Conversation

So I joined Crossfit Lafayette and quite frankly I am not sure how long this relationship will last. I have been a runner for some time now and I am enamored with my running family. We feed off of each others positivity and encourage each other despite our current state. This morning was my first official crossfit class and my before my first workout even started this exchange took place: (Note, Girl #1 is mid 30's and ends all of her sentences with upward inflections)

Girl #1: Hey (speaking to Girl #2), the other day I went to the store and the woman behind the counter was all like, you must be a runner. I was like, um, do I look flabby and out of shape to you? Ugh!

Girl#2: I think she was trying to compliment you.

Girl #1: No, people who run are flabby, it's like, oh my god I work hard at this crossfit to be fit so I don't look like a runner.

Girl #2: Well that guys a runner and he's toned, look at his legs! (pointing to me)

Girl #1: You're a runner?

Me: (nodding yes)

Girl #1: Well I just can't believe he's not flabby!

Now I am fully aware of her ignorance and her implications at runners, but that doesn't mean I can't take offense to her comments. I credit my running ability to years on a soccer field, and I would take the same offense to someone who was ignorant enough to say soccer players are out of shape! I am not in crossfit to make friends, and although I will get along with most people I meet I will not get along with everyone. This woman probably has never run more than 3 miles in her life. So she doesn't understand that to run 3 miles or 31 miles it all starts with the same first step. We runners are a proud bunch. I ran my first 50k (31.1) miles in the Talladega National Forest a few weeks ago. I ran for 8:50:34 and covered over 8,000 ft. of elevation gains. I was proud of myself, and proud of every single person that finished. The only things I heard in that time of the trail were encouraging words. No negativity. Negative people don't make it in the Ultra Marathon World. I respect the weekend warrior who can only make it out for 1-2 miles at a time, and I respect the 100 milers like Edie Riedel, Brad Delcambre and Donald Cleveland for their resolve as well. My mom is 48 and ran her first Half Marathon in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago, she started running 5k's the same way every other ultra runner did.

The world of working out, this doesn't include athletics like soccer, basketball or even running. But the world of working out is a world of gateway drugs. Stepping stones if you will to the next big thing. The egotist wants more of what he is looking for, so that gym membership leads to boot camp leads to crossfit leads to crossfit game competition and whatever is next.

This post wasn't suppose to be this long. My apologies. Please file all requests for refunds of your time with Benjamin Franklin.

Trail Running Psychology

It's only been a few months since I began this new phenomenon of my punitive existence, but it has proved more fecund than I initially anticipated. I think all of us who commit to activity such as running, start with a very simple and acrimonious agenda, but as we become more and more inundated with the Bucephalus of that endeavor, the truth (even unbeknownst to us) becomes clear!

For me trail running was something to do because it was new and hip, so to speak. I thought it would be fun and ultimately take me out of my comfort zone, well it did just that and much much more.

We as people scurry quite fixedly about our day, constantly conversing about whats to come, tomorrow, the next day, next week, next year even. We query the time, not to know what is now, but rather to gauge what we can do in the allotted time of day that is left. We treat time as though it were the facet of all that is true and righteous, thusly, we are a slave to the future as the present does not concern us less tragedy befall that moment. What we don't realize is that the very future that we pine to arrive only so we can forget it, will eventually be the present and just like that (Vroom) it's gone again!

Trail running doesn't allow the future to exist without recognition of the present, if you attempt to circumvent the present, the future will know and you will be punished. In my trail running I have learned a few things, "eventually I will get to my final destination so the time doesn't matter. I do not care where I have to go, my only concern is where I am now. The next step will allow for the steps to follow, without that step, I AM standing still, keep moving! How will feel in 5 miles? Doesn't matter, how do I feel now matters!"

I hadn't realized until recently, my psychology on the trail was carrying over in to my psychology off the trail, and it was working. I was treating my days like a trail run, my week like chain of trail runs. Whether in the office or on the trail or even at home, you have good hours and you have bad hours. The good hours, those are easy, no worries there, but the bad hours are the test to what you can accomplish. If I am running Chicot I know I have 22 miles ahead of me, no turn or decision will change that once I go. In those 22 miles there are good hours and there are absolute shit hours. In the 8+ hours I work in a day, the same rules apply. So as cliche as it sounds, it is literally one step at a time.

I didn't think I was coming to this conclusion. It was not a gradual epiphany, I woke up and I realized it all at once. Trail running has been a major benefit, and quite frankly I am lost without it as of late, I am hoping to regain my trails slowly starting next week I will run 10 with Geaux Run at Chicot. I am a bit scared as I do not feel 100% yet despite no pain being present anymore. We shall see what happens. Just keep running!

