Update

We spent the weekend in Hot Springs, AR at the amusement park/water slide with the kids. It was very hot, but we all had a great time!

I did get to run both Saturday and Sunday in the "mountains" of Hot Springs, so I was even more ecstatic.

Saturday's run:


Sunday's run:


My mileage is half of what it should be, but I can't seem to get (and stay) motivated! My third attempt at a 50 miler is in less than three weeks and vacation starts in two days, so my mileage will probably remain mediocre, at best! Hopefully, I will have time for a few decent runs while in Hawaii!

Firecracker 5k

The 2007 St. Jude Firecracker 5k was my first race, which then led straight to my first 40 mile ultra, Bartlett Park. And so my ultra career began.



This years St. Jude Firecracker 5k was my lovely wife's first race and she did great! Her time by my watch (I ran bandit to pace her) was 34:30 and her chip time was 35:07. It was very hot and humid and, under those circumstances, I have to say that she kicked ass. Not the fastest by a long shot, but she finished with a smile on her face and a desire to run more races...so it was a success.


Next for me is the 2nd annual Bartlett Park Ultra on August 3rd. Last year the temps & humidity came close to the century mark and I am quite sure it won't be any different this time. It was my first ultra and I covered 40 miles in under 12 hours. Sure, some of you can walk 40 miles in that time...but I was proud to just finish it!



I have attempted two 50 milers this year and missed the last cut-off in both. Bartlett Park will be my third attempt at 50 miles and I will be damned if I don't make it!

Me Again...

The lack of updates is directly correlated to my lack of interest in blogging lately. I'll try to get better though.

My wife and I have been running together a lot lately and it's been a wonderful change of pace! Our usual distance is 7-8 miles in about 1 hour and 30 minutes. She has improved vastly in a short time and seems to actually enjoy being out there sweating next to me. Her current 5k time is 34:16 and she can maintain under a 5mph pace through 4.5 miles without stopping. I am extremely proud of her! I still haven't conned her into the woodline for a bit of trail running, but hope is not lost!

My running has increased in the past few weeks. Last week, I made it past the 60 mile mark with two long runs of 16 and 24 miles. I have been somewhat lazy this week with my running (only two runs = 10m) and have felt very tired. I was hoping to pass 200m for the month, but I am short about 26 miles with only 3 days left. My yearly mileage has past the 1,000 mile mark! Hopefully, I will stay healthy throughout the year and pass the 2k mark by Christmas!

June:


Weekly Distances
6/23/2008 — 6/29/2008: 10.2 Mi
6/16/2008 — 6/22/2008: 60.1 Mi
6/9/2008 — 6/15/2008: 47.4 Mi
6/2/2008 — 6/8/2008: 45.1 Mi
5/26/2008 — 6/1/2008: 31.9 Mi
5/19/2008 — 5/25/2008: 34.9 Mi

For the year (1016 Mi):
June: 174.1 Mi
May: 140.3 Mi
April: 150.0 Mi
March: 215.1 Mi
February: 134.7 Mi
January: 202.1 Mi

Update

Sorry for the lack of updates (to the few people who may actually read this blog!).

My running has been on a upswing this month (so far). Except for a few trail runs, I have been staying on the blacktop. I have run Bartlett Park so damn many times that I am beginning to really dread going there. Shelby Farms is great, but it's slightly out of the way for weekday runs. Shelby Forrest would be a welcome break, but it's a 30 minute drive to get there. So...the streets of Bartlett have been my mainstay this month for weekday runs. I have even run before work the past two days! It's a bitch to get up and make my old, tired body to move that early!

My lovely wife has been kicking ass on her running! I ran with her the last two afternoons (so damn hot outside!) for 7 miles and 7.66 miles, which to date, is her longest runs! I have yet to convince her to hit the trails, though. I am still working on that.

The weather is very hot and very humid. It's good for becoming heat acclimated for the upcoming summer...but, it's still a pain in the arse! Running on the treadmill is never much fun, but at least the gym has air conditioning (and a bathroom, and a water fountain, etc).

New Shoes

My new shoes finally arrived today! They are Adidas Adizero XT, a light-weight trail shoe. The initial run was on the streets because I didn't have them time to run the trails. The adizero's are very light, but still have enough support to feel great on the blacktop. I averaged 9min/mile for this run, so I am happy with my new shoes so far!