Battle of Will vs Hills - States 21 & 22

Will 1 - Hills 0

On Oct 27 & 28, 2012, I completed my second double marathon in Greenville SC and Atlanta GA. Having completed a double last year in NH/ME, I was fairly confident about a finish but was a little anxious about the logistics and time elements of the trip. I had the luxury of having Aud and Chris with me on the trip last year as well as a few extra vacation days scheduled after the races. Here is how it all went down this year.

Fri 10/26
  - 6:45AM Orange County
  - 5:30PM Greenville via Chicago

(here is a photo of Greenville from the sky)

  - 6:00PM Packet pickup
  - 7:00PM Dinner
Dinner at Soby's was just okay.  I was a little disappointed at the restaurant as there were no pasta dishes on the menu other than the kid's pasta...  which came over cooked and bland.

I really enjoyed the downtown Greenville area.  Very cool and everyone I interacted with were friendly and helpful.
  - 8:00PM Hotel checkin
  - 8:30PM buy breakfast for next day, prep for race
Its a ritual that I always set out all of my gear the night before and go over it item by item to make sure nothing is forgotten. For Greenville, I went with the Maniac set.  These two races are dedicated to fellow Maniac, Pete Mingwah who passed away earlier this year.  I had his number put on my wrist band as a small gesture.

RIP 4440

  - 10:00 Bed
It had been a long day.  I was glad to hit the bed...  damn thing was way too soft...  so much for "heavenly beds" at the Westin

Sat 10/27
  - 5:00AM breakfast, shower, race prep, pack
  - 7:00AM Mile walk to the start line
  - 7:30AM Spinx Marathon

I really enjoyed meeting a group of Maniacs and 50 Staters before and during the run.  I, like most Marathon Maniac/50 Stater tend to look for one another at the races.  While we all come from all different walks of life (location, race, ethnicity, gender, age), we all share this cult like love for running and marathons.  Every Maniac and 50 Stater brings his/her story and inspiration and I am blessed to be able to meet each on this journey.  I've learned a lot in the last few years about what these chance meetings mean in life.  Life is short and precious for all of us.  Sometimes you meet someone for a brief moment and you never know if you will have to chance to see them again.  For that, I treasure the memories of all the good people who I've crossed path  with along the way....

(pre race, Spinx Marathon 2012)

The course of the Spinx marathon was scenic and fairly easy.  There were a few rolling hills but nothing extreme.  The out and back course involved many bike paths through beautiful fall colored trees as well as a tour of Furman University.  Here are a few photos during the run

Instead of a timing mat at the 13.5 turnaround, the organizers handed out wrist bands to each runner.  You've got to have a wrist band to get your medal.  I guess its Greenville's anti-Kip Litton insurance!
I did see something that stopped me dead in my tracks.  Had to stop to take a photo of this...  SMH...  I guess I am just not used to seeing something like this in CA.  I've become too used to political correctness... this is the South after all.

(I'd love to meet "TR")

(Here I am at mile 25 with Pete)

The finish of the race was inside Fluor field (Minor League Baseball Team stadium) and rounding the baseball field.  Very cool experience.  Official time 4:11:40.  I got a little tempted to go sub 4 (was on pace) in the first half but pulled back knowing there was another race tomorrow...  Probably should have ran a little slower...

  - 11:45 ICE BATH, Shower, pack

(think running a marathon is painful?  try an ice bath)

Got back to the hotel room in time to sit in the ice bath I had prepared in the morning.  It only hurts the first few minutes and then you just kind of go numb....

 - 12:30 Lunch - Henry's Smokehouse

(Henry's smoke house.  As advertised.  Great pull pork sandwich.  Damn good.)

  - 1:00 Drive to Atlanta
This was an easy drive of 2.5 hours.  It gave me a chance to call home and relax on the road.  The bluetooth in the Sonata I rented worked perfectly with the iPhone for navigation, music, and hands free calling.  I was in the city before I knew it.