Cajun Coyote 2011

It started as a relatively normal Saturday in Chicot State Park, I was there for a run although I was not to be the one running. It was the Cajun Coyote trail race and I was working the first aid station with Edie Riedel of Geaux Run. I didn't know exactly what to expect, but what ensued was to be mind altering and potentially life changing. As I write this I am given to believe that I will not find my creative dialect of adjectives to adequately describe what I felt for this event, but I will try nonetheless.

The race was set to take place offering 3 different distances, a 20 mile loop, a 100k (60 mile) loop, and the rugged 100 miler. I had previously agreed to aid Edie for the duration of the race, and as I am true to my word I was there with clothing, sleeping bag and pillow.

I arrived in Chicot at approximately 4:30 in the morning on Saturday with equipment in tow. I was able to sleep for about an hour once I arrive, and at 6:30 a.m. the race was off, at least for the 100 milers. I still had no idea what was in store for me. I will take this opportunity to congratulate my twitter friend @LSUBeerRunner Brenton Day on the 20 mile victory and my good friend and trail running colleague Nathan Shull for a graceful victory in 100k (his first time running 100k mind you).

There were 30 100 milers and at 7:06 the first 100 miler came to our aid station (we were mile 4, first aid station in the clock wise direction). Everyone stood in awe as Tetsuro Ogata aka Buford (all trail runners have weird trail names, mine is Vuijsters (pronounced Vies-Stirs), I will explain that later) approached only 46 minutes after the race start. (The first 4 miles of Chicot are the hilliest and typically our saturday group takes a little over 1 hour to overcome, he did it 46 minutes). Of course the comments start, "there is no way he can hold that pace for 100 miles..." Shortly thereafter (7 minutes) Mossie Smith aka Lion-O approaches. Now both Buford & Lion-O had smiles on their faces, no grimace of pain and when I say the most polite people I have ever met, I mean it. These guys were top notch polite, despite Buford's broken English.

Hours went by that created oblivion to our time concepts. We conversed with every runner who came through and the service we provided to them was second to none. It was an honor to serve the men and women that approached us, and my heart was graced by their efforts.

Morning turned to noon and noon turned to night and the party and festivities of the faithful remnant runners began to depart from the Geaux Run aid station leaving only the company of our thoughts and short stories. It was me, Edie, Phil & Nick, and our bonding though not intentional was inevitable.

It was the wee hours of the night that brought to me the state of mind that would eventually alter my mood. After awaking from a few hours nap, around 5:30 a.m. I awoke to find only 1 runner had come through since 3:30 that morning. It was then that I realized what I had signed up for. I was here to witness greatness, I was fated to witness the act of human heroics. The moon shined effervescently through the trees above and coyotes sang brilliant hymns as the stars danced to the harmony of the elements surrounding.

As the sun rose once more a car approached, it was Lion-O. I was a bit startled.. Perplexed by his arrival I approached him cautiously, as though approaching a lion, uncaged and untamed. He was walking (a surprise) and of course, smiling. He had come by to thank us, as he had thanked us every time we'd seen him on the course. I couldn't believe it, I began to choke up. Here was an individual who had suffered 100 miles for 18+ hours (18:49) and here he was thanking us for our service. Was he serious? I was floored, in every word escaping my lips I fought to hold back tears, had one dropped fallen, I would have come undone.

The station was torn down and Edie and I headed back to the Start/Finish line, upon our entrance we saw a runner from Boston approaching the final 100 meters, he looked over at Edie and smiled as she encouraged him along. Here it came again, damn tears. I walked in to the pavillion and saw true heroes, I saw people that story books are written about.  I now realize that I witnessed what are truly unsung and untold heroes. These men and women will drive home (after running 100 miles) and people will never know the greatness that they accomplished.

In every passing visit from these runners I learned a little more and more about them. I saw people in their lowest and highest moment, and in that I learned the greatness of humanity lies in the highs and the lows of life. When I saw them at their lowest my respect grew and grew, and despite their desolate battered and beaten bodies, I glowing faces and radiant spirits. Although I may never be a 100 miler, I will forever respect and admire those that are, and given the very opportunity to support them in any way I shall.

To Edie Riedel, thank you so much for the opportunity to serve these men and women! It is an experience I will never forget.


P.S. - Tetsuro Ogata finished first and Mossie Smith finished second.

How Proud...

So I was able to put my jealousy aside for this one.

This past weekend (Saturday) my wife and my mom ran the Geaux Run Cajun Cup 10k in down town Lafayette. This is probably the most fun race anyone can ever do. I ran it for the first time in 2009 and it's been a goal to run it again. 2010 I was in San Antonio for a Half Marathon with long time friend and training partner Jeremy Zenon, and this year unfortunately I was on DL with a stress fracture in my shin.

