Weekend Recap

Multiple crappy runs (Saturday and Sunday), so I made it a point to 'jog' this morning to feel better about my run. Brain dump time:

• How can a radio station that plays Gospel music all day Sunday have commercials that advertise liquor?

• Is it just me or does the start of the US open of tennis mean summer is over?

• How did they get Dick from Richard?

• TNT is going to Paris and New Orleans for the Spring season. Which would you choose to coach?

• Fantasy football draft and my team sucks already.
  

• How many wins will the Detroit Pussycats win this season?
  

Crappy Run Conversation

We all know about that mind and body connection thing, when everything is in sync and life is good.

Well, my mind and body are in need of an intervention!

Here's how today's run went:

Mind: It's gorgeous outside, let's go until you(body) start feeling it.

Body: My left hamstring is sending pain signals to you, aren't you getting them?

Mind: We just started running!

Body: and your point is?

Mind: Okay, let's go a different direction. Maybe we just need to see some new scenery?
Body: Okay, but I'm warning you....

Mind: Hey, there's a sub-division we can run through. Turn right here.

Body: Why are the lungs having issues? We must have gone at least three miles?

Mind: Let me check the Garmin, 0.33 miles.

Body: Have you gotten those hamstring pain signals yet? Oh, the back is queuing up some pain signals to go out next.

Mind: Hey, there's another runner, let's catch him?

Body: Are you crazy? I'm ready to shut down this operation, you'd better get back home.

Mind: Let me check the Garmin again. We gone 0.73 miles and you ready to call it a day?

Body: Don't make me send you knee pain.

Mind: Okay, tuen around and go back home. You big baby!

Body: Hey, can we walk back home?

Mind: No way! Just go a little slower and we'll be home in no time.

Body: The legs aren't listening to you. I think they're rebelling about listening in the beginning.

Mind: Okay, I stopping the Garmin. That means the run is officially over!

Body: Thank God, now can I have some ice and fluids?

Mind: We still have to get home, remember?

So that's how it went today for me. Maybe I'll do some Crossfit stuff to make it seem like I worked out today.

T.G.I.Fun

I'm trying to put the FUN back into my running.

I purposely went out and ran with a group from work that was slower than me and only going a few miles. I wanted to enjoy the company and the slower pace. It was a blast.

I think with the many injuries and watching other runners get in their long runs and talk about their really fast times at races, I was getting ready for another pity party for Ken.

Well not this time, because I am SMRT smart!

I've also added yoga to my training routine. I do about 4 -5 minutes a day! At this rate, I should be a yogi in a few weeks.

Everyone have a great weekend and remember, only you can prevent forest fires.

Oh Happy Day

I may actually be on the mend with this pain in the Arse!

I was able to get in a 2 mile run with little or no discomfort.

Can I get a Hallelujah???????

I'll continue to ice and stretch and ice and stretch, because I am SMRT smart..........

The weather in the high-five state is actually getting cooler, so we may be donning the long-sleeved shirts for our morning runs.

I didn't get fired from being a course marshal the other evening at our club's 8k race. I did however encounter the strangest thing to happen to me in a race. Here's the Reader's digest version:

I was positioned at the 4 mile mark of the race and runners began telling me about a runners that had collapsed on the course. When I got to the gentleman, he appeared to be suffering from dehydration as well as being somewhat delusional. He refused to take any fluids, saying that we were trying to poison him!!!!! My lucky day........

We contacted EMS and upon their arrival I walked to the finish line, since the last runner/walker had passed and my job was done.

Upon arriving at the finish area, I was shocked to see my new found friend was creating a scene shouting about how we were trying to kill him, like Micheal Jackson! Having saved his life on the course, I was able to calm him down enough until a friend of his took him to his car.

So was all this a side effect of being dehydrated or was he just a little unstable?

Do we need to add another checkbox on the race application about mental stability?

Wednesday's ?????

Was learning cursive really necessary?????????????

Shut it Down Clancy

Well since my 2009 peak race has gone by the wayside, I'm shutting down race training for this year and just concentrate on getting well and coaching for the upcoming TNT season.

I'll still train but I'm already looking forward to 2010 and some early season races. I miss racing!

