Monday, June 16, 2008

My running the past week has been non-existent. The couple of days I decided to drag my sorry butt out there, it decided to rain and thunderstorm. I really did want to run . . . I needed it. I've been on temporary assignment at one of the job sites and we've been working 10 hour days for a couple of weeks and I just need to relaz and blow off some steam. I am planning on getting in some runs this week. I'm sure it will be slogs (slow jogs) but it should help out. As Christy pointed out in her comment, it is hot here in B'ham. Not as bad as Phil has it but, hey, he's the one who decided to live in freaking AZ! The afternoons have been in mid-90s and sweat is in abundance. I'm looking forward to it (right).

It is Monday afternoon and I did two measely miles. Terrible. It was hot and I was covered in drywall compound dust. I am helping Susan get her bedroom ready for painting and there were some wall board repairs that were needed. Susan road her bike with me while I ran and I appreciated the company more than she realized. It's nice to have someone to dial 911 just in case you decide to pass out while running in 90+ degree heat. I'm sure we were a funny sight in the neighborhood, like "pigpen" from Charlie Brown, with all the dust flying off of us as we meandered down the street. 2 miles is a start and I'm planning on 4 miles tomorrow while Susan and her peeps are going to see the trash movie, Sex In The City. I mean really . . . Sarah Jessica Parker? Not exactly desirable in my book. To each, their own.



This past Saturday evening, Susan and I took our fathers out for supper for Father's Day. I have recently joined a private supper club here in town (yes, I am snotty about some things) and we took them there. Very nice view of the city from the top of the mountain, cordial wait staff, "normal" clientele, a nice band and dancing-very 50s! That's why I like this place-no hippies with tattoos and nose rings handling my food and the folks at the next table are similar to me. That may make me a bad person but when I want to go out for a nice supper, I want a nice supper, not some freak show. Sorry to all you hippies and liberals out there. Get over it. You don't like being with my kind and vice-versa, so we're even!



Okay. Amy "tagged" me and I promised to answer the questions and "tag" five others. Here is how it is supposed to work-



Copy the rules (or your version of them) and the set of questions onto your blog post, provide your own answers and then tag 5 new people. If tagged, you’ll find your name at the end of this post. To be sure everyone tagged knows they’ve been invited to play, go to their blogs and leave them a comment notifying and referring them to your blog for details. Lastly, once the chosen have answered the questions on their own blog, they should come back to yours to tell you.



Here we go with my responses:



1. How would you describe your running 10 years ago?

hmmm . . . 10 years ago. 1998. Probably not too different than where I am today, I'm ashamed to say. I always have good intentions and occassionally I'm able to follow through with a plan without injury or distractions but truth be known, more often than not, I'm a simple 15-20 miler per week kind of guy. Let's give me the benefit of the doubt and say that I was probably training for a marathon that I probably didn't compete in because somewhere along the line, I got sidetracked.



2. What is your best and worst run/race experience?

Boy . . . this is tough. There are so many that could fall into both categories.

Worst experience (besides being bitten by dogs and having hamburgers and bottles thrown at me from passing cars): The time I DNF'd the Rocket City Marathon. Come to think about it, that may have been roughly ten years ago. I love the race course-it's flat, fast, not too crowded. Perfect, except for the weird weather we can get the first weekend in December here in Alabama. We toed the line that Saturday morning. It was in the mid-30s. Great temperature for running a marathon. Unfortunately, it was raining. HARD. Not a passing shower. No. This was one of those set in, frog strangling, ankle deep rains. However, I thought ahead and had dry clothes, socks, towels, shoes, and Vaseline in the car and told Mona that I'd change at mile 20. I figured the last 10K in fresh clothes would do the trick. I, along with about 700 other crazies sloshed, slogged, waded, swam through the course. Mona was a trooper and was waiting for me every 5 miles, taking pictures and giving me a thumbs up which I reluctantly returned. However, I toughed it out and made it to the 20 mile mark in around 3:15. There was a middle school where the car was pulled under a canopy. Perfect. I ran to the car, sat down (uh-oh, not a good idea) on the open trunk opening, pulled off the soggy socks and shoes. Toweled off my feet. changed singlets, vaselined my toes, pulled on fresh socks and shoes. By now, I'm sure you guessed it. As the rain continued relentlessly and wind was whipping, I made a decision that I regret to this day-"TAKE ME TO THE HOTEL. I'M DONE'. After a few minute of encouragement from those around me and Mona, I said "SHUT UP AND TAKE ME TO THE HOTEL". The worse running experience of my life!



The best is easy. Two years ago this past May, I was in the best shape of my life. Hadn't felt that good since high school. Susan and I had really just started seeing each other and I had planned on doing the Flying Pig in Cincinnati. I asked Susan if she wanted to go. She said yes and she was planning on doing the 10k. WOW. Very cool. Not only did she want to go on a trip with me, she was going to run the day before the marathon. How cool is that? We got to Cincinnati without a hitch. Found the hotel without a hitch. Found the expo . . . yes, without a hitch. I went with Susan Saturday morning for the 10k. Normally, I'd be chilling, resting up for the marathon. Me? No. I wanted to support Susan in her run and ended up jogging at least 2 miles around the 10k course so I could take pictures and see her at the start and finish line. Probably not a good move. Sunday morning, I got up about 3 hours before the race and went through my usual routine. Strangely, I was not nervous. I made it to the starting area with no problems and ran the race of a lifetime. I PR'd by 24 minutes and finished 3:48 and change! Great trip-PR, fun, and had Susan with me! What a great way to start a new life!!! A PR and a girl I'm absolutely crazy about!



3. Why do you run?

c'mon . . . look at the title of my blog! I do it first, to stay in shape. Secondly, to keep my sanity. Finally, I do it to stay looking good (yes, you are allowed to snicker or openly laugh at this point!)



4. What is the best or worst piece of advice you’ve been given about running?

Lots of advice out there. Everything from breaking long runs into a series of shorter runs, doing Yasso 800s, don't get shoes to tight. I think the best one that I really apply every day-take smaller strides and don't look up when going up MONSTER hills! Another good one is to run just slightly slower than the prettiest girl in the race (Susan just THINKS she's faster than me).



5. Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.

Most people who know me know most of my secrets. I'm sort of a wear it on my sleeve kind of guy. One thing that might surpise some people-I secretly listen to country music. That's not a "biggie" though. oh, how about this? I got suspended from high school for a day after several of my football teammates and I got busted skinny dipping with some of the cheerleaders. Is that juicy enough?



Hope everyone has a great week.



I guess I need to tag some folks. Okay folks, spill your guts!

Dom

Susan

Dawn

Javanmom

Robert





Tag you’re it:

3 comments:

Amy said...

There is nothing wrong with being a snob. Especially when it comes to your food...I always wonder if the people who are serving your food look so unkept, do you think they washed their hands after they left the bathroom and served your food? Oh, except for our local hippy pizza joint...the one where Troy proposed...I'll take pizza from those tattoo wearing, nose pierced weirdos anyday!

Thanks for answering my questions. I learned something new about you. I had no idea you had been running that long!

Anonymous said...

I love eating at the club!

Rocket City can have crazy weather!!

Good luck running in the temps!!

Faithful Soles said...

Jim, I posted my answers to the tag questions. Thanks for counting me in.