The Monthly Log 10/31/08

Number of Runs: 17
Total Distance: 78.54 miles
Total Time: 12:58:12
Longest Run: 8.09 miles
Avg Distance: 4.62 miles
Avg Time: 45:36
Avg Pace: 9:52/mile
Medical: Shins, calves, left heel
Events: Kansas City Marathon Relay - 10/18 (7 miles)
Days Until Marathon: 79

It's Halloween. Olive is dressed as a bumble bee and Meadow has the bee's antennae around her neck, something that's causing her great frustration, and us some amusement. It's also the end of a month, so here's my first monthly log.

17 runs, and you can probably add about 5 additional days of cross training to that total (exercise bike and swims), so 22 workouts in total. That might not make me the next Olympic decathlete, but it's not bad for an old fatty like me. More than a run every two days. I also competed in my first marathon, albeit only a little more than a quarter of it. I went to my first expo, stood at my first finish line, was given my first medal, and ate my first post-marathon meal. Yep, October was a big month.

Through the course of this month, pretty much every part of both of my lower legs has hurt at one point or another, but now, on October 31st, only my right shin is causing me any significant discomfort. Today and tomorrow are rest days, and it does feel somewhat better today, but I won't know for sure until I run again. It could go either way.

I've been training for almost 3 months now, and there's almost three more until I run. I've come a long way, but still have a long way to go. In marathon terms, I'm just about at the 14 mile marker. I'm kind of sore, but I'm still running and I'm still hopeful.

The Daily Log 10/30/08

Distance: 4.0 miles
Time: 44:58
Pace: 11:14/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Hilly
Temperature: Warm and sunny
Gear: Adidas running shorts, KC Royals wicking t-shirt, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right shin
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 28.81 miles
Days until Marathon: 80

Rough run. My right shin was as painful as it's been on this go around. One of the patterns I've seen over the last few weeks is that I've often followed a very comfortable run with a rather painful one. Don't ask me why that is.

It didn't help that this route, a new one, was far hillier than I was expecting, including a very long incline over the first mile and another a mile or so after that. Flat courses are far easier on tender shins, naturally, so in retrospect, this turned out to be something of a mistake. I ran with Jill, and she too struggled with the course, and as a result, we ran very slowly. I was quite frustrated because the pace was so slow, I couldn't maintain a natural gait, not to mention that I was in some pain. All in all, a very low quality run.

I am not running again until Sunday. After that, I am going to switch to running every other day to give my legs longer to heal between each run, instead of doing the midweek trifecta. Something always breaks down by the third day, so I think that a change of strategy is called for. There's still 80 long days till Arizona, so caution has to be the name of the game at this point.

Two positives. No left leg pain, and my right calf caused me no discomfort either. All the pain was in one spot today. I suppose that means it could be worse, but, you know, would it be too much to ask that I have one pain free run? Or am I just too old and fat?

The Wrong T-Shirt

Today I signed up for the Gobbler Grind Half-Marathon next month (see picture). Usually, with these online sign-ups, I am very meticulous, but for some reason, I rushed through this one, and inevitably made a rookie mistake.

I maybe many things, but a small-sized t-shirt wearer I am not. Personally, I think large should be the default, but that's another issue. I messed up, and now might end up with a t-shirt that will make me look like a pickle in a straw wrapper. I emailed the race director, so hopefully it can be changed, but these small races aren't the most reliable, so I might end up with a useless item of clothing for my troubles. Ordinarily I wouldn't care that much, but these are long-sleeved technical tees, which means I could actually wear it on runs during the winter, so it would be quite useful.

Leaving aside my idiocy, I am pleased that I have another tuneup on the books. It will, as I have mentioned before, fit in quite well with my training schedule, and should give me some more good experience.

The Daily Log 10/29/08

Distance: 5.1 miles
Time: 47:04
Pace: 9:13/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Several inclines over first two miles, mostly flat after
Temperature: Warm and sunny
Gear: Nike shorts, Adidas Climacool t-shirt, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right shin and calf
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 24.81 miles
Days until Marathon: 81

My right calf was the main concern over the first couple of miles. After that, everything seemed to loosen up and although I could feel a dull background pain in it and the shin, this was generally a pretty good, comfortable run, in surprisingly warm conditions. My left leg was pain free, even the heel didn't hurt this time. Long may that continue.

I have, with the help of www.mapmyrun.com, mapped out a number of runs that start and end at my house, and just like with any workout, variety is essential to avoid burnout. Some of the runs I do just once, some I do a number of times, but I never do the same run twice in a row, and I regularly map new routes out to keep things fresh.

This was the second time I'd run the first 4 miles of this route (I also added a mile loop to the end to get to the target distance), and it's one of my favorites. Quiet roads allow me to run on the asphalt instead of the harder concrete, and I can even run in the middle most of the time, to avoid the challenges of the camber. The neighborhoods are tree-lined and pleasant, and aside from a fairly long uphill section about a mile in, it's pretty flat.

I was aiming for around a 9:30 pace, so I ran a little faster than I intended, but at least I didn't go too crazy. My schedule (barring injury or weather concerns) essentially calls for three slow runs (two short, one long), and one tempo run at a slightly faster pace, per week, with two days of cross-training. So far so good this week.

The Daily Log 10/28/08

Distance: 4.28 miles
Time: 44:27
Pace: 10:22/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Mainly flat, few gentle hills
Temperature: Cold and calm. Perfect conditions
Gear: Nike shorts, Long-sleeved Adidas Climacool t-shirt, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Right shin and calf, left heel
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 19.79 miles
Days until Marathon: 82

I ran a mile on my own, then three more with Jill. It was overall a pretty good recovery run, made more enjoyable by perfect, crisp weather.

My right leg was sore, particularly over the first couple of miles. Both my calf and shin were aching, and towards the end my left heel hurt for a short time. However, other than the heel, my left leg was basically pain free which I found interesting since at one time, that was the one that was causing most of the trouble. If the right leg cycles through its pain in the same way, that will be awesome.

During my run, when I feel pain, I ask myself if I've felt worse on any of my previous runs. It's a bit difficult to compare runs looking back, but I'd say the worst run I've done, in terms of pain, was perhaps the run to and from CVS on 10/15, and I've found myself measuring the pain level relative to that run. That was almost two weeks ago now, so I'm cautiously optimistic that I've correctly managed the issue. It should also be noted that even that CVS run was a cakewalk when compared to 2005, when I was training for the marathon that never happened. That time around, both of my shins felt like they were being kicked, hard, with every step I took, and finally, one day, I just couldn't run any more. Nothing has been close to that this time around, so I remain cautiously optimistic.

