tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17741451511606420342024-02-20T10:48:49.444-08:00Greek MarathonerMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-51352140149325392372015-12-10T19:56:00.000-08:002015-12-10T20:26:59.481-08:00Political Headlines<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">“Obama Signs Bill Overthrowing George W.
Bush’s Disastrous No Child Left Behind”</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "comic sans ms";"><span style="font-size: 13.3333px; line-height: 15.3333px;">"Nightmare Is Over:Obama gets Rid Of Bush's "No Child Left Behind" Act"</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "comic sans ms"; font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">WOW! I was taken aback by the political
spin in the headlines that I saw in the news today on the new education bill
called “<b>Every Student Succeeds Act</b>”.
Neither the NCLB Act was Bush’s, nor the new bill is Obama’s. Both the NCLB act
and ESSA were bipartisan bills voted by big majorities of both democrats and
republicans. They are both reauthorizations of the original ESEA K12 education act of 1965</span>. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The NCLB was well intended, but it did not produce the expected results. The
new ESSA is also well intended and offers a lot of improvements. Albeit, the
new bill preserves a lot of the previous bill including student testing and accountability. However, it gives more power to the states over the feds,
something the republicans fought for...and I agree with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-13213930246430514692014-04-24T22:54:00.000-07:002014-04-25T20:50:19.258-07:00Scooby<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Scooby
May 11, 2002 – April 12, 2014 (11 years 11 months 1 day)</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLd7tDV4phFoKauP6R1h9D3xT2F4zPkfcpNIf4F4WiWQhOLApNpgOnLj4rR2kRzThO7rWv_ctzFgKOlsvwz82i1DW7iJb3ik6aB8BLRv0UbC47LwCAwF5gQFcOhgoKuwOzBcxW7W01CA/s1600/ScoobyPic01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLd7tDV4phFoKauP6R1h9D3xT2F4zPkfcpNIf4F4WiWQhOLApNpgOnLj4rR2kRzThO7rWv_ctzFgKOlsvwz82i1DW7iJb3ik6aB8BLRv0UbC47LwCAwF5gQFcOhgoKuwOzBcxW7W01CA/s1600/ScoobyPic01.jpg" height="129" width="200" /></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Scooby was a great dog… actually Scooby was not a dog he was part
of our family and we miss him so very much. When he was a puppy we lived by the
beach in Cyprus and he loved to walk around the gardens of our community and on
the beach. The picture to the right of this blog shows our house in Cyprus and the gardens in Thera. In 2004 we returned to the US and he loved to walk around our condo community
every morning and afternoon. In 2007, we moved to the house and we walked a 2
mile loop every morning and every afternoon passing by a couple of parks along
the way. By 2010, we cut the walks to the nearest park and back, twice a day
and by 2012 we were down to one walk per day, half a mile to the park and back.
Even though he was getting older and no longer could go too far, he loved his
walks. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">On Tuesday April 8, he went to the park for the last time with
Cathy…. he got sick Wednesday, in and out of the hospital for 3 days. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thursday night he came home at midnight he was
rushed to the emergency room at 5am as his breathing was labored and he needed
to be put in the oxygen chamber again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was supposedly doing better and Friday night had a good night at home. Cathy
took him back in on Saturday morning for more treatment as his breathing was still
not where it was supposed to be. I was driving back from Raleigh and the plan
was to bring him home and help cheer him up. I did not make it. He was gone
before I arrived. We later found out that the Saturday morning x-rays showed a
worsen condition with his lungs.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHjoFqkJuZGA88ZG4_lnS7n9o_rzzIm1o2A8Wv_JAZLum2VqpmugRgTS5DHS69FvaPWCzgdkoHusEAu14P1oHU5nFF-IRGQc19dksZomVzW8VP0TDAwmrKyjXVKv8saVEvUebNaHp2lk/s1600/ScoobyPic06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGHjoFqkJuZGA88ZG4_lnS7n9o_rzzIm1o2A8Wv_JAZLum2VqpmugRgTS5DHS69FvaPWCzgdkoHusEAu14P1oHU5nFF-IRGQc19dksZomVzW8VP0TDAwmrKyjXVKv8saVEvUebNaHp2lk/s1600/ScoobyPic06.JPG" height="200" title="" width="197" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">with our raincoats...</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">He had a good week three weeks ago when our daughter, Melina, came
home from London, I was at home too before I started my new job in Raleigh and Cathy
took the week off from her job. The whole family was together for that week
like the old days. We went to Williamsburg and Richmond. Then I left for
Raleigh and Melina left the next day for London. It was just him and Cathy.
When I got home the following weekend he would not leave my side. I left Sunday
night and that was the last time I saw him. He did not survive through the
second week. He lost his training buddy. We walked every day. Rain or shine. On
rainy days I would put both of our raincoats on with our hoodies and we went
out in the rain to walk. He hated his raincoat, an army camouflage one with a hoodie.
