"See No EVIL"

"Hear No EVIL"

"Speak NO EVIL"

That was pretty much like what I felt or did when I went to go finally go see my orthopedic doc the other day. First it took a month just to get an appointment and I knew what was going to be the outcome.

First the "B" team comes in to see me, aka the physical therapist. Stretches and twist me to check out my flexibility. I tell them I'm an Ultra Runner, surprisingly she knows what that is.

Therapist: So you don't do marathons anymore?

Bubba: kinda of tired of them.

Therapist: So you have done Boston?

Bubba: No! I'm one of those slow runners!

Then the orthopedic Doc comes in:

Doc: So you've done IronMan?

Bubba: Yes..

Doc: Kona?

Bubba: No. Just the one in Wisconsin.

Doc: I did a 32 mile trail run and wanted to do Western States before I got injured.

Okay, why do people equate Marathon's with Boston, and IronMan with Kona, and Ultra's with Western States. Do you know how hard it is to get into any of these, let alone just being fast, you need some lottery luck just to get into Western States 100 miler (considered the Boston marathon of Ultra's).

For some reason I was a little irked by the whole dialogue. Maybe it is just me?

I'll spare you the details of what the evil words a doctor can tell a runner. But I'm running and racing anyway. My MRI test are scheduled for my ankle after my attempt of 100 miles at McNaughton. But the doc did spook me a little bit and I know I need to run cautiously until my final prognosis is determined.

So with a 5:15am start time on Saturday, me and two friends set out into the darkness for a little trail running. I did get them a little lost trying to find the single track trails but they seem to have a good time. One person fell while running and I said "you've been baptized" to trail running. "As long as you get up", that is the most important thing, I told her while I helped her up.

It was a good run, the evil words from the doc left from my thoughts and felt free again to live the life I want to lead.

"the most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own record." ~ Amelia Earhart

So with that, 1st race in the "Illinois Ultra Grand Slam" race series is on Saturday, Clinton Lake Trail race. Thirty miles of trails and probably some mud, it will be a training run, cautiously I will run, but run I will.

7 Things

So to follow up with TriTeacher's tag, here are 7 things about me..

1) I usually mark "pacific islander" when asked what ethnicity I'am. I can't speak to much of my native language "Tagalog", but can understand most of it, but of course I know the basics and most of the curse words.

2) In junior high school, I was in detention every year for fighting, and to this day still kind of think that was "cool". As an adult got into at least 2 bar/club fights hanging around some of my friends.

3) In senior high school, I was in the marching band, played the alto saxophone. Then wanted to become a jazz musician after high school and major in "Studio JAZZ" (it was actually a major in college). But decided to study Finance and wanted to live in New York and work on Wall Street. Now I work as a computer geek, go figure that one out.

4) I've done all kinds of martial arts since I was 25:

Lee Jun Fan Gung Fu, Judo, Brazilian JuJitsu, Thai kickboxing, Japanese shooto, Filipino, Indonesian, and Malaysian martial arts just to name a few. I've been trained how to use a knife and could also show you how to choke somebody out with a regular bandanna. I've been an instructor in some of them for about 10 of those years. People ask me what belt I have. I always liked Mr. Miyage's answer from the Karate Kid ~ "JcPenny, $3.99".

I have been really inactive since I've been more involved in triathlons and UltraRunning. I might still be kind of rusty but pretty sure I still know a move or too..

5) I used to collect alot of Asian antique weapons and armor, thanks to eBay and other collectors. I had a room in my house full of these weapons displayed, but I did take it down to make a playroom for my daughter. Some pieces actually belong in a museum, but I think when I pass on, people in charge of my belongings will just sell it on eBay for just a $1. CRAP! (this pic just shows part of my collection)

But I do plan to show it to any prospective dates when my daughter gets older.

6) As some of my friends know and my wife reminds me at times, I do buy alot of crap. Love to bargain shop, so I have multiples of everything in the house. What would my world be without EBAY, scary to think it.

7) I actually grew up in Florida, one day read this book by Anthony Robbins about taking control of your life. Decided to move to Chicago on my own 15 years ago, no job, no friends, stayed with a crazy aunt. Hardest thing I have ever done, but sometimes you have to look at your life and take a chance on CHANGE. So I did.

