Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in jcdenton2000's LiveJournal:

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Sunday, July 1st, 2007
8:52 pm	I'm a triathlete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, yesterday morning I cut my teeth on my first triathlon ever. It was a phenominal experience and I can't wait for my next one (August 18). The tri consisted of a 250 yard swim (it was originally supposed to be a half mile, but they cut it way back), a 15 mile bike, and a 5k run (3.1 miles). I finished in 1:50.00 (one hour, 50 minutes), which is OK (I plan to go close to 1:30.00 on my next tri). I had some problems with my calves cramping up on the run, which is a direct result of not properly training for running right after cycling. Oh yeah, the weather was teh suxx0r, too. It was 65*F and pouring down rain the entire time. BLECK!!! I admit it: I do not like to ride in the rain at 30 mph. At all. EVER. I don't mind running in the rain, b/c it's peaceful. Riding in the rain is not. Oh well, it is what it is. Anyway, I hope this finds everyone doing well. Sorry I'm not on here as often I used to be. Trying to balance my training time + family time is tough! Well, that's all for now. See ya'll later! Happy Reading and Happy Tri-ing! Current Mood: accomplished Current Music: lawn mowers...at 9:00 pm? (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Friday, May 25th, 2007
6:53 am	where did the time go? Oy, things have been crazy busy around here lately! Thank you to my friend, Jason (martheev), for the reminder that I haven't posted here in eons! It's not a lack of desire, I promise! Let's see what's new... First, in the world of triathlons, I got a *new* bike. I use the term NEW very loosely as the bike is something like 9 years old, but it is super light (aluminum frame with 1/2 inch wide tires) and way faster than my mountain bike. I really enjoy riding it and I'm almost up to 100 miles for the month of May alone! My swimming is coming along great, too, and I swam my farthest distance last night - 2000 yards non-stop. 2000 yards is roughly the distance of the swim portion of a Half-Ironman triathlon (I plan to do one next fall). My running is still weak, but it's coming along. I was finally cleared this week to begin increasing my volume per week, and I will most certainly obey the 10% rule this time! My wife and I are participating in the Hospital Hill run next Saturday. She will be doing the 5k I ran last year, and I will be running the 10k this year. My first tri will most likely be June 30 with another one on August 18. Ok, enough of that. :P Work has been much of the same, although I did have an interview 2 weeks ago that I'm eagerly waiting to hear about. The position I applied and interviewed for would be a fantastic promotion and a great raise, too. I hope I get it (duh!). As for life in general, things have been going well, just busy. I am sorry for not posting here as often I used to. I found a triathlon specific web-site that I probably spend TOO much time at. Anyway, I hope this finds everyone doing well. Happy Reading and Happy Tri-ing! Current Mood: calm Current Music: hair dryer (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Monday, April 2nd, 2007
6:25 pm	injury rant Well, now I've gone and done it. I went and injured my left leg. Pfft! I'm not really surprised as I *DID* willingly violate the sacred 10% rule of volume increase in training. I think going from 11 miles in one month (it was a bad month) to 15 miles in one week broke that rule... On the bright side, I can walk, albeit a little painfully for a day or so. Per my sports doc's orders: no running, cycling, or swimming where I use my legs (I can use a swim buoy to stabilize them when I swim). I'm out until I get the green light to begin rebuilding (slowly and carefully this time), which will hopefully be in about 2 weeks. I hope to be ready to race the Hospital Hill 10k coming up on June 2, but I think the KC Corporate Challenge 5k next month is probably out...oh well. Anyway, I'll keep you all posted on recovery. Mitch, when you read this, have you started training yet???!!! I hope to see you at beginnertriathlete.com soon!!! Well, I hope this finds everyone doing well. Happy reading and happy tri-ing. Current Mood: annoyed Current Music: sarah kelly on Calvary 88.5 (2 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, March 20th, 2007
