I'm Back!

To all of my avid readers, my apologies for the lack of posts over the past few weeks. Yes, I am still training, but things have been totally hectic with the end of summer and the beginning of the new school year at a new school. It's hard to believe that the Chicago Marathon is only four weeks away. Four Weeks! Training is getting hard! I need to switch my training schedule around too because now I have to commute to school. Life was simple when I just walked out the door and took a nice 15-minute stroll to school giving me plenty of time in the morning to go to the gym and run. Now that I have a 1-hour+ commute in front of me, afternoon training looks like the best option. Maybe I'll have to get the students to work out with me and push me. Otherwise, I fear the LAZY BUG might bite me! Stay tuned...

1:54.23!!!

A NEW PERSONAL RECORD! Of course I have only run this race two times now, but I did what I wanted to do while still running with a high schooler the whole way. It was amazing! I ran the Chicago Distance Classic with Edson, a high schooler, and Jason, another mentor. The day started out humid because it had rained only about one hour before race time. In fact, we all worried about it starting on time since there was much lightning and thurder to accompany the rains. But it cleared up and the sun came out, but that really wasn't a good thing either because the temperatures rose with the sun. So, it wasn't the most desired conditions for a 13.1 mile race, but we stuck to our guns physically and mentally throughout the race. Edson kept pointing out where he had wanted to stop last year, so we all decided that it would not be a stopping point this year. It was great to run with these two guys because the constant pushing and encouraging was needed. Congratulations to Edson for finishing in 1:54.19! His last kick was amazing and us old foggies could not keep up with him. Keep your eye here for pictures...if only you could have witnessed the joy in everyone's accomplishments!

Urban Trek to Millenium Park

Okay, so taper week does have its benefits...such as having the chance to hang out with the fam in the morning. Yes, sleeping in was nice too, but I can't get too used to that since the school year is just around the corner. Today was a beautiful day to spend picking up my race packet for the Chicago Distance Classic, urban hiking, running around in the "spitting" fountains at Millenium Park, seeing "the bean," listening to Japanese music at the Pavilion, eating a hotdog and snow cone along the lakefront, seeing the artistic globes, and hearing Evie say "ECHO" as we walked through tunnels. I think I sunburned my head with this new haircut. Probably not the smartest idea to go out without sunscreen on since just yesterday the dermatologist scolded me for running without it. Well, tonight is the Pasta Party for Team M3. Wish me luck on eating with moderation. I'll picture what I might leave on the ground during the half-marathon tomorrow if I don't watch what I eat. That will keep me on the right track! Keep an eye out tomorrow to see how we did! Wish the students super-running wishes!The "movie star" and the "rock star"

Workout 8/8 Afternoon Run

Run: 4.91 miles (44.47, 9.07/mile pace)

Workout 8/8

Since the Chicago Distance Classic (half-marathon) is coming up this Sunday, this week has been taper week. The last time I ran the marathon and half-marathon, I remember looking forward to taper week. But this time I realize what people mean when they struggle with tapering. It's hard to slow down a when you know that there are two marathons coming after this half-marathon. I feel like all I do is eat now. But, I know my muscles need the rest, recovery, and refueling time.

Warm-up: 10 minutes walking

CrossFit: 21-15-9 Reps of 95# Cleans; 42-30-18 Reps of Assisted Dips

Cool-down: 5 minutes walking

Workout 8/6

I finally remembered what it was like to run in Florida, but the funny thing is, I'm here in Chicago. Many of us around the country are learning how to maintain our training schedules in the heat and the humidity. It means making sacrifices that we may not be fond of...running indoors, waking up early, running late in the evening, etc. But hey, we are mentally training too. These diverse conditions force us to pull up our shorts, throw on our shoes, and step out the door while MENTALLY fixing ourselves to face the uncomfortable obstacles. For most of us, marathons are not easy. For many of us, CrossFit is not simple. But it's not always about our physical abilities either. At mile 20, our minds keep us going when our legs can't do it on their own anymore. When doing CrossFit Total, our minds help us push through an extra 20 pounds on our back squat. Don't forget about the mental aspect of sport and begin training for it. 4:30 AM, 90% Humidity, 80 degrees, near total darkness, running alone...PERFECT TIME TO TRAIN YOUR BRAIN!