  - 3:45 Packet pickup, buy breakfast
  - 5:15 Hotel checkin
  - Relax!
  - 6:00 Dinner at the Spence (Richard Blais' restaurant)
Aud and I are big fan's of Top Chef and Richard Blais.  While Richard got robbed in Season 4, he redeemed himself in All Stars.  I couldn't miss the chance of dining at his new restaurant, The Spence which happened to be about a mile from my ATL hotel.

The restaurant sits near GT campus on a vibrant street with several businesses.  The dining experience was fantastic.  Dinner for the night was Oysters and Pearls, Bone Marrow/Tuna Tartar/Quail Eggs, and Beet Pasta with Duck.  That bone marrow dish should be outlawed its so good.

All the characters from Life after Top Chef were present in the restaurant...  very cool to see.  Too bad Richard was not in the place.  But I had a wonderful dinner.  As I was walking out of the restaurant, guess who I bump into at the door?  Top Chef Richard Blais!  It is very unlike me but I stopped him and introduced myself and asked if I can take a photo with him.  Without missing a beat, he said "of course, let me get someone to take our picture".  This was definitely one of the highlights of the trip!

  - 7:30 Prep for race, watch ESPN, packing
  - 10:00 Bed
You'd think that after running 26.2 miles, I'd be dead tired and be able to sleep like a baby.  I woke up at 12:00 and for the life of me couldn't fall back asleep.  not until about 2:00AM...  just right before the alarm sounded at 4:00AM...

Sun 10/28

  - 4:00AM three alarms on three devices go off at once.  I just had to make sure I got up...  long day ahead.

So you think the life of a marathon junky is glamorous?  Its all hotel buffets?  Think again...  this is a typical marathon breakfast for me...  Aleve is a must on a double.

  - 7:00 Atlanta Marathon

It was one of the toughest races I've experienced in recent past.  Especially tough on the second day of a double.  One word describes this race.  HILLS.  The entire course is laced with hills.  Think I am exaggerating?  See for yourself.  Follow the green line.

Insane.  Hill after hill after hill.  Just for a moment around miles 17-20 I thought about giving up.  I worried about not making back to my hotel in order to catch the flight back to Cali.  I cursed the course, I cursed the light rain, and I cursed the chill of the air.  Then I remembered why I was there.  I was there to challenge myself.  I was there to better my double time from last year.  I was there to finish these races with Pete4440...  I toughed it out.  It wasn't pretty.  Official time 4:52:09.  I had missed my goal time of 9 hours combined double by just three minutes.  But I wasn't upset.  I was happy to finish and to overcome those damned hills.

(at the finish line ATL marathon 10/28/12)

  - 1:00 PM lunch
In case you haven't noticed, besides running, I love to eat.  And I love good food.  After surveying the locals I found my way to Moe's Original BBQ.  It was a damn good find.  Honestly I can't think of a better post marathon meal than some deep fried goodness, mac/cheese, and of course some more good southern BBQ!  I got the cat fish platter for lunch and got the pull pork sandwich to go for dinner.  Forget airline food!

 - 3:00 at the Gate of my flight back to the OC
Exhausted, I can barely keep my eyes open.  I finally take a deep breath as this weekend comes to a close.  I look down at the new set of twins draped on my neck.  Aww, what a good feeling.  State 21 and 22 done.  Onwards!

One race, one mile, and one step at a time,

Jeff

10/30/12

An(other) Open Letter to Lance Haters

This has been a very difficult week for me is an understatement.

Lance Armstrong has been a hero to me from the time I learned of his story of defeating cancer, his 7 tour wins, and through his comeback attempt just a few years back.  I have not consider a man to be an idol since I was a kids in grade school.

My mother survived cancer twice in the last 6 years and I wear this yellow bracelet on my wrist proudly almost every day.  This bracelet symbolizes courage, inspiration, hope, and yeah a big fuck you to not only cancer but also all the things in life that may seen insurmountable.  I've had this bracelet while sitting in the hospital with mom after her surgeries and I've had this bracelet with me as I covered marathons after marathons.

