Muddy Runner

3TTh: Race Day; Unfit; Girl Scout Cookies!!

2012-02-02T08:43:00.000-08:00

1. Half Race, Full Day: My next race is fastly approaching. Before I know it I will be standing at the start line of the Surf City Half Marathon. It's going to be an exciting day. I am excited to run a race and to test myself at this distance, but I'm most excited for my running friends. Friday, I will write more about my buddy Dean who will be gunning for his first 26.2-mile run on Sunday. Aside from him and a couple other friends who are also running the full, I'm excited to have the chance to pace a runner to her first sub-two hour half marathon. She's been one of the stronger runners in my pace group, so I think she will have no problems conquering the distance. It will be fun to see her cross the finish and celebrate with her afterward. It's going to be an awesome morning. If you want to follow along my progress... I will have to get back to you. I don't know the name of ~~the person who is selling me their bib~~ my alias yet but once I do, I will share it.

2. Not Fit To Run: I ran across this on Men's Health. It kind of made me shake my head. The premise is this: a quick three-step test will help you see not just if you are fit but if you Men's Health Fit. Their three tests: core stability (hold a plank for 60 seconds), chinups, pushups. Yeah, no running or cardio of any kind. A bit further reading made me shake my head again. MH then describes these things that make for a healthy, active man: core strength, lower- and upper-body strength and "enough endurance to run a mile without stopping for defibrillation." Wow. So if you can run a mile you meet at least one criteria of being MH Fit? That seems like a low bar. I mean, for the average guy maybe one mile would be a decent mark but for MH Fit I would think that you should be able to run a 5K at the very least. One mile without keeling over of a heart attack? Unreal. Of course, their other things I would struggle with. I've never been good at chinups and pushups and planks are difficult and always have been. So all these rocked-up men who are MH Fit... well, I guess I'll just have to take solace in the fact that I can run 26.2 times as much as they can.

3. Girl Scout Cookies! Do you want some? My girls are selling Girl Scout Cookies. I am happy to ship cookies to different places. Already sending some to San Jose, Texas and got orders from LA and Utah pending. I will cover the shipping charges... unless you order a pallet of them, in which case I'll chip in. If you are local or are going to be in the area I would deliver them to you if we could work something out. Let's see, we've got Thin Mints, Peanut Butter Sandwiches, Peanut Butter Patties, Caramel deLites, Thanks-A-Lot, Shortbread, Lemonades and Shout Outs. I don't know, but I heard some of these make good post-run meals... wait... maybe I'm confusing that with something else...

We've got plenty, and we are already making plans to pick up more boxes of all kinds, so order away.

The girls would be much obliged! And you will get some of their handy artwork too :)

Best Running Month Ever

2012-01-31T21:14:00.000-08:00

January is over now and with it my best running month. I did not run a race this month but aside from that, this month has truly been top-notch on all levels.

I set a record high for mileage in a month with 222.

I had a 20-mile run that was my best training run ever.

I ran every day this month.

I am constantly encouraged by how strong my legs feel.

I ran long runs of 18, 12, 20 and 12 this month. The fewest I ran was a 1.24 on Jan. 14. I had an all-day commitment to tend to but got up at 4:30 a.m. and ran a mile and change. I averaged a bit higher than that - 7.16 miles a day.

About the only problem I have is my Achilles heel is acting up again. I hope that once I finish refereeing high school soccer games that my heel can heal.

February maybe won't bring 222 miles. However, I will run two half marathons and a 22-mile run in February so I will give 200 miles a run for its money.

One Half, Two Half

2012-01-30T06:27:00.000-08:00

When talking about multiple half marathons, you can either say "half marathons" or "halfs." I think. Well, you wouldn't say "halves" because that just doesn't sound right. But then again, "halfs" is grammatically incorrect so I generally avoid my references to those races in just one word.

Anyway, there's a point to this. I didn't just wake up and decide to start spewing gibberish on this blog.

When the year started... scratch that... when last week started, I had not intended on running a race until the LA Marathon. But in the span of about five days I decided to run a pair of half marathons.

On Sunday, I'm returning to where it all started for me - Surf City. I'm going to participate in the Surf City Half Marathon. Instead of running the full marathon as I did the last two years, I'm going to run the half. I wasn't going to run it at all but had planned on being out there to help celebrate with my fellow Lopers. But a fellow runner on Sunday told me she had a friend who was looking to sell her bib and 65 bucks later, I'm in. I'll have to run as a female but that's fine. Won't be the first time.

That will be a fun day, and I'm sure I'll dedicate a post to what I hope to accomplish from that race, but it won't be the only race I have coming up. On Feb. 12, the following Sunday, I'm going to run the Palm Springs Half Marathon. I'd actually decided on running this before I jumped at the chance to run Surf City. One of the runners in my pace group is running Surf City full on Sunday - his first marathon (!!!) - and is running the Palm Springs half the following weekend, so I decided to run Palm Springs with him. I wasn't going to gun for a PR or anything in that race, mostly just wanted to run a race and run it with him.

I'm not quite sure yet what my race calendar will look like but this could be the year of the long-distance races. Along with the Run Through Redlands (which I'm planning on running) and the Fontana Days Half Marathon (registered) I could run four half marathons (as opposed to four halfs/halves) by June 2 of this year. Add to that the two marathons I'm running (LA, San Francisco), the other two I am eyeing (OC, Long Beach) and my calendar could get lengthy really quick.

But that's fine. I'm not complaining. On the contrary, I embrace the challenge and the multiple races, even if they don't really have a straightforward way of making them plural.

TTT: A Full, Heel Sans Heal, No Surf

2012-01-25T21:49:00.000-08:00

1. So how many marathons do I want to run this year? I'm registered for two marathons - LA and San Francisco (okay, not registered for the latter but as Ambassador I will be running the full). I am keeping an eye on other marathons but I wanted to wait until after LA to decide on another Spring full, and then had thought about doing the same for a Fall full with SF. Well, after Sunday's awesome 20-miler, I may re-think that thinking. I might be strong enough to run more marathons than I had originally thought. I suppose physically I am but mentally I think is where I needed to make sure I was in tip-top shape before deciding. Anyway, the Long Beach Marathon opened for registration on Wednesday and the price right now is $80 for the full and $60 for the half. I am tempted as all heck to sign up for the full. I'm going to have to seriously ponder this. The downfall to this would be having to run straight through the summer, run after SF and not take a break, but who am I kidding, I don't anticipate taking a break for anything. I may go for it, and worse comes to worse I can just run the half.

2. My heel is hurting. Ouch. My stupid shoes that I use to referee high school soccer games in have done damage to my Achilles heel. It's tender and forces me to limp. I hate it. I bought some new shoes in hopes that they will be more forgiving on the heel. I am hoping that does the trick.

3. Bummed about Surf City? I ran Surf City Marathon in each of the last two years but am not running it this year, neither the half nor the full. I am a little bit bummed about it to be honest. It seems as long as I've been running I've been focusing on this race, at least when I've been running through the winters. I'm going to be out there for the race because three of the runners from my pace group are doing the full and others are doing the half but it will be strange to not be running it. I know what will happen, though. Right now and in the days to come I will be bummed about it but when I'm out there seeing all the full marathoners slogging into the finish, I will say "I'm sure glad I did not run it this year."

Top 20 Miler

2012-01-23T22:40:00.000-08:00

It's been a couple of days but the glow of Sunday's 20-miler has not worn off. Not only did I prove to myself how good of shape I am in but I also showed myself what some preparation, focus and determination can lead to.

Now, when I was done with the run I called it the best training run I've ever had. And I mean it. I've had some really good training runs, runs that left me surprised with what I'd accomplished or wondering where I got some strength/speed from but this one topped them all.

Not only did I finish in a good time but I also, for the first time, was not completely wiped out at the end of the run. I really feel like I could have gone a few more miles. Who knows, maybe I had 26.2 miles in me that day.

What I do know is that it's just another sign of my progression as a runner. 20 miles is a distance I've only run five times prior (I've done a pair of 22-mile runs but I'm leaving those out for now). If you compare Sunday's run to them... well, there really is little comparison.

12/20/09 - 20 miles, 3:44:00 - 11:11 pace

This was my first-ever 20-mile run. It's my slowest time, which is to be expected. My goal here was exactly as it should have been - to finish. I finished. I was proud of myself and I slept for hours afterward.

6/20/10 - 20.00 - 3:38:99 - 10:54

This one was rough. First, I ran all 20 miles alone. And when I say alone, I mean alone - nobody with me, down a desolate and lonely road all the way for 10 miles and then turn around and run 10 miles back with nothing to see. I foolishly did not have my Garmin with me so that threw me off. I felt so bad after this one physically that, combined with the mental anguish I felt, that I shed some tears afterward. No way I could have run another step.

1/02/11 - 20.11 - 3:29:32 - 10:25

My first run of 2011 was a 20-miler, so to add some spice to it I decided to make it a 20.11 mile run. Ha. I felt good afterward. I was in the midst of training for Surf City and had logged a lot of miles, making the experience better for me.

1/16/11 - 20.01 - 3:31:12 - 10:33

Instead of running 22 miles as my final pre-marathon run, I decided to run 20. I figured it was about the same. My group was supposed to have run 14 that day so I ran six alone beforehand, then ran with the group for the final 14. It was hard and I faded the last 3-4 miles.

3/20/11 - 20.05 - 3:41:39 - 11:03 pace

This was possibly the toughest of them all. More so than just physically, mentally I was spent well before this run even started. I'd just run Surf City and now was training for Diamond Valley Lake and my mind wasn't all the way into it. I decided to just run for the heck of it and set out on a as-long-as-I-get-20-miles-done-I'm-happy run. I ran 10 miles on the track at the high school and finished less than three minutes faster than my first-ever 20-miler.

