Training Log - Day 44

What a difference a day makes!

Time of Day - 12:30PM
Weather - overcast, high 40's
Route - St Vrain Greenway past 119th Street overpass
Distance - no idea
Pace - Slow
Duration - 62 minutes
Average HR - 153
Cross training - Core
iPod - Michael W. Smith
Comments - Legs felt strong. No tenderness in right knee. Good rhythm throughout the run. I am heading to Houston this evening and will be back Thursday afternoon. Joe Scardino has set it up for us to workout at a Houston club during the week. Treadmill here I come!

Run, Willie, Run!

Training Log - Day 43

My guys got it done today with a 23-8 win. Offensive spacing was great and good job running plays which led to many layups.

Ran 62 minutes on E Boulder Trail and it kicked my butt! If it wasn't the hills it was the wind. Good news is...I survived.

Time of Day - 230PM
Weather - mid 50's, partly cloudy; wind screaming out of the west
Route - E Boulder Trail to creek
Distance - no idea
Pace - slow
Duration - 62 minutes
Average HR - 158 (with the hills and wind was impossible to run at endurance target)
Cross training - no...too tired
iPod - Kutless
Comments - Left calf tight and right knee continues to bother me. I ran with a sleeve on my knee and will ice again tonight. If I can just get through this knee soreness I feel like I'll be on the other side of these nagging injuries. Tough run but I was mentally focused and got through.

Run, Willie, Run!

Training Log - Day 42

Back home after 2 day trip...a difficult run!

Time of Day - 5PM
Weather - cloudy, low 40's
Route - St Vrain Greenway to big tree
Distance - not sure
Pace - slow
Duration - 50:29
Average HR - 149
Cross training - no
iPod - Kutless
Comments - Entire left leg was tight - from calf to hamstring to gluteus. Right knee remains tender (just below knee). Overall a crappy run as my body hurt and my mind was elsewhere. I trudged through this one.

Run, Willie, Run!

Training Log - Day 41

In Bentonville, AR this morning. Up and on treadmill around 6:15am - 45 minutes at slow pace. 100 crunches. Good way to start the day. Felt good.

Run, Willie, Run!

Training Log - Day 40

Time of Day - 5 PM
Weather - Sunny; mid 40's
Route - E Boulder Trail
Distance - no idea
Pace - slow
Duration - 45:54
Average HR - 154
Cross training - nothing today
iPod - Carrie Underwood
Comments - Other than my right knee being tender I'm feeling great. Will ice the knee again tonight. Tomorrow is a rest day as I'm traveling to Tulsa on business.

Run, Willie, Run!

Training Log - Day 39

Chad recommended a great trail as I move workouts to more rolling terrain. The portion of E Boulder Trail I ran today was just that - rolling; some gravel; mainly dirt pack. One section was washboard trail along a fence - reminded me of some terrain back at The Basic School in Quantico, VA. Max HR is officially 179 which changes my training zones.

Time of Day - 1:30 PM
Weather - mid 40's, sunny; a wicked, blustery wind out of the west
Route - E Boulder Trail (past the water tower and along the washboard)
Distance - no idea
Pace - slow...except when sprinting 2 major uphills to determine max HR
Duration - 44:57
Average HR - 161
Cross training - Core 10 minutes
iPod - mix of 80's tunes
Comments - Shoulder was not even slightly stiff. Legs strong; sucking wind a little bit. Right knee is not completely comfortable. It is still a little tender at times...will ice this evening as preventative measure. Right now, my mind is properly focused on training and I'm excited about the process.

Run, Willie, Run!

Training Log - Day 38

My 5-6th grade basketball team won 27-10 this morning. The kids played agressive D and put together some good offense.

It feels great to be out on the road again. Tomorrow I plan to determine my Max HR so I can ensure my HR targets are correct. As I look to go on longer weeekend runs, I will begin to research and experiment with hydration carriers and electrolyte options. I will begin with TranRockies to see what electrolyte drinks and energy supplements they plan to offer at aid stations.

Time of Day - 12:30 pm
Weather - Sunny, blue sky; 60 degrees
Route - St Vrain Greenway to big tree
Distance - not sure
Pace - slow
Duration - 47:35
Average HR - 154
Cross training - Core 10 minutes
iPod - Sugarland (can't get enough of Jennifer Nettles)
Comments - Shoulder is a little stiff but no problem running. Legs felt strong, right knee a little sore.

