Running with Scissors............

No, not really but I did run in shorts today!

Outside in Michigan on December 31st in shorts.....

Screw those Polar bears, I'm loving this stuff....... just kidding.

We have our New Year's Eve race today and I'm off to volunteer as a course marshal.

I love being a marshal at this race, I yell out fictitious times to the racers as they pass by.

Some people love it and then there are those that that offense to it, screw them!

Since everyone in Blogland is doing a year in review, I have to go back and see what happened in 2010 in my running life.

Nothing special for tonight and I hope to stay up until midnight, maybe I'll get in a nap.

Happy 2011..............

Wednesday's WTF?????????

What the f*#k happened to me????

I'm sleeping in, eating and drinking anything placed in front of me.

I've been to the gym just once this week!

I'm not taking a shower unless absolutely necessary.......

All I need to do is start hoarding crap!

We're suppose to get a heatwave in the next few days, so I'm hoping for a run in shorts!!!!!

What challenges will we have for 2011?

We've done the 1,000 miles and don't forget the streaks..... What are you going to do?

How many days can I go without showering???????

Post Christmas Stuffing

I don't even know what day it is but I am eating and drinking non-stop!

I've probably gained 453 pounds. I should be in the gym but we have more holiday parties to attend.

The weather has been cold and windy without a glimpse of the sun, so running has really been fun!

We had a great Christmas and I actually didn't get any running related gifts.

With 2011 just around the corner, I need to take a look at my race calendar.

I'm thinking of attempting to streak again, that might be my 2011 goal.

I hope all of you had a wonderful holiday and received everything that you had on Santa's list.

Three Things Thursday

1) Holiday shopping sucks! Why d I do this every year, waiting to the last minute? Oh well, who wouldn't want a red Snuggie?

2) Even with the crappy runs that I've been having, I am truly blessed to still be running. I didn't have an extended period of down time this year with an injury!

3) Some of my Team in Training participants are so enthused about running outside that we're planning an 'unofficial' training session for Sunday. Are these people great or what?

After today, I have the remainder of the year off from work until next year. Maybe I'll swing over to Hawaii and hang out with the Prez..........

Wednesday's Why????

Three crappy runs in a row? Okay, in my best Nancy Kerrigan voice, "why me?".......

Is December the 'crappy run' month?

Should I just shut it down and take it easy?

Twelve Lords a Leaping would even be tired by now!

Hey, I could say I'm going to start up again on January 1.........

When do you rejuvenate your batteries? Everyone but Marlene, who is non-stop!!!!

Tuesday's Thoughts..........

So you want to run a marathon????? Here are a few photos of friends of mine and the looks of joy on their faces.............. or not!!!!!!!



This Team in Training participant actually qualified for Boston with her completion time.





At least he wasn't looking down at his watch when his finish line photo was taken!!!!

But there are those moments when all of the hard work pays off and you can enjoy it with the ones you love.





So get out there and run...................

I'm Ready to Kick Some Asphalt!!!

This ice and snow crap is getting 'OLD' already!

We had terrible running conditions for out Team in training group run. The path was a sheet of ice with footprints inserted. We actually took to the road at one point but the park police frown on that!

It must be a side effect of getting older but I don't remember being so concerned about slipping and falling when I was younger. Maybe it's that hip replacement thang when old people fall????

Needless to say, the group run was slower than any we've had so far this season. Did I mention 14º and wind???? It getting to look a lot like Christmas.

Sunday was a inaugural local 5k, which are always fun to be a part of. Sandy and I had preregistered and had bib numbers 41 & 43, which made me think this race is going to really be small. As it turns out, there were about 200 participants.

The course was a loop through a local park and golf course. This wouldn't be a bad course in the spring or fall but with the accumulated snow that we received it made for a lot of unstable running. I turned my ankles a few times and my knees took a beating, but I was having fun.

So now after icing my knees and watching some bad football on Sunday, my legs are trashed!

When did it get so hard????

Can someone remind me again why we love this sport?

You're the Best Chinese Hurdler Around

Who needs rules? I tell my participants to run the tangents and get to the finish line quicker, but this isn't what I had in mind.

TGIF Tagging

I was tagged by LilMeg to answer a few questions about the year 2010.

What are you most proud of accomplishing in 2010?

I'm going to deviate a little and tell you what I am so proud of others close to me accomplished this year.

1. My son completing his first marathon and being able to be there and run(really slow) the last 10k with him. After all the years of ridicule for my running, to actually see him take part in the sport was wonderful.

