RUNRON

New Blog

2008-05-15T14:08:00.004-05:00

Sometimes it takes me awhile to figure out what I'm doing.
This was going to be a short story site. However, upon further review, I'm keeping this blog runron, as a storage place for my past running stories.

I still run, but my writing took me in another direction.

A new blog was created to post short stories at "Stories told in short."
That's where from time to time I'll post a story that comes into my head.
The site is still under construction, but will be up and running soon.

Sorry for the confusion.

Eddie I read your book

2008-01-28T20:55:00.000-05:00

Nice race this weekend, runron finished second in the old-man division. (40-44) which I might add, I'm on the tail end of that group.

being I haven't been training as hard as I should, I guess it's not bad. For those of you who know what's been taking my time... It's getting closer.... For the rest, you'll soon find out... So stay tuned...
Enough of the cryptic spy jargon.

Eddie, what happened? Last year this same race you ran the 5k, while I ran the 10k. So this year, I figured I'd run the 5k so we can go man to man... Or man to you... But I stood at the start line and saw your bib a different color than mine.... What?...Are you avoiding me?

The day was set up for a race of the ages. Me, looking to bust out of my marathon funk. And you, with enough brylcreem on your head to start a forest fire.

The days coming old chum, you can run, but you can't hide. runron is ready, willing and able to take that goofy smirk off your face and replace it with a more suitable shade of humble defeat.
I pledge to you, Edward I.-know-it-all.... I will not rest, nor will I stop, until you've been beaten at your own game.
Eddie you magnificent blowhard.... I read your book!

Eddieisnothisrealname.

See ya on the road, runron

Make your vote count

2008-01-23T19:07:00.000-05:00

Stay with me,I have a race this weekend. Then I'll get back writing about something I know nothing about...Like this.

People are always coming up to me and saying, "So runron who you going to vote for?" And my response is always the same... "Vote for what?"... Is there an election of some kind going on?

I got my candidate. This person will lower my taxes and work for me....Wow. They will change the way government works... Now you're talking. They will be honest and cut wasteful spending.... That's my guy. Tough on terrorism, but fair....Sounds great. My candidate is on the side of the working man...That's me. Plus, they will make America strong.... Unbelievable, you're speaking my language. Did I mention, they will make health care affordable and veto any bill that's not in my best interest.

You're saying who is it runron? Tell me I have to go out and vote for this guy.

I'll get to it. But first let me also say, my guy is humble and understands your needs. Understands how government works, but is an outsider. Voted for every bill that helped me, and against the ones that wasted my money. All said, you can't go wrong with my guy.....................

But, but runron, don't they all say that?

Yes.

See ya on the road, runron

The English language and me...or is it I

2008-01-09T19:27:00.000-05:00

Reed this and tell me if it makes cents.... What? How about, I red the first chapter, and it didn't make since.... You see what I'm dealing with?... Words.

English is foreign to me, but it's the only language I know.... but I don't no it.. sorry, I don't know it...
And why is a K in front of know, or knife... I'm sure it's some rule from some other language, but why? We couldn't think of a new word that makes sense, Ah, there's that word again, but of course it's spelled differently. (cents, since, sense)

With the K rule in affect, wouldn't Evel Knievel's name really be pronounced... Evel Nievel? It seems the former daredevil was the only one who got it right. (or is it whom?)

I'm going to arbitrarily pick out a letter. Say, S. Now, I'm going to put it on the front of my name, runron. So I'm now sronrun, But, the s is silent..shhh, don't tell.
That makes as much sense as well, cents/since.

I live to see live concerts... What, get out of hear/here with that.

Read, what I just read, about the color red... Huh? If that's the King's English? We need a new king.

If "he's" is a contraction "he is"... Wouldn't "h'as" be a contraction for "he was"... Think about it...
Because the rules are, there are no rules.... But you better know them or you'll look stupid..... Write, I mean right?

Let me cite you a fact, the construction site, was an awful sight.. The thing that bothers me most about that sentence, is the word awful... It should be spell, alful. I can't spell worth a lick, and people always tell me to sound out the word... Well if I did, you'd see alful, nife, red, reed, and so on...

Someone warn the king, I got a torch and I'm ready to charge the castle... Who's with me..

See ya on the road, srunron

I need a race to run, I'm losing my mind.

27 Degrees.... What happened?

2008-01-03T16:31:00.000-05:00

As I hunker down, holding a vigil for my Mango tree for the second night in a row, I have a few random thoughts.

Someone left the door open between here and Tennessee. Hey pa Walker, close the door. There's a reason I live in Florida and only visit the great state of Tennessee. Which reminds me.

I'm still not over that marathon, because my big toenail has been slowly dying since I made that ill-fated journey.... Back to the mango tree. It happens every year, some arctic blast wanders down here wreaking havoc on my beloved mango tree. A tree I planted, water, fertilize, and ever so careful, use my weed whacker around.

My first mango tree fell victim to a out of control 14 year old boy, who thought it was a weed. Before that incident, I used to called him son. Now he's his mother's son.

Back to my healthy tree. See, I learned from the past. It was about two years ago, that my mango tree, Buddy. Ok, so I call him Buddy, that's not weird, is it? So Buddy got hurt a few years ago. In fact, I thought I'd lost him. His branches were not recognizable. And his trunk kinda hunched over. Sort of what I look like after a marathon. Anyway, after I had to snipped him nearly to the ground,because of the freeze damage, Buddy bounced back.

I made a promise to him that day. If I get word of some "menacing frost" heading our way, he'd be taken care of, no questions asked.

So yesterday I built Buddy a box. Although, he stands over 7 feet tall and nearly 4 feet wide, he rested comfortably inside a fully insulated box with a cozy light to keep him warm.

You know it's funny, I've had him for about 4 years and he's never produced one mango. Not even a bloom.... I think I'll give him one more season, if there's no fruit, then I'll call my wife's son over to do some weed whacking.

Love is a two way street, Buddy.

As far as my running goes. It's cold, but I have been putting in the mileage, just nothing interesting to write about. But never fear, I have a race in a few weeks and I'm sure something will amuse me.

See ya on the road, runron.

I sure would like to eat a mango this summer.....Who's your buddy, Buddy?

Seasons Greetings and all that crap

2007-12-11T18:55:00.000-05:00

Have a holly jolly Christmas, it's the best time of the year.
I don't know if I'll run slow, but I hope I'm not pulling up the rear.

Have a holly jolly Christmas, and when you run down the street,
say hello to friends and foe even the ones you can't beat.

Oh, no the last mile goes to where you can see.
Gatorade waits for you;
Drink it once for me.

Have a holly jolly Christmas, and in case you didn't hear,
oh, by golly have a jolly Christmas and runron is running in the rear.

Oh, no, my bleeding toe hurts all the way to the knee;
if a doctor waits for you;
see him once for me.

Have a holly jolly Christmas,
and in case you didn't hear,
oh, by golly, have a holly jolly Christmas this year.

Merry Christmas
See ya on the road, runron

Sorry, that's all I got. Maybe next time I'll have something more profound to say.
But then again, it's me, so probably not

Let the 5k's begin

2007-12-03T21:05:00.000-05:00

The first race of the 5k season went off with a bang... I'd like to thank the local talent for running the half-marathon instead of the 5k... This allowed old runron to finish 11th overall, (yes there were more than 11 runners in the race) and 3rd in my age group, (yes there were more than three runners in my group)

5k's are really my kind of run, but why is it that there is always this one guy?.. In any race... In any town, that runs goofier than you... Is older than you, but you can't catch him....It happens every race. But yesterday this old man kept a good twenty yards ahead of me the whole race... To see him in the mall or out walking his dog, you'd think he belongs in a home... A rest home... But there he was shuffling ahead of runron like he's out for a Sunday stroll.

With about a half of mile to go, the old man stopped, he was spent, I could tell by the way he was gasping for air and grabbing at his chest.... So what did I do?... Blew by the old geezer thinking victory is mine... See ya later grandpa.

Not so fast...Lazarus came back from the dead and passed me...I mean, he just had a heart attack twenty yards back, I saw him... How could it be?

Then with about a quarter mile to go, he stopped again... Another heart attack, (Yes) he's all mine now, I think as I puff out my chest while stepping over him, nobody comes back from the dead twice... Right?

Coming down to the final leg, the finish line is in sight. I'm starting to wobble just a bit, but the sweet taste of victory is forming on my palate....Suddenly, from out of the grave, the old man claws his way passed my deflating ego and I lose to a dead man.... At least that's the way I saw it...

See ya on the road with more stories of the 5k season.
runron

Start a new

2007-11-25T20:16:00.000-05:00

Well I'm finally recovered from that marathon in Tennessee, (or Georgia, or where ever I ran that thing). You'd think when Tennessee drew up it's borders, they could've made it a straight line.... Like Florida, you're either in or out... Anyway I'm off topic.

Knee is fine, it's amazing what some flat running will do... So the beginning to my 5k season will start next week...Since to holiday season is here, it's going to be hard to train, eat, shop, eat, post blogs, eat, see family and eat, eat, watch football while eating, eat, work, eat... and so on... But the point is, focus is in order as well as self-control. There will be times over the next few weeks, I'll have to force myself to go out for a run... But as long as there are no mountains I should be able to get the job done..

All this writing has made me hungry. I need to go eat.
See ya on the road, runron.

Post marathon blues

2007-11-19T19:03:00.000-05:00

First I'd like to thank the great state of Tennessee for giving me knee pain... Your hills, oops mountains, have caused me deep pain... or to get technical, patellofemoral pain or a possible patellar ligament injury.... Translate, my knee hurts.

I've been on the shelf for over a week. Not able to put one leg in front of the other for fear of fire shooting through me left knee cap.(Crap) Now what? The Turkey trot 5k is out... And maybe the Reindeer run as well.... By the way, do all cities have a Turkey trot and Reindeer run? Anyway, I went over a year without an injury... Of course I was running in a flat state, the state that I love.... My state, Florida.

I'll trade a 95 degree day with a heat index of 120, for one of those hills, (mountains) any day...

Then my brother said he wants to run another marathon, (what have I created?). And he wants to do Tennessee again.... Apparently he just ran down hill in the race Tennesseans have the nerve to call a marathon.... Look what they did to my knee... It takes a sick mind to lay out a course that goes up hill... check that, up the side of a mountain.... But I'm over it....

I mean what kind of twisted mind lays out such a course?.... Boston would label that race unsuitable for man... It's a good thing I'm able to forget about it...

Does the race director get kick-backs from orthopedist?.... I'm glad this race didn't have a lasting affect on my ego...

Thanks Tennessee. You've won, this old boy days are over, no more marathons.
But I was thinking the other day... Ya think it's too late to sign up for Disney?

See ya on the painful road, runron.

2007-11-12T20:06:00.000-05:00

It's over...Really over

2007-11-10T19:25:00.000-05:00

I'm here to announce my retirement from marathons...The day started off with 38 degree weather and a head full of dreams...Although it warmed up, my dream turned into a nightmare... Without boring you with pace times and mile markers, let me just say, all was going well until mile 20...
I guess you could call it a wall, but a head-on collision with a freight train seems more suitable in explaining what happened.

I may be late coming to the dance on this one, but did you know Tennessee has hills? I mean mountains.... By the way, Florida is flat. In fact, Tennessee laughs at Florida when it comes to giant boulders that rise into the clouds. And most of the mountains in Tennessee happened to be on this race course... At least that's the way this Florida boy saw it... mile 21, 22, and 23 were uphill... That's right, 3 miles of continuous uphill running... Back-up, 3 miles of continuous shuffling along trying to imitate some form of my former self.

Allow me to go back to mile 20 and the freight train. I first felt a little tingle shoot up my thigh.... No big deal, little tingles are part of running, it comes with the gig...But what happened next, came out of a Steven King novel. My thigh contorted into several shapes until finally cramping up and shutting down. Which left me with the for amentioned 6.2 mile hobble.... I have never ran more painful 6 miles in my life,(or hobble, limp, shuffle, crawl.) At one point, I doubled over in pain. A guy on a bike, who was a marathon volunteer, ask me if I was OK? Now the guy was supposed to help runners who needed water. (i.e. have water with him.) I said I'm cramping up & I need water. He said the water stop is about a half a mile up the road... One more time, he said the water stop is about a half a mile up the road.I think he was also the guy who told me this marathon is flat...

So making a long story somewhat shorter, I missed my 4 hour goal by 6 min. and 2 sec.
My last marathon is a memory. I'm no marathoner, but I'll still run (in Florida, where the land is flat and the heat is not painful)however, it will be 5, 10, and 15k's.

I did get a chance to say hello to Brian before the race, I'm sure he did much better than yours truly.

See ya on the flat road, runron.

Feet's don't fail me now

2007-11-05T19:06:00.000-05:00

What kind of idiot would drive 586 miles to run 26.2 miles?... All in front of this computer typing these words, say I....That would be me.. Or Mr. Idiot, to you.

The days are getting short and the big clock on the right seems to be speeding up and I guess all systems are a go. So, what's my gripe of the day?

Raw sewage, that's right, raw sewage. I'll let you use your imagination on the details... But let's just say the aforementioned words came tumbling out of the ceiling at a job site runron was at today. Fortunately, I was out of crap-shot.... but my toolbox wasn't.... The toolbox stands about a 18 inches high and is about 24 inches wide... I guess you could say it's about the same size as a toilet... A big toilet... Except, toilets don't have jigsaws, cordless drills, routers, and everything else a carpenter uses... At least mine doesn't... Or didn't....So I had a crappy day, need I say more?

Back to this marathon thing... You know how I've been complaining all summer about the heat?... There's one thing you should know.... I hate to run when it's cold... I'm from Florida, if it's in the 60's I'm freezing....Now I see where Tennessee is in the 30's at night?.... How cruel are the marathon gods?.. I mean come on, you want me to go from running in the beautiful 90 plus temperatures with sunshine so inviting it bakes your skin to a crispy tan. Where humidity caresses your forehead and leaves little droplets of sweat to reward you for a good workout. The oven-like warmness at 6:00 a.m. that gently greets me for a 20 miler...From all of that, to bone-chilling cold... I'll have to deal with numb toes and fingers... When I eventually break a sweat my shirt will freeze.... My teeth will chatter, not to mention what cold weather does to my bladder...
It's true what they say... Hot weather is uncomfortable, but cold weather is painful.
I bet there will be snow flurries and I'll get lost in some haunted battleground for days on end. (I'm running in a historic Civil War battleground) I'll have to survive on sports beans and extra packs of gel, until spring.... Of course spring in Tennessee probably comes around July 4th...

My Father-in-law lives up there, maybe I'll place a call and see what he can do about the temperature.... 30 degrees at night....Summer where did you go my friend?

See ya on the frozen tundra, runron.

The Long and Winding Road.

2007-10-29T18:34:00.000-05:00

With taper in full bore, I write these words... Due to unrelated running issues, my time in front of this computer has been limited. Hopefully it will change soon.

Taper time is alway greeted with relief and fear. Most of the hard miles are in the stable and the horse has been hosed down.(relief). However, it brings on a different set of circumstances. (fear).

Am I ready for 26.2? I'm sure this goes through the minds of all middle-of-the-packers. Did I train hard enough? What about that Tuesday 8 weeks ago, when training called for a 6 mile tempo at a 7:29 pace, and I ran a blistering 8:02? Or the 20 miler when I could only muster up a weak 18 miles? How about the cross-training days, when I either skipped a workout altogether, or made a flimsy half-hearted attempt, just to say "I did it"?

Point is--I feel I'm not ready for this marathon... Oh I'll run it, but my goal of under 4 hours looks bleak. 4 hours is a long time to do anything... A football game last under 4 hours... A double feature at the movies, is under 4 hours... The time between breakfast and lunch is about 4 hours.... A nap on the couch is 4 hours (I take long naps).... Woman having conversations on cell phones while driving last... wait, that's more than 4 hours... But you get my point, 4 hours is a long time to run.

So while most sane people will be watching football games, movies, waiting for lunch to arrive, taking naps, and talking on cell phones. Old runron will be out putting one foot in front of the other, convincing myself I'm having a good time.

Well friends, time is short, and my ego is getting shorter as the seconds click off the big clock to the right.

Maybe a miracle will happen, and I can join my friend, Rob Henderson in Boston for some race he's all worked up about. But that's another day in another story.

See ya on the road, runron.

Taper Time... Or is summer over?

2007-10-21T09:32:00.000-05:00

You probably haven't heard me say this before, but man is it hot... The big clock on the right tells me I have a little more than 19 days before I feel the cool crisp air of Tennessee... Finally, thank you.

I'm either getting old, or tired, maybe both, but this is the hardest training program I've done... Now, it's almost over and I can see the end... Which got me to thinking.
I think this is it.... runron will retire from running marathons.

To run 26.2 miles takes a lot out of a person, and I'm not built for the brutal mileage required to prepare for such a task.

However, I do like to run, which I'll continue to do...I'll do the 5K's, 10K's, 15K's and maybe a half-marathon in the future.... But a full 26.2? I'm done after this one... It's just not in me... Running is supposed to be fun, and it is when taken in small dosage... but these bites of 20 milers cause me to overdose and I'm afraid of burnout.

Some may think I'm a quitter, and that's fine... But I've thought long and hard about this... I'm doing what I need to do.

I think guys who run two or three marathons a year are a special breed.... my hats off to you guys... guys like Steve Runner and the Cranky Runner. you two are my age and run like you're 20. I know how hard that is, because I've tried.

So don't feel sorry for old runron, I'll be fine, and I'll still be out on the road, just not in 3 hour bites like I did this morning. I still post about the heat and what bothers me. Maybe even post more due to extra energy.

That's my thoughts now as I sit here, just after a 20 miler. Of course all this could change if I run a 3:20 marathon and qualify for Boston.... Naw, I'm done.

See you on a shorter road, runron.

All is well

2007-10-09T14:12:00.000-05:00

Sorry for the delay guys... unfortunately I have another life, which brings me stress and a whole list of other things I can't stand.... If were up to me, I'd run all day and blog all night.... But real life gets in the way.

Now on to the complaint of the day.... Is summer ever going to end? I know I'm in Florida but this is ridicules. As I type a ten mile tempo run waits me... It's in the nineties for the love of Pete!

What are the marathon Gods thinking? It's not just here, I read about Chicago this weekend and saw pictures on T.V. of runners looking more like a death march, than a marathon.