Run, Willie, Run!

T-182 Days

Yesterday was a bit of an eye opener for me. I spent the day with my attorney and the consensus is that I'm losing weight faster than I thought. Although I feel like I'm eating all the time, I've heard this several times now. I've got to work on my calorie intake to make sure that I'm getting what I need. This has never been an issue before, but it seems to be now, so I'll have to increase my protein intake for one thing.

Time of Day - 8:25 AM
Weather - Partly cloudy, 59°, windy
Route - Stonebridge Ranch: Lake Forest to McKinney Ranch to Ridge to Virginia to Lake Forest
Distance - 8 or 9 miles, not sure
Pace - Medium
Duration - 1:21:40
Average HR - Unknown
Cross training - Later tonight, core work
iPod - Maroon 5, various. Not the greatest choice for an intense workout
Comments - I had the normal aches and pains and was a little stiff as I got started fairly quickly after waking up. Generally felt pretty good. At the 68 minute mark I felt a wave of strength and I was fast to the finish. I wanted to extend my time on the road over the weekend and I successfully accomplished that.  Tomorrow I'll need to do it again.

T-183 Days

I'm taking a day of rest after at least 6 days of strong runs. Rest and recovery are important for success too. I plan to hit it hard this weekend.

Shoulder Update

Diagnosis is an overstretched, possibly frayed (but not torn) subscapularis which is one of the four muscles collectively call the rotator cuff. Due to the fact that I have some decent strength in the shoulder PT is not recommended for now. The regiment will be ibuprofen 3x per day for inflamation and icing in the evening. I'm to take it easy with the pushups and not attempt overhead motions with this arm. Reevaluate in two weeks. As long as my shoulder allows, I'm good to run! I'm feeling much, much better and plan to hit the road on Saturday. Considering how I felt Monday night this is amazing news.

Run, Willie, Run!

T-184 Days

I received good news from Willie today when I learned that his doctor diagnosed him with nothing major wrong on his shoulder. He was afraid that he'd torn a rotator cuff and would need surgery but that appears not to be the case. On my side, I feel good that I finished another hour+ run.

Time of Day - 11:39 AM
Weather - Cloudy, 69°, huge winds, really made the back a challenge
Route - Hwy 37 out and back, a few hills
Distance - 7 miles (per car & 1.79 miles per my Nike+.  Yeah, right.)
Pace - Medium
Duration - 65 min
Average HR - Unknown
Cross training - Later tonight, core work
iPod - Linkin Park. "Minutes to Midnight"; never disappoints: aggressive, melodic, angry. Nice.
Comments - I started out tired today after a restless night. The course felt really good going out, partly due to the wind at my back. As a result, I probably went out too hard. Coming back in the wind was a major obstacle, but I dug deep and got it done. I felt really good at the finish and I'm looking forward to a rest day tomorrow.  I'll be with lawyers all day so I'm rearranging my schedule a bit.

T-185 Days

This weeks goal is to get in runs of an hour a day with longer runs on the weekend.  So far so good.

Time of Day - 12 Noon
Weather - Cloudy, 62°, strong and steady headwind, light mist on the way back
Route - Hwy 37 out and back, a few hills
Distance - 7 miles
Pace - Medium
Duration - 63 min
Average HR - Unknown
Cross training - Later tonight, core work
iPod -Velvet Revolver, "Contraband" & "Libertad", particularly enjoyed "Fall to Pieces" & "Gravedancer"
Comments - My lungs feel strong while hydration and nutrition seem good as I've not gotten cotton mouth or bonked. I feel like I'm getting stronger as I train, but my legs still have the same occasional aches and pains. Nothing a little heat can't cure or at least temporarily ease. Starting to think about having to get another pair of Asics before too long.

Our First Press - Part 2

Our little story seems to be getting picked up more and more, but it's in the financial section most of the time.  I'm not sure what the deal is there unless someone is trying to raise some sponsorships for us. Here's another example of what I mean:

http://markets.emoneydaily.com/emoneydaily/news/read?GUID=17182941

Shoulder Update

A miserable night as I couldn't get relief from the shoulder ache. Stayed home today and will see about tomorrow. No running this week unless I get some serious relief. It's tough to be sidelined for a non-running injury...pray it is short term.

