Today was the first day I skipped in my training for Sunday's marathon. I had to shuttle Mrs. T and two colleagues to the airport at 6 a.m. and everything since then has prevented a short easy 20 minute jog. I consider that a nothing lost skip.
This will be my last post until after the race unless I am fortunate enough to find a computer somewhere (likely) up in DC.
10.26.2006
10.24.2006
Firing Up
Jeanne fired me up with her last post about the upcoming MCM race. I am feeling good, strong and healthy. My weight has dipped to about where I want it pre-race (151). I cut out the ice cream other fatty items that sneak into my diet. I hold it to one beer a night, no beef, more fruit and copious amounts of pasta/carbos. [Tangential aside: anybody remember rocket-armed outfielder Bernie Carbo with the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox back in the '70s? Hell of an arm and good power.]
My other principal sidekick, Jason, who did make it to Chicago, PRed in 4:26 or something. Now I have a time to shoot for. He had a good time despite some un-Florida-like conditions (low 40s).
Today was the first cold day in Florida. When I went out at 600 to run for 30 minutes I believed it was in the high 50s but it was actually more like 52. Plus Florida cold is colder than the temperature because of the humidity. It is a wet cold that eats through all clothing. I wore shorts, short sleeve shirt and shoes. It took me almost a mile to warm up and my hands were a bit nipped but, by the time I finished, I was toasty. It was a good sampling of the best DC may offer. Given that, I am confident in my planned race kit; but, as Jeanne recommended, I will pack everything, just in case. I am considering cutting the toes out of some tube socks and pulling them over my forearms until I warm up, then tossing them.
I figured out what the third thing is in my 'Marines' experience. As you may have read previously: (1) was the Marine Corps Band, (2) will be the USMC Marathon and (3) turned out to be Flags of Our Fathers, the movie. Powerful and informative. Nevertheless, I am still backing Army in honor of son T.
Hoo-ah!
My other principal sidekick, Jason, who did make it to Chicago, PRed in 4:26 or something. Now I have a time to shoot for. He had a good time despite some un-Florida-like conditions (low 40s).
Today was the first cold day in Florida. When I went out at 600 to run for 30 minutes I believed it was in the high 50s but it was actually more like 52. Plus Florida cold is colder than the temperature because of the humidity. It is a wet cold that eats through all clothing. I wore shorts, short sleeve shirt and shoes. It took me almost a mile to warm up and my hands were a bit nipped but, by the time I finished, I was toasty. It was a good sampling of the best DC may offer. Given that, I am confident in my planned race kit; but, as Jeanne recommended, I will pack everything, just in case. I am considering cutting the toes out of some tube socks and pulling them over my forearms until I warm up, then tossing them.
I figured out what the third thing is in my 'Marines' experience. As you may have read previously: (1) was the Marine Corps Band, (2) will be the USMC Marathon and (3) turned out to be Flags of Our Fathers, the movie. Powerful and informative. Nevertheless, I am still backing Army in honor of son T.Hoo-ah!
10.22.2006
Record Heat. No Record Run.
I went downtown for my Sunday morning run to find the streets blocked off. Today is the exotic car show. 250 very expensive and quite a few old one-of-a-kind cars have taken over the avenue. I parked right in front of Starbucks and jogged up to where we usually start and found five others waiting to run.
We moved out as the cars were arriving to be parked, polished and judged. When we came back, they were all in position and sparkling.
In the middling time we went out at a slow pace. I set my timer to repeat every 9:45 in hopes of being at mile markers each time it went off. We did fairly well at that. I will do it again next Sunday in DC at the race to keep on pace.
We are having record heat down here. In the 90s again today and just maybe 72 this morning. I sweated like it was August.
Going slow (9:45-10:00) and only ten miles allowed me to get a sense of the pace I want to try and it left me with legs towards the end of the run. I left the pack with about two miles to go and jacked it up to finish just under 10 minutes per mile. Somehow I lost the 9:45 pace but I do not remember when.
Four on Tuesday and four on Thursday is all I have left. Then north to the chilly and wet forecasted DC area to see Bex, Jeanne, Michelle and Susie, among others.
We moved out as the cars were arriving to be parked, polished and judged. When we came back, they were all in position and sparkling.
In the middling time we went out at a slow pace. I set my timer to repeat every 9:45 in hopes of being at mile markers each time it went off. We did fairly well at that. I will do it again next Sunday in DC at the race to keep on pace.
