This race was not an A race but one I had focused on since my Ironman.  While I had good intentions my training did not match my desire.  However, I did put in more effort than usual for the this time of year for this race. 

The temperature was cool enough for shorts, short sleeves, and gloves.  Most people were decked out in tights and long sleeves.  The sun was shining and it was actually a great day for a run.  A few things I forgot about this race.  The funneling down to single track so fast with little opportunity to pass runners at the start.  I actually was stuck behind 2 people in costume through the grove.  The only way to pass in the grove is to get caned by branches as you pass.  I also forgot about the set of stairs you have to climb early in the race (shortly after obtaining a rhythm).  Lastly I forgot about the hills.  It was actually quite hilly this year.

After about a mile I got into a rhythm and paced myself off another runner.  Fast enough to maintain speed and heavy breathing but slow enough to allow for extra speed toward the end.  Once I felt he was slowing I passed him and started to weave my way through the crowd.  By the time I hit mile 3 it was pretty strung out and I wouldn’t pass another runner.

The squishy ground and hills toward the end put me back in the hurt locker.  The grassy field didn’t come soon enough.  The final nail in the coffin was the last 100 yards; uphill, in wet grass, and into the wind.  I stopped the clock at 39:22.  This put me almost 2 minutes faster than 2007.  However, it left me with 4th in my age group, almost 4 minutes behind 3rd place.  I finished 31st overall. Yes, there were quality runners that came over from Champaign.

A tough, quality race and one worthy of attending next year.  Springfield needs a trail race…….

The date, October 16, was perfectly placed to allow some time for me to start training again and to get me jump started for the Allerton Park Race.  My information was vague.  The only things I knew was that it was off-road, 7 miles, on horse trails, and just south of Decatur.

It took me about 45 minutes to get there and I was greeted with enthusiastic volunteers.  It was refreshing to attend a low-key, grass roots race where there aren’t a bunch of peacocks showing their feathers.  Parking was plentiful at the Sand Creek Conservation Area.  I got in a good warm-up and was ready to go with about 75 other runners at 10:00.  Sizing up the crowd I noticed some Ironman finishers t-shirts.  It made me smile and reminisce.  I was clad in anonymous North Face gear.

The cream immediately formed at the front of the peloton as the race filtered down to double-track.  I was sitting back in about 10th place just trying to conserve energy.  As the race progressed into the first 0.5 mile I couldn’t control myself and made my way to a pack consisting of 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th place.  1st and 2nd were already out of sight.  Initially I dreamed of sprinting for 3rd place but this soon evaporated when the course took its toll on me.

The course was mainly double-track but was rocky, sandy, and littered with tree roots.  Just before the 5 mile marker I did a face plant after getting my foot caught in a tree root.  No injuries just a break in rhythm.  The surface of the trail was not the problem, the constant up and down was the problem.  We had to make a total of 7 creek crossings.  I’m not talking about jumping over a creek or finding a rock to land on in the middle and get across by bounding over.  I’m talking calf deep water that splashed all over your pants and totally submerged your feet.  My shoes, pants, and socks were soaked the whole race.  Most of the crossings took about 4 strides to get across.  The worse part was that you had to climb out of the ravines in the sand after exiting the water.  It’s not called Sand Creek for nothin’.

By the time miles 5 and 6 rolled around I was hurting.   Our little group was only caught by one runner; the women’s winner who finished 4th overall.  She was really consistent.  Eventually the group I was in picked up the pace on a climb and I couldn’t hold pace.  I finished alone in 7th place with a time of 51:57 (07:26)/mile).  My place was good enough for 2nd in my age group and a lawn chair door prize.  I was happy with my time considering the tough course and less-than-stellar training.

The race was pretty cool.  If you are tired of road running try trail running, it’s refreshing.  The goal for this race is for every 2010 participant to bring another participant with them in 2011.  Please oblige.

The drive was uneventful.  Having someone to talk to made the time pass and relieved some stress.  Getting to eat at JJ with the other Rabbits on the way up also added to the excitement.  The registration process was also smooth.  It is quite an experience going to a well-organized, established event.  No details were spared.  Interestingly, it was the first time I have ever been weighed before an event.  I guess they want to make sure you don’t lose too much weight (dehydration) if you have to go to the medical tent on Sunday.  We all compared our weights and decided the scale was heavy.  On the way up Dan and I listened to some podcasts from Endurance Nation.  They had made fun of the “bigger, badder” t-shirts that Ironmen wear at check-in to try and intimidate other competitors.  So I was very self-conscious of what I was going to wear.  I didn’t want to be one of “those” guys.  I opted for my IMBA t-shirt.  It was still multi-sport related but didn’t scream “hey, look at me, see how cool I am.  I did this race”.  It was sort of alternative.  I got quite a few compliments on the shirt.  Mostly from vendors that were happy to see a mt. biker at such a tri-geek event.  Luckily I brought the credit card as I dropped some coin on Ironman swag. I was a little hesitant purchasing items from a race that I could potential DNF out of.  Everyone else was doing it so I did too.  When I mean everyone else I mean all the other rabbits.  You can see from the photo that we all think alike.

Later that night a nice dinner turned into having a little too much to drink.  We celebrated at a swanky restaurant on the square and the evening spilled over into the bar next door.  I was drinking some kind of local hoppy beer.  Not quite sure what the name of it is but it was a little too smooth.  Not too many people in the bar at that time of night with Ironman wristbands.  I guess I know who are the real Ironmen…..

The rest of the rabbits planned on swimming Friday morning.  It was cold, windy, and there were white caps in the water.  I opted to sit out the swim and stretch on the shore while everyone else struggled in the water.  I just didn’t want to expend the energy.  Eric, Nicole, Dan, and myself then hopped in the van and headed out to the course.  Does anyone know how hard it is to not drink caffeine?  I feel like a vegetarian in a meat locker; John in “Brave New World”.  Everything has caffeine.  We stopped at a Subway for lunch and I had to either drink water or hopefully the rootbeer won’t have caffeine.  It’s been like that all week, a constant struggle.  It must be a caffeine industry conspiracy.  Anyway, after a brief lunch, we drove the course.  Let’s just say my excitement turned into apprehension.  The reconnaissance revealed a very hilly, undulating terrain.  It worried me.  However, once we stopped and rode the 2 major hills I felt a little better.  After all it was just another ride with some hills………..  This knowledge turned out to be critical during the race because I now knew when to ease up and rest before the “3 bitches”.  I was happy for the foresight.  The loop was long and I was happy when we arrived back at the hotel.