Registered to run were me, Ashley, mom & dad. Dad is injured too. Well my wife felt under trained and my mom felt old, but I put my persuasive skills to the test and got them to run it. And like all things wonderful they had a blast. Their target goals were 1:15, final times: 1:11 for Ashley & 1:13 for my Mom. AWESOME!!!!!

I was/am very proud of them both. They were enthralled to report they ran nonstop for the entire length of the race. Excited and elated, they are planning the next 10k or better, with better times.

As the Shoe Turns

As a runner, I have found to have quite simple taste, no matter what it is, I am always satisfied with the best. I can't take full credit for that quote, it's a quote from Oscar Wilde slightly tweaked. At any rate it's true, I believe in the best, shopping at the best stores, and buying the best products. Best products don't necessarily have to be "name brand" products. Lines like Sugoi, Louis Garneau aren't indicative of "name brand" products, but they are two of my favorite lines, the other is Zoot, a favorite clothing line of mine, not too huge a fan of their shoes although they are posted here. 

My running career has been short lived up to this point. In '09 I ran the Cajun Cup 10k (on a whim, no prior "training", just woke up and said, "I ain't got no plans" so I ran it) After that I didn't run again until the following November in '10 where I ran the San Antonio Half Marathon with a great close friend of mine, so it is safe to say that November 2010 is the origination of my running lifestyle, so I am still very new. However since November 2010 I have run 2 HM's, (5) 5k's, (3) 10k's and miles mile miles, Chicot State Park has been a favorite of mine thanks to brilliance of Edie Reidel, Smitty Smith, Donald Cleveland and Brad Delcambre for being crazy enough to introduce the vexed populi to ultra trail marathons!

So over the past year I have had the option of 3 pair of shoes, I have posted them here and ran in one for the very first time today, so.. I thought I would waste some time this morning and post about them.

Nike Dual Fusion

The Nike Dual Fusions were purchased last Christmas for me by my wife, I hate all things Nike so I only wore them to do P90x, Insanity or take out the trash. I didn't wear Nike when I played soccer, I wasn't going to wear them now, although this morning I wore them for a 7 mile run and if you promise not tell anyone, I really enjoyed them. But my ego says I enjoyed the weather, the shoes just happened to be on my feet. I did however enjoy the toe box, it's wide and roomy, no swelling issues toes never went numb. The shoe is relatively responsive with a positive spring in the step.

Zoot Ultra Tempo 

The Zoot, not a running shoe in my opinion. In fact this shoe is not made for standing, it is made for sitting down and drinking. I don't understand how people run in this thing, it is better suited for short sprints on a track, I don't know how this is a triathlon shoe unless the run portion of the tri is .5 miles.

 Brooks Trance 9

Ah the Brooks Trance 9's. The favorite in the running selection I posses. This is a responsive, high stability, incredibly cushioned shoe. What I have received from the Brooks is more comfort and perfect stride than anything else. Be that as it may, it is a beautiful shoe as well. The quick laces call for adjusting some time mid run due to swelling of the foot, I typically notice that when a couple of toes go numb. The toe box is roomy, though not squared, the lugs are perfectly fitted to the sole of the shoe increase response time and add comfort.  

Texas Tough Mudder Central Texas

The Crew (Me, Jeremy Zenon, Joe Zenon & Jessie Zenon)

Fin!

If you would have asked me 2 days ago what the toughest thing I had ever done was, I would have given you a story of when I was in China in 07 and I contracted a form of Bird Flu and lay on a dirt floor for 3 days with no medical attention whatsoever convincing myself as to why I shouldn't die! If you ask me that question today, I will tell you the Texas Tough Mudder in Central Texas. This endurance race owned my every bit of dignity, all of my energy and came close to consuming my mind, but I was tough, and so were these guys pictured. Let me say this before I go on, I was struck with 10,000 volts of electricity... in the face... twice (more on that later). The Tough Mudder is 10-12 mile event with anywhere from 24-27 obstacle courses. This particular set was 10 miles and 27 obstacle courses. The event was held at Cycle Creek Park in what I think is Bastrop, TX, a middle of nowhere place between Houston & Austin. The first obstacle was pretty indicative of what they say, we crawled through 6" of muddy water with barbed wire less than 1' from our heads, all the while military personnel yelling at us to get moving and get out, not so bad. Stage 2 crawl through 3' of water but this water had buckets of ice added to it, then you had to swim underneath a barrier (left my skin burning for several minutes). The 3rd stage was my personal favorite I think, we had to jump off of a 30' ledge in to a pool of muddy water (you can view event photos here) thankfully the many dead catfish in the water were there to dampen the impact of the water. The stages carried on accordingly, with wooden walls to climb all getting taller as you conquered the one before. There was one in particular stage that was most weird, I think it was at mile 6 we had to remove our shoes to trudge through waste deep black mud, this mud would pull you further and further down with every step, about 25' of frustration and agony on the quads, it was shortly thereafter my cramps in my legs kicked in. There were underground tunnels, water stages with tunnels, all with dead fish in them. It was a simple walk through water that both of my quads tightened up and every step was more painful than the next. The log carry stage burned my shoulders and forearms and guess what stage was next, monkey bars. The monkey bars stage was interesting it was the only one I couldn't complete, I fell. The bars angled up at a 30 degree angle to a 35' crest, the catch was, every other one was greased or buttered, and the bars weren't stationary, they rolled in your hands (a true test of strength). From mile 6 to mile 8 there were no obstacles, just terrain, it was nice I made some great time running with a group of marines at a pretty descent pace although there were loads of hills, we pushed on in a very marine-esque fashion.

