Last Run

I just got in from my last run of 2011.  It felt great, Brody and I ran for 1:40 and even managed to get off the pavement and find some trails.  All in all it was a good solid run, it was the way I had imagined ending my 2011 running.  Speaking of 2011, here's to you! 

Dear 2011,

I would like to thank you 2011 for all that you offered me and all that I learned.  If it weren't for you 2011 I wouldn't have known that I had the courage, will, and determination to end up where I am today.  A better person, better runner, better dad, all in all just plain out better.  Although as much as you were a stepping stone I can't wait for 2012, next year is going to be amazing.

Your Truly,
John

Before I sign off I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!  If you can't think of a resolution think of a way of bettering your life.  It doesn't have to be through running, it can be anything that puts a smile on your face and enlightens your soul.

A Dog, some Thoughts, and a Trail

Last weekend I ran with one of my favorite running friends, my dog Brody.  Brody is hands down one of the best dogs I have ever owned and for some reason he is also one of the most grateful.  Brody is a rescue dog that went from riches to rags.  He was bought as a puppy from a pet store by a wealthy singly lady who lived in D.C., was pampered for with all the luxury treatments including daily doggy daycare, but Brody grew up.  He grew into a 85 pound handsome white boxer that was too much for a busy single professional.  It wasn't long he was turned into a local shelter, laying on cold concrete floors, and having his face all over Craigslist.  After one meeting the adoption was inevitable.

My dog may be a better runner than walker, he's a great pacer, and most importantly a great listener.  This past weekend we ran a loop at Rosaryville together.  It was a cold Sunday morning and it couldn't have been a better day for a run.  My fellow dog owners know all to well that if dogs could talk we would all be in trouble.  But yesterday Brody listened to me and seemingly listened more so than normal.  I talked about the holidays, what's in store for next year and we talked about our honored TNT teammate Erin Dean.

I mentioned Erin and one of her quotes in an earlier blog over the summer.  And as I said before although we have never met I feel that through her FB posts, updates and chat through Team in Training, and her spirit that she may be one of the most beautiful people that I've known.  Erin has endured more than an army but continues to shine.

So as my dog and I ran the trails of the park that I have ran many times before we left a path behind us filled with philosophical thought, hopes, dreams, and prayers to those in need.  And without saying a word or really knowing what I have even said I was lent an ear from my four legged friend and I was allowed to leave with a somewhat uncluttered mind and some clarity.

Birthday Girl

I mentioned a couple posts ago that I finally pulled the trigger and signed up for my event.  I signed up for the Vermont 100 miler, and I am using the credo "Go big or go home".  And as December days tick away and the holidays get closer I am reminded that I only have seven months or so to somehow get my stuff together, and somehow manage to push through 100 miles in less than 30 hours.  But I am also reminding myself that this time of the year only comes once and to make the best.

What also comes once a year is birthdays.  Tomorrow is Zoe's 4th birthday and I couldn't be a more proud and excited father.  Not a day passes that I don't learn more about being a Dad.  Zoe has a way of slowing me down, making me laugh, and keeping a wide open view on life.  Children are innocent, unbiased, and live life by the minute.  Happy Birthday Zoe Katelyn Gee, you my dear are where I find much of my inspiration and as much as I can't wait to run and laugh together on the trails I want you to grow slow, real slow.

Stone Mill 50 Miler

Somewhere between miles thirty and thirty five sat a lone sign that read, "Do what you love and love what you do".  That saying stuck in my head for the rest of the race and remains in my thoughts as I write tonight.  Too many people live by the if, could've, should've, would've, and if I had it to do over again attitude.  I do my best to live just the opposite.

Last week's race wasn't my best, in fact it was sub par, for the first few days I was even a bit embarrassed about my finish time of 12:47.  I completed Stone Mill nearly two hours after I had anticipated.  However a week and a half later I find myself at peace with this race.  Not only was I on my feet moving forward longer than I had ever before I was able to capture some learning experiences that never would have happened if I had finished in ten and a half hours.

The race in a recap:

You ever have that morning when you can't drag yourself out of bed?  Or that short walk or run that seems like it will never end?  That is how the first ten to twelve miles felt.  I was able to run for the first couple hours with my good friend Amy, who killed this race, and fellow trail runner and friend  David B.  We'd soon lose David to the winding trails and I wouldn't see him again until mile forty something.  Amy kept inching away and my last sight of her was around mile twenty two.