I've added another stat to the daily logs; a countdown to marathon day. 82 days and counting.

The Grinders and the Grind

My right calf feels like it might have a minor strain, it's a little painful and feels very tight. Oddly, this is not the same leg that felt tight during yesterday's run. I don't think it's anything serious. I'm not running today, and am planning just a slow 4 miler tomorrow, so hopefully it won't be anything that slows me down. Nothing else is sore today, which is encouraging. My shins don't hurt at all, and the plantar fascitis in my left foot feels pretty good. The new shoes may be just what I needed, or perhaps I'm just learning to manage my injuries better.

Regardless, I continue to marvel at the people who can seemingly run forever without having to take a break. How do they do that? Check out this guy, who ran every day for twenty years, or 7,768 straight days. Or how about this guy, who does all his runs barefoot, regardless of the weather or surface. The latter I actually saw run by a relay point during the KC Marathon earlier this month.

Most remarkable of all is the famed ultramarathoner, Dean Karnazes, whose achievements include a 350 mile non-stop run, and a 135 mile run in 130 degree temperatures. A marathon for him must feel like a sprint.

I wouldn't exactly say that I'm inspired by these people. I can pretty much guarantee I will not run for 7,768 straight days, run a marathon in barefoot, or run 350 miles anywhere at all, so it's not like these people give me something tangible to aspire to. That's not to say these achievements aren't amazing, just so far beyond what most people are capable of, or driven towards, that they are more like spectacles to be admired, than reasons to compete oneself. I think that's why I'm more drawn to first marathon stories such as the ones here. This is a forum to which I feel I can contribute.

One piece of news I found out this weekend is that I will now be free the weekend of November 23rd, which means competing in the Gobbler Grind Half-Marathon is now feasible. The distance fits in very well with my training schedule. The only thing I need to be wary of is not overextending myself by treating it like a big race instead of a tuneup. To an extent I think I did that with the relay, and that led to this past week where I had to back off a little. So we'll see.

The Daily Log 10/26/08

Distance: 8.09 miles
Time: 1:25:44
Pace: 10:34/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Mainly flat, few rolling hills
Temperature: Cold and windy
Gear: Adidas running shorts, Long-sleeved Adidas Climacool t-shirt, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: Water
Fuel: None
Medical: Mild shin pain, tight calves, sore feet
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice
Shoe Mile Count: 15.51 miles (a new stat for me to track the wear on the shoes)

If all goes well, 8 miles will soon seem like a walk in the park, but as of today, it's the second longest run I ever remember completing. It was rather cold and windy, and after I got going, I realized I probably had underdressed for the occasion. Fortunately most of the run was somewhat sheltered by real estate, but when I hit more open stretches, I was given quite an assault.

Pretty much every part of my lower leg ached at one point or another, but in actual fact, it was all pretty mild, and nothing Aleve and ice couldn't fix after the run was over. Perhaps the biggest worry was the fact that my left calf was still tight, particularly over the first few miles. It wasn't painful, but I was a little concerned I could injure it if I pushed myself too hard.

The new shoes held up well. It has taken a couple of runs to get used to the heels which I feel are the biggest difference between these and the old ones - they still seem more built up. Nevertheless, despite a little surface foot pain towards the end that I attributed to me still breaking them in, I can't complain about the results so far.

Jill ran the second half with me and that helped me keep my pace easy. I ran the first half in around 9:45 pace, which was about right, then I slowed down to probably 11:00 pace or so for the second half. Ideal overall.

It's quickly getting cold. I might need some more winter gear before too long. Also I really had to watch my step. Lots of leaves hiding cracked paving stones, and I nearly tripped over fallen twigs a dozen times. Ah, nature. Will I conquer thee?

The Daily Log 10/23/08

Distance: 3.18 miles
Time: 29:43
Pace: 9:20/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Fairly flat, gentle hills
Temperature: Cold and calm.
Gear: Adidas long training pants, Long-sleeved wicking t-shirt, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Sore right shin, tight left calf
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice, menthol rub

Back to the roads today. I thought about doing 4 miles, but ultimately decided 3 was enough. I warmed up for 10 minutes on the bike before the run, and warmed down for another 6 or so afterwards. It certainly helped me acclimatize quickly to the colder weather outside, and also aided my legs somewhat, which didn't feel as bad as I thought they might.

My right shin was still sore though, and my left calf has been tight the last couple of runs. I'm not going to run again until Sunday night, where I will attempt my long run of 8 miles. That should be a good measuring stick as to how well I'm going to hold up, or if more time off is going to be necessary. These next few weeks are crucial. If I'm going to rest, now is the time to do it.

Leaving aside the injuries, I felt a bit heavy in general today. Mentally this is a challenging time. I have no confirmed races any time soon, other than the Thanksgiving 5k which I will probably just jog around with Jill on - the Gobbler Grind Half is very much up in the air due to prior commitments that weekend - and with my legs already hurting, it just seems like such a long road to January. The bike will help me keep fit but it's not going to be enough to just bike all the time and then hope I can run 26 miles. That and the weather starting to get unpleasant is going to make all runs more difficult, and, as importantly, less enjoyable.

The Investment

Shins were still sore today, though much better than yesterday. Still, I didn't feel it was worth risking them, and nature apparently agreed. It poured down with rain all day.

I decided that in order to protect my shins, and also to keep up with the cardio that I would make an investment and today I went out and bought an exercise bike. ----->

Cost me two hundred bones, so it's a cheapie, in exercise bike terms, (though not in Halky terms) but does seem very sturdy, which is good. It has a fan, a display that shows your calories, distance, time etc, 8 presets and even some speakers. The one issue I had with it on my inaugural 'pedal' was that my knees kept hitting the bar, so I reversed the bar's position and now that's not a problem.

When people think of running, they think of it being a cheap sport, at least for amateurs. I suppose it could be, but the more I get into taking it seriously, the more it's costing me. :-). Exercise bike. $200. Shoes $125. Race fees. $200+. Medications, rubs, anti-chafing stick $30. I haven't even bought any additional "gear" this go around, but I know I'm going to need a decent coat for winter runs at the absolute minimum and I could use another pair of running shorts too. That'll be another $100+ I'm sure. All this so that I can spend 4+ hours pounding the streets of Arizona. That's about $25 per mile! For a t-shirt, a medal and a gift certificate!

