Why, How, What, Where I Run...

Speaking of Changes!

2009-06-29T13:58:00.002-06:00

I've moved my blog.

As this blog was not available for so long, I went and purchased my own domain. A friend is hosting it.

If you would like to visit it, you can click on the following link -
www.cewtwo.com

Things Can Change So Quickly…

2009-04-28T10:11:00.006-06:00

And things did do that for me yesterday.

My best friend died yesterday. I’m talking about Molly, my Australian Shepard. It happened suddenly. She had a carcinoma (tumor) on her heart that had burst. The sack around her heart filled with blood. The pressure was stopping her heart from beating properly.

We got up at the regular time and found Molly to be listless and lethargic. She was coughing and had little energy. The day before she was fine. As the day progressed, she was getting worse. I got a feeling about her late in the afternoon and called my friend, Tom, to check her out.

By the time we knew what was happening and got her to a Vet, she had almost no blood pressure. Her Vet told us that the help she needed was only available at an emergency clinic. She was rushed to one immediately.

They did tests and the diagnosis was the carcinoma, but there were unknowns. They were able to tap the fluid from around her heart. She responded and improved, but only to a point.

Around 11:15 PM, we got another call from the Vet. The fluid had refilled the sack and she had to be tapped again. The Vet said that the leak was bad. We decided to go to the emergency clinic.

We talked to the Vet. The prognosis was not good. As the leak was so bad, she would probably have to be tapped two more times in order for the Cardiologist specialist to see her in the morning.

Molly was dying.

We made the final decision. She had suffered enough and we did not want her to experience anymore discomfort.

We went in to see Molly. She perked up when she saw her ‘pack!’ She got up and was seemingly ready to go home. But, She was so tired and lay back down. There was a sparkle in her eyes but there was also a sad dimness to them. My heart went out to her as I realized that the correct decision had been made.

We gave my special friend hugs, caressed her and said our goodbyes. I laid her head in my lap, as the Doctor came in and prepared to do his job. I kissed her head and petted her neck and head as the Doctor did his job. Soon, it was over and Molly found her final peace. The Doctor told us (when all was said and done) that we had really made the right decision for her situation.

Keep in mind that I am sad now over the loss of a good friend. She was my constant companion for more than 10 years. We played Frisbee, played ball, ran together, went jeeping together, took vacations together and many more things. She thought that she was the consummate taste-tester and often assisted me in the kitchen. As a matter of fact, we spent the last week vacationing together, jeeping in Moab, Utah.

I will so miss my friend, Molly!

Rest, my friend! Rest in peace!

How Far Have I Run?

2009-03-31T14:51:00.000-06:00

I never thought that I would have come as far as I have with my running. It has been an amazing journey. I want to thank all of you that have encouraged me along the way. Don't think you're done, though. I still need all of the encouragement I can get!

Running -
So… What have I accomplished so far in 2009? Not as much as I wanted to, but I have been running. So far, it has been treadmill running. I’m used to it and it is easily accomplished. I'll be out more and more as the weather clears in April.

I seem obsessed on my 10K run coming up on May 9th. I know that I have been ignoring the half-marathon coming up on May 17th. I really need to start increasing miles now so I will be able to run it!

This is my running statistics chart for 2009.

I still have my cough. I keep telling myself to go back to the Doctor. I believe it is related to the blood pressure medicine that I am taking. If I could clear that up I could breathe a lot easier and get more accomplished.

The Recent Denver Snow Storm –
Well, you’ve heard about it. An almost blizzard! The, all of a sudden, it tapered off and just slowed way down.

Other stuff –
I am still going jeeping on a regular basis. After all, you need to do something (fun) on your day of rest.

Here are some videos if you are interested –

Running a steep hill covered with snow. Will he make it in this Bronco?

Now, let’s try it in the Mighty YJ!

(oh well, you can’t have everything!)

What happens if get up there and then get stuck?

Things & Stuff!

2009-03-16T14:22:00.002-06:00

Running!
Yes, I have been running. So much that I felt last week should be an easy week. That was the plan, but you know how these things go… I ran 26.1 miles. All on the treadmill. I seem to be getting faster and faster…

Here is a chart to track some “Progress.”

Improving? I think so!

Home Theatre PC
What is a Home Theatre PC (HTPC)? An HTPC is a computer built to handle a household’s entertainment from a central location; music, pictures, audio and video.

I’ve had an HTPC before but decided to rebuild it. Before it had a TV Tuner, and the purpose was to serve as a secondary DVR (Digital Video Recorder). It had SageTV for the DVR software. I removed the tuner card and the software.

The build is almost finished!

I kept the motherboard, AMD duo-core processor, 1Gig of RAM and the 400 GB hard drive (re-formatted). I bought a new case, power supply, and video card. I had already added a HAVA Titanium HD Video server for my home network.

The case has a flip up cage for the peripheral devices.

Never as easy as it could be, I had to use an EIDE DVD-Rom drive to load the operating system.

The HAVA unit takes a video signal and transmits it, either via Ethernet or wireless or even from the internet. So, I take the HAVA signal and use the HTPC to act a second TV in the lower level entertainment center.

In place! No separate DVD unit or receiver amplifier now!

I am also using BOXEE and HULU as sources for the HTPC.

