MADISON

This race was a blast, finished in 1:56:22 pretty happy for how hot it was. I ran with Pacer Jim and a few other really nice people, got to enjoy some great views of a wonderful town. Stef and I went up Friday morning, went to the beach, then went over to State St where we walked around and had dinner. On Saturday we did the farmers market, the zoo, and had dinner with my family and Libby, Andy and their friends. Sunday was the race then that evening we went back to State ST for some frozen yogurt and then saw a movie. It was beautiful everyday and I have to thank those who came for all your support. I am signing up for the Red, White, and Boom 1/2 on the Fourth of July in NE MPLS because I have to do better.

It's time...

The first of my 3 goals is here, the Madison 1/2 marathon. I have had a great weekend in Madison, the course looked really nice and I am excited to get underway at 7:20 am. I'll post pics and reaction here and on facebook when I am done.

Motivation...

I started this because it was supposed to help me be motivated to run. I can't wait to run everyday, the only thing I'm not motivated to do is write this dang thing.

So I hit my first double digit run on Saturday, 10.25 miles took me just over 90 minutes. Felt pretty good, Cedar Falls was not very accommodating with all the torn up sidewalks and debris all over. I picked the hilliest damn course to repeat 4 times but oh well, makes my thighs look amazing lol. Got to work a shit-ton of hours this week with Reese on vacation. Gonna be hard to find time for anything, but work and running. Tuesday is a day off so I'll spend that hanging with Stef, this weekend I actually will be in MPLS. I'm trying to decide if I should do 4 laps around Calhoun or 2 laps around Calhoun/Isles to get my 12 miles in. Either way hope the weather behaves so I can enjoy a nice long Saturday run.

Had a pretty nice weekend, though lots of driving. Friday went down to Ames had dinner with mom, Arthur, and Chris Mahan, was a good time. Saturday morning ran 8 miles in the country outside of Ames, it was so peacful and nice. There were four cows that looked at me like who the fuck do you think you are, but I didn't let that bother me one bit. We then went over to the campus and looked at the exhibits. There were actually people dressed up as mid-evil combatants, wow is all I have to say about that. Drove back up for Mari's birthday party on Saturday night, great food and dessert. On Sunday I took my first long bike ride, did an hour. We then got dominated by the Augsburg wrestling team in dodgeball.

Purchased my bike today, thanks for the insider advantage Kate. Got a schwinn hybrid, seems cool, I don't know much about bikes. Got it at Target all the bike shops weren't any cheaper than $500. I then went for my standard four mile run but I crushed it today, and dominated the last mile of big hills. 7:50 miles and felt great, got a 4 miler with Steffy in the morning, and a 8 miler in Ames on Saturday. Going down to see Arthurs senior project, jesus I'm getting old, not ad old as mom and dad though.

I'm not good at this...

Well I seem to slack on posting here now days. I ran my second 5k on Saturday did this one in 23:28, much improved from my first time. Tony came up this weeked to watch opening day which was a blast, no work and baseball from noon to midnight. Yesterday I got in 7 miles in 59:48, my goal was 60 minutes, heck ya. Have the Run the Valley 10k on Saturday, then I'll be bored cuz Stef is babysitting Saturday night.

Had a rude awakening this morning, couldn't remember if I opened or not. Woke up scared and with what I thought was barely enough time to make it to work. I however didn't open and made my day longer than it needed to be. Helped Stef's family paint this weekend, then we went to Joe's bday party and that was fun. Ran 5 miles yesterday and then played dodgeball, we lost five games to four. Today I got in a 4 miler at 8 minute miles and it took me over 100 miles in six weeks. I feel like I'm getting pretty good at this running thing :-)

