reason. Now I've found myself more appreciative of the miniature goal.

Arrived back in Kingwood at 3pm. After 5 hours of driving I was ready to workout. No one showed up for the group run, but Andrea and I completed the workout as scheduled. An hour before starting I cycled a couple miles while measuring a route for the speed workout.

Trail Bike:
2.16 miles
14:07
9.18 mph

Started the session with a one-mile warm up run and core strengthening exercises. Speed training consisted of 10 x 30/30's at 8-9 RPE. Andrea and I struggled with the first couple intervals, but settled into a consistent rhythm shortly thereafter. Average run pace was ~7:00 and the average recovery pace was ~10:30. Total speed workout pace was 8:20/mile. I'm a bit disappointed and would have liked to see the total average under 8:00. Slow 2.9 mile cool down run after speed work. All times combined below.

Run:
5.06 miles
54:50
10:50 pace

CORE

Rode my bike trainer while watching Biggest Loser.

Trail Bike:
11.95 miles
50:04
14.32 mph

Ready To Be In Control Again...

Frustration is setting in. I can't seem to get under 200 pounds. The scale is taunting me. I'm staying true to my diet and fitness, but my patience is dissipating. Don't worry, I've made a promise to Stay the Course. Unfortunately, my mind is playing tricks on me and its growing like cancer. All day I've had an internal struggle and privately made comments such as; "I'll add extra calories this week, because it's Thanksgiving" and "I'll move my free meal earlier"... etc. I've had to dig deep in order to fight this tough mental battle. The last few days have not been easy, PERIOD. As I'm typing this, a group of my friends are eating at a steak house and going out on the town. Instead I chose to workout in the gym for three-hours.

I need validation.

The awards luncheon at the conference was difficult to say the least. They started the meal with an attractive, albeit dry salad of iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, and celery. The salad was good, but they only provided ONE salad dressing, which was creamy bacon ranch. The dressing looked like it was half bacon and half ranch. Needless to say I ate a dry salad. The entree wasn't much better. The green beans were grossly bathed in butter and the cheesy noodles were floating in gravy from a slab of rump roast. The meal was completed with an over sized individual apple pie. I ate the a dinner roll, salad, green beans, the noodles NOT covered in gravy, and the desert. I walked away hungry and consumed a whopping 1435 calories (estimated).

I've been reflecting on the last two day's. Clearly I still posses old behaviors that need to be addressed. There's a mental health glitch that says I HAVE to eat, especially if it's free. This same glitch assumes something horrible will happen if I don't eat. I need the ability to walk away from a meal if it's not appropriate for me. An easy solution would have been to pack small snacks and find a healthy vegetarian meal for dinner.

Lessons learned! Changes will be made. I am strong.

Skipped the last conference session to workout early. One hour on the recumbent bike, three mile treadmill run, E-2 beginner workout, and twenty minute treadmill walk.

My legs are getting progressively fatigued. After tomorrows speed work I plan to take it easy in preparation of this weekends 30k and next weeks 50k.

Run:
3.0 miles
40:33
13:31 pace

Walk:
1.08 mile
20:01
18:32 pace

Recumbent Bike:
14.41 miles
1:00:00
14.41 mph

Tasty Temptations

EMS Conference has proven to be my greatest challenge. Temptations in the form of food, beer, and parties are everywhere!!!

I've had to estimate the caloric values of my first two meals of the day. I'm confident in my ability to estimate food values, but my choices were limited. The selections were high-calorie foods, resulting in higher than usual numbers.

After classes I found my way to the hotel gym. The hotel gym is INCREDIBLE. There are numerous cardiovascular machines with televisions, free weights, Smith machines, yoga space-equipment, and lots of other cool stuff.

I rode a recumbent bike for an hour and ran on the treadmill for an hour.