Friday night was pretty cool.  Dinner at the expo.  There was a presentation with rules, course details, and some entertainment.  Did I mention all-you-can eat pasta?  Interesting  information I learned from the presentation; almost half the field were 1st time Ironman competitors, 25% are female,  there were some 70-year old competitors, a couple of 18-year old competitors, a mom with 5 kids, and a couple of people that lost over 80# training for the Ironman.  While we were at the presentation Travis and Clarence were out drinkin’.  A couple of real HardyBreeds.

Saturday was a day of preparation and hot tubs.  We spent the day assembling our gear bags and checking in our bikes.  Dropping off the transition bags and bikes the night before is always stressful.  Once the work was done Dan and I rested and watched “Hot Tub Time Machine”.  It was hysterical and created some comic relief from the stress.  A must see.  Later in the day Dan and I were fortunate enough to have dinner with our wives.  They had arrived just in time to see the event.  Needless to say, Saturday was an early night.

Race morning was actually pretty smooth.  I wasn’t as anxious as I thought I was going to be, so I was able to have a decent breakfast.  There was plenty of time to distribute our special needs bags and use the facilities.  There was even a calming few minutes in the plaza for stretching and reflection.  However, as I waited in line for the port-o-potties and watched everyone don their wetsuits I began to get nervous.  The long walk down the Helix to the water seemed to take forever.  It was wall to wall people all headed the same direction and with same nervous energy.  I entered the water with about 5 minutes to go.  This was ideal for me so I didn’t have to tread water that long.  I was able to find some “personal space” and think about the long day ahead.

The MC got the crowd worked up into a frenzy, the music was pounding, and the gun went off.  Like a bunch of mothers with their teenage daughters at opening night of Twilight, it went from build-up to absolute chaos.  All 3000 of us were off swimming the same direction and clobbering each other.  It wasn’t like we were doing it on purpose; you just couldn’t help it.  I was clawing swimmers and was getting pounded on the heels.  People were stroking over the top of my head and dunking me.  It wasn’t long before I was gasping for air.  Never in the entire 1:22 swim was I alone.  Never did I feel like I could make a full stroke without worrying about running into someone or someone else running into me.  No rhythm was ever established.  Still, the swim really didn’t seem to last that long.  I was happy with my (average) time.

The transition was made difficult by the long run up the Helix.  I anticipated walking but really didn’t feel like I needed to.  The area was a little chaotic but the volunteers were amazing.  They got you everything you needed and would even help you dress; crazy.  I thought I really took my time (10:33) but my T1 was probably less than average.  I was surprised to find out a volunteer was going to get my bike for me.  By the time I got to the rack the guy was getting my bike and I was off running down the transition zone to the bike mount.  I didn’t even think about my Garmin that I had laid across my handlebars.  I was too nervous about donning my shoes at the bike mount (something not advised by Endurance Nation).  About 2 miles down the road I realized that not only had I just lost an expensive piece of equipment but I would never know my speed, pace, or time the rest of the race.

The bike course simply killed me.  It was so brutal.  Always up and down and never flat……never. There were 3 major climbs that just destroyed any kind of rhythm you might have developed.  Although, on 1 of the climbs there was a Tour de France-like atmosphere.  People had to get out of the way so riders could get through, people were running next to you, and everyone was screaming words of encouragement.  Strangely, my impression was that I was looking through a window in dead silence (except for my breathing and pain) seeing the fans from inside a silent room.  The action and noise seemed distant or detached.  It was actually invigorating.   To make matters worse there were even times when the nearest rider was 30 seconds up the road.  It always helps my motivation to have riders around me.  I was alone ALOT.  This definitely slowed my pace.  The other part that affected me was the cramping.  I was cramping so bad.  At one point on the last climb my legs basically locked with every down stroke.  So I stayed seated, gritted my teeth, and struggled through it in my easiest gear.  The final 10 miles were a little down hill so I think that allowed me to recover a little.  Ironically when I hit 112 miles after 6:20 (17.7 mph) I didn’t feel too tired.  I was hoping all the training had paid off.

Again, I purposefully took my time in T2 (9:56).  Again, the transition area was chaos but the volunteers were so helpful.  At one point I had to tell the volunteer to get away; I needed some “alone” time and just rest.  He obliged.  So apparently 8 hours had passed and nary a rabbit was seen.  Just like in training all those hours the previous year I was alone, inside myself.

The first mile of the run was great.  The strides seemed effortless and crowd was encouraging.  At mile 2 I said to myself “hmmm”.  At mile 3 I was suffering and wondering WTF.  By the stadium I was walking.  From the stadium I was in the hurt locker.  I just couldn’t get relaxed nor get into a rhythm.  I started to look for places to lay down but was too embarrassed.  Once we hit a dirt trail I spied a place in the shade  near a turn that was isolated and I could hide.  I vowed that upon my return to this area I would sneak away and rest.

That shady area didn’t come soon enough.  My worst fears came true, though.  As soon as I layed down 3 or 4 people came up to make sure I was OK.  I just wanted to rest in anonymity.  So I shrugged them away and proceeded to wet myself laying in the serene grass.  I wanted to lay forever but the pendulum of the internal clock was swinging: tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.  The guilt was maddening.  Even though I just wanted to finish, let’s be honest, I wanted go under my goal of 13 hours.  This was not helping.  So I pounced up and got back into my jog/walk rhythm.  I was not doing well and had to walk every couple of minutes.  It was pure agony.

As I rounded the corner heading into the 13th mile (run special needs bag area) I caught a glimpse of Sandy.  Instantaneously I screamed out “can you get to Walgreens?”   While she was answering “yes” I asked for a Mt. Dew-full strength.  Rarely do I see her run and never have I seen her run so fast.  She bolted to Walgreens and had a Mt. Dew waiting for me as I exited the Special Needs area.  I knew outside assistance was a crime and could cost me a few minutes but I didn’t care.  The first few swigs were like nectar from the gods.  Not only had I not had much caffeine in awhile but a regular Mt. Dew even longer.  As I stood there I thought I was going to pass out and had to crouch down.  Then I rested my head on the railing.  But all I could hear was that tick tock.  So I downed most of the Dew and headed out for the second half.  Prior to leaving I asked Sandy for the time.  I didn’t know my pace or overall time because of the Garmin issue but felt I was way off target.  She was excited to tell me that I had hit all my transition goals right on.  It was 6:00.  I was on pace for just under 13 hours.  This gave me some encouragement.

By the time I ran out of sight from the finishing area every muscle in my legs cramped…..simultaneously.  My legs were locked in extension and I couldn’t move.  I had to pull over, stand there, and try to stretch.  After a minute or 2 I decided to suck it up like I did on the bike and take off.