For those who know me personally, you know that I pride myself in being a logical and realistic man.  I am also one who think that there shouldn't be an ocean of grey when it comes to what is right vs wrong.  You either do the right things or you don't.  And, I'll admit, I tend to think of the worst in people.  But I've always kept that small glimmer of hope for mankind in my heart.  I've always kept that little space inside for Lance against all the allegations he has faced in the past and  particularly this year.  If anyone deserved the benefit of the doubt, Lance did....

I was the first to discount the allegations brought forth by the USADA.  It seemed like a tired witch hunt against my personal hero.  It seemed like an attack against everything I believed in...  keeping hope, defeating the impossible, LIVING STRONG.  I argued against friends about the fairness of the USADA process and the number of tests Lance has passed in the decades he has raced.  I argued about the merit of the Livestrong foundation and the good it has done for cancer survivors.  But as the weeks have gone by, as more evidence presented, and as more former teammates testified, I've been forced to evaluate my position. I am forced to look at this objectively and put aside the very strong feelings I've developed about this yellow bracelet.  It breaks my heart to say that I think that yes, it is most likely that Lance Armstrong cheated the sport of cycling.

Others supporters say they do not care whether or not Lance cheated.  They believe that all the positives of the Livestrong foundation outweigh the possibility that he may have cheated.  Stuart Scott, cancer survivor tweets his support of Livestrong despite the allegations and even if they are true.

To me, its not that simple.  I do care.  I care about whether or not Lance cheated.  I care about the character of someone that I've come to consider a hero.  AND, I have a difficult time separating Lance from Livestrong.  To me, the two are intertwined so deeply that its not as easy as to say, "I can continue to support the brand even if Lance cheated."  It doesn't work that way... and its not something I can resolve so quickly.

What I've learned through this is that I will never put another human being on that pedestal again.  Lance Armstrong, like the rest of us is flawed.  None of us are perfect.  My hope for humanity has dimmed further (if that is even possible)...  all I can hope for and work on in the future is my own conduct and legacy in life.  I hope to live up to all those things once represented by the yellow bracelet in some way.  Maybe I've looked for heros in the wrong places.  Maybe, the hero that we are all looking for is within ourselves.  For that, the yellow band stays on my wrist...  not only as a reminder of what is possible but a big continued fuck you to cancer, hardship in life, and most of all, the haters who will continue to hate...


one race, one mile, one step at a time,

Jeff

The New Frontier

On April 5th, 2063, a Vulcan ship conducting a survey mission in the Sol systemdetected the warp signature from the Phoenix, Earth's first warp-capable vessel. 

The 2011 NH/ME double was what I considered my first warp speed voyage into a brand new frontier of running.  I discover that there was running beyond 26.2 and I cannot stop myself from seeing where the edge of my running universe.  

I've just signed up for my first 100M race coming up in 2013 at the Nanny Goat 12H/24H/100.  It is held over Memorial weekend 5/25/13 in Riverside CA.  I am so very excited. I will share much more as the date approach and my training and prep intensify.  I feel like the way I did the first time I committed to a marathon.  I've missed that mixture of fear and excitement of the unknown.  
Lets hope that this ship doesn't crash and burn...  whether or not I finish, it will be an epic run.  Lets do this!

Here is a video of fellow Marathon Maniac Tony Nguyen (AKA Endorphin Dude) at last year's Nanny Goat.  Inspirational.  Part of the reason why I decided to give this thing a go...  check it out.

Why we run and State #20

6/3/2012 Casper Marathon was marathon State #20 in my journey of running the 50 States.  

It was a great running weekend.  I flew into Denver and met up with Mike L, aka Yoda.  Mike and I then made the trek in his Jeep up to Casper.  For those unfamiliar, Mike is a former co-worker who moved to Denver two years ago.  While we worked together, Mike become somewhat of a running coach/partner for me as well as a good friend.  As a 3:30 Ironman marathon runner, Yoda as I call him, is in a different league from my pedestrian pace.  He taught me a lot about running, and we became good friends who talked everything from work to family life during our daily lunch runs.  The trip gave us a chance to catch up.  Other than the air conditioning cutting in/out of the Jeep, the road trip was awesome.

