The Race

2008 Big 10 Indoor Track Championships

Guess How Much

For Jeff

I haven't been posting a lot because I haven't been working out a lot.
And my ironman is next month.

Here is the thing about my 3rd ironman - mentally I need 2 weeks,
physically I should have started 3 months ago. Work, life and other
activities have taken the place of what in my first ironman would have
been nerves and fear, training for an unknown monster race. I know
this race. More importantly, I know my body. I can do this race now
based on will, one month of crazy mountain training and I can do this
race right.

As for having a phenomenal day and
race, I need God more than I need to be training to do it on my own.

If you haven't seen "The Book of Eli" it's got a great message - "It's
not just a book, it's a WEAPON!"

Insane Downhill Bike Race in Chile

Insane Downhill Bike Race in Chile

You Never Forget How

The stickers and tags? I haven't ridden since Ironman Florida. That's
going to change. I'm turning my weakness into my strength.

IRONMAN TEXAS

HELP ME

Seriously Fast Food

I am doing my best to get a Chick-fil-A sponsorship. Here is my latest effort.

http://www.chick-fil-a.com/Story/Stories?ID=426

2011 Houston Marathon

There is one race photo that I love more than any of my others, my first Ironman finish photo. It is just an awesome display of emotion. But, I have never had a group of photos from one specific race display so much of the struggle. In every one of my photos, none of them am I making this race look easy. I was pushing the entire race, apparently that's how you annihilate your personal best time.

Making the Paper

I didn't get first place, but I am really excited to get 449!

Record Breaking

I had never run under 4 hours in a marathon. Today, I broke the 4 hour mark for the first time, with a couple minutes to spare, half an hour to spare.

I finished 3:30:27!

Mega Mind

Tomorrow is the marathon. This will be my 3rd Houston Marathon and 10th 26 or + mile running race. Tomorrow my body won't be my greatest strength, it's my mind. Running is the only sport I feel I can use that to my advantage, when you make up your mind you don't want to quit, what the body wants becomes irrelevant. But, only for so long.

The Houston Marathon is generally a flat, fast course and pace runners are out there, meaning a guy with a stick showing his pace lets everyone know how fast he is running the marathon. I'm going to do what I've never done, do what made Prefontaine famous, start out way too fast. I'm going to start running with the 3 hour marathon pace group, an hour faster pace than my fastest marathon ever.

My body can't last the entire marathon at that pace, no way. But to give up on that pace I'll have to fall back and watch as they run past. As soon as the race starts I'll have a 3 hour timer counting down and it's up to my mind to put off self preservation as long as it can.

Quick Who is This Guy?

He is the first US runner to break 1 hr (59:43) in the half marathon. He also has the fastest time ever by an American at the Boston Marathon, and that only got him 4th place. I can get his autograph at the Houston Marathon Expo, but I really don't want to wait in line with 3 other people. Poor guy is at the top of his sport, I wonder if he ever thought about football or basketball?

Marathon

I keep forgetting I am running a marathon this weekend. That's something I probably should be thinking more about. I have been resting rather than training. It has been 3 months since I went any serious amount of distance. I think my knee wanted some time off, but it is about to get a jolt on Sunday.

Doesn't Get Any Easier

I am running a marathon in 2 weeks. Time to start training.

The other day I went for a long run. I got about 16 miles and needed a taxi to pick me up and get me back home. Apparently, I still need to do some work to stay in ultra endurance mode.

6 Degree Run