ebearIsRunning

Well I did it. I know big fatty 2 by 4 can actually run. I was just beaming with joy. God really carried me through this one.
The week before the race I decided to run the race on the treadmill. The treadmill is always my worst nightmare. I don't mind running on the thing but it always says I go slower than when I run on the road. After 40 minutes I set a new personal record. I was satisfied that I would be able or at least hopeful to repeat in the race.
Standing there with thousands of other runners in the freezing rain I said to myself this should be fun. The year before had sleet at a horizontal angle. It felt like being sand blasted so I thought we can do this. My friend was somewhere in the crowd but I could not find her. I did manage to see her husband twice. He cheers me on in alot of races which means a lot. So off we go. I knew that I was moving pretty good. When the race was over I had finished with a total time of 38 minutes. This is faster than any other pace. It turned out to be 7:36 a mile for a total of five miles. After the race my friend on the side of the road called me. He said you might have placed. I said Naw. (Country like) Well when I got the results a few days later it said that I placed third in my division. This was the 225 lbs and up. So they gave me a plaque. See bigfoots can run also.
Then I was off to play football.

Later.

Now I know that normaly spinning class should be uneventful but tonight I had an embarrasing moment. So we start our warm up and get into the workout when I look down and see powder on the floor and start to realize that my bike is squeeking. So my wife promptly says get a new bike. So I stop pedaling. The instructor says are you ok? Like I am having trouble in the first five minutes. Not! So I get a new bike. Then as the workout continues my bike starts squeeking again. People keep looking around and wondering who's it is. I am a realitively shy guy so this was slightly out of my comfort zone.
When class was over I removed my bike and saw the dust. It looked like I had sweated dust.

Another fun day at the Y.

Later.

So I decided that on Friday I would attempt a 5 mile run that resembled the turkey trot. I finished with a new PR. 39 min. 56 sec.

For me that represents an under 8 min mile for a all 5 miles. That is awsome for me. I know I know that is not all that good but for me it is great.

On other news my foot seems to be still hurting. I thought it was an arch problem but I am starting to wonder if it is a stress fracture or something. It has odds times of stinging and discomfort and other times it is just fine. It mainly hurts when my foot is bent or in a stressed postion. After the trot I plan on giving it a rest. Hopefully that will fix things.

Later.

Well it was spinning class again. My wife and I went to the Y. Our teacher chose not to show up this week so we had a sub. She had a reputation of being really hard. Here class had some hard moments but overall I have had worse classes. Now that being said, maybe my resistance was not up high enough. Class was fun but nothing special.

Later.

I should have know that my boss had a bad weekend. Monday started off somewhat ok. My boss strutted in and begins to tell me that before I move anything I need to clear it with him. Now here is some background. This company is expanding and we are opening up our location. I was told by another executive that this was my department and that I am to set it up the way I want. So I start work quicky. I prepare the room start arranging the equipment and so on. 2 months go by and I have a new piece of equipment coming in so I rearrange stuff to make room. Also I have 13 years of experience so I know what I am doing. There is more that I could share but no need. It just felt like a slap in the face. I mean I can't determine for myself if a shelf should go here instead of there. Come on. That is stupid. I am not a little kid.
I do an excellent job and give them no reason to question me.

So I think that I can hit the gym for some stress relief. Work out was good but the 5 miles went by without a hitch. The weights were fine also. The problem. Is that I still left the gym aggrevated.

Later.
l

So it was friday and it was just like any other ordinary day. I ran on the treadmill preparing for the last race of the year. Which is the Turkey Trot 5 miler in Miamisburg Ohio. The run went fine with the common but all to embarassing stubles. My I-pod was not charged to that was irritating. When I finished my run I did my normal weight training. Someday I will see results.

later

So Tuesday, we are sitting there in the living room and I can tell my wife is grumpy. I noticed she was not going to spinning class so I convinced her to go. That is only if I went with her she says. So there we are in the Semi circle and on the stationary bikes. They have me doing all sorts of things like hill climbs, no bumps, sprints and squats. These are all tricks of the instructors to make your butt hurt the next morning and I don't mean your muscles. The seat feels like it kicked my butt into next week. I think there is not bruising otherwise I think I would file a report on the drive by bike beating. Of course the instructor is about 15 to 20 years older and he is kicking my butt.

Fun Fun Fun.

Later.

Monday afternoon I started some cross training. After my big runs I have taken just over a week off and now intend to start things up again. I did a 3 mile run on the tread mill in 24 min and 40 sec. Not bad for me. Then I did some weight training. I can tell that it had been awhile. After working on my upper body I hopped on the bike for a 10 min. ride.

The next morning I felt like my arms would fall off.

Helpful hint to anyone who is reading. Don't tell others you are sore. They will poke you all day.

Later.

I have to say this was just a spur of the moment thing. It was just a week after the marathon and i just took a chance. This takes place a the Germantown reserve. Although the race entry was just over 50 or so people it was wonderful. They are all so friendly. It is 4-7.75mile loops. Each loop had 5 or 6 steep hills and then on the other side of those you have to go down them. This is a trail run so you are running on rocks, stumps, and roots. The leaves were turning and falling on the ground. This made for some great scenery. The three aid stations were well stocked and were enough to keep you fueled. I even found time to make calls on my cell phone. I mean you have to fill the time somehow. (It was just for a few minutes).
At the start of the second loop my arch in my foot gave out. It was a sharp stinging pain that would hurt when I was on uneven ground. My saying was (to persevere) and that I did. At the end I felt again like I had really accomplished something. I mean when you think about it how many people can go that distance in one day.