Run: 4.08 miles (36.22; 8.54/mile pace)

CrossFit: "Modified Jason"
50 Squats
9 Pull-ups
9 Dips
25 Squats
18 Pull-ups
18 Dips
15 Squats
27 Pull-ups
27 Dips
10 Squats
36 Pull-ups
36 Dips

*Why so many Pull-ups and Dips, you ask? Since I can't do a Muscle-up, the modification is to do 3 Pull-ups and 3 Dips for 1 Muscle-up. I wanted to give up! But it was mental training day...so there you go! No, I can't do them without help, so I did do assisted pull-ups with the "GloboGym" machine...I'm not that impressive...YET!

Workout 8/4

We have our team shirts and shorts! Yeah! Team M3 finally received out shirts to wear on race day next Sunday--Chicago Distance Classic, here we come! You could feel it in the air this morning that the big race day is coming. Every kid was motivated to get out there and prove that they could run a long distance. For many of these kids, they are the first ones in their family to run for their health--let alone run 13.1 miles. I am so PROUD of them! This morning's run was paced to the point that we stayed together for most of the run. Manny, Edson, Dave, Rick, Cortez, and I voted early on to run without the 1 minute walk breaks, and we cruised. I know many of them will accomplish their goals on race day. Edson shared with me that he would like to finish in under 2 hours (a very noble and attainable goal seeing as he ran it in 2:08 last year). We are all looking forward to next Saturday--PASTA PARTY!!! Carbo-loading to the MAX! I just hope many of the students don't over eat...I'd hate to see the treasures left of the race course if that happens. We'll emphasize carbo-loading with moderation.

Run: 9 miles (1:24.40, 9.24/mile pace)

Workout 8/1, Part 2

An interesting topic of conversation came up among many other issues when I ran with Dan this afternoon. With seven and a half miles in front of us along the cooler lakefront, what better thing is there to do than talk about our lives and deeply held opinions. Today's Topic: TATTOOS. A Harris Poll taken in 2003 showed that about 16% of all American adults have a tattoo. In my age range (30-39 for you nosy people), the percentage of tattoo wearers is 28%. Most surprisingly, nearly a third of all people 20-29 have a tattoo, and I can just look around my classroom on any given day and see that teenagers are very likely to have a tattoo. So, what's the big deal? As Christian men, we were trying to figure out how to apply the verse in Leviticus that states, "You shall not make any cuts in your body for the dead nor make any tattoo marks on yourself." So here's a predicament for Christians with tattoos; is it a SIN to have a tattoo? My opinion is NO. Put the verse in context. I could go on and on about this topic, and I might just do that in another posting, but I don't want to bore you with my arguments right now. So here's what I ask of you; leave me a comment about your opinion and/or your favorite tattoo or tattoo idea. And take the poll you see in the right column.

Run: 7.5 miles (1:12.32; 9.40/mile pace) Not Bad for a Hot Day!

Workout 8/1, Part 1

Oh man! I hate to make up days in training...it means I have to suffer through a two-fer workout in 95 degree heat. Okay, I know you didn't come here to listen to me whine, so I will refrain from doing so. I will simply describe what I did this morning.

Run: 3.2 miles (27.22, 8.33/mile pace)

CrossFit: "Helen"
3 Rounds for Time of:
1/4 mile Run
21 45# Dumbell Swings
12 Assisted Pull-ups

*For the first time doing CrossFit, I felt like I could have lost my breakfast. Except I didn't eat breakfast. Now I understand the feeling!