Miles eighteen through thirty just plain hurt.  My body was tanked and my mind was wandering.  For the first time in all my runs I thought about quitting, throwing in the towel.  I kept pushing along until I climbed a small hill and took notice to the sign I mentioned earlier.  "Do what you love and love what you do" is what the small handwritten sign stated and it home like no one's business.  The last six months of my life have been a crazy whirlwind of events but somehow I landed where I was the most happy.  I was running through the woods like a child being cheered on by people who are genuine and by people who I love.

Miles forty one through fifty fourish were brutal.  Who knows what the exact mileage was, many had this race measured close to fifty five miles, but the last ten were and out and back with a stream crossing.  Before I entered the out and back I received some good vibes from friends Pete, Lynn, Glo, and Big T.  My good friend and girlfriend Kelly sent me on my way with a kiss and for some reason I didn't think I needed my headlamp.  At this point I was "power hiking" the trails and would throw in a short shuffle here and there.  As the sun began to set the course was darkening quick and I luckily was passed by David B. who graciously let me borrow a head lamp.  I would soon be passed by Amy and then for the last six miles would be accompanied by nothing but silent darkness and the occasional passing runner. 

After many twists and turns I would climb the final hill and cross the finish line. I had completed my third fifty miler, and this time the third time was not the charm.

My night ended by laying on the couch with my little girl talking about my race.  Zoe doesn't know how far I run or necessarily why I run but she knows that it makes me happy. She asked me that night, "Daddy how far did you run today"?  My answer was simple.  I told her that I ran far enough to finish.  What I didn't tell her and I hope that one day she can experience is that I ran far enough to answer my own questions, I ran far enough to set new goals, I ran far enough to realize I am exactly where I need to be...

Stone Mill 50 Preface and a Surprise!

This weekend will mark my third fifty mile run and other than an annoying head cold I am feeling confident about this run.  Let's hope the third time is the charm.  Earlier in the week I was feeling some nervousness but now I am experiencing a strange calmness.  Sure I have a time goal in my head but as always finishing is most important.

Along with the calmness I am also equally excited.  Excited to see how both my mind and body will react.  I am excited for the opportunity to run freely through trails and let my thoughts spiral in every direction.  Excited to see a good friend set yet another goal.  Excited for all it will offer.

On a side note....

I pulled the trigger and I feel a little sick at the moment...

I did it I signed up for the Vermont 100, ask me after Saturday and I am sure that I will tell you this was not a wise decision.

Other than that I can't wait to run this weekend and can't wait to write about it!

and when life gives you lemons...Marine Corps Marathon '11

Not every day nor every race will be your best, somehow someway you have to find that silver lining and make the best of a situation that you had hoped would be much better.  Yesterday I ran my eighth Marine Corps Marathon and as I vow every year, my last.

Despite a cold start in the mid thirty's weather conditions weren't horrible, in fact if I had dressed more appropriately I would have considered the weather better than adequate.  The race itself was no different than those in the past.  Marine Corps Marathon has become a huge race with nearly thirty thousand runners attempting to cross the finish line all for many different reasons.  And whether you agree with what's going on in the White House or overseas there is something special about running through our Nation's Capital.  The thousands of young marines working all the aid stations and those running for fallen friends help me to become a little more grateful.

So what went wrong?  The first few miles that wind along the streets of VA before entering DC felt tougher than they have in the past.  I felt that I was pushing at a speed that was similar to my last marathon I ran a few weeks ago but my splits were nearly forty seconds slower.  I was hoping to run across the half mark under two hours but instead I posted a time of 2:02ish.  It was at this point I realized that this race wasn't going to go down in the record books.

In all my years of running I have also become one hell of a walker.  For the rest of the race at every mile marker I would walk for one minute and then run to the next marker.  Doing this helps to not only lower your heart rate but couples as a psychological tool (at least for me). 

After crossing the finish line with a special smack on the ass I received yet another finisher's medal, and as always it was filled with meaningful importance.  I had a crappy race...for only a split second did I question was it the fish and chips and beer I had the night before, could it have been attributed to my two weeks of sickness, was it because I had pr'd four weeks ago?  But I stopped myself before the swirling onslaught of excuses and questions could fill my mind.  Yesterday was a day no different than others and today I am more than comfortable with the fact that I made the best out of a not so great performance.  Through some pain I was able to laugh and smile, I was able to see complete strangers excitedly accomplish a goal, I was able to watch families push those who couldn't run to the finish line.  So as the old saying says "when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade" yesterday I made a huge glass of the best lemonade ever.

