Dang it's getting Cold Out Here!

So after a week of middle 70's weather down in Florida, I come back to the middle 30's in windy Chicago. OOh what a difference a week makes.

I ran the local 10k when I was down in Florida. I was hoping, well kinda of anyway, running a sub 7:00min pace race. Not sure why, but I thought I could. They had around 2000 people mixed in running the 10k and 5k. Mass start with and out and back course around the local park. I started out not to bad. Running around a 7:00 min pace the first half of the race. Then mentally I felt burned out, legs felt heavy, and taught I rather be running around on a trail somewhere right now. But finished I did with a 46:38 (7:31 pace). I even took some short walking breaks at the end so I'm not sure how I even ended up with that pace.

But overall I finished

18 of 74 in my age group

101 of 453 males

122 of 979 total overall

So I guess I can take that for now and work on getting faster in '08.

So with a trail 50k in about 4 weeks I headed to my woods on Sunday. Cold as it may be. I was able to run a 19 mile trail run. Besides for some deer scaring the crap out of me, I was pretty happy to complete that. At least it was a start, hopefully the start I need to get going again.

Like my Tri friend mentioned to our running group as I started to take off to get some more in miles in. "he's getting ready for a 100". I finally realized for some strange reason, it finally sank in, CRAP I really am. So time to change my ways and get rid of this extra 10lbs I have gained. And yes, start watching what I eat, because I need to find that trail runner in me once again.

A Mouse and a Turkey

So this week, I'm on a little bit of R&R and visiting my folks down in sunny Florida.

Went to see Mickey Mouse for the umpteen time with the family. Since I grew up in Florida, I have been to Walt Disney world as a kid, as an adult, a newly married man, and now as a Father. How things in your life has changed but Walt Disney world seems always timeless. Just more rides and higher entrance fees.

But I did find of all places a great Ultra food at one of the eateries. PB&J Smuckers UnCrustables. Easy to eat on the go. Now I have to test them out this weekend. As you can see my quest for a "100 ~ miles" is still not far from my mind.

It has still been a little bit of a struggle ramping up the mileage for it. Only 40 miles of running last week. So I need to get my "Bubba" ASS in gear just to even consider taking a shot at completing that type of distance by May '08. I gave myslef till December 31st to sign up for at least one.

So for Thanksgiving day, besides from eating more than I should. I entered a local Turkey Trot 10k. Not sure how fast I will be, but pretty curious to see what the running scene is like in hot and sunny Florida.

So Happy Turkey day to everybody and to everybody whose planning to go x-mas shopping on "Black Friday". YOUR a brave soul.

Bear Claws and my Frickin Dog

I must say if you want a crazy dog in your life I would opt for a yellow Labrador.

Well mine is 11 years old and goes by the name of "ARIES". After the Greek God of War, but has been more like the God of Chaos in my house.

So I'm finally getting over coming home one day and my wife telling me he trashed my room where I keep everything sacred. Meaning my triathlon and Ultra running gear.

So I went to the local store to get ready for my last 50 miler for the year.

Cool, a whole box of Cliff bloks, margarita flavor, my favorite. I guess my dog's favorite as well. The only thing left was a box of wrappers and his calling card outside in the yard.

So before leaving work Friday, I visited the vending machine. Oh, I'm in heaven, the lost "Bear Claw" has finally been put back in the vending machine after 4 months. I have a big sweet tooth and plucked that sucker out of the vending machine and brought it home and placed it in a safe place, so I thought anyway.

Then I come home, my frickin dog somehow got on top of a chair and ate my slice of heaven. Okay he has finally put me on the edge,

GRRRRRRRR... Anybody want a house broken Labrador who eats like a triathlete and runner. He comes with manly falsies.

So on the training realm. Not much to report, it has been hard getting the long miles in lately. I still have one more 50k scheduled for the end of the year, so I'm just hoping my consistent running will be good enough, because right now my long trail runs aren't happening just yet.

Yes, the 100 mile Ultra Marathon is still on the race schedule for '08 thou. I figure the more I talk about it the easier it might seem. But I have narrowed it down to an easier 100 (if there is such a thing) and pretty much hard ass 100 miler. So hopefully I will get my Ultra MOJO back up to speed in the next few week to start some sort of training schedule for this 24+ hour run.

For now, short trail runs and trying to say hello to some of my friends along the way while exploring around the trails. I think I see BAMBI..

"I guess you get what you asked for?"

After IM this year, I figure I do something different.

Xterra, Adventure Racing, I even found a IronMan distance Xterra race on the web.

Even thou my skill level is novice at best, C'mon Mountain Biking can't be all that hard?

So After a short trail run, about six of us from the TRi club did something different. Single track Mountain biking, basically means follow the leader around the trails. So for some brainy reason, I left my nutrition back at the car. I'll be okay, for about two hours, no problem riding though roots, rocks, and little tree stumps. But after awhile I got pretty nervous just riding my bike. As everybody was cruising along, I sat at the back trying to keep up. At one point the group split and the lead pack missed the turn marker and me my fellow TRi club member took the correct route.

Hmm, almost 2 hours out here, I was starting to get really tired, starting to actually bonk from lack of nutrition. Something you never want to do when you need 100% concentration on the trails. So how many times did I hit the ground, not once, twice, yup three frickin times.

I have never fallen off my bike that many times before. The worst was the last one, plunging my side into a nearby tree stump. So yes, my right side lower back is still numb and swollen. ooohh OUCH, I'm getting too old for this stuff.

At one time, I called my wife and told her I think I'm lost in these frick'in woods. I think I will be home later than I said.

But after 3 crashes and the lead bike having to run back for me, we made it back. So I realized these die hard mountain bikers are really the crazy ones out here.

But the good thing is that I found some great single track trail running out here. At least when I run I know I will be upright most of the time.

But I will be back riding again on these parts, hopefully will not feel like needing one of these afterwards again.