Run:
5.0 miles
1:00:03
12:01 pace

Recumbent Bike:
13.65 miles
1:00:00
13.65 mph

I completed the Engine 2 Beginner workout for the first time. I enjoyed the workout and I look forward to incorporating these exercises into my regimen. The exercises include:

Warm-up:
Sun Salutations (10)
Kicking Toe Touches (10 each side)
Side Stretches (10)
Trunk Twist (10)
Barrel Rolls (10 each direction)
Arm Circles (10 each direction)

Round 1:
Body Weight Air Squats (15)
Incline Push-ups (10)
Flutter Kicks (20)
Squat Thrust (10)

Round 2:
Lunges (5 each leg)
Seated Chair Dips (10)
Plank Pose (30 seconds)
Jumping Jacks (20)

Round 3:
Step-ups (10 each leg)
Downward Dogs into Child's Pose (5)
V-ups (10)
Incline Mountain Climbers (20)

If my math is correct, I stayed UNDER my allotted daily calories. The scale has not been kind the last two days. Maybe tomorrows weight will confirm my ability to estimate calories and workout when faced with temptations.

Leaving for Fort Worth

I'm leaving for Fort Worth later today. I'll be attending the Texas EMS Conference till Wednesday. I have so much to do today that I don't know where to start. Originally I planned to leave Kingwood before noon, but there wasn't enough hours in the day.

Even though it was only 9am, it felt nice to sleep late this morning. When I finally drug my ass out of bed I went to the store for a few essentials and grabbed lunch. Once I was back home I cycled six miles on the greenbelts. Immediately afterwards Andrea and I ran 3.5 miles which was mixed with nearly 2 miles of walking. And last, but not least, I lifted weights.

Trail Bike:
6.09 miles
31:55
11.45 mph

Run:
3.51 miles
39:34
11:16 pace

Walk:
1.75 miles
28:26
16:15 pace

Even though it's five hours later than my original plans, I'm glad to know my exercise regimen was not neglected!

Tom's New Distance PR

Tom, Andrea, and I started the process of planning a long run yesterday evening. Our plans changed several times due to inviting other runners on short notice, rain, and availability of babysitters. In the end, we ran at 9am.

It rained all night and continued through this morning. I desperately wanted to cancel, yet I didn't because other people were involved. There was a feeling of gloom about the run, which I was not looking forward too. I assume it had a lot to do with the dreary weather. It was cold, raining, and I simply didn't feel my typical motivation.

Once we got started my head was free of all the prior negativity. Fifteen miles would be a distance PR for Tom, so we kept the pace nice and easy. The route was not planned beforehand. Armed with my Garmin, we simply ran around Kingwood. Nothing spectacular or scenic, just the usual roads and greenbelts in the 'hood.

The run turned out to be quite pleasant. The rain reduced to a slight drizzle, after ten miles the rain completely ceased. The sky was overcast and the temperatures were cool, which was ideal for a long run. Andrea and Tom talked most of the time. I merely pounded out the mileage. I've not been in a talkative mood and often to flows over into my running.

In the end, it turned out to be a great run. Tom has a new distance PR and I'm really proud of him. The only bad news to report is; Andreas knee is bothering her. I'm reducing her mileage this week in lieu of cycling. With any luck the knee will behave itself.

In non-running news... I almost went under the 200 lb mark this morning. I weighed 200.5!!! The post long run "free-meal" will surly delay going under 200 lbs for a few days. I'm okay with that, but I'll be glad when the "200's" are in my rear-view mirror. FYI: I weighed myself AFTER the run and weighed 199, but it doesn't count.

Run:
15.11 miles
3:02:32
12:05 pace

Walk (cool-down):
0.22 mile
4:03
18:25 pace

Sticks & Stones Won't Break My Bones

The saga of unleashed dogs in East End Park continues. Nothing quite like a sunny, cool morning trail run to be interrupted by irresponsible dog owners. It amazes me how defensive people are of their damn dogs. Admittedly, I tell everyone I see who has their dog off-leash, "Your dog is suppose to be on a leash inside the park". This morning one guy took it to another level by yelling and cussing. He told me, "Just go run the god-damn greenbelts and stay off the nature trails you stupid fuckin' wetback!!". All this after HIS dog came at ME with the hair on his neck standing up. The verbal assault came after my generic comment, "Your dog is suppose to be on a leash inside the park".

I love East End Park, but I think my days of running there are done. The beauty of the trails is beyond belief, but the tension between runners and idiot dog owners is too much for me!

Anyways I digress...
Tom and I ran three miles at the park this morning. For the first time in a really long time, my legs were D.E.A.D. Over the final mile it was a mental challenge to keep moving. The dead leg feeling is probably the result of adding weight training and two tempo runs this week. After the run I followed Tom on my bike, while he ran a second three mile loop.