It was like when the Grinch’s heart grew to normal size.  After a 1/2 mile or so something miraculous happened.  The cramping started to dissipate and my sky-high heart rate and breathing rate dropped.  I began to feel pretty decent.  Each stride felt less and less effortful.  My grimace turned into concentration.  I began to actually enjoy the run.  I was passing runners and walkers with every step, having to weave my way through the carnage.  My legs felt fresh and eager.  It felt like I was flying.  Spectators were acknowledging the contrast between my speed and all the racers I was passing.  I was beginning to catch people who were struggling on their 1st lap.  By this time the sunlight was dimming and I wanted to finish in the daylight.  I didn’t want a glow stick.  So I ran as fast as I could sustain a decent pace.  Run, Jason, run.  I’m not sure if it was the Mt. Dew or what but it was an extreme turnaround.  I actually ran the way I was capable of.  The first 20 miles were so miserable, I was happy to finally be able to run to my ability.

I was going so fast toward the finish I tried to slow down so I could get some good photos.  Vain I know.  It didn’t work.  The photos suck and they missed my “gun show” pose.  The volunteers had to reach out and grab me to slow my progress.  I collapsed to my knees.  The clocked stopped at 12:34, nearly 30 minutes faster than my expected time.   My marathon took 4:31 (10:20 pace)Immediately a swarm of volunteers took hold of me and began to make sure I was coherent and physically able to walk.  I was still on the high from the last 30 minutes of running.  The volunteer support during the entire event was phenomenal.  The volunteer that grabbed me when I finished not only held my medal, he got me a t-shirt, got me a Coke, and stayed with me in line for the medal photo and all the way until I exited the finishing area.  He was my personal escort.  How professional!

Usually when I finish a race I can’t wait to do it again.  Not this one.  I was just happy to finish.  The hardest part about the race wasn’t the  race itself.  It was the 12 months of training and sacrifice.  Every meal was scrutinized. Every waking minute was spent efficiently.  Every mile was contemplated.  My whole life was focused on September 12, 2010.  I am glad it is over.

I am thankful for my family (wife, kids, and Mom) giving me the support to pursue a life goal.  I am thankful for all my training partners pushing me to my limits.  I am thankful for my Dad instilling in me a work ethic.  I am thankful for all the rabbits that offered emotional support.  Thank you to all that supported me in this endeavour.

This past 2 weeks have been pretty awkward for me.  Normally I’m focused on specific aspects of my training.  Trying to get the most out of every session.   Working on killing myself to make myself stronger.  But these past 2 weeks I’ve had to put on the brakes and slow down my training.  It’s called tapering but I’m not that good at it.  So I’ve sort of been lost physically and mentally.  Tapering seems to be mentally challenging as you feel like your losing fitness and getting fat.  Instead of not having downtime you suddenly have all this time on your hands with nothing to do but agonize.

Prior to 2 weeks I felt ready for Ironman Wisconsin.  Now the demons of self-doubt have begun to speak.  It’s been a long year leading up to Sunday.  surprisingly these past 2 weeks have been the worst.

However, no matter what happens on Sunday won’t replace the fabulous journey it took to get to this point.  As crazy as it sounds I wouldn’t trade all the highs and lows for anything.  I still vividly remember sitting on the computer at work in 2009 with the IMWI website pulled up and frantically typing my information into the system to get ready to register.  Knowing that registration could be full just minutes after open registration began.  Danoh and Lunch with Eric were on the phone with me and all 3 of us were nervous as hell.  I remember the 3 second pause before I clicked “accept” thinking this button will change my life.  Once getting accepted I got goosebumps, became flush, and felt light-headed.  It was a stressful 10 minutes.

I wouldn’t trade in the cold nightly runs in the winter.  The cold fall rides.  The endless alcohol-induced conversations with all the rabbits talking about what would, could, and should happen over the next 12 months.  The hot, humid 100 mile rides in the summer.  The 05:00 morning swims.  The blisters on my feet.  The missed happy hours and partys because I had to train.  Finishing and starting training in the dark.  The pain of walking up and down stairs.  Leaving the house once the kids were in bed.  Squeezing out training during family functions and vacations.  What I won’t miss is the sad look in my kids eyes when I didn’t have time to play with them because I was training.

Anyway, it is September 11, 2010 and the 2010 Ford Ironman Wisconsin is tomorrow.  It’s time to turn off the auto pause.  It’s just me and the demons………..

I invite you join HardyBreed on Sunday at IronmanLive.com.  Just plug in our names or bib numbers to find out how we are doing on the course.

• Dan Billingsley -  1057
• Jason Beeler – 978
• Eric Sommer – 1029
• Dan Dungan – 2043
• Steven Graves – 1043
• Travis Schroll – 808
• Joseph House – 812

I also want to thank everyone in advance, especially my family for supporting me in all my training this year.

My weekend was full of continuing education.  I took Saturday off so decided to go for a long run on Sunday.  It was hotter than I anticipated.  By mile 7 my socks were wet.  This was a recipe for disaster.  I knew as soon as I took off my socks it would not be pretty.  I just can’t get this humidity, sweating, and long run thing down.  Either my nipples are rubbed raw or my socks are bloody.  The worst part is when the opposite occurs; my nipples are bloody and my toes are rubbed raw.  Shirtless seems to be the way to go.

Anyway, I got in a 19 mile run that ended at a friend’s house who was having a pool party.  My sweaty entrance to the party didn’t really matter once I hit the ice cold water.  It felt so good.

I woke up at 04:45 to fuel up for today’s ride.  My plan was to leave the house by 05:15 but it was still pretty dark so I waited until 05:30.  It was still dusky until 05:45 or 06:00.  That was not my biggest concern though.  It had rained the night before and the roads were still wet.  This created puddles all over the roads  so I had swerve around puddles in the dark.  It was pretty sketchy for awhile.  The standing water and previous rain created another problem, high humidity.  It was very humid the entire ride.  By mile 50 my fingers were wrinkly from being so wet.  I tried to stay hydrated and took plenty of Endurolytes.

The worst part of the ride was the rocks on the road.  It was ridiculous.  Pretty much from Salisbury to Petersburg were small, little rocks.  Some big, some small, some just a light dusting, and some caked the roads.  Trying to avoid going down or getting a flat kept me pissed off for the first 2 hours of the ride.  It was so bad that I had to almost come to a complete stop at the base of the “Oh My God Hill”.  Fortunately I didn’t have to walk up it.