9:02 pm	wow...too much going on!!! Well, a friend emailed me and said I haven't posted on here in a month. He was right! If it helps, I *wanted* to get on here and post, but with everything that has been going on, this has taken a back burner, sorry!! So, at work (my REAL work) I've been putting in some overtime hours, working with my supervisor to get a lot of things cleaned up in our department. It has been productive, but overtime IS overtime. My paychecks have been nice though... I've also taken on more hours at the shoe store, which is also nice, but does certainly chew up my free time...ah the trade offs! Training...and such... Well, I'm still at it! My running has improved quite a bit, I've found, and since I'm now able to go outside to run, it's been a lot more enjoyable than the treadmill. If you remember (or care to go dig in to my posts on here...) I left off last season running a 9:00-9:30 mile pace...well, now I'm comfortably running 8:15-8:30! I'm quite pleased with the new speed and I've found I can maintain that over distances (up to, and including 5 miles) too! I ran 5 miles on Sunday before church in a time of 41:29 (8:20 pace) and it felt good, despite the muscle pull...which IS healing... My swimming is still good and pretty much all my swimming workouts are 800 yards or more, with the average being 1200 yards (1760 is a mile). My times haven't really improved though, which is a bit frustrating, but oh well... Now, if only I could get on my bike more often... Well, besides all that, there's not much new going on around here. I hope this finds everyone doing well. Happy reading and happy running...tri-ing...whatever-ing! Current Mood: moody Current Music: none... (Comment on this)
Sunday, February 18th, 2007
8:49 am	week in review WOW! What a week this has been!! It was a great week and it held some good surprises - two swim sets over 1000 yards in distance. First, my triathlon trainin this week: Monday: 45 minutes on the bike (10.86 miles) Tuesday: 1200 yards swimming, alternating sets of 200 yards w/ buoy, 200 yards w/o (23:36) and a full set of upper body weights Wednesday: Dinner and a movie with my wife Thursday: 1000 yards swimming - straight through, no stopping (20:26) and a full set of upper body weights Friday: Had my wife's aunt and uncle over for dinner Saturday: more weights, and 3 miles on the treadmill set for hill work. Not much else new except that I have an interview this coming Thursday for a position I applied for at work. I have to cut this short as it's time to leave for church. I hope this finds everyone doing well. Happy Reading and Happy Tri-ing! Current Mood: relaxed Current Music: Philips, Craig, and Dean - worship album (Comment on this)
Tuesday, February 13th, 2007
2:30 am	last week in review Well, it's been a while so I thought I'd pop in here and say hi. All is well here, with the exception of my wife fighting a head cold. She's on the tail end of it, so that's good news at least. So...what's been new...? Last week training for triathlons: Monday - a 1 hour cycling class + full upper body weights Tuesday - 600 yard swim + 4 mile run Wednesday - 600 yard swim before church Thursday - 600 yard swim Friday - rest day Saturday - rest day: finally finished the cabinets my dad and I made for our basement!!! Sunday - 500 yard swim Today - 45 minutes/10.5 miles cycling (cycling class was canceled) Awesome new movie: Facing the Giants. This movie won't appeal to everyone, I realize that, but this is a great movie - no swearing/bad language, no sex/skimpy outfits/innuendos, no violence (other than normal football stuff) - this is a movie about a Christian school's football team and its coach, and how a renewed faith turns around everyone's lives. An awesome movie and not really cliche as far as church-related movies/football movies go. Check it out! Well, other than that, nothing else has been going on. I hope this finds everyone doing well. Happy Reading and Happy Tri-ing! Current Mood: calm Current Music: ice hitting the windows (Comment on this)
Wednesday, January 24th, 2007
10:03 pm	Races for 2007 So, now that I have a pretty good idea of what my race schedule will look like this year, I can post that here. :) Robert's (hopeful) 2007 race schedule: May 19 - CGSC Sprint Triathlon - Ft. Leavenworth, KS June 2 - KC Hospital Hill 1/2 Marathon August 18 - Tiger Sprint Triathlon - Republic, MO (just SW of Springfield) Sept 1 - Trail Shark Sprint Trail Triathlon - Bloomington, IL Sept 15 - Cannonball 5k - Lexington, MO Oct 20 - KC Half Marathon Nov 22 - Sprint (the phone co) Thanksgiving Day 5k This should be a fun season of racing, especially the two tris. :) I know it's asking a lot, but if any you can and want to, come out to the race and say hello - crowd support is always welcome...maybe Jason will let me crash at his place the night before the tri in Springfield... Well, that's all for now. Happy Reading and Happy Tri-Ing! Current Mood: determined Current Music: Calvary 88.5 Christian radio (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007
