Not so spectacular in a good or bad way..

Running Totals of late:

Week of	7.27 |	11.77 |	16.27 |	20.77 |	25.27 |	29.77 |
Jul 31, 2006	14.28
Aug 7, 2006	10.83
Aug 14, 2006	25.28
Aug 21, 2006	7.27

Well, this coming Friday is race day. I’m starting to get excited. You know, my internal dialogue is something like this, “Do, do, do-do.. hmm, hmmm, OH @#$#@, RACE DAY! Hmm, hmm, potato chips, yes, I like potato chips…”

I’ve done the training. I’m injury free, and looking forward to it. According to the spreadsheet one of our team members worked up, based on the interval of my legs and the average paces reported by all team members, I should expect to run my first leg (6.95 miles) at about 3:40 in the afternoon. I’ll run my middle leg at about 2 AM and my last one at about 11:20 on Saturday morning. I’m the fourth runner in my van of six, so Jeremy and Lanny both run once more after me and then we head to Seaside for the finish line and to meet up with the fam. If all goes well, our last runner (Jay) should cross at about 7 PM. There will be a beer garden, pasta, and much merry making – nothing like combining exercise, food, and alcohol for good brain chemistry.

Leg 4

Leg 4
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

"Gradual downhill from Rhododendron
along Highway 26 on paved shoulder."

I think I'll train for this one by running twice around the lake. This is 6.95 and two lakes is 7.14. The other two are shorter and easier. I will try to get used to running two lakes as often and as fast as I can, maybe even doing it before and after work.

leg16

leg16
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

leg28

leg28
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Change in Plans

We had the first HTC team meeting tonight. We moved a few things around and now I have 4, 16 and 28 instead of 5, 17, and 29 which is good because I was really dreading 5. I'll be happy to run quicker, shorter, flatter legs my first year and maybe take on the more challenging ones later. Now I can quit training for hills, ugh!

Still Alive, If not Blogging about Running

I'm on track for Hood to Coast. I have to admit to seriously considering giving up my spot on the relay team due to the head cold, but dammit, I've wanted to do this for years, and this is my year.

The cold is still causing volumes of snot in my kid's noses and making me cough but other than that I feel pretty good. Day before yesterday I did 45 minutes on the eliptical trainer. Yesterday I did that and then 25 minutes on the stair stepper at our hotel. We're home today, and tomorrow I plan a longish run with the forerunner and some good long hills. I have a month to get myself in respectable shape and I will do it.

Scotts Running (at the mouth)

In an effort to prepare myself as best I can for the relay race next more (which at this point there is no way I’ll be fully prepared for), I went out in the heat of the day yesterday and ran up and down the steep hill at the end of our road for an hour. This morning I got up an ran in the cool. I am not a morning exerciser (my wife can stip. to that) so this was a real chore for me.

[insert a break here for background information]
There is a guy in our town who I have personally come to think of as the Grumpy Runner because every time I have ever made an attempt to engage him, he was avoided eye contact and made little or no response to any enquiries or called out greetings. I don’t just see him running. Our town is too small for that. He was some sort of minor adult when I was in middle schooler – assistant bus driver or third string math teacher or some other adult position holder. I’ve also seen him in line at the store, an once pawning a rifle. The guy as always been just plain grumpy. On the other hand, he must be living right because I don’t think he has aged at all since I was in the seventh grade, which is a neat trick.
[/End break for background info]

So I’m plugging away at mile three of this morning’s ‘early’ run today. The temperature is starting to rise rapidly. I’m sweating a lot and thinking about Jeff’s sweat stories. The milk and cheerios I unwisely ingested are starting to do the kooky dance in my stomach and that’s when I hear the crunch, crunch in the gravel behind me. Despite the (non-name brand) cheerios, I automatically pick up the pace. I always plan my paces down to the mile and stick to them religiously, checking the forerunner every minute or so, until someone tries to overtake me and then it’s all lost to competition with whomever is on the other end of the shadow. So I pick up the pace, and it doesn’t even matter. The person gaining on my cruises right on up, and you guessed it, it’s the Grumpy Runner. Only today he is cheery. He yells out a great big “hullo!” and slows down to run with me patiently while I fiddle with my mp3 player and get into conversation mode. The conversation went something like this:

“Lovely day for it, huh?”

“Yeah”

“Say, Don’t you live up on Clark Creek?”

“Yeah”

“Well, Enjoy the day!”

“OK, You (hack, cough).”

With that, he powered up and literally left me in the dust.

Grumpy and a sadist.

I didn’t post about it previously but if Jeff posted about his hard drive issues and Susan about the dildo-cam appointments she has to contend with, so I guess I can add that I have rescheduled my vasectomy until after Hood to Coast. The doctor was explaining that they give you a local up by your shoulder blades because some of what they tug on attaches up there, and I thought "Not what I should be doing two weeks before a major running evet." I sure hope that one doesn’t come back to bite me – we could refer to him/her as our little relay baby.

I’m in Pasco, in Eastern Washington tomorrow and Tuesday. I’m going to try for more of this running in the AM and the afternoon business and see if I live.

Nobody knows...

I'm wearing black ankle socks at work today....

Ran hills for an hour last night. Man that kicked my butt! Twenty minutes into it I had to stop and walk. Today I feel like someone beat me with a stick, rolled me over, and finished the job. I have sooo much work ahead of me. Riding in to work this AM felt good, though.

Survey Says

Today was an, “Aw Crap!” day all around. I woke up 30 minutes late this morning. I’d plan to ride in, run, and ride back from work today. Instead, at 6:30 my wife was saying, “Babe, you’re late. You have to get up.”

I think I answered with something like, “Yeah, but I’m telling her what kind of hot dog I want to order.” A second or two later I realized that ordering dream hot dogs from the ultimate dog stand in the sky wasn’t going to contribute to general success in life and got myself in gear, if a little late.

I drove to work, accomplished a lot, and generally made good food choices throughout the day (coffee and pizza). In the early afternoon I got my leg descriptions for the upcoming race. I was expecting them to go easy on me and probably not even have me do three legs as I’m the newbie. Turns out that I’m one of several newbies (see my leg descriptions below) and my leg descriptions are “Hard,” “Rediculously Hard,” and “Just Lay Down In the Street You Wimpy Boy Hard.”

The rest of the day was normal work thoughts punctuated every now and then with unbidden panic, “work, work, work, OH JESUS! work, work, work, I’M GONNA DIE!” type thoughts.