Once home I biked for another 30-minutes and lifted weights in the gym.

Foot pain is gone... again. Now I need to make plans for a solo 15-miler Saturday morning. Anyone interested?

Run:
3.0 miles
33:43
11:14 pace

Trail Bike:
9.32 miles
1:06:17
8.44 mph

Workout:
Mid-Body

I Found the Pulprit!

Less than 24-hours ago I was bragging about the absence of foot pain. Unfortunately, the pain has returned...

I ran two miles along the Bayou Rim this morning in my Patagonia Release Trail shoes. I'll be damn if the foot pain didn't come back. It sucks having the pain again, yet I'm glad to know the reason. I'll see if Luke's will entertain a return. The Patagonia's have a little more than 70-miles on them and I'm not sure of the cut-off parameters for exchanges.

The run itself was good. Nice and sunny with a cool breeze. As soon as the run was over I changed shoes and went to the gym

Run:
2.0 miles
21:44
10:52 pace

Walk:
1.99 miles
40:21
20:47

Workout:
Upper-Body + Core

This evenings speed workout went exceptionally well. I was expecting a lot more people to attend from the emails I received. We had a total of four, two of which were Andrea and I. Although, I had the privilege of meeting two incredible runners, which had inspiring stories of massive weight loss and distinguished running credentials.

One mile warm up, core strengthening workout, four Yasso's, followed by a one mile cool down. I ran at a comfortable pace, because I was engulfed in the dialog with Chris and Bob. I probably should have pushed harder, but I had an "enjoyable" workout.

My Yasso 800 average was 4:29. I started the session by stating I'm on schedule to run a 4:30 marathon. Even though this is only a Half-Yasso workout, it's interesting to have an average time of 4:29. My Garmin measured the course a little longer (0.53), so the time might have been less on a true 800-meter track.

I spent the better part of 30-minutes measuring 0.25 mile in the open parking lot. Unfortunately, a student driver decided to take my cones and use them to practice parallel parking.

All the times are combined below.

Run:
5.25 miles
51:29
9:48 pace

Stressed

There's nothing greater than the joy I receive from being a firefighter/paramedic. On the other hand, there are fewer things more stressful than some of the people I work with. Since this is an open and public blog, I won't go into detail. But trust me; there are some weird personalities up here. Some people are incompetent, a few are lazy & rude, and my personal favorite are those who manipulate their position for personal benefits.

Needless to say I'm at work and I've been in a bad mood all day.

Glad to report everything is better now. All it took was a three mile run on the treadmill, 13-miles on recumbent bike, a lower body workout, and a phone call to my sweet-heart.

Run:
3.0 miles
40:25
13:28 pace

Recumbent Bike:
13.2 miles
50:00
15.84 mph

Workout:
Lower-body

By the way, today was the first day without any foot pain whatsoever. That alone is enough to make me happy!

Low Blood Sugar

We’ve seen several “cool fronts” over the last month, but today we were treating to the season’s first COLD front. Once the rain stopped, it turned out being a beautiful day. Seriously, I love this weather!

Andrea and I ran a weird route through Kingwood to get our seven miles. The cooler weather yielded a swift pace. Not only were we running fast, but I ran comfortable with energy to spare!

Run:
7.0 miles
1:09:17
9:53 pace

Walk:
1.18 miles
19:04
16:09 pace

Upper body workout in the gym. It's funny how much Texas weather changes in 24-hours. Yesterday I had to turn on the gym fans because I was getting warm. Today I had to close the big door to keep the cold breeze from blowing inside.

Workout went as planned, although I started feeling bad near the end. I needed a mere five extra minutes of cardio, so I rode my trail bike around the block.

Once I completed my workout I rapidly became ill. I felt nauseated and my stomach was in knots. I sat my desk for 20-30 minutes hoping the feeling would pass, but it didn't. After taking a warm shower I made an attempt to eat the meal Andrea prepared. Miraculously, I felt better within 3-4 bites of food. Apparently my blood sugar dropped, even though I had consumed ~1400 Kcals before dinner.