Going into this race, I knew I was well under prepared.  Since the ultra in April, I have not been mentally focused on running.  And given that I had set out to run only one PR race a year (earlier 2012 in El Paso), I did not train hard and did not expect a fast finish.  And the result showed.  4:31 is one of the slowest races I've run in recent years.

The marathon itself was a well organized and small (250 runner) race.

The "expo," well there really was not one, it was just for the packet pick up at the host hotel (Ramada Inn) in a function room.  There were a few t-shirts and other items for sale but it served primarily for bib pick-up and to answer any questions about the race, shuttle, etc.  The organizers were very friendly and answered our questions.

Casper Marathon was the first time I joined a race organized pre-race pasta dinner.  It was actually pretty good!  I avoided the cream sauce just to be safe :).  The dinner was probably 70% 50 State Marathon Club members!  I had a great time at dinner chatting with fellow MM and 50 Staters.  As we walked back after dinner, Mike said to me "I never knew there were that many crazy people out there."  That actually meant a lot coming from a guy who trains insane hours for the Ironman.  So thanks Yoda!  I take that as a compliment!

At race morning, there is A shuttle that runs from the Ramada up to the start of the race at the Casper Event Center.  The distance between the hotel and the center is a bit over 1 mile up a good hill.  It is walkable but we decided to wait for the shuttle.  One issue is that there is only one small bus running about every 15 minutes (which started at 4:30 AM).  The race actually started a few minutes late b/c they were not able to shuttle everyone up in time.  One big plus is that the event center allowed runners to stay warm inside and offered coffee and water.  it also provided real restroom which were clean and much preferred to porta-potties.

While the course was not breathe taking, it was very pleasant and on a beautiful town/course.  Front half of the course were on open roads surrounded by open fields where antelopes can be spotted.  Mid part of the course were largely on the paved trails along the river.  Final part of the race involved some more trail and a circle around the golf course.  caution of multiple (a lot) rolling hills throughout the course.  Much of the mid-late part of the course involved loops and turns which won't do well as a PR course.  Traffic was very well controlled with minimal road crossing (since most of the course was on the riverside trail).  Half marathon and marathon races were well spaced apart that I never even noticed the 1/2 marathoners.

I give major points to the finish line for pronouncing my name correctly;)  The finish area is well organized with lot and lots of food and drinks.  Watermelon was the best part for me!  Overall, Casper was one of the finer small races I've run and is recommended.  While I did not run a great time I had a good time.

The experience of this run gave me the inspiration and opportunity to ponder why people like us love to run and run as much as we do.  I think this question has been asked many times to almost every Marathon Maniac and 50 Stater  that we tend to give some generic answer or answer with something witty instead of really examining the answer at the core of what we do.  Perhaps it is just difficult to verbalize the answer in a clear and concise way.  Or perhaps the answer is more emotional than logical and is not meant to be shared.  Obviously everyone has a different story and draws on their own life experience for inspiration and motivation.  But, in my opinion, I think there is a clear common thread amongst all endurance runners.  

Running for people like us is our way to take control of our otherwise chaotic lives.  We define running as we see appropriate and running in turn defines us.  Running for us is both a physical and spiritual experience.  With each breathe, each stride, and each ache and pain, we feel our vulnerability as well vitality.  And with each triumph and defeat, we sail in waves of our emotional sea. I feel more alive during a marathon than I do 50% of everyday life.  What I see is that sometimes the love we have for running is cult like.  And although when we lace up our Nike (Asics in my case) NOT to meet the aliens in the space ship, we do so to get closer to our own divine entity.  We do so to feel alive.

One race, one mile, and one step at a time,

Jeff

Addictive personality

Hi, my name is Jeff and I am an addict.

Oh God, this must be rock bottom...



Here, just replace the word "drinking" with "running". 

Alcoholism (Runaholic) Signs Self-Test:

1. In the last month, have you ran first thing in the morning to help recover from a previous run (hair of the dog that bit you)?

2. In the last year, have you ran while driving or have you driven while under the influence of running, even just a couple miles?

