Discipline

I have come to realize that it takes as much discipline to blog as did does to run a marathon. I am keeping up with my running schedule, however missing a few runs every now and then. I always make it a point to get my long run in. This builds endurance for the 26.2 miles to come. In training for my last marathon, I always had trouble with fatigue in my legs after my long runs. I read in Runners World that taking an ice bath after your long run will help with soreness. I have to confess I hate taking an ice bath, however combined with stretching it really works. I can get up the next morning and feel fine.

The last several weeks have had some crazy weather. I was without power for almost a whole week at the beginning of the month. This past Sunday and Tuesday it was so warm I ran in shorts. Tonight it was in the 20s and I was freezing. Kentucky weather is so unpredictable. But one thing remains: regardless of the weather I have to run. I can always bundle up and about halfway through I don't even feel the cold. This Sunday will be my recovery run of only 10 miles. It will be nice to have a shorter long run before I really add up the miles in preparation for the big event in April.

I'm doing good in raising money for World Vision. Thank you so much to all of those individuals who have contributed. God calls us Christians to help the poor and needy. I don't know anyone more needy than the children in Africa who are dying every day from preventable diseases.

Finally Got One In

It has been way to cold to run outside. I have been trying to get out and run since Sunday and every time I get ready to go out it is 13 degrees. Finally, after work tonight I made a vow to go run. The temp was 30 degrees. Still cold, but much warmer than the other days. Today's run was better than Sunday's. I got in 5 miles and feel pretty good about it. I am still out of wind shape, but it is getting a little easier. It is so nice after about a month when you can run without your side hurting. Now I'm off to go see my amazing girlfriend. Since tomorrow is supposed to be close to 50 degrees, I will be able to get outside again.

Cold Run

It has been freezing cold in Kentucky. I'm talking negative temperatures. Factor that with a recent illness, I haven't done a whole lot of running lately. With temperatures in the 30's today, I decided to bundle up and get out there and run. It felt good. I got in a slow 5 miles. Since I haven't run that much this year I didn't want to push myself on time. I am going to get back on my running schedule this week running 3 miles on Tuesday, 5 miles on Wednesday, and 3 miles on Thursday.

New Year

This is my first post of the new year. I want to begin with a review of the last year. 2008 was my first year of serious running. I have been running causally for a couple years now, but I have accomplished some great firsts last year. In April I ran in the Derby Festival miniMarathon with a time of 2:12:53. It was the first time I had ran in a race over 10 miles and it was difficult, but I felt good afterwards. In July I began training for my first marathon and ran a total of 225.24 miles in preparation the toughest event of the year. On October 19, I ran in the Louisville Marathon in 5:07:24.79. This was by far the hardest thing I have ever done, but my greatest feat. As you can see distance running is far more than running the race, but all the miles you log in preparation. All in All, I logged 63 runs for a total of 388.7 miles in 69:49:57.

I had a great year of running. I am in the best shape of my life and feel great. I plan on 2009 being even a better year. Here are a list of things I want to accomplish this year:

Complete the Triple Crown of Running
Raise $500 for Team World Vision
Complete the Derby Festival Marathon
Complete the Birmingham Xterra Mountain Triathlon (Tentative)
Complete the Louisville Marathon