3:25 am	a new week..and missing towels? Hey all! How is everyone? Things are good here. Tonight was my first "spin class" at the YMCA. For those who don't know, a spin class is a cycling class on stationary bikes. The difference, though, is that we don't cycle for leisure. :-) We really grind it out and really get our heart rates up. I think mine topped 200 beats per minute at one point!! It was a lot of fun, even though it was quite painful at times. I feel great, but I'm sure walking tomorrow will be an endeavor! The best part is that it's free!!! :D Ok, missing towels. So, I changed clothes after the spin class and went to swim. I hung my towel on a towel hook and hit the pool for a 700m swim. I got back to the locker room and hit the shower. After showering, I walked to the hook and saw that my towel was gone! WTH?! I asked a group of 3-4 boys if they saw it and they said they didn't. OK. I managed to dry off and change, and then met up with my wife. I mentioned that my towel was missing and she said she saw a boy (12 y/o or so) with a towel just like mine. So I went to the racquet ball room he was in and I asked him and his buddy if they had it. No, they said. I looked around the room briefly, but didn't see it b/c it was right behind the door. I went back to my wife and she was talking to a staff member about it, so they went to go visit the boy again, and they found it in the room I just came out of. Anyway, I got my towel back and though I really wanted to rip the boy a new one, it's probably a good thing I wasn't there. I did, however, write a letter for his parents to see what happend. Hopefully this young boy will learn something. I mean, come on, swiping another person's gym towel? Major EW!!! Anyway, no harm, no foul, I just hope he learns a little something about respecting the property of other people. I hope this finds all of you doing well. Happy Reading and Happy Tri-ing! Current Mood: annoyed Current Music: none (Comment on this)
Wednesday, January 17th, 2007
3:09 am	howdy all! Well, it's been about a week, I suppose. I hope this finds everyone doing well. All is well here. I had a 3 day weekend, thanks to Martin Luther King Jr., which was very nice. I was able to get in a great workout Saturday (I simulated a triathlon: 500m swim, 8 mile bike, and a 5k run) and Monday (600m swim, 8 mile bike, and weights). FYI, if you want to follow my regular training, you can go to www.beginnertriathlete.com and search for JCDenton2000. There you will find my training logs and such stuff. New shoes! I scored a new pair of running shoes from the store I work at part time and so far I've been fairly pleased. They are causing a small blister on my right foot, but I'm going to try a different pair of socks, plus I'm adding some inserts in to build up the forefoot a bit. I'm hoping those two changes will help eliminate the problem. I really like how the shoes feel and I can't beat the price - they were free! :) Every so often, our manager will give away a new model to someone, and since I've been trying to order this pair for a couple months, he got a free pair from the manufacturer (Brooks) and passed them on to me. Sweet, huh? Well, there's not much new to share. I hope this finds everyone doing well. Happy Reading and Happy Tri-ing! Current Mood: thirsty Current Music: none (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Thursday, January 4th, 2007
2:25 am	Happy belated New Years! Hello all. Yeah, it's been a while! Sorry!! Life has been hectic and busy around our house the last week or so. We had a pretty good New Years, even though my wife got sick over the weekend and decided to run a 102.7 fever. :( She's better, but not 100% yet. New Year's eve I hung out at my aunt's house playing games with my family - lots of fun! Things look like they could slow down quite a bit now that the new year is upon us. Work kept me busy last week and added a lot of stress I didn't exactly care for. I was very glad to have the gym to blow off steam and stress. Training for triathlons and such: Well, I've been able to get some great workouts in at the Y these last two weeks, and I've found that my swimming is improving much faster than I expected. The training schedule I'm using says that I should only be swimming 250 meters this week, but both last night and tonight I was able to swim 400m. :D And I still felt like I had more left in me. I have to admit that although the breathing technique/form is difficult at first, I have now come to find swimming to be very relaxing and peaceful. There is something oddly serene about chasing a black line in clear water while not being able to hear any noise except the water splashing by my ears. For those who might be remotely interested in following my training, go to www.beginnertriathlete.com and you can find my training logs under JCDenton2000. Well, I hope this finds everyone doing well and getting psyched up for a wonderful 2007. I hope each of you set goals for yourselves that challenge you and make you stretch. Happy Reading and Happy Tri-ing. Current Mood: refreshed (Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 20th, 2006
