The Olympic Marathon

I am blogging tonight while watching the Men's Olympic Marathon. As a distance runner I love watching a marathon. It is so inspiring to see the best runners in the world run much faster than I could ever imagine. It inspired me so much to go out and run myself. Instead of sitting and watching the 2 hour marathon live, I decided to record it and go out and run. My long run this week was 15 miles. I have to say it has been the most difficult run thus far. I should know it is, because it is the longest I have ever run. At about mile 13 my legs began to tire and I could fatigue set in, however I kept on pushing. You can't stop when you feel a little discomfort. When you run a lot of miles, you are going to feel some pain. That is what makes distance running difficult, but rewarding. Now I'm sitting on my couch at 12:41 am watching my recorded marathon (not knowing who won yet) icing my knees.

Plenty of Room for Improvement

I read an article today in the Louisville Courier-Journal about the poor health of Kentuckians. The first line of the article says that "Kentucky is one of the fattest states in America. According to the article, "about 28 percent of Kentuckians are severely overweight." The results are found in a report released by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

This article is similar to a news release I read from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services saying that:

− Almost a third (30.3 percent) of Kentucky adults reported they did not participate in any physical activities or exercise such as running, golf, gardening or walking for exercise, other than their regular jobs.

− More than 80 percent of Kentuckians reported they did not consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

− Around 70 percent of Kentuckians are overweight or obese.

− Kentucky adults reported some of the highest prevalence of chronic diseases, such as diabetes, stroke and heart disease, in the nation.


I do have to say that I do not eat 5 or more fruits or vegetables a day, but I am getting better. There is a direct correlation between weight and chronic diseases. The articles go on to say that because of our "Hefty Sizes" our health care costs are higher as well. I am not a fan of going to the doctor and have not been in many years, however my health insurance rose a substantial sum last year. If we as a society could cut out some of our fried foods and get out there a do a little exercise, it would benefit everyone.

While these numbers are not good there is plenty of room for improvement. There is a great program started by former Governor Ernie Fletcher called Get Healthy Kentucky. There, you can take the Governor's Challenge to help improve your physical health. Another cool resource is NBC's The Biggest Loser Site. There you can follow the series that begins in September. They have a tool on there to calculate your BMI (Body Mass Index). This calculator uses your weight and height to see whether your a under/over weight, normal, or obese. I plugged my numbers in a found out that I am currently at a normal rate, however at the rate I was at the beginning of the year I was overweight. I knew I needed to lose a few pounds but didn't realize I was "Overweight". While using this calculator is not fun for many, it is necessary to determine your prognosis before you can come up with a solution. I have to tell you it is a great feeling to see the pounds coming off and the pants fitting better. Keep it up. Get Healthy Kentucky!

There is Hope

Check out this article. There is hope for a state who is known for it's fried chicken.

Our state fair is the greatest state fair in the world!

I've had a great week. Yesterday, I took my amazing girlfriend to the Kentucky State Fair. She has never been before! I couldn't believe it. I've been every year for a very long time. The Burton's used to take a day off from school to go the fair. I don't go to ride rides, but to walk through all the exhibits. Everything from the animals to the quilts, fruits, vegetables, and even tobacco. There is so much to see that makes be proud to be a Kentuckian.

I ran every scheduled run and am feeling amazing. Before I ran because I knew if I didn't run, then I would not be able to meet my goal. Now going out to run is something I have to do. It is becoming a part of who I am. I've heard more experienced runners say this, but I've been running off and on or a couple of years now and am just now feeling it. It is a great feeling and I'm beginning to feel the fruits of the hard work. You can take a look to the right of the page to see my recent runs.

What about the Olympics? I have always been a huge fan of the Olympics. I remember as a young child watching gymnastics in awe. Probably not so much how amazingly athletic they were, but how pretty I thought they were. Now it is illegal for me to have those thoughts! As I have matured in age, so has my respect for all the sports. I enjoy some sports more than others. I like the swimming, gymnastics, and track and field. I particularly like the marathon, because having experienced, distance running is one of the most difficult things a human being can do. Some sports I don't watch, like handball. What is up with that? It's like some kids couldn't kick around a soccer ball so they created a game with a little soccer ball that you throw instead of kick. I also don't watch basketball. Being from the bluegrass state, I get enough of basketball in the winter. I enjoy watching sports you don't always see. I have to say my favorite sport to watch is beach volleyball. For those of you who know me, probably aren't surprised. I've been a fan of beach volleyball for several years now going to several AVP tournaments. These men and women are such athletes. I'm glad Phil and Todd, and Kerri and Misty are still in the hunt for gold. I have no doubt that Kerri and Misty will win, because they are by far the best women on the sand. Phil and Todd, I believe, are the best, but there are many other great men out there. I think they will win the gold if they are playing their A game. We'll just have to see. This is enough of my Olympic rambling. I hope it is another great week of Olympics.

Midsummer Night's Run

It has been another good week of running. I logged in 25.1 miles including a 5k race. This is the second year I have run in the Midsummer Night's Run in Lexington. It is a fun 5k in the evening, hence the name. This year I ran with my amazing girlfriend, Jess. I ran the race in 25:41 (8:18 per mile) which is much faster than last year, 28:18. I'm in a whole lot better shape than I was at this time last year.

Tonight I got 13 miles in. It was a beautiful night to run. The sky was clear and I saw the sun go down and the moon rise. The stars looked like freckles. When I ran by the Middle School, the sign said the temp was 66 degrees. I could hear the crickets chirping and my feet hitting the pavement. My long run this week is down from 13 to 10 miles. It will be a recovery week from the long miles. I'm feeling the best I have ever felt and am looking forward to the Louisville Marathon in October.

Into the Wild Unknown

I ran 6 miles tonight and I am exhausted. This is the second longest run I have ever completed with the other being a mini-marathon. It was difficult but fun at the same time. From now on my long runs will become longer and longer with distances I have never attempted. I'm excited yet the uncertanity is a little unsettling.

I've had a great week of running finishing each scheduled run for the period. I have to say this is a first for me. Usually there is something that comes up a day here or there prohibiting me from run running. I'll post more later, but I'm asolutely worn out.