The Demon Shin Splints

No running today. My right shin has been sore all day, and I'm starting to worry it's the onset of shin splints. It's not anywhere near as bad as the last time I had them, but I could well be on a slippery slope if I don't take action, so I'm going to take each day as it comes for a while.

Of course, rest is the main treatment, so a few days off might be warranted, but on the other hand, I still need to train, so it's definitely a balancing act. What I really want to keep doing is my weekend long runs, even if I miss some of the shorter ones mid-week.

One thing is for sure; the article I read saying that it's harder to get to the marathon start line than it is the finish line is proving more than prophetic.

Jill and I are going to start a diet on Thursday. I've never had much luck with diets. I've lost weight before, but usually because of working out, or, sometimes, stress. Problem is, these injuries make me think that unless I drop some poundage, they're going to continue to pop up. So despite my cynicism, I am willing to give it a whirl. Maybe having a "partner" will be the impetus I need.

In fact, how about I document my weight loss progress on this blog? Would you like that? Oh, you're not listening are you? Fine, my imaginary friend, but here's the goal anyway.... 20 pounds by race day. 12 and a half weeks. 89 days. 1.7 pounds per week. 0.22 pounds per day. Possible, yes. Probable?

Jill is going to bring her accurate scale over on Thursday, so in my usual nerdish fashion, I'll begin the stat-keeping then.

The Daily Log 10/20/08

Distance: 4.24 miles
Time: 42:10
Pace: 9:55/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Fairly flat, gentle hills
Temperature: Cold and calm.
Gear: Nike Shorts, Long-sleeved wicking t-shirt, Nike Air Zoom Vomero Shoes
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Sore shins, minor left heel pain
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, ice

I was going to take today off, but Jill needed a running partner, so I figured I'd run today and take tomorrow off instead. My legs were more sore today than yesterday in general, probably still residual from Saturday's race. It took me a good two miles to feel comfortable, and even then, it wasn't the most enjoyable experience. It reminded me a lot of the first training run I did after the "race for the frogs" a few weeks ago. Everything was sore physically, and mentally it was a tough one to get up for. I was glad to get it out of the way.

The new shoes got their first real workout today, and they're very soft and spongey. I hope they will work out, but it's going to take a little getting used to, they feel quite different from the old Asics. The heels in particular seem more built up. That could be as much a result of the shoes being newer as them being a different brand. Time will tell.

Can I just say that Aleve has been a life saver over the last couple of weeks? I've not had much luck with it as a headache medicine, but as a muscle pain reliever, it is awesome. I was quite sore when I finished my run, but within 20 minutes of taking it, everything was ten times better. It seems to last for hours too. No, they're not paying me. But they are welcome to if they want.

The Mentalist

Down day yesterday. I did go for a brief walk/jog to road test the new shoes. They are very springy. We'll see how they do on a real run tomorrow, I'm taking today off too.

I have been debating whether to throw in another tuneup between now and January, specifically the Gobbler Grind Half-Marathon in late November, right here in my home town of Overland Park. Problem is, I am supposed to be out of town that weekend, so there may need to be some juggling.

I am finding that running, particularly when you have set goals in mind, such as races, can be rather consuming, mentally. I'm not sure if this is a novelty thing that will gradually wear off or if this is how it always is, but I've found myself lying awake at night thinking about the 'next run' quite a lot recently, and Jill and I seem to be constantly talking about one running related topic or another. I'm already trying to fit this Overland Park race in, and I'm even looking past Arizona and wondering what the next challenge should be if that all goes as planned.

In the back of my mind, I'm also aware of how one overuse injury, or one step in a pothole could derail my attempts indefinitely. I consider how I really need to lose 20 or 30 pounds to give myself more of a runner's frame, and reduce the strain on my knees, calves, shins, feet etc. etc. Then I find myself wondering, if I do lose some weight, and training continues to go well, how fast could I be? If I really start taking it seriously, could I one day qualify for Boston? What would that be like?

All these thoughts go through my mind, some of which I act on more than others (obviously). I suppose it's a better obsession than some, but still... it's not like I'm going to be an Olympian any time soon. Maybe some perspective?

The Race Log 10/18/08

Distance: 7.00 miles
Time: 1:00:20
Pace: 8:36/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Mostly flat over first four miles, couple of miles of rolling hills, then a flat finish
Temperature: Cold and calm. Perfect conditions
Gear: Adidas running shorts, Asics Gel Nimbus shoes, yellow long-sleeved Nike sports shirt.
Race Number: 3010
Hydration: Water
Fuel: None
Medical: None
Recovery: Stretches, Aleve, Jack Stack Barbecue, a long nap

Leaving aside the fact that I had several thousand running buddies, which upped the fun-factor exponentially, this run was among the most comfortable, and least painful of any that I've done. I felt great from start to finish, and it turned out, in all honesty, to be a pretty easy run. I knew I was running fast, but was quite surprised to see how close I'd come to breaking an hour, and perhaps regretted just a little that I didn't check my watch a little earlier, as I think I was probably capable of doing just that. Still, I only missed it by 20 seconds, and my 9:00 pace goal was easily beaten.

This also marked the last run I will do in my Asics shoes. The heels are starting to give, and my new shoes are primed and ready to go, so I'm looking forward to breaking those in, but I'm glad I stuck with the old ones through the race. There was no point in risking anything before then, and it worked out fine.

It was a bit stressful at times with our "taxi service" struggling to make it to the relay points on time, and Jon forgot to return the ChampionChip at the end, so hopefully I can mail that back in to avoid the $30 fine for non-return. Still, this was the best race of the three I've run, both in terms of fun, and in terms of quality, and I really felt well trained.

Next stop Arizona!

The Tuneup

It's 6pm and my first marathon experience is in the books. It was well run, a beautiful course, and the weather was perfect.

It started last night when I went to the Expo. I picked up my packet - I probably should have gone with the large, instead of the extra large, t-shirt, but maybe it will shrink in the wash. I also arrived in time to hear most of the guest speaker, Dick Beardsley, who won the 1981 London Marathon, and is perhaps best known for his 1982 "Duel In the Sun" with Alberto Salazar at Boston, where he was narrowly beaten by his countryman. Quite inspirational, even if he has had more accidents and challenges in his life than Wile E. Coyote.

The guy running the anchor leg, Jon, met me there, along with my pal Cory who was originally slated to run the leadoff leg but found a last minute replacement. Packet pickup was a breeze, then we went to eat. Burgers and beer. Hardly a healthy carbo-load, but I figured, I'm running 7 miles, not 26.2. I can handle it.