T-186 Days

I'm continuing to focus on time on the road at a reasonable pace, not distance. So far this technique has been useful as I've been able to increase my time (and distance) as a result. My Gatorade G 01 trial also continues. So far, so good. I'm looking at a few other nutritional items as well. My favorite training aide remains pasta!

Time of Day - 11:57 AM
Weather - Cloudy, 64°, steady 14 mph wind from the south in my face the entire way back
Route - Hwy 37 out and back, a few hills
Distance - 7 miles
Pace - Medium
Duration - 64 min
Average HR -Unknown
Cross training - Later tonight, core work
iPod - Buckcherry, mix of all their stuff, primarily "Buckcherry", "Time Bomb" & "All Night Long"
Comments - The runs are getting longer and more consistent. My lungs feel pretty good but I do have a few aches and pains, mainly my left calf and right knee. There's nothing major going on to slow me down, so I'll press on. I'm hopeful that Willie won't be sidelined again. We both had to deal with that once already.

Our First Press

Willie and I were recently interviewed for a short piece about our run and blog.  It's been picked up by a number of online sources and I've been told that many more will follow.  Pass the word!

A reprint from CBS is below.

320 Days: A Fitness Challenge in the High Rockies

Monday February 14, 2011 - 11:23 AM EST

Online Press release News Distribution - WiredPRNews.com

Share:

News Source: WiredPRNews.com
McKinney, TX (WiredPRNews.com) It began as a challenge between two former college roommates and will end in an event in the Rocky Mountains that tests both endurance and will. William Skinner of Longmont, CO contacted his former Baylor University roommate Brian Moon of McKinney, TX in October with a proposal. Little did Mr. Moon know what he was agreeing to when he enthusiastically responded that he was ready to compete.

Mr. Skinner and Mr. Moon are participating in the 2011 Gore-Tex® TransRockies Run. 200 teams of two will take on the Colorado Rockies for an epic six day running experience as they cover 120 miles in a point-to-point format run. The course includes a mix of singletrack and forest road stages and reaches altitudes of over 12,500 feet.

“Brian and I have always been competitive and considered ourselves athletic, but we’ve never done anything like this before. It’s definitely going to be a tough, even a little scary”, says Mr. Skinner.

Seeing this as an epic adventure, Mr. Moon immediately launched a blog called 320 Days (http://300twentydays.blogspot.com/) to chronicle the 320 days from when Mr. Skinner issued his challenge until the start of the TransRockies Race. It will provide a detailed window into their experiences as they attempt to transform themselves physically and mentally into elite endurance athletes. As Mr. Moon puts it “We’re just normal mid-40’s guys with an abnormal challenge. This will be an adventure of a lifetime and we think it’ll be fun to follow our ups and downs along the way. ”

Contact:
Brian Moon
briansrunblog@gmail.com
http://300twentydays.blogspot.com/

http://finance.bnet.com/bnet/news/read?GUID=17182941

http://www.einpresswire.com/article/317768-320-days-a-fitness-challenge-in-the-high-rockies

http://www.einpresswire.com/article/317768-320-days-a-fitness-challenge-in-the-high-rockies

http://health.einnews.com/news/colorado-mental-health

http://markets.financialcontent.com/mi.charlotte/news/read?GUID=17182941

Shoulder Update

Shoulder is very, very sore...caused me to sleep poorly last night and ached most of today. Doctor appointment scheduled for Thursday. I'm hoping its a minor issue but, right now, doesn't feel like it. I'm not a happy camper!

T-187 Days

It's Monday so that means a nice run over the lunch hour.  I leave early and get home late so unless I want to run in the dark, this is my only real option.

Time of Day - 11:50 AM
Weather - Clear blue sky, 60°, 5 mph wind from the south
Route - Hwy 37 out and back, a few hills
Distance - 6.5 miles
Pace - Medium
Duration - 60 min
Average HR -Unknown
Cross training - Later
iPod - Arctic Monkeys, "Favorite Worst Nightmare"; Who doesn't love a monkey? Particulary a BA one.
Comments - My calves felt heavy and tight.  I wore way too many cloths. Even technical fabrics get hot if you have on an unnecessary layer. This was not fun most of the time while engaged, but it did feel good upon finishing. I'm glad I stayed with it but I want to be careful after what Willie went through.

Also, I'm going to play around with some Gatorade G Series G 01 Prime as a pre-exercise drink.  After having done so enough to give it a fair look, I'll report back on my thoughts. Hopefully it will provide a boost.

