Feeling Stronger Everyday...

I am starting to think I can see the light to the end of this green tunnel I have been in for the last few weeks. I did 4.5 miles this morning and felt great. It is amazing how much a cold/virus can set me back. I am going to have to stock up on vitamins and antibiotics at least a month before the big show. I am looking forward to seeing you all Saturday morning. Here's a picture of a car tag I thought you all might enjoy- I caught this one with my cell phone camera when I hit the parking lot of the trail start on Rice Road. I'd say we got us a Marathoner on them thare trails!
P.S. Check out them legs in the reflection of the bumper!

XT is for Xtra Tight clothes!

Well, Father's day started with a bang, and continued on all day with indulgences of the eating kind. A fattening huge cinnamon dolce latte for breakfast followed by a trip to Fannin Mart's buffet after church. I then let it all settle into fat cells while watching every miserable minute of the 4 hour MSU World Series elimination game on ESPN.... I hit the pool with the kids and worked up an appetite for grilling out some salmon...Then, to top it all off, my final indulgence was some pumpkin spice raisin cookies. Where's the antacid? This week will be different, as I vow to cut back on intake, and get in some quality training. Father's day is now over. Hope all your dads days were as good as mine.

October Road...

So I am hitting the trail this morning, when J.T comes in on the iPod singing about "October Road", and I can't help but think how great it will feel in October...Cool crisp mornings. I hereby pledge not to complain even if it is icy and snowing on 10/7. I certainly won't feel like I have not tasted summer this year. Anyway, I feel like I am finally getting back up to my normal slow pace after some crud and fever took me down a couple of weeks ago. I am laughing at everyone already getting excited about ONLY doing 6 miles this Saturday. Did you really believe it when they told us 6 would seem rather short?
I am off to take my daughter to the Old Towne Middle School for a groundbreaking at 10:30, for a new section of trails that we will be starting. She is home with Daddy today as she has an ear infection. I figure she can hang a little while in the heat. The new section will link up Highland Colony Parkway with the existing trails making it a 7 mile stretch. We will also be building a bridge to cross at Old Canton Road, running along the Natchez Trace. See you all Saturday!

Where shall I train? Where will I go?

I am a beginning runner, overweight, and slow, but determined. I can move anywhere in the world to prepare for my first marathon- which is in Chicago, in October.. Money is no object. Let's see- Chicago? Naaaa.. It won't really help to train where I will be running. Lets see, somewhere with a few hills, that will be really hot and humid...Nairobi? Naw, too much unrest. Kenya? Too hot, flat, and not enough amenities...I need some trails, as I don't really want to run on the streets all the time, and would love to have some more marathoners at my level nearby...Lance Armstrong trained in North Carolina to race the Tour de France, with all it's mountains. I need a few hills, but not that many... I know, I'll move to Ridgeland... They are doing the groundbreaking tomorrow morning on another stretch of trails that will link all the way to Highland Colony Parkway tomorrow morning! There will be great shopping when I am not training, and I understand there is a group of crazy people that suffer together there nearly every Saturday! It will be hot and humid, but not a dry heat. Perfect!

What a day...

What a day.... 12 grueling miles.... I don't remember a breeze, unless you count cars speeding past you on the causeway... Humidity like a sauna....Still kinda recovering from being laid up in bed Sunday through Tuesday. Anyway, I was struggling to keep up with Suz and I was more than happy to start walking more when her back started hurting. I started getting a little tight at mile 9, and nervous about being late for my son's last baseball game, so I left Suz and wogged on in the last mile and headed for the showers..Pitched the boys to their great victory over the Orioles.. Then, off to the end of season party. As luck would have it, all the boys hit the pool and the dads found a huge big screen TV with the MSU game on it. (that is, when ESPN decided to show the game). GO DOGS!!! Home for a quick nap, another shower, and then off to a friends surprise birthday party...I am pooped...Off to put Charlie down, and I will try to lull away to sleep listening to UM on the radio... What a day....You guys are awesome, and Suz you are my hero...

Weekend Warrior Worn Thin....

So far I have done a decent job this week at lurking at other's blogs, and trying to keep tabs on our MM friends out there who are suffering from injuries, illnesses, or family crisis. With some of the stories I have heard, I am certainly not about to start whining too much about my own plot, but I have not had a stellar week. I was apparently dealing with a sinus infection, and fighting off a fever virus that I picked up from my baby girl last week before I started my weekend warrior routine. I felt great Saturday, despite those obnoxious hills in Clinton, and turned in what I am sure was a PR. I then hustled back to the house, got ready for a big baseball day as my son's coach, and off we went to Freedomridge park to play the Dodgers, coached by the league commissioner. I was proud of the boys who made our Royals look great. Every boy got on base safely at least once, and Charlie batted 1000 and turned an out. From there it was the victory lunch at Chick-Fil-A followed by a tail spin. Fever set in by 6pm, and I was up all night coughing up crud, hair balls, and a license plate or two. I felt like crap. Sunday found me in a marathon sit-in at the Northtown clinic waiting for a decadron shot and an antibiotic. Wednesday was my first attempt to get back on track, with a light wog, of about 4 miles and yesterday, I jogged & walked slowly about 5 miles.

All this rambling so I can lay down my excuses early why I will be a slow but sure slug Saturday. Off to Fleet Feet this morning to stock up on beans and bloks, and I'll have a look-see at some of those belts, too. I'll be sucking gatorade from a nipple all day, and to hell with the yard work....

I found an interesting article in this month's Runner's World. It was a training guide for beg ginning marathoners. (I could not find a link to the article but it is a cover story). You will feel light years ahead. It even had the suggested start date for the 16 week regiment (June 16th!) if you were to run the Chicago M on 10/7. Clearly, Mark has higher aspirations for us, as we are already well beyond what anyone would be doing that followed that guide. It is really reassuring to see all the tips, tricks and sound advice are just echoes from things Mark and his staff/friends and family have already heralded. The more I learn about running, the more confident I am in the Marathon Makeover program.

I also found a link to a cool story about Danelle Ballengee, an elite trail running marathon type that is from Moab AZ. She went running with her dog and had nightmare injury and near death experience. An amazing story for someone who is apparently not the least bit religious. I could not find the text, but the link with her name has what appears to be an audio version. If you were feeling wimpy like me this week, you will be impressed with her story- and the dog, too.

Shout out to Suz for completing the 1/2 marathon in North Carolina with "heels". Toenail blisters? Yikes! She was pretty humble stating she was in the back of the pack, but I looked at the race results and I think she did great! She finished AHEAD of the 1st place finisher who was in the next age bracket, finished AHEAD of 5 or 6 twenty- something kids, and was clearly the fastest runner from Mississippi- male or female! I usually like to hang with Suz for the LSD runs, but am afraid I will be eating her dust this Saturday. ( I should have been a Worldcom accountant!)

Hope to see you all Saturday...