Bay to Breakers

These race photos are awesome.

Air Max

I love running in new shoes.

Welcome to Atlanta

Less than two weeks until I go sightseeing in the ATL.

Vote for my photo in this contest!

Vote everyday, on every computer you own, like I am.

Ultra Training

How do you run an ultra marathon? You walk too.

I started by running 16 miles.

Then I walked 4, ran 3, walked 6, and ran the last 2 miles.

Cowtown.

Just in case I didn't make it, half way through, I took a "finisher" photo.

Still posing.

The Bear and my biscuits at mile 16.

Ready to walk and roll in my MBTs.

One foot in front of the other, literally.

Look closely, and yes, unfortunately a man in a cow outfit just passed me.

An awesome recycling spectacle on display. Magneto crushing metal at mile 26.

6 hours and 30 minutes of my life later, trucking it to the finish.

Really finishing.

31 miles and the refuel now light is on.

2/5 of the greatest finisher medal idea ever.

*Editor's Note: I did eat a couple packs of those expired gels. They didn't taste too good, but they usually don't. And they didn't throw any monkey wrenches in my system either, so I think I'll continue to stockpile the goods.

Blast from the Past

So I stockpile gels, bites, basically anything I can grab for free at races. I was gathering some running essentials for a 31 mile fun run Saturday and came across a PowerGel with a "best by" date from April 18, 2009. I have about 7 of these old packets. Should I eat them?

Skewed Training

I'm thinking the only way to prepare to run a marathon in March is to run an ultra marathon in February. Perhaps I'll run 20 miles and walk 11 in the Cowtown. How long will that take, no more than 8 hours I'm thinking.

I Must Break You

I am either:

A) Building myself up

or

B) Slowly breaking down

It is easy to listen to your body, just tough to know which is happening.

Tunes

Yesterday was the first time I ran with music. Has anyone else done this? It is awesome. This iPod thing is really going to catch on.

Project Runner's Way

I mentioned that I got a new running vest. To say it wasn't designed strictly for running is an understatement. After my first run with it I found some areas that needed some improvement. So in the thinking of "Survivor Man" Office Manager Michael Scott, I fashioned pieces of my pants into a comfy collar.

If you are thinking I get some odd looks when I run, you are correct.

3 Minute Guide to Marathon Spectating

I try to run the Houston Marathon every other year. It is a great race. The years I don't run in it I am usually wishing I was running, for the first 3 minutes I'm watching. Then I go back to bed or something.

Here is the sideline view of the race from between miles 8 and 9. It is hilarious. First comes a convoy of cars, then the half marathon leaders. Next, a bunch of runners not going to place in the half's top 5 (who look like they are wishing for death), a huge truck carrying all the marathon press like cattle, and then the real crazies. It is just fascinating, shocking really, to see the real marathon runners flying down the street. And finally, my favorite part, the huddled together group of white guys running the marathon just scratching their heads.

Merry Poppins

You can find simple running formulas for increasing milage, training frequency and how hard to push yourself, but the most important advise is 'listen to your body.'

I had surgery on my knee 2 years ago. One thing my knee would do afterward in rehab is pop. It is almost like a cramp, it just really needs to be popped and then after it pops it feels instantly better. Popping like cracking your knuckles (which I rarely do), but in a more needy way. Months after surgery it continued and I asked my physical therapist if I should be worried about that popping and he said as long as it doesn't hurt there shouldn't be any problem. Two of the most athletically demanding years of my life later, I pop a lot. Maybe I'm just listening to my body more. Every joint feels great after it pops, my feet, ankles, knees. A lot of stuff is popping. But somehow almost in a good way.

I knew I would have to give a number to explain myself, so the other day I counted pops, not including fingers. It was somewhere around 35.

Mr. Roboto

It is an odd feeling running and not tiring. It is a great feeling, it becomes like breathing. Just another function of the body working in sync with all of its other systems. My last run, I ran like a robot. I could have run a marathon. I am in good shape. But for as fit as I am, I would tell you that my mind is stronger. That is the most noticeable difference between myself of a year ago.

The real reason I could run forever, I wasn't thinking about stopping.

Accelerated Program

This is my first week of training for a marathon 70 days away. My training is a bit of an accelerated program.

Bushwhacking

It is really an empty feeling having no higher reason to run. I like running and being active but nothing is currently making me want to punish myself. The 3Bros was a rocking cause. The Lord works in mysterious ways. I guess I am waiting for another burning bush.

There are tons of great causes, but it seems last year I was part of a plan, and not my own. I've signed up and plan to do another Ironman, but what did He sign me up for? I guess for now I'll run knowing I am running toward it.

2010 Year of the Vest

I have been just about completely out of commission for a month. It is good to take a break. I feel rested and the yearning to run, to just sweat myself, is starting to come back. Which is good, because I have a marathon in less than 3 months. Time to get to work.

I like to think I take a military mentality to training and racing. I have a running vest. But, now I have a VEST, a tactical load bearing vest. Gone are the M16 magazines and frag grenades, in are the power bars and water bottles. Like I said, time to get to work.

This isn't a good picture. Until I tell you that I took this self portrait with my cell phone camera that doesn't have a self timer. It looks like I am running forward, but it is really me leaping backward. Also, I shaved my head. But really just shaved my hair, though the photo would indicate otherwise.