Leaving Petersburg on Newmansville Rd was a pleasant change.  Although I had a headwind the smooth, straight road was a pleasant reprieve.  Instead of refueling in Chandlerville I opted to take it in the jimmy and ride the hills to Virginia before stopping.  The “Fast Stop” was a welcome relief.  I livened up with a Redbull and Powerbar.

I was a little sketchy on directions from Virginia so I took 78 toward Jacksonville.  Just as I was lulling myself to sleep from the monotony of the super smooth road I ran into homeboys Travis and Clarence.  They were headed into Virginia from the opposite direction.  Travis gave me directions to Springfield.  Chatting with the rabbits invigorated my ride and I felt refreshed with a tailwind heading toward Prentice.  Unfortunately, construction on the Prentice blacktop and not knowing the roads forced me to have to walk in the mud for about a 1/8 mile.  I had no choice.  Using a smashed Natural Light can I found on the side of the road allowed me to scrape the mud from my cleats and mount the bike again.  This ride was turning epic. 

Once heading south from Prentice was uneventful.  However, just when I thougth I would be able to rocket home with a tailwind on Old Jack I was greeted with more bleepin’ rocks.  This lasted for about 5 miles until Berlin.  From Berlin I rode tempo home.  Getting off the bike with 102 miles never felt so good.  With the rocks and crummy asphalt my choce wouldn’t feel the same for hours.

After about a 20 minute transition I headed out for a run.  At first I thought I would do about 4 miles but by mile 2 I was still feeling pretty good.  So I ran a 7 mile loop.  I must have rehydrated well after the bike because I felt really good on the run.  I probably could have run farther but I wanted to save my legs for a long run on Sunday.

I felt crappy on Sunday so I waited until the evening to go on a long run.  Fortunately by the evening the temperature had dropped and the breeze felt cool.  I did my usual loop with a Washington Park loop thrown in to total 18 miles.  I went though 2 water bottles and 2 potty breaks.  The last 30 minutes were pretty draining and I am still paying for the weekend on Tuesday.

A pretty good workout for the weekend.  Hopefully it will pay off in September.  I am still quite nervous.

WRONG: 1)  The rain started as soon as we left the hotel and didn’t let up until I got on the bike.  This meant we set up our transition in the rain, waited for the start in the rain, and did all the preparation in the rain.  After a while I didn’t even try to keep things dry.  My clothes, transition bag, shoes, food, towels, etc. were all sitting in the pouring rain when the transition area closed.  2)  I left my Garmin back at the hotel.  This meant I had no idea how fast I was going on the bike, what my pace was on the run, or what my overall time was leading up to the finish.  There were no clocks on the course or in the transition.  I didn’t know my overall time until Dave Bagot called in the results to us.  3)  I left my Perpetuem and spare bottles in the fridge back at the hotel.  This meant I had to rely soley on what the race had to offer as far as hydration.  4)  I didn’t get to the swim start until 3 minutes before the start.  This left me without a warm-up and a high stress level.  I didn’t piss my wetsuit like Dan but as soon as I hit the water I let it flow.

RIGTH:  5:07

The swim was a point-to-point race.  This meant we had to walk 1.2 miles in the sand to the start.  This left plenty of time to talk and get rid of the pre-race jitters but after 45 minutes Dan and I arrived at the start only 3 minutes before the start……PANIC!  Swimming in a straight line elimiated the usual clobering of arms and legs.  After a couple of minutes I was able to easily settle into a rhtyhm.  We were supposed to be swimming with the current but I really didn’t feel one.  My time of 36:24 was too good to be true so I guess there was plenty of push.

Exiting the water I felt decent.  However, after cresting the sand dune I was breathing heavy and fighting for air.  Knowing there was still 5 hours to race I really took my time in the transition.  I even took the time to steal some grapes off the ground that the guy next to me had dropped.  I was desperate for sugar and fuel after leaving my drinks at the hotel.

For the first few miles on the bike I really didn’t feel that well.  It was wet and still sprinkling but the road was smooth and rolling; pretty good conditions.  After the first feed zone (9.2 miles) I began to feel better.  My rhythm seemed less effortful and I was able to maintain a pretty good speed considering the riders I was passing.  At mile 25 Travis passed me which was bitter sweet.  It was nice seeing a familiar rabbit but bitter because he started 7 minutes behind me and the race wasn’t even half way over.  At mile 40 I began to cramp so I purposefully slowed down.  By mile 54 I was in the little chain ring just trying to spin.  Ironically my average speed of 21.7 mph was pretty fast for me.  Again, not knowing my overall time or average speed my only barometer was that Travis zoomed by me at mile 25.  If he usually finishes around 5 hours then maybe my goal of 5:30 could be accomplished.

T2 was purposely slow for me.  I walked my bike instead of running trying to get the cramps to calm down and to catch my breath.  I took the time to shotgun a can of Redbull and stretch my calves.  I then walked to the run start.

From the start of the run my legs felt good.  Even though I was putting on the brakes to keep some energy in reserve for the finish I was still passing runners.  At mile 2, as I was saying “hey” to Brigitte C., my Fuel Belt came off and I had to turn around and retrieve it.  Not wanting to take the time to figure out how to fix it I stuffed it back in my pocket.  Around 6 or 7 I met Lunch with Eric, he looked to be flying and I was hoping he was having a good time.  The entire run was pretty uneventful except for my shoe coming untied and having to visit the port-o-potty.   I walked through every other aid station which I felt like it allowed my legs to rest.  I really did feel good on the run and as I was approaching 10 miles I asked a spectator what time it was.  I thought that if we really did start at 08:28 I could estimate my finish time based on the current time of day.  Mixing lactic acid, Gatorade, and Endurolytes left my right brain the inability to function.  I couldn’t figure out how this race was taking me 7 hours!  Anyway I was thankful to not have to walk the big climb and finish strong.  My average pace ended up being 08:14 for the 13.1.

My time of 05:07 was far better than my goal of 05:30.  I think the key was really trying to take it easy on the bike and taking my time in the transitions.  Well, anyway it was sweet redemption from the Iron Abe fiasco.

It could have been a lot of excuses but the truth is my legs were heavy and I just didn’t have it for this year’s Iron Abe.  My time was slower than last year but my training has been better than ever.  Oh well.

The race went amazingly smooth and there seemed to be more volunteers and crowd.  Thanks, Bill, for putting on another great race but come on…..enough of the Bob Marley.  Can we get something a little more uplifting?

