He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

Last Sunday, the same day of the Silver Strand Half Marathon, my brother participated in the Big Sur Half Marathon. (That's my bro, pictured to the left at another run event.) He wanted me to join him at this event but it just wasn't in the budget to make another flight up there. Since he usually runs at a fast pace for his age category, they gave him a seeded number. He was surprised at this, but at the same time almost embarrassed. He hasn't put the effort into training, plus he was running with a sore calf. His goal is to at least place in the top 500 over all at any big run event. Here's his results:

Bib: 164
Name: Karl S
Gender: M
Age: 52
Hometown: Fremont CA
Place Overall: 541 out of 3596
Men: 430 out of 1564
M 50-54: 29 out of 175
Age Grade: 62.39% Place: 483
FINISH: 1:46:26 pace: 8:08
Turn: 1:00:50 pace: 7:51
Chip Time: 1:46:26
Gun Time: 1:46:36

I guess it's all relative, but he normally can run well under a 7:45 minute mile for a half marathon. This was a slow day for him. I'd give anything to have one of his slow days! He doesn't train as much as he should. His wife gets irritated with him for doing these long runs and not training properly. She kept telling him that he would get hurt. Well... It finally happened. My brother, the go machine who has never had a major running injury ever, the guy who has been running since he started high school a zillion years ago, has an injury. He blew out his calf trying to sprint to the end. He said he just about collapsed right at the finish line, but managed to stay vertical, hobbled around to collect his medal and post race nutrition, and went to find his brother-in-laws who also participated in the event.

After our respective races, he called me to chat about our runs and the experience of getting injured. Before we ended the conversation, he casually mentioned something about sitting in the hotel Jazuzzi for some relief. I responded with "Say what???" Then he repeated wanting to get into a hot Jacuzzi. I was kind of shocked that he didn't know to ice the injury to prevent swelling and further injury. Yikes. His response to that was "I've never been injured running before... I dunno." Then I reminded him of the book that HE REFERRED ME TO, "Marathon Training For Dummies," a book he actually owns, that has a whole big section on injuries... He said he never thought to read that chapter. *sigh*

I need to give him a call to find out how he's doing. I'm sure he's received a big dose of "I told you so" from his wife.

Peace

On The Runway

Bowflex UBW - Focused on lat tower exercises. Also fit in cable rows and bicep curls, and a set of reverse flys with dumbbells. I went as heavy as I could stand, which wasn't very heavy. Maaaan, do I feel wimpy...

I've finally signed up with the San Diego Track Club! I actually signed up through their Rockin' 'n' Runnin' Marathon Training Program. Not only does it include membership and training, it includes discounts to local stores and two race entries, amongst other things. My husband doesn't know it, but I've also signed him up, as well. He keeps saying that it doesn't matter that he's slow, but he's just as concerned about finishing time, even though he doesn't tell me. After just about 25 years of marriage, a person sort of *knows* these things.

After doing a little math, I discovered that I beat my previous HM time by 00:6:05 minutes. (Yeah, it takes me a while...)

The season premier of Bravo's Project Runway was finally on last night. It airs here at 10:00 PM. I'm normally go to bed around 11:00 pm, maybe midnight. I fell asleep during the show, darn it! I did see the start, and recall part of the middle, but I woke up in time to see who won, but fell asleep before I found out who was "aufed." I've heard that Simone was eliminated. I'm sure I'll be able to catch the show again, as Bravo will rebroadcasts their shows a zillion times.



PEACE

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing

Guess where I went today? Yep. Federal Court for jury duty. I sat around and waited for a long time and was glad I brought a book. I did go through the juror selection process, which took a few hours. I was not selected. Hooray! (Oops, I mean, darn!) I have to call back later today for further, prerecorded instructions. I'm on call the whole month of November. Yesterday I had planned out my workout for this morning, but I received the prerecorded info that I had to be at the court before 7:30 AM. The workout never happened. I did fit in about a half hour of walking around downtown at my lunch break, so I suppose that counts for something.

Happy Wednesday.


Peace

Beat Of Progress

Per the PDB Mega Challenge, we were to evaluate ourselves and grade our own progress or where we're at in this challenge. I had to go back and reread what I had originally posted in the sign up. I had more than one thing to work on.

The biggest issue I had was motivation. I was going through the motions but not mentally, spiritually, emotionally there. I also felt tired, sort of like I could care less, weak. I had run events that I was signed up for during the summer, and I did them, but I didn't find the satisfaction that I normally do. Workouts were the same, no spark, but I didn't quit. I even went to the doctor and had tests but that was inconclusive. He didn't seem to think it was depressions. I kind of think I hit a wall that lasted 3 months long.

That lull I felt all summer has diminished, and it's showing in my progress and performance. One of my goals was to improve my 5K time, which is slowly getting better, but in turn I have smashed my half marathon time by almost 6 minutes, which happened this past Sunday.
Grade A

My weight loss is also progressing. This morning I weighed 123, which was a surprise, because of all that pre and post half marathon carb loading. I'm not planning on owning that number until it stays there for a while. If that number sticks, that puts me at my goal for the last challenge, and I get to claim my prize of the new running garb I purchased months ago, that's still in the bag. It also puts me with in 2 pounds of my goal for THIS challenge. An added bonus is that I was able to fit into my Nike running skirt and wore it at the HM this weekend. (The skirt wasn't fitting at all this summer. It used to highlight a bad case of muffin top and muffin thighs, which are now gone.)

Grade B+ ~ 2 pounds to go.

Another item on my list was to join a running group. I'm going with the SDTC. I found the info for 2008 and sign-ups are soon, especially for the SDRNR Marathon 2008 training. I'm also signing up my husband. Even though he says he's just running in events to do something with me, I know he would like to be a little faster. He just needs to train.
Grade B (I found the info, I just need to wait for sign ups, so I don't get an A yet.)

My next hurdle to get over is the 8 day cruise we have planned next month. I'm going to try hard to eat and drink as clean as possible. It's so easy to go off track on a cruise, and it's no excuse for slacking. The key is to be as active as possible and stick with the healthier selections on the menu. I know, it's all easier said than done, but I can do it.

Back to working out with weights tomorrow.

Peace