We are having record heat down here. In the 90s again today and just maybe 72 this morning. I sweated like it was August.
Going slow (9:45-10:00) and only ten miles allowed me to get a sense of the pace I want to try and it left me with legs towards the end of the run. I left the pack with about two miles to go and jacked it up to finish just under 10 minutes per mile. Somehow I lost the 9:45 pace but I do not remember when.
Four on Tuesday and four on Thursday is all I have left. Then north to the chilly and wet forecasted DC area to see Bex, Jeanne, Michelle and Susie, among others.
The President's Own
I took in a concert last night at the high school here in town. You know how life comes at you in clusters of three? Well the band in concert was the United States Marine Band, the one that plays for all the White House and other state functions.They were wearing some mighty sharp uniforms and played with great skill. The audience got very vocal when they played God Bless America as an encore.
So that is Part I of the Few. The Proud. The Marine Corps Marathon is next Sunday. I wonder whether the Marines will pop up in my life again this week or wait until after the race.
10.20.2006
Jeffrey all the way
Mrs. T and I watched breathlessly (me anyway) the last installment of Project Runway. I was "breathless" because I was concerned my boastful prediction that Jeffrey would win could cause me ridicule and embarassment over my presumption to know and appreciate fashion better than Mrs. "Fashion" T.
As I watched the show I was liking what Laura did because it was so ritzy. Uli's stuff was impressive and so wearable. I think we all knew Michael was toast about a month ago. He just lost it.
Jeffrey was definitely going where he'd never been before and it actually looked good to me. After following some of the hyperlink threads Jeanne led me down to read an interview with Laura (on a gay site) I was convinced from what I saw and read that Jeffrey would be the winner. I liked the stripes he put on designs very much.
Meanwhile back at the ranch. We had an incident at a high school on Thursday afternoon that resulted in the tragic death of a teen. The principal of the school
is the Dave I occasionally train with. He was at the airport ready to board a plane to run the Chicago Marathon this weekend. He was in the concourse and looked at the TV monitor and saw an aerial shot of his high school on CNN and the unfolding story. He kissed his wife and kids goodbye and headed back to school.
We have both been in crisis control mode ever since. It is over for now but, sadly, so are the lives of two kids (one dead, the other in jail), the peace of two families and the innocence of a lot of students. Not nearly as sad but a true bummer is that Dave won't be running Chicago.
I am still hoping all calms down and nothing flares up between now and Marine Corps to sidetrack me.
I had Sherlene work me over Wednesday afternoon as a final tune up. She said my left ITB was tight.
Yesterday morning I overslept because of Project Runway but still got up and ran 8 miles at a slow pace. It took 1:18. I thought about pushing it but, after a massage, I am usually too loose and not tuned for running. After the events of the last 36 hours, I am plenty tight now. We'll see how my last 10 miler goes this weekend.
As I watched the show I was liking what Laura did because it was so ritzy. Uli's stuff was impressive and so wearable. I think we all knew Michael was toast about a month ago. He just lost it.
Jeffrey was definitely going where he'd never been before and it actually looked good to me. After following some of the hyperlink threads Jeanne led me down to read an interview with Laura (on a gay site) I was convinced from what I saw and read that Jeffrey would be the winner. I liked the stripes he put on designs very much.
Meanwhile back at the ranch. We had an incident at a high school on Thursday afternoon that resulted in the tragic death of a teen. The principal of the school
is the Dave I occasionally train with. He was at the airport ready to board a plane to run the Chicago Marathon this weekend. He was in the concourse and looked at the TV monitor and saw an aerial shot of his high school on CNN and the unfolding story. He kissed his wife and kids goodbye and headed back to school.We have both been in crisis control mode ever since. It is over for now but, sadly, so are the lives of two kids (one dead, the other in jail), the peace of two families and the innocence of a lot of students. Not nearly as sad but a true bummer is that Dave won't be running Chicago.
I am still hoping all calms down and nothing flares up between now and Marine Corps to sidetrack me.
I had Sherlene work me over Wednesday afternoon as a final tune up. She said my left ITB was tight.
Yesterday morning I overslept because of Project Runway but still got up and ran 8 miles at a slow pace. It took 1:18. I thought about pushing it but, after a massage, I am usually too loose and not tuned for running. After the events of the last 36 hours, I am plenty tight now. We'll see how my last 10 miler goes this weekend.
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