Now…What does this have to do with running? The lower level of my house used to be a Mother-In-Law apartment. I have the treadmill down there. It sits in front of the HTPC entertainment center. So, it is all to keep my mind as busy as my body during my runs!

The Treadmill and I are satisfied again!

Finally…
Ever get splashed while running? This Jeep is going to do it now!

March! (Already?)

2009-03-08T08:55:00.002-06:00

Last week, I ran 30.1 miles at a pace of about 9:17. I am trying to get faster.

First of all, let me say that I actually like running on my treadmill. It is an offensive machine in that it makes me work so hard, but I am the one that programs it.

Through February, I slowly raised the elevation of the treadmill from 1.0 to 2.5. The first week of March I ran on it at an elevation of 3.0. Next week, I plan to raise the elevation to 3.5.

A Progress Chart -

Competitions -
Saturday, May 9th is the Highline Canal Run. Sponsored by a local parks & recreation district, I want to run the 10K AND run it in less than 1 hour. Maybe 2009 is the year for that! You can find out about it here. This will be my third year running this local, fun run. My friend, Tom, is going to run this one, too!

Eight days after that, on Sunday, May 17th, I'll run the Colorado-Colfax Half-Marathon. I ran this last year. I hope to beat 2:20:00 and my previous run time. You can find out more about it here. I'll be running a co-worker at this one. Early registration was a 2-for-1 and we agreed to run it!

Running Humor -
A runner asked his wife: "What do you love most about me? My tremendous athletic ability or my superior intellect?" "What I love most about you," responded the man's wife, "is your enormous sense of humor."

What? February is Almost Over?

2009-02-21T11:18:00.004-07:00

OK, they tell you at the start line that there are photographers all along the route so when you see one, Smile! At least act like you're having a good time.
AND... No matter how tired I got, it was a good time.

Running?

I am!

I ran 29.50 miles last week. I've increased the elevation of the treadmill from always running at 1.0 to 2.0 this month. Next week it will increase to 2.5. I did increase the long run to 7 miles.
Best 5K time last week was 28:41, and the best 10K was 58:40.
I am still slow, but not as slow!

Here are some figures:

January- - - - - - - February- - - - - -TOTAL
_____________________________________________
27 runs...............18 runs..............45 runs
9:32 pace............9:19 pace...........9:26 pace
18,705 calories....14,394 calories...33,099 calories
110.2 miles..........84.8 miles.........195.0 miles

Now... How is that for some (well... trivial) facts! They do show an improvement.

10K race and the half-marathon are but 3 months away!

The Doldrums...

2009-02-05T14:35:00.002-07:00

A dictionary might define “Doldrums” as a period of stagnation or slump.

Am I in a slump? Am I being inactive? No to both.

I use the term to describe a state where I am training but not actually for a purpose.

I am up to running 2 10Ks a week. Most weeks are 26 miles. I am slowly increasing the elevation on the treadmill as well as increasing my speed.

Is it giving me results? Yes. For instance, BuckeyeOutdoors.com reports that in January, I ran 110.20 miles total in 27 runs. Of that, I averaged 4.10 miles per run at a pace of 9:32 or 6.3 miles per hour.

Considering I trained for my marathon @ a 12:00 pace (and ran it at a higher number), I do believe that I am improving.

So far for 2009 (as of this morning), I have run 128 miles.

So, the doldrums. I will be happier when this “Einstein” runner can start to train for that elusive 10K at under an hour, and, at the same time for a half-marathon. That first half-marathon will be one week after the 10K. I am so happy when I can schedule and then check the schedule. Sometimes, the competition itself can be a let down. Wish me luck anyway.

More information in a bit. Thanks for reading!

How are your doldrums coming along?

And Remember...
If you are going to take up cross-country running, it is always better to start with a small country.

Update!

2009-01-26T14:00:00.004-07:00

I ran 26 miles even last week. I am trying to up the runs to include two 10Ks per week. I am working on the speed, as well.

I have 87.35 miles for the month of January and, coincidentally, I have run 87.35 miles in 2009. Hmmm…

I went to the Doctor last week. I had the blood lab work done the week before.

My Numbers -

The Good News? I am healthy. Most of the numbers are within range.

The Bad News? Triglycerides are out of range and in the high end. That means that I am getting fat and I need to lose some weight. I guess that I have become complacent since my marathon run. I am running, but I am also eating. The Doctor suggested that I lose 10 – 15 pounds.

“Do I cut out more fat from my diet?” I asked.

“No,” He said, “You just need to push yourself away from the table earlier.”

Not a difficult goal. I can do that.

My Cough –
I did mention to the Doctor that I have a cough. It is not a cold (or flu, or pneumonia, or anything of that ilk). My lungs are clear. It happens mostly when I run. It can be a deep, hacking cough when it comes on.

After some questions, he stated that it is one of two things –
1. Exercise induced asthma (like I run a lot or something).
2. An anti-hypertension drug induced cough.

He asked if I wanted to test it yet or wait. It hasn’t been too bad yet, but it is becoming noticeable. I told him it could wait.

He said that the test is easy - A pulmonary function test, then a run (he suggested stairs), until I cough, then back for another pulmonary function test again.

We set it up so I could contact him if the cough gets to be worse.