   

2. Being there to support Sandy on the completion of her first (and probably only) 50 Mile Trail race! As much as I love running, this is the extreme. Knowing that I was a part of it for her made it that much more special.
3. 
   

3. To be able to run every month of the year! After the last few years, this was major accomplishment for me!

What are your running goals for 2011?

To stay injury free and enjoy every run that I have. I don't want to get caught up in time or distance but just enjoy the ride. I would like to have some post some good race times, but that's just between you and me.

What was your favorite race?

The Great Lakes Relay by far! I got a chance to run with co-workers and meet so many new running friends. Like my twin(Mike) in the photo. How could running 275 miles in three days with a group of smelly guys not be fun?



Even though I say I will never do this race again, it has a very special place in my heart.

What is your Holiday guilty pleasure?

Sweet potato pie! Who knew that one slice contain over 300 calories? So a whole pie would be at least..............., oh never mind................

What is your most embarrassing running moment?

This is an easy one, just insert poop story. I actually went in the middle of an elementary school playground. It was early in the morning and no children were harmed in the making of it! HA, I still imagine the first kid to come across it. Ewwwwwwwwwwww

Okay, I'm not going to tag anyone since it's Friday....

Have a great weekend and remember, 'only you can stop forest fires'.............

Three Things Thursday...........

1) I ventured outside for a run today since the sun was shining and the temps were in the twenties! It's amazing how conditioned we get in such a short time, I'm glad to run in the twenties???? Since we still have tons of ice on the roads and sidewalks, I ran in the Community center's parking lot! That's right, circles in a parking lot.........

2) I had to resolve an issue with one of the companies that I transfer my paycheck to on a monthly basis. I used their website to make a payment and it double posted a debit to my checking account. Since every customer service rep is in a different locale, I spoke with three different ones and the have been given three different pieces of information to supply. Needless to say, I've encounter a few overdrafts!!!!

3) I'm tired of winter already and it hasn't even started............. ARGHHHHHHHHHHH

Wednesday's Why???????

We held our TNT Stretching Clinic last night and it's always fun to quiz the participants on their body parts.

So today's questions is 'why are our household pets smarter than us when it comes to stretching?'

I have to consciously make an effort to stretch at my desk. Who has 20 to 30 seconds to stretch, I ave to check Facebook?

Baby, It's Cold Outside.......

If you watch Glee, that was the duet that Kirk did with his new 'friend'.... but for us in the High-Five state, it was the weather forecast!!!!

Sunday was a day of watching bad football(Packers lose to the LIONS?) and it snowed all day....

Hey, it's not even winter yet!!!!

Since I had sooooo much fun at our par-tay Saturday night, Sunday was a scheduled rest day for me. I didn't want to have to take a shower!!!

I think the next few days will be dreadmill workouts since the temps are in the single digits and the roads are super icy! The up side is I can wear some of my older shoes and running shorts on the treadmill.

Now I have to get my butt in gear and do some Xmas shopping........

Saturday Sweating to the Oldies

Only in the Midwest can 32º and no wind feel like running shorts weather!

At today's TNT group training no one took advantage of it though. As a matter of fact, I think everyone was way overdressed. I had to actually tell women to remove some of their clothing........... HA

It was so nice out that I coerced my 1/2 marathoners to go an extra mile!!!!

That may not sound like much to you guys but for a newbie to run an extra mile, well lets just say I'm they're favorite coach........

Here they are anxiously waiting to get started. It's really not that cold, I just made them stand for a couple of photos.

This evening is our Tuesday Running club Holiday par-tay! I may have pictures from that, unless I'm having too much fun..........

T.G.I.Farts

I will probably get kicked out of the Community Center for farting while on the dreadmill too often!

Is it polite for me to excuse myself and pause the machine while I go to a secluded place?

I can't be the only person afflicted with this disorder.... (ha, treadmillotoesis)....

I guess I never think about releasing the gaseous fumes when I'm frolicking outdoors because I'm moving and can get away from it.

Since we're talking about gross stuff, I've noticed another body behavior that has me puzzled????

This one has to do with poop. I can go the entire workday without taking a magazine reading break but the minute I go for my 'lunchtime' run(which isn't the same time of day), I have to take a dump???

Is my body so excited about the opportunity to go run that it automatically decide to flush excess materials?

Is there something about the smell or appearance of the locker room that makes me ill??

Okay, I hope you weren't reading this while eating but inquiring minds what to know?????

Have a great weekend...........