After work I went for medium length run through the hills. I never trained hills getting ready for my marathon and so have very little frame of reference. I didn’t have my forerunner with me but kept track of my route and ran for about an hour. The whole time I kept reminding myself to keep the pace up and run fast for a shorter distance. Afterwards I went back and drove my route to establish distance. I ended up with about a 10:30 average pace. Like I said, I’m gonna die.

Leg5

leg5
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

I found out what Hood to Coast legs they have me down for today. Looks like I'm going to have it harder at the beginning and end. I need to find some hills and start running them!

Leg17

leg17
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Thankfully they gave me a rest in the middle.

leg29

leg29
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

So hills then...

M+M and I are cleaning out our closets

I just updated my sidebar for the first time in, ohhhh, about six months - the definition of procrastination...

Then Next Episode

H2C
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Today was my first day back in training for a race in almost eight months. It’s amazing how much difference that one little thing can make. One day I’m tootling along, enjoying my runs and rides, zoning out on my podcasts and generally just taking it as it comes. With a goal in mind, everything is different (in my mind anyway). Today I noticed how slooooowwww I’ve gotten. I’m still the same guy shuffling around the lake but now I’m thinking about running when I wake up in the morning. I’m thinking about the excitement and joy of race day. I’m hoping I won’t eff it up. I’m looking forward to meeting other people, and I’m looking forward to running by myself and then talking about it later.

The Hood to Coast trek runs 197 miles from Timberline Lodge at the top of Mt. Hood to finish in Seaside. The course is divided into 36 legs. If all 12 relay team members show up, division tells us we’ll each get three legs of about 5.5 miles each. I think in reality some of the legs are up to eight miles each. I found a site where someone google-mapped each leg. You can download the official handbook with descriptions of each leg here. I hope find out my legs a.s.a.p. so I can start training for them.

Today I road a total of 10.4 miles to work and back and ran 7.1 in an hour and three (slow). I feel pretty good but probably won’t run again until Sunday. I have no idea how to train for these shorter faster distances. There won’t be any 20 mile Saturdays. I guess I’ll get the scoop on Tuesday.

running-ya-ya-ya-running....

And so it starts again

"As the largest relay race in North America, The Hood To Coast Relay stretches 197 miles from the top of Oregon's majestic Mt. Hood down to the beautiful Pacific Ocean in Seaside, Oregon. Over 12,000 runners show up to experience this annual event, now in its 25th year!"

Well, once again, I have a goal, or maybe a goal has me. A friend of my wife’s called me up today to invite me to join their Hood to Coast team this year. I called her right back and agreed to join the team and take which ever lengths they decided to give me. I’ve been trying to get on a team for three years now. I was an alternate once and I’ve made embarrassingly obvious hints that I’d like to join other teams, only to be told gently that their turnover is “quite low.”

Thinking about the crash course training I need get going on got me to thinking about my friend Andy. Every couple of months the one whose turn it is to get a free lunch will call the other up and invite him to lunch. I know that is backwards for most social arrangements, but that’s how we have worked it out. Andy and I are old ex-coworkers who like to get together periodically and talk about work, family, and most importantly running. Hood to Coast is Andy’s big event for the year and he is on a really good team that I have wanted to be on for a long time.

Email exchange was something like this:

Me – “You up for lunch this week, tomorrow, or next week M, T, or Th?”

Him – “How about T or Th? How’s running?”

Me – “Tuesday. Running coming along. I’m doing Hood to Coast this year!”

Him – “Really? My next line was to invite you to go with us. We lost someone. Where”

Me – “How about that Japanese place that used to be the Rusty Duck. Meet you there at noon unless I hear different.”

I guess that last line doesn’t add much to the story. Anyway, Tomorrow I ride in to work and run home. This entails carrying three pairs of shoes on the bike but should be pretty doable.

Keith tells me that my rss feed is messed up, which might explain why nobody ever reads my blog. I oughta get that fixed.

I Pee My Pants for Quiche

DSCN1086
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Monday I drove to work and then ran home. Tuesday I rode my bike to work and drove home. I was feeling pretty good yesterday and planned to run home again, leaving my bike and car both at work. But then a little idea in the back of my head started to slowly build up steam, making increasingly fervent attacks on my conscious thinking. “Quiche,” the voice said, “Hey you, Quiche!”

You see, we have some friends who keep chickens. Spring is currently exploding all around us, with everything waking up. The chickens are feeling frisky and have really ramped up production. By Wednesday morning we had something like 36 eggs. So the quiche idea really made sense but it didn’t jive with my desire to run home as I’d have to stop at the store on the way home for a few ingredients.

Then I had a mental flash – I could drive to the lake, run, drive to the store, and then drive home to eggy veggie Bisquick goodness. The only problem was that I had my light grey shorts that turn darker grey when went. When I run and sweat and then sit in my car, it looks like I pee’d my pants. “Whatever,” I thought, “I’m bigger than that.” So ultimate sacrifice: I ran and then went to Fred Meyers, trying to make steely eye contact with every other shopper, daring them to look down and accuse me of incontinence.

I managed to make it back out to my car without any kids yelling, “Pee pants! Pee pants! Look at the dirty bum, Mommy!”

At last check we have 4 eggs left. Brit made yummy egg salad and I got a little carried away and now we have quiche to last us, and give to all our friends.

DSCN1089
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

...

Reading other people’s running blogs, for me, is like a health benefit. Just like I take vitamins for my health, I read blogs to get me up and moving and motivated. Maybe like vitamins, there isn’t really any benefit to the reading, but it sure seems that way. I’ll keep doing it like I do other things for my health – namely drinking beer and coffee.

Susan and Jeff both made posts recently that stuck with me. Jeff made a clever analogy you should go read if you haven’t already. Susan who is currently suffering from PMDS (post marathon depression syndrome) had a good post about why she runs and whether or not marathoning is worth it. One thing we agree on is the obvious health and mental health benefits of getting out there and picking ‘em up an putting ‘em down.

Running News:
Ran home last night. Is running to work a possibility? Maybe, I’ll have to scout out the summer time access to the showers.

Swimming News:
The school’s pool shut down for the summer. If I want to work on my lap swimming goal of being able to do 12 continuosly crawled laps, I have to go to the Y and pay seven bucks a day. Sux.

Biking:
The ride into work was really pleasant this morning. I have to use my car tonight. I think I’ll drive home, drive back to work Wednesday, ride home, ride in Thursday, drive home – do that switching off between riding and driving for a while and then possibly ramp up to riding every day, both ways.

biked to work

Took me 25.0 minutes, hitting all the lights, not a bad way to travel.

