Friday night

I am sitting here watching Oh Brother, Where Art Thou for the 23rd time and washing laundry. Doesn't it sound like an exciting night??? I figured it was a good night to take care of things around here. I wasn't running or biking tonight . . . it was an off night for me. We have a 50-55 mile bike ride tomorrow morning. I think that I am supposed to lead it since Larry M, the ride master, is out of town.

Animal (Marc) is right . . . it was HOT and HUMID last night. I finished 4 miles last night when he was getting started. That wasn't all I ran. Susan had called and said she had run 3 miles yesterday morning and wanted to do some more. So I obliged her! I went to her house and we ran another2-2 1/2 miles on a HILLY trail course. It was still HOT. I let her set the pace. Thank goodness she didn't want to push it too much. Afterwards we rewarded ourselves with fajitas and margaritas!!!

Thursday

Hi all,
I'll quickly cover yesterday-

we did a 31 mile bike ride. It was supposed to be a 35 but we got caught in a storm with lightning about mile 20. We were out in the country with nowhere to go but to the cars. Stupid, I know. However, after 3 miles or so of some hard pedaling we started outrunning the storm and finished up well out in front of it. We averaged about 16 1/2 mph but we had a lot of stops and slow downs.

Phil has asked what my plans are . . . . I am no longer triathlon training-too much work. I am just biking and running now. My plan was to run 3 marathons in 10 weeks this fall. Portland, NY, and Huntsville. However, I am dropping Huntsville to give my myself some recovery time for the BIG EVENT. I read John Binghams (Penguin) article in this month's Runners World and it has me thinking of big goals. Disney World Marathon also has a half marathon the day before. The half gets a Donald Duck medal. The full gets a Mickey Mouse medal. If you do both, you get a Goofy medal. I am going for the Goofy medal. I have never tried anything like that before and I will need to make my training sort of fit the pattern . . . . more discussion on that later.

It is 97 degrees and I'm heading out the door for a 7 1/2 miler. woo hoo!

back home

Hi all . . . .
I'm back from a quick beach trip. I went to the beach Friday and came home Monday night. A good three days in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Actually, I did have company- I went with Susan, my running and triathlon training partner. She has access to a condo in West Beach area. Anyway, she asked and I went went. It was a fun weekend of beach time, eating well, and I actually got in some good runs. It was windy and nasty. My guess is the wind was continuous around 20-25 mph with some BIG gusts. It was like I was getting sand-blasted while I was running. I ran Saturday and Monday morning, about an hour each day. My guess is that it was in the 6 1/2 to 7 mile range. Very enjoyable runs . . . . it was sunny, warm and FLAT.

Yes, we did get some sun and get some tan.

I ran 5 miles this afternoon. I wanted to do more but it was lightning so I decided to can it after 5.

Feeling okay

Now that I've made the decision to concentrate more on my running I have found some peace. Strange how things work. I am going to work on getting back my focus. I had a good 5 miler last night and this afternoon I did a 35 mile bike ride after work. Rode with Kerry, his son Michael, Old Jim and his wife Lin(da). Dom, THE DOMINATOR, rode with us. He his well beyond our capabilities but he enjoyed the easy ride. We averaged somewhere around 17.2-17.3 mph which isn't bad. It's just not great-but it works for us.

Legs feel fine and I'm already looking forward to my Thursday run and lift session. Of course, we'll have to wait and see how it goes tomorrow!

rethinking

Yes, I said it. Rethinking. I've been enjoying "dabbling" with the triathlon stuff, though it has not been serious, but it is taking too much time away from running. I find myself tired and hurting. Yes, I said that too. I am still trying to figure out how to get in two bike rides and 4 runs a week . . . can't even think about swimming. I need some coaching advice. Right now bike rides are on Wed afternoon (35 miles) and Sat morning (50+miles). I need to squeeze in a long run, hill run or speed work, and at least one tempo run. I'd also like to do a day of just "junk" miles . . . 4-6 miles at easy pace as a recovery. I may try doing 4 days of running every other week and just three days a week on alternate weeks. How about this???

Week 1:
Monday pm-Tempo run and lift weights
Tuesday pm-Hill or speed workout
Wednesday pm-35 mile bike ride
Thursday pm- Long Run and lift weights
Friday-REST (I think this is important rest up between two hard efforts)
Saturday am-50+ mile bike ride
Sunday pm-Easy run

Week 2:
Monday pm-Tempo run and lift weights
Tuesday pm-REST
Wednesday pm-35 mile bike ride
Thursday pm- Long Run and lift weights
Friday-REST
Saturday am-50+ mile bike ride
Sunday pm-Easy run

I've got to start getting ready for fall marathons. I did a 7 1/2 mile run last night and legs felt heavy. Could be from the active weekend-not sure. I don't want to overtrain but I sure don't want to under train. I may have to give up the four day a week running schedule if I continue to ride bike twice a week. Any advice would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Weekend is over . . . . bummer

Hey all. Yes, another weekend is gone. Who made the rules? I think that we should only have to work two days and week and have five day weekends . . . who's with me??? The ultimate alternate work schedule!