Some Fun –
I cleared the marathon with him the last time that I saw him. I made sure that I wore the Las Vegas Marathon registration shirt AND the Finisher’s Medal for the appointment.

The Doctor and I are about the same age. He is a runner (and responsible for me starting to run).

We talked about the marathon, the experience, and about running in general.

When I was preparing to go, he told me that I have surpassed him as a runner, and shook my hand. “Good job!” He said!

Finally -
I am breaking in a new pair of shoes. I finally bit the bullet and bought a pair. They are the same as the old pair (Mizuno Wave Alchemy). Much brighter and cleaner, but the very same model! So far, after one run, they feel the same and that is great! There is something to be said for consistency.

The 2009 Schedule! (A Start Anyway...)

2009-01-19T16:59:00.006-07:00

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Spoiler Alert! DO NOT let the kids read the end of this post.
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Well, I guess that I did not learn my lesson. Not yet anyway.

I am signed up for two events so far (No! No marathons as of yet).

Saturday, May 9 - South Suburban Parks & Recreation Highline Canal Fun Run - 10K. I want to run this one in less than an hour. That would be something for this old bird (buzzard). I am working at my speed already.

Sunday, May 17 - The Colorado Colfax Half-Marathon. I ran this last year in 2:20:41. So, I would like to do it in less than that. Now, my friend, Greg, already has me running it in less than 2 hours. After all, he says that it is but 2 10Ks side-by-side with just a little bit more added. Thanks, Greg!

Friends on Facebook are already taking it quite literally...

Last week, I ran 23.50 miles. The miles were at a pace of less than 10:00. I am working at getting faster. Today's run was on the treadmill at a pace of 9:17. Thank goodness I have a lot of time to train in and a better working knowledge of how to train. (Now if only I were successful at it!)

I am at 61.08 miles for 2009 as of today.

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This humorous bit is from a friend of mine -

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Subject: Raising Boys
a) For those with no children - this is totally hysterical!
b) For those who already have children past this age, this is hilarious.
c) For those who have children at this age, this is not funny.
d) For those who have children nearing this age, this is a warning.
e) For those who have not yet had children, this is birth control.

The following came from an anonymous Mother in Austin, Texas...

Things I've learned from my Boys (honest and not kidding):

1.) A king size waterbed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.

2.) If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they can ignite.

3.) A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.

4.) If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.

5.) You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on. When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way

6.) The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.

7.) When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.

8.) Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.

9.) A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.

10.) Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4-year old boy.

11.) Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.

12.) Super glue is forever.

13.) No matter how much J ell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.

14.) Pool filters do not like Jell-O.

15.) VCR's do not eject "PB &J" sandwiches even though TV commercials show they do.

16.) Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.

17.) Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.

18.) You probably DO NOT want to know what that odor is.

19.) Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.

20.) The fire department in Austin, TX has a 5-minute response time.

21.) The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.

22.) It will, however, make cats dizzy.

23.) Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.

24.) 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.

25.) Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.

2008 – A Personal Year Of Achievement!

2009-01-12T20:04:00.002-07:00

I accomplished a lot last year. I achieved a life goal.

This is a running blog. I did do some running. I did discover that running can wear the body down. I discovered that I do exude my electrolytes, literally, right through my skin. I have to balance my hydration.

I ran a disappointing 10K. This year, I want to run the same race again in under an hour. I know that I can do this.

I ran a half-marathon. I was not disappointed with my time. I am going to sign up for that same competition again but to PR.

I ran a 4 mile. I ran it with friends. I made a new friend! It was a great experience. This year, I will run the half—marathon again. It is just more fun!

I ran another half-marathon. I was disappointed. I experienced cramps, but did finish! Now, I have better knowledge of how to run it without! I did PR but crossed the finish line with lower leg cramps.

I attempted to run the Chicago marathon. I did not succeed. My electrolyte problem surfaced again. I dropped to the ground at mile 24 with both lower legs cramping hard. I just could not finish this one! I am not planning on running this one again…

I became a coordinator for a group on a blog site - What's a Few Miles Among Friends? If you get a chance, check it out. Think about joining our little group! I am proud of all of them! If you wonder why I don't update my blog as often as I used to, this site is the reason! But it is so worth it to me!

I learned to pick myself up and keep going. It was very disappointing, but I found out that I could continue training. I was training and looking for another marathon to run. I considered Tulsa, Seattle, Phoenix and some others. I decided on Las Vegas.

I ran the 2008 Las Vegas Marathon. This was a really an emotional experience for me. When I was preparing for this one, I just knew that I would succeed. All through this race, at different moments, I’d find myself with tears in my eyes and I would choke up.

This was an amazing start. The gun went off. Fireworks filled the sky and the Las Vegas Strip was blocked off to traffic, but not for the runners! I ran the Strip. What a moment! It continued through the finish line.

I have a friend, Mitch. Mitch is 10 years old. He is a precocious child. He saw me within the last mile of the finish line and ran alongside encouraging me on. What a guy! He made it special for me.

I will probably run Las Vegas again! I am a marathon runner now. 55 years old and a marathon runner. I impressed myself!