4:05 am	not much new... Hello everyone! I hope this finds everyone doing well and enjoying the Holiday season. My wife and I have got all of our Christmas shopping done, and so now we're just enjoying the time we get to spend with family and friends. We spent last week in Nebraska with her family, and it was very nice to get away from it all. I spent a lot of time either reading or playing Final Fantasy 2 on a Nintendo DS. Not a bad way to spend a week, if you ask me! :) I got in a great workout today, and I must admit that having access to our local YMCA is going to be great over the winter! I cycled for 30 minutes (7 miles) then swam 150 meters in the pool. I do have to work a bit on my form in the pool, though. I suck in water when I inhale, making life difficult! I did get a new pair of goggles which makes it easier to swim, as I can keep my eyes open now and not have to worry about water getting in them. I'm not sure if I covered this in a recent post or not, but I thought I'd list some of my training goals for 2007: 1. train for and complete 2-3 triathlons. I know one of them will be the KC Corporate Challenge Triathlon. 2. run 2-3 half marathons 3. break 2:00:00 in a half marathon 4. break 25:00 in a 5k All in all, 2006 has been a great year and I'm so glad I started running again. I am really enjoying the benefits of feeling stronger, and healthier. And knowing that it's a lifestyle I'll keep up, that makes me feel even better. Well, I better hit the sack. If I don't post anything new before Christmas, I hope all of you have a very merry Christmas!! Happy Reading and Happy...tri-ing! I can't say "running" any more, b/c I don't just run now - I swim, bike and run. Bye! Current Mood: calm (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Wednesday, December 6th, 2006
2:38 am	triathlons Well, hello all! I hope this finds everyone doing well and getting in full Christmas spirit. :) It's hard to believe that Christmas is just 3 weeks away! Time certainly flew by this year! :) My wife and I decided to get memberships to the local YMCA in order to stay in shape during the cold winter. I think I'm going to do 2-3 triathlons next year. I am not 100% sure about a marathon yet, though I'm probably going to do one in October. I'm rather enjoying the fitness and health I have gained and hopefully I can improve on it. Anyway, tonight's workout was some weights (legs-focused workouts) and then 30 minutes of cycling on a stationary bike. I found a website that has forums for triathletes, and one thing many of them have said is that the transition from the bike to the run (T2) is the hardest, b/c of the mechanics of the legs. I didn't entirely believe them until tonight, when I got off the bike. WOW! My legs weren't really sore, but trying to get them to move in a walking fashion was uber difficult! I stretched and that helped a little. Obviously, that will be something I'll need to work on during my training. Well, I think that's all for now. I need to hit the shower and call it a night. Happy Reading and Happy Running! (I may have to change that when I start triathlons...hmmm...any suggestions?) Current Mood: chipper Current Music: none (Comment on this)
Wednesday, November 29th, 2006
12:10 am	I'm still here Hello all. I'm checking in finally. :) Yes, I'm still here, just slightly more busy with my part-time job. Life has been pretty good around here, though. I'm still running and I'm now entertaining the idea of doing triathlons. I have a couple different reasons why I'm thinking about doing tris: 1. it'll be less running and more swimming/biking, which will keep my knees from getting banged up from running so much; 2. during the winter, running a lot outside is going to be difficult, so getting a membership to the YMCA where I can swim and bike indoors allows me to "train" for tris; 3. I've always to do one. :) So, after looking at some races for next year, it looks like I might be able to do 3 triathlons, as well as another 1/2 marathon or two, plus a full marathon next October. It should be a fun season of running next year and I can't wait. Anywho - my training and running of late...well, I had the Thanksgiving Day 5k here in KC and although I clocked a PR since I started running in April, it hurt a LOT! I ran a 26:57, but I had super bad side stitches which just about pwn3d me. On the up side - I got to eat a TON of food b/c I was starving like usual after a race. :D This week I've ran 2 miles yesterday (Monday) and 3x800's today. Right now I'm following a 16 week 5k training program to get at least SOME running in where I can. Outside of running, our new supervisor at work has started and we're adjusting well to that. I didn't get the position, but that's ok. Other than that, tonight it looks like we'll be getting our Christmas decorations up after we eat supper. I always enjoy decorating for Christmas and just celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. What a joyous occasion! Well, I hope this finds everyone doing well. Happy Reading and Happy Running! Current Mood: determined Current Music: none - just my wife making dinner, me typing (Comment on this)
