My 3rd Marathon

As a runner, I've always been told you will have good days and bad days. Well Yesterday I will call a bad day. LOL
I ran my 3rd Marathon (41st Annual ORRRC Marathon) Xenia, Ohio. The weather started out questionable. On/Off thunderstorms expected and temperatures in the mid 40's.
The race started off at 8:30 AM. There were 333 people running the 1/2 & 143 full 26.2 mile marathoners that finished. I started out good & running a pace that just felt ok for that distance. At the 1/2, I was running around 1:54 which was alittle quicker than I thought. We hit several roads were the wind & sleet were stronger than any I had run it yet.
The problems all seem to start around 14 miles. I started to feel a little dizzy. Not good, a sign of dehydration. I took a few jell packs & downed more water but I knew I was in trouble. My legs started cramping next. My left hamstring was turning into instant pain. I'd slowed down just to try & help. But it was to late! I would run between a one or two miles & the hamstring would just lock & want to stop me in my tracks. Wow, that really sticks, I felt good other than that. I ended up finishing at 4:30:57 at a 10:21 pace. Not terrible, but just not what I was hopeing for. Oh well, the year is young. I will do better. Maybe the Toledo marathon in two weeks....we'll see how it goes.

Holiday Run

I went with the family to Columbus today to see my wife's mom in the hospital. I think shes doing better & I'm sure she was glad to see all of us. I hope & pray she pulls through these hard times.
After we left the hospital we went to eat at a wonderful seafood place down there. I had a Salmon dish , clam chowder and Key lime pie. Yum! It was aw some.
After our hour & a half ride home, I figured I'd better run off that meal. I took it at a slow pace just because I was still so full. I ended up getting about 6 1/2 miles in. A nice run, plus the temp. was about perfect. This weekend is the Xenia Marathon, I know my miles are down. But I'm going to give it a shot. Wish me luck!

Just a nice little run

Tues., my day off. Started my morning by doing 20 push ups & 25 sit ups, wow, its been awhile. Got a phone call on the bat phone, ended up working from 11:00 to 2:00, oh well sold a car to a nice person from Toledo. Got home & had a nice chat with Josh & played with Sarah in the garage with her bunnies. Nice to just do nothing for a while.
Dawn wanted Spaghetti, so I went to the store for supplies. Ended up being pretty good. It was a new sauce with fresh peppers & onions. Yum.
7:52 PM, the temp. is 52 degrees.....Maybe a small run just because, its getting ready to rain. Oh well, lets go for it. Shorts & long sleeves.....I'm off. Got 2.92 miles in 23:44, The left knee felt good the whole way. Ran a 8:08 pace. Nice! The rain was spitting as I got back.

10 PM Run

Another long day at work. I went in at 8:00 Am & left at 9:35 Pm.....Oh well, tis the life of a Car Sales Person.
I told myself I was going to attempt a run again....I've been taking it easy because of my left knee.....I hit the road at 10:06 PM....Its was sorta spitting rain and 37 degrees, but going to be much worse tommaro...I got in 6.18 miles in 53:32 minutes...not to bad for an easy run. The problem is, I can still feel it on the outside of my left knee. I think its an IT Band, but not sure. I also ran the last mile on the other side of the road to see if the angle may or may not help....We shall see. I think I'll take of a few more days.....Sort of scares me with a Marathon coming up at the end of the month.

We'll see what happens.

Short 5K morning run

Well, I told myself that I was going to hold off from running for 4 days & see if my left knee would feel better. I got up first thing this morning & did a short 3.25 mile run. My pace was 8:11 per mile. Not to bad. I can truely say there wasn't any pain like its been the last few runs. I know my miles weren't much, but I think the rest helped! I think I'm just going to take it easy for a few more just to play it safe.
I stepped on the scale after my run at 180 lbs. Awsome, almost at my highschool weight again.

Monday Night Run

Went out after work tonight. Ran 7.25 miles. Felt ok but my left knee is still sore. Don't know what it is....I'll just sorta take it at a slow pace so it doesn't get any worse.

Oh ya, I ran in the new shoes ( Asics Gel-Nimbus 9 TN743)....They felt pretty good!

Sunday Run

Well, North West Ohio got hit with snow again. Cleveland & Columbus got about 2 foot of snow & we were about a foot or so here in Findlay. I told myself that I was going to get up and run regardless of weather. I was lucky the plows went through before I got up. The roads didn't have much traffic so it wasn't to bad. The temp. was about 18 degrees. I ended up getting alittle over 10 miles in. Felt Ok, but my time was down a little due to the snow.
I went up to Toledo afterwards and bought a new pair of Asics......That will give me 4 pairs to switch back and forth with. They seem to last a little longer that way, plus if they get wet, I don't have to worry about it the next day.
My left knee has been hurting alittle on the outside, don't know what it is, but I'm hoping it starts feeling better soon. I'm going to try and do a long run this week so I get one more in before the Xenia, Ohio marathon at the end of the month.

Very Blessed

Well I got up first thing this morning & forced myself to run before my long day at work. I hit the pavement at 6:27 AM. The weather was 25 degrees & still had most of the sidewalks ice & snow covered. I knew I had to get a few miles in because they are calling for more snow the next few days. Plus I don't get off work till 9 PM tonight, its hard to motivate yourself to run that late after a 13 hr. work day. I did my normal 5K run(3.28 miles) in a little over 27 minutes. Just enough to make you feel good. A short run is always better than a No run.