Today is Sunday. I didn't do much of anything, as far as running, biking or swimming. I did work outside most of the day in mid-90s heat to I guess that counts for something. I've been helping my running/triathlon buddy Susan work on her deck. It was in need of some TLC and I'm the guy who can do it. I trade labor for meals and beverages. Actually, I think I'm getting the better end of the deal . . . just don't tell Susan that!

Yesterday is another story. It was one of those once in a blue moon kind of days. Out of bed a 5:15 (no alarm clock)-stretch, grunt and other morning rituals. Load up the bike and met my buds at Four Mile Church for our weekly Saturday ride at 7:00 am. In attendance were Kerry and his son Michael-they were on a tandem. Larry M (ride leader), Ray G, Jim ("Old Jim") and his wife Lin (da), Roxanne (Rox), Cathy, and me ("New Jim"). It was a great morning for a ride and it quickly started heating up. We were doing around 50ish miles-Larry had plotted the course and we had an interesting twist-When we hit 48 miles at an intersection we could choose either a 2 mile route back to the cars or a 7 mile route back. Rox, Jim, and Lin took the 50 option and the rest of us took the 55 mile option. At 48 miles, we had been averaging 16.9 mph. So we decided to kick it up and finish with a 17 mph average. I haven't done the math but we had to average much faster to bump the average up to 17 at the finish and we did it!. I had a couple of really good pulls that averaged in the 20-21 mph range. My legs felt great and I was ashamed of being such a wimpy boy on Tuesdays 35 mile ride.

After the bike ride, Larry M and I played 18 holes of golf in a little tournament at my home course here in Eagle Point. Actually, it was a scramble and there were three of us playing together. We never carded a bogie and had 7 birdies for 7 under. We played well but did not make any money. It was hot afternoon . . . low 90s and after the bike ride, it was a bit of work to make it through the 18 holes.

Needless to say, Saturday was a VERY good day, I had a blast, and I'm ready to bump our rides up to the 60+ range. However, tomorrow we go back to work :(.

So busy I can't blog????

Hi all,
Yes, the fat man is a busy man. Let me catch you up on goings on.

After a good hard 6 mile run on Monday night, I went on a 35 mile bike ride on Tuesday. This was not a good thing. Normally, I rest up on Tuesdays but because Susan was going to Alaska on Wed, she asked if we could all ride a day early. We did 35 miles and averaged about 17.2 mph. It was all I could do to keep up. I did not do much leading or pulling-it was more like whining and pouting. By the time I got to the car, I was ready to sell the bike! I guess we all must have bad days to make the good days come into focus.

I went to Vidalia, Ga on Wed, so I didn't do anything but rest my legs . . . kind of. We probably walked 3 or 4 miles during the heat of the day at the plant site. Of course, if it's work, it doesn't count. Right?

Came home Thursday evening. Cut the grass and ran a hard 5 miler and felt pretty good doing it. The best part is this-when I checked my email, I found out that I had been accepted into the NYC marathon lottery!! I am looking forward to this since NY was the first marathon I ever ran. This also means that I am already in 2 of the 3 marathons that I am planning for the fall. The third is no problem . . . there are no limitations on getting into it except for the excuses the fat man may come up with.

Goal for the end of the year: Complete 3 marathons in 10 weeks time!

Note to self: increase Zoloft dosage.

Monday morning

Yes, I am goofing off at work. Shhhhhh . . . . don't tell anyone. Of course the computer nazis already know that I'm here so I'm making it quick!

Saturday morning Susan and I went to Oak Mountain State Park to practice for another triathlon. Instead of doing a 50 mile bike ride with my buds, we did about 600 m open water swim (did I tell you how much I hate swimming?), between 9 and 10 mile bike ride (nice rolling hills), and somewhere around 2 1/2 mile run (1 1/2 miles on single track trail). We're planning on doing another beginner triathlon called "Feel Like a Wet Dog" which is run in Decatur, Alabama. If I remember right it is a 400 m open water swim, 12 mile bike ride and a 5 k run. This is done the first week in August so I should have time to build my swimming.

Sunday morning we did an easy 5 mile run and then canceled out all the good work by going to IHOP!

This morning I was in the pool at the Y at 6:00. I am still trying to get my breathing down while I freestyle . . . . still ain't happening. I am somewhere between treading water and swimming. I'm sure I can do 400m . . . I will just have to take my time doing it. I did notice that there was a lady in the pool this morning and she could swim. She was doing three lengths to my two. I HATE THIS WOMAN!!!