In 2008, I ran a total of 1,618 miles. Does that make me a runner? No. What makes me a runner is the willingness to get out there and run. Slow as a turtle, but out there. Inspiration comes from everywhere. From magazines, from runners on twitter, from other runner’s blogs, but mostly from people like you… Thank you for that!

What does 2009 hold? Let us see…

I Was Selfish!

2008-12-12T15:25:00.002-07:00

First of all,
There was bad news and there was good news.

The bad news? I am no longer a member of the “almost marathon” club. I am an actual marathon runner. I completed the Las Vegas Marathon in December 7th in 6 hours 4 minutes and 22 seconds.

Preparation
I decided a while ago to be selfish for this competition. I was going to look out for me this time. I did not contact the usual podcasts. I didn’t make the usual announcements. I was in this one for me. I didn’t want to hex it.

I was almost superstitious about it. I wore different socks, different shorts, different shirt and a different hat. I wore a Chicago shirt that I trained in for both of my marathons! After all, I couldn’t let Chicago totally defeat me.

My best friend in the entire world, Tom, went with me to Las Vegas. I’ve known Tom since Junior High School. We got a package travel plan a while before the travel dates. Tom had talked to his family and explained our plans to them. They decided to drive up from Phoenix and support the cause. We had Tom’s Mom Peggy, Dad Don, Brother Don, Nancy (Don’s wife) and the kids, Julia and Mitch. What a support team I ended up with.

The first night, Tom and I went to the expo as soon as we had the rental car. That would save us time for later. I got the bib, the paper chip and the goody bag. I did buy 3 Powerbars, 5 Hammer gels, “26.2” gizmo socks, a pair of sunglasses, a hat and a coffee mug. I guess that I had confidence this time around

The Great Las Vegas Santa Run!
We agreed as a group to participate in the 2008 Las Vegas Great Santa Run. It is an annual Las Vegas charity event that set the Guiness Book world record in 2007 (since defeated). 6 of us participated in the 5K. Don and Tom ran with Mitch and Julia. Their time was 45:30. Nancy and I walked it in 55:44. Of course, all of us were wearing Santa suits! It was a fun way to spend the morning. Afterward, we all went to the MGM Grand and had an excellent buffet.

The Quiet Before The Storm!
Soon after that, I went into solitude mode. I went back to the room and started preparing for the event. I guess that everyone has their own routine. I know that I have mine. I took out my lists and my equipment and got to work. As the race was to start at 6:05 AM the next morning, I got to bed at about 8:30 PM. I set the alarm clock for 4:00 AM.

I guess that I slept the night before fairly well. I did not think that I did. Tom said that he came in at around 9:15 PM. I heard him come in, but do not remember much after that. I woke at about 3:50 AM. I waited a few minutes but turned off the alarm before it went off.

I turned on one light. I started the coffee pot. I went through my morning ablutions and got dressed. Tom and I were out the door by 4:45 AM. We went to Don’s room and he opened the door. He had been waiting for us in the dark. We started the drive to the start line.

Ever been to Las Vegas? The Las Vegas Strip is slow at the best of times. It was nigh on impossible to approach the Mandalay Bay on that day. Don drove as close as he could get. It was a trial. I finally got out about 2 long blocks from the start line. I moved in and joined the gathering runners within a few hundred feet from the start. When the announcement booth started up it was 5:35 AM.

Time passed slowly. It was a cool morning, but almost perfect for a long race. I was dressed minimally. It was cool but I knew that after the start I would get warm soon enough.

The Marathon
The wheelchairs started at 5:55 AM.

They moved us up to the starting line after that start. Before I was ready, they started the race. To my right, the skies suddenly lit up with fireworks! We began to run and our way was lit with that barrage of explosions. It was a spectacular way to start. As we ran down the famous Las Vegas Strip, many of the casinos put greetings on their marquees as we passed them. Very cool!

The beginning of the race had throngs of spectators lining the strip. I did bring the cell phone this time. After following the rules at Chicago, I decided to always run with a cell phone, legal or not. It makes no sense not to have one.

I carried 3 Hammer nutrition gels (they were in my hat). I ingested them every 30 minutes. I had 2 banana Powerbars for run time after that and I also had Hammer Perpetuem mixed up and ready. I was also using Hammer Endurolyte capsules. I took 2 every 30 minutes until toward the end.

I did take the Flip Ultra video, but did not use it during the run. I did take some videos before the event started. I did not take my iPod nano or the nike+ system for this run. I wanted to experience it!

As I said, I was selfish this time around. I was in this one for me. I treated it as a long run (practice). I talked to other runners, but didn’t take names. Wearing a “Chicago” shirt, I either talked to others or they talked to me. Happened several times! There are some strong opinions regarding the Chicago Marathon!

Before the half-marathon runners and the marathon runners separated, near the downtown area, the run-through chapel was situated. Several couples either were married or renewed their vows. Of course, wedding cake was offered to all of the runners. (Nope, I didn’t take any…)

The two races split just before the downtown area. Volunteers directed the half-marathoners to the left and the marathoners to the right. Of course, the runners took up the call! “Half-crazy to the left! Fully crazy to the right!” was heard many a time. This is it, I thought to myself. Now I am committed (or should that have been committable?)

The most interesting part of this long run was the strip and the downtown area. There is nothing in the world like running North on the Las Vegas strip. Casino after casino. Very cool.