3. In the last 3 months, have you continued running until you passed out?

4. Are more than 50% of your friends runners?

5. Do you run more than 7 miles(runs/marathons) a week?

6. In the last 3 months, have you taken running to work to drink during your workday or chosen to skip a lunch because of running?

7. Do you hide your running from any friends or family? (i.e. create a separate FB page for running?)

8. Have you failed to keep a promise to yourself or a loved one that you would quit (or cut back) running?

9. Have you ever had trouble remembering what happened while you were running?

10. In the last year, have you done anything while running that you regret doing?

11. Do you find it difficult to stop after one or two miles(or marathons)?

12. In the last year, have you wet the bed or wet your pants during or after running?

13. Have you ever woken up after running in a strange place, or at home, but you don't remember how you got there?

The Ultra Experience

I've heard it said that a 5K is a sprint, a half marathon is a run, and the marathon is an experience. What then is analogical to an ultra marathon?

I am back from the Taipei University 12 Hour Ultra completed on 3/25/2012. The trip marked my first return to my native country in 15 years. There were many firsts on this memorable family trip. It was our first overseas trip as a family. It was the first time my kids have seen Taiwan. It was the first time we have been to Japan. It was the first marathon overseas, and of course the first time I’ve run the ultra.

The race was scheduled from 6AM to 6PM on 3/25/2012. Having had one full day to adjust to the time change, I felt fairly fresh on the morning of the race. I set my alarm for 3:00AM on the night before the race. But by 2:00AM race morning, I was awake and couldn’t go back to sleep. Instead of laying awake in my bad, I had a light breakfast of a banana, slice of bread, and a cup of coffee. My aunt was kind enough to not only house us for the trip but drove me race morning from Taipei to SanXia. The 45 minute drive gave us a good opportunity to catch up on the last 20 years or so.

When I arrived at Taipei U, the sun had not risen and the entire campus was still dark. I was directed to the race start inside the campus walls a short walk from the entrance. It was a windy morning and it was slightly chill (high 50s) without the warmth of the sun. The start area included various tents and was well lit by a good number of flood lights. I was able to get my race package immediately as the volunteers were already staffed and continued to complete the final touches around the start/finish/staging area. The Taipei U 12H Ultra is a pretty unique race. The course runs around the 3K (1.8 miles) loop on the road that encircles the campus. The start line is also the first aid and restroom area for the race. In order to be considered a finisher, one must complete 24 loops, or approximately 72K (45 miles) under the 12 hour limit. A “win” is based on the most distance covered under the timed limit. This year’s winner completed whopping 133K. (He also wore bib number 133, I don’t know if that is a coincident, but somehow I doubt it) My strategy for the race was to run as easy as possible and then walk for a minute every mile. My fueling strategy was simple, one GU pack every 45 minutes and drink water at every opportunity. Everything went according to plan and I tried to monitor my body along the way. During hours 1-3 I used the restroom once an hour which was a good sign of good hydration. I completed the marathon at 4:23, which was well within my planned time. During the 11:00AM to 1:00PM hours, the temperature really warmed up and my progress really slowed. By hours 5 and 6 I realized that I had not used the restroom for the past several hours. I began drinking triple the amount of water to rehydrate my body… I was a little worried b/c I had read a lot about runner’s body shutting down during ultra races and refusing to process water and food. Luckily, things started processing again at the end of hours six (let the pee flow!).

There were some fun surprises at the marathon I’ve never seen before. Food items like soy milk, rice cake, dumpling, and porridge were things I‘ve never seen in races in the States. The people there were friendly and crazy (they set up a Karaoke machine for runners to sing between laps!) at the same time. I met Robert and Alex from Canada who were friendly and kind enough to chat with me and lent me support throughout the race. The race director Mr. Lin even sought me out during and after the race to thank me for traveling across the world to participate in the race. How he managed to do that amongst 500 runners is still a mystery to me!

