To B or Not to B

It was a great running weekend in the High-Five state. I actually got in a run each day of the weeknd and I'm happy to report that I have no run stopping twinges or aches!

I know that most of you are reporting about PRs and ridiculously long runs but for me it;s just the joy of running.

That's right, this is what you have to look forward to when you aren't running PRs or peaking for a race. We older folk just enjoy the fact that we can run. That's my story and I'm sticking to it....

Okay, I had the pleasure of supporting one of my former co-workers that was running a local marathon in hopes of BQing. Since he's so much younger than me, all he needed was a sub 3:30. He had put in all of the training miles, speedwork, tempo runs and just barely eluded a calf injury.

The event just happened to be about an hours drive from home so I calculated that I needed to arrive at a specific time to ensure seeing him on the course at our agreed upon mile marker. Knowing all of this I gave myself some additional sleeping and coffee drinking time at home.

Some of the things you should do when supporting someone at an event, bring a map, know where the finish area is located and lastly arrive with more than 30 seconds to spare!

Yikes, I had just stepped on the course when my friend appeared out of no where! it was time to run.........

I stayed with him for what seemed like forever, okay just a little over a mile since I had to get back to the car and find my way to the finish. He was doing great, his BQ was in the bag.

Well as we all know, things happen in a marathon and not all of them are good. somewhere between miles 20 and 25 my friend hit the wall.

Okay, long story short. I finally made it to the finish area and there was my friend showing me his watch which read 3:31:44!!!

Forty eight seconds from Boston...........

He walker twice the last mile and that could have been his 48 seconds......

He took it like a champ and we proceeded to think of a strategy to find another event for him to run.

Well, it seems that my friend had neglected to stop his watch when he crossed the finish line and stopped it 1:24 after crossing. So his official finishing time is 3:20 and he BQed!!!!

So we thought we were consuming BEvERages while consoling him when in reality we were celebrating........... YAY Brian

T.G.I.F.

Sandy's son is a freshman on his high school track team and they had a Spring break invitational today, which we attended.

Since I didn't even know we had a track team when I went to high school this was totally different for me. It was so cool to see all of these kids warming up and running and jumping, all for the fun of it.

Of course since I was there the weather took a turn for Winter instead of Spring.... 38º isn't the same when you're sitting in bleachers as opposed to running in it!!!!

The other thing that really stood out for me was the way the kids enjoyed their teammates. One girl finished in last place in her 100 meter race and she still had a huge smile on her face. It was truly inspiring and reminded me why I love to run so much.

I know that I probably won't make the Olympic team in 2012 but I'll continue to train like it's possible.

Oh, it's Opening Day in the Motor City, so I'll go off my diet for a day.

Go Tigers.................

Three Things Thursday

Okay I'm going to try this was see how long I can keep three things going.

1 - We're having a Biggest Loser contest at work and I'm joining in on the fun. I can lose about 10 pounds, which my knees would truly appreciate. I'm starting at 202.2 lbs (I'm a big boned Kenyan) and we'll see if just increasing my exercise and cutting out snacking will do the job.......

2 - Tiger/Tiki - Nuff said.......

3 - We'll be having our informal TNT Track Wednesday workouts starting and I am so excited to get the speed started. This is a chance for all of the current and alumni to get together and sweat.

Today was a rest day for me and the weather was cooler, windy and overcast! Did I say rest, I meant a non-running day, time to go to the gym and hit the weights.

Wednesday's Why???????

I have to admit that I am becoming increasingly obsessed with my web-based running logs.

That's right I said logs!!!!

I loved Coolrunning when I used it years back, instead of the old school paper and pencil method.

Once I purchased my first Garmin, I was hooked on the RoadRunner sports website where I could just upload data and have it appear like magic.

But was that enough for me, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.

I'm always on the lookout for another way to skin a cat! (okay, its just an expression). Although it would probably be painful and messy to try it.

That brought about Buckeye Outdoors and recently the Daily Mile and the list is probably endless going forward.

So my question is WHY am I keeping all of these logs current????

I know that we runners are anal, but to what extreme????

Today is HILL repeat day for me and the weather doesn't look like it's going to cooperate. Rain, rain go away.......

Happy Hump Day...........

Easter Weekend Recap

This was the 20/12 miler for the 2010 Spring TNT team, so we combined the area teams for one big TNT training run.

It was a little earlier than normal but the sun eventually came up!

I try to emphasize to my team to go out slow and gradually increase their pace, which they did perfectly. A lot of times when the groups get big the adrenaline takes over and they pay for it in the late miles.

The course was a ten mile loop with a lot of rolling hills that made for some sore ankles and stiff knees, but overall everyone did fantastic.

As you can see we wanted to simulate a true race environment with race bibs and fluid stations.

I was really concerned that the warmer temps would reek havoc on everyone but the sun stayed behind the clouds for most of the morning.


It made for a long day for this coach and I knew I had a Final Four game to watch and empty a few BEvERages.

I got in a few miles with the team and by Sunday my body was talking to me! But that didn't stop me from going to the track and running in circles for a few miles. Boy, my legs love running on the softer track but my brain hates it!



Can you tell this is the beginning, look at all those smiling faces...............

T.G.I. Hooky F.

Temperatures in the seventies with sunshine and blue sky. Top it off it's Friday!!!

Can you say "let's play hooky"?????

That's right today is go run, bike and go to the gym day.....

This is truly a Good Friday for me.

We have our TNT 20/12 tomorrow morning @ 7:30 AM and I have to drive 60 miles to get there...

It's going to be a hot one. Have a great weekend and remember 9 out 10 dentist prefer Trident..............

Thursday's Thoughts

We are having summer temps and it is absolutely fantastic! I am even tempted to run on my rest day, just to be out in the sunshine.

Pet peeve - people (men) that put gum in urinals............... Why?

I always find myself forgetting stretching, icing and strengthening whenever I start to run without any issues.

Hill repeats are becoming my newest bestest friend. It's easier on the body and I'm becoming stronger(I hope). I still get my knees in better conditioning and the hills let me know that.

We'll be starting the TNT track workout next week and I hope to have a good group.

Do any of us still play hooky from work to go to that baseball game or just take advantage of a beautiful sunny day?

Tomorrow is the high is going to be near 80º with more sunshine. I think I feel a cough coming on...................