1/22/11 - 20.06 - 3:15:56 - 9:46 pace

In all the previous runs, I couldn't have kept going afterward. I mean, if my life depended on it, I could have, but that's about it. But in my last 20-miler I felt great and I most definitely could have kept running. I chewed up the mileage without really worrying about what distance I was, what my pace was, how fast I'd run the last mile in... I ran with my phone/running app of course but didn't pay a whole lot of attention to what the statistics said. I knew at times I was running faster than I should have and I knew at others that I was running a bit slower than I'd been but I always felt strong, always felt like my legs had plenty left to give. At the end, I ran fast and finished my last mile in 8:15. That's pretty fast considering I'd run 19 miles already. Also, the time is in my favor for the last run. I beat my previous best time by almost a full 15 minutes.

So.... the question is this... will this mean that I will have a great LA Marathon? Well, I don't want to go there yet. I have to keep my focus on what's coming up, and that race is not quite coming up just yet. My next big test will be the 22-mile run, our last long training run before we hit LA. That's on Feb. 26. But there are many, many runs before then so I will not allow myself to ponder that just yet.

For now, I will take this 20-mile run as a reminder that I am in top shape and that if I want to stay there I have to keep working hard.

Best Shape Ever? Oh Yeah

2012-01-22T11:46:00.000-08:00

Remember my post on Thursday, about me being in the best shape of my life?

Well, Sunday was the test of that belief. 20 miles on the schedule... that will test anyone's mettle.

If that run was a test, then I passed. With a solid A, if not an A-plus.

20.06 miles in 3:15:56 for an overall pace of 9:46.

It was an unbelievable run. It really was. I felt so strong throughout the run. I never felt that familiar muscle-tightening, cramp-inducing, brain-killing ache that just seems to drape over you during these really long runs. It was more like I had a bounce in my step throughout and no matter what distance I was at, I felt strong. I felt great at Mile 5, felt superb at Mile 10, felt splendid at Mile 15 and felt ridiculously strong at Mile 18.

I wound up running most of the run with one other runner (within a group of six). Two of the guys took off ahead at about Mile 13, and about Mile 18 my running partner and I took off. She felt strong, so did I and we went for it. Mile 19 we ran in 9:16 - our fastest mile since Mile 19 - and Mile 20 was our fastest mile at 8:15. I wasn't gassed at the finish either. It was encouraging knowing that I could have run more and been fine. My legs really responded in a big way and I never felt mentally out of it. I didn't look at my phone much to see what distance I was at, although I knew from the course, but I was always surprised when I looked at the distance because it just didn't feel like we'd run that far already, whether it was at 4.7 miles, 10.03, 13.27 or 16.24.

The best part about the run though was helping my fellow runners get to 20. My running partner felt a twinge in her leg at about Mile 12 but she powered through it, took a Motrin at one of the water stops and didn't complain about it afterward. Two first-timers were the ones who took off ahead and came in about three minutes before us and another first-timer came in about a minute after. Seeing them finish, congratulating them after such a memorable run and being a part of it all is really special.

And I couldn't have done it had I not worked so hard in order to put myself in this position.

That declaration that I so boldly made on Thursday... I think I backed it up today.

I truly am in the best shape of my life.

All smiles once I got home.

Best Shape of my Life

2012-01-19T11:05:00.000-08:00

When I was building up my mileage and developing as a runner, I often had a recurring thought.

"I am in the best shape of my life."

Now, back then of course it was easy to say that. I had been overweight my whole life, was not too far removed from 300 pounds and, well, with that in your background it's really not saying much.

Still, I felt that I was pushing myself more and more, reaching new ground and my body was responding in kind. Training for races and running long distances was only making me feel better and stronger, and thus I constantly felt like I was improving my fitness levels.

Thus, the feeling that I was in tip-top shape was ever present, for quite some time.

Before my first two marathons, I felt like I was on top of the world. I felt like I was really in my peak physical condition. But somewhere in between Marathon No. 2 and Marathon No. 3, that feeling dissipated. I'd taken some time off, was running long distances, yes, but it wasn't new ground any more. I was in a groove somewhat but the same "I am king of the world" feeling was gone.

I reached the start line of Marathon No. 3 and felt good, felt great but I did not know if I could honestly say "I am in the best shape of my life" before I ran it. I set a PR, shaved almost 15 minutes off my previous PR, and did feel good, but somehow that "best shape" feeling was not there.

And it has not been there for a while.

Until now.

I ran 8 miles on Thursday morning, ran them in 1:07:11. That's a pace of 8:22. Three of the miles, I ran un under 8 minutes.

I felt great. I felt superb. I had that familiar feeling. And I gave into it.

I really do feel like, right now, I am in the best shape of my life.

I don't have a race to prove that in, at least not one that's close. LA is still two months away and I don't know that I will run anything before that.

But I do have a huge challenge coming up. On Sunday, I am going to run 20 miles. It will be the longest distance I've run as a pace leader, the longest distance I've run since my last marathon, in April of last year, and only the eighth time I've run this distance in training.

I don't often get to these heights, but I am approaching it as best as I can. I do feel strong. I feel stronger than I can ever remember feeling. I'm trying to be more confident in my ability to power through runs. It's always a struggle with me though because it feels as if I try to show more confidence I end up being overconfident and then I suffer. But I do feel good about my abilities, about how strong my legs are, how strong my will has grown, and how top-notch I feel right now.

We'll see how the 20 miles goes on Sunday but I've done my part in getting there. I just have to follow through now, and I guess I will find out soon enough if I really am in the best shape of my life.

Run, Ride and a Rodent

2012-01-17T06:49:00.000-08:00

The weather did thwart our beach plans Monday. It was just too chilly to have the girls play in the sand and water.

So what did we do?

Well, I ran. Made sure of that. The two nearby high school tracks were being used (boo) so I had to drop the girls off at my mom's and then go on a run. Knocked out 4.5 miles in the process. I have a 20-mile run on the weekend so I hope that wasn't too much mileage to start out the week.

The girls wanted to head out to the San Bernardino County Museum. Since we have a family pass it cost us nothing to get in. Once inside...

There were some friends for Kennedy to play with. First she got her hands on some baby ball pythons. Then, she got to hold a mouse...

Of course, she was fearless around animals. She rather likes animals. Well, she didn't get to hold these, and not sure if she would have...

As for Yvie, she was happy looking at (stuffed) animals through glass.

After our adventure at the museum we went bike riding. It was so cold and I didn't have my jacket with me. My fingers were frozen but we got in nearly five miles. The sun was setting on us so we had to motor through the last mile quickly but in a few short months we will have more than enough sunlight for us to ride twice that if we wanted.

So, no beach for us Monday but plenty of other things kept us busy.

Foiled By The Weather

2012-01-16T08:03:00.000-08:00

It's January 16.

I suppose 50-degree weather shouldn't be a surprise.

A few weeks ago, in the midst of our "winter" I'd planned on heading out to the beach today. The girls are off school and I figured a beach run for me, bike ride for them would be a great way to spend the morning. Then after our run/ride I could let the girls play in the sand and shore as I sat and relaxed nearby, maybe reading a book or listening to music or just soaking in the rays.

But today's forecast for the nearby beach is mid-50s, cloudy and nothing like the low 70s that the beach enjoyed just a couple of weeks ago.

Ugh.

Now, I can still head out there and run/ride with the girls but the whole playing-in-the-water part would probably not happen. It's one thing if the sun is out and is warm but cloudy weather would make for a chilly time on the beach and that's probably not all that enjoyable.

Double ugh.

So I don't know what we'll do this holiday. I gave the girls a lot of options - bike riding nearby, tennis, climb Mt. Rubidoux, baking, a combination of things - but they seemed rather nonplussed about the options. I don't think I can handle Disneyland today since it probably will be crowded, given the holiday and all.

Anyway, I best get on with my day. I feel like leaving you with a picture so I will.

Kennedy got all dressed up this weekend for a quincenera (a cousin of mine turned 15 and she had a big Mexican-style bash to celebrate) and it was a treat for Kennedy to be dressed the way she was.

I was the photographer for the ceremony (along with my sister-in-law) so we snapped plenty of pictures of Kennedy...

Happy Monday!!

Five Things Friday

2012-01-12T21:11:00.000-08:00

Ugh. Haven’t posted all week, figured I owed you some more content.

1. Run streak is alive and well. I made it a goal to run every day at the start of the year and so far, so good. Through Thursday, I’d run for 12 consecutive days and had logged 83 miles over that span. I’m feeling great too. My legs feel strong. I ran 18 miles on Sunday and recovered enough to run a solid four-miler on Monday, a hilly six-miler on Tuesday and 8-mile runs on Wednesday (at an 8:50 pace) and Thursday (8:32 pace). I’m chewing up these miles and I couldn’t be happier about it.

2. My pace group is awesome. I can’t wait to run the LA Marathon with them! Even if I don’t run every step with all of them – which I already know I won’t – it will be so great being on the same course as them and the best part of course will be greeting them all at the end of the race. I know we still have more than two months from now ‘til then but I really am excited. There are four newbies in the group and they are all so strong and determined. It’s really contagious. They make me want to become a better pace leader.

3. The marathon bug has got me. As of now, I’m only running two marathons in 2012 for sure – LA Marathon on March 18 and The San Francisco Marathon on July 29. I had not set any goals for myself as far as running anything beyond San Francisco – half, full or what have you – and I still haven’t really decided. However, I do not want all these training miles to go to waste. I’m considering the OC Marathon on May 6 and possibly the Long Beach Marathon in early October. We’ll see how I do after LA but I think squeezing in another marathon between LA and San Francisco could be manageable. A lot will depend though on how I feel after LA.

