I was reading about this guy, who ran a marathon a day for an entire year and saw a link for this video:

A Japanese runner takes the wrong turn and follows the camera truck right at the finish of the marathon. 




My heart goes out to the guy, but then I busted up laughing when the reporter said "I've never seen that happen."

Well, honey...  it does.  I guess since I wasn't leading, it didn't make the news.  Perhaps I should start a support group for wrong-way runners.  Ha!  :)  Have a great day!

I'm not a "fast" runner when it comes to long distances.  Over the last year, I've actually gotten faster and I directly attribute it to the cross-training of triathlons.  I used to be a consistent 10:00/mile runner.  I've dropped that now to about a 9:03/mile average. 

Still not stellar, but I shocked myself with a 7:33/mile at a sprint tri this year, so there's hope that there's a faster runner in there, somewhere...

So, this gets me to my point. I was thinking that it would be nice if there was an adjustable scale for Boston Qualifying.  They adjust for gender... they adjust for age... why not other factors?

My age jumps up next year to the 3hrs 45min qualifying category, so that's a start.

How about...

Kids?   +10 min/ each
Child not potty trained?  +10 min/each
Handle the majority of the grocery shopping, pay bills, cleaning,  etc.?  +5 min
Work full-time?  +10 min
Commute time in excess of 30 minutes?  +5 min
Triathlete?  (Have to split time between sports)  +5 min

That would get me to a 4hr 30min qualifying time, which I think is definitely doable.  Sigh.  :)

Or, I'm just going to have to break down and buy myself some "En Fuega's" like Jason's!

So, I've been down the last few days about my taking the wrong course at the White Rock Marathon.  I had trained for and was mentally prepared to go 26.2 and  with one simple mis-read of a sign, I was robbed of a marathon finish.  I felt that I wasted valuable training time, I didn't complete what I set out to achieve and well, just wanted to go back in time and fix it.

As most of you fellow triathletes know, we can easily obsess on just about everything race-related.  How to drop seconds off our transition times ... Will that aero helmet really improve my bike time? ...  How can I improve my nutrition plan? We want to be the best that we can be at a sport that seems to give back to us as much as we put into it.

But, seriously.  What do I have to complain about?  I realize that I should be so thankful for my health and that I was able to complete a half without any problems or injuries.   I will go on to run more marathons, triathlons and the like.  I should be thankful and not dwell on the mistake.  In the scheme of things, it's just not that big of a deal. 


I came across this movie trailer for a movie called "ATHLETE" - a documentary that profiles four individuals - a cancer survivor, a blind senior citizens and two twin sisters who compete in marathons and triathlons.  I haven't seen the movie, but the trailer already has me inspired. Enough of my pity party.

Or, shall I say 1/2 marathon?  Yep, that's right.  Somehow I screwed up the turn off for the marathon and ended up taking the half marathon course.  And, I had NO IDEA until about mile 12.  There was no differentiation in the course signs and unless you were passing people and then doing a 180 to look at their bibs, you just figured you were going along the course as normal.  At about mile 12, spectators started saying "You're almost there." and I started thinking, "Where the heck is the lake?"

I will NOT be running with these guys.

Well, it's finally here.  Missing two integral weeks of training while being sick didn't help, but I did get in one 20-mile run and several other 16+ milers.  I'm definitely not feeling so hot in the confidence department, but I will endure. 

For the first 20 miles, I enjoy the scenery, the people watching, the atmosphere... then I'm sure I'll dive into the "Seriously, why am I doing this?" mode.  Then I'll finish. I'll hurt. I'll hate the idea of running.

Then, within about a 24 hour period of time, I'll be thinking about my next run. It's a sadistic cycle and it's why I'm on Marathon #6.  "Marathons... I can't quit you."   (That's an obscure movie reference that makes most Texas guys a little nervous.)

So, enough about me....  I'm excited that I have friends running marathons & half marathons in three different states all on the same day!! 


Craig - Looking to BQ at the California International Marathon

Mike & Katrina - Running at the Rock N' Roll Las Vegas Half Marathon

Jason & Karen-  Running the Dallas White Rock Marathon -- Karen's first!!

Marcy-  Running the Dallas White Rock Half Marathon

And a special good luck to my co-workers and friends that will be participating in the relay at the White Rock Marathon and pushing Jackie Murphee in her modified jogging buggy.  Two years ago, 23-year-old Jackie Murphree was in a car accident caused by a drunk driver. Murphree was left paralyzed and with brain damage. Murphree can no longer talk, walk or feed herself as a result of the accident.  She receives physical therapy at the hospital that I work at and this is the second year they have participated in the race.  