Bad Motor Scooter

Bad Motor Scooter
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

When Brit and I first started dating, one of the things we did a lot of was riding. I think the first epic adventure we went on was the Oregon City Bike Tour, which is about 200 miles in one weekend. Recently I’ve had a hankering to get the blue bomber out and get back in the saddle. Last weekend I took it for a short shake down ride and it seems all systems are in the green.

Today I took it out of the valley for a 30 minute cruise. I purposefully took it on some gravel roads and off a curb to test the innertubes and general, "will this bike get me to work or not-ness." According to the forerunner, I was averaging somewhere between 4-5 minutes per mile, which means that if I leave 35 minutes before work I should have ample time to get changed before the start of the day. Tomorrow I drive to work, and run home. Tuesday I have to drive to my moonlighting gig after work, but Wednesday, you-are-mine.

Tri'ing to Run to Work

After a two month trial separation period, I’ve decided to go back, embrace schizophrenia, and post to two different blogs. Henceforth I will once again blog exercise related topics on Scott’s Running and everything else on the Clark Creek blog.

Today was my first day back in the pool. I hope this will become my first regular swimming in over ten years. I swam laps on my lunch break today, keeping going without any significant resting for 45 minutes. After the first 4-5 laps I was totally beat and had to spend one pool length doing a lazy back paddle. After that, I crawled one length and then did the sidestroke or elementary back stroke back. My goal is to try to steadily increase the number of crawl laps I can do without losing my breath.

Boy, do I have a long way to go – both fitness wise, and in learning technique. I’m lucky to have an enthusiastic coach as I am learning that unlike with running, improving my swim technique will rely heavily on external observation and suggestion.

I was pretty beat after lunch. My quads, tri’s and back were aching, but I used almost none of the muscles I do when I run, so I ran home from work. On the way I listened to an interesting podcast of an interview with Olympic runner Frank Shorter. Just as I was getting to the last mile and thinking that while I wasn’t really tired, and far from pain, I was getting a little bored, my darling wife showed up to pick me up. She decided that 45 minutes was long enough to leave me out there after first swimming day and came to get me – now that’s love.

Posted Here For the Bobsy Twins

I originally posted the following on my other blog and am posting it here again because it is exercise related and I'm reawakening this blog:

In the exercise/career development area, easily the best news is the possibility of becoming the junior frogman. Our college has a series of swimming and lifeguard training classes that run at noon. I’ve been talking to the instructor and trying to get in there to lap swim on my lunch breaks. He is someone that I work with in a few other capacities at the college and have come to know over the past few years. Anyway, yesterday he approached me and told me that he will be retiring in another few years and hasn’t identified anyone to take over his classes and that I might consider it. How much would that rock? Teach swimming and CIS courses online and do my administrator gig as a supp contract or additional duty? I could get a big chunk of the summers off and maybe even be my own kids’ swim teacher/coach. Obviously I’d better not try to get a job in the English dept. with all my incomplete sentences. Over the next few years, I’d have to get certified as a lifeguard and swim instructor and then state certified to teach lifeguards and instructors. I was a fairly strong swimmer in high school and the military but that was ten years ago. He said to meet him Tuesday at the pool and he’d “get me started.” I think that may end up being a euphemism for kicking my butt, we’ll see.

Joe's Ugly Green Shoes Ride Again

DSCN0958
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Brushed the sawdust off my old street bike and took a spin. The tubes held pressure up to the end of the road and back. Next goal is riding down to the office and back to see how long that takes.

A Post

Let me say first that I am posting to my running blog not by first choice but in hopes of ending the threats, cajoling, and pathetic pleading. It seems a certain girl who is soon to be from San Diego just can't live unless I do.

That being said, I'm working towards an ideal lifestyle. What do I mean by that? We're trying to downsize our life, live healthier, and concentrate on what is important. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings Brit puts the boys in the car and drives me to work. Our family is in training to become a one car family. After work I run home. This time together in the morning is actually pretty pleasant. Running home pleases me on so many levels - the exercise, the hour spent with my thoughts and the podcasts, commuting in way that doesn't involve the oil industry (except in the shoes and clothes). Tuesday and Thursday I drive myself and then go to the YMCA right after work where I meet my two year old for swim lessons. Mom goes for a run around the lake.

Like I said, this is an ideal. This is only week two in The Plan. I didn't run this Wednesday because I was still muscle-tired from Monday. Tonight was the first night T. didn't scream bloody murder in the showers before and after our lesson. Still, there are highlights as well - heading into the big hill into the middle of the run and knowing you have the energy to power through it where you didn't last time, or holding your son with one hand on his belly as he flops his arms and legs and glides towards the toy, saying, "Ball! Ball!"

I'm thinking water polo.

Let It Be Written, Let It Be Known

For the foreseeable future I will not be maintaining a separate running blog. Look for running news over at what was formerly my home improvement blog and will hence be a general life blog (http://clarkcreekhomeimprovement.blogspot.com/).

I'm feeling 100% better. I'm definitely running tomorrow after work.

Jeez! I just did it. I talked about running on my running blog... OK, thats the last time for a while. I promise.

Running...

Tomorrow...

woohoo!

The First Step to Recovery: Good Drugs

I'm feeling better (no you're not). The title of this post is a bit of a nod to the denial I've fallen prey to recently. First, I decided I was well before I was and tried to go back to work too soon. Secondly, not going to the doctor for help with the flu.

Remember the caravan scene in the movie Gladiator where Russell is passing in and out of consciousness while clouds spill across the sky in fast forward? There has been a bit of that for me recently - wake up, its morning, wake up again, its early afternoon. How did that happen? Only I didn't have a gladius wound on my shoulder and pajamas were involved.

Two days ago I finally went to see the doctor, who gave me antibiotics for my lungs and blessed codeine to help me sleep through the night without impersonating a mustard gas victim. Since then I have steadily improved to the point where work on Monday is a foregone conclusion/victory. Yesterday I felt pretty good but little tasks like washing my hair would tucker me out and force me to lie down for a while. Today I can take a shower and make the bed, all in a row. Take that flu bug!

I’ve always been fairly healthy. By that I don’t mean I eat the prerequisite helpings of veggies. I mean I have been blessed with good genes and fortuitous circumstances. Getting ill enough to spend a couple of weeks out of it and then be as weak as the old people who shuffle around the grocery store with two items in the cart they are using as a walker, makes me all the more determined to lead a healthy and active life so as to keep the strength and ability that it is so easy to take for granted.