The race of course was not all fun and games. I really started to struggle the last 8-9 miles. The minute walk of each mile became 2, 3, and 4 minute walks. But I kept one thing in mind. “Just keep moving,” was what I said to myself. I never stopped moving other than to use the restroom or to grab a drink at the table. The pain started to really set in with 3 laps (about 6 miles) to go. My feet, legs, and even my shoulders ached with pain. My mind drifted from time and space and I did what I can to rein it back in place. At one point, I tried to count the number of cobble stones paved around one lap of the course. (I lost count after about the first 20 stones) When I reached the end of lap 24, 72nd kilometer, and 45th mile, I had reached my minimum goal and “finished” the race. I felt like I had no more to prove at that moment. So I called it a day.

For those of you who know me well. You know that immediately after I left the race I started to regret not going further. I felt that I had let myself down a little. I could have reached for 50 miles, perhaps 52.4. But today, I am not beating myself up over my accomplishment. I feel good about what I did. Could I have done more? Possibly. There WILL always be other opportunities to find out. So if the marathon is an experience, then what is an ultra marathon? I’d say that it is a battle. And that battle can be won with the right preparation and resolve. And how you put your blood and sweat out there is the legend you leave behind that battle. For now, I am just earning my stripe. One day, I hope to be legendary.

One race, one mile, and one step at a time,

Jeff

http://connect.garmin.com/player/164705006

26.2+

I was never a big fan of Ultraman. But I would love to have some of the super hero powers. In particular, Flight (飛行能力 Hikō Nōryoku), and Teleportation (テレポーテーション Terepōtēshon)would def be helpful in my marathoning crusade.

In just 19 days, I will be able to call myself an ultra marathoner. What is an ultra marathon you ask? Technically, it is any race that is longer than the standard 26.2 variety. It will be my first ultra and my first race over seas. The race is "Taipei University 12 Hour Super (ultra) Marathon" scheduled for 3/25/2012. The race will be coursed around the University campus that is a 3K loop. I think it will be a good way for me to get into an ultra. My thinking is that aid stations will be readily available and there is less pressure given that it is a (generously) timed event. In order to receive the finisher trophy (yes trophy!!), a participant must complete a minimum of 72K. (24 laps, approximately 45 miles under 12 hours). Based on my double result in 2011, I think finishing the race is achievable. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

It will mark the first time I return to Taiwan in 15 long years... so there is a lot to be excited about. Looking forward to seeing my relatives in Taiwan and vacationing Japan with my wife and kids after the race. I am sure to gain a few pounds on this trip. I'll worry about that when I return. I'll try to post some photos after the race and trip.

One race, one mile, and one step at a time,

Jeff

El Paso Marathon - State #19

2/7/2012

The high of a PR is difficult to describe. I suppose this is what keeps me so hooked on this wonderful sport of running. As I crossed the finish line at the El Paso Marathon on February 5th, 2012, I was in a state of emotional euphoria. I did it. I beat the only person I was there to race. Me. New PR of 3:51:28.

The time may be average relative to the population but I don’t really care. I am only there to prove that I am a better person today than I was yesterday, last year, or at my first marathon in 1998 (LA marathon 5:31). This race proved that hard (extra) work pays off, you get out what you put in, and there is no shortcut or cheats in running (or life in general).

Downtown El Paso is a small, quaint town. It has the outer look and feel of Phoenix… dry desert-like environment with a mix of industrial and business building. The area was visibly remote and lacked the hustle and bustle of other city centers. All of the locals I interacted with were working class folks who where friendly although noticeably occupied with their daily lives.

The race expo was small but included all the essentials. It was very well organized and even had volunteers greeting runners and assisting with bib number look-up upon arrival at the convention center. The organizers did a great job with location selection and communications. The host hotel (Double Tree) is a 0.5M walk from both the convention center and the start line. Information about race start, finish, and shuttle were published via the race website, Facebook, as well as bring printed and given with the bib packet. I really enjoyed this down-hill then flat course. This was the first year where the course starts on top of Trans Mountain. A 1,000 feet drop in elevation over the first 4-5 miles. A combination of strong winds, 35 degree weather, and a 7:00AM (sunrise) start provided an icy cold but unforgettable race start. We the runners were able to stay inside the buses until about 5 minutes prior to race start because the conditions pre-race was really very unforgiving. We gathered at the start line like a group of penguins desperate for heat. Even the national anthem singer seemed to shiver as she sang. I am thankful to have brought a racing jacket. As soon as I stepped outside the bus I was met with sharp pain on the ears, fingers from the cold. Then numbness takes over. Even with the jacket, gloves, and arm-warmers, I could not feel my hands, arm, and face for the first 4-5 miles. I just kept thinking, “keep running”.