4. The Year of Living Actively is in full swing. So far this year the girls and I have been bike riding five times. We went last week for three consecutive days and they were not tired at all. Kennedy has really improved. She can now take off on her own and she can ride far. On Tuesday, she rode two miles without stopping. The most we’ve ridden thus far has been four miles but I think they can ride more. We had to cut that one short at four miles because we ran out of time. We’ve also climbed up Mt. Rubidoux and have gone to play tennis twice. Tennis is a work-in-progress but they really do like the sport so we shall continue to foster that.

5. Monday is going to be a fun day. As you know, Southern California has totally awesome weather. This winter has been anything but cold. In fact, it was really chilly (for us) in late November/early December but for the last three or four weeks or so, it’s been spectacular. Save for some really windy days, it’s been almost like spring here. We had a stretch where the highs were in the mid-70s and low 80s. Unreal. Anyway, since there is no school on Monday we are going to head over to Huntington Beach and ride our bikes on the bike path there. I may run a little and then ride my bike with the girls but either way I am going to get my run in no matter what. The girls are already quite excited about it. I’m not sure how much they will enjoy the water itself since the water tends to stay cold until the summer months, but they’ll have fun playing in the sand and riding their bikes. Should be a fun day in sunny SoCal for us

Ambassador Profiles

2012-01-10T06:32:00.000-08:00

They're up.

All the profiles of the San Francisco Marathon Ambassadors are up on the race web site. Included is a picture of each of us (a lot of us anyway) and on some there are links for ways to get ahold of us, via email, our blogs, Twitter, Facebook, etc. There's also a bit of info about each of us. Not sure but I might be the only former member of the 300-pound club in there. Ugh.

Anyway, the contact info helps get locals in touch with their local ambassador. I'd be happy to run with IE locals who are also training for San Francisco, so if anyone asks I'm sure I could work something out. I'd love to take new runners to Mt. Rubidoux for instance. That's the mecca of hill training here in the IE if you ask me.

Anyway, here's the link to the page. I'm the only guy wearing pink... sigh. In fact, not too many of the ladies are in pink. Ah well, I'm true to my running club so what are you going to do?

***

Sunday I ran 18 miles and Monday was not a rest day. I wanted to run four miles. I went to Mt. Rubidoux but ran on the bike paths outside there. I headed down towards a nearby lake and ran around that twice. it's kind of a small lake so it's only like a mile around it. I had to run twice around it to avoid running out on the bike path more than I'd wanted to. Anyway, I wound up running 4.23 miles and I actually felt good. I might have felt a bit more winded than I usually do but otherwise I was fine.

That's another benefit of running every day. My recovery time is lessened. I can get my legs back to action quickly after a hard run and not feeling many negative effects. I could have kept on running and in fact was slightly tempted to plow through and get to five (I think I could have gotten to six without collapsing) but stopped at where I was.

Another 18-mile Challenge

2012-01-08T13:33:00.000-08:00

In Nov. 2009 I ran 18 miles for the first time. It's a distance I haven't done a whole lot. I've surpassed it several times but I think I've run exactly 18 miles (give or take a .2) four times. Before Sunday anyway.

I've run four marathons. Notice a pattern? Yeah, only time to run 18 miles (for me) is when training for a marathon.

Sunday I ran an 18-miler for the fifth time ever. Now, I'm writing this a few hours after having completed it, I still have white stuff on my face from sweat and I haven't even taken a shower (TMI, but I like to keep it real here). But I'm trying to compare it to my other 18-mile runs. I don't know, I can't say that I feel super strong. The run went great, it really did, but as far as feeling like I feel after 12-15 milers... not there. Part of me thought that running all these miles I've been running would have given me strength like I've not had before, but while my legs were able to push through stuff, I still was gassed at the finish.

Maybe it's just my body mentally preparing for getting to the end of my run, and since it was 18 miles my body had exactly 18 miles in it. Had I run 16 or 20, perhaps I'd have felt the same.

Okay, well I don't mean to be a downer so I'll get on with this post...

One area that was better was after the run. I wasn't gassed to the point where I just had to collapse on the ground or that I was a useless blob after the race (although I do plan on taking a mean nap here as soon as I finish this post). And I've been walking around and I actually feel a bit of a bounce in my step.

Thanks to the wonders of Dailymile I have the times of all my runs sans my first one. But, well, my first one is probably the most memorable training run of my life and certainly the toughest training run I've ever done. So I remember that time.

11/22/09 - 18 miles, 3:18:00 (11-minute pace)
5/16/10 - 18 miles, 3:02:10 (10:07 pace)
12/19/10 - 18.21 miles, 3:12:00 (10:32 pace)
3/06/11 - 18 miles, 3:08:05 (10:26 pace)
1/08/12 - 18 miles, 2:59:25 (9:58 pace)

I remember feeling good after my second-ever 18-miler. I was training for the 2010 San Francisco Marathon so I was running a lot of hills at the time and I think that made a big difference. The only thing that tarnished that run was all the blood (my blog post about it, with picture).

And as for my toughest-ever run, I did in Seattle. In rain and 40-degree weather. A truly memorable run.

Sunday's run was the third I've run on the Loper course so perhaps that's why these other two runs stand out, since I didn't run them on the usual course.

I'm happy with my run and I'm happy with the work I've put in. Part of why I've wanted to ramp up my training was to be able to not just get through these really long runs but do them in a manner that will benefit all of the other runners in my pace group. And I think I did that with this run.

Okay, off to nap now.

The Year of Living Actively

2012-01-05T07:00:00.000-08:00

Aside from setting a lofty goal of 2,000 miles for 2012, I've also made it a goal this year to be a more active family.

Now, it's not that we haven't been active in the past - my girls have played soccer since each was four, plus have done karate, ballet, gymnastics - but this year I really want to focus on it. They are still very young and very impressionable and they get excited about fitness-related activities so I want to foster that.

So what will we be spending our time doing this year?

Santa was kind and got them each their own tennis racquet. I think this actually got me started on this whole fitness kick. Tennis is a difficult sport to master, and it's even tricky to get started in, but the girls had been saying for a while that they wanted to learn to play tennis (thanks, Wii Sports) so Santa must've been listening. We've been once and, well, I have to do some research on helping them get started. They did have fun and all but they were frustrated, Kennedy particularly - she wasn't making contact with the ball well and it got to her.

Anyway, tennis is definitely something that will help them be more active but it's not the only thing.

Kennedy is starting to become a strong bike rider. She was very tentative to ride her bike but lately I've been pushing her and she's responded. Now, in the spring we rode our bikes often (Kennedy's had training wheels) but then there was a problem with her bike and it was out of commish for a while. Once we got it back, we rode sporadically. I got a flat on my bike sometime in late summer and that hurt our excursions. Now, though, with both of them being able to ride on their own I can run as they ride their bikes. So that's another way that I will be able to get my runs in when they are out of school. And best part of that is we can go to the beach more often now with our bikes. Oh yes, I anticipate a lot of beach trips not just this summer but in general.

Another thing we can and will do - and perhaps the toughest of all - is climbing Mt. Rubidoux. On Wednesday we rode bikes first, then climbed Mt. Rubidoux after and we were all beat afterward. I've run up that thing many times but walking up is much more of a chore. I hardly ever feel sore after a run but after every hike up there I'm sore, and this time is no exception.

I kept the elevation for this but stupidly forgot to start the app after I paused it when we rested for the last time, but we gained more than 400 feet elevation from the bottom to the top, over the course of one mile.

I'd hoped to use this as a gauge to see if the girls would be ready for a proper hike, somewhere off Mt. Rubidoux's paved path. I'd even prepared the girls before going up Mt. Rubidoux, telling them different things about hikes and what we'd do when we go on them. It was a tough hike and they were tired so I think a few more trips up there would serve us all well before we go trekking in nature somewhere.

We did have a good time though.

Yvie was excited once she got to the top.

So between tennis, cycling and hiking we've got plenty to keep us busy. The girls also have been wanting to run so that is also in our future, as is soccer of course. Yeah, that's a lot to keep the LB girls active.

But there's also one other thing that will compete for our active minds and bodies.

Disneyland consists of a lot of walking, as evidenced by our trip there Tuesday. The girls were worn out by the time we left, and we left early. Got to the park at 7:40 and left at about 2:30. Heck, I was worn out so I can imagine them.

Tennis, cycling, hiking, running, soccer, Dinseyland...

This is the Year of Living Actively indeed.

Running Every Day

2012-01-04T06:37:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, I ran two miles. It was my third consecutive day of running. It's not quite the infancy of my running streak but rather the embryonic stage. Yeah, this egg just got fertilized.

From early October through late December, I ran every day. My streak reached 75 before I got sick on Dec. 23 and had to shut it down for three days. I piled up 499 miles over that stretch, an average of more than 6.5 miles a day.

When Jan. 1 came around I knew I had to start another streak. I wanted to do it right so I rested on Saturday, making New Year's Day the first day of my new streak.

I want this streak to last more than 75 days. I would like to see it hit triple digits. I was hoping the previous streak would hit the century mark but it fell short.

So why the fascination with running every day?

It worked for me. It made me a stronger, faster, more efficient runner. It helped tackle barriers and helped minimize some mental challenges. It helped me recover faster from both long runs and shorter, harder runs and it just kept me feeling fresh.

For me, rest days always seemed like a bit of a regression. I'd typically run long on Sundays, rest on Monday and when I'd go back and run Tuesday I always felt the long run at the beginning. So that Tuesday run was not necessarily a recovery run but it felt like it. And that always kind of felt like a setback, like I couldn't get into the rhythm I wanted to or needed to. But now, I recover on Mondays no matter the Sunday distance and I feel refreshed and ready to run hard on Tuesday. Also, running the day before a long run was something I didn't used to do often but now it helps keep the blood flowing and helps my legs start fresh on Sundays instead of it taking me some time to get the legs from feeling like lead.