He liked his black and pink sweater he wore when it was too cold.<o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkB60qU2K5D9Sp2q-_rYkZg1dlOoRBIbce5GpyCbCCajWbqHfbB0JYpNFu78cOeNHRAlUuByMSb7H7JotHiSbSlU841wqxwg9nUcKFZtFR7y7V-A6RNxL-FVjset6WHPRJXvLCo7N-fw/s1600/ScoobyPic09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxkB60qU2K5D9Sp2q-_rYkZg1dlOoRBIbce5GpyCbCCajWbqHfbB0JYpNFu78cOeNHRAlUuByMSb7H7JotHiSbSlU841wqxwg9nUcKFZtFR7y7V-A6RNxL-FVjset6WHPRJXvLCo7N-fw/s1600/ScoobyPic09.jpg" height="110" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">exhausted after a run in the summer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8fe-tqU0ObF_ycHlhlV_S786KEljK5XPxUWkXJ8DLlJ2CPy8Ov6e4wPKZca9NKKHxZaFJPVdvFzkgwdjD_7fawpMbLPjdA3ZgfIdr2VUCMj04XymuxAYKqkoc4o8atM_i2yzu1q06-0/s1600/ScoobyPic03b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI8fe-tqU0ObF_ycHlhlV_S786KEljK5XPxUWkXJ8DLlJ2CPy8Ov6e4wPKZca9NKKHxZaFJPVdvFzkgwdjD_7fawpMbLPjdA3ZgfIdr2VUCMj04XymuxAYKqkoc4o8atM_i2yzu1q06-0/s1600/ScoobyPic03b.jpg" height="130" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He liked the sweater... but he hated the raincoat with the hoodie!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I have not been able to run since he passed. When I am at home in
VB I just go out and find myself going around the 2 mile loop we did together
when he was younger.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">We got Scooby for my daughter when she was 10 years old. But she
left home for the UK more than 5 years ago and he really became my buddy. So
what if I am a 51yo grey hair man and my buddy was a Yorkie?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeTxQ5_nncFBO5vhgq0tfK14zhDSUWsHa3GG_aHNHNTDMj_4N4SmpjPixKlWxoT4xzuR5KCLUjQFT9c-P9pEkAD74hI10VNCQNSiQd_ynnLy5L1-7uVQJGRj9b1imTV59FksO4FhN690/s1600/ScoobyPic07a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQeTxQ5_nncFBO5vhgq0tfK14zhDSUWsHa3GG_aHNHNTDMj_4N4SmpjPixKlWxoT4xzuR5KCLUjQFT9c-P9pEkAD74hI10VNCQNSiQd_ynnLy5L1-7uVQJGRj9b1imTV59FksO4FhN690/s1600/ScoobyPic07a.jpg" height="176" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleeping in his Italian house. Resting on his king size bed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxCTq0P6SjZ3sANCbk3Z2dUo1vgHoahliZX3fNDyo9Dh4ZRfqFIaUf_TI7UQJwhvIi11-tsNLHFn4YuPPTTfdy6QOaU8m4LL0ZzoyFwxEt35lBpxvVma0EWS4K0oeqvOakdglpaMf0Mo/s1600/ScoobyPic11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjxCTq0P6SjZ3sANCbk3Z2dUo1vgHoahliZX3fNDyo9Dh4ZRfqFIaUf_TI7UQJwhvIi11-tsNLHFn4YuPPTTfdy6QOaU8m4LL0ZzoyFwxEt35lBpxvVma0EWS4K0oeqvOakdglpaMf0Mo/s1600/ScoobyPic11.jpg" height="293" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The day he came home from the hospital last July was a happy one.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxLgNdIvNMFwS27u33hV43siiT5cHyWZ7NQ1QDL0hiPLBI62s843Qeq0Kbl5qeeSUugfdXj84IGzXZXbvDaj6IauU-W7Q4cGNhcKf7vNkFYhOZOmkAMfnQ9PtiYp5OG9DSdk8PWddH3I/s1600/ScoobyPic12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBxLgNdIvNMFwS27u33hV43siiT5cHyWZ7NQ1QDL0hiPLBI62s843Qeq0Kbl5qeeSUugfdXj84IGzXZXbvDaj6IauU-W7Q4cGNhcKf7vNkFYhOZOmkAMfnQ9PtiYp5OG9DSdk8PWddH3I/s1600/ScoobyPic12.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During one of his last trips... in Raleigh</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUhbCZTsxDxp2zyYsrSz7OpLI0wboHsvTdM7vm3Jjbdf9wD-Iyh_YQQxUWPgBj0gH34AJx1hhpP3uD8GSMNnvBgZca2l29RVLk5ggImfNmo-GoukTj9BlitruAjGdcCzsUrVws5676tc/s1600/ScoobyPic13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUhbCZTsxDxp2zyYsrSz7OpLI0wboHsvTdM7vm3Jjbdf9wD-Iyh_YQQxUWPgBj0gH34AJx1hhpP3uD8GSMNnvBgZca2l29RVLk5ggImfNmo-GoukTj9BlitruAjGdcCzsUrVws5676tc/s1600/ScoobyPic13.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exploring an eco-village in Chapel Hill</td></tr>
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Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-29391618325505771402013-09-14T23:34:00.003-07:002013-09-17T00:14:51.025-07:00Marathon Training Plans…NOT for me<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was busy this morning and busy this evening, and the only time
available for a run was at lunch time. So on a nice morning for a run I ended
up running during the hottest part of the day, which was high 70s and sunny. At
least there was a breeze at times and the humidity was not too bad. I did not
know how long I was going to run or in which direction. I have no marathon
training plan and I do not follow any schedule and that is the way I like it.
