Where you be at?

Just thought that I would check in just in case anyone was missing me or wondering where I was.  I'd hate to keep the four people who read my blog in suspense.

Went to MD last week for Thanksgiving and all I can say is that I was physically a wreck by the time we got  there.  Completely and thoroughly exhausted.   As if that wasn't bad enough I didn't get much sleep at all the first seventy two hours that we were there either.  The schedule just did not allow for it.  The upside is that I felt a hell of a lot better and rested by the end of the week.

So... the Turkey Trot... yeah that... well, I had a total blow up.  I got a new mile PR for the first mile but that was it.  Between being so damned tired and my "system" just not processing things correctly for a few days and allergy drainage, I started coughing about mile 1.4 and then started to purge a little.  Again, an upside... I recovered and fell in behind Melissa without her knowing I was there for the last half of the 5K and just followed (or stalked) her to the finish.  It really was cool to run behind her as SHE at least got a new PR.  I kept my mouth shut so she would not know that I was back there and figured if I had to say something I would.... nope... she ran it perfect and had a super strong finish.

We saw Skyfall when we were in MD and it was okay.  I think that Casino Royal is still my favorite Danial Craig, Bond movie... But this was good.  I do like the fact that they showed an aging and slightly more human and mortal Bond for a change.

We are fostering a new dog, Reggie.  He is a trip.  Completely underweight and he is at 70lbs.  He is 2.5 years old and just as mellow as he can be.  He and Roxy are hitting it off okay, Asia is being a pretentious brat though.  Reggie has glommed onto me though and will not let me out of his sight.  I wanted to rename him to Peter for Peter Pumpkinhead because his gourd is so damned huge.  This morning I awoke to him perching his head on the bed and just staring at me.  He needs some work... I don't  think he was abused at all but definitely neglected as there are some basic skills he needs work on.  But as far as potential is concerned if someone has a strong personality and the time to work with him and nurture him I bet he would be one super awesome sweet dog.  It will be interesting to see what he ends up weighing in a week after sleeping a lot, exercise and a lot of good food and treats.

This is Reggie.  If anyone is interested in him please let me know and or contact All Breed Rescue and Training.

Reggie and I did go to the IC run yesterday but we did something different.  I could see everyone trudging up hill one on UPT and I was damned glad that I was not in that group.  I really don't like that trail and that hill in particular, up or down.

Definitely planning on transitioning to a more Paleo based diet next week.  I have done a lot of research and except for the "processed" part... I think that the Paleo diet and Atkins maintenance phases are very similar.  My weight fucking skyrocketed when we were in MD and that was before the race even AND that was after really not eating a whole lot.  Actually I was good in MD but my weight balooned anyway... If I am to take this Leadman effort seriously I do feel that I need to give it all that I have and truly cleaning up my diet for good is warranted I think.

Speaking of Leadman... Tim and I meet (teleconference) on Thursday and I guess that we launch on the first... personally right now I feel as if I am completely detrained and out of shape so I am looking forward to working again.   I think that if I have proven or learned anything this fall it is that I am not one of those runners who can maintain fitness and strength with just a few short but intense workouts per week... I think I need that base of high mileage and that is what works best overall for both speed and endurance.  I could be wrong but that is how it feels. 

That kinda sums it all up.  Happy Monday!

A Star is Born

Asia's TV debut... complete with Lauren from All Breed Rescue and Training, Melissa, Roxy and myself.  :)  She knew how to smile big for the camera!

Thursday Track

Well this was my last Thursday night at the track in Manitou for a bit.  Between the deer on the track and all of the afternoon/evening activities at the school, that place can get pretty damned crowded at times.  Hopefully by the time I start hitting a track again CC will have theirs completed.... Maybe.

A little bit different of a program than my past Thursday nights.  One mile warmup, 10x200m with 200m RBI then a one mile cool down.  39, 39, 39, 38, 41, 39, 40, 38, 40, 39.

Looking forward to having tomorrow night off.

The word of the day... Shisno... brought to you by Red vs Blue!

Seven More Days!

Just a week left until my 5K in Maryland.  I have to say that I truly feel like a jackass when I tell people that I am actually training for a 5K.  The usual response is shock, then the inevitable question regarding if you can run 100 miles, why are you training for 5K?  It confuses a lot of people... hell it even confuses me some but be that as it may, in a week it is over with.

Yesterday I finalized my training plans for between now and the race.  Last night was a fast 5 mile run which will have to explain.  Today, Thursday will be track and I am going to do 200's for something different.  Friday, rest.  Saturday a 5K time trial here in Colorado.  Sunday, a 30 minute tempo run.  Monday, 2 miles.  Tuesday is a travel day so no running and Wednesday will be a day off as well.  Thursday race... I plan to do some warm up running before the 5K and I know they guy who I am going to try to stick with during the race as part of my strategy so really, now, the stage is set.  As of right now the weather forecast for next Thursday is looking good there too. 

Prediction... I will go under 20... under 19?  I don't know.  If I can get under 18:49 I will be ecstatic.