So that's 7 things, so let the chain tagging continue on:

KickstandPam
Nettie
Studies in Clydeology
Pharmie

There is alot of tagging going around, so not sure who has been tagged or not..

I hope everybody had a great weekend. I was able to do a little bit of night trail running along with 30 miles on Saturday, Woohoo. Hopefully a little more miles on Sunday, then I get a running rest day, So WooHoo to that to.

D.N.S. alternative?

I was TAGGED by TRITEACHER, but first I wanted to tell you about my long weekend.

So what to do abut my D.N.S (Did not show) this weekend. I actually had a 50 mile UltraMarathon scheduled for Saturday in downstate Kentucky. I registered in the beginning of the year and was looking forward to a trail race in a new state.

It would have been a 6 hour drive each way. A long drive by myself, but manageable. Then the weather turns at the last minute, so I would have to drive through a winter storm to get there. Then had to work late, and extra things like "LIFE" made the trip a "NO GO" for the weekend. Boohoo..

So what to do, maybe I'll just try to run 50 miles over the weekend?

It was around 18 degrees when I started out Saturday morning. I hoped to get in some trail running so I headed out on the trail. But when I ran about 100 yards, sheets of ice were covered by a thin layer of snow on the trail. Hmm, let me go the other way.. Okay more ice, CRAP, BUBBA MAN DOWN, okay this will not be runnable.. So the roads had to do. So for 5 1/2 hours I ran around this 4 mile rolling hill loop. I think I saw the same man walking his dog about 5 times and dang it was cold, but I finished what I set out to do this day, 30 miles, now that was grueling on my feet.

Then on Sunday I met some of my running buds and cranked out another 20 miles, 3.5 hours of running.

Not alot of fast running during this 50 mile challenge, but a 50 mile weekend nonetheless, I guess this will do. I wish I could have done 50 miles of trail running, but old man winter is really overstaying its welcome right now.

So overall a descent week on running, my ankle held up but still not sure how it will stand up against a long technical single track trail run. But I will push hard in my training the next couple of weeks. Because the momentum right now is to give the 100 miler a shot in 5 weeks. I know I will not be ready the way I wanted to because of my chronic injuries.

But reading my current issue of UltraRunning magazine, I read this from Scott Jurek, "UltraRunning's 2007 Male Runner of the year". Now who could argue with him.

"We often take on new challenges in order to find this opportunity for growth. Many of us are looking at our upcoming 2008 running seasons, wondering which explorations to take on. I challenge you to take on something you haven't dared in past years. A longer run, a faster time, a new trail, a new culture, or even a lifestyle change. Get out there, take it on, persevere!" ~ Scott Jurek

So Scott Jurek, as long as I stay healthy until then, I take up your challenge and let the 100 mile race be what it is, a test of perseverance.

"6"

6 weeks actually, that is what is left until the McNaughton trail Ultra race.

For awhile there it was just a date on my little trusty organizer. Stopped counting how much I had left to train for the race because I was getting injured so much.

But the count down is back on!!

There is still a couple of things to align right if I'm going to still try to attempt the 100 miler at McNaughton, the most crucial is staying healthy. So far that is happening. I'm not a 100% concerning my left ankle but my arch pain on my other foot is being a non-issue these days.

So what to do to mark the occasion? In my typical style go get some more danishes at Costco. Okay they didn't have a six pack but a 9 pack will do as well.

Also ran an extra 6+ miles in the treadmill on Sunday to finish up a 5 hour run planned for the day. Actually felt not to bad considering I ran for 3.5 hours on Saturday.

Hmm, 6+ more miles scheduled for today.

So along with my longest running weekend of the year. I'm going to prepare, prepare to race the 50 or survive the 100. But prepare I will and hope for some warmer temperature in the Midwest in the next 6 days.

So guess I'm liking the number 6 these days.

It is good to be running consistently once again, the cold, the coyotes, and stuffing a plastic bag to keep my manhood from freezing while I run.

It's all GOOD.