Schedules makes running feel like something you have to do and I want the
freedom of flexibility. If you do not have to run a certain a distance on
a particular day, then any distance is good. So today my goal was to
run anything from 10 miles to a maximum of 22. I wanted it to be closer to
22 though because today was my only opportunity for a long run before the
Medoc Mountain Trail marathon next month. Besides not having any distance
schedule, I have no time goals either.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">So I started at 12:45PM and headed to </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/parks-trails/city-parks/Pages/providence-park.aspx"><span style="color: red; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Providence Park</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. I like that little park near my house because it has a 1 KM
asphalt trail loop which provides a good training ground for road racing.
The trail goes around the park and in the middle are little league baseball
fields, soccer greens, playground and other park stuff. I usually do a few
loops in there and I get bored and head off to other neighborhoods. Today
I got lost in listening to trail slammer’s podcasts and did not realize that
the time had passed. I had a couple of gels and a hydration belt but I
eventually ran out of fuel and when I looked at my Garmin I had already
ran 10 miles in the park. I did not count laps, but when I checked the Garmin
data tonight it was indeed 16 laps (16K= 10 miles). Thankfully there is a 7-11
across from the park and I went there for Gatorade, water and some salty snacks.
My wife called at that time and asked me when I was getting back because my
lunch was sitting on the table for a long time. I told her that I
was at 7-11 eating junk food and wanted to run some more. We agreed
that I would run for another 90 minutes. So I left the park
and headed towards North Kempsville and the Rec Center eventually coming
back around and I finished in exactly 90 minutes with 18 miles on the dial.
This was really an easy comfortable run and I could have gone up to 22
miles. I used the Galloway 30-30 method and really didn’t feel any stress which
is a bonus considering I already had ran 30 miles this week with 3 doubles
in 5 days. I know my training pace is much slower than my races but I
am good with that. I never stop my watch so my actual running pace is usually
better than what I post but who cares? I know I can run faster and that would
have been the case today if I had time in the morning and gone to
run with my friend </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/thehoff"><span style="color: red; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Andrew</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> for his 40th birthday. Did I say that he
is a real slacker as he only ran 40K today, instead of 40 miles? Maybe he will run 50 miles for his 50<sup>th </sup>like I did. ha!ha!</span></span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span>
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This evening my wife suggested that I post a calendar of my long
runs so she knows when I will be gone for hours. I explained to her that I do
not even know when I go out the door how long I will run for. Hence, the title
of this blog... So as a compromise I posted my races on the calendar.</span><span style="color: dimgrey; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Stat of the day: I just saw that I ran 102 miles in September.
Reaching 100miles by the 14th of a month is my fastest 100 yet. </span><span style="color: dimgrey; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 10.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-2679145462061023492013-01-21T15:07:00.000-08:002013-09-15T12:25:34.648-07:00Bliss<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A beautiful sunny January day for a shirtless run! I was off
from work today and went out around noon without any mileage or goal in mind. I
headed west on Indian River Rd and got to </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.vbgov.com/government/departments/parks-recreation/parks-trails/city-parks/Pages/providence-park.aspx"><span style="color: red; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Providence Park</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to run a few loops when my wife called and asked if I wanted </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.subway.com/"><span style="color: red; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Subway</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> as she was getting off work and was going to get some for her. I
said "sure and bring it to the park so that we can eat on the benches in
the sun"... So she did. It was a beautiful day for an instant picnic. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Random thoughts:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I ran the last 3 miles shirtless... in
January! I was wearing shorts and a long sleeve sweat top... No shirt under
it... so when I got too hot I tossed the top. People may have thought I was
crazy as it was still windy and 60s despite the sun. Cathy wasn't surprised
when she saw me though...<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was trying a couple of new things
today; I tried to run with 2 pairs of socks to see if it would help my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_fasciitis" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><strong>PF</strong></span></a> ... It
didn't and made my shoes too tight. I stopped and took one pair off after just
one mile.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I tried the new iPod nano 6th gen with
the clip. Did not really like it. I am used to controlling the iPod with the
wheel without looking by just putting my hand in my pocket. You cannot do that
with a touch screen iPod.</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had a </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://www.vegblogger.com/blog/2010/06/the-subway-veggie-patty-ingredients.html"><span style="color: red; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">veggie patty</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> flatbread and it was great. My wife has turned into a vegetarian
Jan 1, so she discovered this option at the subway near town center. Not all
subways have this option<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">
</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The park parking lot and the bathrooms
were locked. People had to park in the surrounding areas… seriously? Is it because
it was MLK day and a holiday? Do parks now operate during office hours and
close on weekends and holidays? … and why was the gate to parking lot locked? What
could anyone do to the parking lot? Steal what? When we left we realized that
the parking lot for Woodstock Park was also locked.</span><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"></span></span></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">· <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I just </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">realized that
the last 2 miles were the fastest at 10:15 pace... I was working on form and
trying to avoid heal striking... it could have also been faster because I had a
lighter load without the hoodie ;) </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="http://app.strava.com/activities/38253887"><span style="color: red;"><Strava
link</span></a>></span></u></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 7pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: x-small;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span>
<span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">
</span></span></span></span><br />Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-89579230280910874182012-11-25T23:03:00.001-08:002012-11-26T19:12:42.166-08:002012 Richmond Marathon<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The 2012 Richmond Marathon was supposed to be my goal race. There
were just too many things converging making this race my goal race. It was my 5</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 8pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">th</span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> and last marathon of