Heat kills and I was sad to hear it took a fellow runner in Chicago.... It kinda puts things into perspective... We walk a thin line of training well, to complete collapse... No 20 miler is worth dying over, but to run a marathon you must put a few of them in... I don't know anything about the man that died, except he was 35 (9 years younger than me)... I'm sure he trained well and put the mileage in, maybe it was his first, or his 100th marathon, I don't know? My hope is that he died doing what he enjoyed.... Which in the end, isn't that all we can ask for?

I'm not a writer or a runner, I fail miserably at both. But I do know I'll keep putting one foot in front of the other... And place one finger at a time on the keyboard... And try to make sense of it all.... If you were in this brain, you'd realize what a daunting task it would be..

Just a 15 miler this weekend.... With that and the news of a cold front coming to Florida.... All should go pleasantly this week...Of course a cold front means temperatures will dip down into the eighties...Brrr..I need to pull out my winter gear..

To Brian, Thanks for your concern. I am alive and look forward to the Marathon... Maybe I'll see ya on the road.

To the rest, likewise, runron.

Back on track.... I think

2007-09-26T13:23:00.000-05:00

Finally, finally...I got my first 20 miler in. I think I've found a second wind... Or maybe a last wind, but definitely one of the two.

It's about time I quit whining and start doing... I suppose running like anything else has it's ebbs and flows...And I've been stuck in ebb with not much flow... Until yesterday.

Call it runner's high, or whatever hocus-pocus you want, but something clicked on my ten mile run and it felt effortless... Well, as much as a ten mile run can... Anyway, my pace was under my predetermined time and it really geeked me up for my marathon. Which is coming on the downside of my training.

It's time to forget about who owes me money... It's time to forget about the heat... It's time to forget about the pain that shoots from my chest and down my left arm...

Because it's time to get my game face on... I got a marathon to run..

See ya on the road, runron.

(Some of my words above were written for effect, so don't worry mom, there is no pain shooting down my arm.... yet.)

A month of Sundays

2007-09-17T15:06:00.000-05:00

What's my problem? It's been so long since I've had a good run, I don't know what one feels like anymore.... I've been holding off, not wanting to write a post until something breaks in my marathon training... But the only thing breaking is me.

Seems lately, all I use this forum for is complaining... Which I do so well.But that's not the point... See--the legs are tired, the mind is tired, and the rest of my body is shot... I can blame it on age, heat, or even burnout I guess. Although, I'm considering one other option------ Stress.

I don't know who reads this slop I put up here. And right now I really don't care... Because sometimes I just have to vent... Click out now... I'm going on a rant.

There are 3 people who have put me in a foul mood... They will remain nameless (for now). I'm self-employed in a trade that's a little thin right now, meaning work is slower than normal. I've been through this before and I always manage to get by. So this may add to the stress, but it doesn't make me see red in the middle of a 18 mile run, like the 3 unmentioned people above.

They owe me money. Lots of money... Money I need to get by in these thin times... I provided a service the 3 separate individuals, handed them a bill and waited... And waited.. and waited... The first guy, (and its been over 6 months) said he's waiting for a closing. I'm not buying it.... The second guy,(and its been 3 months) said he was waiting for an inspection, then later said, he needed to close on some other property. Property that's not related to my job... The third guy, ( and I have to love his honesty) said he took my money.... One more time, he said he took my money to hire a lawyer so he could file bankruptcy.... He took my money to file bankruptcy. The sound of that sends me up the wall.

I've spent thousands of dollars in material, used my time to fabricate said material, and installed said fabrication... For what! For free... These 3 have lied, cheated, and stole from me... If you can't afford me, then don't hire me... And that's why I'm BREAKING DOWN!

Because of 3 losers, who don't pay their bills, is why I break down on a 18 miler... When you start messing with my running, you'll find out you're messing with the wrong guy!

Running is supposed to relax you, calm your nerves, you know work out your stress. However, when training for a marathon, you put your body through stress. You're not out for a Saturday jog, no sir... Your pushing to the max on long runs, tempo runs, and the lovely speed workouts... Stress, stress, stress... Then pile on mental state of survival, it's a wonder I can still walk up-right, let alone run....
I didn't want to write about this. I actually didn't want to write anything... That's what they've done to me. Put me in such a bitter mood, to where I don't feel like writing a post...

I'll get over it, unless I need to hire a lawyer to file bankruptcy.. Oh wait, someone already used my money for that...

My wife bought me some stress-free aromatic hand soap... I am washing my hands like I'm an obsessive compulsive.

That's my take anyway.
Maybe I'll be on the road, runron.

Summer Repeat

2007-09-09T11:56:00.000-05:00

Going through some older post, I ran across this one from last year. I think it applies more this year than last. So at the risk of mailing one in. Here's a summer repeat from last year. Besides, after my long run today I have no strength.... Me tired... Me sleep now.

Oh, before I slumber. A runron salute to the South Florida Bulls.

Top ten reasons you know your marathon training isn't going well.

10 Resting heart rate is 98.

9. Buzzards keep circling you while on a long run.

8. Old lady on morning walk passes you during tempo run.

7. Buy Ibuprofen in bulk.

6. Ipod stuck on just Barry Manilow.

5. Thought Jeff Galloway meant walk one mile, run one minute.

4. The odometer you were using was in kilometers not miles.

3. You hit the wall at mile one.

2. You start to taper 2 weeks into a 16 week program.

And the number one reason you know your marathon training Isn't going well.

Your doctor suggest you take up running to get in shape.

See ya on the road, runron.

Round two

2007-08-28T13:50:00.000-05:00

Ok, Last week went well, no near-death experiences on my 18 miler, in fact I hit all my pace times, all in all it was a good day....However, the dreaded 20 miler awaits me this weekend.

Look, I've ran 26.2 miles before... yes all at once.But there's something in my head about a 20 miler in the middle of summer...How simple can it be? I have a 5 mile loop and run it 4 times...And with a short stop after each 5 mile trek, which I douse myself with ice water, maybe take a Gue or sports drink and hit the loop again... Easy. Plus I have a Camel Back to sip water every mile.

It's the last three miles that kill, so here's what I'm gonna do.... I'll run 18, 19, and 20 first, then I'll run the next 17. See I'm not only a runner...I'm a thinker.

See ya on the road, runron.

Things got fuzzy, things got blurry...And then everything was gone.

2007-08-20T17:37:00.000-05:00

Well, maybe not that bad, but I do know what the wall feels like... Or at least my wall... It seems like only yesterday I was on a 20 mile run. (cue dream sequence)

Six o'clock greeted the first steps of a 20 miler. No big deal, I ran two of them last year and a 17 miler last week. I'm not one to blame the weather (right) but a 20 miler in August is much different than in October, even in Florida.
I've also learned that a 20 miler is a lot longer than a 17 miler...Don't say 3 miles, I know that. It's longer in the brain, where it counts, which sends little signals to your legs saying "Stop, why are you doing this? what did I ever do to you?"

"You're training for a marathon," brain said.

"Not anymore," legs said.

"Watch me," says the brain as it puffs out its cerebrum.

"You make me laugh, watch this," the legs said, then sharply contracted every muscle in its left side making the brain feel pain and discomfort from cramps.

Continuing my journey with numbed mind and rubber legs, I fought on with only 3 miles to go... just three, no big deal right?

"Still feeling it brain?" legs said.

"You don't scare me, I control you. You move on my command," brain said.

"Just wait, I got a surprise for you just up that hill," legs said.

"I love hill work, bring it on," brain said.

I effort my way up the last hill before I turn around and head home. the pace was a crawl, but it was a run... I think.
So I get up to the top... I stop briefly and kinda sorta put my hands on my knees, you know to regroup before heading back down. Upon raising my head, which is covered in fluid my leg muscles need.... Things begin to grow black, first thought is cloud cover.

"Surprise," legs said. "We ain't running another step. That darkness you see is you- brain, and you're gonna hit the ground, ha, ha, got ya."

"Okay, okay, don't let me hit the ground legs, hold me up," brain said. " just keep me up so I can walk home.... Don't let my wife find me on the side of the road," brain said pleading.

"Say I win," legs said.

At this time I start to stumble.

"Okay, you win, it's over, just take me home."

"What about next week? you gonna listen when I say enough?" legs said.

"Yes, yes, I can do nothing without you," brain said.

"Thank you," legs said.

So I ran a 19 miler and walked the 20th... Oh well, what ya gonna do.

After the run, I jump in the pool. My wife came out to see how I was doing. I told her about hitting the wall.

"Why do you do that to yourself," wife said.

"Because he's an idiot," legs said.

18 miles next week, can't wait.
See ya on the road, runron

"Maybe," legs said.

You'd Think

2007-08-14T17:42:00.000-05:00

You'd think after running over 638 miles this year, which is to the Georgia State Line and back (almost, just about, but not quite). I'd be used to running....So why does a simple 6 mile run and only 4 of them hard...Kill me?

They say, you start to go crazy just before collapsing from heat exhaustion...Well today I was a raving lunatic by the time I hit mile 3... Back up to this weekend, I ran 17 of the most beautiful miles, by keeping a 9:36 pace, although my training plan called for a 9:45 pace. I was Barny Fife after that run, strutting around all puffed up like I just caught Mayberry's most wanted.

Well, after todays run, just like Barny, I had one bullet in the chamber and I shot it Sunday, leaving nothing but a clicking sound as I pulled the trigger.

This is the life of a old man trying to run a young mans game... So I'm sitting here between a 17 mile run last week and a 20 miler this weekend...And wondering if walking a tempo run counts, I mean I did get the miles in right?

I need to go now... A pain is shooting down my left arm and the screen looks a little fuzzy....someones at the door, he's dressed in black with some sort of hood around his face, looks to be a skeletal figure and he's carrying a large scythe... I wonder what he wants.... He calling me over, better go check it out.

See ya on the other side of the road, runron

Over the river and through the woods

2007-08-06T14:06:00.000-05:00

Having never run a Cross Country race before, I had no idea what to expect... The course was a nice jaunt through the woods and now I know what a rabbit feels like when a hunter is on their tail... A very tired rabbit. Call it lack of course knowledge, or that stupid ego thing, but I blew it.... The old story of starting out too fast and dying at the end.... So much so, I wanted the hunter to find me to put me out of my misery.

I have a bad habit of passing runners I have no business passing.... only to be repassed (spell check says that's not a word) by them at the end.. I could feel their smirks as they went by... Thank goodness Eddie was not one of them. He blew me away from the start and was probably in his car by the time I finished...Your time is coming Eddie, so enjoy.

Speaking of finished. When the pain was over the stupidity continued.. I waited for runrandall to cross the line, ask for his car key so I could get some towels to dry off. He handed me the key and I did a cool down run to the car...Got the towels, my camera, locked the door, and made sure I had the key, which I placed between my thumb and camera case... We milled around eating hot dogs and recapping the race... Then got that lovely photo you see at the top of the post, by runrandall's Son Ben...

We decided to leave after the bib drawings for an Ipod, which we didn't win.
"You ready to go," I said.
"Yeah, you got the key?" runrandall said.
"What key?" I said.

See ya on the road, runron.

Cha.... cha...Changes.

2007-08-02T14:16:00.000-05:00

I decided to do a little house cleaning. The blog was too cluttered with useless stuff like, ads, race results, and things that have hung around too long. Although the red and gray is the color of my alma mater, it's gone.

You're getting the lean version of runron, revamped and refocused. All things change... and change is good....unless you don't have enough change to pay the toll. Anyway, I'm changing.

I'm running a Cross-Country race tomorrow, something I've never done, but sounds fun... If fun is running through trails in August heat with rattlesnakes on your heels...Cold blooded and warm as well... (Eddie)

Speaking of August, I'm in full training mode and the marathon will be here before I know it... That's what I tell myself on the long runs, and I got a twenty miler coming up soon.. I'll try not to whine, or cry about it, but that's no fun.

See ya on the road, runron.

This is for those who know what I'm talking about.
I'm well over half-way through. I still think it's crap, and you should no better than to keep encouraging me. I spend 3-4 hours a day on it and at times it drives me crazy.... I want to get it over with so I can get back to my life, but I'm afraid Rob won't let me..... Rob Henderson I rue the day you went for a run with me..

Another Boring Day

2007-07-28T16:17:00.000-05:00

While my brother (Walter Mitty) writes of tells in the desert and make believe adventures.... I'm stuck in Florida, where the heat is real and the pace is slow.... Tempo run, speed work, and long runs..... Added with a weight training and enough bike time to make Lance Armstrong tired... O.K. that's going too far.... But it makes me tired.... All of it makes me tired..... Which brings me to my point. Why do I do this?.... Or why do you read this?... Maybe you don't, and the words just hang on the "Internets" (I heard there's more than one).

I've convinced myself that I like to run... But I also like to argue with myself.... If you could hear what we fight about......

Nice day today, doesn't feel that hot.... Think I'll do 15 miles instead of the scheduled 13 miler.... Man, that first mile was a breeze, yes definitely 15.....Sun will be up soon, I hope it's not cloudy.... the last two miles felt great... . that last mile was brutal, slow your pace down.... Pick your pace up, you're dropping....but it's getting hot.... it's not that hot..... 8 miles down only 5 to go.... wait that's only a total of 13..... we scrapped the 13 and we're going for 15 remember?.... I wish it was cloudy.... 10 down, 3 to go.... 5 to go..... 3 to go... Okay 3 to go.... How about 2?... I said how about 2?... I'm thinking.... Yeah, 2 sounds good....... Can we walk the last one in??

And so it goes.
One foot in front of the other.
See ya on the road, runron.

Yasso 880's

2007-07-22T08:34:00.000-05:00

How I spent my summer vacation.... Or who is Yasso and why does it matter?
Some of you know the theory behind the Yasso 800s and I want to be a believer as well... To my non-running friends, Bart Yasso came up with a plan to predict your marathon time by how fast you run 10- 800s, with a 400 recovery between each.... Oh yeah, a 800 is twice around a track and a 400 is once. Now everyone is up yo speed.

Speaking of speed, I ran the last 800 in 3:31.... In July.... in the heat.... In Florida.... Which was in the 90 degree range..... And don't forget the humidity.

Perhaps you're thinking 3:31 big deal... Well, Mr. Yasso says that would be a 3 hour and 31 minute marathon.... Now I know this sounds good on paper and who knows what will happen when the rubber meets the road... But, a 3:31 marathon would shatter my first and only marathon time of 4:18.... So I got that going for me, which is nice.

In 16 weeks it will be November... In the cool... In Tennessee .... Which will be in the 50 to 60 degree range..... And don't forget no humidity.... Or should I say humility.

3:31 won't get me to Boston, but it might make the trip back home a little sweeter, which is nice.

See ya on the road, runron.

One more thing... Send out some running vibes to runrandall, who is in Kuwait... His marathon training starts this week as well... Let's all hope he can find a desert somewhere to run in, I'd hate to think I'm the only one training in the heat.... There I go again.. making this about me.

Get back soon runrandall, and see ya in the desert.

Time to get serious

2007-07-10T13:49:00.000-05:00

What do you do when your mind says go, but your body shouts no?
I think what I'm going to do, is shut down for 1 week.... From running.... I need to regroup before the bulk of my mileage kicks in for marathon training..

I've just not felt it the last 3 to 4 weeks.... Maybe I need a rest, before I dive in full throttle..
I hate to go into a 16 week program and feel drained on the first week.... Now I know it's Florida... It's hot and oppressive, which has a lot to do with the lassitude I'm going through.

I've whined way too much on the blog, but it's either do it here.... Or drive everybody else around me crazy.... You can always click out and read something a bit more positive..

But if you want to follow along while I go on a 16 week journey meet me back here on the 24th of this month... When it will be hotter and I will be ready to spin my tales of the road.

Think Jack Kerouac with sneakers.... Who?... Never mind.
See ya... "On The Road".... runron

I'll put up a post before before the 24th, but again I need to work on another project and it's taking time away from this blog.
I hope to be in full blogging mode soon. Hang with me.

Nothing going on... but

2007-07-01T19:05:00.000-05:00

Pull out the cheese it's time for me to whine...

Marathon training is three weeks away and the heat is killing me....

Have you ever thought you could do something.... And realized you can't..... Humbling, very humbling...

If I hear another Pat Benatar song... I'm gonna scream...

Why does Larry King have a show?

"Streets With No Names" by U2 is the best song ever written.

If the price of gas keeps going up.... We'll pay more for it..

One day we'll all know the genius of Neil Diamond..

When one door closes..... The rest stay locked..

When someone says "I know how you feel".... They do not..

Is tomorrow really another day?

Have you ever thought you could do something... And realized you can't... Humbling.

See ya on the road, runron.

Pardon my ramble....I just had nothing...

The Hot.. Hot Days Of Summer

2007-06-26T07:50:00.000-05:00

I'm struggling.... I know what's going on, I think..... Summer's here and I hate it...
It wasn't too long ago I hated the cold weather.... Now all I want is a 50 degree day and a little overcast... is that too much to ask?

I trained in this stuff last year and it didn't seem to bother me as much as this year... What's going on? I'm hitting a wall and official marathon training doesn't begin for another 3 weeks...
I've been trying to build up my base, but it seems to be hitting me in the face..

The little clock to the right of this page, tells the story. At this writing I have 136 days and 23 hours to get ready. The days ahead are going to be tough, filled with 8- 20 mile runs and a handful of 15, 17, and 18 milers... Then some tempo runs that are 8 miles.... one more time, I said TEMPO runs of 8 miles....

Not to mention the Thursday night speed work.... How's 10x 880 sound for a workout?
Something tells me it's going to be a long hot summer.

See ya on the road, runron

One more thing, my post might not be as timely as the should be... I've been working on another writing project and it's consuming me.... Maybe one day I'll show it to you.

Some days you shoot over par

2007-06-18T14:49:00.001-05:00

No matter how much I run... I'm always learning something.
The Moffitt 5 mile run could be compared to the U.S Open in golf.
How?... Let me explain.
Most road races are run in cool weather and pin point distances.
Most golf tournaments are held on courses that are easy for professionals to shoot under par.

This weekend provided neither... Saturday was a grind on the road course... Due to the fact that there were no mile markes and the heat was coming from all directions.

The U.S. Open was full of grinders.... If you didn't hit the fare-way you were out of luck.... And once you get
on the greens.... Forgetaboutit... You had to putt left to go right... All that was missing was a clowns mouth on the 18th green... before you finished your round of goofy golf.

But somebody had to win, even if the score was over par.... 5 over par was the winning score and it was a nail biter to the end... With the worlds greatest golfer coming up short by one stroke...

My little road race was a nail biter as well.... I knew my pace was off, but I didn't know how much, for the fact of no mile markers... So I pushed, I struggled, I fought to the bitter end.
One runner collapsed about 20 yards ahead of me.... He didn't look good when I passed.... Heck, I didn't look good when I passed... But I was upright.

