Dear Amby

Yesterday, I ran with Amby. I got an email from Luke's Locker saying they were having an event but mainly the only thing I read was "Gatorade Goodie Bag."

About 125 people showed up but the thing is, I quite literally ran with Amby the 3+ miles. It just kind of happened as they sent people off with groups based on minute miles. I left with the 7-8 minute mile group and later saw Amby was running right behind me. It is tough to run with a group on sidewalks but the entire time I found myself focused on him. I had no idea who this guy was, other than the brief intro in the email I read, and all I knew was that if I was a runner this guy was cool.

First, Amby Burfoot is the Editor-at-Large for Runner's World magazine. So, if this was Project Runaway, he would be Nina Garcia, Bill Bowerman would be Michael Kors, and Hidei Klum would stay aboard.

Seriously, I had no idea who Amby Burfoot was. The situation makes me think of Mitch Hedberg's joke about meeting someone famous without knowing their body of work, "I did a movie with Peter Frampton. He's a musical genius, but I don't listen to his stuff. So I had to continuously try to draw attention away from the fact. Hey Frampton! Do you like toast too!? As do I. It is warm and crispy and the perfect place for jelly to lay. Now stay away from me Frampton, I ain't got nothing else to say to you!"

So, there I was running with a legend. I asked him if he had always been just a runner or if he had played other sports. The wiry 60+ year old scruffy bearded runner said he had enjoyed and been good at both baseball and basketball, but had had an accomplished running coach in high school who ultimately made a big impact on his life. We talked and eventually I asked him how good he was at his peak. "Well, I won the Boston Marathon," he said. To which I was thinking, "Wow. I should have just asked if he liked toast too."

The run became fascinating. He told me the story. He was running in the lead pack and about half way made a break for it. He said it was him and one other guy. He knew the guy, and the guy knew him. "And we both knew he was going to beat me," he said. They were running together and then after Heartbreak Hill the other guy started to cramp up and Amby Burfoot went on to win. The interesting part was he told the story like he always knew it was a second place medal. It would be difficult to have a victory where you felt like you were only the best by default, that you didn't 'win,' the other guy lost. Either way, still amazing. Later, after the run at Luke's Locker, in his address to the crowd he mentioned he was a former Boston Marathon winner, to which those, like me previously, were wowed. He didn't mention how the race went down and to those people he might seem less human as a runner.

I asked him if it felt fast, if running a 2:14 marathon felt like lightning. He said it really didn't because you are just running with the pack. The thing about that is the pack he ran with you really only see their backs, at the starting line. I talked about how I wanted to break a 4 hour marathon. He said he was in about 3:15 marathon shape and that I was barely breathing. Easy for him to say. I told him it was easier to run a 10 minute mile than a 6 minute mile. He later talked about when a researcher asked him to come into a lab and test out a product called "Gatorade." He said the original version, designed specifically for Florida's football program and "300 pound, out of shape football players," tasted like drinking the Pacific Ocean.

I asked him if he ever got into ultra marathons. He said a little and that people can really confuse an ultra as being just a couple miles more than a marathon. He said that is a mistake. And then I told him I was doing the Sunmart 50K this weekend. I wondered if he had somehow already known that and when he had said "people" I wondered if he meant ME.

Harvard Study

Thanks to Big Al, my eyes have seen a previously unknown to me, "TIME Best Invention of 2007."

This marks the second time I didn't get into Harvard University. Harvard and Vibram FiveFingers have teamed up for scientific research of barefoot and/or minimally shod running. This most recent rejection comes not at the culpability of my brain, but geographical location and physical issues. I do not live in the New England Area and have had a major lower limb injury in the last 12 months.

It is unbelievable to me I didn't know these foot gloves existed. It is also unbelievable to me that I need these as bad as I think I do. Paying to walk around barefoot? The sheer idea of this is probably the real reason this Indian is crying. Or, maybe it is because he saw bottled water for sale. Regardless, I should get a pair of these.

And, all that barefoot walking around will probably make me pretty thirsty for some liquid from a rare artesian aquifer.

Rafa "Matador of Spin"

I bought this outfit. I pretty much can't wait to play tennis now. And, I still sit in my sniper's nest on eBay waiting to find the old Agassi classic in a large that have the spandex built into the faded denim shorts. Sometimes, apparel plays an important role in workouts.

Turkey Trot

Today I ran in the Houston Turkey Trot. It is fun because you get to see humans dressed as turkeys.

I ran the 10K in 47 minutes. That is running a little faster than a 7:35 minute mile pace. I usually don't go that fast, but it is good to know I can.

The frustrating thing about time is that I can run 5 seconds faster on each mile, right? Felt fast and exhausting at the time, but seems like you can always give a little more.

8 (Teen) is Enough

Today we ran 18 miles. And, it is good that we are doing it in an effort to raise money to cure blood cancers, because...

I have run two marathons, an adventure race, and a half Ironman. This marks the furthest distance I have ever run in training.

Would You Rather

Would you rather swim 2.4, bike 112, or run 26.2 miles?

It is interesting how repetition and training influence preference. I would much rather swim 2.4 than any of the alternatives. It almost sounds easy.