**Thanks again Steve Barash for the ride, Nancy Cooper for the three mile post walk, and to Donahue for being you!

A Beer Run?

Not a whole lot has happened since my last post other than the normal day to day routines such as doing my Dad thing, work, run, gym, and drinking a few cold ones.  I often think about the important things in my life and how they rank in priority and besides my little girl, loved ones, family, and friends, beer undoubtedly falls into the top ten.  In fact after finishing a long trail run this past weekend with a couple good friends we took an extra few minutes in the parking lot to share a cold brew.

My beer much like the races I run are not discriminated upon...I enjoy the large popular publicized races just as much as the small intimate trail races that remain unknown to most.  This is no different than my choice in beer.  I will never turn down an ice cold Miller Lite nor will I ever turn my nose up to an unheard of microbrew.  They each have their place and on any given day may be the best beer that'll ever touch your taste buds.

Here's my dilemma.  In less than two weeks I will run my eight Marine Corps Marathon and all but one year have I stopped to grab a beer at mile 22(ish).  So do I push for yet another PR on a great course or do I stop and savor a small cup of nectar?  It may be a game time decision.

Today's post wasn't full of insight and intellect but hopefully had a small flair of silliness.  I like to run like I live my life, not too seriously.  It's fun to laugh and I love that it's contagious, I wish more people would catch it...and once you add a little bit of happiness it certainly doesn't get any better.

peace

Blame it on the Rain

You ever have one of those days when everything seems to fall into place, when no matter how much you stumble you can't seem to fall down?  This past Saturday was one of those days, I finally ran a sub four hour marathon.  To be exact my finishing time was 3:58.  With a few days behind me and time to savor something that I have chased for a while I've realized it couldn't have come at a more fitting time. 

The race began in Harper's Ferry and ended in Sheperdstown all while running through four national parks, the course was fantastic.  What I enjoyed and perhaps most ironic was the course profile.  There where moments of flailing downhills, stretches of calm flats, and ten miles of constant climbs that were followed by unexpected descents.  And as I neared closer to the finish with each step and each breath I was being followed by a dark cloud that sporadically would drop rain on my head.  There's no doubt I ran a little faster on Saturday because I had trained hard all summer, lost weight, and made slight changes to my diet.  However I am completely convinced that I had extra help during this race, extra help in so many different ways...

I once again proved to myself that I am not a quitter and sometimes getting what you want only takes a little adjusting.  I reassured myself that the way I live my life and the way I find happiness may be different than others but couldn't put me in a better place.

"Keep on dreaming boy, 'cause when you stop dreamin' it's time to die" - Blindmelon

Shine like Gold, Buzz like a Bee

I remember like it was yesterday, my first race, and how nervous I was and how scared I was to fail.  But I didn't and in fact I realized that running is pretty simple and that it took me to a place that no one could tarnish, no one could cloud.  The only thing that has changed through my running is that I lost the sense of fear.  With more than 12,000 miles on my sometimes tired feet I miss the feeling of pre-race butterflies.  I keep telling myself that when I finally sign up for my 100 miler that I will have more butterflies than a summer flower garden.  Tonight something happened.

I'm not sure if this is nervousness, anxiousness, or dare I say a butterfly but I have a different feeling about this Saturday's race.  This weekend I am running Freedom's Run Marathon http://freedomsrun.org/Default.aspx and it's got all the makings of a memorable race.  The weather should be nice, low 50's with a slight chance of rain.  The course has a net elevation loss and a lot of the run is on crushed gravel not to mention that it is a small race (the marathon has a field of 500).  This weekend and this course may help me hit one of my most chased goals, to run a sub four hour marathon.  If it's going to happen I have no better chance than this weekend and absolutely no excuses.

But in all honesty if I leave everything I have out on the course and fall short I won't be heartbroken.  I won't be heartbroken because I will have more opportunities and that's one thing I love about running and my life is that opportunities are always to be found.  But guarantee this, if I cross that finish line with a time of 3:59:59 I will have a smile that won't wipe off.  This weekend I plan on shining like gold and buzzing like a bee...