So, if you see a group of 2-3 people pushing a beautiful young lady in a jogging stroller/ buggy, please yell out your words of encouragement to them!!  Go Jackie and Team Fit-N-Wise!! 


A hilarious part of the DWRM this year:  

"Call Your Lifeline! – New to the MetroPCS DWRM this year: make a call to a loved one while you’re running! A MetroPCS volunteer will run alongside you as you call so you never have to stop. Look for MetroPCS calling stations along the course (one on half course, one on the full). Calls limited to 30 seconds. May call any number in the continental USA."

Seriously, folks.  I couldn't make this up!!   I'd like to see one of those "volunteers" keep up with the Kenyans!!  Ha!!

And, if you're shooting for a specific time, don't forget to download one or two (if you want a back up plan) of the free pace bands from Clif Bar!  I love 'em.  No math required!  Woo hoo!

http://www.clifbar.com/play/pace_band/

30 weeks or 206 days.  However you look at it... THE JOURNEY HAS STARTED!!

This last week has been a transition period- from finishing out the 2010 triathlon season and sprinting (!) to beginning marathon training and now this week, I begin IM training.  Not much of a rest period, that's for sure. But, switching gears to start going "long" is an adjustment.

White Rock 2009

I had a great 12 mile run last Saturday morning.  That was seriously double  the longest run I've completed in more than 3 months.. at least?  Nothing like crash coursing into marathon training.  I'm only 6 weekends away from the White Rock Marathon, so I have a lot of running to catch up on. I had a nice invite from Jason over at Life of An Aspiring Triathlete - also running White Rock- to join him for a 16 mile run, but I was afraid I wouldn't be able to hang.  Trying to take it slow and easy and trying not to get injured, but thanks Jason!  You Rock!  (We'll train together at some point - promise!)  

Ironman training (today) consisted of a 2,500 yard pool swim at lunch and then a 10k run this evening.  The run is more than what is called for, but I'm having to adapt to keep my mileage up.  I'm typically swim between 1,500 and 2,000 during a session, but at a greater intensity, so upping the mileage wasn't too bad- but still seemed like a long time to be water-logged.  My swimming will be dropping from 3 days/ week down to 2 so that shouldn't be so bad.

As always, I have my wonderful swim partners to thank (Blake & Michelle) for keeping me motivated in the water.  I've always preferred being a "wolf pack of one" when it comes to training, but I always enjoy their company.

Hope everyone is having a great week.  :)

Amy & me at a 1/2 marathon in  2003.

I ran across an article today that said "A record-high 467,000 people ran marathons in the United States in 2009, according to Running USA, which tracks industry trends — and running for charity has been a driving force. Even if the exact number of charity runners in the country cannot be documented, according to Ryan Lamppa, the media director for Running USA, participants in United States road races from the 5K to the marathon raised an estimated total of $1 billion in 2009."

Those numbers are amazing to me.  I ran my first marathon back in June 2000 with the Leukemia Society's Team in Training.  Without that group, I would never have attempted to run a marathon. I was an occasional 5k runner, at best.  My friend, Amy, said that we should try a 10k one weekend and I honestly thought I was going to die before I finished that race.  I told her that I would "never run that far again in my life."  Less than a year later, with my friends, Amy & Shelley, we ran the Governor's Cup marathon in Montana. They were the ones who had signed up to go to a Team in Training informational meeting and I went along with them- thinking that they were crazy.  They had originally had the idea of attempting a 1/2 marathon in mind, but by the end of the night, we had all signed our names on the26.2 mile dotted line.

It was an amazing experience and I loved every minute of it.  I have gone on to complete 5 marathons (6 by this December and 7 by next May.) I can honestly attribute my triathlon success and drive to complete an Ironman to the day that I signed up for that full marathon.  Because on that day, I made a decision to reach for a bigger dream and I took a chance on myself, that I could accomplish what I thought was impossible. I changed my own life that day, as it has shaped who I am in many ways.  And, I was able to help a very deserving organization in the process. I don't train with TNT anymore, but I am so excited to cheer every one those athletes wearing a purple jersey on in any race that I'm in and still support them through my friends that do.

Anyone else a former TNT'er or other fundraising charity team?