DAY 1 stage race..22 miles

Hmmmm..maybe the GODS were trying to tell me something. I usually do not focus on the negative. Plus, I didn't have a "gut" intuition on not doing this race. It was basically, if I make it here, I do it. FIRST SIGN: I fell on my "fixie" Thursday night. Hard enough to cause a deep bruise on my right thigh (a little pain) with every step, some abrasions and a very sore neck. But I laughed this off as everyone falls sometimes..SECOND SIGN: I usually rent a car for my travels and booked one on-line. I only had a small window of time to pick one up Friday..and the rental car agency called me to tell me "they had no cars available"..maybe they would or would not? Well, 30 minutes before I had to decide on another car etc..they called and told me one came in..so all was good. I left Nashville on time..with a couple slices of pizza and some pasta from Pizza Perfect..had a fast and easy trip. Free room at my friends Jacklyn's place..but this a.m. woke up with a massive stomach ache (my body does not like food)..Even on the way to today's race..I really just didn't know if I could/would make the starting line..I was hurting so bad. Well, with 5 min. before the start I decide to give it a go..the first 5 miles looped back to the start..I told myself if I was still feeling bad, I'd bail. After the 5 miles and a 5 min pit stop in the porta-john(GI distress)..I started feeling better...then around mile 8ish took a wrong turn..a harder and a little longer route to the mile 10 aid station..No problem..happens a lot in trail races, although this was a first for me...finished the 22 miles a little down time wise from where I wanted to be but I believe I'll be able to make up some time tomorrow..an awesome way to start the weekend (actually I believe I started Thursday night)...I'm posting from STONE CUP coffee shop(can't beat that), I downed some good recovery fluids and will hydrate all day today...looking forward to tomorrow..18 miles on Raccoon Mtn.

Fixed Obsession

This is what I've been doing the last few days. A friend gave me this old steel frame bike. I turned it into a fixed gear using a few parts I had plus some new ones. Total outlay: less than $100

So now I have a nice fixed gear bike for my friends (guests) to ride when I go out on my fixie. Actually, I like it better than my ride so now I'm looking for parts for mine as to win more style points. The guest bike should fit anyone 5'-7" to 5-10" as the frame looks like a 55 or 56cm( I have not measured it) plus the seat post is long enough to put a taller person on it.

I have been running. Thought I'd just run longer this week but with less frequency as I still feel a little fatigued. Thought I'd be back physically by now but that isn't happening. So my next step is a Blood work up. Just to study my numbers..hct, iron levels and C-reactive protein along with some others.

Black Warrior 50K 2009 race report

A GREAT day for a RACE in the woods!

The Nashville group had an awesome outing as both Jamie and Wendy Dial took overall wins and I believe set both the men's and women's course records. Time of 3:53 and 4:30' rounding up or down. John Thorpe (my travel partner) ran the 25K and placed 3rd overall.

My intention was to go 4:40's (around 9min pace) but fell short once again as around mile 26 or so I started breaking down..I wanted to be out of the woods at 4:00 to 4:15hrs but didn't come off the trails until 4:30's with 2.5 miles or so to go. And again was passed by 4 runners with 2 miles to go. Randy and Kris Whorton being two of the four who passed me...for the 2nd year in a row too and in the same location! Hard to believe that!

I finished with a 5:08. Not to awful bad. Don't know how I placed overall but I'm sure way down the list. Oh well, on to the next 50k and my goal of one 50k per month for 2009.

Solid Week

Well, mostly just running, 7-8 miles a day until Saturday's famous Fairview throw down. A perfect day 15mile day with great training partners who kicked my butt on the 1.1 mile x 5-6 loop tempo. I believe if I go under 50 min on that course I'm in decent shape. Will just finish this week with long runs and maybe a trip to Black Warrior. Not to do the 50k but they have a 25k as well so might as well run with people. If we can work out the logistics I will go? John Thrope?

It was great to have Julie Eckerly finish her first marathon (Jacksonville, Fla)..Julie was a sometimes training partner here in Nashville and ran for Vanderbilt University. Her time of 3:38 I believe qualifies her for Boston..which was her goal..so CONGRATS to Julie!!!

Should Be!

This is the way it should be....Sunday Jamie Dial put together a great group of endurance athletes. Including his wife..WPD, Jeff Edmonds, Steve Taylor and Josh Beckem to name a few. Along with a great workout which I loved . Not only are these people great athletes but they are really good people and fun to be around. I had an awesome time and it's what training should and could be here in Nashville!

I'm sore, but don't know if it from moving furniture the last few days or from the workouts this weekend, I'm sure a combo of both. Anyway, I love feeling some soreness and looking forward to all my body prep moves today and stretching.

I did have enough time to go see the movie Atonement! We all left feeling a little sad as the movie had that effect on everyone in our group, but watching Keira Knightly made it worth it!