Hair Challenge Update

Back in late January Willie and I agreed not to cut our hair until after the TransRockies Run. That gives us another 6 months minimum of growth. It's only been a few weeks, but it had been a few weeks before then since my last hair cut. With that in mind, here's the current status, even though I've got a baseball cap on. 

T-188 Days

Another beautiful day in the neighborhood. Sorry about the shoulder Willie.  Toughen up marine!

Time of Day - 4 PM
Weather - Clear blue sky, 62°, strong, steady wind
Route - Stonebridge Fitness Circuit
Distance - No clue
Pace - Fartlek
Duration - 47 min
Average HR -Unknown
Cross training - Later
iPod - Anberlin, various
Comments - Went for a form of training I haven't done since college: fartlek. Fartlek has nothing to do with beans or jet propulsion, but is Swedish for "speed play". It's a training technique that involves varying intensity by alternating between slow and fast intervals, based either on distance or time. Fartlek sessions are usually unstructured so that the intervals can vary as the participant desires.  Fartlek puts stress over the aerobic and anaerobic systems so its a great way to mix things up.  My old coach Ted Hoffman taught me about this years ago.  I'd love to track him down. He was an Olympic alternate for Montreal and LA and a great guy.

The heaviness in my legs from yesterday was gone today. Maybe I just needed to get moving again.

You can learn more about fartlek here: http://runners-resource.com/fartlek/

Training Log - Day 37

I started my run with the intent of staying at endurance target but couldn't do it. It was so nice outside and I was feeling so good I decided to push. Legs and wind were great!

Time of Day - 11am
Weather - sunny and upper 50's; strong, steady wind out of west
Route - St Vrain Greenway to big tree
Distance - still not sure
Pace - Fast
Duration - 39:51
Average HR -165
Cross training - Core 10 minutes
iPod - 105.3
Comments - Really felt good to run hard today. I will slow it down again tomorrow. Right knee not sore. Right shoulder, however, was tight. I managed to injure my upper right arm about 6 weeks ago simply by moving my briefcase from backseat of car to the front seat. I know, it sounds crazy. Anyway, it has been sore and I seem to have injured it more while coaching basketball as soreness has moved into my shoulder. Plan to see doctor as soon as I can get an appointment. If it's not one thing it's another.

Run, Willie, Run!

T-188 Days - BMI

Back in October we took a measure of our BMI. As stated then, body mass index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women. You simply enter your weight and height using standard measures into an appropriate app or formula and out pops the result. 

The BMI score means the following:

	BMI
Underweight	Below 18.5
Normal	18.5–24.9
Overweight	25.0–29.9
Obesity	30.0 and Above

My BMI in October was a healthy 22.1. http://300twentydays.blogspot.com/2010/10/t-314-days-bmi.html Several months later, using the same app, I calculated a score of 21.9. With consistent training like we've got going now, the score should continue to indicate greater degrees of leanness.

Learn more here http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/

T-189 Days

Texas weather has returned! It's warm and sunny and the snow is gone. It's about time!

Time of Day - 4:15 PM
Weather - Beautiful & 62°, light wind out of the south
Route - Stonebridge Fitness Circuit
Distance - About 5.5 or 6 miles
Pace - Slow
Duration - 52 minutes
Average HR - Unknown
Cross training - Zip
iPod - Chevelle. I needed something a little aggressive today
Comments - My legs felt tight, particularly just above each knee and in my lower left calf. I think maybe the 1/2 marathon took a little more out of me than I thought and I decided not to push the pace much. My lungs were great and overall I felt more loose and at ease as I ran more. Still it's progress. 

We're staying consistent and making gains every day.  Or at least we hope so.

Training Log - Day 36

Austin's basketball team lost by 2 in a hard fought game this morning. The kids really worked hard...proud of their effort/hustle.

Time of Day - 2PM
Weather - sunny, mid 50's; steady wind out of west
Route - St Vrain Greenway to big tree
Distance - not sure
Pace - slow
Duration - 48:10
Average HR - 150
Cross training - Core 10 minutes
iPod - Sugarland
Comments - Felt like I could have run forever. Still have to focus on slowing it down to keep close to target heart rate. Right knee continues to be a little sore.

Run, Willie, Run!

Training Log - Day 35

Hit the road early today as I had basketball practice this evening. Sun was shining and snow beginning to melt...nice.

