My First Ultramarathon

I finished my first 50k today and this picture was the very best part.

Marathon Do-Over!

I wanted to run a sub 3:50. Instead I got dehydrated and crashed and burned at mile 16. Not a good race for me, to say the least. I literally run-walked the last 10 miles to finish in 4:20. I was still proud of myself for finishing. I contemplated dropping out from miles 16 to 21, but chose to be a finisher. I received massive leg cramps for my reward. Lesson learned: No bourbon the night before my next marathon and I'm going to drink MUCH MUCH more water the week before the race. I also may walk during the water stops at St. Jude to be sure I take in plenty of fluid.

Anita Beth was a superstar in the half marathon. She finished in 1:58! It's official. She's as fast as I am now. Maybe faster. But I couldn't be more proud of her.

My brother Bailey finished his first marathon, too. I was proud of him for gutting it out.

And last but not least, AB's running buddy Kimberly finished another half marathon.

Way to go everybody!

UPDATE: Check out the album below for more pics. Pay particular attention to the look on Bailey's face. If you ever wondered what joy and pain look like simultaneously, then here's your answer:

Marathon Makeover 10-17-09

Marathon Makeover

Three days away. Hoping to post a good time.

Running, Running, and more Running

So my posts have been rudely interrupted by football season, but that doesn't mean I'm not running. Last week I successfully completed 47 miles. Before that: 40, 44, and 45. This week: The big 50, capped by a 20 mile run on Sunday. It's going to be a big week. I'm fired up and ready for the Marathon Makeover on October 17. One more big week (54 miles) and then I get a little taper action. Koach's plan seems to be working. I feel really good and my legs feel strong. Bring on October!

Also, I registered for the Mississippi 50 tonight. Yep, I'm going to run a 50-miler in March. More on that later. I'm pumped to have registered for it though. That means no turning back.... I'm going to be an ULTRA marathoner.

Week 4: Two Miles Short

And so the marathon training continues. I fell two miles short of the weekly mileage goal, but all in all in was a pretty good week. I upped the long run to 17 miles. I feel like I'm within easy striking distance of 26.2 and I still have eight weeks to go until the October 17 warm-up marathon. My last two marathons I hit the wall and hard at mile 20. And let me tell you, there was nothing proverbial or metaphorical about it. My goal this year is to not hit a wall, or at least not let it hit me. I should have plenty of time this fall to prepare for a good performance at St. Jude in December. Here's my week:

Monday: 2

Tuesday: 9

Thursday: 6

Friday: 6

Sunday: 17

Total: 40

Week 3

Sorry to keep you waiting. Work is not leaving much time to blog. But all the same I am quite pleased to report the successful completion of Week 3 of Koach's plan. Here's how it went down:

Monday: 6

Tuesday: 8

Wednesday: 4

Thursday: 3 (8:17 pace)

Saturday: 2

Sunday: 16

I'm halfway through Week 4 and on target to reach the planned 42 miles. On another note, I all of a sudden dropped a couple pounds. I weighed 166 this morning, down from the 168-170 range. It is nice to know I am capable of losing a pound. I was beginning to wonder.

Week 2: Redemption at Sea Island

After failing miserably at following my training plan in Week 1, all went according to plan in Week 2. I completed the Koach-prescribed 38 miles!

Monday: 6

Wednesday: 8

Thursday: 6

Saturday: 16

Sunday: 2

Running the long run at Sea Island was awesome. Anita Beth ran eight miles with me. I'm really proud of her progress after last spring's stress fracture. We put in three or four or our miles on the beach. Atlantic Ocean beaches are so much better for running than those I've been to on the Gulf Coast. The sand is more packed and the slants to the water are minimal. There's nothing like listening to waves crash against the shore while you run.

The Island itself is so pristine and beautiful. It was a true joy to run down there. After our long run, Anita Beth and I enjoyed a 90-minute couple's massage in the Cloister Spa. Wow.

My only complaint about the whole weekend was that the restaurants were too good and therefore I ate too much, but I guess that's really my fault.

But seriously, I've got to start watching my calorie intake. I'm not losing any weight and that's crazy if I'm logging almost 40 miles a week. I cut cokes out of my diet a month ago and it had some effect. I'm hovering around 170 pounds and last week I weighed as little as 167 or 168. I'd like to get down to 160. After the weekend at Sea Island I was back at 170 this morning. It's time to cut something else out of the diet. I'm thinking it's going to have to be bad carbs. What are bad carbs? In my diet they are french fries, those silly little 100-calorie cookie packs that my secretaries keep stashed in the office kitchen, potatoe chips, and sweet tea. Oh yeah, and BEER! I may allow myself a Bud Light every now and then, but nothing more, and definitely no more Sam Adams (x2 in the Atlanta airport last night watching the Yankees-Red Sox) or Sierra Nevada's or Blue Moons. They are tasty, but not worth it.

There. Maybe now that I've declared it on the World Wide Web, I'll actually follow through and do it. I'll try to report back next week.