2012. It was supposed to be the one I would break 5 hours. Not that breaking 5
hours is that important to me. I could have easily done this at Shamrock, but I
chose to stop for a couple of beers on mile 25 and ended up 30 seconds over 5
hours, despite my mad sprint to the finish line in a 5:56 pace for the last
quarter mile.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A big reason Richmond became my goal race was the following: I developed
Plantar Fasciitis and when I went to a podiatrist at the beginning of October he
said that he could help me without having to stop my running streak. After I told
him about my race schedule for the coming 6 weeks (one half and 3 full
marathons) he said that we should make the last one the goal race. Isn’t it
nice when the doctor is a runner and understands our crazy goals? </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So after uneventful 3 races with an easy PR in the rain at the
Crawling Crab Half (2:13:33), a very enjoyable Medoc Mountain Trail Marathon with
a 16 minute course PR (5:36:40) and a nice effort at the MCM where I stared
with my friend Marie in the 5:30 pace group and gradually gained ground to
finish at 5:13:14 I was ready for a good result in Richmond.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I was also excited for Richmond because my friend </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://old.post-gazette.com/pg/08199/897363-55.stm"><span style="color: red;">Marie Bartoletti</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> was pacing the 4:45 group. Did I tell
you that Richmond was her 241st marathon? In addition, this full time elementary
teacher ran a lot of ultras including Badwater and Western States, Triathlons including
Kona Ironman and done a few other crazy stuff like a double at Boston which is
starting at the finish line running to the start line and then running the
regular race back to the finish line. </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">So everything was lined up for a good race.</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1dwf2m2b-0bPvJDaJ4IEUHu8VHn0C8LFnDz3-qJwZ7hnWC-rCSrMBxzIh6gjuXB23mJdJ-Wn6Wls43L08KKw_BuPVBbwpO3ReNpYVnehlyXi7vdIBk_5xwu16EpFBC7JDiWR1woasaw/s1600/IMAG1415.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1dwf2m2b-0bPvJDaJ4IEUHu8VHn0C8LFnDz3-qJwZ7hnWC-rCSrMBxzIh6gjuXB23mJdJ-Wn6Wls43L08KKw_BuPVBbwpO3ReNpYVnehlyXi7vdIBk_5xwu16EpFBC7JDiWR1woasaw/s200/IMAG1415.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: xx-small;">with Chris in front of the Capital in the morning</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Friday was busy day at work and I did not get off at midday as I had
hoped, so I did not get to Richmond until 9:30PM. Thankfully </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/ChrisAN"><span style="color: red;">Chris</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> had picked up my packet. In the morning
we drove downtown and after a few circles, we finally found a place to park. We
barely had time to get to the Marriott where I was supposed to meet </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/rlaquino"><span style="color: red;">Raphael</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">. Chris and I ran into </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/runrayrun"><span style="color: red;">Ray</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> briefly and then they disappeared while
I met up with Raphael, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/carlas_a"><span style="color: red;">Carla</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> and their daughters. We
took a couple of pictures outside and headed up to the starting corals where we
saw </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/allys"><span style="color: red;">Ally</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> and </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/GunzRunner"><span style="color: red;">Michael K</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">. We got to the 4:45 pace group and said
hello to Marie and met a few of the other runners. Marie remembered Raphael
from Shamrock. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJG5mC7qgyjdMCtVvrdZZaNGd2WA07GfjeODelDugfvWWBNqEo2beOPYxINqXtd0oDq2Yc_7zdwdmdv5y8wyDM5BtUbKRe8evDvPp61Ydb3KVNuzRAAPHop1XN8fbTiStTcXH32aIneQ/s1600/IMAG1419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJG5mC7qgyjdMCtVvrdZZaNGd2WA07GfjeODelDugfvWWBNqEo2beOPYxINqXtd0oDq2Yc_7zdwdmdv5y8wyDM5BtUbKRe8evDvPp61Ydb3KVNuzRAAPHop1XN8fbTiStTcXH32aIneQ/s200/IMAG1419.jpg" width="111" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: xx-small;">w Raphael pre race</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The gun went and off we went. The start was really crowded and it was
particularly evident that there were a lot of New York runners that came to Richmond
after the cancellation. Several were actually wearing the NY marathon race
number on their back and the Richmond number on the front. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We ran into </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/shmiracles"><span style="color: red;">Karen</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> on mile 1. I was glad
to see her as we never managed a meet-up the day before. Soon after, people
were calling me Chris. I had to explain to Raphael that many of the MTT runners
think that I am Chris as we do look alike. A few of the ones that I‘ve me over
the years actually know me and they just call me ‘Chris’s brother’. The first
four miles were uneventful when I realized that we were going too fast (10:46,
10:30, 10:41, 10:37) we had actually ran ahead of the 4:45 pace group so we
slowed down and let the group catch up with us. The next two miles (11:03,
10:56) were with the group were Marie was telling stories as always. There is
never a quiet moment in her groups. She usually talks the entire 26.2, except
when others take turns to tell stories or dedicate miles. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Now, I am running very comfortably with the group, but I felt that
I needed a p break. The porta-johns had lines and I did not want I waste any
time. I spotted a tree on the side on mile 7 and I ran ahead and ducked under
it to do my business. As I came out the other side and was getting ready to
speed up to catch up with my group, my right foot got caught on a tree root
which I did not see because the ground was covered with leaves. I ended up on
my butt. I got up and realized that I could not walk. It was hard to walk on my
right leg. This was at the top of a hill with a huge downhill right ahead. I was
still thinking that I could just use gravity to speed up and catch up with my
group. I just needed to sort out this cramp (I thought it was a cramp). So I tried
to run but went less than a few hundred feet when I almost felt down again and
leaned on a mailbox. I realized at that moment that my goal race went out the
window. It was only mile 7. So I slowed down and let my body dictate the pace. Mile
7 was a slow 12:34. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I eventually found a rhythm and gained some speed in the next 3
miles. I was able to run through the Huguenot bridge and Riverside drive at
11:03. 11:28, 10:35. But the pain in my knee returned stronger. When I saw a
couple of medics on bicycles going towards Forrest Hill Avenue I stopped and
told them about it. They said they had tape, so they taped my knee. That helped
for the next few miles and I was run-walking. Miles 11-15 were at 11:59, 12:06,
11:43, 12:05, 13:13. Despite my issues I crossed the half marathon mark in
2:28. But by mile 16, the tape came off and I was in pain. I saw another set of
medics and I stopped. They taped Ice packs on my knee and told me that my race
was over. I said that it wasn’t. We got in a bit of a discussion and I said
that I would try to walk it. They said Ok. Mile 16 was at 17:39 </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">After that, running was out of the question. I just could not run.