Making the final turn I looked at my watch and I was behind my best 5 mile time and still had a quarter mile to go.... No P.R. for me, I just had to grind it out to the finish.

Crossing the line, I hit my watch and looked at the bad news.... A full 2 min. off my best time.... I'm over par.

But wait... This is the U.S. Open where over par might win..... As I picked up my trophy for 3rd place in my age group, I realized sometimes... over par.... Is par for the course.

_____________________ DAY TWO____________________________________

I felt the pain of running two races in two days the morning of the 2nd day.(what?)
The grand-baby was great.. Had know idea her grandpops was a wreak trying to catch the guy pushing the stroller a few feet ahead.... Then a few yards ahead..... then the speck in the distance.

My son did really well... for a kid that who never trains and runs one race a year, he was outstanding.... He has the talent, but he hates to run.... Can't say I blame him, when I was his age, running was a punishment for all other sports.

Maybe running with a baby stroller is easy for you, but it's a grind of it's own. Try running with your hands in your pockets and you'll get the idea.

But this was an easy, fun, no pressure race, right? I mean it's all about family, who cares where you finish. (Tell that to ego)

I was in 3 categories or I thought.
Father running with son, did that.
Grandfather, was that.
Pushing a stroller, did that.
Alex (my son) and I ran a good race, but not well enough to win that bracket.
Pushing my granddaughter was a good ride, but one guy was flying, so I'm out.
All I got left to play is the grandpa card. And the award for the fastest youngest grandpa goes to..... Some guy that is 59 years old and ran a full 16 min. behind me.... What?

I knew I was in trouble when the lady (at the card turn in table) didn't believe me when I said I was a grandpa.... Now anybody that knows me.... knows I go around to all the races and try to convince race officials that I'm not who I really am.... I love to collect worthless trinkets like there gold...

Next year I'm going to enter the Mothers Day 5k as a 25 year old woman with 10 kids who is also a great grandmother.... Shh, don't tell anyone.

What a weekend and I lived to tell about it.
See ya on the road, runron.

A Runner's Dream Or A Nightmare

2007-06-11T14:09:00.000-05:00

Big weekend coming up.... The rescheduled Miles for Moffitt 5 mile run falls on the same weekend of the Fathers Day 5k.... Not to mention Summer is here... A simple warm- up mile feels like the last mile of a marathon... The heat is brutal and it's not even July....

The grand baby will be making her first appearance in a road race... Normally I don't like strollers in a race, but this is what this event is about.. Time is not a factor in this race, just go out and have fun with the people you love.... Or your family.

So after a heat riddled 5 mile run on Saturday, grandpa will turn around on Sunday and put in a 5k with a stroller in hand.

I never run two days in a row, let alone race. My knees are telling me not to, but Ego is ready to roll.
If I make it, I'll tell you about it next week.

See ya on the road, runron

You mean there is only 13 miles in a 20 mile run?

2007-06-02T16:56:00.000-05:00

As the rain fell on dust covered road, the clock read 6:00 A.M.... A scheduled 20 miler was on the menu. Thoughts went back to a day when a morning like this was made for sleeping in... I was a man coming to grips with who I was and what I've become.

Silent whispers of "Forget about it" are ignored as I pull into runrandall's driveway... I can't put into words the excitement one feels before a 20 mile journey.... Sleeping is for the other guy, I'm on a mission.

"You ready?" I say to runrandall as we hit the start button on our watches.... Sightless rain hits our heads as we begin before the sun lightens a cloud covered morning..

"Supposed to have 40 m.p.h. winds by 8:00" runrandall says as we make our first turn on Andy Dr.

Doubt starts to creep in a pensive mind and the first thought of cutting the run short was blurted out loud. I responded with, "No run is worth 40 m.p.h. winds". My words did not hang in the air very long before I heard, "right".

Two runners are struggling with the reality that nature is bigger then the pursuit of a good long run... Runs are funny things, some are easy, others become difficult as the miles drift into a misty haze... This run fell between the two... I don't know how much the conditions played on our minds, but by mile 8 we were spent.

When you run a long distance everything hurts... I can deal with foot pain, leg pain, back pain, but when pain shoots through your stomach with every foot strike... You turn into a walker. Blame it on the pre-run bagel or the price of oil... All I wanted to do was go home.... One problem, we were 6 miles from refuge with only the sound of passing cars to soothe wobbly legs.
The harbor of the driveway I was looking for flickered through my head as the labored journey draws to a close... One more turn and we are back to wince we came.

The day started with expectations of a 20 mile pre- marathon training run... And ended with a child crying for his mommy...

One thing I have learned about long distance running... Some days you eat the bear.... Other days the bear eats you.... I hope I gave him indigestion..

See ya on the road, runron.

Sacrifice

2007-05-25T14:47:00.001-05:00

The word sacrifice rolls off our tongue a lot this time of year... I ask you to let it sit there and think about it.

If it not for sacrifice, would this country have been born?... What about slavery?... Do you think the Nazis would have stopped in Europe?... No, they would've goosed stepped their way to our borders.

As long as we've been a country, we have ask men to sacrifice themselves for us, or U.S.

So many have unselfishly put their college dreams on hold... Kissed their girlfriends goodbye... Told mom and dad not to worry and trotted off... Never to return.

What about the young father who got a letter from home, he's showing his buddy a picture of his new born baby... Only to have them both pay the ultimate price in a foxhole on foreign soil .... Sacrifice.

Today there is a mother who will not come home.... Sacrifice.

Young men and woman fight our wars, while we sit safe and secure bickering over how to get out, stay in, we're not fighting hard enough, we're fighting to hard.... And this is with every war... Deciding on going to war has to be the toughest decision a man can make and all wars are unpopular to some, but some have to be fought.

We all want freedom... The freedom to write blogs... To worship who we want, or not to worship at all... To question our government... to make a living how we choose... Read the books we want to read...

Someone once said "Freedom is not free".... Sacrifice.

Those who gave us this freedom didn't ask for much in return and it can never be repaid... But this Memorial Day weekend when you have the day off... Take a moment away from your cook-out, running, watching the big race or any other freedom you might enjoy... And think of those who did not come home.

Duty.. Honor.. Sacrifice.

Ron

A... Day... O...

2007-05-19T07:08:00.000-05:00

I've been trying to come up with something to write, but my brain is dead... I think the memory starting to go... I'll be out on a run and all kinds of things will hit me... Then I get back here and it's gone... So let me go back... back in time, it was just the other day... I was on a long run and...

"I wish there was a device that could track my running motion, oh I don't know, like with satellites or something... Yeah, satellites that's it... And this device would clip on to my waist and record my miles, pace, elevation, and even calories burned... Kind of like every time my body is in motion... It tells me the lingo... What A DAY O that would be.... The love and joy of using this device would be shouted from Florida to Rocklin, Ca 95765... Yes it would be a lovejoy...

This device would be backed with a support staff that had the customer in mind, oh I don't know... Maybe read and answer all the questions the customer ask?... Not just the first question... I know I'm a dreamer... It's a shame we can't Go(pen) in the future and have this kind of device and service.

If a company thought they had this idea, I'm sorry they are sadly mistaken.
You ever heard of pa sana non grata, Jeffery? Do me a favor and Google that... For an unbiased opinion of never again."

See ya on the road, (cause it can't see me, right Nathan) runron.

Smoke Gets In My Eyes

2007-05-12T15:11:00.000-05:00

I got the news yesterday.... Oh boy. The Miles for Moffitt five miler was cancelled... I guess when there is so much smoke in the air, what were they supposed to do? ... A fund raiser for cancer research would look silly having runners gag and cough their way over the finish line.

The Florida drought has cost me a green yard and dying landscape... Not to mention this area is a powder keg, waiting for some idiot to throw a cigarette down and start an inferno that will affect my home or yours.... Now it's really getting frustrating.... It's affecting my Hobby... My passion.... My reason to live... (Okay, that's a little over the top).... My races.

It seems the fires in Georgia are the cause of the smoke and ashes falling in my neighborhood... My neighborhood is a good 200 miles away... What's a runner to do?

I've said in the past, I'm not a very smart man... If you follow this blog I'm sure you agree... But the other day the news said to avoid outside activities, due to health concerns over the air quality... Ego Ron had to get a run in... One more time... EGO RON had to get a run in... I mean the wildlife are not staying inside... I see birds, squirrels, dogs, cats, all outside doing activities and they are not dropping dead... And my lungs are bigger, right?..

So off I go for a quick 5 miler... felt pretty good.... For the first 3 miles... Why are my lungs burning?... As I stepped over a dead bird on the side of the road.... Uh-oh!

I later heard on the radio, that running in this stuff for a half hour is like smoking a pack of cigarettes.

I'm going out for a long run... Anybody got a Marlborough?
See ya on the smoky road, runron.

Thanks Steve

2007-05-04T19:07:00.000-05:00

There is this goofy podcast I like to listen to every week. Goofy is his words not mine. Anyway, I look forward to running while The host (Steve Runner) talks about running... I know I need a life.

You're probably thinking... "Let's see, you mean there is a show devoted to nothing but running, WOW, that runron sure knows how to live on the edge, I bet he even stays up past 9:00 p.m. once and a while".

At least that's what non-runners are thinking. If you are a runner and have not heard of Phedippidations, then you're in for a treat. For the past year or so, I have been entertained on the road by the huffing and puffing of one Mr. Runner. See, he does a lot of the show while he runs. Kinda makes you feel like you have company while you run... And I guess you do.

Steve does his homework, and you learn something each time he goes out the squeaky door. The great thing about his show... It's free, go to Itunes or his website and take all you want he'll make more. In a day where everybody wants to sale you something, it's refreshing to find guys like Steve who does things for the love and passion of what they believe. No strings attached.
I've been wanting to write about Phedippidations for a while, but haven't.

Why now runron?.. O.K. without being self-serving... (Isn't that what you say when you really are being self-serving)... Steve read my first marathon story on his show. I was the hit of my group running club.... By the way, my group has one member... Me... But it really made my day.
You can hear episode 95 First Marathons by clicking on his site (see above Phedippidations)

I wrote what Steve read, and I must tell you, he made it sound a lot better then the writer wrote.... The writer wrote?... See what I'm talking about.

So if you want to hear a Pro, listen to Steve. You can always come back here for a dose of a struggling writer... Where the right words get lost between his head and fingers.

I should have told you about his show long ago... I'm sorry it took so long.

If there are any other podcasters out there and would like to mention me on their show.... Did I ever tell you about my first marathon?....... Quit while you're ahead runron.

Run long and taper Steve.
For the rest, see ya on the road, runron

In My Day- A Dash Was 100 Yards

2007-04-28T14:15:00.000-05:00

It was a day of P.R.'s... A day of sweat..
And a day I didn't think would happen.... About 20 hours before the Draft Dash, I was minding my own
business installing a counter top....
(This is why I don't like to work)...
When out of nowhere my back went out... This is the 2nd time in three weeks this has happened.

Just to catch you up, when this happened in the old days, (about 2 or 3 times a year) I would be flat on my back for a day or two. Then a few days of slow walking before I was back to normal.

The new and improved runron's back has not gone out in two years, until 3 weeks ago! At least now when it happens, I'm not flat on my back. It's a somewhat manageable pain... But I do walk funny... That's what people say.... I think I'm walking fine, but the first thing someone says... "Oh, hurt your back?"... So I guess it shows.

Back to yesterday, (insert joke here)... (see, I said back to yesterday... forget it) Panic set in about 10:30... I can't believe this is happening... I have been looking forward to this race since last year.... My goal? to finish in the top 100.... There are about 1,500 to 1,600 hundred runners... I didn't count them, that's what the lady at registration said... So finishing in the top 100 would be quit a thrill for old runron.. I was feeling the thrill is gone... there is no way I can run tomorrow.... Goodbye top 100... I'll show up, maybe jog it in... I mean, just being part of an event is enough.... Right?....

WRONG.... I was steamed, I went to bed steamed and I woke-up steamed.
4:45 a.m... I get out of bed... This is not good.... O.K. all I need to do is loosen up a bit.... I'll put on my shoes, go out side and see how it feels to run a little bit..... I know I'm in trouble when I can't get my socks on... This is not good... After about 5 min. of meditation and some teeth grinding, I got my socks on..... Now I'm staring at my shoes.... This is not good... I don't want to make a long story longer, so lets just say I'm finally out the door... And this is not good... Every step of an light jog brings pain down my spine.... I'M STEAMED.

The only thing I know to do is put on a back brace and hope for the best... Swing by runrandall's house and he limps to the car..... We look like two guys who need to go to the emergency room.... Not a race.

runrandell has been bothered by a bad ankle for sometime, so this was nothing new to him... The conversation centered on pain the whole drive.... Imagine two old lady's in a car for an hour... That's what you would have heard.

When we arrive there is no relief... We decide to run around and see how we feel... I can say this, the pain was the same if I ran slow or fast... runrandall felt better when he got loose..

On the way to the starting line, who did we see?.... Eddie, yes... Yes it's true.... We exchange pleasantries.... And my back is starting to feel better (not really)

Show-time... The few seconds before any race, seem to last forever... You try to focus, clear your head and think about breathing.... I'm by runrandall and Eddie is a little bit ahead of me, but I can see him.... "If only I had a healthy back" I thought as the gun went off.

The body is an incredible machine... I wouldn't believe what I'm about to say, except it happened to me... I felt no pain.... Let me repeat.... I was running with no, none, not a bit of pain.... Unbelievable... 3 hours ago, I was thinking I would have to mail it in... Now I'm running the pace of my life....

The mind is running... The body is just along for the ride... Where's Eddie? I've lost him in a sea of runners... I guess he off on a fast pace. Oh well, he's not my concern today.

Mile one check watch... 6:11 pace... Slow down boy, you're out too fast.... Back is feeling great... Everything else is starting to hurt.... I did something stupid... I was so concerned about my back, I didn't take in any fluids the previous hour and it was starting to show...

About that time I feel someone close to me... I was picking up a vibe from another runner, I could not see him, but I knew he was there... Finally he makes his move.... "Eddie".. Right by me is Eddie... The man I have made my enemy, the evil one... And he's passing me.... Don't panic, just stay on his heels and take it home.... One problem, his heels are running away from me...

As Eddie slowly drifted out of view... I shouted in my head, "This isn't over Eddie, I get you one day. You try running with a back brace on!" But that's no excuse, my back felt fine... I was just running out of gas and I needed water.... I use to laugh at people getting water on a 5k run... Today they can laugh at me, I need sweet relief in the form of H2O.

This is going on too long, so let me cut to the chase.
I made it.. Not only did I have a P.R. I came in 91st making my goal of top 100.
runrandall had a P.R. as well

We had a nice talk about our race in the E.R.

See ya on the road, runron

Bike Day

2007-04-22T14:48:00.000-05:00

I knew it.. I knew it... It was going to good.... I've been trying to avoid writing about this thinking it would go away. Last week I said I've been injury free... And before the post was dry I went out and injured my calf... How does one do that?.. I mean, there was nothing unusual about the run... I went through the same routine before every run.... 5 min. on the treadmill, some lite stretching, then start out slow and work my way up to cruising pace... Just a little 7 mile run.
So my running has been on the shelf the last few days... I think I'll be ready to go Saturday for the Draft Day Dash... I'm not going to run until Thursday and then it will be to shake the rust off and see how I feel...
Up date later in the week.
See ya on the road (on a bike) runron

Lets get Serious

2007-04-16T17:53:00.000-05:00

Something came to mind during a 7 mile long run this weekend. The following was written in my head while trying to keep a 7:44 pace and listening to music at a volume that is not safe for the ears. I hope I can make my thoughts clear... It sounded good in my head.

The world we are living in is becoming more confusing.
There has been a lot of flap over this Don Imus thing. I have been listening to Imus off and on for years, and I'm surprised it took this long for him to get fired. Most of the time he talks about how bad he feels, or who is an idiot today. Nothing ever made him happy. He was pretty much an old grump who sat there and complained about everything.

Had the sponsors not pulled out, he would still be doing the same thing.

Let me talk about words.... Words are powerful.... All wars start with words... And all wars end with words. Let me go in a little deeper and for the rest of this post I will refer to the N-word as apple. (I just feel stupid typing the N-word)

I like to run with all kinds of music. If you looked at my Ipod you would find everything from John Denver to N.W.A. For those of you that don't know N.W.A. is a Hip-Hop group that uses the apple word a lot, in fact the first letter in their name stands for apple.

When I search for new music to download. I find it hard to get hip-hop songs that don't have the apple word. So whats a runner to do?.... I guess what I really want to know is what do the hip-hop artist want me to do? Is it O.K. for a 44 year old white guy to listen to a song with the apple word? What if I sing along? I'm sure the artist enjoy my money. I don't have any stats to back me up, but I would bet the majority of hip-hop songs are bought by white kids.

When apple and other degrading names are spoken so freely by one group it tends to water down it's meaning. Making grumpy old men like Imus think he is hip for knowing the lingo.

The only shoes I have ever walked in are white. I could not begin to understand what it is like to be another race. There are a couple of hip-hop songs I really like to run to, when they pop-up on my Ipod it really gets me going. Click on the name and wait for the song to come up on the left hand side of page. That is if you really want to hear what I run to.

One is called Hip Hop Is Dead by Nas. The sample is the old Iron Butterfly song, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida to a rap beat.
The other song is Let's Go by Trick Daddy. The sample is from an Ozzy Osbourne song. Both have a lot of energy. As a 44 year old white guy, I have know idea what the artist are rapping about, it's a world I don't understand and I'm sure someone from Compton does not understand mine.
If you just watched those two videos, I'm sorry, but I like it when I run. They are tame to what's out there and I don't think apple is used.

So what message is being sent? I don't think apple should be said by anyone. As far as what Imus said, that was just stupid. I really don't think he knew how bad it sounded.... Why? Because hearing it from Spike Lee movies or Rap artist has made it comfortable to demean woman.
I'm all for free speech, but with that freedom comes responsibility. We should not look at our government to police us. We have to police ourselves. What we say has consequences and I don't see how we can have it both ways.

I wonder what Martin Luther King would think of all this? Something tells me his dream did not include African-Americans calling each other apples as a term of endearment. I'm not an expert on Dr. King, but I think he said something about the content of your character, not the color of your skin. And when any of us say apple or call women names our character goes out the window and all we have left is the color of our skin.

There will always be racist and I can't say if Imus is one, only he knows that. If we as a community get offended when things like that are said. Then we should also be offended when it is said by any race. What is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. We can't have shades of gray depending on who said it. That's not fair.