Keep running and keep blogging about it. If nothing else you are inspiring us invalids.

Somebody's Snot Been Running

Feeling puny today, which is an improvement. Counter to my purpose for taking two weeks off from work to stay home and enjoy our new son and help my wife adjust to being the stay at home mom of two instead of one, I came down with a nasty bit of the flu. Not to be a miser, I also shared it with the two year old. No sir, no running happening in these parts, nope. Yesterday I felt sufficiently recovered to do little tasks like folding a load of laundry, but even that would tucker me out. I'm hoping for a short run this Sunday.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Where I run

DSCF0005
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

T says, "Whats with the camera this time, Dad?"

Keith recently asked me how I can stand running the same loop around the lake over and over. I run the vast majority of my runs around the same 3.7 mile jogging path. When I was marathon training, I'd usually branch out away from the lake after a few circuits but now that I'm doing short runs, I rarely do. I don't find it monotonous. I know exactly where I am distance wise at all times - when to pour it one, when to hold back, etc. I never have to cross traffic so I can tune out if I want to. I see the same people at certain times of day. Also, I enjoy watching the landscape change with the seasons and time of day.

I thought I'd take the camera along on a recent run and share some photos with both of the people who read this blog.

SD

Mysterious Pilings

DSCF0007
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Community Church

DSCF0006
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Originally donated by our town patriarch.

The old Elks building

DSCF0008
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Lots of fond memories here. In high school, we had dances here. The place ground is fenced in and parents like to bring their kids here to run around and freak out in a safe environment. The building is currently a teen after school club that is usually blaring techno (or something) when I run past.

A great place for lunch

DSCF0009
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Asian Island

DSCF0012
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

I love the bridge and the sounds of the ornamental stream on this little island recently spruced up by several community organizations and cooperants.

Mercury, It's what's for dinner...

DSCF0013
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

This kid obviously wasn't expecting to catch anything remotely this large. All he had was a pole and a cell phone. As I arrived, he was trying to punch out the fish's lights. niice.

My Son the Swanky Party Boy

Well, two days of running in a row. I'm on a roll. The day after I posted last, the boys' grandmother arrived and in the general confusion and tumult that ensued, I abandoned my son to his female relatives and went running by myself.
On the bad side: I'm more than a minute off my marathon pace.
On the good side: I ran four miles and each one was stronger and faster than the last.

Yesterday, we skipped running and instead went to his regularly scheduled play party. We got there and found a suburban house amazingly filled with toddlers. I got to be the first dad in memory to ever attend play group and got a window into another little part of my family's life, and T got to run around for several hours like a crazy man. It was a workout just watching.

Today; back to the lake!

Time for running

I’m in the first of two weeks of paternity leave, currently, and quite enjoying myself and my family’s company. This is the second time I have had this opportunity to slow down for a while and help out around the house. Zoot used the word “Familymoon” to describe the trip she took with her family after getting married. I like that word and think it applies here, where we’re not going anywhere in a geophysical sense but are taking time to adjust our new family.

What does any of this have to do with running you might ask? Yesterday I went running – There it is! A post about running on a running blog… get nuts…

T. and I took the runner stroller (my stroller doesn’t jog) down to the lake yesterday afternoon and did four miles (I ran, he rolled). As we were getting there my dad ran by, so we did the first two with him and then did two more by ourselves. I think we’ll probably give the new mom and baby another break from our presence this afternoon and go do it again.

Party Like a Rockstar (and pay for it like one too).

Note to self; just because its Friday, and the weather is great and you have a little comp time coming, DO NOT do abs to failure and do exactly double your normal upper body sets. You will pay, yes you will. Learn this lesson once and for all instead of repeating this shabby performance about once every three months... Nothing serious, just really sore today.

Excitement over green things

Today's fun discovery:
They have these huge plywood and 2x4 cubes covered with tightly woven carpet at the gym for the sprinters and atheletes to push around on the wooden floor. You get behind them and sprint like mad and wiz back and forth. Now I think I understand a little more what its like to be an ant.

Brrr

When I left work tonight to go run my circuit, it was 61 degrees according to the big readerboard in the student parking lot. The sun fell behing the horizon as I was running and I could never run fast enough to get ahead of the chill. I just checked the temp on our deck and its 31 degrees out there now - less than 2.5 hours after it was 61. How does the temperature drop like that in these longitudes? I know that in the realm of lego-las, 31 is considered balmy, but I'm afraid I'll flash freeze on my next outing.

Weekly Totals will hence come on Fridays

7.14 for the week, plus about 2 hours on the stairs.

Friday after work, 68 degrees, sunny and warm, running my circuit I felt very happy to be alive.

We Love Blogger, Yes We Do

Warning; this post contains some serious self-love. Feel free to skip to the end.

For once my lack of recent posting hasn't been for lack of trying. I haven't been able to login to blogger for the past several days or comment on blogger blogs. Grrr... but then, I guess you get what you pay for.

For anyone out there who is thinking about running a marathon, or has been kicking the idea around in the back of your mind for years, I can't encourage you enough to go through with it. The process leading up was exciting and rewarding as I passed each new hurdle in the training program. The trip to Vegas was a blast, and the race day is one I'll never forget. But, what is surprising to me is the lasting effect the whole experience has had for me.

I've never lived a particularly healthy lifestyle because by luck of the gene lottery I haven't really had to. Before starting my training program, I ate fast food drive through at least once a day, never exercised, didn't get enough sleep and drank too much alcohol. I couldn't do that leading up to Vegas, not and be able to sustain the successively higher and higher miles per week.

Now I’m no longer training for a race but I’m still getting that excitement and wonder at what each tomorrow brings. I have cut fast food from my diet entirely. I bring all my food to work from home usually and have worked out a healthy calorie regime with plenty of fruit and veggies. I go to the gym at least four times a week and try to run around the lake three times a week. I’m slowly and steadily getting better in the gym and running 3.7 miles around the lake is effortless. I make myself go to bed on time and limit my alcohol consumption. I have a lot more energy at work and in the evenings than I used to and I imagine I’m probably more pleasant to be around.

Running a marathon is not magic but for me it seems to have been a catalyst that got me off my butt and up to make some positive changes I’ve wanted to make for a long time. Drew made a post a few weeks ago about missing the excitement of sharing new discoveries and accomplishments leading up to our respective first marathons. I guess that even though I’m no longer training for a long run, I’m trying to find ways to apply that same successive process of accomplish to life as a whole.