It's so rewarding to push your body to the limit, to challenge yourself when everything in you wants to stop.

I envy all of you guys that have taken part in so many events this year and still have a full schedule of races for the remainder of 2009.

So I'll have to take out my frustrations on those poor TNT souls to make them better runners.

We have our running club 8k race this evening and I get to be a course marshal. I was fired as a split timer for giving out erroneous split times. So I hope that I can give directions better than splits.

Congrats Desiree Davila

Hanson-Brooks Distance Project member Desiree Davila finishes 11th in the I.A.A.F. World Championship marathon in Berlin. Desiree set a PR finishing in 2:27:53.

Perfect Running Weather, but WTF?????

We made out annual trek to Flint, Michigan for the Crim 10 mile road race. This year was the official running of the Woman's USATF Championship. There didn't appear to be any gender related problems with the participants.

This race is normally held on a hot and humid day in August, so to have have temps in the sixties was unheard of. This was suppose to be my goal race for the year but the pain in my Arse insured that wouldn't happen.

I still started the race knowing I would drop out after two miles, which is funny when other runners just see you stop for no apparent reason.

So I was able to make my way to the finish line and watch the elite runners finish in unreal times. This is a hilly course and still these cheaters finish in less than 47 minutes. They have to be cheating.....

It was really great to see a bunch of friends and TNT alumni participate in this event. I don't know about you but it always amazes me how many runners I know by name....

The WTF part is putting on long pants to go to dinner. It's summer time, I'm suppose to be in shorts.

I also have to start thinking about my fantasy football draft picks.

Can you say Adrian Peterson........

T.G.I.Foto Friday

Ahhhhhhhhhh, brown paper bag refreshment!

When everyone found out where the store was, they left their bikes and ran......

Now I'm Confused

It's a strange judicial world that we live in. Here's my example:

Michael Vick gets 23 months for dog fighting, which a lot of people think was too harsh and others thought he should have served more time.

Donte Stallworth pleads guilty to DUI manslaughter for killing a human being and serves a 30-day jail sentences.

Plaxico Burress accidentally shoots himself in the leg and is sentenced to two years in prison.

What kind of penalty would you receive if you were driving over the legal limit and accidentally crashed into a dog-fighting ring and killed a dog and one of the spectators?

See, that's why I confused..................

Wednesday's Why

Why can't teenagers just listen to the wisdom that is bestowed upon them?

I'm trying to get Sandy's son to tryout for his high school Cross Country team in his freshman year and getting the normal teen aged response, " I don't like........................"

I'm not even sure if we had a Cross Country team when I was in high school. I do remember there was a track because we skipped classes behind it!

How can I convince him of the social and physical benefits of joining a team?

Oh to be young again..........

Here we go Again..................

Tricks of the Trade

Some of my runs lately have been less than desirable, but the streak must go on!

I find myself using mind games to get through some of the tough times. Over the years, I've come things like:

• If I see a person smoking, I tell myself how clear my lungs are.
• I visualize one mile that I could run forever.
  
• I love running in the street facing traffic, so I have to smile and have great form.
• Every time I encounter another runner, I have great form.
• I speak to every transient person that I encounter.
• I tell myself how my age-group competitors are training.

I need to get my Mojo back.

Weekend Recap

Ah Summer.............

I love the hot weather and sunshine but not on my morning run!

We were hit with a heatwave and I chose to sleep in each morning of the weekend. Didn't Runner's World magazine say we needed more sleep?

So I guess it was fortunate for me because it kept my mileage down to a reasonable few miles. I am actually actively treating my piriformis. It is getting better and I'm increasing my miles very conservatively. Wow, a three mile long run is on the schedule pretty soon!

I got on the bike to make it seem like I was a weekend warrior and encountered a few drivers that didn't appreciate me getting in my cardiovascular workout on 'their' road! I was tempted to follow one driver that thought I was number one, with his finger gesture.

I went through four(4) 20 oz. fluid bottles in two hours. I can't even do that with my favorite BEvERage!

I have to make a decision about traveling to Flint for the Crim 10 mile race on Saturday, knowing that I can't race it but I am registered. That's a long way to go to pick up a T-shirt.....

