12 miler in Mountain Brook

Just back from a 12 mile jaunt through Mountain Brook and Homewood, AL. It was cold, windy and overcast. Run completed in 2:19 for an 11:34 pace.

Now I have to grab a quick shower and head down to Tuscaloosa for the Bama vs. Miss State game. I'll update later, probably Sunday night.

Roll Tide Roll!

Drive & Determination

I used to think that I had lots of drive and determination, but as my training continues to be completely wishy-washy, I've been really questioning my own commitment. We all go through some highs and lows, ebbs and flows, but it's time to re-commit.

I can't think of a more driven person than Alabama Football Coach, Nick Saban. Is there a more driven coach in football? Watch the video from this week and you'll be as fired up as I am, AIGHT!

5 miles + 5K +Bama Football

Okay, Gerri and I ran 5 miles of our planned 7 miles, then headed over to the YMCA and ran in a 5K charity event. 5 miles was tough (GI issues), but enjoyed the 5K with Gerri and she got a PR.

ROLL TIDE ROLL!

Update - Bama won in OT 27-21 and are still #1.

We had a wonderful Sunday with family, friends and church at NewSpring before I had to leave for Chattanooga. Today I was in meetings and then had to drive to Savannah. It's now late, I'm tired and have to get up early. Updates and hopefully a run on Tybee tomorrow.

Postscript on this blog. It was a long week. I never did get a run in this week while in Savannah. I got home Thursday night around 6:15pm, in time for dinner with Gerri at Arizona Steakhouse. We then moved over to Starbucks and a great time with our NewSpring home group.

This morning (Friday), I dropped Gerri at work, went to the Blood Connection to donate platelets (and watch Bourne Ultimatum), and now I'm sitting in Liquid Highway waiting for my haircut appointment at noon. After my cut, I'm meeting our friend Ryan Sills for lunch at McAlisters Deli, a nice big spud on this cool rainy day.

I'll then head home, pack and pick up Gerri for the drive to Birmingham. We'll stop at Olive Garden north of Atlanta, and get in late. We have a 12 miler scheduled in Mountain Brook, and then the Bama game against Mississippi State tomorrow night.

Should be another great weekend.

A midweek run

Well sort of anyway. I woke and worked this morning in Yulee, FL. After my work day ended around 3:00 I drove the 100+ miles up I-95 to Savannah. I checked into the hotel, checked my emails, etc. and then headed to the "fitness center" to get a 3 mile run in on the treadmill. Yes, I have stayed at this Clarion before and used the TM.

Although I was hungry, I knew I could knock out the three miles easily before heading out to dinner. I was excited to hit the TM...for about 30 seconds. I'll admit that I get bored easily on the TM but that wasn't the issue tonight. The stupid TM belt was slipping badly causing me to constantly be readjusting my balance to avoid being thrown forward or off the back. The faster the speed, the worse the slippage. I stuck it out for two miles and finally called it quits. I sure would have liked to get another mile in, but it just wasn't worth risking injury and frustration.

After cooling down, I went out for a yummy dinner at Outback (7 oz filet, sweet potato, salad, bread and 3 big glasses of unsweet, yes unsweet tea). I then headed to a nearby Krystal location for my night visit. Unfortunately it went about as well as my TM experience, so tomorrow could be a real challenge.

Hopefully I'll be done around 3:00 tomorrow and home around 7:00. Looking forward to being home with Gerri and getting to spend some time with Chelsea and Heather. Running 7 miles Saturday morning downtown and then running the 5K Caine Halter Lungs for Life Run/Walk. Saturday afternoon will also feature the biggest game of the season for Alabama when we play LSU at LSU at 3:30pm. Sunday morning we'll be headed to NewSpring Greenville and then lunch with our good friends Eric and Robin.

I Can't Catch A Running Break

Today looked like a promising day for running. Got done in Jacksonville around 3:15 and headed north towards Yulee, FL, about 45 minutes north. Decided to have an early dinner since I knew there was not much around my hotel, so I stopped at Duval Rd near the airport. My new team member that I'm training was about a mile behind me due to traffic. I called gave him the exit number and told him how to meet me at Sticky Fingers.

Can someone tell me how you can get off at the right exit, be less than a 1/4 mile from the restaurant and then get lost and take almost 40 minutes (and three phone calls) to finally get to the restaurant. I had a nice dinner, except for the slightly spoiled unsweet tea and then drove the remaining 15 minutes to the hotel.

I expected to change into my running gear and hit the TM. I'm sorry the front desk exclaimed, we don't have a treadmill. Normally I'd opt for running outside, but we are on a busy, dark road with no shoulder. Looks like I'll another no run day.

Okay, so maybe I can watch the football game tonight. Sorry, the only channel on the TV that I can't see due to interference.

Oh wait, I missed the 1st half anyway having to finish and re-write the report from today's visit that should have been written and sent off almost 7 hours ago. Can anyone sense the stress and frustration in my evening? How about suggestions on teaching someone in their late 40's how to write using complete sentences, capitalization and punctuation.

I need chocolate and their is none to be found. Guess I'll have to settle for a chewable Vitamin C.

Tomorrow is another day.

Random Run On Thoughts

There are no excuses today, I just was not able to push myself out the door and onto the treadmill at the hotel. I figured I would do it this afternoon, then I started checking emails, twitter and blogs. Then I got caught up in some stupid movie that I don't even know the name. Suddenly it was dinner with a co-worker. I kept telling myself that I would hit the TM after my dinner settled a little. Who was I kidding? Then the election results started coming in and it grabbed my attention even though I have to admit that I exercised my right not to vote. I honestly do not believe either candidate deserves to be President of our great country, but I suppose someone will have to win. I predicted this morning a double digit win for O'Bama and things appear to be headed in that direction. Now it's 9:46pm, I'm tired and have to be up at 5:00am. Tomorrow is another day, another chance to redeem myself. The next four years scare the hell out of me, luckily three of those years I'll be focused on supporting my beautiful wife as she tackles her JD at a Law School to be determined. Yes, lot's of random thoughts in a run on paragraph. I won't make a habit of it, but that's just the way I feel tonight.

Coming Soon

Okay I'll admit that I was a slacker in October. A bad slacker. I only got in three runs, that right THREE runs. A 12 miler, an 8 miler and a Half Marathon. No wonder it was so hard! I got in a similar number of blogs, maybe 1 or 2 more. I find neither of these acceptable, so November is kick myself in the butt month.

I already have an 8 mile run in, and although short, my first blog of the month. I'm going to attempt 3-4 runs and blogs each week. Assuming I'm successful I'll have a written record of my life (warts and all) and will hopefully be better prepared for the next Half Marathon on Dec 6th. I 'm hoping Kiawah will be a better run and my training leading up to it will provide an initial base on which to begin building my Marathon training.

Did I mention that Alabama Football is the #1 team in the country? Bama has not been ranked #1 in the regular season since 1980, although we were ranked #1 at the end of the 1992 season when we whipped Miami to win the National Championship. With Bama back on top, life seems to have returned to normal.

So 1 run in the books and now 1 blog. Today was a long travel day to Jacksonville, but I'm planning on getting in a few runs this week while I'm on the road. Feel free to kick me in the pants if I fall short this month.