Thank you and good night.

Reasons to Keep Running, Number 182

I have the unfortunate habit of forgetting to eat, and/or subsisting on meager crap-filled diet. Yesterday, I had two donuts and three cups of Joe in the morning, and then never stopped moving long enough to eat anything until quitting time at five. I walked at lunch with some coworkers because yesterday was the first sunny day without rain in 51 (count 'em!) days here locally. After work I headed to the lake for my favorite 3.7 mile circuit. I got about two miles into is and ran out of gas. Serious crashing after only a couple of miles. Lame!

Today I have my yogurt, my fruits and veggies, and a little dish of refrieds. I will live well!

Target Acquired

The 28th annual Shamrock Run will be held at Waterfront Park in downtown Portland on Sunday, March 12, 2006.

Online registration is now open. Please go to http://www.admail.net/url/71755/60401b/
shamrock and click on the online registration link. The complete entry brochure for the Shamrock Run is also reproduced on the web site.

The Group Rate discount is available again this year. Register with four or more people and save $4 off the regular entry fee.

The complete entry brochure for the Shamrock Run is also reproduced on the web site.

Hamilton Events Inc.
PO Box 65850
Vancouver WA 986665

_______________________________________________________

Click the following link to update your information
or stop future mailings.
http://www.admail.net/mailprefs/277f04/60401b/

Powered by Admail.net

LJ

LJ
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Totally cheesy shot I took with the digi of LJ crossing the finish line. She has her hands tucked into her sleeves. I wonder if she remembers doing that?

Coming Along

Ran around the lake the night before last. It felt pretty good and I only coughed a little bit at the end. I'll probably go again tomorrow. I've been getting into the gym pretty regularly. I'm trying to keep it so I get a little sore each time but rest up enough so that I can always do a teensy bit more each time I go. Good Stuff.

Dropped three post-Vegas pounds so far. Four to go.

Speaking of Vegas, I got my mosaic poster this week. Standing a ways back you can see a hand of cards. Up close the image is composed of many facial shots (including my buck toothed visage). Turns out that wearing our orange RBF shirts put us in a desirable or at least hard to come by color group. I spotted DREW in a few places (must have been a shot from early in the race) and I'm on there a couple of times.... and..... gliding into the finish line, making it look like she'd only run a mile is the INFAMOUS LJ JUST CRIMINAL...

(Lack of) Running Update

Well, still sick, but I hope to be running again by the end of the weekend. I've reached the stage where I'm basically well except for a persistent throat irritation and cough. Any heavy breathing causes uncontrollable coughing fits (no comments from the peanut gallery...). I figure I'm probably safe to lift weights again, though. I even haranged my coworkers into going over to the gym on our lunch break three days a week, yahhhh!

In other amazing news, I've gained 7.5 pounds since I ran Vegas. How does that happen you might ask? Eggnog. Eggnog is the culprit. I've never had to watch what I eat before (except to get it in my mouth), but realize now that I can't eat like I'm training for a marathon, party like a rockstar, and sloth like a couch potato and not suffer the consequences. My goal is to be back down to 207 by March 1st.

Not any amazing training feats to report, but just wanted everybody to apprised of my continuing heartbeat and respiration.

Go Jeff Go!

The O. C. Marathon is today. Send all your GO vibes Jeff's way as he runs a sub three marathon!

In other news, I haven't been posting because I haven't been running. I'm sick. Blegghh! I'm starting to shake off this nasty cold, though.

Vegas_False

Vegas_False
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

It is with great sadness that I have to report to you, fellow runners, that I have uncovered a great injustice. For a long time some of the more cynical among us have wondered about the truth about one of our own. I'm referring to Jeff - he who runs 2700 miles a year, drives across two states just to loan his car to virtual strangers so they don't have to take the monorail back to their hotels after running a marathon, and occasionally dons his super hero costume to fight for truth, justice, and the American Way. Can a guy like that be real? What is he hiding? Well, I've finally uncovered the truth. For reasons known only to Jeff, he has been doctoring photos from Vegas and posting them to his website. Here is exhibit A; Jeff's doctored photo.

Vegas_True

Vegas_True
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

The truth comes out. Here are the real elite runners from Vegas.

Udate

I did it - once around, 3.7 miles, 29 minutes, 47 seconds. Going back for another tonight.

Ship's Log 12/28/05

I ran around the lake again last night, or I should say I ran three miles around the lake and took a short cut instead of finishing it... again.... Tonight; I run the whole thing, even if my foot falls off or something even worse happens.

Hi Everybody!

Last week was a quiet one for me as far as blog comments go. I get my comments at emails and rarely go back and look at my actual posts after I've made them. I didn't get an comments at all last week while of vacation. I figured everybody was probably busy with the holidays and didn't have time for blogging, or, I don't know, nobody liked me anymore. Anyway, I got to work this morning and found that our trusty spam filter has been neatly removing all blog comments from my inbox. THANKS spam filter! HELLO everybody else!

Running; starting to dig it again. I woke up this morning and one of the first thoughts that popped up was, "Today, I get to run!" This elicited a feeling not unlike what I imagine makes dogs yip and bite at the air. I didn't do that but I might have if the baby hadn't been asleep.

Merry Christmas

Thomas Runner
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to runners young and old and everywhere!

Vegas Trivia

????
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Can you name the mystery man who was a competitor in the first Ultimate Fighting Championship and also was there at the Vegas Marathon finish line?

My cuz picked him out of the crowd.

A post actually about running

Ran my favorite lake run last night - 3.7 miles. My muscles and cardio felt great. The joints and ligaments were a bit creaky today, however. I guess there is something to this recover stuff after all.

New target: Year-to-Year 5k fun run on 12/31 - See you there

Runners who Rock

Mark tagged me to complete a post about three runners who rock. According to Mark I rock for having completed the Vegas Marathon and helped the group get our shirts designed and produced. Thanks Mark! I'm still pretty excited about having run a marathon. I have a secret cigar box stashed that has little tokens and mementos that mean a lot to me - my dog tags, my badge, the bracelet I wore in the hospital when my son was born - that sort of thing. Now my box has some bling as well. Vegas Baby!

Runners who rock; thats an easy one and hard one at the same time. My father (not a blogger) ran marathons throughout my childhood, thereby letting me grow up knowing I could too. I never had an doubt that I could finish my own marathon. Thanks Dad! My wife, on the other hand, gets credit for getting me up and running in my adult life. If I didn't have her healthy influence in my life I probably wouldn't be sitting at the keyboard now. Thanks babe!