I'm glad I'm feeling better, but I can't help from wondering why I had an acute drop in energy. Hypoglycemia most often has a gradual onset. I felt awesome all day and the crappy feeling hit me like a brick wall, all at once. I'll check my blood sugar at work tomorrow. Maybe that will give me piece of mind.

An hour after dinner I had enough energy to complete a Core Workout. It's sad how weak my core has become. Lucky for me, core workouts are quick to improve with a little attention.

Workout:
Mid-Body + Core

Trail Bike:
1.17 miles
6:10
11.38 mph

Running is the Answer

Rushed home from work, so I could keep my promise to Alison. I told Alison we would go fishing this weekend, but ran out of time on Friday. I worked all day Saturday and Erin wanted to pick up the kids this morning at 9am, hence my rush.

The water was clear and we saw a million fish, but we were not able to hook a single fish. We still had fun. Any time with my kids is a good time.

Andrea and I rode our bikes on the greenbelts after the kids left. We scouted out a new bayou extension. Other than that, it was an uneventful ride.

Trail Bike:
9.93 miles
11.1 mph

Like many things in my life, running seems to answer or solve most of my problems. For example, today my foot felt better than it has all week. Who said rest is the smartest thing to do!?!? ...crap, I said that. LOL

I ran three miles along the bayou rim. Ran a new section, which is AWESOME. The newest route is scenic and has a decent amount of distance (3.5 miles).

A cold front was blowing through during my run. I ran through a couple small, isolated clouds dropping rain and easily noticed the change in temperatures. All and all, it was a good run at a respectable pace.

Run:
3.14 miles
33:17
10:36 pace

Walk:
0.75 mile
12:40
16:58 pace

While waiting for Andrea to finish her 10-miler I hit the gym and had a great workout. I've lost a lot of strength, but I still enjoy my time lifting weights.

The first thing I noticed this morning was how sore my legs were. It's doubtful the ten mile long run made them this sore. Most likely it's a result of yesterday's lower body workout. I would assume my legs are in good shape, but that goes to show you the benefits of cross training and lifting weights. There are numerous other muscles that get neglected when you stick to a single sport/activity. Point dooley noted.

Workout:
Upper Body

Ten speedy miles with foot pain

Out of bed and running by 5:30am. Tom joined my Kingwood FIT group again for a pre-work run. Kingwood FIT members have dwindled to nothing. There was 80-100 runners during the first couple weeks. Today the half-marathon head count was less than 20.

Most of my usual runners were NOT in attendance, so it was just Tom and I. We followed Coach Jenny and her group, which was 50-yards ahead of us. Before the first mile we dropped the hammer and caught up with them. They were running a respectable 11:30 pace, which is faster than my typical long run pace. We both easily settled in their rhythm without any issues. The group of eight runners stopped for a re-fuel break at 3 miles. With energy to spare, we continued ahead of the group and intentionally dropped the pace to 11:15 miles.

The mid-point water cooler was located exactly at five miles. We refilled our water bottles and took at off at our prior pace. When we reached six miles we realized we were running out of time, no pun intended. I had someone holding over for me at work, but Tom still needed to be there by 8am. Our current pace would leave Tom with a mere 15 minutes to get to Humble. Nothing we could do would create significant additional time, but we continued to better the pace every mile.

On West Lake Houston Parkway we started picking off returning marathon group runners and improving our own effort in the process. In the end we finished ten miles with an overall pace of 10:50. Tom and I talked the entire time and ran at a comfortable effort level of seven on a a 1-10 scale.

My foot is still bothering me. It started feeling a little better yesterday, but I'm back to square one. My foot hurts either way, so why not run, right? I plan on running through the pain this week and see where that takes me...

Run:
10.03 miles
1:48:40
10:50 pace

Once I got to work I finished the fitness regimen with a lower body workout.

Workout:
Lower Body

On Showtime (cable channel), I watched the last 30-minutes of "Running the Sahara". It was an amazing documentary and I really want to see it in its entirety now. I searched endlessly, but it would appear this was a one time showing. If anyone else knows when it comes on again, PLEASE let me know.

Recovery Day 2

Hour long bike ride on the greenbelts. Almost too cold to ride my bike. Before I reached the end of the street I turned around and grabbed a thick sweatshirt for the ride.