Time of Day - 4pm
Weather - sunny; mid 30's
Route - St Vrain Greenway to big tree
Distance - don't know
Pace - slow
Duration 48 minutes
Average HR - 151
Cross training - none
iPod - 105.3 Classic Rock
Comments - In an attempt to run close to my targeted endurance training zone I have really slowed my pace...seems too slow at times. Felt good today except right knee still a little stiff.

Run, Willie, Run!

Gatorade G Series

I've been messing around with some nutritional supplements, mainly in the form of Clif Bars and Gatorade products.  Running certainly makes you hungry.

Gatorade recently introduced the G Series, a three product set designed to fuel your body before, during and after a workout.  I thought I'd give G 02 Perform and G 03 Recover a try.

I took a bottle of G 02 with me for my run yesterday. It's basically the original Gatorade that I've used for years.  Featuring sodium, potassium and carbs, it's great at maintaining proper hydration and cramp prevention. G 02 tastes great too.  Featuring 14g of carbs per serving, G 02 gives you plenty of what you need to keep you going. I remain a fan.

G 03 is another matter altogether. Gatorade bills 03 as the "first protein and carbohydrate post-exercise recovery drink formulated to quench your thirst while providing hydration and muscle-recovery benefits". It contains 7g of carbs and 8g of protein per serving.  Both products are fat free.

I drank and entire bottle of G 02 during my run and was never thirsty.  There was no cramping either, so I feel that this is an effective product.  Afterwards I hit the G 03.  While G 03 undoubtedly has the proper ingredient mix to fulfill its promise of an easier recovery, it misses the mark on taste.  Maybe its an acquired taste, but I found it less than appealing.  A quick chug and it was down, but I'd prefer a product that provided the stated recovery benefits without the aftertaste.  I guess we all have to suffer for our art.

Learn more here: http://www.gatorade.com/default.aspx#product?s=gatorade-g

T-190

After yesterdays 1/2 marathon, today is a well deserved rest day. I awoke this morning feeling fresh and motivated. I was expecting a bit of soreness but I feel fine. Just the normal morning stiffness!

Training Log - Day 34

320 Days prior to the start of the 2011 Gore-Tex Tran Rockies run Brian and I committed to each other that we would do this run. Since then, we have committed ourselves mentally (no pun intended) and physically to training for this event. Today, we committed ourselves financially. Team 320 is now an official entrant for the Trans Rockies run! YES!!!!

Time of Day - 5pm
Weather - cold and cloudy; mid 20's
Route - St Vrain Greenway to big tree
Distance - no idea
Pace - slow
Duration - 48 minutes
Average HR - 152
Cross training - Core 10 minutes
iPod - Earth, Wind, and Fire
Comments - Legs feeling strong...right knee a little sore. Running on snow packed greenway is quickly getting old. Looking forward to a warm up this weekend.

Run, Willie, Run!

T-191 Days

There's still some patchy snow and ice out and last night we got down to 12 degrees. It's plenty cold still. The weather afforded me the opportunity to work from home and get some training in at the YMCA as well. Today was a true training milestone, as is indicated in the comments below. I feel great and I'm happy with my conditioning level at this stage of my training. Still a long way to go.

Time of Day - 10:30 AM
Weather - Mid teens out, nice and warm in
Route - Treadmill at the Y
Pace - 9:50 min/mile; fairly easy
Heart Rate - 134 about 5 miles in, 150 at 9 miles in, 163 following a pretty hard quarter mile kick to finish
Time - 2:08:00 (hours)
Distance - 13.25 miles, slightly in excess of a half-marathon (Hey Brad, it's got to be the socks!)
iPod - Rolling Stones, "Some Girls" & Brown Sugar; Taking Back Sunday, "New Again"; perhaps an unusual mix but it works for me
Comments - I ran for an hour yesterday and felt strong and fresh at the finish. Today I wanted to do at least as much clock time. As I got into it, I decided to keep on going, just to gauge my fitness.  Before too long, I decided to go for a half marathon distance (13.1 miles), knowing that this would take several hours at the reasonable pace I was working. My body felt good through the run. After an hour and a half, my left upper traps got a little tight, but no big deal. I made it fine, and felt like I could have kept on going for a while. My legs gave me no trouble and my problems with my right hip flexor seem to be history.