Three runner/blogger people to whom I am indebted; Danny Farkas, for running his first marathon a few weeks ahead of me with such enthusiasm and attention. It was fun to watch him ahead of my own big day. Thanks Danny! Partyrunner and Drew share as spot as my virtual training buddies leading up to Vegas. Many a dark training day I might not have made it out there had it not been for the fact that I would then have to admit my lameness online. Thanks guys! Last but not least is another team - two guys who seem incapable of not replying to every comment and who get up and run even when they don't want to and so help me do the same - Jon in Michigan and Flatman in Texas.

Meme Post; Nothing Running Related Here

Riona tagged me and Brit. Thought I'd do my duty before Brit snarfed up Keith and 'Talia...

Write 5 random facts about yourself, and then list the names of 5 people whom you in turn infect. Also, leave a post to these people letting them know they have been infected.

1. I have three ear lobes. Its true - on one the right, and two on the left.

2. I speak three languages

3. I used to be a cop

4. I am mildly dyslexic but love to read.

5. I'm tone deaf, can't carry a tune in a bucket, or get the hang of the 1, 2, 3, 4 thing when dancing but when I'm alone in the car, I sing it out loudly - never in front of other people.

I also tag Partyrunner, and LJ, who because she refuses to have her own blog, is hereby directed to make her post as a comment somewhere

Reasons to run

I feel pretty good today - completely recovered from running a marathon last Sunday. I worked a half day, did some Christmas shopping, and visited the pottery studio. After that I cut, split and hauled five loads of firewood. I have five foot lengths in the shed that I cut up throughout the winter instead of having to do all the work in the summer. The stairs are five up, a landing and then twelve more. Each load is in a four foot long tub that when filled is about all I can manage to hold in my arms and still walk up the stairs. I did five loads and quit because of lack of light, not because I broke a sweat or was even remotely tired.

So that’s one good reason to keep running. Last winter, five loads would have made me very tired. Like Drew, I want to keep up with my kids, and hopefully my grandkids. I don't want to live my life in a state of weakness where something as simple as swinging a splitting maul or walking up a flight of stairs makes me tired. Eventually I will die, but as the quote on Will's site goes, "Death catches us all, but when he catches up with me, that bastard is going to be sweaty and out of breath."

thoughts

Part of me wants to wake up tomorrow, put on the gear, hydrate, dig out the iPod, and set out in search of my next 26.2. Another part of me wants to go out to the pottery studio and fire the pots I was out there last throwing. Still another wants to get to work on the room under (de)construction. About the only thing agreed upon at this point is a full night's sleep.

Race report Rehash

Well, I ran a marathon on Sunday. Today is Friday. This morning I came outside, walked down the 17 stairs to the street, got the paper, and came back up them without remembering what I did on Sunday. I’m feeling pretty good. If this keeps up, I might even start running again (get nuts!).

I’m still walking around with my medal in my jacket pocket. I keep the ribbon tightly folded over the medal like a tri-corner folded flag and usually have it between thumb and forefinger while walking from one place to another. Make any mention of the race and I’m sure to pull it out to show you.

Super Jeff
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Jeff documenting the action

Today I feel pretty much like normal. Yesterday I felt a sort of a disappointment I couldn’t really pin down. I think I trained really hard, for many moons, ran and incredibly long and hard race, and then had a lot of people make a big deal about it. It was exciting and gratifying, but then we all went back to business as usual and I think I was unconsciously feeling like, “Hey, remember the big deal??”

As for the actual race report I never go around to finishing; nothing all that eventful occurred before about mile 18. I was running strong, feeling great, and getting about 30 seconds lower per mile than I had expected. Brooks ran up and introduced himself. We ran together briefly but then I lost him again.

Keith
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Action shot

At mile 17 I caught up with the pit crew. I wasn’t feeling as chipper as I had at mile 7. I still had 9.2 miles to go to get finished. They would be a looonnnnggg nine miles. At mile 18, I saw Super Jeff who asked me if I needed anything. Thanks Jeff!

Right about the same time, Drew materialized on my left and introduced himself. He was wearing a gray sleeveless shirt. We only spoke briefly as he was looking for his family who were at supposed to be coming up any step now. Its funny how your mental images of people build up based on the words they write. I imagined him as being skinnier and shorter but he actually looked sort muscle bound. Was there an East coast accent there too? Hard to tell when you only exchange a few words and are in a mental state where complex tasks like simple addition and subtraction are becoming more difficult.

Wheelchair Competitors
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

As we were passing one of the wheelchair guys on a hill, lots of people were cheering for him and yelling out things like, "Way to go William!" and "Hang in there William!" I didn't hear anyone saying squat when he flew by us on the downhill.

I ran on by myself, down into the long straight downhill. I hit all the hydration stations but, nevertheless, became increasingly thirsty and tired. Picking ‘em up and putting ‘em down was turning into a chore. I turned my iPod on for the first time, hoping to distract myself with NPR podcasts. I had purposefully stocked many hours of my favorite podcasts for just such an eventuality and then back filled the rest of the drive with music files incased all my podcasts somehow turned out to be stinkers. Unfortunately, the stupid thing would only play the same five gangsta rap tracks, which weren’t helping me any. No matter whether I chose shuffle mode or advance to next track, all I got was obscenities and misogyny. At about mile 22 I turned the stupid thing off. I’m still mad at it and it is currently still grounded (jammed in the bottom of my gym bag). Without the iPod, which I used successfully throughout my training, I was stuck alone with my own thoughts.

Despite taking Goo every 45 minutes and Gatorade every other water stop, I must have been starting to dip down into low blood by this time. At about mile 23 I missed the hydration all together when my hand dropped three cups handed to me before I could clamp down on them. I ran on in disgust. Apparently there were Taiko drums somewhere in this stretch – Taiko drums are huge and were used by the feudal era Japanese like a telegraph and to direct the movement of military units on the battlefield. I love Taiko drums but I didn’t even hear them that day.

Reeelly Early in Vegas
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

It looks a lot cooler in real life - the desert at dawn.