It was just frustrating to see those nice stretches of road ahead of me but I could
not run. All I could do was power walk. So I pressed on. Miles 17-21 were at
14:23, 14:56, 14:44, 14:22 and 14:50. By this time, I was actually passing
runners who had hit the infamous marathon wall. Pain was everywhere. I also saw
a couple of runners on the ground on the side with their races obviously over. At
mile 20 or 21 I came up to Raphael and he was struggling. I tried to encourage him,
but he was hurting. We came up to the beer stops on mile 22 and I tried to get
him to drink some, but he said that he couldn’t. I stopped at a party at
someone’s driveway and they were having <a href="http://www.bourbonblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Heineken_Beer_Bottle.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Heinekens</strong></span></a>. So I took a full bottle and
had some of their party snacks. They were so much fun. I wanted to carry on but
I didn’t think the police would let me on the course with a glass bottle of
beer. Thankfully someone had plastic solo cups and I poured the rest of my beer
in one and headed back on the course. The next stop was at the Richmond Hash
House Harriers tent where I took 3 shots of <a href="http://resources.barmano.com/brand-images/jim-beam-white-label-248-big.jpg" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;"><strong>Jimmy</strong></span></a>. It really helped eased the
knee pain. Then I got to another beer table where I refilled my empty solo cup.
It took 5 or 6 beer shot cups to get me full 12 oz. This was Coors Light… oh
well…</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmkXD-X7T0Paj6JQUTY7SnExZi4xj1aGHtaEcNwxE75-xbMb5-2femE8VXIHq5vO1z4kYHa7XyB0Ts2SuknOTppp3v04kCZtf2nKL49QBA5YHuqc7H10laj-VMN8c-MXXypw0KJ7s52s/s1600/IMAG1422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPmkXD-X7T0Paj6JQUTY7SnExZi4xj1aGHtaEcNwxE75-xbMb5-2femE8VXIHq5vO1z4kYHa7XyB0Ts2SuknOTppp3v04kCZtf2nKL49QBA5YHuqc7H10laj-VMN8c-MXXypw0KJ7s52s/s200/IMAG1422.jpg" width="111" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: xx-small;">keep it up!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I finally saw another medical tent and I stopped again. The ice
packs on my knee had melted and were not helping. The medics let me lay on a
bed and re-taped new ice packs on my knee. This time they put the ice straight
on the skin instead of using a cloth between the pack and the skin and I got
back into the race. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miles 22 and 23 took
18:33 and 20:51 – Raphael kept going through out all my stops and I kept leapfrogging
him. It was obvious that he was hurting but was not going to quit. When I realized
that he was going to make it, I marched ahead. The </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.marathontrainingteam.com/"><span style="color: red;">MTT coaches</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> were encouraging me
now. One of them, who saw me at couple of medical stops said that mine was the inspirational
performance of the day. That was the nicest thing I heard all day! I was
finding new energy; so I decided that I needed to press on so that I would not end
up with a new marathon worst. Miles 24-26 got progressively better at 15:24,
14:15 and 12:57. I saw Carla and the girls at the top of the hill before the finish
and told them that Raphael was coming behind me. I ‘ran’ down the hill to the
finish line at a 10:41 pace and crossed the line at 5:49:04. </span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I waited there for about 15 minutes for Raphael, but then headed to
the finishers area knowing that the others would be looking for me. Sure
enough, as soon as I got there I saw </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/bosoxgrl"><span style="color: red;">Kate</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> and </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/dannyweatherly"><span style="color: red;">Danny</span></a></span></b><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> who said they were looking for me and had
been worried. Chris had gone to the drop bags to get his phone to call me. I
eventually found him and we had a couple of beers, courtesy of Kate who gave me
her beer tickets.</span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If this was a half marathon, I would still finish in a decent time,
even with a fall and injury at mile 7. However, a full marathon is a hard and
long race... Just to put things in perspective I ran the first half in 2:28 and
the second half in 3:21, that was 1 hour slower… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The bottom line I that I did not quit and put another Marathon in
the books. My 9th 26.2 was eventful. It was not my slowest, not the hardest.
