just like video killed the radio, dailymile has killed my blog..i am posting more on dailymile, so friend me there, and check back here for race reports...in the meantime, i hope you're running!!!!

I'm still alive and kicking....

just haven't been posting here in a while. Things are progressing according to plan; which is to say I am working on building my aerobic base by running easy, keeping my heart rate down. I have a couple of races upcoming which I am starting to worry about, the chickamauga half marathon Nov 12 and the darkside 50K the next day, Nov 13. My plan is to tackle the half at a ridiculously easy pace, enjoying the other runners, the awesome scenery and history of the venue, my good friends who are running the marathon, and then finishing my first 50K in PTC..Yeah, Come On!!
Two weeks later, I want to run the Bartram Forest 50K in south GA, a trail run where the finisher's prize is a large, homemade ginger bread man..Who wouldn't want to finish 50K to eat that cookie?
I'm also registered for the Tough Mudder in Tampa, FL Dec 3, but I'm not so sure I'll be making that trip..Don't know that I've really got the funds required for travel, food and lodgings, so I may be bailing on that one.
Next on my radar is the Huntsville, AL, 8 hr run on new years eve, followed by the darkside marathon new year's day..
I'm going to register for my first 50 mile race next year, just going to do it as Nike tells me too..More info on that at a later date.
For now, I'm keeping my running low key, running 3 to 4 times a week with a long run set for 20 miles this Sunday..I'm alternating my long runs, one week on trails, the following week on the roads..Breaks up the monotony and keeps me training for both surfaces..My goal is to try and maintain my focus on low heart rate training, build a base for at least a year, before I begin to focus on building speed..It's tough, always running so slowly, but I'm convinced there is a benefit for me in this type of training..
Anyway, not very sexy i know, but that's what's going on in my little corner of the world!

Training Plan Revealed...

I've cobbled together my training plan for the next 12 weeks leading up to my Chickamauga Half Marathon and my Darkside 50K weekend.. Feast your eyes on a thing of beauty!!!

Week of	Mon	Tue	Wed	Thur	Fri	Sat	Sun	Total
22-Aug		3		5			14	22
29-Aug		3		5		16	5	29
5-Sep		3		5		18	5	31
12-Sep		3		5		14	6	28
19-Sep		4		6		18	6	34
26-Sep		4		6		20	7	37
3-Oct		4		7		16	7	34
10-Oct		4		7		18	8	37
17-Oct		4		7		22	8	41
24-Oct		4		5		12	8	29
31-Oct		3		4		6	6	19
7-Nov		3	2			13	31	49

Words of Wisdom

It's very hard to understand in the beginning that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants to quit {Dr. George Sheehan}

Again, rock bottom!

didn't hardly sleep at all last night because of severe stomach pain, yet again! yay! NOT.

missed out on my planned run this morning, missed my weekly mileage goal, still hurting at dinner time and certainly not looking forward to work in the morning.

this is really threatening to turn into a full scale pity party over here.

FML!

that is all.

Kolb Farm is getting....

kind of crowded these days! School is back in session and all the cross country teams have apparently picked that spot for training. It was interesting yesterday afternoon as I ran behind and eavesdropped on a conversation between two high schoolers ahead of me, talking about teachers and girls..Wow, took me back about 28 years!! Then they probably got tired of being around a puffy middle aged man and sped up, leaving me in the dust..Oh well, maybe they'll be old one day too :-)
My run went well, actually, as I was able to shave off about 4-5 minutes from my average time and at my avg HR on these trails, so I was happy. My stomach was bothering me, sharp pains and what not, so I just imagined I was at the tail end of a 50 mile race (huge imagination seeing as how I've never been at the tail end of a 50 mile race!) and kept chugging along. Didn't see any deer today; I reckon they were kicking it under a tree somewhere. It's still hot!!
Looking forward to getting my training back on track, going to ignore these stomach issues for as long as possible, since I've got to ramp up my mileage if I want to have any chance at a club jacket this year.
See you soon!!

It's been a Ghost Town..

around here lately..I know..You should see my training diary! DOH! My stomach has really been acting up again of late and I'm just a wee bit frustrated at this point. I'm basically down to one packet of oatmeal for breakfast, one can of soup for lunch and then something my wife prepares for dinner. And I'm bloated and sick to my stomach for hours after each meal. Dinners are usually the worst because I'm starving by that point and wind up eating more than I should for my still bloated and sick stomach, and then, you guessed it! I'm miserable until I fall asleep,I sleep poorly, I get up for work and I start the whole thing all over again!!

Who's got time for running in the middle of all that drama?

I managed to cut the grass tonight, calling that cross training, and I am planning to catch an early long run on Friday, my furlough day from work. I reckon I'll be happy with 10 miles, but we'll see what happens come Friday. Cuz as momma always said, "There's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip!"

Rock On!