It took me 7 hrs. 29 min. and some sec.

I will plan on running another Ultra marathon next year.

Rating: (1-10 with 10 being the best)

Race course-8 (really hilly)
Aid Stations-9 ( Super friendly but no entertainment)
location-8
Fun-8 (not fun unless you like hiking in the woods by yourself)

When i decided to run the marathon it was because a friend of mine had decided to run. I was on the fence and they pushed me over the top. Now I have to say that this friend stomped me. It was wonderful training with somebody and we hope to do it again in the future. When getting to Columbus Ohio we stayed at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The runners expo was also located there. (This was convienent) We checked into the Hotel and proceeded to the expo. I picked up my runners packet and all the free goodies. We then walked to Short North and ate at Marchella's. It was a wonderful italian restuarant. The appearance inside the place was cool. After finishing our meal my family and I went back to the hotel. We settled in and watched a movie. The next morning I was up early and thought I had everything ready. It figures I had forgot my outside running shirt. So after getting all ready I went downstairs and cut the arms off on of the T-shirts I had. Then I headed out to the race. The course was wonderful. You get to run through downtown, Bexley, Back downtown, through Short North, around the burbs and then finally back through Ohio State. The support was enourmous. There were lots of aid stations and lots of cheering fans.

I finished with a time of 4 hrs. 27 min. and 27 sec.

Rating: (1-10 with 10 being the best.)

Race course-9.5
Aid and entertainment-9
Location-9
Fun-8

I would recommend this to anyone. It was reasonably flat.

While I was in Gatlinburg Tenn. I had decided to take a hike by myself. So I logged on the internet and found a mountain climb trail that would be challenging. Now you need to know I have never done climbs like this before. So I was not certain what I was in for. I started out early in the morning while everyone was asleep. Unfortunately it was raining. I headed out anyway. I found the trail head after asking directions and driving way out to the way. This trail was the Chimney top trail.
It was over a 1400 foot climb. So I started while it was raining but it soon stopped and I tried to enjoy the scenery. The views were beautiful. As you progress along the trail you cross bridges and rock waterfalls. Part way up the hill you start hitting switch backs and a huge rock stair case. When you are 3/4 the way up you start to notice you are going around the mountain. You are no longer on the same side. Now think how I am feeling. I am in a different state, by myself, on a strange mountain, with strange animals and going somewhere I had never been with no map. I was slightly nervous. Mainly because the day before we went rafting and the guide mentioned that if we hike you should not scare a bear. So I think I reach the end of the trail. There is a post where a sign used to hang. I figure that the sign used to say keep going around the bend. The problem is that you had to shimmy along a cliff wall to the other side. Well when I did the path suddenly ends. So I turn back. Going back across I realized why it was so scary. I looked down. (a long way). Come to find out 12 people had died over many years in that location. So back to the story. I sit there for around 20 minutes. Then I head back down. A short way down I come across some people and start talking. They mention the view and I said that is strange. I must not have been in the right place. So they take me back to the cliff wall. They say start climbing. Well I must say the climb was worth every minute. I felt as if I had conquered the world. It felt great to do this.

A few days later I took my nephew up with me. Hopefully that is an adventure we will both remeber.

The picture on the right is a small view from the mountain top.

My time on the first up and down. 2.5 hrs.
Rating: loved it.

I had scheduled the Air Force half as a warm up to the Columbus Marathon. I ran the Air Force half 3 or 4 years ago and since it is so close to our house I wanted to run it. Since I did not have to travel it makes it a real plus.
I love starting and finishing at the Air Force Museum but once you get out on the course it becomes boring. The course takes you up and through the base so spectators are not allowed to cheer you on. So much of your run is with no one there. For a bigger race fans help motivate me. My finish time was 1 hr. 59 min. and 53 sec. again not bad.

Rating: (1-10 with 10 being the best.)

Race Course-7
Aid stations and entertainment-7
Location-8
Fun-8

Take my opinions for what they are worth.

The first race of the year was the Indy Mini Marathon. This race course took you from downtown Indianapolis to the race track and back. For the most part the race was boring and flat. I loved being on the race track. You get to run one complete lap around the track and it was a dream come true. I have attended the Indy 500 and other races for over 25 years. We stayed in a private hotel in goverment circle. We really enjoyed the downtown life. We ate at a couple of restaurants and even ate outside on the patio. The 30,000 people made it almost one of the coolest sites I have ever seen. To look across that many people it truly amazing. I finished with a time of around 1hr. 59 min. This is not my best time but for the weather conditions and course it will just have to do.

Rating: (1-10 with 10 being the best.)

Race Course-7.5
Aid stations and Entertainment-6
Location-9.5
Fun-9

Well I think I have decided to join the ranks of the blogger society. I probably won't have to much to say but it is my first adventure into designing and creating web content. Hopefully this blog will be about my adventures in running and just other various rants and complaining.

To all those who dare to take the ride with me. Welcome.

To those of you who don't. See ya later.