One of my favorite aspects of the Tough Mudder is the comradeship they implore. I remember one stage I helped approximately 8 people over a wall before I went over, when I arrived at the next stage all those guys were there and waiting to help me up a 35' quarter pipe ramp that had been oiled. Tak, a Japanese fellow that was most helpful found me again a mud hill that was proving very difficult for me to mount. He stationed his leg for me to jump from his thigh, and as fate would have it, 2 miles later we meet again, and I am stabilizing a tight rope for him to walk across this wire over dead fish filled ice water (pain, pain, pain)! It was constant, no man or woman left behind, and these folks took it seriously. You spend a lot of time waiting in lines to undergo the next obstacle so you see how long some folks sit at the end and help people, people they don't know, people they will never see again, but we were all committed and all committed to finish and no one was going to let any fail. One of the final stages me and another guy spent about 20 minutes helping people get done to walk a cargo net, it was a difficult and scary drop to the net, and the possibility of getting your foot loose through a whole was high. We never complained, only encouraged.

There were 100 yards left after the cargo net stage, 100 yards to victory and my orange head band. There was only one thing standing in my way, 20' of dangling wires, and some of them carried 10,000 volts of electricity. Now, 10,000 isn't a lot, but after 3:30 hours on a course, physically and mentally exhausted and the finish line so close, this was not in my book of things to enjoy. I got my wits about me and sprinted through, the ground dropped from beneath me, mud filled my mouth, water overtook my vision then it hit me, I had been shocked and what better place than in the face (the cheek) it woke me up, I was back on my feet, the ground disappeared again, "more mud? damn!" Shock! "Again?!"  I was done, the wire were behind me I was lain on the ground in shock, I had done it, I had actually completed the Tough Mudder. I rose to my feet and was greeted by smiles and cheers and of course, my coveted head band.

On the way out we were served, water, banana's, shot blocks and beer!

CMA Sashay 5K Today!

If you were alive in Lafayette, La today then I do not need to introduce the weather to you, but to be fair I will, it was beautiful. Now, if you were a runner, then it was especially most coveting to be alive this morning. It for me and my family, it went off with a bang, most notable is the fact that my parents completed their very first 5k today. I got my mom in to running about 2 months ago, not to be shown up, my dad hopped on the band wagon. It was a bet actually that lead to this 5k for them, but my motives were ulterior. I wanted to show them that they could complete a 5k, in top fashion and feel good later. No sooner did we get back to the vehicle my mom asked when the next one was, I reminded her that she was running the Cajun Cup 10k, she thought this race was the Cajun Cup, I chuckled and we ironed the details out, now she is really excited. Although she still wants to do at least one more 5k before hand, it wasn't hard to find one.

Mom: 35:12 (which is fantastic for her, she didn't stop once, I am super proud of her)
Dad: 29:36
Me: 23:19

It was a wonderful day, if you were a beginner runner and went out for your first run this morning, you are spoiled.

What's the Deal?

Ever since my near mugging incident 2 weeks ago I have been reluctant to run in the mornings. I have relegated my training to Insanity DVD's and running sprints with my soccer team, but today I decided (with the Tough Mudder less the 2 weeks away) that I was going to endure a painfully hot distance run post work. I left out at 5 pm and felt horrible, every painstaking step was met with a reason to turn around and go home. I convinced myself that I would run 2 miles, gauge my O2 levels and adjust my run accordingly. ( I was planning to run 6) At the two mile mark it was confirmed, I was going back, but first I was going to run around this track (1.1 mile per lap) twice then go home. Somehow, not quite sure, I looked down and I was at mile 6.5, I had run the track 3.5 times and hadn't realized it, completely lost in thought, shaking off the bad juju of the day (not that there was much) and had lost all concept of time, I looked at my watch 50 minutes had gone by, I was moving. The weird part is I felt sluggish, lethargic, apathetic, lazy, hot, miserable and dull the entire time. I had let my psychology take me over, but I wouldn't let it win. With this time and distance under my belt, all bets were off, I was on to run and run I did. I felt great after that, I made peace  with the running gods and gods of weather and streets and finished with pain in my legs and peace in my mind. I was hurting but smiling, I realize only now as I type this, I still haven't looked at my watch to see what my final time was, I suppose it doesn't matter, I finished and I feel great. 