After that, streets all seemed to look the same. There were long sections of many-laned streets with high brick walls. There weren’t many spectators on the street but there were quite a few that were observing us from over the walls!

There was a clock at every mile. Most miles either had water or Gatorade. Some had both. It was easy to track progress and pace.

I passed the 13.1 mile chip reader at 2:44:53. I figured I would have a 6 hour finish. Undaunted, feeling very good, I trudged on. The batteries gave out on my Garmin 205 soon after the half-way point.

Concentration and the Run
I used many mantras as I ran. They were based on 26.2 miles. The first 10 were the legs – Easy. The second 10 was the brain – Somewhat tougher.

I used two mantras in miles 10 to 20. One was simply, “Breathe,” as I timed my run to a pace. The other was the remaining miles in the set.

The final 6.2 were broken up as follows:
20 to 21 – My Doctor, Nathan Persoff (he started me running).
21 to 22 – A Podcast that supported me in this endeavor.
23 to 24 – A fellow runner that has inspired me.
24 to 25 – Very special friends and supporters.
25 to 26 – Family, work and close friends.
26 to 26.2 – Tom Martin, who was coach, friend, fan and major supporter!

I repeated the names over and over as I placed one foot in front of the other!

At times, I thought that the large casinos would never come into view, but slowly, they did. When I finally saw the Mandalay Bay (starting and stopping point), it became my focus as it got closer and closer.

The Finish!
I never really doubted the finish on this race. I sure felt a lot better when I was at the casino. As I ran by the parking complex, Tom was at a door! He greeted me when he recognized me! I was very glad to see him! Instead of saying that, though, I asked how far it was to the finish. He told me it was a half-mile!

Half a mile! I am doing this one! I suddenly felt great! Tom was taking pictures and cheering me on. I kept going. I glanced over to the doorway again and there were Tom’s parents. They were waving and cheering me on!

Tom said that the others were at the 26 mile mark. I moved on! I saw the others and threw my arms into the air! Mitch ran up and started to run alongside. Julia soon joined us. I turned the corner and saw the chute! I couldn’t help it as my eyes teared up and I got emotional.

I ran up to a lady runner. I told her that we need to cross the finish line and I expected her to beat this Grey-haired guy. She smiled, touched my shoulder, and told me that we should go for it. “Lead on,” I said, “Lead on!”

We took off. I took the glove off my right hand and tucked it in my belt. I grabbed my hat off my head, held it, and raised both arms! I ran over the finish line! I am a marathoner!!!!!

Crossing the Line!

My fellow finisher came up to me, shook my hand and had her husband take our picture. I thanked her and turned toward the medals.

Shaking Hands!

I shouted, “I just finished my first marathon and earned my medal! I want my medal! Who has my medal?”

The ones that were handing out the medals all smiled and held them high. I turned to the prettiest young lady and lowered my head. She placed the medal over my neck! I winked at her and asked if I could give her a hug! I gave her a bear hug and lifted her off of her feet! I placed a kiss on her cheek!

I walked away again with tears welling up in my eyes. I did it! I took a moment to let it soak in. I gathered my wits and walked around the corner to family and friends to share the moment with them. I also got my picture taken for the finisher photo!

The Finisher Photo!

Finally
I want to thank everyone that supported me in this endeavor. There were times that I lost the faith. It was people like you, dear reader that had more faith in me than I did. I appreciate it! Thank you.

The Las Vegas Finisher's Medal!

What happens in Vegas...

2008-12-09T14:55:00.000-07:00

Viva Las Vegas! (I hope so!)

2008-12-01T14:27:00.002-07:00

Support -
I have a lot of support from a person like you. I appreciate it. You are the person that keeps me going in this quest of mine.

In just a few days, I will be running the Las Vegas Marathon!

You can read about the Las Vegas Marathon by clicking on the name or by going here - http://www.lvmarathon.com/. I have not found a way to track runners for this marathon as of yet. If I do find a way to, I will announce here and on Twitter (Twitter.com/cewtwo). That there is no way to track me does not disappoint me.

Am I Ready?
I have thought a lot about this event. Let me say that I have thought a lot about running a second marathon. Let me say that I have thought a lot about attempting another marathon run.

Many of you have run a marathon. You know what it is like to run the distance. I know what it is like to almost run the distance. At least, for my first one, that is. I made a run that day in Chicago for 24.7 miles. I was a DNF. Both legs cramped and dropped me to the ground.

I do know that a DNF (Did Not Finish) is far better than a DNS (Did Not Start). A DNF is also not a finisher. It affected my opinion of myself, my running and my ability to persevere. In other words, I was disappointed in myself and doubting myself.

I know that I was not the only one that was a DNF at Chicago. There were people all along the course. I saw one young couple. The young lady was pushed to exhaustion. She sat down. Her companion, a young man, was still on his feet, running in place and was trying to influence her to keep going. It was touching. I saw a young lady with an Aid attendant at about mile 22. She was on her side and down and out. Another runner was holding her hand and consoling her. There were others.

I thought that those feelings had run the course. I decided to continue the training so I would be in shape. I decided on another marathon to run. Now, the time is here!