Trail Bike:
12.06 miles
60:09
12.03 mph

Workout:
Mid-body

Started "core conditioning" tonight, in preparation of the upcoming speed work. I've noticed my back muscles are fatiguing on long runs, which is sure sign of a weak core.

Recovery Day 1

At work today.

Foot pain isn't better, but at least it's not worse.

Recumbent Bike:
14.3 miles
60:00
14.3 mph

Workout:
Upper-Body

Yeah, you read that right... I lifted weights today! Felt good to lift, although I need to find a consistent rhythm in the gym.

Every dark cloud has a silver lining. I've been bummed about the weight gain, but it has motivated me to get my ass back in the gym.

Daily Grind, DENIED

The weight gain I expected over the weekend did not disappoint. I gained nearly eight pounds in 4 days. Even I didn't expect that much, but I'm learning to take it in stride. I'm eager to get back to the grind and get under 200 lbs, but I don't think it will be this week.

The foot pain is still bothering me. In a lapse of intelligence, I decided to push through the pain and run 7 miles on the bayou rim. I enjoyed my run greatly, but it came at an expensive cost. My left foot feels exactly like it did when I finished the 50k.

It's time to take my own advice and try a couple days off. I don't want to rest for weight loss reasons, yet I know it is the smart thing to do. I'll cycle Wednesday and Thursday and take a complete day off Friday. I'll keep my fingers crossed that I can run 10-miles on Saturday morning with the Kingwood FIT gang.

I explored a couple new trails this afternoon. They weren't as long as I had expected, yet I'm sure I will use them again. BEAUTIFUL day outside. It's sunny and cool. Everything is near perfect, with the exception of this damn foot pain.

Run:
7.0 miles
1:17:34
11:04 pace

Walk:
1.44 miles
24:07
16:45 pace

Ten push-ups during each commercial break of Biggest Loser. So glad to see Shay go home on BL. I've watched the entire season and seen tid-bits of her crappy personality. I was tired of her endless, "I'm the victim" pleas when it benefited her.

Push-ups: 120

Pictures from RR50k

Left Foot Pain

Race report complete and now published. I back dated it to Saturday's race date.

Tom meet me at the house for a recovery run. We ran 1-mile intervals along my 5 mile loop. My legs feel great, but something on the top of my left foot is hurting. Not sure what it is.

Run:
4.59 miles
53:11
11:35 pace

Walk:
0.65 mile
11:30
17:46 pace

Biked along side of Andrea while she ran the same 5 mile loop.

Trail Bike:
6.0 miles
1:06:08
5.44 mph

Recovery

At work today and I feel surprisingly good. Andrea took good care of me yesterday, which helped tremendously. I'm pretty damn lucky to have such a great woman.

Only two minor race related issues left to deal with. The top of my left foot is aching and I have some minor transient soreness on the lateral aspect of my left knee.

I took today off from both exercise and calorie counting. I might regret the decision when I see the scale for a few days, but I think my decision was justified.

I've set two realistic goals for the next 4-weeks;

1. Average weight of 196 or less BEFORE the Texas Trails 50k on December 05, 2009. That will be 60-pound weight loss!
2. A sub 7-hour finish at the Texas Trails 50k.

Rocky Raccoon 50k race report

I saw and experienced so many new things in the last 24 hours that I don’t know where to start.

Let me write what I’m able to recall in chronological order, starting yesterday afternoon. I spent most of the day taking care of little errands and chores that needed to be done around the house. The only reason I mention this is because I was on my feet all day. I was so busy I neglected my pre-race hydration regimen and didn’t “truly” rest my legs like I wanted.

As soon as Andrea got off work we drove to Trinity to drop Taylor off at Erin’s house. The traffic through Conroe cost us an additional hour, which I wasn’t expecting. On the trip North we made a quick stop into Luke’s Locker for a new hydration belt and then to the Lodge in Huntsville State Park for our race packets. From there we meet Erin in Trinity at Roma’s Mexican restaurant for dinner. We didn’t get there till 6:30, which is 2.5 hours past my usual dinner time, so I was starving. I devoured a basket of chips before my food arrived. A small voice in the back of my head kept telling me it wasn’t smart to do this, but I did anyways. For dinner I had veggie tacos and rice. Not bad, but not great either.