I'm actually pretty proud of what I did today.  I haven't really been training consistently for very long and this provides a measure of confidence that I'm on track and I've still got some ability.  My legs are a little tight after sitting for a while now, but no major issues. I think I'll take tomorrow as a rest day and get back after it Saturday.  Overall, I'm slow but pleased. 

Training Log - Day 33

Brian, I reward myself with a Starbucks every morning!

Time of Day - 5pm
Weather - cold, low 30's; sunny
Route - St Vrain Greenway to big tree
Distance - no idea
Pace - slow
Duration - 48:23
Average HR - 149
Cross training - Core 10 minutes
iPod - Sugarland
Comments - Greenway was snow packed with a few slick spots. Had to run at a slower pace which actually put me closer to my target heart rate. Good rhythm; legs feeling stronger...consistent stretching is really beginning to pay off.

Run, Willie, Run!

T-192 Days

It's another ice day in Dallas, so I'm going to venture out to the local YMCA.  Fortunately it's only about a mile away, so I'll happily slip and slide my way there.  I can't take random days off just for the weather any more. Still, this cold really doesn't agree with me as I get cold way too easy.

Time of Day - 11 AM
Weather - Mid teens with a 40 MPH north wind; glad I'm inside
Route - Treadmill at the Y
Pace - 10 min/mile; fairly easy
Heart Rate - Low 150's max
Time - 60 minutes; ran out of time as I have a lot to accomplish today
Distance - 6 miles
iPod - Raconteurs; a little Jack White suits me fine on a cold day
Comments - I'm happy to have a way to maintain my exercise in the bad weather. One thing I don't like about the treadmills is that the Heart Rate bar in front can "encourage" bad form. The height of it can force your hands too high if you run too close to it. If you're too far away, you'll fall off the back.  At least that would be funny to see. I got a little Starbucks reward when I finished.

T-193 Days

What  a difference a day makes.  Yesterday I was just plain tired.  Today I felt like I could have run for hours.  Mood, weather, food? Who knows.  Sometimes you just feel like a BA.

Time of Day - 12 Noon
Weather - 44 degrees with a 14 MPH wind
Route - Out and back
Pace - Moderate
Heart Rate - Unknown
Time -52 minutes
Distance - About 5.5 miles
iPod - Warren G, "Regulate" & various Dr. Dre.  Grooves so funky they come with a Speed Stick.
Comments - I packed on an extra layer and the winds weren't as bad today.  On days like this I really wish I had more time because I felt like I could have just gone on and on. My endurance is improving and I'm gaining strength. Yesterdays struggle seems a distant memory.  Still, seeing pictures of people from last years TRR using ski poles to fight the inclines and slopes of the Rockies is a little scary, but that's why it's something to work for.

TransRockies Run

An image from the 2010 event.  Just to put things in perspective...

Training Log - Day 32

Got up at 3am CST to catch my flight back to Denver. Arrived on time at 7:30am, checked in at home and work, and then hit the road.

Time of Day - 3PM
Weather - sunny; low 30's; snow on the ground
Route - St Vrain Greenway to big tree
Distance - don't know and don't care
Pace - slow
Duration - 46:46
Average HR - 156
Cross training - core 10 minutes
iPod - Classic Rock ballads
Comments - Snow coming tonight so getting out today. Legs feeling really good. Feel like I'm getting back to where I was before injury.

Run, Willie, Run!

Superbowl Training

Back in Colorado after an amazing Superbowl weekend! A great game at an incredible venue; a Saturday night concert with an amazing tailgate party...but, more importantly, time spent with good friends! Arrived in ice stricken Dallas on Thursday Feb 3rd where Brad and I slowly motored our way to see my brother in Melissa, TX. Great to catch-up with James and tour his new property where he plans to build.

Friday Feb 4 - Training Day 29

Additional snow in Dallas overnight caused us to cancel plans to visit with an old friend, Kenny Jenks. Miserable outside but spent time on the treadmill at the Doubletree - 52 minutes at slow pace; 10 minutes of core. Spent the afternoon at the NFL Experience - a huge fair like atmosphere with many interactive exhibits, the NFL Network live, an autograph area and an NFL shop where I made most of my Superbowl purchases.

Saturday Feb 5 - Training Day 30

Awoke to a beautiful, sunny day. 50 minutes on treadmill at slow pace; 10 minutes of core. Unfortunately, Brian and I were unable to run together due to ice on the ground but met later in the day for lunch at Torchy's Tacos. Brad, Brian, and I tried tacos like Green Chili Pork; Fried Avocado; Trailer Park; Mr. Pink; Crossroads; Dirty Sanchez; and Ranch Hand. We had a great time catching-up...and I recommend Torchy's! Good choice, Brian.