“Hey, do you have any pills?” is what Dan asked me about 60 miles into our marathon 101 mile ride on Saturday.  We started out at 05:30 with me on my road bike and Danoh on his TT bike.  The miles flew by as we passed the towns of Berlin, New Berlin, Waverly, Franklin, Pisgah and ending up at a Hucks in Jacksonville.  The temperature was moderate but by the time we hit Waverly a second time the temperature was pretty warm and I don’t remember seeing Dan sweat so much.  He asked me for a hit and I obliged.

The ride was pretty sweet.  We more or less had a double tailwind as we started out so early the wind changed by the time we made it to Jacksonville.  Dan towed me for most of the ride and we made the 101 mile trek in just over 5 hours, averaging 20 mph.  The roads were smooth and the traffic was mild.  One of those rides you remember.

I was surprised by the turnout tonight.  There must have been close to 30 riders.  It’s cool to see that many participating.  Some first timers, some old timers, some experienced, and some cats just trying to get in the sport-a real melting pot.  I really liked the new format of 15 second intervals.  However, I am still being placed toward the back with nothing but quality just a few seconds behind me.  This means that I could get passed by a lot of riders really quickly.

My anticipation held true as Betty C., my 15 second person, passed me within the first 2 miles.  I could tell right from the start that tonight was going to be a struggle.  The lactic acid in my legs accumulated quickly and ballooned to twice their size.  I was in pain the rest of ride.

Rider after rider passed me as I struggled to maintain 21 mph.  It really wasn’t my night.  I just couldn’t get into a rhythm.  Fortunately, at about 2 miles from the finished I kind rode into a rhythm and maintained 23 mph for the last 1.5-2 miles.  Hopefully that means my warmup wasn’t good enough and doesn’t mean that I suck.

I stopped the clock at 28:45, averaging 22.6 mph.  After a brief rest I slipped on the running shoes and headed south for a run.  The sun was bright on the way back and the heat was really cooking me.  I wasn’t trying to go hard but my legs felt good.  The 3.1 miles seemed to go by quickly and I stopped the clock at 23:45.  Having a solid run was some vindication for the poor showing at the TT.

Leaving the house at 05:30 on my day off was tough to do.  However, if I wanted to get some much needed chores done around the house I had to leave early.  The fog and dawn had just broken when I left.  It was humid and sticky.  The ride to Petersburg went by pretty fast.  By the time I left New Salem the wind had picked up and I could tell it would be a struggle getting home bucking a head wind so early in the ride.  I was pleasantly surprised on the road to Pleasant Planes.  The wind didn’t seem to affect me as much as I thought it would.  Exiting Planes was a different story.   The wind heading south on Planes blacktop was either getting strong or I was getting tired.  Having only 40 some miles I decided to take some detours on the way back.  I took the keyhole backwards and wound my way around to Farmingdale.  Eventually I made it back home with 70 miles in the coffers.

At home I refueled with some Diet Mt. Dew and a Powerbar.  Getting to use a clean bathroom was a bonus.  After filling up my water bottles I was out the door in 10 minutes flat.

Having only 3o miles to go and knowing there was a stiff wind ahead of me I opted to take the bike path south to Chatham.  This would give me a tailwind home.  90 minutes, it couldn’t be that bad.

Well, it was.  In fact, the last 10 miles home were ridden at a snail’s pace.  In retrospect I should have known the trees on the bike path wouldn’t leave much of a tailwind.  But I made it home in one piece.  The mileage stopped at 102 miles.  Not bad for a solo ride.  I would pay for it later in the day.  I was toast the rest of the day.  It did leave me with a nice feeling of accomplishment though.

Having been pre-registered and already with a good bike warm-up in I had time to relax and chit chat.  I did get out for a short run to get the legs ready for the 3 mile sprint.

I started out near the front not knowing what to expect.  From the gun I felt pretty good but knew I should save myself for the bike.  No matter how much I told myself, however, I just couldn’t hold back knowing that I would be close to setting a 5K PR.  As the mile markers went by I remained about 10 seconds behind Danoh and tried to use him as a target.  I faded toward the end of the run but still managed a PR of 19:45.

My transition was apparently slow, although at the time I didn’t feel that slow.  Immediately starting out on the bike my legs felt the run.  I knew it would not be a good day in the saddle.  I was passed by rider after rider.  Never could I get into a rhythm.  I was extremely happy to see the finish line and finished the bike portion with a miserable 20.8 mph average.

Overall, I placed 22nd.  Not exactly stellar but I was happy with my run split.  I need to work on my TT skills.  Defeated, I headed out for the 17 mile ride home.

The problem with today’s ride was that we had no destination, just a time frame.  Danoh had to be back by 10:30 so the plan was to ride as far as possible in 5 hours.  Upon exiting Auburn it became apparent that none of us had a clue on which way to go.  This shortened our riding time dramatically as we had to stop at an occasional intersection to figure out which way to go.  There had to be a consensus before we could make a turn.  So there was never a time when we could just ride a good solid tempo.  Add in a flat tire and gas station stop made for a long day.

Eventually we made it to the twin cities of Bulpit and Kincaid.  Who knew they are separated only by a Casey’s gas station?  From here we knew where we were and headed toward Lake Sanchris.  Just after the bait shop that is no more Danoh decided to take a flyer and hovered off the front for a while.  He didn’t pull away from the bunch but we were not chasing.  After stopping to retrieve Eric’s water bottle Lawyer decided to put the hammer down and give chase in an effort to catch Danoh before the sprint sign into New City.  Lawyer’s effort paid off as Eric was able to nip Danoh at the line.  Luckily I was able to catch my breath after the effort as Eric had to adjust his loosened rear brake.  When are you people gonna realize it never pays off to work on your own bike?

From New City we took the bike trail back to Springpatch.  Not having enough miles and being a little early we cruised a few laps in the park.  By the time I got home I had a solid 85 miles on the odometer.  Word of advice, always have a plan.  By the way, the next time you see Clarence tell him Luna bars are for chicks.

On Saturday morning, me and my other nephew, Jake, went on a 16 mile bike ride.  We finished our ride at the start of the 2010 Kirby Derby 5K/10K.  It’s a small race in Monticello benefiting the Kirby Hospital Foundation.  Over 600 walkers and runners would do the event.

I was a little nervous at the start since my last race didn’t go so well.  It was cool and overcast so I was hoping for a better result.  I settled into a comfortable rhythm and was pretty happy passing through the first mile check at 06:42.  Knowing this was a little fast I decided to let a couple of people pass me as I slowed slightly.

At 3 miles I was just under 20:00.  I knew this couldn’t last and was beginning to fatigue.  Then my nightmare was relived.  I dropped my key again out of the same pants as last year’s Parade Run.  My wife had sewn the hole closed but I guess not good enough.  I knew the sound as soon as the key hit the ground.  All my momentum was lost as I had to stop on a dime and retrieve the key.