With Taylor now at Erin’s we took off towards Huntsville in pursuit of a hotel for the night. I was so sleepy the drive was a complete blur. We had called a few hotels on the way to Trinity and all the rates were about the same, so we pulled into La Quinta. I have a serious phobia of hotel germs and general yuckiness. I’ve had good luck in the past with this hotel chain… until now. This place was nasty, but I was so tired it didn’t matter.

I took a quick shower and was in bed by 10pm, two hours later than my original plan. Alarms went off at 4:30 am. I found myself tired and wishing for another hour of sleep, but sleep deprivation has become a norm for me. Another shower, got dressed for the big show, and then checked-out of the hotel on schedule. We stopped at McDonalds for an egg biscuit, but they were having issues (drive-thru speaker was not working and doors were locked), so we drove off hoping to find something else to eat. The only place we found open between Huntsville and the State Park was a gas station. I know better than to eat new or different foods before a race, but it didn’t stop me from walking out of the gas station with an apple fritter, banana, and juice. I don’t think I’ve ever ate so much sugar for breakfast. Well, I’m only human and allowed to make stupid decisions too.

Andrea and I arrived at the starting area by 5:30am with time for a bathroom break and stretches. Weather was a comfortable 58-ish, but far from my ideal running temperature of 40-45 degrees. I’m not complaining, because the humidity was tolerable and the trails were nice and dry. While waiting for the start Andrea and I struck up a conversation with another female runner who was also running her first 50k. You could easy sense the nervous excitement between all of us. Then a HUGE shock came to me when another woman walked up and asked me if my name was Bill. After a quick introduction she introduced herself and told me that she reads and follows my blog. How cool is that!?!? This has happened several times, but it never ceases to amaze me. Too freakin’ cool!!

The 50k race started a few minutes past 6am, about 30-minutes before sunrise. The first section was on the roadway, which was well lit. I spent the first few minutes of the race trying to get my hydration belt positioned. During the process I lost a water bottle among the runners, which I had to run back and retrieve. By the time I picked-up the bottle I was at the very back with the speed walkers, who, by the way are super fast!

We ran nearly one mile before turning onto the trailhead, which required lighting. Many people were running without lights. It was comical listening to people trip without actually falling. I don’t know how many times I heard the sound of someone tripping over a root and hearing them yell out; “Shit”, “Son of a bitch”, and “god damn”. I tried not to laugh, because karma would certainly deliver me a fall. One of many goals I established before the race was to run the first loop without falling down. I purposely spent time training on trails, which I hoped would prepare me for this race. On Rick’s last email he reminded me to pick up my feet to avoid the 8 million roots. Looking back I think his number of 8 million was a low conservative estimate of roots.

Once we turned into the woods, I glanced at my watch several times, like I always do and noticed my pace was 14:23. Something didn’t seem right because I felt like I was moving faster than that. I knew I had a long time to go and blamed it on a poor satellite signal. On the fourth glance of my watch I realized I must have stopped my watch when I went back for the water bottle that had fallen.

I love knowing all the “numbers” when I run, so this error quickly got in my head as bad mojo. To make matters worse I didn’t feel like I was moving effortlessly in relationship to the pace. There again, I didn’t know my pace, but I knew I was at the back of the pack.

There was a huge mental boost when we turned left on the jeep road. I studied the map and didn’t expect to see it this soon. By this time the sun was peaking over the horizon and there wasn’t a need for our lights. With the addition of the mornings light and a wider, straighter path I could see other runners, which helped take my mind off the task at hand. As I was watching the other runners I finally found my “go-forever pace” and started feeling good. Although, I had one issue, I needed to pee. Over the first 5 miles I stopped and pissed at least 3 times. I don’t know what was acting as a diuretic, but I had the urge time and time again.

The first aid station at 4.5 miles was awesome. There was no shortage of smiling faces and helpful volunteers at all the stops. I stayed true to my original plan and did not waste valuable time at the aid stations. I left aid station 1 with another runner who was eager to talk. He told me how this was a training run in preparation of his first 100-miler. He gave me lots of encouragement and during the dialogue I asked him how long we had been running. There was an eleven minute difference between our watches, so that helped me better distinguish my overall time… although it didn’t change anything!