Sometimes I feel the only group you can say anything about, and get away with it. Is us goofy white guys. The next time you watch T.V. look at all the commercials making fun of the dumb white guy. I guess we're the safe haven for all to take a shot. Am I offended? No, it's just an observation.

I'm setting here, thinking about hitting the delete and not posting this. If you're reading this I did not chicken out.
Not that I said something outrageous. It's just I don't know if what I'm trying to say is coming across the way I want it to.

I need to get back to writing about running and leave this to someone that knows what they are talking about, but it was on my mind.
I do welcome all comments on this post, good or bad.

See ya on the road, runron

Great Job Eddie

2007-04-16T15:48:00.000-05:00

I'm working on a post for later in the week.
But I have to give a tip of the cap to Eddie. Well done sir, you're making it hard for me.

It's Official

2007-04-12T15:02:00.000-05:00

Last week I signed up for the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon Hopefully all will go well over the next 7 months or I'll be out 40 bucks... I hit 44 this week, which means not only am I an old guy.... But I'm the oldest age in my running bracket (40-44)... I have one year left to try to keep up with the young whippersnappers in my age group.... The good news is next year I will be the young whippersnapper in the 45-50 group.... It really didn't hit me until I just read what I wrote... I am a year away from competing against 50 year old's!.... WHAT..... ME?... I don't feel so good.

Maybe I should go back to the couch and junk food.... Is there an age group for power T.V. watching and marathon Big Mac eating?

I've been checking out times of the older gentlemen and it is no picnic... I got a lot of work to do... No rest for the weary... I feel like all my runs are speed work, This Furman First 5k plan is brutal... I can see the improvement in my times, but every run is a push.... I'm looking forward to marathon training and going out for some long slower runs... Ya know 4 hours is a long time to do anything... Let alone running... But then again time is relative and the body can adapt to do amazing things... If we give it a chance... Find out what you like to do. And do it with passion... You might be surprised by the outcome...

I don't want to say this... But here it goes.... It has been 4 months since I've had an injury... Let me back up... A running injury... I sit here with a sharp pain going through my back... Not from running... No.. I could accept that.. What is so stupid about it.... It was a simple act of bending over... Not even a twisted awkward bend... Nope, just a little forward motion from the hips up... And BOOM.... Nearly brought me to my knees... Nothing makes you feel older then to walk hunched over looking at your shoes... Kinda makes me yearn for the day I'm in the 80 to 84 age group... And when I get there, I can assure you I will be gunning for those 90 year olds... Look out boys... old man runron is coming for you.... Now thats a scary sight...

See ya on the road, runron

Bowling Brothers

2007-04-08T09:04:00.000-05:00

See I do have a life outside of running, but I don't think I'll win anything with my game. Good to see unrunric out from the comfort of his comments that he likes to make on this blog.... Hey unrun, I got an idea. Why don't you start a bowling blog. Just a thought.

On the running front. Not much going on for the next few weeks... I decided to take 4 weeks off from racing to get ready for the Draft Day Dash 5k... I need to spend time focusing on a P.R.... Doing races can really mess up a good training plan.... Lately I have felt am not getting the best of my workouts, so will see if this 4 week focus helps.

I'm glad we are in global warming, because I just ran a 7 mile tempo run and the temp. was in the 40's.... I'd hate to think what it would have been like to run in an normal environment.... In Florida... In April.... I would have to shovel snow out of the way before I could run... Thank you Al Gore for helping me see the light.... Also for this wonderful Internet you have given us...

You know I got nothing when I start thanking Al Gore. Thats an old writing crutch... Think of something stupid and write about it.... Well I thought of Al Gore.

One more thing... Eddie's got a problem, and I'm not happy about it.... This is not the way I want to run him down... Eddie walk the thin line of training too hard and crossed over the line... Thats a hard lesson to learn... Godspeed Eddie....

See ya on the road, runron

Bolt Run Or Running With The Big Boys

2007-03-31T19:57:00.000-05:00

First off, who is the incredible
shrinking man to my right?....
None other then runrandall... I'm
starting to feel him on my heels and I'm afraid there is no stopping him.

If his times get any faster, I'm going to take him out to a buffet. Cause that's the only way to slow him down.... Great job runrandall!

Now on to the race.... You know a funny thing happened on the way to a painful run.... I found out what its like to run with the big boys.... For the first half mile of a 5 mile race...

See it happened like this.... I toed the start line with no runner in front of me.... No jockeying for position... no moving in and out of slower runners.... Just me, runrandall, and about 10 to 15 really good runners.... Then about 200 runners behind us.... I know there is something wrong with that picture... But I was getting tired of running from the back..

The view from the front is much different then the middle or the back.... These guys really fly... And I got caught up in it a little bit... I think a little too much.... O.K. I went all out my first mile... A 6:20 pace, what am I crazy? I wanted a 6:50 pace... But when the bulls are running it's very hard to hold back.

When I hit mile 1 and saw 6:20 on my watch, I said.... "OH.... NOoooo"..... "What am I doing?"
I felt O.K.... But I knew what loomed ahead.... I was just hoping when it happened, there would be a soft place to land and runrandall would be able to identify the body when he found me...

I brought the pace down the 2nd mile to a respectable 6:45 still feeling good.... 5 miles is a long way... And I'm not half done... Guess what else I didn't know... I was running with the wind... I realized that when I made my turn around on Bayshore.... One more... OH...NOooo....

As I made the turn an old man past me... You Know, there is nothing like running the fastest 2 miles you have ever run.... And a 70 year old man passes you.... Does a lot for the ego.
I'm thinking, so this is how it ends.... Start off with the bulls and finishes with the President of A.A.R.P. running me down.

Mile 3 still holding on... Sort of... 7:11 split not bad, but I'm still steamed about grandpa who I can't even see now... I know I'm a grandpa, but he looks the part... Shut-up! I know what you're thinking.

Mile 4 is when I started thinking.. Why didn't I run the 5k? Not the 5 mile..... Why do I do this?... This is the longest 5 miles I've ever run... I hate running... I feel someone behind me... Don't let him pass... Don't let him pass... Don't let him pass... Fine Mr. Hotshot, pass.... Go ahead pass... I'm sure he's going to write in his blog, about the old man he passed on mile 4... Young whipper-snapper, I bet he won't catch the old man who passed me.... Don't let him get you grandpa where ever you are!.. By the way mile 4 (7:32) split... Ouch!

Mile 5 the mile I've been looking for... Time to bring it home... I always like the last mile of a race... Mentally I put myself in my neighborhood and I run the last mile like I was at home, knowing I can run a mile seems to ease the pain... Not really it still hurts.

Looking at my watch I should have only a half mile to go... I pick up my pace and try to find one last gear.... It's going to be close... I want a 35:00 time, and time is running out.... Making the last turn, I see the finish line about 200 yards away... No one behind me.... No one ahead of me... I'm racing on my own.... I start to sprint and I feel pretty good.... At least I think am sprinting.... Down the stretch I come.... Boom, hit the line and watch at the same time.... It's over... Thank you it's over... Some man says "a 7:01 pace, good run!"... I'm handed a card, I fill it out with my name and put it in the 40-44 age box.... There are already 3 cards in the box, so the best I can hope for in my age group is 4th.
I'll post my official place and time when it comes out, my watch had 35:09.

Here's what I know... If you're going to run with the big dogs, it's going to hurt... I don't mean a little uncomfortable... It is a grind on your body and the next mile hurts more then the last... You run on the edge of total breakdown... Running up front is not for the weak minded... There comes a time when you have to will yourself into the next mile, because the body has limits... But the mind has dreams.

See ya on the road, runron.

Pathetic Best Describes It

2007-03-27T16:48:00.000-05:00

When I first started writing this blog, it was a way to vent my frustrations without driving my wife crazy..... Also a way to beat myself up.... well, let the beating begin...

What I'm I doing?... Forget the positive crap.... I crashed on the last mile of a tempo run today... If I'm ever going to get better, I need to learn to man-up and run the pace that is set for the run...

It was a simple 4 mile tempo run and I missed the last mile by 30 seconds... And it would have been more, but with a half mile to go I ask myself "WWED" or what would Eddie do? That made for a little push at the end.

Oh I made excuses... It's hot..... It's windy... I'm tired... I just don't have it today... But there is no excuse for that performance... Eddie's got nothing to worry about... Yes I'm acting like a baby... It's my blog and if you don't like it, you can stick it in your ear...

I'm not used to the wheels coming off... And I don't like it... I think I'll change my name to runrhonda... After the run steam was coming out of my ears....

The training plan is based on my recent 5k time... The pace is something I should be able to handle... But not today... What a joke... You should have seen me out there.... Looking like mile 25 of a marathon.... AND IT WAS ONLY 4 MILES!... Pathetic...

I know I'm not a writer.... And apparently I'm not a runner... well I run, or maybe a fast jog... The point is I need to do better.... Runs like today puts things into prospective... I'm not nearly as good as I think I am... There is a lot of work ahead.

If you're still reading this... Truth be told, I needed a run like today.... No I didn't have my best stuff.. That's O.K.
Writing this gives me the kick in the pants I need... A way to motivate... If I was happy with every run, I would see no room for improvement... Sometimes I need to call myself names... Like Rhonda or girly man, to pump me up.

Believe me I know there are more important things in life then running a race... Life is a fragile thing... So what you read in this blog is just for entertainment... I don't want to give the impression that I'm all wrapped up in running... I do have a life outside of running.

Never take anything I write too seriously.... But there is some truth to what I write.... It's up to you to decide what to take out of this slop I write.
But it was a pathetic run.

See ya on the road, runrhonda.... Errr runron.

You really should be worried Eddie, I'm giving you a false sense of security.

The Golden Age Of Marathons

2007-03-20T18:28:00.000-05:00

A lot of my post are silly and full of fluff and I try not to take myself to seriously.... But I want to write about the past and what it meant to be a marathoner in the early days.... This may be too long of a post for some of you to read. It also may bore you.... So if your not up to reading about things that happened long ago, I understand..... You may want to comeback later.... I'm writing this for the men who ran before me....

Clarence DeMar... Ever heard of him... He only won the Boston Marathon seven times. The first one in 1911. The doctors found out that he had a heart murmur and told him he should not run marathons. He only ran one marathon from the age of 23 to 32, he finished 3rd. In 1922 he started running Boston again and won 6 times over the next 9 races. (1922, 1923, 1924, 1927, 1928, 1930)
Think of what he would have done in his prime. If that were to happen today, he would be his own corporation. Like Lance Armstrong.

Tarzan Brown... He ran the last 5 miles of the Boston Marathon barefoot. His sneakers fell apart on mile 21... I bet he would have loved Nike.
He also sold the two medals he won (Boston 1936, 1939) for $75.00 each. He said "you can't eat medals".

Walter Young.... He was promised a job with the Verdon Police Dept. if he won the Boston Marathon. He won and had a job for 41 years.

Mr. Boston, Johnny Kelley worked for Edison Power Company. He had to take vacation time to run in the Olympics and if he needed an extra week, it was without pay.

There are so many stories of the past. Men who ran for food or jobs, some ran for their country or bring attention to the hardship their homeland faced during wartime.
They were men of character and the were characters. They came from all walks of life, having one common bond.... Passion.

We do not give enough credit to those who blazed the trail before us. In reality they had more in common with you and me then the elites of today.
For starters they had Joe jobs if they had jobs at all. Times were tough, most of them trained a night after working all day.

Equipment... What equipment?.... Imagine a world without state of the art running shoes, the research of speed work, the science V02 max, sport drinks, energy gels, tested training plans, and who could run without the IPOD.

I know you can't miss something you never had, but to run the times that these men ran, in the era they ran in, is a truly remarkable feat.

I don't want to forget about the woman.
Not only did they have to fight a 26.2 mile battle, they had to win a war of sexism.
In 1966 Roberta Gibb had to hide in the bushes until the Boston Marathon started. She was not allowed to run officially and was not recognized as the woman's winner until 1996.

Kathrine Switzer was the first woman to get an official race bib in the Boston Marathon. She entered as K.V. Switzer and when race officials realized K.V. was a woman they tried to forcibly remove her from the race.
Woman like Ms. Gibb and Switzer may not have been running for food or jobs, but they were running for our daughters and granddaughters. And like the men that ran before them... They ran with passion...

The next time you go out for a run, spend a little time thinking about the runners who ran before you.

I know this post is not as articulate as I would like for it to be. Many writers with more skill then your humble blogger (runron) have written about these great runners.
I just wanted to give a little space to those that ran before me.

Information for this post came from the book. Young At Heart, by Fredrick Lewis.
With the help of Wikipedia

See ya on the road, runron....
And if Clarence DeMar saw me, he probably would push me out of the way.... That's the type of guy Clarence was... I think I would have liked old Clarence.
.

Bay to Bay, Oh what a day

2007-03-18T18:06:00.000-05:00

I was recovering on my couch, watching a NASCAR race. .... And the thought came to me... To report on my race the same way a driver would.... So let me put on my best Jeff Gordon and give it a try.

Well, the 43 body really ran good today.... The Mizuno shoes never let me down..... It's a good thing I had on my Nike long sleeved shirt, because the weather was a bit cool.... I can't say enough about the way my Ipod held up, it played the right songs at the right time... I didn't know if I would make the start on time, because of the long line at the bathroom.... But Port-a-potty came through with just enough johns to get us to the starting line.... I also want to give a special thanks to Monster energy drink, it made the first few miles feel like I was shot out of a cannon.....

The sun was pretty bad at the start, but my Oakley sunglasses pulled me through.... And the Adidas cap kept the sweat out of my eyes....

We got into a little trouble at mile 3 when some hot shot kid came out of nowhere and clipped me on the side... it was way to early in the race to be running like that.... But it's just one of those deals...

The pace was fast, I was hitting 7:15 miles... my Timex Ironman watch was unbelievable today.
When your in shorter races, you really don't need energy gels.... But I had Gu with me just in case... And I have to mention Zephyrhills Water, they help fuel the old 43 at the water stops.

All in all I would say it was a good race for the 43 body, we placed 15th in a field of 66 (age group 40-44) I thought I was getting a little loose at the end, but my Timex said it was my fastest mile of the day.
I hope I didn't forget anybody, but let me thank, Under armor for their socks, Body Glide for a chafe free race, the Volunteers who made this race possible, the ST. Pete police for their cooperation with traffic......And all the fans of old 43.
We got a race in two week.... So we'll go back to the shop and work out a few things.... there is always room for improvement.... we'll be back.... That's racing.

I guess it would sound something like that.... And if any of the products I just mentioned want to sponsor me, I'm all ears.... Because this is the last time you will get free time on my blog.

Now the boring stuff.
Mile 1 - 7:13
Mile 2- 14:28 (7:15)
Mile 3- 21:38 (7:09)
Mile 4- 28:56 (7:17)
Mile 5- 36:16 (7:20)
Mile 6-43:37 (7:20)
Mile 7- 50:43 (7:05)
Mile .46 54:00 (3:18)

Hey "Eddie" you were a no show, I guess the Eddie G is not the real Eddie.

See ya on the road, runron

Bay To Bay Classic or another race already?

2007-03-15T18:57:00.000-05:00

Well boys and girls the racing season is getting in full swing.... Sunday will be my 5th race of the year and every one of them has be a P.R. and I guarantee this race will be as well... Just as long as I cross the finish line... Why?.. Because I've never ran a 12k race before.... Even the name sounds odd... 12k...

For those of you that are metric challenged. 12k is about seven and a half miles... It's funny how us crazy Americans run distance in metric, but run our pace in miles... Go figure... No I really mean go figure, it don't add up... And I'm the guy that uses the metric system more then most Americans. (It's part of my job)... Even though I use it everyday and it's a simpler why to measure things... I don't like it... I'm starting to get off topic... But 25mm is the same as an inch.... What sounds better, "I stepped on a nail 25mm long". Or "I stepped on a nail an inch long"...I know Nether, who wants to step on a nail... But you get my point.

Back on topic... The Bay To Bay Classic is a point to point race. That is something I've never done before, and it sounds pretty neat... Did I just write pretty neat?... What's happening to me?... Anyway we start on one side of ST. Petersburg (not Russia) and run to the bay on the other side.... What fun... I don't think Eddie is going (see post below) too bad... But I'm not ready for him anyway, our time will come...

We'll see how the race goes, right now I'm not feeling it. I did a slow run today, just to give my legs a rest... Been pounding the pavement a lot lately and I need to be fresh.
Tell you about it over the weekend, maybe Monday

See ya on the road, runron

My Nemesis

2007-03-11T10:06:00.000-05:00

Look, I know running is not about winning... We do it for our health... We try to improve against our own time... It keeps middle age guys like me out of trouble... There are all kinds of reasons to run... I just found one more...

Every sport needs a rival, a foe, an arch enemy. Someone that is better then you, but with hard work you think you can be their equal.
I don't wish ill will on my nemesis... I want him to run his best, to beat him when he's not on top of his game would take the joy out of running down the enemy.

I've thought long and hard about picking my combatant. He would have to be in my age group, run a 5k about a minute and a half faster then me. He would also have to run in most of the races I run and be a little cocky about his running prowess.

There are several guys I know that fit this bill... But one stands out as "the guy"... We all know the type of guy I'm talking about... And it does not apply to only running... He's the guy that takes himself too seriously... I picture this guy at work getting bent out of shape if someone took a paper clip off his desk and then runs to tell the boss that someone is stealing his stuff...Or maybe he made a big sale then struts around the office like a rooster...

None of these guys know about this blog, but to keep it safe I'll call him "Eddie".
Eddie is a very talented runner. He has probably been running for years, but he needs to be ran down... And I'm the guy that's going to do it... It may take awhile, but I'm pretty determined when I put something in my cross-hairs.

Here is the beauty of my plan. Eddie has no clue, I don't think he even knows my name (yet, he will). Like all hunters I know my prey... The Internet is a wonderful tool to find out race results. I know all the races he's been in, his times, his pace, what place he finished. Before this is over I will know what he eats for breakfast..

Before you think I'm a stalker, let me say I'm not... This is just my way of getting the best out of my running... But it's also fun, I need something like this to get me to the next level... If I can make "Eddie" the focus of my training, I know I will get better... I'm sure Eddie is a nice guy, I've only had a passing conversation with him a few times, but for now he is my "Darth Vader" and the force will be with me when that day comes.

This may take years, I don't know... If Eddie quits running (not likely) or moves out of town, there will always be an "Eddie" and I'll find him.

Who knows I might be someones "Eddie" and that's O.k. I just hope they don't think I'm as cocky as my "Eddie". There is something about him that rubs me the wrong way and I don't think I'm alone with that thought.