Last night I ran from the COG up to the top of the Ws' in 30:32.  I think that is a PR for me.  Again, a sign things are looking good for next week.

The Fall Series is finally over thank god.  FSIV went okay for me... I was consistent I think with the rest of my other runs in the series... held my own but still slower than last year.  I am hoping that does not signify anything for next week's race.  I sort of held back on Sunday not knowing what the course was going to do, always anticipating at least two additional climbs and just being safe on the rocky trail.  The biggest thing that I learned this year doing the Fall Series is that I am an idiot.  Later on Sunday I was thinking that there was no way I would run the series again next year and I was going to tell the whole world that then I realized it would be a lie... I'm an idiot and in August it will all sound fun and like a good idea all over again and I will be more than happy to lay my money down for the registration... idiot.  This year's series also did nothing to boost my self-confidence... I was 15th in my age-group for the series and if I were in the bracket above or below me, I would have been in the top 10.... weird, huh?

Baffled on how we are nine days post-election and the bullshit still endures...  I did not vote for Romney but I am starting to feel sorry for him.  Seems like the grand old party is throwing him under the bus for losing the election as he did not prove to represent the party as a viable candidate.  Personally I tend to see if the other way around... the party, the beliefs, the crazies, etc... all of that came to represent Romney...  Seriously... at this point if you are still bitching about the election, finger-pointing, etc, you have to be more a part of the overall problem than than contributing to any solution.  Remember, you are an American before belonging to any party.  I am truly amazed by all of the conspiracy postings about the elections from peeps that I generally consider to possess an above average intelligence.  More craziness...

Speaking of intelligence... This reminds me of the whole Petraeus situation.  He should have remembered the number one rule on information security.  "Three can keep a secret, if two of them are dead." Benjamin Franklin.

Tuesday Track

Headed to the track earlier this afternoon than usual so I could get in at least a couple of laps in the daylight.  There were Deer everywhere.  The surprising part was there were two huge bucks but they were still in velvet.  Seems a little late for that.

Anyway, I think that things are solidifying in regards to my times on my 800's.  Regardless this is a good as it will get as my race is nine days away.  I will do one more track workout on Thursday and I think that I will do 200's that night for something different than the dreaded 400's.

Standard Tuesday night workout for me... One mile warm up, 6 x 800m with 200m RBI and then a one mile cool down. 3:11, 3:10, 3:13, 3:13, 3:14, 3:08.  I really pushed on that last one and it only felt like I sort of eased up maybe a touch on the last turn but then I really tried to accelerate through the straightaway.

Explains a lot, no?

Staying out of trouble... at least trying.

Fall Series IV is tomorrow so I am just laying low and staying out of mischief today.  No running today either.  I did five miles at lunchtime yesterday and it was just miserable.  I don't know if I was just having a bad day or if it was residual from the track workout on Thursday night.  Could have just been the week catching up with me as I was super tired yesterday evening.  Who knows... I am just taking today off.

I went to Manitou this morning though to watch the beginning of the Incline Beer Mile, #2.  The weather was beautiful and sunny at the start but after everyone had taken off and I was getting ready to leave the clouds, wind and rain blew in. 

Toying with the idea of hopping on the track stand and riding today but I am not even going to do that.  I want to run tomorrow's race in Palmer Park as fresh and as rested as I can possibly be.  I have yet to have a FS race that I am truly happy with this season so I am hoping maybe tomorrow will go well and in case it doesn't, well that is why I am just hanging out today... I don't want to do anything to screw it up like LAST year.  Of course I will never eat another McRib as long as I live, ever.

Asia is healing up quickly and is sort of back to her old self.  I put the fencing around her kennel earlier so she now has room to get out and move around but stay out of trouble herself.

I know it sucks for her but we have to get that knee to heal.  

Thursday Track - That Was Rough

One hell of a day.  It began with dropping Asia off at 7:30 for surgery, a 9:00 dentist appointment, work, getting Asia, paying for that and then getting her home and settled.

Fortunately I was able to take a quick nap between the time that Melissa came home and before she left.  I had not realized just how tired I was but I was out as soon as I was flat on the bed.... You know when you are so tired that when you close your eyes you almost immediately start dreaming?  Yeah I was that tired.

But after my nap and after Melissa left and after making sure that Asia was alright and settled into her crate I headed off to the track.  Slightly breezy as usual in Manitou but it was nice and warm.

I had a hard time deciding what I would do tonight but eventually decided to stick the 400's routine... One mile warmup, 10x400m with 200m RBI then a one mile cool down. 88, 85, 88, 87, 90, 89, 89, 89, 89, 93.  I just could not hang on for that last one.  I felt it drifting but could not increase the speed at all.  They can't all be winners, ya know?

On a good note... I am a flossing fiend and that has definitely cut back on the time sitting in the chair at the dentist's office every six months.  I can usually be in and out with my checkup and cleaning in about an hour, maybe slightly less.  This past spring I started using the Sonicare toothbrush and coincidence or not, I was out of the office this morning probably 10-15 minutes faster than usual.  So if anyone is thinking of getting one I highly recommend it!

Too weird... but funny.