I laid out my gear, attached my number (3010, like my teammates), and went to bed.

I got up at 5:30, made a cup of tea and a blueberry bagel, applied menthol rub to my legs (which I've found has really helped my shins, if you need a "hot tip"), and Bodyglide to my thighs (indispensible), and off I went.

I arrived downtown at around 6:15, and there were already hundreds of runners milling about, which made me concerned about parking, but in the end, I had little trouble finding a spot in the parking structure by Crown Center shops.

My friends weren't so lucky though, and to cut a long story short, I never did touch base with the first legger, Danny, though he at least did get started on time. Cory had agreed to taxi us from relay point to relay point, but was having so much trouble parking, we eventually decided it would be safer for me to catch one of the shuttles the race had laid on to get out to my spot. By this time the race had started, so my first run of the day was to catch the bus -- I suppose it warmed me up a bit at least.

I was wearing warm clothes over my race gear, so I still needed Cory to meet me at the relay point so he could take those. I waited patiently by a fountain, trying to keep warm. The first couple of half and full marathoners dribbled past before long: inevitably the first two were African runners - 7 miles in about half an hour. Ludicrous. Soon, the stream of runners increased, before long the first woman passed, then the first relay team runner etc. Still no Cory. Would he arrive before Danny, the first leg runner? Would I have to wait there while time elapsed, or just take off in my warm gear?

Finally, I spied him on the other side of the road, though he still had to wait some time for a break in the runners to get to me. Not 5 minutes later, Danny appeared, and off I went.

Danny decided to keep running for a while, even suggesting he might run the whole race. I asked him if he was training for a marathon, and he told me that he'd actually run Chicago just last weekend. I was impressed. I told him to not feel like he had to run with me, to feel free to run on ahead, but he seemed happy enough to keep me company for a while, and in the end, it was me who ran on ahead.

The first few miles, along the Plaza, and down towards the Kansas/Missouri border before turning back was mostly straight, and I felt very comfortable as we reached the residential section. In fact, I even managed to catch up to the 4:00 pace group and pass them. I hoped that I wouldn't regret my decision to go out fast.

The next couple of miles, by some of Kansas City's most impressive real estate, was hillier than I remembered it from the drive through and I found my breathing getting somewhat more labored, but each uphill was followed by a decent downhill to regain my rhythm, and always I was aware that I wasn't running the same race as the people with the green numbers. I just had a couple of miles to go.

I took water and ran by a reggae band, feeling cool enough to run in time to the beat for a few paces. I started to speed up, knowing I had just over a mile to go, and made a turn onto Ward Parkway, the home stretch. Just a few seconds later, I could see the arch of multicolored balloons that marked the relay point. I looked at my watch. It was about 58:30. Could I make it in under an hour, which would be a PB at this distance? I sped up, and finished strongly, but I missed it by twenty seconds, coming in at 1:00:20. I handed off to Caleb, the ultramarathoner and seasoned trail runner, who shot off, and my running day was done.

Cory, Jon and another Jon - the guy who was originally going to do the third leg - were there to meet me, as was Jill. She took a couple of pics, which I'll post later. Not long after, Danny showed up and decided 13.5 miles was enough running for him for the day.

We left, Jill and I in one vehicle and the others in Cory's, to the next relay point, and with all the roads that were blocked, we arrived only just in time for Caleb, who finished his leg in just over 40 minutes. 5:40 pace. I couldn't run a quarter of a mile that fast.

Unfortunately, it was another 15 minutes before Jon showed up. He'd been dropped off in the wrong place, and the poor guy had to run an extra mile just to get to the relay point! While it was somewhat frustrating at the time, we did find it amusing that he'd specifically selected the last leg because it was the shortest segment, but ended up having to run almost as far as everyone else. After Caleb's speedy leg, we thought for sure we'd come in in under 4 hours, but now it wasn't nearly so certain.

Jill and I drove to the finish line, where she dropped me off. I just made it to the finish line in time to see Jon cross it. Gun time was 4:01 and change, but Danny had told us it had taken him a while to cross the start line, and, sure enough, the chip time was 3:58:51. Not too embarrassing, but 15 minutes slower than it should have been (of course, if we'd had the original four, you could probably have given that 15 minutes and more back because of how fast Caleb ended up being).

Afterwards we went to Jack Stack for lunch, where it amused me to learn how Cory had a blister from all the walking around he'd had to do ferrying people from place to place. In addition, the "other Jon" had also been complaining, and even Jill had said that her knee was sore from all the walking she'd had to do. Meanwhile, the runners themselves had no such complaints. Maybe they should have done some training of their own.

So, 7 miles is certainly not 26.2, but I was able to bask in the atmosphere perhaps a little more because I didn't have to worry about any "walls" to get through. I ran fast (for me), and I did my part for my team. Who could ask for more?

What it also did was reinforce my desire to run a full course in Arizona. I was expecting more carnage at the finish line, but the overwhelming majority of finishers weren't collapsing, puking or crying. They had their arms in the air and wore smiles from ear to ear. I want a piece of that action.

Stay tuned for the stats.

The Twist

Just heard from my pal who was (note past tense) to run the first leg. Apparently, both he, and the third leg runner, have decided that spending their Saturday morning plodding through Kansas City isn't high on their list of wishes, and have found replacements to run their segments. This means that I will actually only know one of the other relay runners, an odd situation.

I had been hopeful I might be running one of the faster relay segments, but I'm informed that the third leg runner is a 7-8 minute/mile runner, and the first leg runner, while he will pass off the chip to me at the designated point, will continue to run for another three miles or so (because evidently the first leg isn't enough running for him). So now I've turned from being potentially the fastest of the four runners to maybe one of the slowest.

Dented ego aside, I'm still looking forward to the experience and the atmosphere, and my legs feel pretty good today, so I'm quite excited. Also, the reward for running hard tomorrow will be 2-3 days off, so it's all systems go.

The expo and packet pickup is tonight, so I'm sure I'll write more later.

The Kansas City Course

So the relay is tomorrow. I did sign up for a 5k on Thanksgiving Day for a bit of fun, but aside from that, this will be the only official race I will be doing between now and Arizona. It will also be my first experience of a marathon atmosphere, having never attended one before.

Last weekend, Jill and I drove the marathon course, to get an idea both of how difficult, and how scenic it was. Turns out it is moderately difficult (though my leg isn't too bad), and very scenic. The first leg goes past a number of Kansas City's more popular districts and landmarks.