I don't know how many races we will be in this year. He has sat a few out because he is getting ready for Boston... Yes, he's a Boston qualifier (if you stand within 10 feet of him, you know that).... Starting to hate him aren't ya?
But we will race down the road, I'm not going anywhere, and I'm sure "Eddie" is not either. I know how to find him.

Until then I will be in the tall grass, honing my skills... Waiting... Waiting... Then pounce on my prey like a puma in the wild.

Running is starting to get interesting again, just when I thought I was getting into a rut... Along comes Eddie, thanks "Eddie"

Next week I will be running in the Bay To Bay Classic 12k. I don't know if Eddie will be there, but I'll find out... To be continued.

See ya on the road (lets go "Eddie") runron.

A New Gear

2007-03-08T20:05:00.000-05:00

I needed a plan... And I think I've found one.
This running thing is still kinda new to me, I've been doing this for over a year and to be honest, I thought I would be sick of it by now..... Just when I think I can't possibly run any faster, something clicks and that 8:30 ten mile pace becomes an easy run.

I did a 6 mile tempo run Tuesday at an 8:08 pace and I thought I could run forever, it was effortless... This is something I'm not familiar with.... well maybe a little, my Gasparilla run was like that, but I thought it was a fluke.

What I have found is another gear... One that I didn't know I had. A faster pace actually feels better then a slower one. Maybe I'm getting the hang of this running thing.... The plan I've come up with is the Furman First 5k plan. It calls for a lot of tempo runs and speed work at the track. Which I'm starting to enjoy (I know I'm sick).
I'll do this through the spring to go along with my 5k races and then start adding longer runs to build up my base before marathon training starts in July.

You never know, that 19:59 5k time might be reachable. If I never run that time it won't be from lack of effort.

I guess that's the beauty of running, there is always a goal to conquer and a race to run... Kinda like life.

See ya on the road, (or track, Tim) runron

Strawberry Classic 5k

2007-03-03T16:50:00.000-05:00

First let me thank all the good runners that chose not to run in this race. By sitting this one out it allowed me to place 3rd in my age group.

Yes I'm happy with the outcome, but I think the field was weak... I ran a 21:28 and that is more like a 5th or 6th place time when the competition is a little more stiff.

My 5k goal is to run it in 19:59, so I need to shave almost a full 1:30 off my time. I'm beginning to realized that's a tall order.

A year ago I ran a 24:05 (5k) or a 7:45 pace.... Today my pace was 6:54, if I'm going to reach my goal I will need a lot of speed work and about 3 more years of training....

Problem is, by that time I will be 3 years older and a lot more beat-up.... My mind is up for the challenge (ego)... But my body is saying something else (common sense)... I still need a plan... right now I'm going to continue to run until the wheels fall off or I die, which ever comes first.

Other then that Mrs. Lincoln how was the play?
Well it was a good day, my brother runrandall ran his best 5k... He made his goal of running it in less then 30:00 a remarkable accomplishment considering what his diet is right now... To be honest with you I don't know where he gets his energy. If I could have his discipline I might just run that 6:25 pace.

To make a long story short, thanks for the cake it had to be hard not getting a piece for yourself. (and it was gooood)

Also my nephew Ben ran with us and the rascal came in 3rd in his age group (25-30) not bad for a first timer, he gets the runron gold star for his effort. Well played Ben, great job, but next time try not to leave your breakfast between the 2nd and 3rd mile. (I'll leave it at that)

So what have we learned about today? Running a 6:25 pace, not likely to happen.... runrandall well on his way of beating me...... Cake goooood....... Don't eat, unless you want to see it again.

That's it in a nut shell.
See ya on the road, runron.

Strawberry Fields Forever ?

2007-03-02T16:02:00.000-05:00

It's Friday and I feel like crap.... I don't know if I'm not running enough or too much... It's been a hard week to focus... My mind is not ready to run a 5k tomorrow.... And I don't think my body is either.... I want to run a 6:45 pace, but just thinking about it makes me tired.

I'm in a runners funk and I need to pull myself out of whatever I'm in. Maybe I'll go off as fast as I can (forget about pace) and try to hold on to the end. Something needs to change, I need a plan... But for now I'll just put one foot in front of the other and pound out whatever time I can...

I'll get over it.

Race report over the weekend and I'll see ya on the road (I think), runron

This Gu's For You

2007-02-25T20:22:00.000-05:00

I guess I'm what you call a "middle of the pack" runner. I've written in the past about the elites in our sport. Now let me address the runners behind me.

Running in the middle gives me the opportunity to see both ends. Most races are out and back, like the Gasparilla 15k. Running down Bayshore Blvd. then turning around and heading back. The first runners you will see coming back your way are the gifted. They glide at an effortless pace or so it seems (I wouldn't know). They are totally focused on the rhythm of their bodies, but void smiles. There is no smiling when you are trying to win. Their goal is much different then the runners behind me.

Yes I said runners, if you commit yourself to train, give it all you have and never quit then you are a runner. I don't care what your pace may be. You can't put dedication on a watch.

I had the opportunity to witness this when I crossed the finish line last Saturday. I made my way down the race course to see other runners coming in. As the time on the clock grew higher the smiles got wider.
The runners in the back had a sense of accomplishment, all their hard work was paying off for them. I bet if you ask half of them a year ago, if they could run 9.3 miles they would have probably said "you mean in one day"

Finishing a 15k has as much meaning to them as it does to the ones who win. Because they have won.
They fought the demons and won. Someone at work may have told them they couldn't do it. why are they even trying. At times they may have felt like giving up, but they carried on.
You can almost see the stories from their expressions when they are getting close to the finish line.

I sometimes wonder if it took the gifted 6 or 8 hours to run a marathon would they go through the training to run such an event?
Our sport is not the most popular one in the world. We need runners with all talent levels because all runners have a story... A story being told on the roads and races through out the world. I would be willing to bet that the runners in the"back" have a more interesting story to tell then the ones out front.

I know we all have egos and we all want to win, but lets not forget without the "back of the packers" we may not have a race to go to.

I don't want you to think I'm bitter about the front runners. They run a race I'm not familiar with. I just want them to know that they are not the only ones on the road.
I think a lot of them know, I see them out there cheering for us when we come in and we thank you, it means a lot.

To the runners behind me, you are an inspiration and you are way ahead of those that didn't start. Your hard work does not go unnoticed, keep smiling and never be ashamed to call yourself a runner.

This Gu's for you.
(to non-runners Gu is a energy gel that you take during long runs)

Thats my view from the middle
See ya on the road, runron

Eat the Bear

2007-02-23T21:09:00.000-05:00

Well my big races are done for the year and it's only February. For the past six months all I thought about was the marathon and Gasparilla. I feel a little lost without something to work for. I am planing on doing a lot of 5k's this spring, but there is no feeling like a big race.

Keeping my focus on speed work is the key to having a good 5k season. actually the 5k is more my type of race. I really don't have the body type for the long stuff, not many slow twitch muscles and my fast twitch muscles that I once had were last seen at a baseball game about 25 years ago. It all goes back to that gene thing.

I figure I have about a year left before runrandall starts coming in ahead of me, so I better enjoy it while it last.

Running is a funny thing, there are good runs like the kind I had Saturday. Then there is the other run. The one you don't want to do. From the start you say why I'm I doing this? Nothing feels right. Your form is out, you can't focus and every little pain finds a home in the center of your mind. You try to trick yourself into thinking it's getting better, but you know it's not.

So we keep on grinding searching for that run... The run we hope will last forever... The run that makes all the ones we hated worth it.... If you're a runner you know what I'm talking about... If you're not, try it and you will see what I mean.

Somedays you eat the bear and somedays the bear eats you. Thats life.

Check out my brother runrandall's blog, He's come a long way in a short time. I think he's lost something like 60lbs since Jan. 1st. A story like his needs to be shared.

See ya on the road, runron

Where's Bill?

2007-02-18T13:08:00.000-05:00

Gasparilla 15k 2007.... runrandall, runron, but no runbill... See post below for full story.

Memories Of Gasparilla Or Goodbye Bill

2007-02-17T15:44:00.000-05:00

Marijuana and beer waft in the air, as I stepped over a passed out woman obviously drunk from a night of too much..well too much.

Oh sorry, wrong flashback... That was Van Halen 1982.

To say the morning was cold does not describe how it felt to this Florida boy. You could tell the contenders from the pretenders by their dress.

The runners wore shorts and tank tops. I was dressed in long running tights, a thermal winter gear shirt, gloves, and a knit cap to cover my "little ears". I think you know who the pretender was... I'm sure I saw a penguin walking south... The weather was not my friend, so I thought.... But after Saturday I'm going to "think a new" on that, but first let me back up to Friday night.

I went to pick-up my bib (#910) with my brother runrandall. We walked through the expo looking at the latest running gear and taking free samples of everything from collard greens to chocolate milk.
When a voice came over the loud speaker. Running legend Bill Rodgers will be at both 315 in 5 min.
Bill Rodgers is a 4 time winner of the Boston and New York City Marathon. To us ham & egger's Bill is the Babe Ruth of running. I mentioned to runrandell how I would like to have my picture taken with the greatest American runner of all time, but I didn't have a camera.

"No problem, my phone has a camera" runrandall said.
Perfect now I can have a photo to put on my blog.( Running legend Bill with runron).
Waiting in line for all the groupies to get out of the way, so I could spend my time with Bill. I noticed how friendly Mr. Rodgers was to complete strangers. He's not just signing and going to the next person... No, he is having deep and long conversations... And I do mean l-o-n-g conversations. You could tell his passion for the sport by the way he listen to what ever nonsense the wannabee runner was telling him.... Bill Rodgers is a class guy.

The time is here, it's me, runrandall, and Bill Rodgers. I pull out my bib for him to sign and ask if I could have a picture taken with him. "Sure" Bill said......
I looked at runrandall.... He looked at me..... I'm still looking at runrandall...
"My batteries are dead" runrandall said.

After a moment of awkward pause.... I said something to Bill about the cold weather and ask him if he was going to run in the race tomorrow? I really don't remember what all Mr. Rodgers said to me. I was too busy giving runrandall a cold icy stare as I fumbled my way through a conversation with a running superstar.
Bill said he was sorry about the picture, then he said... "Tomorrow, see me tomorrow we'll take it then." I shook his hand and walked away, telling runrandall "Ya right, like we'll see him tomorrow".

Back to Saturday, it's 7:00 am and I can't find runrandall. We are suppose to meet on the same corner as last year. After 15 min. of waiting around I decide to warm-up a little bit... then the famous nervous bladder hits.... So I go to the port-a-potty and wait.... Why is it that I always get behind the guy that takes all day to go?... What could he possibly be doing in there? Runners to my left and right are going in and out of the blue bathrooms while I wait for Elvis to exit his throne.

Finally I'm in and out with 15 min. before race time. I don't see runrandall, but I do see his wife. She said he was in the bathroom... Great, if he's behind one of those guys he'll never make the race.
Just when I was thinking that, here come runrandall.
"Guess who I just saw?" runrandall said. "Bill Rodgers"
ARGHHH! and he didn't have a camera....I did. Then his wife Kathy took a quick picture of me and runrandall with no Bill in sight.... Kathy kept the camera while we waited for the race to start.

On with the race.
The start reminded my of the Disney Marathon. We were in the back of the pack, this year the woman and men started at the same place. The same feeling of not being able to move made the first mile a obstacle course, a constant zig-zag wasting energy mile. Split time of first mile was 8:09 (not good, It felt more like two miles of running).

Something weird happened on my way... I started picking up pace.... I don't know if it was the weather or I'm getting better at this, but the next 8 miles I ran about an 7:35 pace.
I don't want to say it was a runners high.... But it felt like my feet did not touch the ground for 8 miles..... I kept looking at my watch thinking I'm out too fast.... I just could not slow down, it felt too good..... So I went with how ever long the feeling would last.

Throwing away all thoughts of crashing, I just ran.... You hear of runners being in the zone... I could not believe the ease of this race.... without getting too deep, it was like I was not there, my mind was running and I was just along for the ride.

If I could capture that feeling.... What a run... I'm finding words hard to describe what I felt.

The funny thing is after I crossed the finish line, I came down.... I had just ran the race of my life, beat my predicted time by almost 4 min. and I felt empty. Maybe that's the way drug addicts feel when they run out of their fix, I don't know?

The best thing about running is it's free and legal... and my drug of choice.

Now I'll bore you with my stats.
Out of 3590 runners I finished 541
Out of 345 men 40-44 I finished 81
With a time of 1:11:39 (I can live with that)

By the way running legend Bill Rodgers ran a 1:11:56 which means I passed him somewhere along the way.... If I'd only had a camera...

Splits
Mile 1- 8:09
Mile 2- 15.44 (7:35)
Mile 3- 23:23 (7:38)
Mile 4- 31:03 (7:40)
Mile 5- 38:46 (7:42)
Mile 6- 46:25 (7:42)
Mile 7- 54:08 (7:42)
Mile 8- 1:01:44 (7:36)
Mile 9- 1:09:20 (7:36)
.3- 1:11:39 (2:15)

Ipod tunes I heard on my way

City Of Blinding Lights-- U2
Hip Hop Hooray--- Naughty By Nature
You Get What You Give--- New Radicals
Starry Eyed Surprised--- Paul Oakenfold
Let's Go---- Trick Daddy
More Human then Human-- Rob Zombie
Explosive--- Bond
Little Less Conversation---- Elvis
Where The Streets Have No Names- U2 (best song ever written)
Badlands (live)--- Bruce Springsteen
Lose Yourself--- Eminem
Express Yourself-- NWA
Mission Impossible-- Moby
Round Up---- N.F.L. Films
Kung Foo Fighting--- Fatboy Slim
Battle Without Honer-- Kill Bill Soundtrack
Good Vibrations--- Marky Mark

See ya on the road, runron

Prediction Timeeeee....

2007-02-13T19:22:00.000-05:00

It is 7:30 pm on Tuesday night and I just saw the weather forecast for Saturday's race.

Most runners would be thrilled to hear that the temp. will be in the high 30's... I'm not one of those runners.
But then again I complained that the Disney Marathon was too hot... Why can't I find a race that is 65 and a little cloud cover? I will probably ramble about this topic on another post in the future. (like after a long run in July) Now on with the blog.

Last year, to be honest with you, I was just happy to finish. I thought I ran a respectable 1:32:50. Ego Ron laughed and laughed at that. After picking himself off the floor, he reminded me about the 70 year old man that passed me near the finish line... (ya but he was a young 70 year old guy)

Okay Ego Ron this is for you. Not only am I going to beat last years time.... I'm going to kick the door open. I will run the 15k in 1:14:59 and knock any old man (or woman) in my way down the cold roads of Bayshore Blvd. leaving them trembling in the wake of runron.

Now that Ego has been addressed, let common sense say this. A 1:14:59 is doable if everything goes as planed. Who can say what will happen. Beating last years time should not be a problem... Heck, I've ran a 10 mile training run faster then that time... But to run it in 1:14:59 will take a 8:02 pace. At this point in my running life, that pace for that distance is right on the edge for me. Go out too slow and I'm screwed.... Go out too fast and the 90 year olds will be passing me at the end.

If I can place in the top 100 of my age group it will be a good day... If I just cross the finish line it will be a great day. Isn't that what it is really all about? Finish the task at hand. Anything above that is a bonus.

Ya know some people say perception is reality... The perception of running 26.2 miles or even 9.3 miles is impossible to some... But the reality of it comes down to your mindset... Which got me to thinking the other day (usually that's when I get into trouble) A year ago my mind could not grasp a marathon, I was lucky to run 5 miles... 5 miles is a tempo run now.
So let me say this (I can't believe I going to write this) I'm thinking about ultra-marathon. 100 miles isn't that far, right?... Remember perception.

That's all I got... Can't never could and won't never will...
See ya on the road, runron

What A Year

2007-02-11T09:32:00.000-05:00

This Saturday will mark a year of competitive racing... well not competitive, but a year of lining up with a number on my chest.
Somethings that I have learned along the way.

Five miles used to be a long run...Now I can run 26.2 miles without losing my breath.
I have willed myself to do things that I thought were impossible. I'm am forever battling the Ego Ron.

Ego is a dangerous drug. Taken in small dosages it can heal your insecurities as a runner, writer, or whatever your passion might be.
If you grab a handful and wash it down with a glass of self-importance, the overdose will leave you on the trash heap of wasted ability crying for your mommy.

Other things I have learned on my ride.
Shave around your nipples or the most painful thing about a long run is the hair being riped from your bird chest when you yank the tape off.

There are no easy runs...until you put it down in your log book and say "Wow".

You can take a day and eat everything in sight... Then go back and eat some more... And not gain a pound.

Other runners go out of their way to be helpful and are always cheering for you even thou you are not as gifted as they are.

I look ridicules in my photos when I cross the finish line.

Injuries are part of the sport... shut-up and deal with them.

I guess the most important thing I have learned, is not to take running so seriously. Nobody cares if you run a 6 min. mile or a 15 min. mile. My running will not change the world, nether will this blog. Yes I do love to run, and I do love to... (check that) I do like to... (no wait) I tolerate writing blogs, because I feel doing both things make me a better person.

The above were thoughts I had this morning while running a practice 15k (9.3 miles).

The run was a time of reflection and giving thanks for this wonderful journey I've been on over the past year.

I look forward to the coming year. My hope is that I can have a few P.R.'S and learn more about things that I have only scratched on the surface.
If you can put up with bad grammar and boring tells of the road, maybe this blog will be entertaining as well.

Who knows what tomorrow will bring. Life would be simple if we could wrap problems up in a 30 min. sitcom or 24 hours (like Jack Bauer). Who ever said "Life is not fair" needs to look around because it can always get worse.

See ya on the road, runron....

One more thing to my thousand of readers. I've been playing around with this blog thing. I don't know if I like the spinning pictures on the top of the page. It might look a little out of place.
I do like the countdown to races (thanks Jason)
I also have a visit counter, so I'll no if anybody reads this dribble.

She's not going to pull-out in front of me, is she?

2007-02-08T14:40:00.000-05:00

Let me get something off my chest.... The other day and it really don't matter what day it is. Because this happens all the time!.... I'm driving minding my own business, when a dark blue Toyota with Texas plates refuses to stop at the red octagon sign. Now I've been to Texas and I've seen those type of signs out there. So this is not some Florida rule. Then the car... The one that was in such a hurry it had to pull-out in front of me... Decides to become the safest driver known to man.... We are not going the speed limit.... No, we are travailing 10 mph under the speed that our Florida Legislature has deemed a safe speed. The picket fences looked like telephone polls we were going so slow.
We come to a stop sign. And we wait... and wait... Let me make this perfectly clear...We are waiting for a car that is a good quarter mile down the road! What goes through peoples mind... If you pull-out in front of me when I'm almost even with you. Why do you wait for a vehicle that you can barely see down the road?
Well I know the reason. It took me a little while before I could Dale Earnheart my way around her... And yes I did say her.