Friday, November 24th, 2006
5:21 pm	Thanksgiving Day 5k, Turkey, and Football Well, my Thanksgiving was just about typical for me, except for the new addition of a 5k race in the morning. I was pretty psyched for my 5k as I knew I'd set a new PR (personal record) but I was secretly hoping to break a PR I picked up in college (24:05). I'm beginning to doubt the legitimacy of that PR, but it's at least a goal to work for nonetheless. So, yesterday I got up around 6:00 and drank some coffee and Gatorade (separate glasses) and played Final Fantasy 2 on the DS. The race began at 9:00, but I had to pick up my free T-Shirt and race number, so I left around 7:45. I got all warmed up and stretched by 8:45 and we were herded like cattle to the starting line. I had my goal mile times in my head for breaking 24:00: First mile: 7:43 Second mile: 7:43-7:44 (15:27 elapsed time for two miles) Third mile: 7:43 (23:00) Final piece of race (.1 mile): 1:00 So, the gun (air horn) went off and it took me all of 20 seconds to hit the starting line (and my watch). I settled in to my pace and hit the first mile in...8:45!! WHAT?! I actually just about tripped when I saw that! I shook my head and told myself that the 24:00 was out of the question, maybe I could salvage a 25:xx, so I just kept the pace. I hit the second mile at 17:30 (ish) which was another 8:45 mile (on pace to finish in around 26:00). I felt OK (not great, just ok) so I decided, with one mile left to just keep it up. About 1/4 mile further I got pwned by a serious side stitch. I didn't feel it creeping up or anything, it just hit me like a 2x4. OUCH! I tried the breathing techniques that are supposed to get rid of them, but it stayed. I slowed to a walk and that got rid of it pretty quickly, so I started running again. About a minute later, BAM! Another side stitch! By now I was hacked and VERY tired of this. I slowed to a walk to get rid of it, but this time it didn't go away, so I stopped completely and doubled over and took a few really deep breaths. Because I stopped, my calves decided to cramp up which hurt even more! I was just furious by this time so I just took off running again, despite the pain. The side stitches left, but my pace had slowed considerably and I was getting passed...a LOT! (I was passing a lot of people up to this point) I made the last turn, saw the finish line and just took off for it. I was ready to end this run. I finished in 26:57. It IS a PR since I began running this year, but I have run faster during my regular runs, so I'm a little upset. I'm still clueless on the side stitches, though. After the race, I went with my dad and step-mom to her family's for Thanksgiving lunch where I had two HUGE plates of food, then settled in on the couch to watch the first half of the Dallas-Tampa Bay football game. We left at half time (I rode with my dad and step-mom) and got home in time to tidy up a few things (my wife is in Nebraska with her family) before the Chiefs-Broncos game came on. Chiefs vs. Broncos (GO CHIEFS!!!) What a game!!! KC 19 - Denver 10. WOO HOO! Well, that's my Thanksgiving Day. I hope everyone else had a blessed day. Happy Reading and Happy Running! Current Mood: annoyed Current Music: Christian Radio...office sounds. (Comment on this)
Sunday, November 12th, 2006
4:56 am	Running, a PR, Bowling, and Hackers Hello!!! I thought I would just pop in here, share what's up, and then leave. :) Today was a pretty busy day, but it was a good busy. I worked at the running store today, and a large running club (the Runner's Edge) used our store as a starting point for their run this morning. It was a blast getting to meet so many other runners and hang out with them. After work I went for a run myself. I ran 8 miles in 1:10:45 (a PR for me on 8 - 8:50 pace). I was actually quite pleased in the time and how comfortable I was. After running, we went out with some friends from church to go bowling. I apparently can not bowl very well any more!! LOL! Oh well, we had fun. After bowling two games, the 6 of us left the bowling alley and went to one of the couples' house to watch the movie Hackers. It has to be either number 1 or 2 on my all time movie list. It's probably tied for number 1 with Monty Python: the Quest for the Holy Grail (NEE!). :D Well, I think that's all for now. No updates at work on the supervisor position yet. Hopefully this week sometime I'll hear something. I'll keep everyone updated, don't worry! :D I hope this finds everyone doing well. Good night! Happy Reading and Happy Running. Current Mood: complacent Current Music: none (Comment on this)
Sunday, November 5th, 2006