I know it's been awhile, I was in Omaha watching the NCAA wrestling tourney. It was my 14th tourney and a fun one, very good wrestling this year. The hawks dominated, ISU brought home 3rd, UNI got a suprised AA in Jarion Beets. I met Mr. Beets on Saturday night, tough kid wrestled his final two matches with a torn hip flexor. We created "Team Awesome" which originally was Tony Dunn, Brian Ferentz, Brett Chinader, and me. On Friday night we voted in my old roommate Ben Dimarco, or slogan team awesome doesn't get drunk, they get awesome. Pretty sure most people thought we were just drunk. Got a four miler and a two miler in whole there, the body wasn't having any running on friday and Saturday. This week I took Monday off and have run 12 miles in three days, 6 miler coming on Saturday. Today was the first day I felt normal after all that drinking, needless to say I'm getting old. Next race is run the valley 10k on April 10th. Talk to you all later.

First Race!

Well I'm pretty happy with how today went, I finished in 26:10. That's a 8:22 per mile pace which is much slower than I can run, but for how many people I had to fight through, and never having run a race of any kind I'm satisfied. The last mile was roughly 6:50 so that was good, and I was never passed through the last 2 miles. I am anxious to find another 5k and see how well I can do. I wanna shoot out to Pat and Carl for showing up and supporting me.

Good news to all, I will no longer be running the vegas marathon in December. I was doing research and found out after the first 11 miles it's a really, really boring race with not much fan support. I also realized that the twin cities marathon is always rated in the top ten best urban marathons, top ten on landscape, and top ten for fan support for marathons. The other bug plus is more of my friends and family will be able to support me. So come one come all on Oct 3.

Got in a nice 4.25 tonight, tomorrow another run like then, then Thursday some eliptical work so my legs will be fresh for Saturday. I'm getting pretty excited picking up my race number and first race tee tomorrow after my run. :-) I know it's just a "fun run" but I am really anxious to start competing again, I realize I'm probably still 2-3 months away from looking good doing it, but it'll be fun. Tomorrow I'm running a teller window one of my leads Danielle met a challenge I set for her so I'm working her shift. I'm been talking a lot of shit(I know like always) so I have to do well or I'm gonna get it from my team. Wish it was Friday so I could start my vacation, but tomorrow is a day closer.

Race week, so excited :-) oh and I got Cassie and Tenzin all fired up about running now too. My customer just gave me floor seats to the wolves v mavericks game tonight. These are by far the best tickets I've ever had to a pro sports event, I'd day look for me on tv but the wolves suck so game probably isn't on.

It was a beautiful day today, and man was I flying around the lake. Really need to get some sun glasses though. Got Stef out, she made the 3.2 miles in about 45 minutes which was very good. It was great to share my new passion with her, we then split an omlet at the uptown diner. Going to MOA today(puke) to meet her cousin from Mason City, should be a great time. One week away now from my first race, so excite especially after today's badass run.

Feeling confident about the 100% Irish for a day 5k coming up on the 13th, interval training went well tonight. Ran 8 800's at 2 minute pace with 2 minutes of jogging at 10 minute mile pace, the warm up and cool down took me to just under 4.5 miles in 41 minutes. Like usual it took me 20 minutes to warm up and feel great while running. Not sure how I'll get warm considering this is a outdoor 5k in Minneapolis, I know I'll use mile 1 as part of it. This will be the first organized race of any kind in my life so experienced track and cc runners I'll take any advice you have. Tomorrow I'm doing 5-6 easy miles, Friday off, and 6 miles on Saturday. Have a good night all.

Ok weekend.

Well Saturday was a great day, got to get outside and run around the lake. It was a nice day, yes I understand it was only 35 degrees out. After the run we ate some Mexican food and headed up north to a wedding. It was kinda cool the ceremony and reception were all at a country club. We spent today relaxing and looking around the outlet mall in Albertville, then watched the US Hockey team lose to America's shabby hat. The weather looks like it will continue to get warmer which excites me, I'll be outside more and more.