Both of these distinctions go to the 2011 Medoc Mountain trail marathon. This
was my 3rd slowest marathon, as the 2011 Shamrock which I ran with a broken toe
was slower by 1 minute. It is funny that my most difficult finishes are the slowest
ones. </span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif"; font-size: 9pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://connect.garmin.com/activity/242602804"><span style="color: blue;">http://connect.garmin.com/activity/242602804</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/Nicolaides/entries/19230346">http://www.dailymile.com/people/Nicolaides/entries/19230346</a><br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnS5e69pxVeOnDtpbYtzQZDYb0vpGFnBVHv6b4i6FatzXmwzIqhVcpBCYLeRhZcGcGXZf1gfdDBEaf4HErRVX0UtkbeRAEXMd7M8grW7UR5bEz9ukozENjW0YdpP8Yat8Yh_ThjVIJUQ/s1600/2012Rich_00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnS5e69pxVeOnDtpbYtzQZDYb0vpGFnBVHv6b4i6FatzXmwzIqhVcpBCYLeRhZcGcGXZf1gfdDBEaf4HErRVX0UtkbeRAEXMd7M8grW7UR5bEz9ukozENjW0YdpP8Yat8Yh_ThjVIJUQ/s320/2012Rich_00.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: x-small;">(1) Early miles w Raphael (2) running strong (3) pain</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: x-small;">(4) mile 25 (5) to the finish line (6) done</span></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-78199783640785471042012-10-08T07:38:00.001-07:002012-10-08T07:40:18.828-07:00Pregnantly Streaking…<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in 0in 0pt -0.75pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-outline-level: 6; tab-stops: list .5in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I was running in the</span><span style="color: #002060; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> <a href="http://crawlincrabhalf.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Peroni Crawling Crab</span></a> </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">half marathon yesterday and I saw this pregnant lady running at about mile 8. Her t-shirt said that her baby was due in January. Her belly was showing a lot but she seemed comfortable running at a 10 minute pace. I said to her that it was inspiring to see her running and that she should get 2 medals. Also said that another friend of mine kept running until about 2 weeks before giving birth and then got back into it quickly after giving birth with no issues.<br />She responded that her mom ran the day she gave birth to her. I was like: does your mom run every day? … and she said she used to. I am like.. cool I am coming to up a year of running every day… do you? And she yes for long time… <br />I never asked her name or if that was her first child, but I assume she might be on the </span><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.runeveryday.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">USRSA</span></a> active list… The moral of the story: It is much more harder for women to keep a streak alive when one has to consider giving birth. What an inspiration!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-88417022173992218412012-05-08T15:36:00.000-07:002012-05-08T15:38:07.565-07:00Run and Finish... running across the USA<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Chris Nicholas is currently running from Washington DC to Los Angeles raising money for the <a href="http://childrensmiraclenetworkhospitals.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: red;"><u>Children's Miracle Network Hospitals</u></span></span></a> ... he is pushing a stroller with all his gear just like my friend John Price did last year, except that John went eastward, from Venice Beach to Virginia Beach . Chris's website is <a href="http://www.runandfinish.com/"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="color: red;"><u>www.RunAndFinish.com</u></span></span></a> He is from Grand Rapids Michigan, but I am wondering if he has any Greek roots as his name is so Greek sounding… In fact my brother is Chris Nicolaides.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Anyhow, I was reminded of this when my Dailymile friend Mike from Kansas posted a <a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/openmikey/entries/14928457" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">picture</span></a> of Chris as he ran into him at his children’s school as he was passing through the town in Pratt, Kansas. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Speaking of John Price, he is getting ready to run across the UK, north to south. His website is <a href="http://www.runvb2vb.com/"><span style="color: red;">www.RunVB2VB.com</span></a><span style="color: red;"> </span></span>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-78555902848680360672012-04-24T09:03:00.000-07:002012-04-24T09:03:11.541-07:0050 miles... seriously?<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">OK. I signed up for the Gore-Tex 50 Mile race of the North Face Endurance Challenge on June 2 in Washington DC. The race <a href="http://www.thenorthface.com/en_US/endurance-challenge/washington-dc/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">website</span></a> says 39 days until race day. Seriously? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">The race starts at the Algonkian Regional Park, then runs on the Potomac Heritage Trail through the Riverbend and Riverview parks and onto the Great Falls park for 3 tough loops and returns back though the trails to the Algonkian Park. I really did not intend to have a training plan for this race, but my friend Heather who is thinking about signing up was looking up for plans for 50 milers, before she signed up (which is obviously the right thing to do!)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It hit home when I saw her post. I have to have a plan if I am going to finish this thing… I am going to have to work on it, but some people have posted some useful links when Heather raised the question on <a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/HeatherM29/entries/14580430" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">dailymile</span></a> I liked this <a href="http://bit.ly/Iq7lB5" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">one</span></a> particularly; since I am geek... but I know I won’t follow it… in fact I should have been in week 13 of 18 if I was to follow it. It does call for a 50K this Sunday… it won’t happen… </span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-77827284081354149932012-04-10T16:01:00.000-07:002012-04-10T16:01:05.733-07:00Race Reports<span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">A lot of my runner friends already know that I listen to Phedippidations quite often. I was listening to episode 140 today with race reports from Boston when Steve Runner gave a special emphasis at the end about the importance of race reports and that it is always great to read other runners race reports as each one of us has her/his own perspective on any given race; and he continued “… When you write a race report, you are not just doing it for yourself to memorialize the event. You are doing it for others, passing on your observations so that they can incorporate into their own and form an opinion as a way to better understand the event so that they can improve their performance on race day. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">It is not enough to just run the race, or even run it well. You have to tell others about your race. Race reports are a big part of the process of running, racing and competing with each other. Runners help each other by offering advice and telling our stories so that when the rest of us line up on race day, we will have an impression as told by others of what to expect. It is called “<u><strong>Giving back to your fellow runners</strong></u>"</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Well, I never saw this point of view, but I agree... and I do owe my fellow runners my report from the Knoxville Marathon ;)</span></span></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-63329991036941398102012-04-05T23:51:00.004-07:002012-04-06T08:53:07.946-07:00Don't fight the trail. Take what it gives you<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Rest in peace Caballo Blanco...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFOItUDvDppRGPpyPC21YS8zzZPt_jBFY4QbX4GMQXM6kVIIWGx_VwO-so-FUgahcX39sS8eNA6oB0yXAQjm2YoXkiy3txwmzGOsZ2J-i9S5YUQLpL3FzikjUVgJ2RVCa8iYK7nic-h0/s1600/Caballo+Blanco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDFOItUDvDppRGPpyPC21YS8zzZPt_jBFY4QbX4GMQXM6kVIIWGx_VwO-so-FUgahcX39sS8eNA6oB0yXAQjm2YoXkiy3txwmzGOsZ2J-i9S5YUQLpL3FzikjUVgJ2RVCa8iYK7nic-h0/s320/Caballo+Blanco.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Michael Randall Hickman, later known as Micah True and better known as White Horse or Caballo Blanco was a simple man who became a living legend for ultra-runners after Christopher McDougall published his book Born to Run. Caballo passed away last week while out on a routine 12-mile run in New Mexico. He was on the way to Arizona from Mexico. Along the way, he stopped off at the Gila Wilderness Lodge in New Mexico, a place he visited many times. On Monday, he went for a 6-hour run with Guadajuko, a Mexican mixed breed he had adopted and called "the ghost dog". On Tuesday, he decided to do a 12-miler before hitting the road. Guadajuko's paws were sore, so Caballo left him on the porch with a bowl of water and told the innkeeper he would be back in two hours. It took search parties 4 days to find him as he did not give any indication which direction he would go. He was finally discovered by the side of a cool mountain stream not far from the lodge. His death is still a mystery. Everyone came to look for him in those days, including Chris McDougall, Scott Jurek, Kyle Skaggs and other friends. His friends, tweeted remembrances of his passing…</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwg_PcHdTELun9iF_OqANDWjb_9El8LYLIuzDvELe_eP0lTq4P3qsXdU1XaERGpPPQZg4vg8viChMYSawzwtCRJDEtz8egLmsxTkim7pH20O6hr4-1WdWgOsvXijcfduD-WluEeMcGsjI/s1600/caballo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwg_PcHdTELun9iF_OqANDWjb_9El8LYLIuzDvELe_eP0lTq4P3qsXdU1XaERGpPPQZg4vg8viChMYSawzwtCRJDEtz8egLmsxTkim7pH20O6hr4-1WdWgOsvXijcfduD-WluEeMcGsjI/s320/caballo2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">His race, the <a href="http://coppercanyonultra.com/" target="_blank">Copper Canyon 50 miler</a> in Mexico, has grown beyond even Caballo’s wildest expectations – on March 4, 2012, more than 400 Tarahumaras and 100 outside runners participated. Here are a couple of links for the 2010 race: <a href="http://www.highaltitudeathletics.org/mts/ccum-2010-50-mile-report.html" target="_blank">Race Report</a> <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/dkcoblentz/CopperCanyon2010#" target="_blank">Pictures</a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: left;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I learned a lot from the book but the biggest advice I took from Caballo is how to learn the art of running… this is what he said to the author in the book: "Don't fight the trail. Take what it gives you. Lesson two - think easy, light, smooth and fast. You start with easy, because if that's all you get, that's not so bad. Then work on light. Make it effortless, like you don't [care] how high the hill is or how far you've got to go. When you've practiced that so long that you forget you're practicing, you work on making it smooooooth. You won't have to worry about the last one - you get those three, and you'll be fast."</span><br />
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: x-small;">... I am still working on easy and light, I don't worry about how high the hill is or how far I have to go</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g4x926QAQ74gE-DC_8HeSgU7JEIKvqXaSFvdRlDMvM9QrrvS3ODhR3SpVBC-oc5Q3_s5D_05Xsdn3pNuG5vR1mpHUsZ5dDRkIvup06wZd38B9Aa8sSmD8ndLIGEdFX9_ajU8WtP6fZM/s1600/caballo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1g4x926QAQ74gE-DC_8HeSgU7JEIKvqXaSFvdRlDMvM9QrrvS3ODhR3SpVBC-oc5Q3_s5D_05Xsdn3pNuG5vR1mpHUsZ5dDRkIvup06wZd38B9Aa8sSmD8ndLIGEdFX9_ajU8WtP6fZM/s320/caballo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-65340833126782173972012-03-04T20:48:00.000-08:002012-03-04T20:48:19.169-08:00The North Face Endurance Challenge<a href="http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/index.html">Run Farther than you ever have!</a> : As I am getting ready to turn in for the night, I can't get this race out of my head... in fact, I have been thinking about it for several weeks now... and in case you are wondering, I am looking at the 50 mile race on June 2nd in Washington DC. So I went to the website and saw this headline: <a href="http://www2.thenorthface.com/endurancechallenge/index.html">Run Farther than you ever have!</a>. How appropriate! <br />
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Can I do it? Can I actually run 50 miles and finish within the allotted time? I will be turning 50 in June, so this could be the perfect celebration... or would it? What do you think?<br />