Guess what was the first thing I saw....CELL PHONE.
I'm going to say something that my seem controversial, but hear me out.
It should be illegal for women to drive..... and talk on the cell phone. I started to leave it at drive, but I think that's a little harsh.

Think about this, it is a proven fact that women say around twenty thousand words a day.
Men say about seven thousand words a day.

It was late in the afternoon when this happened to me. My theory is that this woman only had about ten thousand words in that day. She could not help herself, she was on the clock. Forget about the huge bright red sports utility barreling down the highway. She had a number to dial.
I got this figured out...She slows down at the stop sign and thinks "Oh, I got to talk"... Whips out her phone at the same time yours truly approaches, looking at the phone and not me, gently rolls out in front of nothing.(that's what she saw) Then proceeds to have a nice leisurely conversation to fill up her quota of words for the day. That is the way I see it.

I know what the other sex is saying right now.
I bet you talk on the phone when you drive...Blah..blah.. blah.

Well I'm sorry Missy, but the rules don't apply to me and this is my blog. Start one of your own. And no I won't stop a ask for directions. And yes I do think the 3 Stooges are funny.

Any male stereotype you want to pin on me, I will wear it as a badge of honor.

See ya on the road, (without your cell phone) runron.

OK... OK.. I'm joking.. I don't think the law should just apply to women. It is a problem for both sexes. I was just having a little fun.

Truth be known if men had to give birth, our population would have ceased to exist long ago. And you are the smartest sex, so let us have our fun.
See ya on the road, (and I really mean no cell phone) runron.

Running with The Elites

2007-02-07T23:04:00.000-05:00

I came across this video on youtube. What amazing athletes.There training runs are faster then my sprints, unbelievable.
If this don't make you want to run.... Then you're dead.
I hate to bore some people (unrunric) with videos of guys running. I just thought it was interesting.

Does anybody know the name of the 2nd song in the video? Slow song, but I like it.
runron.

I've found my style

2007-02-02T22:59:00.000-05:00

"GET OFF THE COUCH!" A voice screamed in my head. "The good times are over." it continued. "What are you talking about?" was my reply.
I can't really say why I do what I do. All I know is that in the noon-time of my life, I wanted to prolong twilight as much as possible. The inner self has more to do with the outward shell then you think. Until one wraps themselves around the fact that no one gets out alive.
Who knows how long this blog-thing will last. It floats out there in imagery space on a road called "The Internet". The words you are reading will probably stand attention longer then any of us. I can't help but wonder what it would be like 200 years from now, when Al Gore day is celebrated: as the father of this medium. Some hot shot computer whiz finds a way to brake the code to all these blogs.The future world will be engulfed with nothing but dribble trying to understand why we used the letter "R" for the word "are". And "U" for you.

I'm not sure how long I will write, It maybe a phase I'm going through. I do know that as I start to age, the more challenges I want to accomplish. Running a marathon for instance. Then I kinda fell into writing. After putting in miles of training I needed a vehicle to express my emotion, and this blog became my transportation.

Looking back, maybe I should have started writing in anonymity, keeping it my little secret as the words float into eternity. Until some geek from planet creep-tor stumbles into my world of "runron1855". Who knows if anybody reads this slop, I do get comments from my brethren which is nice. (but you really need to get a life)

I think more people write blogs then read them. I also think that's a good thing. Which brings me to my point. If I can do this, anybody can. I challenge you to get yourself a blog. The best part is that it's free and very easy to do. Now you don't have to be as foolish as me and tell people about it. Just do it for you. Write about anything. let your words remain long after the creek has been crossed. You might just find out you like doing something you thought you hated. ("thinking")

A funny thing happened on the way to writing this post. Read the first paragraph, it has nothing to do with the rest of this post. I started out with the thought of telling you about how I got into running. I was going to delete the first part.
But I thought, you know how every great writer has their own style. I think I've found mine. "confusing".
Oh yes, I can see it now. English class at some high brow institution in the year 2112. The professor says, "Today class we are going to read from the ancient Blog of runron1855. Notice the certain confusing style of the writer. the genius of his work, is breath-taking. Going from one point, then a sharp turn to something else. It's almost like he had no clue of how to write. Brilliant".

Hey, a man can dream can't he?
So, here's what you do. go to any blog home page, sign up and get writing.

And I will C-U on the road. I hate that.
See ya on the road, runron
and maybe the Internet...................

"Random Thoughts"

2007-01-30T09:39:00.000-05:00

Today I broke in a new pair of Mizuno wave rider 10's and had these thoughts.

As bad as you think you have it... somebody has it worse.

When a old pain starts to go away... you get a new one.

If you come in last place, you're ahead of those that did not start.

Florida's cold at 6:38 am.

Where ever you go... that's where you are.

I hate the gators.

Life is short... but it should be long enough.(not my thought,but I like it)

I could go on, but I got to go.
See ya on the road, runron.

A runners morning.

2007-01-25T12:51:00.000-05:00

The sun has not yet begun to rise, on this cold January morning. The full moon lights the path as the runner starts his journey. The sound of nothing fills the air and the dew settles on the road behind his feet. His legs are weak, but strong enough to take him on the course he has chosen. What brings him to this place of peaceful glide?

With each strike of the foot he sees his breath in front of him and the bitter wind turns his cheeks raw, there is calm feeling as his pace starts to rise. He has been running for over an hour and the world is still asleep. He is his own prisoner being held captive by the experience of the moment. To be in bed is not an option. This is his time. No distraction, only focus on the task at hand. Many have ran faster, and many have ran longer, but he knows no other life.. He is a runner.

I don't know... I think I'm going crazy!... Help.- See ya on the road, runron

Fish Hawk 10k

2007-01-20T13:14:00.000-05:00

Today I ran the 10th annual Fish Hawk 5 and 10k Road Race. I wasn't the smartest runner on the road today. I went out way too fast, I was 37 seconds ahead of my pace time at mile 1 and it may have cost me a 3rd place finish in my age group. I finished with a 48:00 and came in 4th in ages 40-44. Not bad I guess, but I have to learn how to pace myself. The guy that came in 3rd ran a 7:34 pace and I ran a 7:44 if I'm doing the math right, over 6.2 miles he finished a little over a min. faster then me.
So the first mile killed me- I don't want to make an excuse, but I will anyway. The 5 and 10k start out at the same time, it's a 3.1 mile loop and if you run the 10k you do it twice. Ego Ron blasted out of the gate keeping up with the 5k guys... No I wouldn't listen to any other Ron.- Ego was in full throttle, feeling real good about himself..... Then came mile 3.... Oops... The guys I had been running with peeled off to finish their race...... And Ego Ron had another 3.1 miles to go.... Well I tried to make the best of a bad situation. Mile 5 was the worst, my pace was down to what seemed like a crawl 8:09 which is unacceptable for me on a 10k run. Mile 6 was not much better at a 7:51 pace. I did play a little cat and mouse game with a runner, at about mile 5 and a half I caught this guy (younger then me) we ran side by side..... I could feel he didn't want to make a move ahead too soon, for fear of me passing him at the end.... Thats the same thing I was fearing as well .... So we're running pretending that we don't notice each other.... We get to mile 6 with just two tenths of a mile to go.

And guess who shows up?..... Ego Ron here.... Ego shifts into his classic sprinters form and blows the loser away, thats the way Ego saw it..... I really don't know how much I beat him, but I did have a small victory.... And thats the lesson learned today boys and girls.... pull Ego out when you need him... Not when he needs you...

Here are my split times, my watch is off from the official time of 48:00

Mile 1- 7:08:53
Mile 2- 14:37 (7:28:82)
Mile 3- 22:22 (7:45:62)
Mile 4- 30:17 (7:54:63)
Mile 5- 38:27 (8:09:42)
Mile 6- 46:18 (7:51:38)
Point 2-47:54 (1:36:57)

See ya on the road, runron.......

What's an oppinion worth?

2007-01-17T19:39:00.000-05:00

Does it really matter what someone tells you about running. This is what I have read or heard. So which one is right?
After a marathon take a day off for every mile you run... a marathon is 26.2 miles so that means take 26 days off right?... Not so fast long run breath.
After a marathon you should run the next day, just to get the legs loose.. Okay I'm no expert here, but isn't that two completely different things...

Here is another one. After a run take an ice bath to stop swelling in the joints.. Makes sense right?... Try to stay with me... After a run soak in a hot tub too soothe your muscles... What?... What's a runner suppose to do?

How about this one, you can't run a marathon on just 3 runs a week... And then, you can run a marathon on just 3 runs a week, I'm prof of the latter.
I can fill a post full of contradictions on running and who's to say what is right. All I know is that you have to sort through the stuff you think will work for you, and hope it works.

As a seasoned marathoner of one whole marathon under my belt let me say this. I don't care what the experts say. I have to do whats right for me, because I can tell you that my body is a lot different then that of a 25 year old who can run a 6 min. pace for 26.2 miles and I think a lot of us lose site of the fact that we are all different and not just in running....

I don't want to get too deep here, but isn't that what life is about. Finding your own way. Not going with what conventional wisdom tells you to do.... I'm starting to ramble here, so bare with me... What I'm trying to say is be your own person no matter what you hear from the so called experts. Nobody knows you better then you know yourself... Look we all have voices in our head, I'm just the crazy one that lets you hear the voices I hear.... If we all pay attention to the voice within... I think you will find out that it's has a greater knowledge of what you should do then any book or expert can tell you... That applies to running as well as life.

On a lighter note, this Saturday I will be running in the Fish Hawk 10k (that's 6.2 miles) unrunric was concerned that it was too early too run after a marathon, but I feel pretty good except for this toe problem... Speaking of that I actually had this conversation with my wife, You can ask her it's true..(I think it might be a sign I'm into this running thing a little too much)

Here's what I said.. "Do you think it would be alright if I got my 3rd toe cut off?"
She said: "What?"

My reply: "Well, it just sets there, it don't do nothing, except every time I run it hurts. If I get it cut off it wont hurt anymore, problem solved."

She looked at me like I was nuts. Then I said.
"I think Ronnie Lott had his pinky finger cut off so he could play in a football game."
And she says: "What did that get him?"

Proudly I say: "A Super Bowl Ring... he just can't wear it on his pinky."

She walks out of the room shakes her head and says.
"You can cut your toe off when you make it to the Super Bowl."

So I will be practicing my football skills... I think the Bucs have an open tryout in April.
See ya on the road, runron.

Final thoughs of Disney

2007-01-14T22:07:00.000-05:00

Now that I have had a week to think about the marathon, here is my take.... Too many runners for my taste, I spent so much time and energy trying to get my pace I had nothing left when I got to mile 13. I went over my split times and saw when it started to fall apart. It was at about mile 15 when I just could not hold a 9 min. mile pace, then at mile 22,23 and 24 my mile pace was at about 11:30 pace. The worst mile was 25, at a snails pace of 13:11. There are a few other factors that came into play; The heat, I have ran some Aug. mornings that were cooler then the marathon. I talked to a guy after the race, he said he was helping at a water stop at mile 19 and some of the elite runners were walking. So I felt pretty good that I didn't start walking at the water stops until mile 20 (I think). The race kind of got fuzzy after mile 20. Also my thighs, they killed me. I was not prepared for that. In all the running I have done, my thighs have never hurt. The thing I thought would have given me trouble would have been my calves, but they came through with flying colors. My calves usually hurt after a 5 mile run, but after the marathon they felt great... Well not great, but compared to the rest of me they felt okay.

I'm going to do the Gasparilla 15k in Feb.( then do about 10 or 12) 5 and 10k races leading up to the summer months when I will begin another marathon training program. Right now, and I know it's a long ways off, but I'm thinking about the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon, It starts in Georgia and ends in Chattanooga Tennessee... Sounds like fun?

So if anybody want to join me for any of these races, drop me a commit put on are shoes and lets go.
I will try too keep this blog interesting along the way... I'm a runner and I find nothing more boring then reading other runners blogs about how many miles they ran or what they ate for breakfast before their run...B-o-r-i-n-g...

I will try to put a new post up at least once a week, so if you go a while without seeing a new post check back in a few days. I want my post to be worth reading and not Blah.. Blah... Blah.. And by the way if you like something don't be afraid to leave a commit (thanks Ric, Stu, Dad and Randall) And if nobody reads this thats okay, because it helps me keep my sanity,and I don't complain to the wife as much. And please overlook spelling and grammar, english was not my subject and I do these right before I go to bed. My fingers don't move as good as my brain late at night.

See ya on the road, runron

From the mind of a marathon man

2007-01-08T15:42:00.000-05:00

26.2 miles in the mouse house, and I guess I feel pretty good about the outcome. I wanted to have a 4 hour finish time, but with 3 hours of sleep and a record high temps for January, I'll take a 4:18:34.
Out of the 1,126 runners in my age group (40-44).... (I'm closer to the 44 then the 40), I finished at 313. I don't know how many runners actually ran the race, but 16,000 signed up and I think I heard the real number was about 12,000. So of the 12,000, I came in at 2,034 overall.... I had no idea that when I finished that there were 10,000 runners behind me, because as you read this you'll find out I started out in last place.

I will give a mile by mile account of my thoughts, the only words I said for four hours eighteen minutes and thirty four seconds was "thank you" to the volunteers when they gave me water and "hi" to a guy I saw that runs at the track on Thursday. So before you think I'm rude, these are just my thoughts..... Didn't yell at anybody..... But I thought it..... a lot. I won't tell you which Ron was talking but you can figure that out.... With all that being said, here we go.

4:45 am(standing in line at the portapotty) I wish this line would go faster..... What is he doing in there?.... Come on buddy..
... Thank you, bout time... (Finished in portapotty, turn around get back in line for the portapotty).... good move getting back in line, you know you'll have to go again..... What is she doing in there? (5:15 am, make an announcement for runners to report to the starting line)... Lets go people, got a race to run!.... (man comes out of the john tells everybody DON'T GO IN THERE).... Great, now we're down to just one john and I'm 5th in line.. Well I 'm glad I got back in line cause now I got to go!... Finally, thank you.

5:45 am-(I find out the starting line is a half a mile away)... What, a half a mile?... this is great, just great. (I'm with the rest of the small bladder people making their way to the starting line)... Man this is a long walk... Oh there it is...what are those guys doing?..... They are facing the bushes... Oh, come on guys couldn't wait in line with the rest of us... Okay where is corral H?... I can't find corral H!.... It's 10 min. till the start and I can't find corral H...... This says corral C, now I know c is before h why is c all the way in the back?.... AND I CAN'T FIND CORRAL H!... Well I guess I'll start in CORRAL C!.... Now I've only got about 5 min. to get loose, let me run around a little bit...... got plenty of room to run... there is nobody behind corral C.... This is just great there is 15,999 people in front of me or what ever the number is.....

(2 min. till race time, star spangled banner has just been played.) Okay I'm last but I'm here, just settle down, it will be fine.... look at that guy, I can take him.... o.k, boy this is what it's all about.... (the fireworks go off and the race starts)... Why aren't we moving.... Any time now..... Shouldn't we be moving ..... I can't believe this.... I think I see people starting to move...Yes, yes.... I'm walking.... Still walking..... still walking... Don't forget to start your watch when you cross the start line... (I look at my watch on my right wrist, I started it when the race officially started. It's also my heart rate monitor I use it to gauge how fast I'm running. The other watch I use for my time splits)... Why are we still WALKING!.... Time to turn the ipod on.... Hey starting to jog..... Jogging a little faster....... There is the starting line..... And I'm off.....

MILE 1- Man I'm no where near my pace... I'm trapped..... get out of the way..... move..... I need to find the four hour pace team.... They said they would be running with a red balloon with the pace number on it....... Why is this guy walking?.... not even 1 mile into it and your walking...... move... I can't go anywhere... I'm going to try to slip between them.... Now try the side of the road.... o.k thats a little better.... Slow people coming up, plan your move.... And now..... I'm going to have to get used to this.... Where is the mile marker?.... Did I pass it?.... If I'm on pace it should be here.... O.K you've ran for nine and a half min. and no mile marker.... WHERE IS THE MILE MARKER!?.... I think I passed it.....

MILE 2- I think, I have no idea what pace I'm on.... water stop?... it's a little early for water..... I don't need no stinking water...Hey what's that I see?..... It's a balloon... the pace balloon..... let me get closer so I can read it.... boy this would be great, I've wormed my way up to find my.. WHAT? 5 hour pace team... unbelievable I'm on a 5 hour pace.... gear it up boy.. I still can't find the mile marker, I still might be on mile 1.... move out of the way..... Ladies if you want to talk go over to the bench and have a nice sit-down, I'm trying to run a marathon here.... heart rate says I should be on pace..... Calm down you've still got..... I don't how many miles are left I can't find the MILE MARKER!....I think I passed it......

MILE 3- I think. I know I'm going slower than I need to be.... Look at these guys relieving themselves, what are we animals?... Hey! we're merging with other runners... I bet they were in corral H... I've been running for a half an hour and I don't know what mile I'm on...... go over to the side.... watch it ..... move.... I'm in the middle, you idiot don't go to the middle, stay on the outside, you know better.... I'm SUCH AN IDIOT.... O.K don't do that again... I've got to be coming up on mile 4......(I forgot I did ask a worker what mile was coming up as I ran by him) What mile is coming up?..... He said two... TWO? No way! then somebody yelled four!

MILE 4- Finally a mile marker..... let me look at my pace band.... 2 min. off pace..... Not bad considering the start, plenty of time to make it up.... Starting to get a little hot.....Knee feeling a little stiff... Move.... Work your way to the other side.... What's this guy have on?... Plaid pants?... why would you run a marathon in plaid bermuda shorts down to your knees?.... Need water...... O.k powerade ... Man thats warm....

MILE 5- Still 2 min. off pace.....Knee feeling better..... here comes the first hill.... some of these guys look in bad shape already... Didn't they train....I can hear them now, Hey honey look Disney is having a marathon why don't we sign up and run it together, It'll be fun.... they have know idea.... let me check my heart rate... What... 7:77:77... Great, just great, my heart rate monitor has froze up..... You got to be kidding me.... this is the 3rd time this has happened.... I am never buying a Polar heart rate monitor again.... I hate Polar...