The descent from Trans Mountain gave us a glorious sunrise the warmed out body and mind. I tried my best to slow my pace on the steep decline. After the initial descent plenty of water stations were available. Local residents and volunteers lined most of miles 6-20 and were wonderful as they cheered and provided water, aid, and inspiration to the runners.

There is a good section of the 20s that were more desolated. It could have just been my own metal fatigue. But near the finish back down town, crowds gathered to cheer for the last mile or so of the race. I loved the fact that (I think for the first time) the announcer at the finish called my name (correctly!) and hometown. It made the PR finish even sweeter. The finish area was easy to access and best of all there were plenty of water, bananas, CHOCOLATE MILK!, and BEER! I chose chocolate milk to celebrate the run…

Well, state number 19 is off the map. Overall, I had a great experience. I would highly recommend this race for anyone who is looking to PR and enjoy smaller races with personal touches. I will enjoy the rest this week then it’s time to prepare for the next adventure... Ultra marathoning…

One race, one mile, and one step at a time,

Jeff

#19

Two days before the big dance in El Paso, Texas.

(El Paso elevation map) I have had a solid January this year in training leading up to the El Paso race. For the first time ever, I have put together a streak of running over a month. I am a little worn down but I think the milage has provided a good foundation for the race. I just hope that nothing falls apart during the run. I feel like parts of my body is starting to fall apart but is barely held together by some tape... As a lesson learned from Seattle, I did not and will not speak about any PR possibilities. We will just see how it goes. This is the only window in 2012 that I can run a bit faster. So I will push a bit and leave the rest to God. I am excited b/c its not everyday one gets to run down over 1,000 ft in the first 4-6 miles of a race. Oh, but my knees might hate me afterwards. wish me luck! state # 19, you are coming off the map! one race, one mile, and one step at a time, Jeff 2/3/12

Looking both ways

Day 3 of 2012!
Wow, is it really 2012?

In the blink of an eye, I am 37 years old, my first born is in the third grade, and 18 States and 23 marathons have come and gone!

During the Christmas break, I was able to look back at the past year and reflect on the successes and failures. It really allowed me to also look into the next year and formulate some goals and resolutions.

In 2011
I yelled at the kids a lot.
I drank a little too much.
I wasn't always patient with my wife.
I failed to PR.


but,
I managed work and spent more time with the family.
We vacationed more as a family.
We (wife and I) maintained a loving but strict approach in raising A & A.
I accomplished some career objectives.
I ran hard, and got stronger.
I ran three marathons, including my first double, totaled 1,577 miles in 2011.

Taking the good with the bad, here are my goals for 2012.
[here is a side note: someone I really respect in running wrote that one should not blab about goals b/c 1. many do so only to brag about his accomplishment 2. many fail 3. just talk less and DO(RUN) MORE! In some ways I agree. However, I assure you that my intention is not to brag. Rather, I have always felt that once I've verbalized my goals, I am held accountable for these goals. So here goes]

In 2012,

I will be a better father
I will be a better husband
I will drink (FAR) less
I will be a better runner
I will be looking for a new PR < 3:58 I will chalk > 2,000 miles
I will run 4 marathons and one ultra marathon in 2012

Ok, there I've said it. I've said it in such a way that I think I can and will accomplish all of the above... some will be harder than other, but I hope to be able to post a nice report card at the beginning of 2013...

I hope everyone is off to a great start in 2012 and may this be the best year for everyone!

One race, one mile, and one step at a time,

Jeff
1/3/12