Okay, time to do my hundred pushups............ just kidding, it's 'Miller time'.

Have fun out there.

It HURTS!!!!!

I think I really hurt my hamstring now............. I let out a yell when I attempted the first burpee going down....

I'm sitting on ice right now......

I be STUPID!

I am SMRT

That's right, I am Homer smrt!

I am icing and stretching and not over-striding when I run.

It only takes me 34 days to catch on to the obvious.

Just for grin and giggles, I looked up day 300, and it's October 27th. Why does that seem so far away?

My job is moving to another location in the next month and I need to find another gym. It's crazy that I'm more concerned about the gym situation than the travel time, carpooling, lunch accommodations, etc.

Tonight is our second Tuesday evening Running club picnic and since I won't be running with the group, I'll be guarding the BEvERages. Somebody has to do it.

Weekend Recap - No Fun in Mudville

This past weekend wasn't the best of running weekends for me. We had rain, heat and humidity for both days.

I normally will not complain about the weather. As I tell my co-workers, as long as you don't have to rescue me off of my roof, I can handle Michigan weather.

Saturday's run began in the rain! Now who in their right mind starts a training run in the rain?


Remember, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer...........

My hamstring is getting better and I'm running with compression shorts.

Boy, it would be nice to run and nor feel any discomfort from the very start! I know R.I.C.E.............

It's that damn streak that Pat made me start back in January and I just read where he's starting to run again. Go Pat!

Sunday was hot and humid and those are the two words we really hate to hear, except for 'no beer'....

So it wasn't a fun weekend in the high-five state.......

Stupidity is.............

ME!

Hi, my name is Ken and I'm STUPID.

How many of you can participate in a race and not race?

Why can't there be such a thing as a fun run?

Okay, one of our local running clubs puts on a 5k trail race, conveniently on a Thursday evening. My intentions were to support the club and get in three miles.

Hi, my name is Ken and I'm STUPID.

I purposely started in the back of the pack, so I wouldn't be tempted.

Hi, my name is Ken and I'm STUPID.

The trails were a combination of small moguls and soft sand, both of which are great for my knees and hamstring (NOT)!

Hi, my name is Ken and I'm STUPID.

Why can't I just let people pass me and not take it personally? Oh, that's right........

Hi, my name is Ken and I'm STUPID.

Fast forward to the last mile and my hamstring is yelling at me, but I can't just stop!

Hi, my name is Ken and I'm STUPID.

I finish and immediately dash to the car to get home and ICE all the usual suspects. Boy, didn't we have a good time...................

Hi, my name is Ken and I'm STUPID.

Note to Self

Dear Ken,
I realize that you've been able to run with little or no discomfort for the past few days and I hope that this continues.

This however does not give you permission to go to the track and attempt to run intervals!

I thought that we had an agreement that you would take it easy on this body and not be concerned with speed? I was certain that just being able to run was at the top of our agenda.

So since you have reneged on your part of the agreement, I have no alternative but to give you some pain in your piriformis. It will be just mild pain but I want this to serve as a reminder of our agreement.

If you have any further questions, feel free to contact my boss(The Arse).

Sincerely

Your Pain in the Arse

Wednesday's Why????????????

A psycho goes into an LA Fitness aerobic class and kills three women near Pittsburgh???????

Can you imagine everything that you do to make yourself a better and fit person and someone decides in their sick mind that you don't deserve to live?????

Be safe out there...................

July Sucked......

WTF? How could I run more miles in January 2009 than the month of July 2009?

Well it happened due to my pain in the ARSE! I was only getting in my minimal mile on several of the days of July.

Knock on wood, I think that I'm on the road to recovery but I won't be pushing it in the near future. I'm shortening my stride length and not even thinking about running fast.

This past Saturday was really strange, since I ran my one mile minimum and then proceeded to be a regular person.

I was able to mow the lawn, wash the car and pick beans from the garden. All before 11:00 AM, can you believe that. I didn't have a double digit training run, which takes time and energy. I could get accustom to this......

Nah, then I'd be that old guy yelling, '..hey you kids, get off my lawn'.......