"You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream" - C.S. Lewis

But you ain't got no legs Lieutenant Dan!

With my first race of the fall less than two weeks away I finally got new shoes.  As you may expect legs are very important to running and the key to a healthy set of legs is a good pair of shoes.  Many of you know I spend a couple nights a week moonlighting as a modern day Al Bundy at Charm City Run Annapolis http://www.charmcityrun.com/annapolis . If you can't find me sniffing new shoes in the back or fitting new runners with awesome kicks you'll find me trying new wheels on my feet.  I've been running in shoes called Newtons for the last year or so and love them for many different reasons.  My new Newtons came in last week so I am expecting my tired legs to start feeling fresh any day now.

On a separate note I've noticed a lot of excuses in today's society.  I see it everywhere, in the news, sports, social media, the list goes on.  Today when I was running I was tired and thought more about hitting the red stop button on the treadmill almost as many times as my feet hit the belt, but I didn't.  I try to live my life the best I can without regret and most importantly without excuses.  To me excuses are an easy cop out.  But I have found myself thinking lately about why so many people make excuses.  Is it because it's the easy way out?  And I also find that most of the time there is no legitimacy behind an excuse. 

To me life without excuses is fresh, free, and  unassuming.  It's easy. 


"He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else." - Benjamin Franklin

Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?

9-11 is a day I will never forget, a day all of us never will.  I wasn't running, it wasn't a part of my life.  I was working with my father building a small guest house on a secluded lot in South County.  It was a quiet day with nothing more than the noises of our hammers and saws.  We received a phone call telling us that the World Trade Center had been struck by a plane.  For the next several hours our hammers laid where they were dropped and my dad and I sat on the porch listening to the radio.  It's day I will never forget.  Our nation was punched right in the gut, innocent lives were lost, and my father and I had conversations that will stick in my head until the day I die.

It's hard to believe that tomorrow will mark the ten year anniversary of such a horrible event.  Normally I can find a way to illustrate some type of correlation between events and my running, not with this one.  It still makes me numb. 

Tomorrow I plan on commemorating 9-11 by running a 10 miler through my neighborhood.  Without trying I know I will reflect on how this event has changed my life, my outlook, and our country.  I will be reminded of what I have and how grateful I am to have that chance.  I will be reminded of how happy I am to be an American and that I can freely run through my town.  I will be reminded that as much as people bitch and complain that WE are offered opportunities like no other place. 

Make tomorrow count.

Life is Like a Roller Coaster Baby....

So the lyrics may be a little different and in fact I prefer "life" as to "love", it's more appropriate.  Labor Day weekend has come and gone and it's memories will be tucked away in my little pee brain for a long time.  It was filled with running, friends, beer, and some good 'ol fashioned thrill rides.

I got an early start Saturday morning and was hoping to get a 20 miler in but settled for 17ish.  Remember it's quality not quantity.  The run itself was good, I was in great company and even got to see a few old TNT friends.  Other than dearly needing new shoes and feeling a little beat up from pounding the pavement rather than shuffling along dirt trails it was a nice run, I think I am starting to get the hang of this running stuff.

I think it's only fitting that my summer ended on a roller coaster, literally.  And what I find interesting is that either standing or sitting all roller coasters start and stop on a fairly level surface.  This is no different than life's experiences nor running.  Whether you are toeing up to a start line or preparing for a difficult decision it's really no different than a  roller coaster.  There will be twists and turns, moments of laughter, moments of fear but in the end if you ride it out you will find yourself on that level surface.  To me it all makes sense.  Some coasters are longer than others, some may be steeper, some may be faster.  Do you sit in the front or back?  Do you play it safe and grab a middle seat or do you throw your hands up and let the wind hit you in the face and enjoy the ride? 

So as I sit here at my desk  I can almost feel my hair blowing in the wind and can barely keep my arms to my side.  I can't wait for my races to get here, I'm excited for life's surprises, and am completely convinced that there will always be a level ground.

What the heck was that!?

Over the course of the last week I have experienced my first earthquake and hunkered down to battle the remnants of Hurricane Irene.  Who would have ever thought that us Marylanders would have to endure such a strange and hectic week, but hey it's been one crazy summer so I wasn't completely blown away. What I find interesting is that how endurance running can produce the feelings and emotions that are similar to those found from natural disasters.  Now I will make it clear these are two completely different monsters.  One, we pay good hard earned money to have a miserably great time while on the other hand natural disasters are uncontrollable circumstances where lives are taken and life is disrupted.  Clearly they are two different things but still from what I find there is a similar feeling.