Running every day helps me push through hard runs. With how strong my legs feel, I really do feel like I can get through any distance. Now, that will be tested on Sunday when I run 18 miles but so far during all of my tough runs I just reach down and draw strength from that and my legs respond.

Now, I'd always wanted to run 40 miles a week or more but found it difficult to get that in, but running every day helps me get to that number consistently. I had 10 consecutive weeks of at least 40 miles. In the 10 weeks before the start of that 10-week stretch, I had one week of 40-plus miles.

I've been eating miles like crazy lately and it's had nothing but a positive effect on me. On Wednesday I plan to run some and the streak will reach four days. Before too long it will hit double digits and the deeper it goes the more I will gain.

Lofty Goal For 2012

2012-01-01T10:25:00.000-08:00

Before I get into this post, just wanted to say thank you for making this blog a part of your day and hopefully year.

With 2012 upon us, I needed some goals. I needed to set some sort of target for myself, right? In the past, I've either had races as goals or PRs but this year just felt different. I feel like I have to keep it simple. That's not to say that I don't have those goals on my list because I do - it's just that there is one thing that is more important than anything to me.

My number one goal this year: to run more than 2,000 miles.

Why is this important? Well, running that many miles helps everything else. Running that much gives my legs strength, the strength necessary to get through marathon training properly and enough to finish marathons strong... hopefully. I've never felt strong at the end of my marathons, so that's something I hope will change. It also will allow me to chase down some other PRs, most notably in the half marathon and possibly the 5K.

But whatever positive side effects arise, getting to the magic mark of 2,000 miles is what I have set my sights on.

So how does that break down, this 2,000-mile figure?

Well, this year there are 366 days (thank you Leap Year) so divide 2,000 by 366 and you get 5.46. So that's what I have to average a day. Yeah, but that figure doesn't really make it manageable.

Divide 2,000 by 12 and you get 166.6666666666666666.......... um, 167.

That's an average of 167 miles a month. Okay, that sounds a bit better. But still, how about a plan for conquering that? Well divide 2,000 by 52 and you get 38.5. Ah, that's better.

So if I can average 40 miles a week, I will get to my magic figure of 2,000 miles for the year.

Can I do that?

Beginning the week of Oct. 10, I ran 10 consecutive weeks of 40-plus miles. The low was 44 (twice) and I cracked 50 miles four times. I averaged 48 miles. The streak ended with a 19-mile week as I got sick before Christmas but I bounced back with a 51-mile week to close out the year.

I ran 194 miles in October, 206 in November and 189 in December, an average of 196 per month. Translated over an entire year and that's more than 2,300 miles.

So this goal wasn't just something I plucked from mid-air. I keep setting a high bar for myself and did so, kind of without realizing, as I got on my streak. I pushed myself, responded and kept pushing myself. Before too long, things that didn't seem that simple became the norm and I just kept plugging along.

This goal then is the result of that increased mileage and confidence.

I'm happy that I put together a three-month stretch like I did to close out 2011 but also realize that this goal will take a lot of work, a longer run streak and some commitment and discipline.

But I'm okay with that.

Catching Up

2011-12-28T09:16:00.000-08:00

Greetings and salutations!

It's been too long since I updated my trusty blog. Didn't mean to keep you loyal readers hanging. The holidays caught up to me with family and running and then sickness... it all demanded my time and thus the lack of posts.

Did want to fill you in quickly on some of the big things that have gone on of late here...

* The streak ended. Sad, but it did. It reached 75 days before it came to a crashing and unceremonious end. However, it was fine the way it ended. I got sick. I probably could have extended it to 76 days had I gotten up early on Friday (had an early-morning errand to run, so it would have been like 5 a.m.) but there's no way I could have run on Saturday. I was in bed most of that day and it wasn't fun. I was able to referee some games early this week, have more today and have a big weekend run planned. I'm going to start another streak... yes, indeed. This run-every-day thing worked out for me tremendously. I will blog about this on its own but I want to continue being a run-every-day runner. I will start a new streak on Jan. 1. Yay.

* Christmas came and went. Sadly, it was all too fast. But it was very enjoyable. Of the running-related gifts, I got a new pair of shoes, registration for a race (Fontana Days half), two running shirts and plenty of GU to get me through for a while. The girls got tennis racquets from Santa so we will try our hand at tennis once everyone gets healthy again. Hopefully we'll be playing quite a bit in the coming weeks.

* The weather's nice again. We had a really long cold snap here recently. yes, cold is a relative term, but it was quite chilly here. We're not used to high 30s as our lows and mid 50s as our highs. But that's what a lot of the last month or so was like. Well, finally we've come out of it and the forecast for the next 10 days or so all starts with a 7. Yup, that's temps in the 70s and I can definitely work with that. The bad thing is that I haven't been able to enjoy a proper run in that, but by this weekend I will have.

* New Year's Day run. I tried to start a tradition by running every Jan. 1. in 2009, I ran five miles and in 2010 I ran 10. But on Jan. 1, 2011 I ran 0.0 miles. Why? The next day I was supposed to run 20 miles, and I did... well, I actually ran 20.11 miles... so I didn't want to throw that run off. Of course, the run-every-day LB would gladly run a couple of miles the day before running 20. This year though New Year's is on a Sunday which means I have a long run scheduled. I'll be running 15 miles on Jan. 1 and will kick start the week/month/year with a splendid run.

Thanks again for your patience and I'll be back soon enough with a more steady stream of posts.

Ambassadorial Post

2011-12-14T23:47:00.000-08:00

Well, it's official.

Okay, it was a official a while ago, this whole San Francisco Marathon Ambassador role of mine. But on Wednesday, I officially became part of the San Francisco Marathon family - the virtual family anyway.

I wrote my first blog post for the San Francisco Marathon Web site. The topic: running with children.

Of course it's a topic I'm quite familiar with. I have had many challenges along the way with how to run and workout while being responsible for the girls. When I started my weight-loss journey back in March 2006, Yvie was 2 and Kennedy was six months old. I had to find time to work out and go to the gym while being responsible for them. Mrs. LB was working a lot closer to home at the time so that helped, but still it was a struggle at times.

Anyway, I put in some ideas of my own, talked to a few friends and got their input as well and wrote up what I think was a good first post. I even got a couple of pictures in there as well.

So check it out. I will probably be writing there on a regular basis so this will be the first of many posts I write as an Ambassador.

Milestones Piling Up Quickly

2011-12-11T20:59:00.001-08:00

Last week was just another week in my awesome year of runs.

I ran 54 miles, a new high.

Sunday was the 64th day of my run streak.

After Sunday's 15.6 miles, I have run 1,339 miles in 2011, a new yearly high (six more than last year).

Needless to say, I'm feeling pretty good these days. My legs are strong and even though I haven't run more than 18 miles in quite a while, am not quite trained for a marathon I do feel as if I'm in the best running shape of my life.

Kids And Fluidity

2011-12-07T06:37:00.001-08:00

I don't have time to get into this topic like I want to - ironically enough because of the topic itself - but children and running may not exactly go hand in hand.

I will delve further into the topic but for now wanted to get out some initial quick thoughts.

Now, when I say children and running I don't mean like children running but rather trying to run when you're responsible for children, your own offspring mostly. I bring this up because one of my offspring is sick. Kennedy missed school Tuesday and is home sick again today. Now, her health is way more important than my running. I'm not trying to minimize the situation or anything.

Her fever is just another reminder though of how quickly and unexpectedly things can change as a parent. One minute, I'm planning for four recovery miles and a six-mile run the day after, the next I'm serving up Tylenol and trying to make a comfortable set-up for my 6-year-old. Running? Ain't gonna happen on my terms any more.

The most important thing with being a runner parent is the ability to be fluid. Really, this goes with parenting in general - you have to be fluid because so many things happen that there's no way you can plan for them all. But in particular when you run you have to be fluid. You have to look at the overall picture versus the day-to-day grind. I didn't get my four miles in on Tuesday but I did get two miles in. I won't run six today but I will run later, and I just have to adjust my miles in the end of the week and have faith that I will get my runs in every day and that I will get my 45 miles in or so this week.

A lot of runners do not have children. Or their children are grown. Just looking at some of the runners in my pace group I know this to be true. Also by having read a number of running blogs over time I've become aware of that.

Anyway, while I try and tend to Kennedy, I also will try to keep from getting anxious and stressed about having missed my run. And really as long as she's feeling better, I'm happy.

Another First: Volunteering

2011-12-04T19:11:00.001-08:00

I accomplished another first on Sunday, but it had nothing to do with times or distances.

For the first time, I volunteered for a race.

My running club held their annual Loper Holiday Classic 5K/15K race on Sunday and I volunteered for the event. I was a bit nervous to be honest, wondering what it would be like. We were assigned two traffic spots. The first was the one-mile mark, then we had to get over to the 7.5-mile mark. At both spots we had to make sure cars watched out for runners and in the second spot we had to make sure runners zigged when they were supposed to zig.

It was chilly! We walked out of our house at 5:45 a.m. and after a stop at Starbucks set up at our first spot around 6:25, and it was in the high 30s. Super cold for us SoCal folk. The race started at 7 a.m. so at about 7:05 we saw runners, the 5K frontrunners. We cheered on as many runners as we could and by about 7:20 we headed out to get over to our next stop (and made a quick pit stop at a grocery store). We set up at about 7:40 and some of the 15K runners we'd seen on the way out, we saw again.

All the 15K runners/walkers on the way back passed by us once more. And I cheered for every single one of them. I clapped, and even though my claps were muffled due to my gloves, I clapped as loud as I could. I yelled words of encouragement...

"Looking strong runner!"

"You got this!"

"Way to go runner!"

And things like that.

I was particularly excited for runners in my pace group. I cheered loudest for them and for some of the my other Loper buddies.

It was fun hearing things runners would say to us as well.

"Thank you for being out here!"

"Thanks for your encouragement!"