From that point on I was in suffer mode and my pace kept dwindling.  By this time 90% of the runners were finished as probably only 10% were doing the 10K.  That meant few fans and fewer runners to see and try to keep pace with.  I could only see 2 runners in front of me and they were probably 10 seconds and 20 seconds away.  I would never catch them but no one caught me.

I stopped the clock at 42:12.  Good enough for 5th place overall and 1st in my age group.  I am most happy with my time and recovery.  I felt good for the final kick and my average pace.

Tuesday was sprint night.  Even though I was still physically tired from Saturday I thought I might have a fighting chance to stay with the group the whole ride….nope.  Kirk, Danoh, and myself got in an early 10 miles and met the group on Old Salem Rd.  I was with the main protagonists maybe 30 seconds.  And that was all she wrote.  Trevor attacked from the gun and split the sizeable group into several groups.  I didn’t have the fire power to make it into the 1st or 2nd group so was relegated to the 3rd.  We did regroup after the first sprint but I didn’t stay long with them either.  The wind was ferociously out of the South which left everyone scrambling for the gutter.  The echelon is a selective party where everyone is not invited.  I was an uninvited guest for about 1 mile.  I made it to the “T” and waited with Steve S. for the bunch.  The ride back was much more pleasant with room to draft.

Thursday started the same as Tuesday.  I had to change a flat tire before even getting on my bike.  This was the second time in a row I took my bike off the rack with a flat tire.  I inspected the rim this time and found a cinder underneath the rim tape.  Not sure how it made it under the tape but I removed it and everything is good now.  I thought the night would be slower because of the pain inflicted on Tuesday but this was not the case.  The field split on Farmingdale Rd. and never looked back.  I did make it in the first group but was ejected at 35 mph shortly after.  They never let up.  I could see the carnage up ahead of me and noticed some quality riders getting dropped.  This made me feel slightly better.  Dejected I opted to ride the whole loop with Mike V. and Jack.  A head wind back made it miserable.

Saturday morning at 06:00 was freezing cold with winds out of the WNW at 20-20 mph.  Needless to say the ride sucked but I’m glad I did it.  Clarence and Kirk turned around at Salisbury.  I continued to Petersburg but left Jeff B, Lunch with Eric, Danoh, and Lawyer to ride to Site M by themselves.  I finished with 47 miserably cold and windy miles.  It was quite the ride for the middle of May.

Sunday was Mother’s Day.  After making sure the wife and my Mom had a pleasant day I went out for run.  The 9 miles seemed effortless on a gorgeous day.

I would be remiss without thanking my wife for being such a great Mom and wife.  She is also graciously doing the best she can at being an ironwife.  Helping me to train on my way to being an ironman.  Thanks Sandy.

My preparation was good and the morning of the race was smooth.  I have no real excuses.  I’m still trying to figure out what happened.  It was humid, yes.  I cramped, yes.  I was dehydrated, yes.  I was hyperventilating at mile 6, yes.  But all of these things shouldn’t have happened.  Knowing the course doubled back on itself at mile 13 I even placed an extra Perpetuem bottle on the opposite side of street when we passed what would be the 13th mile.  I started out holding 2 bottles and dropped off 1.  I probably should not have worn 2 shirts but I was worried about chaffing.  It had rained the night before so it was extremely humid.

By mile 7 I started walking.  By mile 10 I couldn’t even imagine running another 16 miles.  Mentally and physically I was destroyed so I went straight with the half marathoners when the course went right for the marathoners.  embarrassed, I didn’t even enter the stadium.

The next day was rough.  I felt like I had run a marathon.  My body was exhausted and my legs hurt.  I had trouble descending the stairs.  The funny part is that just 2 weeks before the marathon a 13 mile run would be an easy day.  But for the marathon I could barely finish the half.  I’m still puzzled.

The group for today’s training race was huge.  It felt good to work up some lactic acid in my legs.  As the boys revved up for the first sprint I quietly drifted to the back in order to stay out of trouble.  I didn’t want any crashes this close to the Marathon.  The first sprint is always sketchy because everyone is fresh.  Testament to this squirley behavior was seeing Dan D. riding in the ditch along Farmingdale Rd.  He must have gotten pushed off the road in the mayhem.  Way to keep the rubber side down, D2.

I flipped as the group headed west and ended up with 19 miles.  The ride back was not so pleasant with all those damn bugs.

The Sullivan Sprint Triathlon wasn’t exactly an “A” race for me but everyone wants to do well at races.  I had anticipated a 9:00, 400 meter swim.  This left me as bib number 176.  Which theoretically means there are 175 faster swimmers in Central Illinois than me.  My final time of 08:35 wasn’t too far off my expectations.  What I didn’t account for was all the other triathletes that would over-estimate themselves.  I could tell the way that earlier swimmers were swimming that I should have been more to the front.  My swim place was not Janet Evan’s-like (120) but come on people.  I actually passed 3 swimmers at one time before the halfway point.

Knowing the Marathon was less than a week away and the weather was ugly I kind of accepted a poor bike time.  The weather was intermittent rain, gusting winds, and possibly some hail.  The bike portion was brutal and left me struggling at 17 mph at some points.  Knowing the final leg was in front of me and the marathon 1 week away I just tried to pace myself and not go into the red zone.  I cruised in at 20 mph and some change.

The run portion was unusual with 2/3 of it being on winding, gravel trails and the finish being on pavement.  Trying to just stay at a good tempo I managed a 07:03/mile pace.

Retrospectively, I’m glad I did it.  My final time was 1:12.  Finishing 31st overall after having a starting position of 176 was just reward.  Now my legs are tired but I hope for a speedy recovery.  One final note, Kudos to the race organizer.  While not having enough volunteers, the unlimited supply of Subway sandwiches and medals 5 deep was a great compromise.

My run schedule is all screwed up.  So on Thursday I had to do my speedwork for the week.  It was beautiful day but a little on the windy side.  I parked the truck at the Brickhouse and ran an easy 1 mile warm-up to the entrance of the Wabash Trail.  4 miles later I stopped the Garmin with an average pace of 06:57.  I was pleased but I knew I was aided by a tailwind so I knew the 4 miles back would be a sufferfest.  After saying hello to Dave E. (I guess he skipped the training race) I reluctantly headed back to the start.  To my surprise I managed a 07:08 on the way back.  Satisfied I ran easy back to the truck and finished with 10 miles for the night.