Stef joined me at the gym yesterday, I'm pretty sure she went to hard and will hate me this morning. The good news is she's been having trouble sleeping and last night slept like a rock. Yesterday I signed up for the 100% Irish for a day 5k at Lake Harriet on March 13, and the Run the Valley 10k in Golden Valley on April 10. I'm just so excited my employees think I have a screw lose(probably true). Tomorrow I'm going to run The 5 k course twice and get a nice 6.4 miler in. Jeans day at work today, Robin is back, all the big wigs are in, should be fun.

Solid 45 minutes tonight, 10 for warm up on eliptical, 30 minutes decent running on treadmill with a5 minute cooldown. 3.93 miles on a 1% grade, felt great the whole time. I'm getting to the point where I can't wait to run, and it a unhealthy obsession lol. Right now I'm reading 3 books on running, my most visited website is runners world, and I check my mail daily for the new runners world mag. I quess in the long run this is much better than a meth habit so I'll stick with it. :-)

I ran in some underarmor socks today, and it's amazing how less gross your feet are in moisture wicking socks. You have to love Marshalls, 70 dollars worth of socks for 25 bucks, not to mention the 35-50 dollar running shirts for less than ten. Feel so much better without all the sweat keeping me hot and gross. Ran 3 miles at a 10 minute pace today on an incline, it was a killer but felt great when I finished. Cooled down by beating the ever living shit out of Pat 15-0 in racquetball! He only got to serve once and preceded to quit after the first and I quess only game, lol. Tomorrow is an off day, but I do have a stupid all morning meeting in Brooklyn Park. Oh well it's free breakfast and a change. When reading these blogs please understand I know I make a lot of spelling/grammar mistake, I am texting them in from my phone and doing no proof reading.

Tomorrow is 14 weeks away from Madison, start a run heavy workout program. I also need to get to the grocery store and get some pasta(I'll be eating a lot of it this year) and fruits. Went and saw "Shutter Island" last night and was pretty underwhelmed by it, especially afters Stef's bro hyped it up so much. I get my franchise player(lol) Robin back on my line this week, so our amazing team at work will be even better. I'll let ya know soon how the new workouts go, have a great week! :-)

Yesterday was a four mile day, felt pretty good when I was finished. It was the second four mile day in a row, I felt good last night when I went to bed. This morning however my upper shins and quads were angry with me, good thing it is an off day. I now know why recovery days are preached so much. On a professional note Sassy Cassie starts as my new lead teller today, so excited. I also don't have to work open to close so extra bonus. :-)

Had a wonderful Saturday-Sunday with Stef, snow tubing, mystic lake, hotel, lunch, and shopping. Bought some running shorts, all that comes to my mind is "bitch shorts," but who likes chaffing? Stef is going for a run today, hope the bug bites her too(cheap dates). The hawks are in town to destroy the golden goofers tonight. Doing a little pre-meet at my long lost favorite sports bar in stadium village (stub & herbs). Tomorrow is a three mile day followed up with some core training. Hope everyone had a wonderful valentine's day.

there they are...

Went to the running room, had there guy there run me around the store like a show pony and that's what he came up with! They feel great, light, cushy, and sexy of course. Notices after mile two today my stride started shorting and that made my left knee tight. Good to know for the future.

Need more water...

Well I did cardio last night after work, and then weight training this morning at 7. I'm pretty sure that I dehydrated myself, after 70 oz of water, a glass of OJ, and the milk in my cereal I finally peed. I was feeling pretty dizzy and only weighed 186 after the workout. I had better start paying attention to water consumption because hydration is the key to finishing all my goals.

All right trying my first text update. Went to this pasta place next to the fifth st towers for lunch. Got a spinach lasagna, 7 dollars gives you enough of the best lasagna ever to last two days. Added some red sauce onto the white man oh man I was in heaven.

First Blog

Well I technically don't start my training until March 22, but I was highly motivated to set this up after signing up for the Madison 1/2 Marathon. Hopefully you'll forward this to emails of people you and I both know, and then people will be able to encouage me. I will not just talk about my training, I will also offer my own little insights to life. Hopefully you enjoy...