That was the best part, to be honest. Seeing all the first-timers out there with smiles on their faces was so much fun, and seeing every runner/walker out there taking on the 15k distance was also fun. It was rewarding on all levels, and definitely something I'd do again. Except hopefully next time it won't be so chilly.

Proving Myself

2011-12-02T10:29:00.001-08:00

Running long distances. Running faster. Running every day.

Lately, I've been putting together some things that I've not done before. I had six runs of 10 or more miles in November, for instance. And of course I closed out the month with a 53-day run streak intact.

Fueling some (a lot?) of this is a need to prove myself.

Now, bear with me a bit as I try to explain that: if I ran, say, six miles on Tuesday, it doesn't mean much if I don't follow it up with another similar or better run on Wednesday or Thursday. If I run eight miles at a 9:20 pace, it don't mean much if I can't run 5-6 miles at a faster pace. If I've got weeks of 45, 47, 50 in succession, it ain't gonna matter if I throw in a 20-mile week.

I'm a strong runner.

Prove it.

Okay there, see, only strong runners do that.

Okay good, prove it again.

It's not necessarily a vicious cycle, but maybe it is and I just don't see it that way. Maybe that's why I'm here exploring this on the blog.

Now, this whole attitude goes against my prevailing approach to running - as long as I'm running and doing what I need to do to make sure that I can get out there and run, it's all good. Yeah, this whole prove-myself thing is pretty much contrary to all of that. It's not to say that my mentality has done a 180 but I do have this sense of need when it comes to proving myself.

But... who do I have to prove myself to? My fellow runners? The ever-present and ever-anonymous "haters" out there? Who needs proof?

Honestly, I think I do.

I've done some good things in a relative short amount of time. I've run four marathons and six half marathons, as well as 10Ks, 5Ks, a 15K, a relay race, some mud runs... all since June 2008. I'm a pace leader now, a San Francisco Marathon Ambassador and am training for my fifth marathon.

Maybe the fact that all of that seems a bit... I dunno... pretty cool must mean that it wasn't that difficult. Here I go again... if I can do it, then how tough is it? Right? Talk about a vicious cycle, there's one...

I'm not sure if that's it, though. I know a marathon is tough, super tough. It's not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. But still, I can't just be content with keeping marathons in my past. I do want to challenge myself and keep running 26.2s while my body still can.

Maybe my experiences as a pace leader have really gotten me into this feeling. A typical long run goes like this: I start out in front of a group of anywhere from 15-20 runners. I lead em out to the first stop light along our route, about the .6 mile mark, and when we cross the street a pack starts to get ahead of me. Now, my job as pace leader is to hold a certain pace, and I try to keep it around 9:30-9:45, give or take. So this pack typically runs at a 9:15-9:30 pace. They get out ahead. They keep going. Pretty soon, I'm around 3-4 runners, and my co-pace leader is further behind with some stragglers.

Last week, I wound up running with one other runner. After the 5-mile mark of our 10-mile run, it was just me and another guy. I "paced" one other runner.

I think that's it. In many ways I feel completely disrespected. I know... well, at least I think I know... that the other runners aren't doing it intentionally. Runners like to run at their own pace, and that's fine, right? And if that pace is a little faster than the pace I'm holding, that's fine, right?

I don't know, I suppose. Maybe I'm reading way too much into this, but I think that's where this mentality comes from.

I do feel bummed out about how Sundays typically work out. I would love to have a group of 10 runners behind me at Mile 8, but usually by then I'm around 3-4 others at most. I haven't done any races since June save for the one on our training schedule. And I don't plan on running anything until the LA Marathon (with Surf City half a possible exception). I've set aside my year basically for this, to be a pace leader, to be a strong pace leader, to be a rock, to be able to guide runners through 5, 10, 15, 20 miles at around a 10-minute pace. I've given up a lot of myself and it seems lately that I've been asking myself if it's been worth it.

I ran a combined 400 miles in October and November, all to stay on top of this pace leader responsibility, and for what? For everyone to take off and ignore me?

I hope things change soon. We're set to run 14 miles on Dec. 11 and 15 miles on Dec. 18. We have 18 miles on the schedule for Jan. 8 and Jan. 22. I know for an absolute fact that I can handle those distances but I also know that some of the frontrunners can't. I'm going to be there for them and anyone else who wants to run with the 10s on those days and any days, that commitment on my end is not going to waver.

I take pride in having the ample leg and mental strength to get through such distances.

And I suppose I'll just have to keep proving that over and over again.

November recap

2011-12-01T19:49:00.001-08:00

Miles ran: 206

Rest Days Planned/Taken: 0/0

Highest-mileage Week: 51

* Long runs planned/Taken: 6/6 - 10, 12, 12.33 (my "half" marathon), 13, 10, 10

Favorite run: Running 10 miles on Thanksgiving.

Least favorite run: I ran a windy 10-miler on Nov. 2. At one point, the wind was so bad that a crow flying next to me was pretty much staying next to me. It looked like it was floating but it was trying to fly, just like I was trying to run.

Most hardcore run: A seven-miler up and down Mt. Rubidoux. It was hardcore I believe because it was three days after I ran at an 8:43 pace over 12.33 miles at the "half" marathon.

Current Reads: Just got my new Runner's World magazine.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Storage Wars. Do I love that show? Yuuup!

Current Obsession: Twitter. I have to wean myself off of it.

Current Drink: I've been drinking coffee like crazy lately.

Current Song: Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) by Arcade Fire. It's an insanely awesome running song.

Christmas Wish-List: A new laptop, preferably a MacBook,

Current Need: A new camera.

Current Triumph: The girls like to run. We went running recently and they joined their school's joggers club (which I call Runners Club). I see a 5K in their near future...

Current Bane of my Existence: Reffing high school soccer games. Pay is nice and helpful but everything else stinks.

Current Goal: To extend my run streak through the end of the year and into 2012.

Current Indulgence: Pumpkin Roll. Have made a couple of these lately and... damn.

Current Blessings: My babies.

Current Excitement: Christmas is going to be fun this year.

* I count any run of at least 10 miles as a long run.

Tres Cosas Jueves - Dec. 1 Edition

2011-12-01T06:22:00.001-08:00

It's already December. I can't believe how fast time flies by. I swear just yesterday was Labor Day...

1. Mad Month of Miles: In October, I cranked out 194 days and was so close to 200 miles I tasted it... or maybe it was all the Halloween candy I had on Oct. 31.... Anyway, I wasn't quite sure who i would be able to do in November and I didn't necessarily have 200 miles as a goal but I broke the 200-mile marker after all. I finished the month with 206 miles, having run every day in November. I enter December with a 53-day run streak intact and am determined to close out the year with that run streak alive. Not sure how many miles I will log this month - with a 14- and 15-miler on the schedule it could be quite a few - but for now I'm content with having broken through with a 200-mile month. If I achieve that again in December, I'll have closed out the year the way I like to close out my runs - strong.

2. Debate Solved: I'd been debating lately whether or not to log the miles I run during high school soccer games. I referee HS soccer games and the season started on Tuesday. The decision I made: even though I do walk during games, I also run a lot and sprint at times so if I track my distance during the games I will include them in my mileage. I've already altered my training a bit to accommodate the games so it does affect me in more ways than one. I tracked my mileage for Wednesday and it was 3.06. I refereed a girls varsity game and in the second half I was racing up and down the field quite a bit. With all the stop-and-go and sprinting, it's really like I'm doing speed workouts. I had to wear my phone on my arm like I do when I run but I wore it high so I don't think anyone could tell that I was wearing something up there. Just have to make sure that I have it on silence lest someone calls me during a game and my phone goes off on the field.

3. Race Volunteers: I recruited Mrs. LB and the girls to help out on Sunday for the Lopers' race. The Lopers put on a Holiday Classic the first Sunday in December and this year I'm volunteering for it. We're supposed to volunteer for it, by "we" I mean veteran Lopers. I ran this race as a first-timer back in 2009 and had a lot of fun (check out the race recap). There are two distances - a 5K and 15K. I think it's cool that they offer a 15K. It's a tricky distance. I've only done it once in a race, but it's more challenging than a 10K (duh) so to me that makes it more appealing. It's kind of the perfect distance if you have not done a half marathon to get you into the half marathon mode. You might be intimidated by the half marathon distance but running a 15K would give you the confidence necessary to approach a half since the 15K is only six kilometers shorter than the half. Anyway, we've been assigned traffic control. Not sure what that entails as that is all I know but I will know more on Saturday. I anticipate getting out there super early and staying out there a while. Hopefully all the drivers will cooperate with us.

Nothing Is Impossible: How My Speech Went

2011-11-27T18:38:00.001-08:00

Sunday came and went and so did my speech.

Sadly, I was unable to record it as I'd hoped. That was a major bummer but it was the only real setback I had. I'd been practicing my speech for days now as I had been rehearsing it in my head on many of my recent runs.

Here's kinda how the speech played out.

===

My name is Luis and I'm the co-pace leader with the 10s. I've run four marathons and this is my third year with the Lopers. Not too long ago, it would not have seemed possible to describe myself that way but I used to think a lot of things were impossible. By sharing my story, I hope that I will change the meaning of that word and give you a bit of a different perspective on impossible.

Every person in here has encountered something impossible, something that they thought was out of reach, whether it's in running, your career, education. And I know the first-timers are possibly having those thoughts as well, and maybe you're looking at the calendar and wondering 'How am I going to run 18 miles? That's impossible' or 'I'm supposed to run 20 and 22 miles? That's impossible' or 'A marathon? I'm supposed to run 26.2 miles at once? That's impossible.' I hope that by seeing what I went through, how I was able to redefine impossible, that you will come away with a different view of the word.