As we came through the Frank Sinatra underpass and made our final turn to start towards the Mandalay Bay and the finish line, I made my fatal mistake. I looked up, saw the casino, and thought to myself, “Oh good, I only have to run to there.” Have you ever driven across the desert, looking at the mountains in the distance that never seem to get any closer, no matter how far you drive? That’s what was happening as I slowly trudged towards the big green casino. I couldn’t do it. I stopped and walked. Suddenly Drew was at my side again, encouraging me to start running again. I did and ran ahead of him, but eventually stopped and walked again until he caught up with me. This happened several times, I lost count. The last time I looked up and saw him about 15 feet ahead of me. I started running again and saw the course veering to the right and towards the oh so delicious finish line. I ran by Drew, slapping him on the back and trying to say something encouraging that probably came out sounding like “HAMMINAAAARRRGGh” I never saw him again, heard anyone cheering for me, or was aware of anything besides the process of picking up one foot and then the other. Drew’s time was within seconds of mine so I know he must have been with me the rest of the way but I had the mental capacity of a grapefruit by then. Keith had to come get me and lead me out of the enclosure and over to the support crew. Steve peeled an orange for me. After I sat and ate it I felt immediately better. Within 30 minutes I had my brain back but the body was shot.

I was so happy and grateful just to be able to stand or sit still. I was hugging everybody. At the time I remember thinking, “I hope Partyrunner and her sis don’t think I’m a freak!” but all seemed to go well.

Afterwards pizza-beer-sleep-zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz the end.

Keith and my Ear
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Marathon Recap

The Start
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

I’ll try to keep my race report short. A lot of the observations I had have already been reported by my brother and sister bloggers who ran Vegas.

My stats according to the Forerunner:
Time run: 4:05:47
Distance Traveled: 26.33 (including running out into the bushes a couple of times)

fireworks
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Calories burned: 4539

Other Stats:
Most number of buffet visits in one 24 hour period: 3
# beers drank b4 run: too many
After racing: too many

Yellow, Orange, Red, in steady progression
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

I don't know
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Mile Times:

Mile 1 – 7:48 Mile 11 – 9:10 Mile 21 – 9:07

Mile 2 – 12:23 (!!) Mile 12 – 8:55 Mile 22 – 8:49

Mile 3 – 9:28 Mile 13 – 9:14 Mile 23 – 9:09

Mile 4 – 9:53 Mile 14 – 8:55 Mile 24 – 9:52

Mile 5 – 9:56 Mile 15 – 8:47 Mile 25 – 10:12

Mile 6 – 11:00 Mile 16 – 8:48 Mile 26 – 10:21

Mile 7 – 9:25 Mile 17 – 8:51 Mile .2 – 1.33

Mile 8 – 8:36 Mile 18 – 9:41 .

Mile 9 – 8:45 Mile 19 – 8:59 .

Mile 10 – 8:43 Mile 20 – 9:13 .

Aack! Tidal Wave! Everybody Run!
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

All in all it was an awesome experience – one of a handful I’ve had in life so far I’d say – definitely in the top five hardest things I’ve ever done. We got in Thursday night and left Monday afternoon. Thursday night we were alone – no kid, no friends, no family, aloooonnnnneeee. It was very nice because it happens so rarely. Friday and Saturday we had plenty of time to sample the attractions of Vegas. I think I got my fill of that town for a good long time. Despite all the last minute plan changes Saturday, we got to have a nice meal and meet with the blog people and then get to bed by nine. I slept from about 10 to 4 and amazingly didn’t stress too much. By the time I got to the lobby at 4:20, Jeff the super trooper had already been waiting for me there a half hour. He had the traffic figured out and deposited me at Mandalay by 4:30. I mostly sat inside for next hour drinking complimentary warm water.

Pursued by the little people
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Pursued by the Little People:
I had just stolen a golden head from one of their temples and they were trying to stick me with poison darts.

To the woman who told me not to peek while she and I peed behind some construction equipment at about mile 4; I didn’t

To the five women who were walking with their arms interlocked at mile 5; please let me know what marathons you will be obstructing in the future so I can not run them.

Checking my pace
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Did this a lot... I think this was around mile 18 and I think thats DREW behind me.

Mile 13???
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

When was it we ran under the boom arm photographer. I tried not to have my tongue hanging out.

Either really pissed off or chocking down goo
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

Goo makes me want to hurl and yet gives me the energy to keep going - its a love/hate thing...

As the others have already attested, the run itself was amazing. I think they should have done a better job of organizing the start. Maybe instead of telling us how cool it was to have been an Olympian competitor, the announcer could have spent more time telling the walkers to get to the back and the faster runners to the front. Nevertheless, by the time the first runners were away, I was finding a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye – just for being allowed to be involved in something so cool – an emotion that revived itself regularly between the start and about mile 18.

Stay Tuned - Real race report to follow...

PICT0730
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

At this point (mile 7), I loved the whole world.

PICT0728
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

She was so cute with her orange ribbons and her blogger shirt.

Get it off me!
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

I think Black Beard the Pirate may be immediately to the left of 'Talia.











I think at this point she is getting goo and Advil. I'm not sure.

PICT0723
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

The Thank You Post

Training for and then running my first marathon was a lot of things, and I'll talk more about that in my next post, but first I'd like to try to try to express my gratitude to the people who helped me get there.

My wife and family made a lot of sacrifices so that I could train and come to the event. Thank you baby.

I still can't quite comprehend how generous two people can be. Jeff and smsmh drove to Vegas from San Diego, not to run the race, but just to help us runners. Thats an incredibly long way to come, both in time and money. They took us to dinner the night before the race, picked me up in the morning at my hotel and drove me to the race, and then ferried family members to different way points throughout the race. After I finished, I was driven to food and then deposited at my hotel within hobbling distance of the hot tub. Thanks guys! It was hard, but would have been incredibly harder without your support.

All the RBFers that gave me advice and support along the way made things so much easier as well. At about mile 24, I hit the wall big time. Suddenly, Drew was there, encouraging me to dig deeper and keep running. I stopped and walked briefly a couple of times after that and I'm not sure I could have ran in the last mile if he hadn't have been there to keep me going.

Thanks to Riona for blogcasting the event. I felt so special!

Signs of Life

Hello Everyone! Just a quick note to say that we're alive and kicking. I'm sitting in the wireless lounge at the Vegas convention center right now with Keith, 'Talia and Brit. I'll right a lot more about yesterday soon. It was one of the most exciting days of my life so far and I still have a lot of thoughts buzzing around in my head that need time to settle into something coherent.

Scott's done! 4:10:19

LV Marathon Update

SCOTT DENNIS, 04:05:47 (chiptime) @ Final time (unofficial):
powered by Devine Racing.