I lasted until about half way to the “T”.  Knowing I needed the miles I cruised up to the rockpile, turned around and soft pedaled until the “group” caught me.  By the time I reconnected it was whittled down to about 8 riders.  I rode at the back the rest of way and got in 33 miles.

Trying to allow enough time between hard running efforts I had to run my race pace 13.1 miler on Sunday late afternoon.  Since I wouldn’t be running the Lincoln Half Marathon this would be my half marathon race of the year. 

It started out well for the first 3 miles then I started to get a little a hypoglycemic and those walking demons started to haunt me.  But I knew that once you start to walk you can’t keep from slowing down more and walking more.  The rest of the run was constant but painful.  I finished in the dark and was surprised by my finish time of 1:37.  Surprised because I felt so bad but sort of disappointed as this was only about 10 seconds faster per mile than what I want to do at the full marathon.  Maybe I don’t have it?

Monday was a day off but on Tuesday I got out for 22 miles on the bike and another freakin’ flat tire.  That makes 5 for 201o.  I’m starting to get pissed off.  At least I don’t have to change the flat in freezing temperatures I guess.  There is nothing worse.

Wednesday I got in a good 1500 yards in the pool then got to go home and watch the Illini get finished off for the season.

Feeling exhausted for some reason I decided to take the next 2 days off.  It’s too early in the season to feel this tired.

Wednesday was a bit of a challenge.  Campbell has PSR so I was hoping to get in my speedwork while she was in class.  I thought I would get to use the SHG track but it looked like there was some sort of practice or meet going on so I had to do my intervals in Washington Park.  YUCK!.

Pressed for time I held tempo until the Park.  The 2 mile loop made it easy to track my progress for the 3, 2 mile tempo runs.  The Park was packed which made me run faster than I wanted.  Seeing all the folks encouraged my speed.  The fist 2 miles seemed to go by quickly with an average pace of 06:49.  The second seemed more laboring at an average of 07:01.  Again, the 3rd was ad nauseum.  Surprisingly though I held a respectable pace of 07:04.  I was happy with my pace considering the terrain.  Even with the speed I was late picking up Campbell.  I’ll have to go faster next time.

Thursday and Friday were days off work for me for March Madness.  Before heading out to Show-Me’s I dropped the kids off at school and got in a quick 1000 yards in the pool.  The pool was refreshingly quiet at 09:00.  The rest of the day was spent in excess.

Friday was beautiful.  As I was getting ready to head out for a ride I had to change yet another bleeping flat.  I think that makes 4 this year.  ARGH!  Since my floor pump is broken I had to drive to BikeTek, pump up my tire, then head toward Loami.  I got in a comfortable 40 miles then headed over to a friend’s house to watch the afternoon games.

Saturday was a wash with Sandy out of town.  I needed the rest though.

Today, Sunday, was supposed to be a 13.1 mile run at race pace.  The weather is so crappy that I went to Eisenhower pool around 10:00 and got in 1500 yards.  The SHG swim team was taking up 3 lanes so the rest of us weekend warriors had to squeeze into 3 swimmers per lane.  Tomorrow will be the hard run.

It was week 5, workout 1.  3, 2 mile tempo runs at 10K pace.  As usual I felt good for the first 2 miles, had a sinking feeling for the second tempo run, and was in misery for the final 2 miles.  My paces reflected this downward spiral, 06:56, 7:05, and 07:22.  8 miles never hurt so bad.

Sandy was out of town for the weekend so in order to get in some good training I had to hire a babysitter.  I woke Saturday morning to misting weather but warm temperatures.  I loaded up the kids, went and got Tara, came back home, and was on the road before 08:30.  Everything was proceeding as planned.  Not 3 miles down the road and I get a front flat.  Damn it!  After changing the flat I quickly find out that I am carrying a defective air cartridge.  Can this situation get worse?  So I ride the flat back home.  There was nothing else I could do.

At home, I changed the tube and got back on the road.  Still misting and a waste of almost 45 minutes my dreams of a long ride today were vanished.  Now all I could do was get in as many miles as possible while Tara was on the clock and the St. Patrick’s Day parade was starting at 12:00.  The rest of my ride was going relatively smooth with some hard efforts.  However, shortly after seeing the gang heading the opposite direction on this side of Salisbury I get another flat.  This time on the rear.  Thankfully, Dave E. and Eric had turned around from the group and stopped to chat.  Not wanting to risk another “bad” cartridge Eric loaned me his pump.

After a quick tire change we were back on the road with about 100 psi in my rear tire.  It’s so hard to get a tire inflated with a tiny hand pump but they do serve a purpose.  As if nothing else could go wrong, Eric flats not 5 miles from home.  My anticipated 40-50 mile ride turned into a 25 mile, 2.5 hour ride.  Plus it cost me just shy of $30.  So I paid for this hell.  Shortly after returning home I was back in the car returning the babysitter and heading to the Parade.

Saturday night spent at the St. Agnes Auction was not conducive to a progressive 18 mile run the next day.  I didn’t get out until shortly before 15:00.  Again it was misting but warm weather.  I opted for shorts and felt fine the entire run.  These progressive runs always are tough to figure out.  You’re supposed to run at 20 seconds over marathon pace with 30 minutes to go, 10 seconds over marathon pace with 20 minutes to go, and marathon pace with 10 minutes to go.  I can never really figure out how much time I have left in a run.  It just all depends on the run, terrain, and wind direction.  So I decided to run a reasonable pace for the first 15 miles then see how I felt for the final 3 miles.

As the finish approached I decided to run a good pace for mile 15, rest for mile 16, and tempo for mile 17.  For mile 15 I ran a 0:27 pace then for mile 17 I ran at 07:34.  I was happy with these splits but not with my average pace of 08:10 for the 18 miles.  The groovy part was that I didn’t feel exhausted at the finish.  Either I didn’t push myself or I am gaining fitness.  Hopefully it’s the later and not the former.

The swim area was crowded so I was happy to share the “medium” lane with a fellow swimmer.  After about 200 yards I hear “sir, sir’ sir”.  The lifeguard was actually demoting me to the slow lane.  What in the world?  I may be no Michael Phelps but come on, you’re actually making me get out of the pool, do the walk of shame, and get in the “slow” lane against the wall.  Eventually, I recovered my dignity and finished out 1000 yards.

On Wednesday, with my tail between my knees, I made it out to Eisenhower pool hoping the lifeguards would be more forgiving.  Luckily I had a whole lane to myself and was able to finish 1000 yards without losing my dignity.  I’m starting to feel more comfortable in the water now.