9:43 pm	hmmm, it's been a while Hello all. Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Life has been a bit busier this week, which has kept me off my computer more. I thought I would post an update on life, running, and whatever else comes to mind. :) First off - work related news: our supervisor has stepped aside and become "one of us". There was nothing wrong that she did, she simply got tired of the headaches of being a supervisor. We had an open position so she'll be filling in there. I put in my application to take her place as supervisor. I should have an interview with our department manager later this next week. I'm probably a long shot for it, but couldn't pass up the chance. Next up - running! (who knew?) :) I only got in 3 runs this week, but had a fantastic 6 miler yesterday morning. It was a perfectly sunny, 47 degrees when I left the house and it was perfect. My running was smooth and fluid, no pain in my legs on the hills, and a decent 9:30 pace. This next week begins my official 20-week marathon training program, which I'm uber excited about. :D To be fulfilling a dream I've had for years, I can't wait. Other news...wait for it...wait for it...go! Sorry, no more news for now. :D Well, I better get going - got to go to choir practice. I hope everyone has a great rest of the weekend and hopefully I'll be able to get back on here more often this week. Happy Reading and Happy Running! (3 Comments |Comment on this)
Saturday, October 28th, 2006
12:04 am	1st week down So, I know I haven't posted in a few days - we've been uber busy around here! But, fear no more, I'm back. :) I am about to finish my first week of my marathon pre-training and tomorrow is a 6 miler. I'm not exactly excited about it b/c for the two weeks after my 1/2 marathon, I worked 100% on my running speed, which has been good, but now I have a hard time running "slow". I ran a couple 3 milers and a 2 miler this week and on each trip, my mile times were well below a 9:00 mile pace. Granted, I'm quite pleased with the increase in speed, but having not gone over 3 miles at that pace, I am a little nervous about 6 miles tomorrow. I SHOULD let myself run slower and maybe average a 9:00-9:15 pace...we'll see how smart I feel at 7:00am tomorrow. Next week is some 4 milers and an 8 miler on the weekend. That will end week 2 of my pre-training. Then, on the following week I begin a 20 week training program. I'm excited, and yet quite nervous about it. We'll see how it goes. Well, there's not much more to share I suppose. My wife and I are getting ready to go out to a movie. I hope everyone has a great evening!! Bye for now. Happy Reading and Happy Running! Current Mood: chipper Current Music: Agnus Dei musical score by Michael W. Smith (Comment on this)
Friday, October 20th, 2006
4:21 pm	1st marathon? Bring it on! Hello everyone. A quick update in the world of my running...wait, that's all I talk about. Oh well. :D I am going to start training for my first marathon!! I have 22 weeks until the Olathe, KS marathon on March 31, 2007. I found a 20 week training program that should work spectacularly! I'm quite excited, actually! Hopefully it won't get TOO cold this winter around here. :) Well, I just wanted to share - have a great weekend everyone!!! Current Mood: determined Current Music: Calvary 88.5 Christian radio (Comment on this)
Sunday, October 8th, 2006
5:43 pm	KC 1/2 Marathon Race Report...and squirrels? Well, I did it! 5 months of training, 305 miles of running, 2 pairs of shoes, and 2 sore legs later, I finished my first 1/2 marathon. I won't say I am overly emotional about finishing it, but I am excited that I did it. I will do another in June 2007 as I begin training for the full marathon this time next year. The race: We left the house at 6:00 to make it to the race early enough for me to warm up and meet up with some of my friends who ran the 5k. We each warmed up a bit and stretched and just hung out for about 20 minutes while waiting for the start. At 7:15 I made my way to the massive throng of people gathered to run all over the city. Over 3000 had signed up to run the 1/2 and full marathon (approximately 1000 more for the 5k). 