Spent the evening at Saturday Night Superbowl Party at Verizon Theatre where we saw Faith Hill and The Pretenders. Besides the entertainers, a great attraction was the Superbowl Trophy on display surrounded by all 44 Superbowl rings.





Sunday Feb 6 - Training Day 31


Awoke ready for some football...game day! But first, some training! Hit the treadmill again for 42 minutes at a slow pace. Brad and I took the NFL bus to Cowboys Stadium and attended an incredible tailgate party. Food and drinks beyond measure with live music from Maroon 5. It was simply fantastic. And, of course, the game was another exciting Superbowl. Below was the view from our seats.

Man Runs 365 Marathons in 365 Days

I saw this and had to post it.  If this is possible, we should be able to do our measly 4 full and 2 half marathons in 6 days, right??  I'm in awe.

Man Runs 365 Marathons in 365 Days

by Eyder Peralta

 

In total, Stefaan Engels of Belgium covered 9,569 miles.

On Saturday, he completed the Barcelona Marathon and finished a feat in which he ran 365 marathons over the course of the year. That's 26.2 miles of running a day for the 365 days. The BBC reports:

"I don't regard my marathon year as torture. It is more like a regular job," the 49-year-old said.
He averaged about four hours to complete a marathon. He said his best time was 2 hours and 56 minutes.

Engels told the AP that he ran despite his doctor's insistence that he shouldn't run because he had asthma:

But he decided to overcome his ailment and ran his first marathon at 25. He said his latest feat is the result of 35 years of exercise.
"There were a lot of moments when I thought 'Today, I won't finish,'" he said. "One of the hardest moments was in Mexico City after a long flight, the altitude and I had gotten sick from eating something, and I thought 'What am I doing here?'"

According to CNN and the AP, which quote the Guinness Book of World Records, Engels smashed the previous record held by Akinori Kusuda who ran 52 consecutive races in 2009.

We did, however, find one more man who claims to have completed this feat. According to reports in the Basque and Dutch press, Richard Bottram ran 365 marathons back in 2006-2007. He said he did it to raise awareness about cancer after he lost his wife to the disease.

Engels told the AP that he wanted inspire people, saying "If I could run a marathon a day for an entire year, that anyone could run or bike a little each day or do something about their weight problem."

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2011/02/07/133569285/man-runs-365-marathons-in-365-days

T-194 Days

The ice and snow are gone so it's time to get back on the road.  It's still cold, but much warmer than it's been lately.  It was great seeing old friends over the weekend and I'm looking forward to getting together again.

Time of Day - 12 Noon
Weather - 43 degrees with a gusty 27 MPH north wind
Route - Bogata loop
Pace - Moderate
Heart Rate - Unknown
Time -25 minutes
Distance - Unknown
iPod - SportsRadio 1310 post-Superbowl talk
Comments - With the wind gusting, it was really cold out.  I didn't have the proper weather gear to keep myself warm, so I cut my run short and only went around once.  I'll have to prepare better tomorrow.

Super Bowl Sunday

Willie made the trip to Dallas, but unfortunately the weather kept us from running together. It wasn't enough to keep us from some tasty green chile taco's however.  We had to fuel up!  We were lucky to have our buddy Brad from high school enjoy the festivities with us as well.

Now... enjoy the game!  This is going to be a lot of fun.  I hope I didn't get any habanero sauce on the ticket!

 

T-197 Days

Today in Dallas we have about 8 inches of soft powder on top of our ice so getting out and about in the car is pretty much out of the question. It's really cold and there are piercing winds. As the temperature isn't scheduled to get above freezing until late Saturday, the run Willie and I scheduled is in serious doubt.  Sunday is unlikely as that involves an early trip to the DeathStar for the Superbowl.

I spent about 30 minutes or so on the elliptical machine upstairs as I watched the snow fall outside. It was beautiful, but not much of a workout. I'm pretty disappointed as I wanted to get more done aerobically, but at least it's beautiful out there. Willie, I hope you have better luck today downtown!