Here are some good workouts for your brain:

Forget who you were or who everyone else was?

Meet an alien visitor or travel to outer space?

Have one finger made of peanut butter or a foot that detaches?

Hit every red light for the rest of your life or always be wrong?

Have the ability to swim like Phelps, bike like Armstrong or run like Bolt?

Fat Guy

Polar opposites are interesting. David Goggins meet Dave Alexander. Dave, fortunately or unfortunately, came up when I searched "World's+Greatest+Triathlete."

Why unfortunately? 

Because the number four hit on the Google page, a New York Times article, included all my keywords in the search, though also squeezed in the word "Fat" before "Triathlete."

Naturally, the next thing I did was click on the "Images" section of the search for Dave Alexander.

Tough Guys

It is fun and inspiring to see and read about tough guys. I would say the bar is set with Ivan Drago (Insert Barry Bonds asterisk). John Cena, Iron Mike, and Mickey Goldmill all make the cut.

David Goggins is a tough guy. Here is a excerpt from an article about him on IRONMAN.com:

In 2005, 11 military personnel were killed in Afghanistan when a recovery attempt to save some at-risk SEALS by helicopter went awry. Goggins attended training school with four of those killed. He vowed to raise money for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which pays the college tuition for children of special-operations personnel killed in the line of duty.

“It’s a gesture from me,” Goggins told The San Diego Union-Tribune, “letting the families know their husbands or daughters did not die in vain.”

Another Goggins oddity?

He promises, absolutely swears, that he hates distance running. According to his wife, Aleeza, Goggins’ first words when he heads out the front door for a run are:

“I hate this (stuff).”

Keep in mind that last year he raced seven 100-milers. Counting training, the guy averaged – averaged – running 21 miles a day. So why do it if you hate it so much?

“People respond to pain,” he told The Union-Tribune. “If I go out and wash cars for $10, who gives a (darn). People want to see you throw up, cry and go through tremendous suffering.”

Goggins says he has raised nearly $300,000 for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

While Goggins says the Ford Ironman World Championship pales in comparison to other endurance events as far as difficulty, he has total admiration for the men and women who participate in the event, particularly the professionals and elite age-groupers.

“These people are very special,” he says. “Especially the pros. Never in a million years could I hang with those guys. They have different body styles, different turnover. They’re elite athletes. I’m not an elite athlete. I’m just a guy who suffers.”

Goggins has finished third at the Badwater Ultramarathon, a 135-mile ultramarathon that starts in the heat of summer in Death Valley, California, and finishes 8,360 feet up Mount Whitney. He has run 203½ miles in a 48-hour event.

Suffer is what the guy does best.

“I like picking the hardest thing to do,” he says. “That’s the only way I can find out what I’m about. I can’t find out what I’m about watching TV.”

Train and Abel

Last weekend we ran 16 miles. Here's one thing you need to know: A runner who is trained will kill someone who is able.

The Houston Marathon will be the second event I will have trained specifically to complete. The other being the Walt Disney World Triathlon in which I also competed with Team in Training.

I hate training. That is one reason I really like TNT, because it is easier to run when you see people fighting cancer. To just be able to complete the events I do is what makes it fun for me. I like having a body capable of completing almost anything I try and make it do.

Next weekend with TNT we run 18 miles. I will give you a hint what we run the weekend after that as we get ready for the Houston Marathon. HINT - The mileage doesn't decrease. While I am able to run the distances, something is missing. Namely, my goodie bag, free shirt, and thousands of people cheering me on.

Stronger Ears

I find myself tired.

Doing the same routine can be exhausting. It becomes boring and workouts become burn outs. Time for some new tunes.

While Rocky and Karate Kid soundtracks aren't going anywhere, somebody better get to iTunes and download Trip Lee - Exhaustible. Christian Hip-Hop/Rap (not an oxymoron) at its finest. Sometimes you just need some new beets. That is, if you want to make a beet salad. After all, the root of a beet is a good source of iron.

The Thing About That...

The secret to making a marathon seem shorter WAS running 50 miles. In an ultra, after the number 50 there can be a K or M. Besides having a single L between them, they are also separated by 19 miles.

I signed up for the 50K.

Let us all point to this moment as the single sign I have become wiser in my old age.

Runners Joke

Who Fartlek'd?

Competitive Advantage

Sometimes I wish I could fly and shoot lasers out of my eyes.

Superman can shoot lasers out of his eyes can't he?

Yeah, he is pretty cool.

Becoming 100%

It has been an off two weeks. My ankle is almost fully healed and it will be good to have a healthy foot. Also, unbeknownst to you the reader, my personal nurse excluded, the probably fatal unidentified fungus/creature of death growing on my arm is fading.

Weird. I know. It itched a lot and was getting better until I tried to scratch it off my arm. That, as I now know, does not work. I am ready for a healed vessel, so that I can continue to hone the weapon.

Sarlacc Pit

The thing about training is, I eat a lot and often. Today, after a 6 a.m. 14 mile run I made a meat and potato omelet. Upon completion I was like, "Ok, what's for breakfast?"