The first picture is the of newly built Sprint Center, one of KC's primary concert and sports event destinations. The crowning jewel of the new Power and Light Entertainment District, it sits at far north of the marathon course, and runners will go by it a mile or two in.

The picture on the right is the Liberty Memorial monument. Runners run an out and back almost to the steps of the entrance at around mile 4.

The third picture is of the fountain in front of the Country Club Plaza. Both first and second leg runners will go by the Plaza, which is home to one of Kansas City's oldest and most popular shopping destinations.

The second leg is the most scenic of the four (and the one I am running. Yay.) Hyde Park (right), and some of Kansas City's stately homes punctuate this part of the course.

After that, the third leg traverses through the trendy Waldo and Brookside districts before the final leg returns near to where the race began, the last leg containing a significant amount of uphill running.

People think of Kansas as flat and may expect Kansas City to be the same. Two notes about that. Firstly, most of Kansas City is in Missouri, and the entire marathon is on that side of the border. Secondly, unlike the state after which it is named, the town is not at all flat, with rolling hills a constant throughout the metro area.

The marathon website describes Kansas City as a "City of Fountains", and indeed, there do seem to be water treatments around every corner. The statement "more fountains than any other city in the world, except maybe Rome" might require some fact checking, but it, along with the extensive downtown renovations have made my home town a surprisingly attractive, energetic place to live and work, and, of course, to run.

The Daily Log 10/16/08

Distance: 2.15 miles
Time: 22:15
Pace: 10:20/mile
Weight: 199lbs
Terrain: Long downhill over the first mile, mostly uphill after that.
Temperature: Cool and calm
Gear: Nike shorts, Asics Gel Nimbus shoes, dark green wicking shirt
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Sore shins
Recovery: Stretches, ice, two Aleve

Short jog with Jill, last one before the relay. My shins both hurt - oddly, the right one more than the left all of a sudden. Nothing unbearable, but I think I'm going to take an extra day off after the race in the hopes of helping them heal. Can't wait to use the new shoes.

Jill's knee is starting to get worse, she seems able to run OK, but as soon as she stops, it flares back up. She's scaling back for a couple of weeks in an effort to heal, so we'll see how that goes.

The Daily Log 10/15/08

Distance: 4.00 miles
Time: 37:45
Pace: 9:26/mile
Weight: 199lbs
Terrain: Rolling Hills
Temperature: Cold and breezy
Gear: Adidas shorts, Asics Gel Nimbus shoes, Adidas Climacool long-sleeved running shirt
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Shins both ached on and off
Recovery: Stretches, ice, two Aleve, menthol rub, lick massage from Olive

Kind of an achy run today. My shins hurt more than they have in a couple of weeks, and although not by any means unbearable, it will definitely require me monitoring things for the next couple of weeks after the relay so they don't get worse. It could be partly the colder weather making it harder to warm up properly, also I really am starting to notice that my shoes have lost a lot of their original bounce. I am looking forward to getting into the new ones after Saturday, hopefully that will help.

I stopped at CVS to get something en route, and unfortunately forgot to restart my stopwatch right away, so the time is approximate, but if my estimate is correct, my pace was almost identical to yesterday, so that might mean I'm starting to get more control over it, which should bode well for when I step up the distance.

The Daily Log 10/14/08

Distance: 4.04 miles
Time: 38:00
Pace: 9:24/mile
Weight: 199lbs
Terrain: Few Rolling Hills
Temperature: Crisp and calm
Gear: Adidas shorts, Asics Gel Nimbus shoes, Adidas Climacool long-sleeved running shirt
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Rather stiff during warmups, but no issues during the run itself
Recovery: Stretches, ice

Can I just say that I think that I've hated the first mile of every run I've ever done? I am consoled by the fact that I've read even some professional distance runners also dislike the first few minutes of every race. There's a transition the body makes before it starts efficiently burning fuel and has adapted to the exercise, and for me, that seems to usually take about a mile to a mile and a half. After that, things usually loosen up, and today was no exception.

I was a little concerned that I might struggle today. Last night, I strained my left calf while trying to adjust myself from an awkward sitting position. I was very stiff the rest of the evening and it carried over into the morning. However, once I was warmed up, I really didn't notice it, so it looks like all systems are go.

Lots of dogs barking today. That might be the one good thing about it getting colder... dogs staying indoors. One took me by such surprise, I said a swear word and wished it pain. I'm sure it was high comedy for the passing cars.

The Movies

Recently I watched two movies that both had marathon-related plots. When I'm on a roll with something, whether it's marathon running or whatever, I tend to become thirsty for information and inspiration about my passion du jour. This prompted me to rent the broad romantic comedy Run Fatboy Run and buy the documentary feature Spirit of the Marathon. Here's my review of both.

Directed by David Schwimmer, of Friends fame, and cowritten by British star Simon Pegg, Run Fatboy Run is the story of an unmotivated loser, Dennis Doyle (Pegg), who, after jilting his too-hot-for-him, and pregnant girlfriend Libby (Thandie Newton) on their wedding day decides some years later that in order to win her back, prove he can actually achieve something and simultaneously help fend off her new love, health nut Whit (Hank Azaria), he will run a marathon. Spurred on by his landlord (Harish Patel) and best friend Gordon (Dylan Moran), the latter of whom has money on Dennis to finish the race so he can pay off a gambling debt, the story covers his training, and various interactions with Libby and Whit, and concludes with the London River Run Marathon.

Anyone expecting an uplifting tale of overcoming adversity will likely be disappointed. Schwimmer and Pegg eschew any sense of the realities of training for a marathon in favor of sight gags and contrived plot turns. That wouldn't be so bad if the movie was consistently funny, but it simply falls short on too many occasions.

The cast do their best. Pegg generates a few good laughs here and there with his befuddled expressions and goofy pratfalls, and Dylan Moran uses his off-kilter delivery to good effect. Unfortunately, that isn't enough to disguise the contrived plot and poor pacing. Azaria's character is a particular casualty, starting out as pleasant and likable and then at some point apparently deciding that might have led to too interesting a tale, and before long, he assumes the position of traditional romcom cad in the interests of steering things toward their inevitable conclusion.

Perhaps the biggest flaw is the concluding marathon itself, which starts out like an episode of Keystone Cops and never really recovers. It doesn't have a sniff of realism from start to end, from the silly entanglements of Whit and Dennis at the start to the hokey, cartoonish up and down at the end. It's also the movie's least funny segment.

Maybe it was too much to expect to be inspired by Dennis' journey, but a few more laughs would have been nice.