About half a mile outside of the first aid station I heard a soft footed runner coming from behind me. As he approached and passed me I was struck in awe. This man is what I consider a true “runner”. Let me try and explain what I saw. First of all, he was a tall, skinny male and probably in his late fifties or maybe early sixties. He was wearing shorts than appeared to be swimming trunks and they were torn so bad that he had duck tap all over, holding them together. He had taken his shirt off and it was tucked into his belt. I didn’t notice a watch of any type and he wasn’t wearing running shoes, he was actually running in a pair of Merrell hiking boots. All this and he moved effortlessly through the trails, almost too quietly to notice. No digital watches, no technical clothing, no shoes MADE for running, yet this man probably knows more about the love of running than I ever will understand. I mumbled, “good morning” as he passed by and I felt privileged to receive a “thumbs up” from him as he ran deeper into the forest.

On Friday I set up an interval workout on my Garmin for the race. The plan was to run for 1-hour, and then run intervals of 15-minute run/5-minute walk. I started the walk-breaks about 6.5 miles into the race. This is also about the time we left the jeep trail and entered the real beauty of the park. Very few people were within sight of me in either direction, so it was just me and the trails. Regrettably, I spent the majority of my time watching the five-feet of trail surface ahead of me, but from time-to-time I looked up in amazement of the beauty that surrounded me.

About a mile before aid station 2 the leaders of the 25k flew blast me in a blaze of fire. It was amazing watching those guys run, even though I only saw them for a VERY short time. Over the years I’ve learned the leaders seldom, if ever talk when they are running. It was refreshing to have several of the top ten guys tell me, “Good job” and “Looking good”. As sappy as it may seem, their encouragement lifted my spirits.

I stumbled a few times, yet somehow I never fell. On the far side of the Seven Hill Running Club aid station I watched a woman take a wicked fall. I asked if I could help her, but she said she was ok. We ran together for a couple minutes. She explained that she lives in Corpus Christi and they don’t have roots like these. She also confessed that she had already fallen twice before. This was evident, because her extremities were covered in dirt and debris. I felt so bad for her and wanted to help, but there wasn’t anything for me to do. Before we lost sight of each other she fell once more and it seemed rather traumatic, but once again, she stood up and started running. Watching her struggling in frustration taught me to be more careful for my own footing and to be appreciative that I had not fallen.

My scheduled intake regimen was one S-cap every 30-minutes and one Gu every 45-minutes. Around ten miles I started feeling the ill effects of the sugary breakfast in conjunction with Gu gel and S-caps. At one point I was so nauseated that I actually started gagging. Luckily, the feeling was short-lived and the gagging was the worst of it. It was easy to keep track of the S-caps, but I was getting confused about the Gu timing. Several times I resorted to counting old packages and looking at my time to determine when the next one was due.

There was a large 5-6 mile gap between aid stations 2 and 3. I ran out of water at the same spot on both loops, which was mentally tough. On the first loop I had no idea where to expect aid station number 3. At every turn I was hoping to see a table with water. This is also the same time a “hotspot” developed on the outside of my right foot. With no water, I started to tire and found myself being overly concerned about the hotspot on my foot.

I finally found my oasis a couple miles past the boardwalks. The volunteers filled both water bottles, while I gulped several cups of water. With a little water in my system all was well again, except the blister forming on my right foot.

The trail was perfectly marked, but near the end of the first loop I didn’t have a good bearing of where I was in relationship to the lodge. Aid station 3 volunteers said it was only a few more miles to the end. My legs still felt relatively good, but those final miles felt like the longest three miles I’ve ever run. Within a mile of the start line there was a plethora of 25k runners passing me and 50k runners starting their second loop. I must have received a hundred “good job” comments on that last mile. It was a great feeling running into aid station 4 with all the cheering spectators.

As I ran around the mid-way cone I looked and the clock, which read: 3:17:09. Even though my number one goal was to merely finish the race, I couldn’t help but realize a 7-hour finish was plausible. Kevin parked his truck close to the start, so it was exciting to see his truck, even though I didn’t see him. I also thought there might be an outside chance I would see Andrea before I ducked back into the woods for my second loop. Even though she started an hour later, she’s a little speed demon, so seeing her was a reasonable expectation. Unfortunately, I never saw Andrea or Kevin.