Psychological Sunday

This was a post I wrote Sunday August 21, 2011. I was very hesitant to post it as it holds an embarrassing portion to my psychology that morning, but in order to overcome I needed to write it down and read it over and over. I am not happy about some of the content, but saw fit to divulge what I was going through. There is much much more to the story that I am surely forgetting with every key stroke. I ran this past Sunday in Memorial Park in Houston and perhaps that was the catalyst for this post being published, it was a good run with a dear close friend. Here is goes:

I ran 14 miles this morning with a group from Geaux Run. The group included Owner Edie Reidel, Greg, Dan, Liz, Bobbi (2 time breast cancer survivor) and myself. I was the youngest person in the group by about 6-8 years, so I was very happy to engage with everyone around me about their youth and their running history. It was quite fun. We all finished well in a time to be proud on a hot and humid morning, but there was something amiss to my psychology, I found I was beating myself up for something and I couldn't figure out what it was, but I know now and I'm verklempt.

It was my ego! Now, I've always known I had an ego, and it's certainly been no stranger to those who know me but this morning was different, I legitimately felt badly about how my ego was interacting with my conscience this morning.  It started around mile 6.5, we had just arrived at Red's and were filling up our water bottles as well as grabbing a bite of nutrition. We left out and were well in to mile 7 when we crossed paths with another runner, a solo runner, a woman. She was pacing along and we all exchanged a hearty good morning and I thought, ''we are in mile 7, I hope she doesn't think we just started!" I was adamant about it too. I continually thought to myself, we have been suffering for over an hour, how dare anyone think of us as any less than awesome, we had a steady uninterrupted pace and the company was amazing. I became frustrated and played one scenario after another, as cars would drive by I demanded they respect our efforts as we were a group of runners, not casual once in a while runners, but seasoned, efficient runners. We were runners with stories and runners with injuries at one point or another! This lasted in to mile 10 at which point I had another epiphany - this run was euphoric! Had I missed the title purpose to this event, was I ignoring the very reason of our engagement, yes, yes I was. The first six miles went by really really quickly, then, as stated earlier, I fell in to a very poor egotistical psychological rant, one that went unseen by those around me. It was at mile 10 that it all came together for me, I realized that I was the only one who cared. There was no cause to our run that need public attention, this run was not personal, outside of the reasons as to why we exercise.

    So mile 10 was my milestone, I figured it out, I was being a prick and there was no call for it. We finished the run in the heat of the morning and everyone was in great spirits, it was very refreshing and insightful to pass my Sunday morning with these individuals. One can learn a lot when one does not speak at all. Thank you to all who allowed me the pleasure of their company this morning. 

Who Are You?

I hate the outdoors! There, I said it! If it's not a soccer match, or a bike ride, or a brisk run, I don't particularly care for the outdoors, with it's generally smug attitude of thinking it can control the weather on a whim. Let me elaborate, when I say, "outdoors" I don't just mean the outside, as in the pavement, or the side walks, I mean the woods, the trees in their congressional unison, I loathe them. Well I did, until last weekend. Back story time: In high school I was involved in a monthly program called "Rangers", wherein, the first weekend of every month (so long as it didn't obstruct soccer) we would travel to Kisatchie National Forest in Alexandria and camp for the weekend. Then, for Easter Break, we would take a week long trip to the Apalachain or the White Mountains, and even the Rockies for a 1 week camping expedition... I hated every single one of them. Every step was lamentable, I did it because me best mate Mike was in it and I wasn't gonna be called a quitter... ( I am not prideful, I am strong-willed). Ok, so, there is that little tid bit of info, now on to why I am writing/typing/thinking.

I need to rephrase that whole bit, it should read, "I use to hate the outdoors", I still do, but I use to too! Some new friends over at Geaux Run put together a trail running clinic, painted a large Monet-esque picture of what it was like, all the good and great of trail running. I fancied that I might like it, so you may have read an earlier post about a run at Lake Fausse Point, I truly thought I was on to something. (I knew nothing of the crunch). There was an open invitation to join Geaux Run for a run at Chicot State Park, there were various distances and all were invited. Well I made the social mistake of befriending an Ultra-Marathon Runner, well actually I befriended 4... Edie, Brad, Donald & Smitty (all crazies). In my confabulations with Edie, I was convinced that a 20 mile loop around Chicot was both sane, and attainable; I was right about 1.