Both exploit our vulnerability.  I've yet to run a race whether it was a marathon or a 50 miler where there wasn't a short period of time that I became vulnerable.  In my case it's generally my emotions.  No I don't become a blubbering crying idiot but I often find gratefulness and importance whether it's certain people in my life or memories I have collected.  I can honestly say that last week even though the earthquake was minor and the hurricane was less significant than forecasted I had similar feelings.  I immediately thought about my loved ones, I immediately thought about things that are important to me, and I immediately thought without fear there's no hope.

What I learned from this last week is that not only does my running allow me to eat a lot it allows me to remain calm in tense situations.  Running has strengthened my patience, it allows me to remain calm and I constantly compare it to life.  If I have a string of a few tough days I relate it to parts of a race where you have those few tough miles.  After you push through you will be rewarded.  Things always have a way of getting better, to me it's the only option.  This leads me to my favorite word, persevere.

As described by the dictionary persevere is defined as continuing in a course of action even in the face of difficulty.  I find this in my running and in this past week I saw it in our region.  And as Joe Dirt says, "Ya gotta keep on keepin' on".

On the running calendar - this weekend another 20 miler...Freedom Run is one month away!

Only a Pig can Help

Last weeks running took a backseat to a family tradition.  Yes I was able to sneak a few weekday runs in but there was a pig to be roasted and money to be raised.  For nearly twenty years my family has been hosting a good 'ol fashioned South County pig roast.  The ingredients are simple.  You find an old oil drum convert into a big ass grill, get a large pig (preferably over a hundred pounds), call all your close friends and family, put some beer on ice, and then eat and party all night long.

A few years ago we decided to turn something good into something great.  We would turn our backyard bbq into a fundraiser.  The only thing that changed about the party was a band ( www.kleptoradio.com ), a moonbounce, a few more people, and a great cause to support.  All we would ask is to either bring a dish or a donation.  Four years later we as a family with the help from all our friends have helped to raise almost ten thousand dollars for Team in Training and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

I couldn't be more proud of what we do and couldn't feel much better about giving.  And to me it's running that made all this happen.  If I hadn't signed up to run a marathon with Team in Training in 2004 none of this would have happened.  Sure we would still be having our pig roast, but it wouldn't be what it is today.  What this party has taught me and what running continues to teach me is that I won't be a "should've" person.  We turned our party into what it should've have been, more meaningful and giving. 

We should be willing to take risks, we should seize opportunities, and we should never look back and say we "should've taken a chance".

A Full Moon

It wasn't until I stepped foot outside tonight that I noticed I would be accompanied by a full moon.  It would prove to be a friendly companion.  In my years of running I have only attempted one night run, it was last year on a hot and humid summer night and would turn out to be no more than ten miles.  Tonight would be different, at least I hoped.  The weather couldn't have been better and my psyche was top notch.  I mapped out an out and back.  Out and back courses are not always my favorite but the are effective.  My thought is that with an out and back you have no way of cutting the course short or altering the run.  Once you make it halfway each step is one step closer to home.  This run was a success.  I managed to get a solid twenty miles in with only a handful of walk breaks.

Tonight's run was fresh, it was new, it was extraordinary.  Many use the expression "you can't have your cake and it it to" which really means you can't have the best of both worlds.  This expression is true, people try it and eventually it falls apart.  I believe that you can't have the best of both worlds, but most definitely you can have the best world.  What I mean is that with proper balance life can be great, and it doesn't have to be selfish.  To many my running may seem a top priority but in all actuality it is a fraction of the pie.  I asked myself tonight halfway through my run if I could live without it, my answer to myself was "possibly, but I couldn't live without all it has brought to me and what it will continue to bring". 

Goodnight room, goodnight Moon.

Is this a Puzzle or a handful of Mike and Ikes?

I feel that you should always have goals within goals, it makes reaching the big one more attainable and more fun.  Vermont is less than a year away but I plan on running at least 3 or 4 50 milers along the way as well as marathons and 50k's.  A couple days ago I signed up for Stone Mill, a 50 miler close to home in mid November, it will be a challenge.  I am now debating what other races I will run before this race.  I have a couple in mind perhaps the Freedom Run in WV and my old faithful Marine Corps. 