T-198 Days

It's another ice covered day in the low teens to single digit temperatures in Dallas.  Go figure.  Rather than take another day off from aerobic exercise, I decided to venture out to the YMCA and get some running in.  Years back I was something of a gym rat here but I did all my aerobic exercise on my bike.  I had little experience on the treadmills.  Let the adventure begin!

Time of Day - 11:45 AM
Weather - 11 degrees outside, warm and balmy inside
Route - Treadmill
Pace - 10 min. mile pace, then 9:30, then 8:30 mile pace to finish
Heart Rate - Around 154 BPM average
Time -5 minute warm up run, 60 minutes run
Distance - 7 miles
Cross training - Nothing yet
iPod - SportsRadio 1310 Superbowl talk
Comments - I worked up a good sweat, but it was relatively comfortable.  There was no incline involved and it was great to keep a steady pace, within the changes I programmed into the machine.  I'll be back tomorrow for more of the same.

Dallas Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon

Willie, I couldn't agree more with you on the need to focus on several events leading up to the Transrockies Run in August. My first goal is the Dallas Rock 'n' Roll 1/2 Marathon. It features bands at every mile marker and a big name concert at the finish.

The Dallas event's scheduled for March 27, 2011 and should be a lot of fun. That's about 9 weeks from now so the distance should be no problem at all and the weather should be great. I'm looking forward to it, but I'll need to scout out some other races too. 

You can register for the race here: http://dallas.competitor.com/

Training

Yesterday was a rest day for me and today our evening temp is -2 below. No running this evening but able to accomplish a core workout (10 minutes). I also plan to start back with pushups with a goal of 100 per day (5 days week) for the first month.

Brian, I can relate to the shoe issue. My initial shoe purchase was focused more on comfort in the store and I ended up getting a shoe designed for overpronators. I believe I should have picked up a more neutral shoe and will do so after a few more miles in these.

If temp is up tomorrow, I will get on the road. This week will more than likely include some treadmill runs (as I am traveling) and, of course, will plan on running with Brian on Saturday. I hear the weekend should be pretty nice.

As part of my training, I will focus on a couple of events leading up to the Trans Rockies. These will provide a gauge of my progress, as well as, offer more short term challenges. Currently, I have The Leadville Trail Marathon (July 2nd) on the calendar and will search for a shorter event or two prior to Leadville. Brian, we should talk about you running an event here in Colorado with me. This would be helpful in understanding the altitude and elevation challenges.

Run, Willie, Run!

T-200 Days

After a weekend in the 70's, I woke up to ice and sub-zero wind chill's this morning in Dallas.  Tonight we may get into single digits on the thermometer and it's not supposed to get above freezing until maybe Friday.  So much for running outside.  I'll do some core and upper body work today and worry about the aerobic exercise when I can.

As I posted yesterday, the Asics GEL-Kayano 17 LE's I was interested in turned out to be the wrong shoe for my feet.  They are engineered to correct for over-pronatation and I require a more neutral shoe. To provide a little more context to this, Runners World has a great explanation that I'm adding below.

Pronation

From Runner's World Wiki

The body naturally dissipates shock by rolling the foot inward, or pronating, just after impact. But too much (or too little) pronation can cause injuries. While you can't change how much you pronate, you can buy shoes optimized for your biomechanics. Three ways to do this:

• Identify your arch type by taking the "wet test."
• Study old shoes to see how the tread has worn down.
• Ask your specialty running shop to analyze your gait.

Underpronation

When a foot underpronates, or supinates, the foot does not roll inward enough after the outside of the heel lands. Consequently, impact forces are concentrated on the outer part of the foot. This causes more stress on the lower leg. High arches and wear along the outside edge of the shoe (image at right) are classic characteristics of an underpronator.

Normal Pronation

For most runners, the outside of the heel lands first then the rest of the foot rolls inward about 15 degrees to come into contact with the ground. This motion distributes the impact forces evenly and aligns the foot to efficiently push (or toe) off. This degree of pronation is most often associated with a normal arch and tread wear (right) on the heel and ball of the shoe.

Overpronation

Here, the foot rolls inward more than the ideal 15 degrees. As a result, the foot and ankle have problems stabilizing the body, and the impact isn't efficiently absorbed. At the end of the gait cycle, the big toe must do most of the work to push off the ground. If your shoes are worn in the heel and the inside edge (right) and you have flat arches, you're probably an overpronator.

I found the article above helpful.  Thanks Runner's World! Learn more here: http://wiki.runnersworld.com/index.php/Pronate