When I arrived I was shocked at the amount of cars in the parking lot and had visions of me fighting for a lane.  Luckily it was just swim practice.  And they were supposed to be finished by 20:30.  I got in 1000 yards and felt remarkably well.  My stroke felt a little awkward but my endurance wasn’t that bad.  I felt better about myself getting in this inaugural swim.

 Thursday and Friday were spent resting.  I was congested and felt a little under the weather so I really didn’t feel like working out.  Figuring it was better to rest this early in the season than pressing my immune system to the limits I drank (water) and rested.

4 Stag tall boys on Friday night were not good prep for a 10K at race pace the next day.  Throw in some fine German wine (Jaegermeister) and I would be close to blowin’ chunks the entire run. 

I drove to Walgreens on Koke Mill then ran the 1 mile to the trail head at Parkway Pointe.  From the beginning I was hurting.  Luckily the weather was nice (shorts weather), the wind was calm, and the course was flat.  My 1 mile paces were as varied as my balance on Saturday morning.  The laps were 07:12, 06:54, 06:57, 07:23, 06:59, and 06:58.  I’m not sure what happened on mile 4.  I saw Jeff W. and Mark S. coming back into town after a ride.  Did they actually ride for 6 hours?

Sunday was casual.  It was sprinkling but I needed to get out.  I rode 32 miles into quite possibly a constant headwind.  It was tougher than I wanted but it felt good to get on the bike.  Not a great training weekend but I still got in some miles.

I left the house around 17:30.  The first tempo run I posted 07:03 for the pace.  The second tempo run I posted 07:09.  The last tempo run was done with an average pace of 07:23.  Not exactly consistent but, man, I was exhausted by the last tempo run.  Got in 8 miles for the night and am sufficiently tired.  In fact, I can barely move.  My endurance has improved but not for intervals.

The next eventful day of training was on Saturday.  Dan picked me up and we headed to Lunch With Eric’s house.  The plan was to run the Lincoln Half course then if I felt like it I would run home.  I needed to get in 15 miles at 10% over marathon pace.  The pace during our Lincoln Half run was good enough to be less than 10% of race pace and I was feeling good enough so I ran home from Eric’s.  I totaled just short of 18 miles for the day.  The weather was beautiful and sunny.  Finishing our run with a tough half lap of Washington Park and seeing all the people was rather enjoyable.  By the time I got home I was pretty much exausted.  Church and dinner with the Danoh family followed.

D2, Lawyer, Lunch With Eric, and Danoh met me at my house just past 13:00 on Sunday for a bike ride.  We waited for the heat of the day which turned out to be a gorgeous 43 degrees.  A NW wind meant heading to Salisbury and Petersburg.  This was my first day on the bike in a long time so I was glad to have to turn around early at Gudgel Rd.  Sitting in on the way out and taking the tailwind home was just what I needed.  Getting in 27 miles made my body sufficiently tired.

The weekend was good for me.  My legs are starting to feel sore again.  What a great feeling!

We decided to run the secret “Vine and McArthur” loop.  Apparently it’s a tradition in Springfield that I have never heard of.  You can meet at 07:30 or 09:00 practically any Saturday on Vine and McArther and have running partners ready to go.  Who knew?

We ran to this location and began the 10 mile loop.  I felt pretty good at the start but by the time we hit the hills near Jefferson I was wanting Eric to slow down.  My plea fell on deaf ears as Eric crested the brutal turn-around climb and continued at the same pace.  Not hitting any stoplights or intersections wasn’t helping my cause either.  We never got a break.

Just like when my kids say “I have a great idea” you know it’s going to be the opposite.  Like running around the house with scissors.  Eric had a “great idea”.  Let’s run tempo for the last 2 miles.  Dan and I already thought we were running tempo but Eric wanted to go faster.  Dan and I reluctantly agreed.

Once cresting the hill in Washington Park we never saw Dan again.  Eric and I spoke with Mark S. (doing laps on his bike) on the boulevard and never really thought about Dan.  Talking with Mark S. did nothing but ruin my rhythm and send me anaerobic. The final 3/4 mile was brutal for me.

Eric and I finished together with him graciously waiting for me.  Then we waited, and waited, and waited, and waited.  Dan never showed.  Eric and I began to worry……sort of.  We jogged back and forth but no Danoh.  So we decided to head back home.  Our worry turned to resentment as we walked up to Dan warming up in his Jeep.  He was spent.

I stopped the watch with exactly 16.02 miles.  Just what I needed.  Today’s run was supposed to be a progressive run.  Even though it wasn’t graduated at the end it kicked my ass anyway.

My morning started off by taking my dog to the groomers then dropping off the lawn mower at the repair shop.  Hagan and I then went to the YMCA for swim lessons.  “Getting in the safe way”, motor boat, and practicing floating are always fun activities in the pool.

After struggling to get him bathed and changed we headed to the tire changing place.  A balance and rotation was just what the Ridgeline needed.  It felt like a new truck.  A bowl of Spaghetti-Ohs was all he needed before his nap.  Hagan was out like a light.

Once Sandy got home, I headed out for week 1, workout 2.  A 13 mile run at 10% over marathon pace.  The weather was mild and overcast.  It was around 28 degrees with some residual snow on the ground.  Therefore I opted for trail shoes.

My route was running to Washington Park, doing 2 laps, then heading home.  On my first loop, who do I see but HardyBreed Rabbit Alex T.  I assumed he was on wood patrol.  Circling the park for prized fire wood to be sold at reasonable prices.  Alex, I saw a good piece of wood on the boulevard.  You’ll have to check it out.  I gave him a quick wave but had to maintain my concentration to keep my pace respectable.  The stop lights really cut into your pace.

Checking the Garmin when I stopped I was pleasantly suprised to see a pace of 07:48 for the 13 miles.  Not bad considering the stop lights and snow.

Saturday was a bit of a fiasco.  I was all set to swim at Eisenhower on Saturday morning as the person at the pool informed me there was adult lap swim this particular Saturday.  However, Dan informed me that his daughter had swimming lessons at the same time at Eisenhower.  Assuming he was right I was bummed the rest of the day because my training expectations were shattered.  I didn’t really know what to do since I ran hard the day before and it was too cold to ride outside.  So after spending a couple of hours at the Fun Time Station I came home and rode the treadmill for 60 minutes with some light weights afterward.  Later that night I enjoyed dinner with Sandy at Lake Pointe Grill and listening to Prairie Rose at Pier 55.

Sunday was another “what am I going to do today” day.  Afte wasting most of the day I decided to run outside for 4 miles then ride the trainer for 30 minutes.  Not much of a workout but at least I burned some calories.