The mood was set, and so was the time, we were to depart from Geaux Run at 05:05 a.m. sharp so arrive at 04:45 to make sure you are ready to go. We arrived at our destination for 06:15 and were on the trail by 06:30, running. I couldn't believe we were actually gonna run 20 miles. It never once occured to me that we would actually make it to the end, I figured we would just get lost and spend the rest of our days living it out with the wild (I saw a deer). In the first 10 miles I probably made it with 50 spiders, big, ugly, nasty, blood sucking Banana Spiders (they don't bite, but I didn't care, I screamed every time I had to get one off of me or run through a damn web). Now you may think, "50? Wow, that's absurd!" And you'd be right, here is the kicker, I only lead for about 3 miles, the other 7 miles were lead by Donald, were he made it with 3x's that. Oh yeah! Also, at mile 10 is where I realized, OH SHIT! I have on Gortex Trail Shoes... That level of psychology must have been pretty huge because I struggled from then on, to the point where at mile 15 I just stopped running completely (we didn't run the whole time mind you, we stopped and walked a good bit, it's really beautiful there). But at mile 15 I just plained stopped running, and walked the next 5 miles out. Mother nature owned me for those 4.5 hrs of my life...

The moral of the story is trail running is awesome and I have every intention of doing Chicot again, soon. Trail running is a new love and so is the outdoors! Just yesterday I walked through a spider web, and it didn't phase me. I had muscles sore that had never been sore before. It was euphoric to be out there that day, and the company I kept for that time was irreplaceable. There were six starters and six finishers. I look forward to my next Chicot run. I am not all that great at this long story stuff, I get too winded so I leave out important stuff, like the part where I died and Donald had to save me instead he through a big ass black spider on me! Stuff like that!

I will have more, and next time I will be concise...

Introspective

I went out for a run this morning at Lake Fausse Pointe. Accompanied by my brother in law Luke Capritto, I had great conversation and company for the drive there and back (which was much needed there, we left Lafayette at 4:55) On the run (I was solo for this part, he is 14) I had loads of time to think, and while thinking these words of Bruce Lee came to mind, instead of summarizing them I saw fit to type them word for word as I feel it appeals to my introspective quite accurately as of late: "I am learning to understand rather than immediately judge or to be judged. I cannot blindly follow the crowd and accept their approach. I will not allow myself to indulge in the usual manipulating game of role creation. Fortunately for me, my self-knowledge has transcended that and I have come to understand that life is best to be lived and not to be conceptualized. I am happy because I am growing daily and I am honestly not knowing where the limit lies. To be certain, every day there can be a revelation or a new discovery. I treasure the memory of the past misfortunes. It has added more to my bank of fortitude."


PS - I am trying to send the pics of the run to my blog but I am running in to some difficulties.

RedStar $500 Gift Card

Original Shipment

Ashley's Glasses (My Favorite)

My Glasses (Second Favorite)

Running Glasses

Don't really like how wide they are!

Fit Great, but are too small overall, not my favorite, but still nice for running.

Love 'em

Yes, you read that headline correctly! I couldn't believe it. In my last issue of Runner's World Magazine I flipped to a page that said $500 Gift Card from RedStar WorldWear. RedStar is a new company line trying to make a path for themselves here in America. I read the advert in the magazine and detached the credit card inside. I read all the instructions and looked diligently for fine print (I didn't find any). So, without further ado, I entered the website in to my search browser and perused the site for about 1 hr, learning and reading. I eventually settled on 5 pair of glasses, for me and Ashley, upon check out I received a pop stating that because I used my gift card for glasses only, I was entitled to a free watch of my choice (the only offered 2 at that time so it was easy). I placed the order, received my confirmation email, (figured it was all a ploy but decided to play along) and completely forgot about it... until yesterday.

I went to check the mail at my parents house, saw a unusually large box with my name on it. Thinking I had purchased something on eBay and forgot about it, I wasn't really overly excited. I opened the packaged and noticed all of the glasses I had ordered some time ago (the initial order was placed 7/5/2011). I was elated, very impressed that these people were actually serious! At the bottom of my invoice I was placed in a market study analysis program, I was to write a review of the glasses over the next 3 months and email all the goods and bads of my RedStar experience... so far so good! I don't like all of the glasses, but the ones I do like I love and the watch is pretty awesome, not worth the $180 price tag accompanied with it, but a nice watch nonetheless. 

The End!

Tough Mudder

So I registered for my first Tough Mudder today... a premature decision I finally see, but nonetheless I have been asked to explain the tough mudder many times and it's proving difficult, in fact, when I finish my explanation the event sounds quite lame. Well, these guys break it down quite well. 

Tough Mudder

Recently I have been discussing with my good friend and running partner Jeremy Z. about doing this insane race called the Tough Mudder. It's a 10-12 mile hardcore race that defies the perimeters of a normal mud run or Warrior Dash. In fact, the website issues this disclaimer: WARNING: Tough Mudder is 3-4 times longer and MUCH TOUGHER than a typical mud run such as Warrior Dash. On average, only 78% of participants finish a Tough Mudder event. Only those in strong physical condition should enter. I have been looking for something other than another half marathon or 10k. I am not interested in running a full mararthon so I had considered a few trail runs around the area, and surrounding states, and then I heard about this race. There is one being held in Texas in October, that is the projected date and location of our first Tough Mudder. All are welcome, it will certainly be a race to remember.