My Pre-Race Routine -
I have started my usual routine before a race.
· I am drinking a lot of water. I know that I am hydrated.
· I have prepared my medicines and supplementals for the weekend.
· My menu is set until race day.
· I am thinking of the course and starting the pacing preparation.
· I’ve had my hair cut (this one is important, at least to me).
· I’ve been running in the running togs I’ll use for the race.
· The bags are packed with the casual clothes that I am taking.
· I have prepared checklists for the evening before and morning of the marathon.
· I have a mantra for when I need it.
· I’ve packaged my nutrition products and containers.
· I’m thinking my way through a long, mental preparation process.
· I have not prepared a mile dedication chart this time. I’m doing it this time for me. Is that selfish?

Your Support -
I am basically ready. I am still apprehensive. I realize that this may or may not apply to you or the events that you have attended, but what do you do or would you do to prepare yourself for the ordeal that a marathon can be?

I appreciate strong votes of confidence. They can be empty though. I would really like to know how you prepare and succeed at the events that you participate in.

Why do we blog? I try to be positive most of the time. This time I don’t know that I am that positive. That’s where my friends and supporters come in. I need to let you know how I feel. I need to know how you keep yourself strong. Help me out here, please!

Thank you, supporter!

Yep! I Registered for Another Marathon!

2008-11-18T16:38:00.005-07:00

Yes, I have.

I figure that I will get very good at running almost marathon distances or I will actually complete a marathon. I tell my friends that I am the Almost Marathon Man. I’m putting time and training miles in to make this happen.

You hear of everyone completing his or her marathon attempts. It was frustrating when I was unable to complete my first one. I realize that I made some mistakes and I’ve reviewed those mistakes many times.

What were those mistakes?
1. Nutrition - Eat properly and enough. The Friday I flew out of Denver, I had one meal. It was a healthy meal, but it was late in the day. Why didn’t I eat better? Nervous from travel mostly. The rest of the weekend was much better.
2. Rest - Need to rest more prior to a marathon attempt. I spent the day before walking tourist venues and shopping malls. I really should have been relaxing.
3. Pace - I didn’t pace out of the starting gate. I was up and down pacing from as fast as 8:30 to 10:30. I trained @ 12:00. I missed my pace group leaders. I saw them ahead and tried to keep up. Then they were gone. I have no idea where they were. I never saw them again. So, learning to pace was pretty mandatory. It still has to come from me. I have to set my pace and stick to it. I HAVE to.
4. Weather (flimsy) - One could say that I wasn’t ready for the heat and humidity. Maybe. I did run in Denver on very hot mornings and that included the long runs. I will admit that I was not used to the humidity.
5. Electrolytes - I sweat when I run. I am a Clydesdale (200 lb +) grand master (55 years old). A friend recently commented that when I come back from a long run, I have white stains along the edges of my sweat patterns. That seems to imply that I also sweat out electrolytes. I need to make sure that I maintain a good electrolyte level when I run. I am and will be using ‘Endurolytes’ electrolyte replenishment tabs every 30 minutes along with “Perpetuem" which is fuel for extreme endurance. Both products have helped a lot so far. (Thanks, Melisa – for the lead). The down side of the Endurolytes is that water is necessary when using them so that will have to be timed with water stops. It can also result in heartburn. I can endure that for a finish!

Well, that is it in a nutshell! Now all I have to do is get out there and do this thing!

What? Where? When?
Oh yeah, the details. I have registered for the Las Vegas Marathon. It is run on the Las Vegas Strip early in the morning of Sunday, December 7th! You can find out more about it here - http://www.lvmarathon.com/

Finally!
Why is there always a, “Finally?” Its because of unfinished business usually. Remember that medal that I received because of the Chicago Marathon? It had nothing to do with finishing the marathon. This medal was given out of friendship from a very special family. Well… Here it is!

And yes, I will be carrying it with me in Las Vegas!

http://twitter.com/cewtwo

Runners, Bloggers, Relationships!

2008-11-03T19:51:00.002-07:00

Great People, Runners!
I have found myself in the middle of something huge. I think that I am a member of a group of peers that rival anything I have ever been a part of. It is very exciting!

If you have the chance to meet a fellow blogger/Runner, please do it. You will enjoy the experience! They are people that you know but you have never met. Extremely well spent time.

The Chicago Marathon!
Maddy, Petra and I ran Millennium Park near the lakefront of Chicago the morning before the race. It was a casual run that showed the staging area and several really cool features of the Grant Park area. It was a great way to get to know each other better. We saw the Cloud Gate and ran the length of the serpentine bridge. Millennium park is a great park to run.

At the start line, there was a young man who was running it AND going to work that very afternoon at 3:00 PM. He had even influenced a friend and fellow co-worker to run it with him. I passed him a few times on the course, and he was consistent. His friend was still with him. He really was an admirable young man and I am sure that he made it to work on time!

I ran the first half with a young man named Tony. I was hamming it up with the crowd as I ran. I would clap my hands and entice the on-lookers to cheer us on! Then, of course, the high fives with the spectators and thanking the volunteers and the police. He said that he liked my style. And liked the attention! After a while, we started up a mantra of, “We’re running, I’m Charlie, he’s Tony, You’re cheering!”
Tony gave me a tour of the city as we moved on!