7:30 - the start. We're off! Sort of. It took me about another minute to reach the actual starting line b/c there were so many people! Oh well, we were timed using a system that doesn't start timing us until we cross the line (ChampionChip). Mile 1 and 2. I settled in to a comfortable pace in the first mile and came through at 10:30 (what I wanted to). As I turned south in front of the Union Station, our first major hill loomed long and tall in front of us! I knew it was a long hill, but it was a tad steeper than I expected. And it was also a good 1/2 mile long! I got up it fine and was rewarded with the first aid station and a great view of the Liberty Memorial. Mile 3-4. We left the Liberty Memorial and ran the reverse part of the course of the Hospital Hill 5k. Here we had our second major hill. It was, thankfully, shorter than the first, but way steeper. I got up it fine and we cruised on down Main street where I met a guy named Vince. This was his second 1/2, but he DNF'd his first last year (Did Not Finish). He said he hoped to finish this one, so I invited him to run with me and we could spur each other on. He was up for it so we just kept chatting and running. As we left Main street and went through Westport, I made the comment that time was seeming to fly by as we left the 4 mile marker. Another runner laughed at my statement and decided anyone who thought like that would be ok to run with. So, Vince and I added Cathy to our group. This was Cathy's first 1/2 so she was glad to have someone to run with. Mile 5-8. We got to know each other a little at a time, enjoying the sights of KC in the morning on foot, laughing and carrying on like little kids. It was encouraging and really took our minds off the fact that we still had 7-8 miles left! We cruised through the Plaza at mile 6 feeling good, glad that the hills were over for a couple more miles. I fueled up with my GU and was good to go. As we neared mile 8, Vince and I forgot about our last major hill: Mile 8-9. Literally, the whole mile was a gradual uphill climb. Mile 8-12. We left the aid station at mile 8 feeling good, but starting to feel the effects of running 8 miles. We kept encouraging each other and that helped tremendously! As we were running mile 9, I happened to look down and see a dead squirrel on the side of the road. I'm not sure where the thought came from, but I said it anyway: "I guess the squirrel didn't trail well enough". Neither Vince or Cathy thought it very funny. I thought it was complete genius to think of that while running! Oh well. We continued on our merry way and as we left mile 10 we ran in to a couple friends of Cathy - Kay and Barbie. We added them to our trio and now the 5 of us were laughing and carrying on. It was also about this time that I developed an unusual and alarming thirst for beer. I was drinking plenty at each aid station, but a cold beer just sounded good! What makes it even more odd is that I don't drink at all!! Oh well. It was also at the mile 9 aid station that I suffered a knee injury that still plagues me today. I think it happened as I was slowing down to a walk in order to not spill on myself. I stepped wrong on my left foot and hurt my knee. I don't think it's permanent, but it sure made the last few miles tough. Mile 12-Finish. We left mile 12 feeling good, though we were definitely ready to get the race over with! We saw one runner on the ground who had collapsed and immediately all of us looked to Vince who smiled and said he's doing fine! We reached the 13 mile marker and shouted for joy as we made the last turn and saw the finish line just a couple blocks away! We picked up the pace and whooped and hollered the last 200-300 feet, very thankful to have it over with! We finished in 2:13.xx. According to a pace calculator, we ran a 10:09 mile pace. YEAH! I'm very glad I was able to finish and have enough left in me to survive the rest of the day: I was the best man at my cousin's wedding, so that was kind of tiresome, plus a friend from HS got married last night, so we went to her wedding, too. We got home last night around 8:00, got in to bed at 9:00, and didn't get up this morning until 8:00! 11 hours of sleep!! Nice! Well, I think I better give this a rest and go watch some football. :) Happy Reading and Happy Running! Current Mood: accomplished Current Music: none (4 Comments |Comment on this)
Tuesday, October 3rd, 2006
6:54 am	hmmm... Good morning all! I don't have a lot to say this morning, but in keeping with my "tradition" I wanted to journal my run from last night (mainly for myself). It was *only* a two mile run in 19:45. Nothing fantastic, though my wife did run part of it with me (1/2 mile). She's actually fun to run with b/c we have the same stride length and turnover speed (how fast our feet hit the ground). I have to admit that it is exciting to think that in just 4 days I'll be running my first 1/2 marathon. I'm not at all concerned about the distance, either (13.1 miles)! I'm more concerned with crossing the finish line and it being a let-down after all my training! What I mean is that I have focused all my running these last 5 months on this one event. After I run it, that's it, it's done! Luckily, I know of another 1/2 marathon coming up next spring so I have that to look forward to. Then, next October, if all continues to go well, I will run the full marathon (26.2 miles) at the same race I am running Saturday. :) Well, I think that's all for now. Happy Reading and Happy Running! Current Mood: calm Current Music: attic fan (1 Comment |Comment on this)