Almost everyday at work I either find a quarter or "borrow" one from a co-worker and get a handful of Mike and Ikes.  What I find interesting is that I eat them in a certain manner.  I first sort them by color and then by quantity and then eat them from largest quantity to smallest.  Without a doubt the red ones always have the lowest number and they also happen to be my favorite.  I thought today as I was sorting colors and quantities that perhaps Vermont is the "red one" and all the others are the ten milers, half marathons, marathons, and 50 milers. 

These are completely weird and random thoughts but one of the ways I help to keep my running and my life into perspective.  I find that being able use such quirky similes helps to pull everything together and makes life's twists and turns make a little more sense.  And what I also find interesting is that even though red colored candy is my favorite by far I would never buy a box completely full of red.  It takes away diversity, takes away the ability to choose, and takes away the satisfaction of working your way through all those different colors and flavors.

On a normal note my body feels great and my training has been adequate.  In the upcoming months I am going to have to start putting more mileage in and start paying more attention to my diet.  I am also planning a night run soon which should make for a fun post.

I Carry a Stepladder for my Soapbox

After having a few brews with my cousin last night at a local establishment I came home and noticed a post on Facebook that hit me pretty hard.  It read, "You haven't lived until you've been told that "if you're to get cancer, this is the one to get." Going on round 4 of Hodgkin Lymphoma. Yep - the SOB is back with a vengeful bite. Damn you cancer".  This came from a beautiful young woman who I've yet had the chance to meet but has impacted my life tremendously, and is in fact not only why I rolled my ass out of bed to run on a muggy Friday morning but the reason that keeps me running.  Simply put, cancer sucks.  


So as I stand high on my soapbox this morning I could state the obvious...what I will endure over the next year in training and races will be no match for what a cancer patient has to push through.  In that I will find strength to keep running but most importantly to raise awareness.  

Our lives are too often full of quantity over quality.  Our lives are too often ran at a speed that we miss what is right in front of our eyes.  And in all this we too often settle for less.  I've found that running for charity and being exposed to those effected has helped me to embrace opportunities and to know that I won't live life with an orthotic.  What I mean by this is that life should be a normal fit, it should be natural, it shouldn't need an "orthotic" to make things right.


Tomorrow morning I will be back out on the B&A Trail running with Team in Training, it's been way too long.

Know when to say when

Very similar to knowing when to have that last beer sometimes you have to know when to take those last few strides.  On tap for my Sunday Funday was an eighteen miler at one of my favorite places to run, Rosaryville State Park. 

I enjoy running in the heat.  I have always thought if you train in the most severe conditions it makes normal everyday running much easier.  After two prior days of record setting heat with highs in the 100's, Sunday's weather would be very similar.  After a decent first loop I decided not to ruin the rest of my day and cut the second loop short, I finished with roughly 14 miles.

Did I learn anything new from this hot and steamy run?  I learned that with excess heat and humidity and a whole lot of sweat that a pair of extra large running shorts seem to become more than twice the normal size and length.  Other than that I didn't learn much that I didn't already know.  What I loved was the humbling experience and understanding my limits.

Here's a random thought...Too often I live by the credo "I'm doing the best I can with what I got" but what I will start living by is "I'm doing great because what I have is the best".

What you can learn from a stuffed bear

Today's post has virtually nothing to do with running but more so about mindful insight.  This afternoon I took Zoe to see Winnie the Pooh.  It had been more years than I could remember since I had watched this film as a child.  However, having a chance to see this as an adult and a father was remarkable.  The simplicity of Pooh's quotes are what get me the most and if I must link any of this to running it would be that his quotes are a stripped down honest view on life and friendship.  This is certainly comparable to running which, arguably, is about the most stripped down sport you can find.

In regards to running, I am planning on 18 miles this Sunday at Rosaryville.  This should be fun with the heat wave we are enduring.  Other stuff to start nailing down - 1. A training plan 2. My fall schedule

peace

The Rock Begins to Roll

Here you have it, I am attempting to run my very first 100 mile race. As long as there are no hiccups in registration I will be running the Vermont 100 next July. This blog will be as much as an experiment as will be my training. I've found over the years that writing has become a form of therapy for me, this next year I will need as much as I can get. With all honesty I couldn't be more excited about a challenge and yet have never been so frightened. Peace.