PartyRunner's FINISHED! 4:02:03!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LV Marathon Update

SCOTT DENNIS, 03:52:12 (chiptime) @ 40K mark:
powered by Devine Racing.

10AM: Into the final mile!

PartyRunner's 40K split: 3:49:18

Overall results

N NAME TIME PACE CTZ
1 STEPHEN KIOGORA 02:11:56 5:01 KEN
2 TITUS MUNJI 02:13:19 5:05 KEN
3 TEKESTE KEBEDE 02:14:36 5:08 ETH
4 GIMMA TOLA 02:14:49 5:08 ETH
5 ARAYA HAREGOT 02:15:29 5:10 ETH

Women:

1 ADRIANA FERNANDEZ 02:32:13 5:48 MEX
2 GALINA BOGOMOLOVA 02:32:13 5:48 RUS
3 DOROTA GRUCA 02:32:14 5:48 POL
4 NUTA OLARU 02:32:37 5:49 ROM
5 IRINA SAFAROVA 02:33:34 5:51 RUS

Where are they now?

They're just coming up on mile 23, which means that they're rounding out to run up the back of the strip. Home stretch!

LV Marathon Update

SCOTT DENNIS, 03:21:45 (chiptime) @ 35K mark:
powered by Devine Racing.

Burning question

Soon they'll be crossing the finish line. Tears, joy, triumph. Which should it be?

• Gatorade?


• That protein-based recovery drink thingie?


• Beer?


• Shots?

PartyRunner 35K 03:20:16

She's running a really nice, consistent pace.

LV Marathon Update

SCOTT DENNIS, 02:53:27 (chiptime) @ 30K mark:
powered by Devine Racing.

Partyrunner 30K: 02:52:04

The girl is 75% of the way home.

Delighted I'm still in the LV Marathon system. Admire my splits.

LV Marathon Update

SCOTT DENNIS, 02:24:49 (chiptime) @ 25K mark:
powered by Devine Racing.

PartyRunner 25K split: 02:23:05

Half marathon update:

Scott's pace is now 9:45. Woo-hooo! This puts him on time for 4:15:38, ETA: 10:27.

PartyRunner's heading for 4:01:24 and an ETA of 10:12.

LV Marathon Update

SCOTT DENNIS, 02:03:17 (chiptime) @ Halfway:
powered by Devine Racing.

LV Marathon Update

SCOTT DENNIS, 01:56:52 (chiptime) @ 20K mark:
powered by Devine Racing.

Yay! PartyRunner made the half: 02:00:42

This blogcasting is very exciting for me.

Here I sit at the computer, my knitting in my lap, the world's largest cup of tea in front of me, yet all the time I'm secretly pretending I'm Melissa Rivers at the Oscars.

Go Scott

Them stats below indicate that Scott's picked up his pace too, and is on track for 4:22:54, and an ETA of 10:22.

LV Marathon Update

SCOTT DENNIS, 01:33:28 (chiptime) @ 15K mark:
powered by Devine Racing.

PartyRunner 15K splits

5K 00:34: 42
10K NA
15K 1:45:21

She's picked up the pace from her 5K split and on track for a 4:01:01 marathon and a 10:01 AM finish.

Current top 5 men: all from Kenya.

1 TITUS MUNJI 01:08:26 5:13 KEN
2 STEPHEN KIOGORA 01:08:26 5:13 KEN
3 LABAN CHEGE 01:08:26 5:13 KEN
4 GIMMA TOLA 01:08:26 5:13 ETH
5 GILBERT KOECH 01:08:26 5:13 KEN

Man. Here's a blog link to a really interesting series of articles about the Kenyan Kalenjin runners. They really are supermen.

We're almost live here!

Photo courtesy Mr. Jeff and his magical phone device.

Things I could do with Scott's blog if I was a bad person, or thought I could actually get away with it #1: Change his picture.

5K split for PartyRunner: 31:42

On track for a 4:27 marathon. Woo-hoo!

LV Marathon Update

SCOTT DENNIS, 00:35:41 (chiptime) @ 5K mark:
powered by Devine Racing.

Filler. A look back on our heroes

The tracking map's not updating with 5K splits right now, so let's take this time to look back over Scott's marathon training year, shall we?

I *love* having access to someone's blog. Mwuahahahahahah!

Scott's official training schedule started on August 1. Back then his long run was 8.2 miles, well under a third of what he's doing today. And he was just beginning to discover the evils of cotton socks.

Around the same time, August 4, PartyRunner announced her plans for Vegas in a manner after my own heart: by deciding what she'll wear for the post-race party (a slinky turquoise number).

Not too far away now.

6:19 - passing Harrah's on the strip.

PartyRunner and Scott are just passing Harrah's right now.

6:22 Now they're passing Westward Ho, which might just be the name of my next Halloween costume.

They're off!

News from Jeff is that it's in the low 30s in Vegas and really windy.

Jeff headed out to pick up Scott and shuttle him to the start. The plan is to take Brit and Natalia to mile 7, wait for the runners, and then head on to mile 18 where Brit and Natalia will wait, and Jeff will cycle on to 20.

We're watching!

Gone To Croatan

This is my last post before we leave for Vegas. I am excited, in dread, and a little nauseus, but mostly just looking forward to the day. I am afraid of the marathon. I suppose in a way I have always been afraid of the marathon. That is why it has been important to me to find one and run it. After Sunday there will be one less thing in life to fear.

Official Marathon Blogcast

Riona has agreed to be the official RBF blogcaster for Vegas. How cool is that? Thanks for volunteering to get early when you don't hafta...

Six and a WU

Six days and a wake up...

I think it is cool that you can look up who else will be running on a city by city basis on the lvmarathon.com site. So, to the other three people from my area running I say, "Have a good race Andy, Mark, and Cathy!"

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Today I give thanks for:
1. My family - I can't think of two people I've known who have been better parents than mine. I can't imagine how I ended up with someone as intelligent, thoughtful and supporting as my wife, or how we have been so blessed as to have our son, whom I think of first thing when I wake up and who I can't wait to see at the end of the day.

2. My Health - this frosty morning, I went and did an incredibly short seeming 3 mile hill work out. The cool air was like sipping champagne. 'Nuff said..

3. My community and career - I live where I want to live and do a job I chose and look forward to going to each day.

Happy Turkey Day Everyone!

Goal Oriented Much??

Goal Oriented Much??
Originally uploaded by gene_poole.

I am aware that it's actually customary to have framed photos of your family members on your desk at work, but what can I say...