MILE 6- Still 2 min. off..... I need to bump it up a little.... little more room to run... What are you doing buddy?.... I see you in the Jeff Galloway.com t-shirt.... I'm not your personal pacer... give me some space.... Maybe I can pull off one of my earphones and we can listen together.... I'm out of here, see you at the finish line, sucker....

MILE 7- About 45 sec. off pace... Need water and eat some sports beans.... Get the beans ready.... hurry chew them up ... here's the water stop... Gulp. Gulp.. Gulp... That feels better... Hey I think I know that guy.... Yeah, thats him.... Maybe not... Yes it is... Should I say something.... nah.. Well maybe I will... Let me pull up right next to him.... Huffing, you ah run track out at Riverview?...Yeah.... I thought I saw you out there... (Long awkward pause) This guy thinks I want to run with him... What would you think, If some guy came up to you.... Better move away... Huffing, see ya later... Yeah, good luck.. Good luck to you to.... I need to get some new music for my ipod.... hate this song... thats better... Now I can groove on down the highway... Little foggy, should be able to see the Disney entrance pretty soon... What's my heart rate?... I dunno because my watch is frozen.... on 7:77:77... I hate this watch!...

MILE 8- About 30 sec. off pace... think I'll try to run on the grass for a while.... Take your mind off running.... you don't have to go to the bathroom... not now.... Think I'll wait a while... water is coming up get your gue ready...Hey what's that, another balloon?... Ha, ha.... I caught it.... I caught the... WHAT!... the 4 hour and 30 min. pace team.... O.k., it is my quest to catch the 4 hour pace team.... next balloon I see will be it.... how do they run with that balloon on a stick for 4 hours and 30 min..... Water stop... Gimme, gimme..Ah.. thats good....gue with caffeine always does the trick.... My toe is starting to hurt... Yep that blood blister is coming back....

MILE 9 Still about 30 sec. off pace...Man it's hot... My shoes are soaked... I can feel them squish... Oh look at that guy.. he's limping bad... feel sorry for you buddy... hang in there.... pay no attention to the toe... or the bladder.... All is fine...Just out for a morning run... No different... just that you never ran 26.2 miles before.... Shut-up....

MILE 10-About 40 sec. off pace.... Hey I going to Disney World.... look at all the people here cheering... What would make people get out of bed at 7:30 to come cheer.... Well I guess I'll enjoy it... I'm a rock star... That lady said way to go Ron... How did she know my name... I am a rock star!... you idiot your name is on your bib... Oh yeah.... Oh look, all these runners brought cameras... They're stopping to have their picture taken with Mickey.... Why would somebody do that?.... Hey, watch it buddy... What are you doing? (crash)... I just ran into that guy... Unbelievable... He came running across and stopped right in front of me... Why?.. to have his picture taken with Goofy.... Park opens at 9:00, mouse out front should have told ya...If you want your picture taken with a character come back when we aren't running MARATHONS!... Now I get to run through Cinderella Castle... Oh no, they just took my official picture... Hope I didn't have a throw up face.... Boy it's hot... now where are we going... sign says "For cast members only"... Maybe I'll see Mickey with his head off smoking a cigarette... Or Donald Duck with his pants off.... You idiot, Donald Duck doesn't wear pants... Time for water and some Powerade.. Thank you..

MILE 11- Still 40 sec. off pace...Oh I never gonna give you up, cause quitting you baby just ain't my.... I love Berry White...Do I stop to go to the bathroom?... Not yet... I still fell pretty good... Pretty.. pretty.. good... who am I kidding I'm falling apart... Wait... what's that... a balloon finally... from the back of the pack... I crawled up dodging in and out of traffic.. and the pace balloon the one I vowed to find is right there... closer, a little bit closer... WHAT... The 4 hour and 15 min. pace team?... O.k...O.k.. Collect yourself... you can still get there... you're not half way done, you can still find it.....

MILE 12- Think I'm on pace... Things are getting a little fuzzy... Need water.... Why do they have water every ten feet in the beginning and none now... Is a pain in your left arm normal?... kinda tingling to my fingers... well at least I'll make the news...runron dropped dead today in Disney Marathon it happens every year, back to you Cindy... Yeah I'll be the guy... Ah water... O.k things to forget, Toe... Knee... Tingling in fingers,... Bladder... I'm good... good to go... Women put tattoo's in the strangest places... Starting to see a lot of people walking... And they are younger than you... I'm superman...Shut-up...

MILE 13- half way home... and I'm right on pace baby.... Just hold it here and I'm home free... Man is it hot... I'm dying... Knee starting to hurt bad ... Alright, Van Halen Mean Street... Haven't heard that in a while... That'll get me going... Rock on baby...Water and gue coming up... Thank you... this is not so bad.... just a little run... you keep thinking that, but I know a different story... Don't start, go away... the wheels are starting to come off... I said GO AWAY...

MILE 14- Getting off pace... What are you doing?... you hit 13 miles on pace..This is where you said we would run negative splits... Lay off me alright! Can't you see I'm struggling here... It's just that..what?... Well you know the 4 hour thing... look, talk to me at 20 miles we'll see... Why is it so hot in January... I bought hand warmers.... Look at that lady running, the water hose to her back pack is hanging down behind her... I bet I could run up and take a drink and she would never know.... See you still have a sense of humor... What's that smell... Oh this is nice we're running through the Disney sewage treatment plant... Come to Disney and leave something behind... I'm starting to feel goofy... Hey, where is that guy that ran into me, we can have our picture taken together... here comes a water stop... And pour in down the back... Ah, nice...

MILE 15- Don't know pace... Don't care pace... Foot cramp!..Foot cramp!.. Slow down foot cramp... What is wrong with you... You've ran 15 miles before.... Not in this heat... You baby... O.k cramp is gone... Pick up pace... Foot cramp!!... Just run, don't think about your FOOT CRAMP!.... (after about 2:00 min. of this the cramp goes away)... Runners are dropping like flies... Oh, look, they are handing out bananas... I want a banana... banana good.... Now some water... Thank you.....

MILE 16- Don't ask about pace... Looks like we are running into Animal Kingdom... This is nice, running in the shade... Still hot, but no sun... Uh Oh... There is a guy on a stretcher.... Two paramedics standing over him.... Oh, boy... focus... Pay no attention to the guy on the stretcher.... Every little hill is killing my thighs... But going down them is worse...Ouch.. This park reminds me of Busch Gardens... You know I think you're only 2 min. off your pace... you again.... Well I'm just saying... Look it's no longer about the 4 hours anymore, it's about surviving... And these thighs are killing me...

MILE 17- Pace?.. Forget it... Alright this is what separates the men from the boys... Why is my left arm killing me?... Shake-'em out... I can't... Don't panic... Think happy thoughts... My shoes are soggy... I know I have a blister on a blister... I said think happy thoughts... I'm in my spa, having a nice soak... Speaking of soak... My shoes are soggy... You're driving me crazy!... Water coming up, get gue ready... Thank you...

MILE 18- Don't know pace... Aright pull yourself together... Put your sunglasses on... And just run... This heat is unbelievable... What was Disney thinking?... What was I thinking?... Good, here comes another water stop... hey, what's that guy handing out... A sponge?... An ice cold water filled sponge... Yes, gimme, gimme, gimme... Thanks man... Ah, sweet relief... That did the trick.... Look at that lady running... Her knees are knocking... I can't believe she's ran 18 miles with her knees knocking, literally knocking together... thats got to hurt... And she is ahead of you... Was ahead of you... So long bird legs... Hey, I'll take any victory right now...

MILE 19- Pace?.. Right... Come on boy... Can I say one thing?... Go ahead... you really don't look as bad as some of these other runners... I'm listening... Well you're still passing more people... Yeah, so?.... So your doing fine, don't be such a drama queen.... I'm not being a drama queen, let's do a body check shall we?, and don't interrupt... Start at the bottom and work my way up... Toe, killing me... Bottom of left foot, killing me... Both knees, killing me... Thighs, killing me... Left arm, killing me... Back, killing me... Shoulders, killing me.... Now what do you say about that?!.... Look, you're not going down the crapper... You said crapper which reminds me, my bladder, is killing me... All this time we've been arguing and look we're at mile 20...

MILE 20- 3 min. off pace... If this ain't the wall, I don't want to be around when I hit it... Looks like we run down a long straight away, then turn around and head back so you can see all the other runners behind you... Need water.... How long before I turn around... I'm going to walk through this water stop... Just walk a little bit... man, It's been over 3 hour since I walked... O.k let's go... Ouch, ouch, ouch.... It hurts to get going... There's the turn around... And look at all the people I'm ahead of... losers.... Feel pretty good about yourself do ya?.... Well I am on the 20th mile of a marathon... And you know what they say about the 20th mile?.. Oh the wall?... No, you rookies always think the wall. The 20th mile of a marathon is the half way point you moron. Everything you've felt up till now, double it.... And look what I see coming your way, about a quarter mile behind you, the 4:15 pace balloon, it's going to catch you... I want to go home...

MILE 21- 4 maybe 5 min. off pace.... Hey marathon boy... what?... You happy now?... Bout what?... This was all your idea, weren't happy with a 5 or 10k race, no. You wanted a big boy race... you said, I can run a marathon, no big deal... So this is the part of the race where you said I told you so?... I just want to know, is this what you thought it would be?... No, yes, I don't know, leave me alone... Don't listen to him Ron, you're doing great, just 5 more miles, you can do 5 more... Yeah you're right just a 5 mile run I do that all the time... not after running 21... shut up... Water break... And I'm walking through this one to.... Walk a little longer... little longer... Hey you passed the water stop, time to start running... just a little longer... O.k, o.k... Ouch, ouch I hate to get going again...

MILE 22- Pace is down to a crawl... legs feel heavy, like not moving.... I know I'm running because I'm passing people...But I can't really feel myself running... This is weird... We're running into MGM Studios... just stay alive... keep it going... Water stop.. No... they're handing out candy... I love candy.... Thank you... what did she give me?...Butterfinger... I love Butterfingers... Butterfinger good...Where's the water... I can't believe they would give me candy with no water... Oh, there it is... Hey, what else is up there?... It's one of those misters, beautiful, look at that cool mist falling down... I'm going to run up there and just take it all in and gently walk through it.... Hey, buddy what are you doing... No... DON'T... Not there... Not now... Too late... And I see you had the Butterfinger to... just when I was going to enjoy a cool mist, some guy threw-up on it... Didn't want that kind of mist.... Thanks...

MILE 23- Pace falling fast... Just focus... Keep head down.. And run... I don't even know what songs have been playing on my Ipod... fuzzy... things are fuzzy..... I smell hamburgers... Is that a sign?... Right before you die, you smell hamburgers?... cause I'm dying... And I'm dying hungry... Thats it, think about food... You're not running, you're eating... A big hamburger... Who am I kidding?... this is the worst mile of them all... Water stop, but no hamburgers...

MILE 24- You're not going to let Oprah beat you... She ran a 4:29 marathon.... get your feet moving... Let's go man... Running around some lake... lot of people cheering.... That helps.... That's it, see that guy up there... Make it your goal to pass him... just look at him and focus... Feel pretty good... It's working... Yeah Oprah not beating me... Some guy just said looking good... not much longer... I'm going to do this... I'm going to finish a marathon... I think....

MILE 25- The last mile.... Well then the point 2... But I'm on the last mile... Call Ella, said I would call at mile 25... This will be fun talking while running... O.k It's Ringing... Ringing.... Ringing... Ringing... What, voice mail... I've just ran 25 miles and voice mail?... Well looking at my watch, I've been running for 4 hours and 5 min. she is probably looking for me at the finish line, and can't hear her phone... I'll leave a message... This will sound funny when I play it back..... I stumble out something like this... Hey I'm at mile 25, I'm dying, look for me in 10 or 11 min.... Some lady says almost there.... Ok, this is it, get ready... when I reach mile 26 I'm going to give it a last sprint to the finish... And don't forget they take your picture when you cross the line.. Look good like you were just out for a little run... It's better to look good then to feel good.... I see the 26 mile marker... Here it comes... Ready to sprint ... One last turn... GO... OUCH, OUCH.. my leg.. My leg just cramped up... I can't move... From my calf to the top of my hamstring... Walking...limping... Why did you want to sprint?... You idiot... Got to run... just around the curve is the line, I hear the crowd yelling... O.k I can run now... I see the finish line... remember look good for the picture... look good for the picture... there's the line.... It's over.... It's over!

If you ask me would I do it again at that moment, the answer would have been "no way!"... But 2 days later and the answer is yes... To be continued.

The traning is done.... Time for fun?

2007-01-05T15:14:00.000-05:00

I've never ran one of these before, so I don't know how your supposed to feel. I guess the best way to describe the way I feel, is somewhere between a kid on Christmas Eve and Saddam Hussein last Friday night. Lets hope Sunday I can compare it to finding a brand new bike with a fancy banana seat and not... well the fate of the latter.

I don't know if this will be the last marathon I run, that will be determined at a later date. I do know one thing, this is the hardest thing I have ever done. The weekend long runs, midweek tempo runs, and the track.. Oh, how I hate the track. Then the cross training (bike & weights). It's been 16 weeks I'll never forget. Having said that there are a few people I would like to thank.

As I like to call them, my medical staff. The good doctor Page- I know you told me not to run any more, but if it was not for me you wouldn't have that new Porsche. my pediatrist Dr. Levine you really no how to scare a fellow, all I wanted was for you to fix my toe, not an appointment with a cancer specialist., and yeah thanks for fixing my toe.
Dr. Letson at Moffit Cancer Center, thanks for the good news, I like you the best... My cardiologist Dr. Leche, thanks for the thumbs up on the ticker,... Now, you said I wouldn't die... Right?
Physical Therapist Sperry. you have the gift my friend... And something tells me I will be seeing you again.

To unrunric, my brother thanks for your commits on this blog, it's nice to know someone is reading this. But you might catch the running bug, then I can call you runric.

To my other brother Randall, This is all your fault... you know last year all I wanted to do was run the Gasparilla with you, thats it! Now look at me, what a mess you got me into. Joking aside, believe it or not you are a true inspiration to me and I hope you realize the talent you have. And keeping the name thing going you can be called ranrandall.

Boy, this is starting to sound like a death march... Just a few more.

To Mom and Dad, I can honestly say if it was not for you two, I wouldn't be here today...After sunday I might curse the day you two met, but thank you

Stu, Kevin, Tim and Russell next year will one of you run this thing with me?

And finally to my wife Ella, Thank you for all your support, and for listening to all the wining and complaining I've done for the last 16 weeks of my training......Heck for the last 25 years. you are a saint, thank you and I love you.

Now with all the mushy stuff out of the way. I hope to have a report of my Rat Run in Disney on Monday or Tuesday, if it's not up by then, that will be your first sign things didn't go as planed. To be honest I think I'll be aright, some times when I read the things I write, I think I go a little overboard on the, "If I make it" or "If I survive"- that kind of stuff.
I've done the training,... Now I just have to trust it and enjoy the ride.
Anyhow the 5 Ron's will be on board with me to keep me company during my 4 hour journey. As well as 16,000 other runners.
I think I will continue to write this blog after the marathon, I find it to be therapeutic and it keeps me from whining to my wife.
All thats left now is the sound of the starting horn, see you when I get back, runron.

"Okay fellahs..Hey fellahs....This is what you work all off season for... This is why you lift all them weights... This is why you do all that stuff."

...........Bill Parcells........

5 Days and counting.....

2007-01-02T17:38:00.000-05:00

First things first. I would like to thank Ric, Elsie, and Russell for donating to the Hope Children's Home. If everyone I sent a e-mail to about this charity were as kind as you all, I think my goal would have already been met. Thanks again the children appreciate it.
Now on with the blog.

Paranoid Ron has not been bugging me too much this week- lets see.. he did mention this cold I have, said it would effect my marathon this weekend.

Oh, yeah, he felt my back twinge when I lifted a counter top up to install, and said it would effect my marathon this weekend.

He did say something about my knee.... what was it? Oh, he said the pain was getting worse and it would effect my marathon this weekend.

He did ask about the blisters on my toes, said it would effect my marathon this weekend.

While he was talking about my toes, he also added that the tendon on my 3rd toe on left foot, would effect my marathon this weekend.

Said something about my stomach, don't remember what, but it would effect my marathon this weekend.

Ankle,... yeah, the ankle it felt a little weird yesterday, said it would effect my marathon this weekend.

One other thing he mentioned, even though they don't hurt right now.... My calves. It would effect my marathon this weekend. (that might have been negative Ron I get them confused)

It was going to be too hot, or too cold Sunday. It would effect my marathon this weekend. (see above about negative Ron)

There was something else.... what P.R. ? (thats what I call paranoid Ron) My sleeping? Oh yeah.. I'm not sleeping well this week, and it would effect my marathon this weekend.

So all in all it's been a pretty quiet week before my marathon. Ego Ron has not stuck his head out one time, I think he's scared. And Positive Ron is missing I hope he's waiting for me at the starting line.

common sense Ron, has had a few kind words, negative Ron and the new guy P.R. have been a little mouthey. The trick here is to know who to listen to. Me or the 4 or now 5 guys in my head. It's going to be an interesting ride......

----- Nothing well effect my marathon this weekend!----------
Hey, you are here thanks Positive Ron

Happy New YEAR

2006-12-30T11:14:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year, from the runron family. I hope the new year brings you health, and happiness. Take time out to realize that life is short, and it's never to late to tell the ones you love that you love them.

Are runners... masochist?

2006-12-26T20:12:00.000-05:00

Do you run when your in pain? Do you stop when your lungs are burning? After a long run, does it hurt to go up the stairs?
How about when your sick with a head cold, but your training calls for a 10 mile run, do you do it anyway? if you answered yes to these questions, you my friend might be a masochist.

Lets see how the Dictionary describes masochism.

masochism
the tendency to derive pleasure from one's own pain or humiliation.
(in general use) the enjoyment of what appears to be painful or tiresome.

There you have it.

All runners love to run, and most runners run with pain. Therefor we have a tendency to derive pleasure from the pain we inflict on ourself.
I'm not trying to be to deep, its just something I was thinking about during a 8 mile tempo run yesterday.

I went through a check list of injuries that I've had to see a medical professional about,....... ready?

I T Band strain on left side of knee.

I T Band strain on right side of knee.

Torn meniscus on right knee, required surgery.

Slight tear of left calf.

Pulled hamstring where it connects to the inside of left knee.

Slight tear of right calf.

Tendon in 3rd toe of left foot, rolled over causing a stinging sensation whenever my foot hit the ground.

Visit to the cardiologist, just to make sure all this running is not killing me.