Wanna Free Run With Me

I have been a big fan of this free running craze, or Parkour as it is also called. I came across this video today headlining the opening of the very first Parkour or FreeRun training facility ever opened. The ever changing dynamics of the "see a need fill it" motto that Mark Zucherberg has made so popular to the preservation of personal hobbies is made more effervescent with the growth of multiculturalism. This is an amazing sport. Enjoy!

We, The Runners of Tomorrow

I have been without the ability or the permission to run for almost three weeks now, well, at least since my Half Marathon failure in Houston at the end of January. Since then I have dealt with a number of different things in my life that have left me close to depression and quite far from my definition of success and satisfaction. Now I am well aware of the ups and downs of life, I have been dealing with them for 27 years now. In fact, my 2010 set new standards for life's lows. Be that as it may I still have the health of my family and yet no matter the course or discourse of the day I awake once more to see the moon has kissed the sun goodnight and the sun has chosen to greet me again. For the emergencies of life we look to set a cushion between us and disaster. Dave Ramsey said it best in one of his seminars. He said that if we setup a budget for life's disasters of emergencies we create a partition betwixt the two and they are no longer disasters or emergencies. For instance, if we have an emergency fund in a money market account or cash value in our Life Insurance Policies of say $5,000.00 and a $3,000.00 disaster happens, well it's not really a huge disaster because we were prepared. It still sucks, but it's not as bad as if you had no funds whatsoever and then a $3,000.00 disaster struck. I was there last October. I won't let that happen again. Two weeks ago a tree fell on the corner of my house...shitty yes but I had learned my lesson. I made a few phone calls and viola! no more broken house.

This past weekend I didn't have a financial disaster accost me with such burdens, I had a psychological one. One of immense proportions. One that I had never thought would ever plague my life. I realized at that moment that this situation was no more severe than previous situations, the only variable was my running was not present for this one. That 1 hour escape for lunch had eluded me for so long I began to lose my grip on stress. I began to remember past situations, though troubling, I knew every day I had one hour of just me and elements. Whether I did 3 miles or 6 miles I wasn't coming back for 1 hour. No cell phone, no computers, just the wind and the sound of my feet on the pavement. It was euphoric, liberating even, how elemental my runs were. Every Sunday morning a track workout at Saint Martinville Senior High School and then a distance run to ease the muscles. All this was gone from me for so long I hadn't noticed how important is was.

Running is my cushion between life, and what life decides to deliver to me. If I am having a great day, what better way to celebrate than a tempo run through local neighborhoods. If a bad day it is, then how better to sort things out, or forget about them completely, than with a slow methodical run. It's a release no matter what. I am not the fastest runner, but I am a runner nonetheless.

I am released to begin my running again on Wednesday. Hopefully my weekends will be free from too much work. I love life and I love running, they are not my masters but my servants. Despite their status I need them both. 

2011 Chevron Aramco Houston 1/2 Marathon

So yesterday was race day for the 2011 Chevron Houston 1/2 Marathon and Full Marathon. I had the pleasure of running the 1/2 Marathon with some old friends and made some new ones in the process. One in particular, a Mr. Steve Harvel, ran a 1:27 for the 1/2, we told him how disappointed we were with him and his listless effort. By the time we all made it in he had showered and eaten breakfast. I didn't have as much luck. At the 10k mark I was running 48:30, a pace I was very happy with and maintained it for a while. At the 9 mile marker I was at 1:10:32, so with a 8:30 pace I was scheduled to finish around a 1:45:00-1:50:00. I was elated, enthralled as this was to be a person record for me, potentially 18 minutes faster than my time in San Antonio. It was at this point I started to feel a very sharp pain in my left foot at the second toe. I ignored it and pressed on. The pain became greater and the conversation between mind and body went as follows:
Body: Stop!
Mind: No we have to keep going!
Body: Stop running!!
Mind: 4 miles, we can do this!
Body: Seriously, this is agonizing!!!!
Mind: HOLY CRAP THIS DOES HURT, STOP RUNNING!!!!!

My mind convinced my body that walking was also a bad idea, so I stumbled forward, luckily not obstructing anyone in my spill. I was able to hobble over to the side of the road where an EMS agent was standing. I removed my shoe and sock, with much reluctance and revealed a seemingly unscathed foot although the pain was excruciating. The Medic played around the all my toes and deduced that I have a hairline fracture in my second toe. The injury was sustained due to supination, or underpronation. I have a natural tendency to slightly overpronate, it's not threatening to injury but I run in a high stability shoe to assist it. With the negative camber of the roads and the wet streets due to rain the Medic seems to think that I began to supinate to offer a better strike in my stride, all efforts to the contrary of goodness, I am down for 2 weeks. He explained to me that this injury is much like a broken rib, just rest and don't apply pressure unnecessarily. 