Jon Dunham's 'Spirit of the Marathon' is a documentary about six different runners preparing for the Chicago Marathon. Daniel Njenga, the elite Kenyan runner, trains in Japan, runs all over the world, and does it to pay for such things as his sister-in-law's funeral (she was murdered), and pay for a better life for his family in his poverty-stricken homeland. He grew up running a 10 mile round trip to school each day and now runs in excess of 140-150 miles per week. Leah Caille, a first time runner, uses the training, and the goal of the race itself, as shock therapy to help overcome her divorce and be strong for her daughter. At 70 years old, Gerald Meyers, having run five or six marathons already, agrees to do another, but this time with his daughter, who will be running her first. Deena Kastor, an elite American, eyes a first win in the marathon distance, but has to endure a foot injury during training that might keep her from even competing, let alone winning. Ryan Bradley, a 30-something aiming for a spot in Boston's prestigious starting field, finds that even experienced marathoners can encounter hurdles that might not be able to overcome. Lori O'Connor, 26, is looking to complete her first marathon, running for a non-profit adoption agency that matched her with her parents as an infant.

The format is pretty standard - some back story, some coverage of the training challenges, some input from elite marathoners past and present, and a conclusion at the race itself. What was clear for all, even the top runners, is the absolute mental and physical toll running this mighty distance has on a human being.

I didn't find all the stories equally compelling, though I suspect this has a lot to do with my own background. I was moved by Njenga's tale, and related to Caille's and Bradley's, so these were the ones that stayed with me after the show had ended, but that might well differ from viewer to viewer.

Whoever you relate to, and whatever your running background, the Spirit of the Marathon does a terrific job of inspiring, yet informing about the absolute monster of an event the world's most famous distance race is, and the excitement, fear and elation, particularly those of the amateurs, as they close in on completing one of man's biggest tests of endurance, is worth the price of admission alone.

The Daily Log 10/12/08

Distance: 7.07 miles
Time: 1:09:03
Pace: 9:46/mile
Weight: 199lbs
Terrain: Pretty fast and flat; a few inclines
Temperature: Cool and breezy.
Gear: Adidas running shorts, Asics Gel Nimbus shoes, Adidas Climacool running shirt
Hydration: Water
Fuel: None
Medical: Couple of minor aches, nothing that slowed me down
Recovery: Stretches, two Aleve, ice

Of course, I'll be doing longer 'long runs', but I still consider anything that takes me over an hour significant. I felt like I ran faster than I did, yet wasn't really too tired at the end, so it was kind of a paradox, and leads me to think that I still don't have total control over my pace. It might be that some more track work will help me here, or perhaps as the mileage increases it will work itself out.

The relay is on Saturday and I'd like to think I can run my 7 mile segment at close to 9:00 pace. My stretch is relatively flat, so I feel that's possible if I feel good on the day.

No significant aches, other than some mild heel pain. Ever since I worked on the house a few months ago and spent hours climbing up and down ladders I've had what I think is plantar fascitis. It really doesn't bother me while running, or, for the most part, during the day, but first thing in the morning for a few minutes I walk like a pod creature. It hasn't really got any worse, but it hasn't got better either. I might have to get one of those night-time arch stretchy thingies, but they're about 50 bucks, and I just blew my pocket money on shoes. Such is life.

The Chicago Marathon

The Chicago Marathon took place this morning... actually at the time of writing, there will certainly be many people still toiling away on the course.

Not so for the winners of course, who have long since taken their ice baths and sports massages. Shoot, some of them might already be at the airport waiting for their flights to the next destination's race for another assault on their physiology.

The winner - predictably enough - was a Kenyan. Evans Cheruiyot crossed the finish line in the ungodly time of 2 hours 6 minutes and 35 seconds. To put that in perspective, I will probably be at or around the 12 mile mark at that time;not even half way. You think you could run a mile in less than 5 minutes? How about 26.2 in a row? Cheruiyot's terrific time was especially impressive given the conditions, which, like last year, were unseasonably warm.

Lidiya Grigoryeva won the women's race for Russia in 2:27:17. That's not much good is it? I could do that in less than twice the time. Maybe. If the conditions were right. If I lose some weight. If I.... etc.

Anyone following these blogs (aka, Jill and me) will doubtless be dripping with curiosity to know how "my guy" Daniel Njenga performed. Well, he fell off the pace at around the half way point and finished in 8th place, breaking his streak of 6 straight years in the top 3.

The New Shoes

Another off day, one I spent in Lawrence, KS where I watched the Kansas Jayhawks defeat the Colorado Buffaloes 30-14. The game was fun, and free, thanks to a hookup from Jill's mom, although my so-fair-it's-transparent skin didn't fare particularly well in the midday sun.

More importantly, and relevant, for my current journey, while there I bought a new pair of shoes. Although I won't officially break them in until after next week's relay race, it's really only my second "proper" pair of specialized running shoes. My old Asics still have a little life, but, after 300+ miles, and having walked around a little in the new guys, I can tell they've lost a lot of their original bounce. So yes, a big day.

Nike Air Zoom Vomero - how catchy - is billed as mirroring the pressure path of barefoot running (but presumably omits the stepping-on-broken-glass-bottle pain that sometimes accompanies it). They feel like little foot pillows of joy. Hopefully running in them is as fun as chasing Meadow on the hardwood floor (picture one of those Tom and Jerry cartoons where Tom steps on two pairs of roller skates that Jerry has cunningly left in his path. A mass of flailing limbs and eager stupidity). The pocketbook might be a little lighter, but I don't believe you can scrimp when it comes to the most important piece of gear in a runner's inventory. You wouldn't play football in styrofoam pads after all would you?

I also stocked up on Bodyglide. Anything that can chafe will chafe on a long run, and I for one am not ready to start walking like Jack Palance just yet.

Meanwhile, Jill purchased a strap for her knee. It sounds like she has something called Iliotibial Band Syndrome, a common runner's ailment. Hopefully this helps. She also bought a light to wear during night time running. It flashes like a broken neon sign and seems rather bulky to me, but if anyone can pull it off, she can. :-)

Tomorrow's this week's long run - 7 miles. My left shin has ached just a tad today, but I was on my feet a lot, so I'm hopeful that it's something that will subside with a night's rest.

Oh, and if anyone's curious, last night involved several beers, a couple of mixed drinks and a Tuaca shot. Enough for me to accidentally lose my debit card at the bar, but not quite enough for me to lose the plot. So nyah.