All of the above required a doctors visit, not to mention the everyday muscle pain, blood blisters, water blisters, and chaffing in places that shouldn't chaff.

You would think a guy who puts his body in so much discomfort, wouldn't pass out when he saw a needle in the doctors office "would ya".
I guess the next time I'm in the doctors office, and they want to stick a needle in my arm, I'll say
"Lets go for a 5 mile run, and at about mile 3 stick it in me"....... now that would be fun!

Who am I kidding, I hate needles.

Just something to think about.

...If life is just a highway, then your soul is just a car....
............................................Meatloaf................

15 Miles on Christmas Eve

2006-12-24T09:51:00.000-05:00

Christmas Eve, and all throughout the road, not a creature was stirring, except runron at a pace he thought would explode.
It's 6 am as his feet hit the ground, the noise coming from the Ipod is the only sound.

Mile one down, then two, then three, is this the pace that the marathon will be?
He pushes on, but at mile five something's the matter, he has to stop, he's got a full bladder.

Now he's moving a little lighter, back on track, but muscles are tighter.
Tears through miles 7 through 10, starting to get that marathon grin.

Five more miles and this long run is done, at a pace so fast, that he's never run.
As mile 13 comes and goes, checks his watch, best split by a nose.

Now the last mile of a 15 mile run, could it be possible he ran it in 7:41?
It's true my friends the mileage was right, and runron wishes you all a Merry Christmas, and to all a good night.

Speed Kills

2006-12-21T16:26:00.000-05:00

Speed work is like paying taxes, you hate to do it, but you have too. Well I guess you don't have too. All the experts say the key too running a good marathon, is the dreaded interval training.
It's something I don't look forward to doing, but when it's over I think it's really not that bad.
Tonight for example I will run 7- 800 meters, thats twice around the track seven times.
With about a 1/2 lap recovery between runs. It's the pace that kills me, I try to keep them at about 3:15 per 800, but that becomes difficult as you progress.

When I'm running, and my lungs are burning, legs are hurting Negative Ron pops up and says "why are you doing this." I tune him out, just thinking foot turnover, foot turnover, foot turnover. See thats a little trick I came up with. I try to not let my body know what it's doing. You would be surprised what you can do by focusing your attention too one thing. when everything is falling apart around you, just focus.

Now thats also a good way to get injured, you have to listen to your body as well, and sort through all the Ron's in your head. Because if your running, concentrating on foot turnover, and Ego Ron shouts "lets go boy, do this last one in 3:00." you could find yourself on the shelf for the next two weeks.

On the other hand, you might be able to push it a little harder. Thats the fine line you have to run in, and let Common Sense Ron decipher between the two.

This is the only time I don't run with an Ipod, It's where I can get into the mental part of running, and practice how to listen to my body, but tune it out as well. I knew that sounds weird, but it works for me.

-----"Don't do anything stupid during your taper"
-------------------------------- Common Sense Ron

Tempoooo......Tuesdeeeee

2006-12-19T16:35:00.000-05:00

Less then 3 weeks away, and still feel good. Ran a 4 mile tempo run today and all systems go. I don't know why, but when I start thinking about the marathon, I get nervous. It's not like I'm going to win the stupid thing. Not even my age group, or even qualify for Boston.

If this makes me nervous, I wonder what is going through the head of people who really have a chance at this thing. I will have about 2 years of running in, when race day comes, some of these guys have done a life time of training. They go mostly unnoticed in the sports world.

The winner of the Disney Marathon will run it in about 2 hours and 20 min. Do the math, thats a 5 min. 18 sec. pace.! Now, I can't run 1 mile in 5:18 and these guys do it for 26.2 miles. Try it, mark off a mile, warm yourself up real good, and take off. When you stop and catch your breath, just think of doing that for 26.2 miles. My best mile is 6:15 and there is no way I could do 2 miles at that pace let alone 26.2.
Some of these athletes make a good living doing this, but not to the level of a major league baseball player or other pro sports.

I know running is a boring sport too watch, and ratings are what drives the sports media. The two things that are more boring too watch, but seem to have ratings are fishing tournaments and poker, go figure I guess people who sit around doing nothing like too watch other people sit around and do nothing. But I digress.

These runners are gifted, but you don't run a 2:20 marathon without hard work, dedication, and lots of pain. They live in a world few will know. While we all take our training seriously, and It's just as important to us too run a 4 hour marathon as for them too run a sub 2:15. They deserve the recognition of doing what most of us can only dream about.

This post was for the elite runners, all us middle of the packers can say when they cross the finish line and we're not even halfway through is "WOW"! We sort of know what it takes, but not really....We have know idea.
Tip of the cap to you guys, I like the cut of your jib.

what makes marathons so great is we run the same course the elites run, at the same time they are running, so are we. It's the only sport like that. Imagine going over too One Buc Place and signing up too play for the Buccaneers this weekend. Do you know what they would say! O.k bad example, you would probably be the starting Q,B.
But you get my drift.

"To give anything less then your best is to sacrifice the Gift"
Steve Prefontaine

Last 20 Miler down.........Hello taper

2006-12-17T10:44:00.000-05:00

Started my 20 mile run at 6:11 am. Three hours four minutes and twenty seconds later, my taper begins. Pretty uneventful run, which I like. Wanted to get through it healthy,and at about a 9:15 to 9:30 pace. Did both so I'm happy, if you want split times click on my training log.

Now this is where it gets interesting. Paranoia will set in any day now, the four Ron's in my head are going to have a playground.
As the day draws near this will go through my head.

Trust your training.
You didn't train enough.
You ran your split times too slow on long runs.
You ran your split times too fast on long runs, your burned out.
I think I'm just where I need to be on my split times.

Trust your training.
Why is my ankle hurting? Oh, I had a rock in my shoe.
Why does my ankle still hurt?

Your eating too much during your taper.
Your not eating enough during your taper.
I don't think I'm ready for this.
Your ready for this!

You cut one long run short because of injury.
The long run you cut short, made you comeback stronger.

I need too sleep more
I can't sleep

26.2 miles is really not that long, just 26 one mile runs, and a point two mile sprint.
26.2 miles is a long run

O.k, O.k, O.k, You see where I'm going with this. These thoughts and more are going to run through my head for 3 weeks!
So if you talk to me between now and then, and it seems like I'm not paying attention to you, I'm probably not. Sorry, and I apologize but the four Ron's won't leave me alone.
As this post comes to the end, all I can say is let the paranoid games begin.

......'Tramps like us, baby we were born too run'.....
..................Bruce Springsteen.....

Top 10 reasons you know your marathon training Isn't going well

2006-12-13T17:21:00.000-05:00

Going through some older post, I ran across this one from last year. I think it applies more this year than last. So at the risk of mailing one in. Here's a summer repeat from last year. Besides, after my long run today I have no strength.... Me tired... Me sleep now.

Oh, before I slumber. A runron salute to the South Florida Bulls.

10 Resting heart rate is 98.

9. Buzzards keep circling you while on a long run.

8. Old lady on morning walk passes you during tempo run.

7. Buy Ibuprofen in bulk.

6. Ipod stuck on just Barry Manilow.

5. Thought Jeff Galloway meant walk one mile, run one minute.

4. The odometer you were using was in kilometers not miles.

3. You hit the wall at mile one.

2. You start to taper 2 weeks into a 16 week program.

And the number one reason you know your marathon training Isn't going well.

Your doctor suggest you take up running to get in shape.

When is a run, just a run?

2006-12-12T15:41:00.000-05:00

Today was a great run( 5 miles), in fact the 15 mile run I did over the weekend was a great run. Why? I don't know.
I do know you can have paralysis by analysis. when I get into something, I read everything on the subject, and usually come away more confused then when I started.

I'm not a smart man. ( thanks Forrest ) I picked up the book Jack Daniels Running Formula. No it's not about drinking while running. He is a PhD, and it's way over this runners head.
When he starts talking about lactate threshold, vo2max, and other words I can't spell. I get that glazed look in my eyes.
I know runners have gotten faster over the years, thanks to studies done on this kind of stuff, and with the help of steroids.

Because I'm 43, and have bad knees, I limit my running to 3 runs a week. One tempo run, one speed work at the track, and one long run. The other 3 days I'm on a bike,and in the weight room.

If any hardcore runners are reading this ( actually I don't think anybody reads this ) they are thinking you can't train for a marathon on 3 runs a week! Where's the recovery run? Where's the easy run? Where's the junk miles you put in the bank? Well I tried that, and that when I met Dr. Page. He's one of many doctors I now have on speed dial.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, you can't go by the book all the time. You have to do whats right for you. Some runners can top out at 150 miles a week, some 50 miles, or even 10. Run because you want to, not what someone else wants you to.

I will top out at about 40 miles a week during my marathon training. I know marathon geeks will laugh at that, but thats my plan.
Because when you get down to it, a run, is just a run.

......"Gonna fly now, getting strong now, wont be long now"................
.................................................From the Rocky soundtrack

It's not all about running

2006-12-10T10:51:00.000-05:00

Sometimes you have to put things into
perspective. Forget about pace times, injury, and what you eat. It's not always about you. We are only here for a blink of an eye, and it's good to stop and enjoy life.

Life seems like a marathon, as years pass by, but when we get to
the end it's really a short sprint.

Merry Christmas, from the RunRon family

Genetics

2006-12-08T23:44:00.000-05:00

How come we all can't run a 2:15 marathon, or a 4.3 40 yard dash? Genetics, see it's not my fault (thanks mom and dad.) People that train just as hard, if not harder then the elite athletes will fall short of their goal if they don't have the gift of good genes.
So why do we do it? We push ourselves to the limit of break down. For what?
When am out on a long run I ask myself that all the time,( negative Ron ) is it dedication, or foolishness. Nobody makes me get up at 5:00am too do a long run, or train 6 days a week for a marathon that I will be lucky to run in 4 hours.

The only answer I can come up with is internal drive. and that I can thank mom and dad for.

Fine Line

2006-12-06T19:45:00.000-05:00

There is a fine line you have to balance between over training and under training. I feel I'm just about right, maybe.
When you just get over a injury you don't want to run the risk of it happening again.
But you have to get the training in. What do you do? for one thing spend as much time on a bike as you can. I've log more miles the Lance Armstrong getting ready for this marathon. If I could ride 26.2 instead of running there would be no reason for this blog.
Speaking of Lance, he said running a marathon is the single most difficult thing he has ever done. What? This guy rides up hill for hundreds of miles at a time, day after day. Trains like a wild man, and he said, what?

My first thought is "what did I get myself into" I mean 2 years ago all I did was buy a treadmill and started walking 30 min. a day. How I went from that to this I will never know. Somewhere in there is where I met Ego Ron.

When Ego Ron grabs hold of something he just won't let go, like a pit bull on a hogs neck. most of my injuries are do to him.

I'll be running doing just fine, thinking I'm running pretty good for a 43 year old, then out of no where I here "there are 53 year olds that run a lot faster then you"
And thats how it starts. Next thing I Know I'm calling one of the doctors I have on staff to treat what ever mess he got me into.

See this is what I'm talking about, when I sat down to write, it was going to be about the line between over and under training. But Ego Ron loves to be the topic of conversation.

But he's not going to get in the last word of this blog

..............."Disney so close I'm starting to smell a mouse"
---------------------------------------------Positive Ron

Off and running

2006-12-05T19:08:00.000-05:00

Ego Ron took the charge today, did a 5 miler at a 7:53 pace, Way to fast for a tempo run for me, should have been about 8:20 pace.
Just could not resist , it's been so long running with no pain, I had to let her rip. And it was a good run. Of course doing this could lead to injury. I know, I know common sense Ron. But it felt so good!

" Your never going to make Disney"
Negative Ron

The conversations of a long run

2006-12-04T18:59:00.000-05:00

When I run, I take my ipod and try to focus on my running. I know that sounds strange, but with U 2 ( a rock band ) at full volume I can concentrate.
Even with that going on 4 guys start talking to me. Let me introduce you to them.

Positive Ron, I will refer to him from now on as +RON, +Ron is up beat, always encouraging, when something goes wrong he looks on the bright side.

Negative Ron, I will refer to him as - Ron, -Ron is never up beat, sees bad at every turn, when something goes wrong will say I told you so.

Ego Ron, he's superman nothing gets in his way. Run 10 miles, he wants to know why you didn't run 11. Or your pace is to slow

Common sense Ron, I'll call him csRon. You know what he is about, and I rarely listen to him.

I'll take you on a recent 18 mile run I had with them.

O.K. it's 6:30 am got my ipod ready, all warmed up lets go.

+Ron, this is a nice morning for a run, little cold but I'll warm up.
-Ron, I bet Disney going to be a lot colder, and windy.
+Ron, your here already?
-Ron. I'm always here, and that left knee is feeling funny.
+Ron, you know it takes a good mile to get things flowing.
Mile 1, right on pace.

+Ron, see I knew I would feel better once I got going.
Ego Ron, yeah! forget 18 miles we're going to run 20.
csRON, No. No. No. we're going to run 18 unless my calf starts to hurt, then we're going to shut it down. You are not going to do anything thats going to mess you up for Disney!
Ego Ron, mess you up? if you don't get this in it will really mess you up, your longest run to date is 17 miles, you don't have time to take off.
+Ron, look guys, everything alright now, will see, if something happens it will be o.k.
-Ron, what do you know, ever run a marathon boy!
+Ron, no, but I've read that
-Ron, yeah, I know you read, thats all you do is read. " I read this, I read that bla, bla, bla".
Ego Ron, if you stop reading and start running you might........
-Ron, hey guys, this right calf is starting to hurt.
mile 4

-Ron, 4 miles and your done, Disney done, running done everyth....
+Ron, stop! It's not done, it's just a little sore right now, let's try to run through it.
Ego Ron, you tell them +Ron he'll listen to you. WE'RE GOING TO RUN RIGHT THROUGH IT!
csRon, I hate to say this but -Ron is right that calf is sore, I don't know if this is something we should do. run a little bit more it might loosen up, but do me a favor my house is coming up just past 5 miles. stop and stretch it out .

All Ron's, but Ego Ron, O.K.
In front of my house after 5 miles

+Ron, that was a good stretch, I think it did some good.
csRon, yeah that was the right thing to do.
-Ron, you know if you stretch a pulled muscle you will make it worse.

Ego Ron, I ain't saying nothing, you've screwed up your pace with that girly stretch.

Mile 7
+Ron, ya know I think It's a little better.
Ego Ron, I know It's better we're doing the whole 18 baby! back on track.
mile 9
-Ron, oh Ron.
+Ron, go away.
Ego Ron, yeah go away
-Ron, you know what you're doing don't you. as you are running listening to Meat Loaf ( rock band) your calf muscle is being ripped from your bone, if you don't stop now, I see major surgery at least 6 months of no running. ah ah no marathon for you.
mile 10
-Ron, why are you still running?
Ego Ron, I have to get this 18 miler in.
csRon, let me step in here, your not ripping anything from the bone, but it is getting bad. you can stop and walk it home get it looked at by a professional. most you will miss is maybe a week, you are a fast healer the last time something like this happened, you saw your p.t. you missed what. a week? he had you up and going...........
mile 12

-Ron. thats it I'm done, why am I doing this. If I don't make this marathon I don't care! my calf is killing me. I am NEVER RUNNING AGAIN! IF I do make it to a marathon I will never do another one
+Ron, I got nothing.
csRon. me too.
Mile 13

Ego Ron, don't look at me I can't even walk. Your such a wimp.

All in favor of stopping say, I

Ron's all at once, I

Funny how running works, that was 3 weeks ago, and yesterday I ran a 20 miler with no calf pain.

-Ron, yeah, but what about that left knee?

Here we go again, see it never ends.

20 miles...and I can still walk

2006-12-03T11:41:00.000-05:00

I went out today for a 20 mile run, well it was really a jog. All week the negative Ron ( I'll get to him in a later post ) has been saying you'll never run 20 miles on that bad right calf. The positive Ron said give it a go, just take it slow.

So slow I went, a 10:44 pace I did not really care about the pace I just wanted to get through it. thats the first time in my training that I've done that. and I really enjoyed the run, well most of it. Mile 1 no pain, uh, mile 2 through 10 no pain really uh!

This is where negative Ron starts to mouth off, that calf pain is coming. but nothing happened, mile 11 through 15 no pain? what's going on I just ran over a half a marathon and no calf pain? last week at this point I was a wobbling mess. I guess there is something to be said about going out slow.

Negative Ron said the last 5 miles would be bad, that I would have to stop and limp home any minute. He was wrong my last split was the best of the day.

In fact my left calf hurts more then my right one ( don't tell me I'm going to have problems with my left calf now )
shut up! negative Ron.

Good training day

2006-12-01T22:42:00.000-05:00

Went well today 30. min of weight training and a hour bike ride. still trying to take it easy on this calf. I'm going to try to do a 20 miler this weekend, but slow vary slow. I have to get in my long runs of 20, 15, 20 miles in the next 3 weeks before my taper.

I feel I'm not going to get them in because of my injury, my p.t said I will be aright just take it easy. I did get in about 4 miles at the track last night, vary easy miles not timed just running in the grass infield. did not hurt to bad.

Maybe I'm just getting paranoid about the marathon, 26.2 is a long ways and it seems something is always coming up (injury) to stop my training. In a later post I will list my injuries since I've been running, the medical professionals love me, I think I have made their kids college found with as many trips I have made to them.

On a happy note, tonight my wife and I went out to dinner with our new granddaughter Alanna (3 weeks old) and her mom and dad ( my son Andrew and his wife Danie) she slept the whole time. I wish we all could be that peaceful, but life gets in the way.

New to this Blog thing

2006-11-30T17:52:00.000-05:00

This blog is new to me, not sure why I'm doing it. I guess it's because every runner on the planet has one so here's mine. I'm not much of a writer, philosopher, or word smith(is that one word or two). My grammar is bad, and my spelling worse but I'll give it a go. It is a good way to have a record of what you are doing at different times in your life.
We all go through life at a somewhat boring pace it seems, but when you can go back and read about it you find a little comfort in knowing you actually did something.

Flat Tire Day

2006-11-29T19:38:00.000-05:00

Could not get munch training done today, calf still bad. Did 30 min. of weight training then went out for a bike ride. Got about a half mile out and had a flat walked back home, fixed the flat then went out again. Got about a mile out and had another flat. Walked back home.

I guess It's not all bad, I did get in a mile and a half walk.

5 Weeks till Disney

2006-11-28T13:36:00.001-05:00

Well, I have about 5 weeks to go and I'm injured going to P.T today (right calf) I hope all this training has not gone to waste.