Going into the half way mark I had to piss… again. I planned on waiting till I found some thick woods when I broke clear of the other runners on the second loop. As luck would have it, I caught up to two female runners. I tried passing them, but my walk/run regimen kept them within sight for several miles. Mid-way down jeep road I finally passed the girls far enough to enable me to piss without being a total weirdo. I’m actually happy it worked out the way it did, because it took my mind off the run.

Most of the second loop was run in a mental haze. I found it amusing trying to relate my perceived effort to that of my Garmin pace. Sometimes my pace felt speedy, yet the watch told a completely different story. There was a direct correlation between the slowing of my pace when compared to total mileage run. At twenty miles I found myself hurting. Everything hurt, with emphasis to my back and bottom of both feet. For the duration of the race I maintained a regimen of stretching every couple miles, which I contribute to my success.

I spent a lot of time thinking and talking to myself. There was times when I said I would walk the remainder of the route. Luckily, the intervals were spaced with enough time to bargain with myself. I agreed to start each run interval and if it got too bad I “could” walk if needed. The pain was the same both walking and running. The way I saw it, the more I could run, the sooner I would end the pain. Any expectations of a respectable pace were conceded to a mere finish, which was my goal to begin with.

The toughest part of my run was on the second loop, between aid station 2 and 3. Once again I ran out of water. I was hurting all over, but even worse, I was mentally fatigued. My run turned into something that resembled a death march. I didn’t think I would ever find the aid station. I was so thirty I considered asking another runner for a drink of water. While running on the boardwalks I must have looked bad because a female runner with a hydration pack asked me if I needed some water. I seriously thought about accepting the offer, but I didn’t want to foul her run. I did accept the fact that an extra 5-minutes of walking was needed until I found water. After the unscheduled walk the landscape started looking familiar, so I continued my running program.

I was so excited to find the final aid station. Part of me wanted to stop and take a break, but I didn’t want to take a chance of cramping. The volunteers helped me refill my water bottles and I was on my way in less than one minute. I doubled-up on S-caps and continued my shuffle to the finish line.

I don’t remember much about those last miles. Probably not my best idea, but I kept a close eye on my watch. Literally, I looked at my watch every minute… hoping to see a magical number. The trail leading to the finish is a mixture of crushed asphalt, roots, and some dirt. I recall the surface feeling so much harder than the previous trails that were primarily dirt, roots, and sand. I guess this is one more reason why I’ve made the big shift from concrete to trails.

In the final 200-yards I could see the finish line. As I approached the photographer I held up a “5” on one hand and a “zero” with the other hand to represent my first 50k. Behind the photographer I could see a young girl, which turned out to be Taylor. When I heard her yell out, “GO, BILL!” it was music to my ears. Then I saw Andrea running up with her camera. I was so overwhelmed with emotion I couldn’t think of anything to say or do, except run.

Even though there were less than 100 spectators, the cheering of the crowd was amazingly loud. One of my final thoughts while running was the lack of pain on the last mile. A man with a PA yelled out my bib number as I entered the pathway lined with cones and flags. The RD instructed me to run past the last cone, which was near the clock that read; 7:06:32 as I passed it. Andrea and Taylor ran along the outside of the course and were right there when I finished.

I did it. I finished my first 50k. I’m finally an Ultra-runner! I was handed my 50k finisher trophy and found a comfy spot in the grass to sit down. The first thing I wanted to do was take my shoes off. I had no idea what to expect of my feet from my first ultra. Damage control didn’t reveal anything serious other than a one-inch blood blister on the side of my right foot. Everything else looked good.

When I stood up, everything had tightened and hurt ten times more than when I had been running. With a 1.5 hour drive home I decided to take advantage of the “free” massage. I had to wait about 30-minutes, but the massage was well worth it.

On the way home we picked up a bag of ice for our cold bath soaks. Thirty minutes in a tub of cold water and half a bag of ice left both of us shivering most of the night. We finished the day with a mediocre meal at Jason’s Deli and we were in bed, sound asleep by 8pm.

There’s something astonishing about pushing your mental and physical abilities beyond the norm. I don’t think the average person understands what the human body is capable of. There’s a lot more will power left inside of me and I look forward to the challenges pursuing who I really am.

Another amazing day of my life, which I'm living to the fullest!