The Burger and Beer Night

No running today. It's a friend's birthday tonight, which means burgers and beer. Yes, I should probably be watching my diet a little more given my current quest, but I gots ta live my life, no? I'm not trying to be the next Haile Gebrselassie here, after all. Plus the Merkt's Cheddar spread that McCoy's puts on their burgers is as irresistible to me as an aphid's honedew is to an ant. (I just watched Life In The Undergrowth on Discovery. Shoot me.)

Moving on, the Chicago Marathon is this weekend, and, after the debacle of 2007 where unseasonably warm temperatures and understocked aid stations led to people collapsing from heat exhaustion, one runner's death and, ultimately, race officials calling off the race altogether, many adjustments have been made to make the marathon safer should heat again be a factor. If I can get up on time, I plan on watching it live to see if my guy Daniel Njenga (he's been "my guy" since I watched the brilliant and inspirational documentary 'The Spirit of the Marathon' a few days ago) can finally improve on all his 2nd and 3rd place finishes to cross the line first this time.

The Daily Log 10/9/09

Distance: 5.19 miles
Time: 53:55
Pace: 10:24/mile
Weight: 199lbs
Terrain: Sporadic rolling hills
Temperature: Cool and calm.
Gear: Adidas running shorts, Asics Gel Nimbus shoes, Nike Dri-Fit KC Royals shirt
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Very minor ache in left calf during middle portion of race. Seemed to be a temporary condition that subsided after a couple of minutes and didn't return
Recovery: Stretches, two Aleve, enchiladas ;-)

I ran the first three miles or so with Jill (I've dropped the 'zibit. Some things sound better in my mind than they look in print). She runs at around 11:00/mile, so that partially accounted for the slowish overall pace. As with the last couple of runs, this wasn't particularly challenging despite one or two fairly steep (but also fairly short) hills. In terms of aches and pains, this week has perhaps been the most comfortable so far, with very little to speak of. I believe this is partly a result of better warmups and stretching, and partly due to me maintaining a slower pace. All systems are therefore a go for my long run on Sunday, which this week will be 7 miles.

I'm actually a little more concerned with Jill at the moment. Her left knee has been causing her some discomfort the last few runs. Hopefully it is something that can be addressed with ice, a little rest and, if necessary, a brace of some kind.

The Daily Log 10/8/08

Distance: 4.06 miles
Time: 41:41
Pace: 10:16/mile
Weight: 199lbs
Terrain: Rolling hills throughout
Temperature: Cool and calm.
Gear: Adidas running shorts, Asics Gel Nimbus shoes, Dark blue cotton t-shirt
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Nothing significant.
Recovery: Stretches, two Aleve, ice.

Very easy run. I was slowed down a couple of times when waiting for traffic, and there were several fairly long uphill stretches, but still, this was probably my slowest pace when running alone since I started up again. I have to admit it's tough. I'm used to having an empty tank at the end of any run, even in training, and it feels unnatural to rein myself in, and just plain odd to be breathing almost normally just a few seconds after finishing. I have to keep reminding myself of the bigger picture. The number one goal is to get to Arizona well trained and relatively injury free and I know the only way I'm going to do that is to get my long runs in and to run easy on the short ones.

The McCain Obama Marathon

So who watched the debate yesterday?

Your collective silence tells me one of two things.
1. You are burned out with the entire political process, along with being jaded and possibly panic-stricken into catatonia by the current economic crisis
2. No-one is reading this blog.

Undaunted, I shall continue. Let's leave aside our political leanings for a second. I enjoy watching the political pundits discuss the relative merits of each candidate afterwards and usually it's only a matter of time before the inevitable sports metaphors step up and, in a folksy accent, wink at the audience.

Paraphrasing, here are some of the things I heard...
"McCain needed Obama to fumble and for McCain to be able to recover that fumble and take it into the endzone for a touchdown"
"Obama was like a boxer who knows he has enough points to win and is content to dance around the ring avoiding the big hits until the final bell goes off"
"McCain needed a game changer"
"There was no repeat of the six-point sixth end Canada managed over Finland in the 2006 Winter Olympics Curling gold medal game, and unfortunately, that did not bode well for McCain here"

OK, I made up the last one, but you get the point. Anyway, given my current quest, I was trying to think of a suitable marathon metaphor for last night's debate, and the state of the campaigns in general.

McCain is the seasoned runner, who once heroically came back from a career-threatening injury years ago to once again be a force. He runs with Nike Air Jordan IIs, and believes bloody nipples are a badge of honor, not something to be hidden. Years of dedication to the sport has led to an impeccable, but possibly outdated track record. Sensing this, he chose as his training partner and pace setter Sarah Palin, who led him to a PR in the first 5k but now appears disoriented and confused, no longer able to name a single brand of sports drink.

Obama is the young buck with the superior tactics and Saucony shoes. Choosing Joe Biden as his pace-setter brought him a generally reliable guy but one who is slightly accident prone and occasionally takes the wrong turn or steps on potholes. Leading for most of the race, he unfortunately spent too long in the bathroom at mile 13, allowing McCain to come back strong.

For a while, the two runners are more or less neck and neck, but then, with just a few miles to go, both resort to dirty tricks... the pace setters start hocking loogies and Palin throws an empty water cup. Obama ignores her altogether and instead sticks out a leg, which McCain stumbles over. Commentators and spectators decry the tactics, but both stick up their middle fingers and continue anyway.

Finally, Obama makes his move and with just a couple of miles still to go, appears to have an impressive lead. But McCain has been counted out before, and he might still have some tricks up his sleeve.

The Daily Log 10/7/08

Note: I've actually been running 20 or so miles per week for the last 6 weeks or so, the longest single run being 7.5 miles. However, yesterday I put together an actual honest-to-goodness training schedule that will hopefully get me from here to 'zona, somewhat modified, but using a lot of the same principles as Hal Higdon in his excellent online training program. So with that said, here's the stats.

Distance: 3.08 miles
Time: 30:02 minutes
Pace: 9:45/mile
Weight: 200lbs
Terrain: Hills are unavoidable where I live, but this little 5k wasn't particularly intense
Temperature: Perfect running weather. Cool and calm.
Gear: Adidas running shorts, Asics Gel Nimbus shoes, Iron Maiden t-shirt
Hydration: None
Fuel: None
Medical: Minor left shin ache, knees felt a little stiff.
Recovery: Stretches, two Aleve, ice for the shin

This was a great little run. Other than one little 2 miler next week before the KC relay, this will be the last time I will run less than 4 miles until the week of the marathon (barring something unforeseen). My main goal was to control my pace. I can run a 5k at a little over 8 minute/mile pace, but I wanted to run much slower, at or near my projected marathon pace, and I was able to do that. Other than next week's race, I plan to run at this pace or slower from here until race day. With any luck, this will help keep the shin splints under control.