Three Thing Thursday

1) Even with the risk of jinxing myself, I have not had any issues with my knees in weeks! That's right, I said it. No knee pain.... I attribute some of it to lower mileage and strengthening my quads but I think the secret is the Glucosamine Chondroitin......

2) I think the month of December will be my lowest mileage month of the year, damn those holiday parties..........

3) I need to find another novelty hat for races, this one is getting old.

Wednesday's Whys???????

Okay, today are a couple of those questions that we all get asked........

Why is it when you haven't seen a person in the past few months or years they ask: '...are you still running?' Can I ask them if they're still doing nothing??????????

The winter weather always brings out this one: 'You're going outside to run in this weather?'

Tuesday's Thoughts

Okay, the drugs are winning the battle and I'm back to normal!!!!

How can a dusting of snow turn into icy roads and sidewalks?????????

Went to the visitation for my friend that passed and was really struck how everything (pictures, medals, newspaper articles) was about running. Now as much as I love running, I would like to be thought of in some other lights also. He even wore a race T-shirt in the coffin.............

I have to think of bribes to get my TNT folks out this weekend, we're suppose to get some more snow and frigid weather.....

I've been eating non-stop today??????????

Remember logging mile pre-Garmin???? Now I log 4.27 miles when in the past if was 4.5 or maybe even 5 miles, depending on how I was feeling.....

As long as I've been running, I know absolutely nothing about sports bras!

I have no 2011 running goals yet..........

I only ran 7.47 miles last week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Where Did it Go????????????

I'm referring to the weekend! This is the first weekend in a million years that I didn't get a run in.....

I made t to the dentist Saturday morning and discovered it was an gum infection that had slowed me down. I did however take your advice and had a few cocktails to ease the pain.....

I missed my first ever TNT group training in over six years on Saturday due to the infection!

Since I was on the gum infection diet, I didn't have the energy to get in a run once I started feeling better.

Sunday was our annual Team in Training Coach's Retreat in Lansing on the campus of Michigan State University. I love seeing all the other coaches and comparing notes and exchanging ideas, even if it takes an entire Sunday.

So there was no running for me........

I also received more bad news. A member of our Tuesday running club finally ended his fight with cancer and passed on Friday. This gentlemen had participated in every Detroit Free Press Marathon since it's inception. He was the patriarch of our club, Ralph Judd will truly be missed....

WTFriday?????????????????

I've never been a very good patient, so when I get sick or if I'm not feeling well every one knows!

Some time yesterday afternoon I started having a dull tooth pain, which is equivalent to labor pain for me. So I immediately went to bed, I didn't cross 'GO' and collect $200.

Well guess who takes Fridays off this time of year?

That's right, my dentist office is closed on Fridays.................. Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

So I'm at work with co-workers asking if I'm okay. It must be that I'm not my normal cheery self or the fact that I haven't taken my head off my desk!

So now I have to drop Advil every few hours until I can get into the dentist office.

Is it just me or does everyone else seem happier and louder when I'm illin'??????

Of course this is also the beginning of non-stop weekend holiday celebrations, so have to get back to my normal life of the party self...........

Stay thirsty my friends........

Three Things Thursday

1) November is typically a month of recovery for me. After spending the entire spring and summer training it was always nice to just kick back and do nothing. But after reading the November recaps for a majority of you guys, I feel like a slacker! Some of you (Crazy Canadian) are even closing in on 2010 running miles in 2010, I'm not sure I drove that many miles!

2) Everyone knows that lean muscle burns more calories, so I've been spending more time in the gym pumping iron. I plan on purchasing some of those MC Hammer zebra parachute pants and spaghetti string tank tops to wear. The down side to the gym workouts is the soreness that I encounter each morning (D.O.M.S.).......... It's hell getting old.

3) A sad note. I just found out that the runner that went down at our local Turkey trot, passed yesterday. He had triple bypass surgery on Monday but it didn't help, he was 52 years old.

Wednesday's Why???????

As I bribe myself to get my ass out the door in the cold, gray, windy evening for a run, I notice the little kids on the block playing as if it were summer vacation(with appropriate winter attire on)!

I've asked myself on several occasions, why the hell don't kids care or feel like colder temps should stop their fun.

Why can't I have that same enthusiasm about being outside?

Why can't I bust out of work with the same eagerness as kids leaving school?

I should be thankful for the 'playtime' that I have before.

Should I go next door and see if Johnny can come out and run a few miles with me?

How can I recapture that youthful attitude and make it fun again?

If this is truly something that I love to do, then it should put a smile on my face for the entire world to see.

Okay, time to go get Johnny..............

Remember, it's not how fast you're running but how good you look doing it...............