(Okay, here I went into my story, about how I had ballooned up to more than 300 pounds, and just to punctuate that point I put on and old Bears jersey that I wore, that was a XXL and really huge on me; about how I joined the gym and got a trainer; about my pie-in-the-sky goal of having a 1- in front of my weight and then about my entire journey, both in my weight loss, then after taking up running... skip ahead to the last part...)

When I had to run 18 miles I was in Seattle for work and I didn't want to run it but it was on the schedule so I had to do it, and I ran 18 miles alone, in 40-degree weather in the pouring rain. Then I ran 20 miles with the group, and then 22. For about two and a half months before the marathon, I was on a high. When the marathon came, I felt like I had to punctuate my journey and everything I had gone through so I wrote this on an old bib of mine.

I figured I could motivate people along the way but I also got a lot of complements too which was very motivating. The marathon itself was great. It started off just like a regular Sunday run, with about 8-10 of us. After awhile I kind of started running ahead and I felt good. At 18 miles I was thinking 'Yeah, going strong.' At 20 miles 'Feeling good.' At 22 'Almost there.' At 23 'What the hell was I thinking?' I kind of hit the wall there but my wife called me and talked me off the ledge a bit and settled me down, and when I saw my wife and girls just before the Mile 26 marker, and that helped motivate me to keep going.

I hit Mile 26 and just had the finish line before me. It was such a surreal feeling, seeing it right in front of me. I started to think about everything I'd gone through to get me there. Now, imagine if I would have thought at some point along the journey 'Why join the gym? You can't lose weight, that's impossible' or 'You can't lose 60 pounds by yourself, that's impossible' or 'You can't run a 5K or 10 miles, that's impossible' or 'You can't run a marathon. That's impossible.' I would cheated myself out of my appearance. I would have cheated myself out of my health, out of my lifestyle. I would have cheated myself out of everything.

I pushed forward to the finish line. I'd crossed the threshold of pain several miles back and was just numb but I got to the finish line, raised my arms and crossed. That feeling is so amazing. It's one of the best feelings of my life. It makes you feel like you can accomplish anything and it never diminishes. I've done three marathons after and it's always the same.

Now, before I go I just want to leave you with this. What I wrote on the back of that bib is something I believe wholeheartedly. Nothing is impossible, because if someone would have told you six years ago that I would have lost 120 pounds and run a marathon you'd have said that's impossible, and I'm here to show you that it's not.

---

Well, that's pretty much how my speech went. It would have been nice to have recorded it but hopefully next time I give the speech I will have a video camera.

Randomness

2011-11-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

Felt like writing but my mind was not in the mood to piece together too many coherent thoughts in a row so here are some random, off-the-cuff thoughts to close out the week.

* My pace for the shortened Mission Inn Half Marathon was 8:39. Had I run that over 13.1 miles I would have had a 1:53:19, which would have been my non-Fontana half PR. Argh.

* I had wanted to run a 5K on Saturday, to test myself and gun for a PR but the only I found nearby cost $40. That's way too much for a 5K. I'd have done 20, considered 30 but nothing over. Oh well.

* I might run a 5K with the girls in January. Why not? I was talking to a fellow Loper about running with kids. Her 11- and 8-year-olds ran the Mission Inn Half with her. The girls and I ran two miles on Monday together (they cranked out two miles in 37:20 :) ). We ran and walked and ran and walked until we got to a mile and then turned around and went home. It was a lot of fun.

* Anyway, this fellow Loper I talked to said they girls should be able to run a 5K since they've been playing soccer all fall. I found one on Jan. 21 nearby that cost 20 bucks per. Oh yeah, I'm so there.

* An 11-year-old ran the Mission Inn Half at an 8:18 pace. There were also two 12-year-olds who finished at a 9:34 pace. Kids ages 7-11 ran it, and there was even a 5-year-old.

* Not to say that I want my girls to run a half marathon next year but kids are capable of a lot of things and sometimes we put limitations on them because we don't have enough faith in them or we don't trust they can do things.

* We're volunteering for a race. I'm kinda obligated to since it's the Loper Classic and all us Lopers should go ahead and volunteer, well, not first-year Lopers but all vets. I'm going to and it's going to be fun. I hope it will be anyway.

* On Oct. 1 I started off the day having run 861 miles in 2011. After Thursday's 10-mile run, I had 1,217 miles run this year. Not bad. It gives me hope that I'll be able to surpass last year's total of 1,333 which I thought wasn't going to be possible before October.

* I refereed a high school soccer game on Tuesday. I did not count the mileage. I'm not sure if I'm going to count the mileage I accumulate during HS soccer games this year.

* I wore my Garmin in enough games to figure out that, on average, I was running about three miles per each HS soccer game I reffed.

* I look at that as speedwork. There are moments where I'm just walking but there are moments where I'm sprinting. It's kinda cool to be able to keep up with these high school kids.

* I ate so much on Thursday. I was stuffed to the gills. It's a good thing I ran 10 miles in the morning.

* I hope I get my appetite back on Friday. On Thursday, I finished ~~gorging myself~~ eating at about noon or 12:30 and I was not at all hungry the rest of the day.

* Happy Friday, and have a great weekend! Thanks for taking the time to read, I appreciate ya ;)

Nothing Is Impossible

2011-11-23T21:11:00.001-08:00

On Sunday, I will be the speaker in my running club's pre-run meeting. The topic: motivation.

I hope that by sharing my story I help motivate other runners, particularly the first-timers. I want to give everyone a different idea of what the word impossible really means.

I used to think a lot of things were impossible. Then I stopped setting up challenges for myself and approached things with an open mind.

And that's when the guy on the left became the guy on the right.

I dropped 120 pounds from March 2006 to November 2007, and took up running afterward. I've done four marathons, six half-marathons and am the 10-minute-per-mile pace group leader for my running club.

Any of the running accomplishments for the heavy-set guy above would have seemed impossible. But that guy dug deep, found some discipline, commitment and motivation and accomplished all those things.

That's what I want to get across to the first-timers, that no matter how impossible something seems, it's really not. I mean, who'd have thought that I could have made the change and would have done what I've done?

2012 Races

2011-11-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

My evolution as a runner continues. 2010 was the year of the races for me (10 in all) while 2011 has been the year of few races (six, but it feels like a lot less).

2012 could be a bounce-back year. A rough sketch of what next year could hold in store.

Feb. 5 - Surf City Half Marathon. I'm going to be a bit sad to not be running the full this day. I've run the full in both 2010 and 2011. The half could feel like a downer but after the race I'm sure I'll still have a bounce in my step, unlike my Surf City experiences in 2010 and 2011.

March 18 - LA Marathon. What I'm running all these miles for. I want to be strong throughout this marathon and want to set an example to my pace group. I want to PR but more than that I just want to run a strong race.

April 22 - Run Through Redlands Half Marathon. A memorable race this is for me. RtR was my first half (in 2009) and also my first sub-2 (2010). I skipped it last year because it was the day after Diamond Valley Lake Marathon. In 2012, it will be great because it's a hilly course so it will be a good test for me as I'll be in the early stages of my San Francisco training.

June 2 - Fontana Days Half Marathon. I will PR this day! Actually, this race is both encouraging and discouraging. This course is all downhill so if you run strong, you may get a ridiculous PR. I was undertrained for it in 2011 and still got a 1:48, a PR by seven minutes. If I was running this race this weekend, I would guarantee a PR and it could even be a massive PR. Of course, on a flat course I'm not going to touch the low 1:40s, so this race is both good and bad. But I'm running it next year.

June... something - Camp Pendleton Mud Run. Dates haven't been announced but I'm guessing we'll either run it the second or third weekend in June.

July 29 - San Francisco Marathon - As Ambassador I can run any of their three races - the first or second half, or the full. I'm going to run the full again. (this is a secret... I want to PR... shhh!!)

After...

Honestly I don't want to look past San Francisco. My focus now, in November 2011, is two-fold. First, train for LA and get strong in order to finish strong. Two, put myself in a position so I can recover quickly - both mentally and physically - in order to get back into the swing of things and start running hills in earnest in preparation for San Francisco.

What happens after SF right now is anyone's guess.

But even that limited race calendar is very enticing to me.

Tres Cosas Jueves: LB's Un-Impossible Journey Edition

2011-11-17T00:00:00.000-08:00

1. Sharing My Story: On Nov. 27, I am going to give the pre-run talk at our Lopers meeting. I'm going to talk about my own weight-loss story and will try to motivate the runners in there and try and get the message across that nothing is impossible. It's true, nothing is impossible. I don't have an official name or anything but Redefining Impossible wouldn't be bad. That's what I'm going to try and do, to have everyone who listens come away with a different view of that word, impossible. I know I redefined it and I hope by sharing my journey from 308 pounds to a marathon finish line, that others will realize that truly nothing is impossible.

2. Opening Doors: So yeah, this weight loss thing is pretty awesome. I never imagined the places I'd go and the things I'd do when I began this journey way back when. I mean, I'm a pace leader with a running club and and Ambassador with the San Francisco Marathon. They don't let just any old person do those things, right? I love my life now, and while I wasn't necessarily depressed or anything when I was heavy, I certainly didn't enjoy things as much as I do now. Maybe I needed some of those down times though to appreciate what I have now. It's like when I go on a run and maybe I don't have the best run or maybe I'm not feeling it but, dammit, I'm fit enough to actually go running. I'm fit. LB is fit. I was so far removed from fitness before that the word didn't even exist in my vocabulary. The thought of me being fit sometimes is still a pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming moment.

3: Initial Plan: So I'm hoping I get some time to practice my speech. I've been going over and over it during recent runs but have to stand in front of a mirror and get some things done. One thing I'm doing is to put an old favorite shirt of mine that now fits me so huge. I want to wear that at some point to illustrate how big I was. It's so big! Whatever I wear I will be ready for the talk, ready to motivate!