P.S. Ok I broke down & ran 4.8 miles after work aswell. LOL

I was up last night reading a few posts on runners world's website & they were talking about other hobbies that people had other than running. It's amazing how many truly talented people are out there. Things such as sewing, painting, cooking, woodworking, photographs ect.

It made me think back on my life & how lucky I've been over the years to do & see what I've done. A lot of people never get the chance to do 1/2 the things I've done.

I really enjoy the challenge with water colors. I've not had the time to do much lately, but intend to take it up again.

I've added 3 scans of paintings that I've done.

Enjoy

Rob

A Nasty Day

Well it's my day off. What a nasty day in NW Ohio. The outside temperature is 29 degrees but the wind is blowing strong & it is sort of raining ice balls. The rain hitting the ground is now turning to ice. I tell myself I really don't want to run but I know it has to be done. I'm planning on running in the Xenia, Ohio Marathon at the end of the month. I have to step up the miles if I have any prayers of running it in a respectable time.

9:15 AM and I'm out the door. I figure I'll go into the wind first to start that way my run back will be much easier. The rain/ice is stinging my face the first half hour out. Thank goodness it slacks off alittle & I'm able to get 7.55 miles done in about 1hr & 9 minutes. Not too bad considering the conditions plus the main ice held off till I got home. No falls or broken bones this time. Its a good day!

Stepped on the scale at 181.6 after my shower....

You can see how the ice is building up on the car later in the day.

My 2nd marathon

Well its that time again. This time I'm leaving the cold in NW Ohio & flying to Scottsdale, AZ. I've signed up for the 2008 P.F. Chang's Rock & Roll Marathon. We have some wonderful friends out west who let us stay in their beautiful house when we go that direction. The weather was perfect & I was looking forward to my run. My goal was to better my time from Georgia a few months earlier. When we got unpacked I figured I would see if the warmer temperatures would influence my performance. I strapped my laces and down the road I went. I put on about 6 miles & was surprised at how good it really felt. Wow, I think I live in the wrong part of the USA!!

I'm ready now all I have to do is wait for the race. The kids want to do some sight-seeing so we go out to do a little hiking. They love it! But race day approaches so we load up & back to the house for a rest. My only problem was that I told the kids if we have time, maybe we can come back after the race & climb that mountain. They never forgot those short few words.

Race time arrives, the gun goes off & here I go again. Running by myself is a little different, but I'm thinking positive. My family & friends encourage me several times throughout the race. I'm feeling tired but good. I cross the line at almost full speed. My time was 3:57:07. I did it! It's over & I need a drink after that one. You know what, when I got home & cleaned up that beer sure tasted good! LOL

The day after...Guess what the kids wanted to do? You said it, Climb that mountain. Maybe I should have had another beer last night. Oh well, I promised........

My 1st marathon

I ran my first marathon in Chickamauga, GA. at the Battlefield were so many Findlay boys from the 21st Ohio Volunteer Infantry lost their lives during the Civil War. The weather was perfect & all the leaves were in perfect color. I don't think I could have found a better place to attempt such a run. I keep thinking in the back of my mind, If I should happen to die 1/2 way through this run. Just put me in the ground where the Findlay men are....That way I'll feel right at home.

D.K. & my wife were my support team. They both did a great job for me. At about 18 miles I had a muscle shooting pain up my leg that made me feel as if I may have to drop out. I took 2 pain pills and with an empty stomach they kicked in quickly. A few miles later I was up to speed again with hopes and prayers that the finish line would soon appear.

After the race as most can imagine, my emotions got the best of me. I didn't know if I should cry or just lay down and die! Anyone who finishes a 26.2 mile marathon knows how I feel.

D.K. told me that the best thing I could do the next morning would be to try and run a little if I could. The pain in my body was unimaginable. Every muscle below my chest hurt. I felt as if my guts were going to fall out of my body. Wow, and she want me to run it off......I ended up jogging about 3 miles at what I believe is the slowest pace I've ever done in my life. But you know what? It was worth the pain, every 26.2 miles.

As you can see, my time wasn't what I was hoping for. But you know, considering the muscle in my leg pulling & my 1st time out on that type of run. I was very pleased with the results.

12-1-2007 Jingle Bell Run in Findlay

The weather was perfect for my first ever Jingle Bell Run. You can see that me & my friend Jerry even have bells on our shoes for this one. The temp. was a chilly 20 degrees & here we are ready to give it our best & then off to work after the run. My time came in at 22:30 which was a respectable 7:15 pace. Not to bad. I figure I burned about 435 Calories.......Not a bad way to start the day. By the way. I weighed in at 185lbs. after the race. Felt Great!

Birthday Day

Well, a good friend and fellow runner was celebrating her 44th Birthday this last Friday. That day happens to be a leap year. So she could really say it was her 11th Birthday & get away with it. She wanted to run a marathon for her celebration. So she planned the route & asked several of her friends to join in on the fun. They all started a little after 4:00 PM. I didn't get off work till a little before 6:00 Pm. So I stripped out of my dress clothes & put on my running gear, off I went. I ended up hooking up with her about 1/2 way through the route. I ended up running the last 13 miles with her. It was great. We had the wind to our backs most of the way. She did it! (Just happened to be her 69th Marathon) What a truly amazing person! I was glad to join in on the fun. It felt great to run with no snow and slush on the roads for a change.

Happy B-Day D.K.