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Anyhow, going to bed now... they are calling for snow for tomorrow.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-43151503112573957502012-02-28T09:12:00.054-08:002012-02-28T17:30:40.689-08:00100 days and #dailymission<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: blue;"><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I started posting today's daily mission in </span> </span><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/"><span style="color: red;">Dailymile</span></a><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;">, </span><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">when I realized that I was writing my fitness story. So I thought this would be the perfect first post on this blog as today is my 100th day of my running streak... read on: </span></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"></span><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: red;"> </span><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/entries/dailymission/896?post=note"><span style="color: red;">#Dailymission</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If you didn't grow up fit, what was the tipping point that brought you into a life a running/biking/swimming/moving?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I did not grow unfit, but gradually lost fitness and gained weight. I tried so many sports growing up. I played basketball in elementary school and was a member of the school team until I was sidelined for a year in 6th grade with a torn ACL from the vault at gymnastics. I got into javelin in secondary school. I addition, I played soccer all those years. I joined a local amateur <a href="http://www.mdcvsa.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">soccer league</span></a> in college and I also became a gym rat and I lifted weights, a lot of weights, 6-days-a-week. Lou Ferrigno and Arnold were my idols. I got back into basketball pick-up games and mini-football (soccer 7-a-side) after college and eventually joined a bowling league.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem with bowling was that our league was a Pub-league so there was a lot of drinking.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">I was finally inspired by my brother and I got involved into running. I loved big races but hated training. After volunteering for 2 years for the Virginia Beach Rock N Roll Half Marathon and Shamrock, I decided to sign up for races. For the next three years I ran the VB RnR Half, Shamrock 8k and Monument Avenue 10K ...did I say that I liked big races? I didn’t see the point of training or running small races. I just liked the party atmosphere.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">... and then it happened. I was in Richmond in the spring 2010 for the Monument Avenue 10K and my brother </span><a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/ChrisAN" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Chris</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> coerced me into signing up for the full Richmond Marathon. He then said that a full marathon is a big deal and I needed to train, thus I needed a <a href="http://www.dailymile.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Dailymile</span></a> account. I set-up my DM account that day and started training the following Monday. At first it was the gym and 30 minute TM sessions until I had my first training run outside. It was a </span><a href="http://bit.ly/An4vHh" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">9.32-miler</span></a><span style="color: blue;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> and it wasn't particularly hard. </span>I was committed to the cause. I trained hard for a couple of months until I sprained my left MCL and was sidelined. I kept my endurance up with long rides on the bike. I took PT and came back and was ready for a 4:30-4:45 marathon. It did not happen. I went out too fast with a PR at the half with 2:23, but then had to crawl to finish the second half in 3:02 for a 5:25 finish. Not a big deal, I was already signed up for 2 more marathons in 2011, Shamrock and Richmond.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">2011 started on a sour note as I broke my toe on January 1st when I slipped down the stairs at home and was sidelined for several weeks. I managed to come back by March and was able to run the Shamrock marathon with a little modification in my running shoe. The toe never healed completely but the pain was gone and I was able to run. The summer of 2011 was great and I did a few races with my daughter who was here for summer vacation from her university studies in Dundee Scotland. I finished 2011 with 30 races, but I only ran 850 miles for the year... didn’t I say that I prefer racing from running? Those 30 races included 3 marathons (Shamrock, Medoc Mountain Trail and Richmond), 2 half marathons, several other shorter races and my first ultra marathon, a 50K in December,</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Which brings us to my running streak. It started right before Thanksgiving when I saw an article in Runners World about attempting a running streak between Thanksgiving and New Year’s day. My job has an annual challenge during the holidays called “Maintain Don’t Gain” with the goal to maintain your weight and not gain anything between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. So I saw it as an opportunity to kill two birds with one stone. Running every day and not gain any weight. And it started… and it carried on… I was planning to quit it on January 1st but I didn’t. I then thought that I could take it to January 7th to include the Armenian and Russian Christmas and probably stop at 50 days… but I continued.. not sure why… and today I hit 100 days… and I don’t know when will I stop. It may be tomorrow, or next week or after Shamrock or after Knoxville since I am running a second full marathon 2 weeks after Shamrock… I just don’t know… But there is one think I know for sure: I will not run every day for the rest of my life! Ha! Ha!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: #002060; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">Here are some statistics from the streak: </span></span></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #002060; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">100 days of running </span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #002060; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">428 miles, 30 miles per week, 4.28 miles per day</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #002060; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">689 KM, 48K per week, 6.88K per day</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #002060; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">8 races: 5K, 5K, 10K, 10M, 20K, 25K, 30K, 50K</span></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="color: #002060; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="color: blue;">100 racing miles or 161 racing kilometers</span></span></li>
</ul></div>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1774145151160642034.post-72756917860759639102012-01-06T15:56:00.001-08:002012-01-06T15:57:55.746-08:00Under Construction...I am still trying to figure this thing out...<br />
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in the meantime, you can read about my running adventures here:<br />
<a href="http://www.dailymile.com/people/nicolaides">http://www.dailymile.com/people/nicolaides</a>Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08214097956062368901noreply@blogger.com0