I ran for several miles with Dee. Dee, like me, was from out of town. It was her second running of the Chicago marathon! She helped me to understand the etiquette of running a marathon!

My Medal
As you know, it laid me low when I didn’t finish Chicago. But friends came to my rescue. My friend and her family, took the time to find a special medal. I went to the door Saturday to check the mail. There was an envelope there addressed to me. It had something in it. Something very special!

It had a medal. There was an inscription on the back that made it very, very special to me.

I have a medal because of Chicago. It is not a finisher’s medal. No, it is something much more sentimental and important to me.

It is a runner’s medal from a friend. No other medal I have means as much as this one.

You know who you are – all 4 of you! Thank you very much.

This Runner Needs Your Help And Opinions!

2008-10-24T15:18:00.005-06:00

First of all, I wrote a Chicago Marathon race report and was going to post it, but I didn’t. Maybe I will in the future but I’m just not inspired to do that now.

A lot of my friends have been concerned about me. I'm sorry that I have been so quiet. I was in quite a quandary for a while. I am much better now. Thank you, all of you, for your concern!

Chicago was a fantastic experience even if it did not turn out the way that I would have wanted. Meeting Maddy, Melisa, Bill, and Petra was a wonderful thing. I will be adding a section to this page that will show other Runners/Bloggers that I’ve run with!

Now...

Why do I need your opinion? Why do I need your help?

I am thinking of running another marathon in the near future. I am in shape. I am trained. NOW. If you would allow an old adage, I feel that I should strike while the iron is hot!

I have rested. I could barely move the first few days after Chicago. I was walking backwards in places. My friends were laughing at me as I would attempt to stand and walk. That’s all over now. I am running again and loving it!

There are a lot of opinions about marathons and the frequency that they should be run. I think that we all know of our fellow runners that run marathons regularly. There are also schedules that allow a runner to keep in running shape between short periods. An example of a schedule is this one from Hal Higdon - http://www.halhigdon.com/marathon/multiple/Multiplemara.htm.

I’m training again using the 4-week period between marathon schedule. It may change to the 6-week schedule.

What I need from you, friend and reader, is your opinion on how, why and what you would do!

Speak up now! I need your help!

Did Not Finish!

2008-10-12T16:37:00.003-06:00

I am very sorry to report that I did not finish.

The Bad News -

I am a DNF (Did Not Finish).

At mile 18, my legs started to cramp again. It didn't seem too bad. At about mile 22, it became more and more difficult to actually run. I walked and was walking as fast as I could. After all, the timer was ticking down. I would try to run from time to time, but knew that I should leave 'good enough' alone and go back to a walk.

At mile 25 (Mile 25!) I entered a porta-potty for a last 'break.' You have to step up into it. I did and when my left foot hit the floor my lower leg muscle cramped and locked hard. I stepped back to take the pressure off and when I put the weight on my right foot, my right lower leg cramped and locked. I got out of the unit, took a step or two and fell to the ground in agony. I yelled for help and a lady came over quickly. She came over, felt my lower legs and gasped. She started massaging the left leg, while both of us yelled for help. The aid tent brought a wheel chair over, helped me to get up, and I was taken to the tent.

They checked me out, but it was just a case of cramping. As I laid there, the toes and upper leg muscles also started to cramp. While I was being iced, I saw the 'end of the marathon' van go by. The Chicago Marathon is a timed event. That really was OK, though, as it would have taken me hours to motivate the last little bit.

So, I cramped up and entered a small case of depression. I am disappointed. All that training and now leg cramps at mile 25.

The Good News!

I am OK. Blood pressure was 130 over 70 and pulse was good. No fever (not even hot), normal temperature. I just ended up with severe leg cramps. I was not hospitalized (nowhere near it). As they were packing up the tent, I hobbled out and caught one of the last buses to the finish line. I did not have my cell phone with me at that time so I couldn't call anyone. The bus stopped right by my hotel, so I didn't even go over to the finish line. I did not meet Maddy, Petra, Melisa or Bill over there. They do know that I did not finish, though.

So, I am OK but somewhat disappointed. It was a lot of time, money and training that went into this marathon. I was sure that I was ready. I do realize that sometimes medical things over-ride what your physical side can accomplish. But the sense of disappointment right now is very real and I am saddened and disappointed.

I'll have to figure out what caused it, so it doesn't happen again. I have talked to my brother about it and it does seem to be a family heredity thing.

Thanks,
Charlie

PS - Petra! The name on the shirt was referred to several times. I actually lost count as to how many! Great idea!

Today is the Day!

2008-10-12T04:39:00.002-06:00

Well, its here!

Maddy, Melisa, Petra, and I had a delicious carbo and protein loading dinner at the Trattori Roma restaurant last night. Bill is running the race also. He is Melisa's husband. We shared that meal with family, friends and supporters. Thank you all! It was a wonderful time.

You could tell that the runners were nervous and filled with anticipation.

We are meeting at 6:45 AM at the hotel Melisa and I are staying at. The adventure is about to happen!

Everyone. I would like to comment on the support that you have shown me. Without that it would have been much more difficult to have performed the training and to have gotten to the point I am at this morning. Thank you!

More later as I have an event to prepare for!

Charlie

1 day to go!

2008-10-11T04:34:00.004-06:00

Almost here!