Post-Mission Inn Thoughts

2011-11-16T00:00:00.001-08:00

Some post-mortem thoughts on Sunday's Mission Inn "Half" Marathon

* Throwing 'em Under: In case you missed it, Sunday's Mission Inn Half Marathon was not 13.1 miles but rather 12.3 miles. The reason why that happened? Race organizers seemed to throw the volunteers under the bus while also laying some blame on us runners. From a story in the local paper about the race:

“It was unintentionally shortened when the volunteers set up the last water station short of the turn-around,” event director Salynn Simon said. “Runners didn’t know and stopped there.”

I don't know... I've never been involved in organizing a race but if I'm part of the event organizers, I ride my bike through the entire course to make sure everything is tip-top. But whatever, this event seemed to go for the cheap way out and, well, we got ripped off .8 miles in the process.

* On The Cheap: We got jobbed in the distance, but it wasn't the only place we were ripped off. I never got a t-shirt. I registered late (race day morning) and I was so focused on the race that once I got my bib I went and tried to put it on. I don't recall anyone steering me towards a t-shirt. Maybe it's my fault, but still a simple "Don't forget the shirt" may have helped.

But the biggest rip was after the race. The medal did not indicate what year the race was and was identical to last year's medal. Hmm... perhaps they used leftovers from last year? And instead of water bottles handed to us, there were volunteers pouring water into cups. Seriously??? How about a full bottle of water for the person who just paid good money to run in your race? There was bananas and sliced oranges there for us but the lack of water bottles was troubling.

* What's Next? I have a post coming up on my 2012 race calendar but that was probably my last race of the year. Sad. My next race may not be until LA Marathon. Double sad. Not having a great experience then means that this memory will be fresh for awhile. Triple sad.

* Mission Inn 2012? Probably not. Now, this race is the Lopers' first race of the season so I will likely have a lot of friends out there for the event and possibly new runners, so I don't want to say for sure that I won't run in this race. However, I think I simple solution is in order - run it as a bandit. Probably not the half, but the 10K since that's the distance recommended for our first-timers. Whatever the case, I just can't bear the thought of giving that race my hard-earned money once again, at least not in 2012.

Mission Inn Race Recap: The Not-Quite Half Marathon

2011-11-14T18:32:00.001-08:00

Sunday was going to be an awesome day.

On a personal level, I was going to race for the first time since June. I feel as if I am in the best shape of my life right now, that I am stronger than I have been because of how much I've been running lately and I was anxious to test myself.

But I had to suppress those feelings somewhat because I was going to be running next to a first-timer, someone who had never run more than 12 miles in his life and was looking forward to making the Mission Inn Half Marathon his first 13.1 challenge.

Turned out, the day was memorable but not all of them were positive.

I met up with Dean before the race and he was as anxious as I'd seen him. He said he had problems sleeping the night before and I told him that meant he was ready for race day. Pre-race jitters are typical and not being able to sleep is a good sign. Finally the gun went off and we took off running. My original plan was to go out strong and pick up the pace around Mile 3, where the course spilled onto a bike path. We hit a nice downhill early on and we took advantage of it. We were going strong and I could tell we were going to finish in under two hours.

That was one of my hesitations. I wondered if I should push him a bit and have him knock out a sub-two from the start or if we should just run an easier pace, finish at 2:xx:xx and then have him knock that hurdle down on his own. But Dean's a speedy guy and his comfortable race pace, it turns out, was enough to finish in under two hours.

Splits: Mile 1 - 9:00, Mile 2 - 8:49, Mile 3 - 8:42

We got out to the bike path and settled into a comfortable rhythm. I know this bike path by heart now. I run it about once a week, usually longer runs, 6-10 miles, and I have started at different spots. I knew when the turnaround was going to be, what the scenery looks like at certain places and how much distance there is between certain landmarks. I knew this would be the time to settle into a strong pace, and we did.

But it didn't happen right away. The bike path was a bit more crowded than I'd hoped, and since it's narrow it was difficult to meander around runners at times.

Splits: Mile 4 - 8:28, Mile 5 - 9:07, Mile 6 - 9:01

We started seeing other runners now, going in the opposite direction, so we could feel that the turnaround was close. It was awesome seeing the lead runner holding such a strong pace and seeing the first female runner doing the same, and all the other speedburners churning and working hard. Dean commented on the faster runners several times so I know we were both a bit in awe.

Maybe that was contagious. Or maybe that, once we finally hit the turnaround, we both could sense that a major hurdle was scaled. Whatever the case, we were going strong and hitting our stride at just the right time.

Splits: Mile 7 - 8:39, Mile 8 - 8:43, Mile 9 - 8:20

I wondered, though, about the last part of the course. The turnaround was nice but it was a lot closer on the path than it had been last year. I hadn't paid much attention to the course map but had heard that the course was a bit different than last year. We did run a different way during Mile 2, hadn't run through a neighborhood like we had last year but rather around another bike path that leads in and out of a large park that itself was part of the course. I knew we would hit the turnoff into the park at about Mile 10 but last year it was at about Mile 11 when we did that.

I wondered where we would make up that extra mile. I hoped that early downhill we hit that was not supposed to be part of the way back was indeed not part of the way back. In retrospect, I wish it would have been.

Splits: Mile 10 - 8:43, Mile 11 - 8:20

We hit Mile 11 and we just had two miles to go. Our time was in the 1:30s so a sub-2 was ours, barring some unfortunate collapse. I wondered where the course would veer off. It seemed eerily similar to last year's final stretch but it couldn't be the same since we still had quite a bit of distance to run.

I saw the next mile marker. My stomach dropped. Mile 12 was before us, even though we had just hit Mile 11.

There would be no veering off this course. There would be no new part of the final stretch of the course. I wasn't pacing someone to their first half-marathon finish but rather pacing someone to their first 12-mile race finish. I felt bad for Dean, who had worked so hard and built up this day for so long (literally our third Lopers meeting he asked me if I would pace him, and that was in early September) only for this to happen.

A runner next to me asked what was going on. I looked at my phone and the miCoach app read 11.20 miles. I told him and he said he had the same distance on his Garmin. I shook my head. It kind of took the wind out of my sails a bit. That and a hill that I didn't quite handle properly separated me from Dean. He was ahead and motioned to me but I told him to finish strong and go for it.

Mile 12: 9:05

Now, I had wanted Dean to taste glory on his own, to finish the race strong and alone. I was honored to have paced him for the race but I did want him to have that moment to himself. I don't know that I would have tainted it for him necessarily but I just felt it was important to keep myself out of his spotlight. But I had figured on that happening as we neared the finish, like maybe at the 12.75 mile mark for instance.

So the hill and the realization did the favor for me and sped that process up. I saw Dean way up ahead and another runner from our pace group ran past me and gave me some encouraging words. I thought "Man, I must look like hell." I picked up the pace. I didn't catch Dean but I was running strong when I rounded the second-to-last street.

I hit top gear as I got close to the finish line.

Mile 12.33 - 7:44 pace

I saw Dean once I got through the finish and after I collected my medal. I told him congratulations on the race and told him he did a great job. We mentioned the shorter distance but in the end I said that he handled the race greatly which he did and it wasn't our fault the distance was short. He said thanks, gave me a hearty handshake and we parted ways.

I was quite happy to have seen him so proud of himself. He would have finished his first half marathon in about 1:53, a tremendous effort for someone who had never run more than six miles just a couple of months ago.

Mission Inn shortchanged us, and for that reason alone I won't run their race next year (although I might run it as a bandit just because...), but the real travesty was what they did to people like Dean and the countless others who were going for goal times or trying to finish their first half and tackling the 13.1-mile challenge head on. That's what's been gnawing at me since, but it certainly doesn't diminish Dean's efforts nor will it taint my own memories of the day. I refuse to let the race organizers shortchange me on that.

Mission Inn "Half"

2011-11-13T21:24:00.001-08:00

I had an interesting experience Sunday. I paced a new runner to his first half marathon. We had a great time and I was proud of him and I will blog more about that at length in an upcoming post.

However the race lacked something. It wasn't an actual half marathon. It only measured 12.3 miles. So we were .9 miles short through no fault of our own.

It was a frustrating thing to have happened.

Still I had a great time pacing a new runner and it was great seeing a lot of friends. And I will blog about this in more detail later but just had to get my "half" experience up.

For the record my time was 1:47 but it would have been closer to a 1:54 had it been an actual 13.1. Ah well.

Five For Friday

2011-11-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

1. Reflection: Thanks for all the comments to Wednesday's soul-searching post. I am indeed grateful for all the kind thoughts and words and I've taken all of them to heart. I think my original mistake was writing an introductory post in our Ambassador FB page that didn't make mention of my weight loss. If I ran a sub-3 marathon, that would be something worth bringing up, but my huge accomplishment isn't with how many marathons I've run or how fast I run but rather the weight I lost.

2. Half Marathon Sunday: I'm finally running another race! It's been awhile since I ran my last race, June 18 to be precise. Since then, I've had some lean times (41 miles in July) and some fantastic accomplishments (first 50-mile week). I feel as strong now as ever and am totally ready for a race. However...

3. No Attempted PR Sunday: I am pacing a new runner. One of the runners from my pace group asked me a while back to pace him to his first-ever half marathon. I was flattered and told him I would, so I will. He's a bit speedy but I don't want to run for time. I want him to kind of set the pace, to have him let me know what's comfortable for him and maybe push it just a bit. I want him to enjoy the race, not suffer because I want him to get a good time. I want him to want to be proud of his accomplishment, then go off and chase PRs on his own. He's gonna set a new PR anyway, right?

4. Next Race? After Mission Inn, my next race probably won't be until Surf City (Super Bowl Sunday) and I'll be doing the half marathon there. I'll probably be pacing others as well. I'm actually looking forward to pacing others in races. After the LA Marathon though I'll get some LB time. We'll see what I enjoy more, pacing others or chasing PRs.