Sunday Morning Track Workout

 This morning I decided I would give in to my crave to go at a few track workouts at St. Martinville Senior High School's track which is open to the public. I haven't run from a sprint position in a while, but felt pretty good on all my starts. I ran 4x400's, 5x100's, and 5x200's. I tried to keep my pace consistent. After my San Antonio Half Marathon I am really interested in increasing my times. I think/hope this is the answer.

Rock N Roll 1/2 Marathon San Antonio

This past Sunday I found myself in a pretty interesting situation. I was scheduled to run a 1/2 Marathon in San Antonio with my good friend Jeremy Zenon. We had been discussing this race for a while and been training just as long. I have been training for a sub 2 hr, specifically 1:59:59 which meant I had to find a 9:09 pace per mile. I trained within those perimeters yet failed to take into account the hills that San Antonio had to offer. The whistle went off and Jeremy and I took off. I felt great, first mile was a 7:59, I scaled back to a 8:54 for mile 2. I felt really good running a sub 9 minute split for the first 8 miles. Then the hills really picked up, and after mile 11 I started charlie horsing, badly. I had to stop twice. My pace suffered, I was psychologically spent, my feet felt smashed to bits from the up hill running. One hill was over 500 feet with an 8% grade (guessing with possible embellishment). There was no end in sight for me, I gave myself 1,000 reasons why I should stop. Then a woman ran along side me, put her hand on my shoulder and said, "Son, you made it this far, I saw your speed back there, this is your race." She smiled and jogged away, I committed to myself that I was going to finish and finish strong. With 1 mile to go I was approached by an older woman named Patty, she asked if she could pace my heels for the finish because she felt like quiting, I smiled in agreement because an audible answer was outside of my human capabilities at this point. We worked, for the next 1.2 miles we worked. I crossed the line at a clock time of 2:19:45, my watch said 2:11:36. All was good in the end, until I drove home and later discovered my chip time is officially a 2:03:17. I AM FREAKIN PUMPED. I never imagined that I could pull off such a time in such a hilly terrain with minimal training. I am in quite a lot of pain, but I am expecting a quick recovery and I look forward to the Houston 1/2 Marathon in January, thinking of setting a new PR.

Special thanks to Jeremy for his lodging assistance and race knowledge on Friday night. The ride to San Antonio Saturday was brilliant, weather was ideal. Had some great food and scenery on day 1, photos to come. Also, race pics to come as well. The pics above are of me in recovery mode...I'm sleepy, I'll post to you guys later. Cheers. Thanks to everyone for your support.

Lap Times:
Mile 1 7:59
Mile 2 8:53
Mile 3 8:56
Mile 4 8:39
Mile 5 8:54
Mile 6 8:40
Mile 7 8:37
Mile 8 8:59
Mile 9 8:59
Mile 10 9:51 (tried to rest here...)
Mile 11 10:49 (first big climb)
Mile 12 11:29 (second half of first big climb + Cramps)
Mile 13.1 9:54

Right at the end, there was a huge climb for about 150 feet, not a very long climb if you haven't just completed 13 miles of running, good weekend.

Weekend Run

I am training for the 1/2 Marathon in San Antonio in November. I am bib #577 for the race and have been a very strict run regime to accomplish a sub 2 hr half. This past sunday I ran 9.2 miles ( I was only scheduled to run 8 but my GPS was a little confused by my route I guess) and my times were as follows:

Mile 1 - 8:52
Mile 2 - 8:45
Mile 3 - 10:17 (hills)
Mile 4 - 11:38 (more hills)
Mile 5 - 10:09 (exiting hills)
Mile 6 - 11:26
Mile 7 - 10:24 (back in the hills)
Mile 8 - 7:59
Mile 9 - 8:15

I was pretty impressed with the times I posted. The unfortunate reality to this is I was in excruciating pain when I was done. Monday was a rest day and when I went out for a 5 mile run today for lunch, I made it .5 miles away and had to call someone to come get me. I my calves are so inflamed right now that it hurts to stand. I will take a couple days off and back to the grind this weekend. I will keep the run times posted as I accomplish them.

Schedule for this week is:
Monday: Rest/XT
Tuesday: 5 miles/10:30 split
Wednesday: 4 miles with 2 miles at HMP (half marathon pace) 9:09
Thursday: Rest/xt
Friday: 5 Miles/10:30
Saturday: Rest/XT
Sunday: 9 Miles 10:24 split

See you on the run.