The flight was fine, security was easier than I thought it would be.

My iPod provided in flight entertainment.

The hotel was nicer than I expected!

Off to meet friends for a morning run!

Charlie

Cloud Gate (and some friends) Look in the bean for the guy taking the picture!

Maddy & Petra!

2 Days To Go!

2008-10-10T06:26:00.002-06:00

2 days to go!

I fly out to Chicago this morning!

I have not flown since 2000. This could be an interesting experience!

Be still my heart!

Meeting Petra, Maddy and Maddy's daughter! Yes! We are at the expo!

3 Days To Go!

2008-10-09T08:18:00.001-06:00

Thank you, friends and fellow bloggers!

I fly to Chicago tomorrow!

On The Taper – With One Week to Go

2008-10-05T08:13:00.004-06:00

I am twelve taper miles to go to the Chicago Marathon. 4 @ 3 mile runs. I will run one of those with my friends from “What’s a Few Miles Among Friends?” Yes, Maddy, Petra, Melisa (AND her husband) are running Chicago, also!

Last week, I ran 34.07 miles. It feels like so very few. The long run was 8 miles. For several weeks that was a regular Wednesday run! Overall, for 2008, I have run 1,280 miles. I do think that I am ready.

I will be using the Chicago Marathon as my run in the Worldwide Festival of Races. I am specifically running the Phedippidations World Wide Half-Marathon! You can find out more about these events here.

I will be wearing my yellow wristband in support of Team Elijah. Elijah Talley is a boy that is in battle with neuroblastoma cancer. You can find out more about Elijah here.

I have dedicated each mile of my first marathon to several people or organizations. I will share that later in the week. Many of you have run marathons. This is my first marathon. It is an achievement of a personal goal. I mention it everywhere I go and to any group that I may address. This is an important event in my life.

As time for the event gets closer, I would like to thank each and every one of you that follow my humble blog. I get a lot of inspiration from every comment that is left. I have learned so much and in so many ways. I just want to thank you for being there and sharing your thoughts, opinions, experiences and life situations with me. Thank you!

Enough for now! Look for a final countdown on this blog soon.

Less Than 2 Weeks!

2008-09-29T08:37:00.003-06:00

2 Weeks!

Do you know that it is less than 2 weeks to the Chicago Marathon?

This man will be running it!

I ran 38.62 miles last week. I ran 13.16 miles on Saturday morning. Never has a half-marathon distance been so easy for me to run. I guess that there is a real purpose to all of the training that I have been doing.

I did try a small size Milky Way bar at the halfway point rather than a sawdust based 'energy' bar. It was a great deal more palatable, went down easy and didn't cause any distress. I do believe that I will use those on the marathon run.

I am about to head out on a 5 mile run. 3 more of those, 1 @ 4 mile run, 2 @ 3 mile runs, an 8 mile run next weekend and a 2 mile run in Chicago (the day before the event). I am ready!

After today, I will have run 180 miles in September and 1250 miles in 2008.

Finally...

Wood you ride this bike?

Casual Sex!

2008-09-22T19:35:00.003-06:00

Nah! Just trying to get your attention!

What is the big news? A mere three weeks to the Chicago Marathon! I finished the last of the long runs (22 miles) Saturday morning. If you would have told me just a few months ago that I would, that I could, run that far, that hard, that willingly! I would never have believed you. I would probably have laughed.

Now I enter my taper phase that will end with the event. There are some longer runs (12 miles, 8 miles) that will keep me busy, but I am ready to run a marathon!

- - - - -
As I ran Saturday morning, I ran up to one young lady. I said "Hi" to her as I passed.

“I’m running 21 miles today!” she said.

“Hal Higby?” I answered.

“Yes,” she said.

“I’m running 22 today. I’m running the Chicago Marathon!” Was my answer.

“So am I, “ she said.

I slowed down and ran alongside her.

“Have you received your confirmation e-mail yet?” I asked.

“Yes,” she replied, “I almost cried. It is definitely going to happen now!”

“I agree!”

She asked me if I was going to join a Nike Pace Team. I told her I was planning on the 5:15 group. 5:30 is the one she was interested in.

“Cool! Good luck on your run!” I told her. I winked at her and told her to wave if she sees me there!

Small world, all things considered!
- - - - - -

Saturday's run took 4 1/2 hours. I am not fast, but I know that I can do it now!

Now to finish up… Total last week, I ran 52.19 miles.

- - - - - -
Ending it!

The above picture is for my friend, the Jade Lady!

Chicago - Less than a Month!

2008-09-15T07:57:00.002-06:00

Wow! Time is ticking down. Less than a month to the 2008 running of the Chicago Marathon! There has been a lot of training by a lot of people getting ready for the event. Yep! I'm one of them!

Last week, I ran 39.17 miles. The week before that, I ran 50.82.

It seemed so easy running a fall back long run of 12 miles on Saturday morning. Next Saturday, I run my final really long distance of 20-22 miles.

Yesterday, I bought the shoes that I will run the marathon in. I bought some high tech socks also. I run in both on this morning's run.

As far as keeping up with the schedule, I've done everything except the cross training on the mountain bike. I've run instead.

I'm getting close to the event! (Maybe I am going to survive the training after all!)