The Misty Achilles

No running last night. Can't miss Monday Night Football after all.

Well, actually, apparently I can, as Jillzibit managed to sneak into the living room with her toasted ravioli platter and clumsy remote control skills before I had a chance to secure the rights to my excessively large HDTV. As a result, I was, at first unwillingly, but later quite happily, suckered into a viewing of Dancing with the Stars, complete with Cloris Leachman sniffing the pretend farts of her partner (that old choreography staple (???)) and, in the worst kept secret in entertainment over the past few days, the "revelation" of Misty May-Treanor's torn achilles.

Inspiring when a world-class athlete (and Jillzibit idol) seriously injures herself while performing a jive isn't it? Anyway, I thought I'd find out more about the achilles as it's a tendon that, if you tear it, can not only end a marathon training attempt, but render a trip to the bathroom a major challenge. There's some good info here about it, but suffice to say, if you hurt it, you're buggered. Proper stretching and not treading awkwardly on potholes are good ways to avoid.

I read somewhere recently that the hard part isn't getting to the finish line of a marathon, it's getting to the start line. It's going to be a long few weeks of cold runs, sore legs and stressful thoughts.

I can't wait.

The Story So Far

So let me bring you up to speed on the situation as it stands.

As I've mentioned already, and probably will mention again, a marathon is something I've always wanted to do. For some, that might seem like a strange and misguided goal. Why would you want to put yourself through this after all? It's not like you get paid for it (unless you're one of the genetic freaks of nature that actually makes a habit of winning these things).

There's obviously a lot of reasons people do train for and run them. Some run for a cause, others to lose weight, some to win a bet, and many just to say they did it. For me, I guess I always assumed I would run one. I was always fast, and my string bean frame was perfect for distance running. Like most idiot school/college kids though, it soon became more of a priority to drink beer, skip classes and sleep late and before I knew it, what I'd once considered an inevitability had seemed more and more distant, and, ultimately, was forgotten altogether.

I first resurrected the idea of running the big two-six a few years ago. I'd started running a little again and, though much heavier and slower, remembered my youthful idealism and signed up for the Oklahoma City Memorial Half Marathon in March of oh-something, and the world famous Chicago Marathon in October. Unfortunately, shin splints put paid to both. As I would soon find out, I'd ramped up too quickly. My "long run" peaked at 9 miles before I was grounded. The long, cold winter didn't help me return to the roads either. Before I knew it, March came and went, and so did October. I deleted the promotional emails I'd been getting from the race committees that I'd once been so addicted to poring over. I stopped running, and didn't pick it up again with any regularity until earlier this year.

A quick aside.... I've lived in the US for 13+ years, but have only been in Kansas City for the last two or so. Due to a confluence of events, I'd found myself in the wide open nowhere of Western KS for over a decade. Races in the town I lived in were about as common as Egyptian pyramids, and the almost constantly swirling wind made running difficult and sometimes flat out unpleasant.

So, back to the story, now I'm in the city, and a few months ago, due largely to Jillzibit, I started running again. She was training for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and a week before the 5k, I agreed to run it with her, and signed up for what was, believe it or not, my first official "race" since high school, and I guess you could say I was hooked. A 4 miler at the KC Zoo, the Run For the Frogs followed, and upcoming on October 18th, I am running a 7 mile segment of the Kansas City Marathon relay, with three friends. I'll write about each at some point, but you can see where this is going.

Last week I started looking around for potential marathons, and quickly found the Arizona Rock n' Roll Marathon. From the timing, to the temperature, to the atmosphere, this seemed to fit all the things I was looking at for "my first time". 3 months isn't long, and there's a cold Kansas City winter ahead, but it's time I just did this thing, and even if the shin splints come back, the knees give out or the achilles tears, I won't regret trying.

Of course, ask me that again at mile 23 on race day and maybe I'll disagree... or swear at you perhaps.

The Basic Plot

So here, as promised, is the basic premise..

The players:
Halkzibit: Your protagonist. Your hero. The man with the plan. And no, to the doubters, it isn't a mid-life crisis propelling me towards wanting to endure four plus hours of pain for a t-shirt and a banana, it's simply the final realization of a lifelong ambition. From my youth running cross-country for my high school and watching people dressed as waiters, gorillas and Margaret Thatchers running by the Thames and Westminster Abbey in the early years of the London Marathon, it's just something that "looked like fun". Charmingly enthusiastic, or woefully naive?

Jillzibit: Your protagonist's girlfriend. The love interest. The running partner. All being well, when I do my first marathon, she'll do her first half, and there'll be a ride into the sunset (because neither of us will be able to walk)

Meadow: My dog. A pointer mix, and easily the fastest of the major players, her average mile pace is matched only by her IQ... 6.

Olive: Jillzibit's shih-tzu. Smarter and feistier than her bigger pal, but without the endless desire to chase her own tail and run into glass doors. More likely to go scuba diving than run two miles without collapsing in exhaustion.

The path:
You will join me while I train, complain and go insane over the next 3 or so months.

The suspense:
This isn't the first time I've trained for a marathon, but injuries stopped me the first time. Will I make it this time?

The payoff:

The Rock n' Roll marathon in Phoenix, AZ January 18, 2009.

Let's get ready to run-ble. (Yeah, they're not all gems).

The opening disclaimer

To avoid being sued, mercilessly mocked, shot at, satirized by Tina Fey, or barred from public places, I feel it necessary to state before going any further that I am not a professional runner, trainer or fitness instructor. I also am not an astronaut, fire fighter or welder, though I suspect these are less relevant to the issue at hand. My goal is simply to document my own progress in this quest for physical exhaustion. While I'm happy and egotistical enough to hand out advice if it's requested, bear in mind that I'm probably underqualified to do such a thing, and have likely either read it somewhere, or overheard it while waiting in line for Weezer tickets.

So with that being said, stay tuned, and later today I will endeavor to lay out the basic plot for the upcoming weeks. All being well, this story of personal humiliation, physical injury and impending burnout will end on January 18, 2009 at the Rock N' Roll Arizona marathon in Phoenix, AZ. All not being well, it could end much sooner.

Inspired yet? No? Well, sue me... um, no, wait, maybe you should stop at merciless mocking.