5. New App: For a while I've sworn by miCoach, the cool running app by adidas. However, it's been down for more than a week now and despite assurances by adidas that the problem is getting fixed, well, it just isn't. I can't sync new runs to my miCoach account and it only holds three un-synced runs. So annoying. I ran using iMapmyRun on Thursday but that one doesn't have splits. Friday I have to (sadly) run on the treadmill so Saturday's run I will use Run Keeper, which apparently has some good info. I ran a cool run on Tuesday, a 5-mile tempo run (8 miles overall) but I've yet to see my splits because of the issue with miCoach. Grrr! Ah well, I was able to enjoy Thursday's run, just ran it without paying attention to time and got me 7.1 miles in 1:06:41, a pace of 9:23 per mile, not a bad pace for not really trying for speed.

Out Of My League?

2011-11-08T13:46:00.000-08:00

As I look at the list of fellow 2012 San Francisco Marathon Ambassadors, I'm left with a bit of an impression. Well, two actually.

The initial impression: wow, these people are fast.

Which leads to the next one: do I belong?

I know it shouldn't really matter, deep down inside I get that. Everyone runs at their own pace and as long as you're running and taking control of your health and fitness, that's what matters.

But this is a little different, this group of Ambassadors I'm in. We're not trying to win a race or trying to recruit fast runners to participate in an event or anything but it seems like, at first glance, many of the ambassadors are fast. Super fast. Boston fast.

One ambassador posted to our Ambassador FB page that he'd just run a 2:48 Sunday in New York. Another said she'd run Boston a few times and knocked out a 3:30 recently, and other fellow Boston runners said they'd see her in Beantown next year. And I know a few others have run Boston and have set these amazing marathon PRs. Most seem to have run multiple marathons, as in double digits.

Gulp.

Hi. My name is L.B. I've run four marathons and my PR is, uh, 4:23.

Compared to many of the others, my stats don't match up.

Hell, I don't even look like a marathoner. You know, the typical marathoner is thin and lean and... well I'm not. (a lot of that though is skin... when you lose 100-plus pounds, you lose the weight but keep the skin, good stuff).

After my initial elation of being chosen as a San Francisco Marathon Ambassador subsided, I was left with these feelings. Do I really belong? Am I out of my league with all these other runners? Have I gotten myself into something that's better suited for a veteran marathoner, a real runner?

See, I have a bit of a character flaw. In the past I always minimized my own accomplishments. If I did something it must not have been A) that tough and B) that meaningful. Since I didn't think too highly of myself before, it just seemed like a natural conclusion.

You ain't crap so whatever you do ain't crap.

I've worked on that. A lot. I obviously have a different frame of reference now. I lost 120 pounds. I have run four marathons. I have done things that are deemed difficult, that I used to think were impossible. I did those things by myself. Nobody ran the miles for me. Nobody held a gun to my head and told me to change my lifestyle. I did that. LB did that. I had help and support, of course, but I did that.

I gained some confidence along the way, gained some self-esteem. Long ago I changed my lifestyle for the better and somewhere along the way I also changed my mentality.

But.... there's always a but, isn't there?... but these were the feelings that came up the more I learned about my fellow Ambassadors.

Now, I do think I'm working harder at being a runner. I've run for 31 consecutive days through Tuesday's run. I've logged more than 1,100 miles this year. I had my first 50-mile week recently and my last four weeks I've logged 44, 48, 50 and 47 miles, respectively. I'm registered for the LA Marathon, I am a pace leader with my running club - which happens to be the biggest running club in two counties...

I've built myself up quite a bit, so these feelings that arose sort of caught me off guard.

I'm convinced though that I do have a unique story. Not all runners have lost 100-plus pounds after all. And I really do feel that if I can do this - lose weight, run a marathon - anyone can do it. Nothing is impossible. I enjoy running because I am able to enjoy it, because I am fit and healthy and happy, and that wasn't always the case. I really do take as much pleasure as I do from a four-mile run as I do from a 14-mile run. It's all about the run, not the time. I firmly believe that.

I think I have an inspirational story and I want to share that with as many people as possible. As a SF Marathon Ambassador, I hope to be able to share that and, if nothing else, get the message across that the San Francisco course is not impossible. If anyone knows anything about what's possible and what's impossible, it's me.

So I think I came to a happy medium then with my fellow SF Marathon brethren. I'm not going to run Boston with anyone anytime soon, I may not run a sub-four marathon anytime soon and it will take me a few more years to get to 10-plus marathons.

But that doesn't mean I'm not in the same class as them (technically I am not - we won't start the San Francisco Marathon in the same wave - but let's just leave that aside for now). I'm a runner, a marathoner, and I'm just as serious about my running as anyone.

I'm honored that the San Francisco Marathon people felt enough of my application to bestow this honor on me, and as I work on these initial feelings, it's all good and hopefully smooth sailing ahead.

San Francisco Still Sinking In

2011-11-07T00:36:00.000-08:00

It still hasn't hit me.

It's been three days now since I found out I was selected to be a San Francisco Marathon Ambassador (!) and it still is a bit of a shocking realization.

Somehow my application stood out. Somehow I was deemed worthy enough of representing a fantastic race put on by equally fantastic people.

Me, LB. The same guy who in 2006 tipped the scales at three bills. The same guy who had never run a race until June 2008. The same guy who has run four marathons... while a great number and a number I'm proud of, nowhere near double digits, let alone to a point where I can be called an "experienced marathoner."

Yet here I am, a San Francisco Marathon Ambassador.

Wow.

I will find out more this week about my specific duties, or at least will get started on that process. I'm definitely anxious to get started, whatever the duties may call for.

I do know this. While I am not turning over this blog to San Francisco Marathon-related stuff, there will absolutely be many posts on San Francisco from here until who knows when. And I also know that I will be running San Francisco next summer. I can't imagine doing anything but the full... just the thought of that makes me giddy. And the thought of being involved with the race more so than just a regular runner is something that makes me nervous and excited.

The Beginnings Of My SF Love

2011-11-05T00:00:00.000-07:00

In case you didn't see Friday's midday post... I was named a San Francisco Marathon Ambassador!! I received the news on Friday and have spent every minute since in a weird sort of euphoric state. I'm excited of course but it's tempered some with these feelings of 'Wow, did I really get this?' and 'Wow, do I really belong?'

I'm going to explore those feelings another time but for now I wanted to re-post my original San Francisco Marathon recap from July 26, 2010. Perhaps you can see why I was and have been and am obsessed with the San Francisco Marathon.

Anyway, it's pretty long but I think it's a good read... but then again, I'm a little biased.

***

For months I pondered, chewed on, wondered about the San Francisco Marathon. I set a big target for this race and it finally arrived. On Sunday, I ran the San Francisco Marathon, my second marathon, and both have come in the last six months.

Here's how I conquered Marathon No. 2.

----

Originally published July 26, 2010

I'd set the alarm for 4:45 (our usual wake-up time) but beat it by about 20 minutes. I was nervous of course but I managed to sleep through it this time. I got up, got dressed, ate and took my time in doing so. After a bit, I headed out and followed a crowd of marathoners to the start line area.

I was in Wave 7, and since I got to the start right when Wave 1 was starting, I had to wait a little bit. Waves 2 and 3 went off, then 4 and 5 all roughly 10 minutes apart, but I wasn't feeling nervous or anything, just calm. I was right next to the water, close to the Bay Bridge and within throngs of runners. Eventually Wave 6 went off and Wave 7 was up next. After a brief mix-up (the last half of Wave 7 was mistakenly delayed), we were off. It was a little after 6:30, nearly 10 minutes after we were supposed to have left, but it didn't really matter. The prospects of heat were non-existent and even the sun itself seemed more like a rumor than anything.

The first few steps were a blur. There were some docks and piers off to the right and some businesses off to the left. I ran past signs for Fisherman's Wharf, Pier 39 and a vast array of restaurants and businesses, but nothing topped Boudin. At Disney's California Adventure, there is a bakery and you can see how bread is made, sourdough bowls, and it's all Boudin products. At a little past 6:30 a.m. on Sunday morning, the sourdough smells wafting past runners on The Embarcadero were mouth-watering and enticing.

I got off The Embarcadero and started to make our way up to the Golden Gate Bridge. Beforehand, this was easily the highlight of the course, the most anticipated part of the race. But I wasn't quite there yet. I was winding through the Marina and through the edge of the Presidio, growing with anticipation for the bridge.

All along, I'd been running at a decent clip. Every mile I ran was under 10 minutes - after five miles I was under 50 minutes. After the second mile, I wondered if I should have slowed down but I figured I'd run at this comfortable pace while I still could.

Finally, we came up to the bridge area and the running path for us runners narrowed quite a bit. It was congested and it made for some slower-than-desired running. That was about the only drawback from the bridge. I was on the Golden Gate Bridge, for crying out loud! It was foggy but not enough to obstruct our views. I was able to see the water and the part of the course we'd just ran through. I had a smile on my face through this portion, and decided then it was a good time to toss my throwaway jacket I'd bought at the expo, a jacket that looked like a lab coat that had kept me very warm throughout the chilly morning.

It was also around this time my phone rang. Mrs. LB had just gotten up and called me. I didn't really feel any envy, with her having just woken up while I was around Mile 7... but she wished me good luck, asked me how I felt and told me she was headed down to the finish line area.

We got off the bridge on the far side, ran around a parking lot and went straight back onto it. I was just amazed that I was running on a national landmark. I mean, you can run past landmarks, like Mt. Rushmore or the Washington Monument but what other landmarks can you actually run on during a race?

Soon enough, the bridge was over and it was back to meandering through unfamiliar territory. Right after the bridge was perhaps the prettiest sight I saw during the race. We were running up a hill in the Presidio area. Off to the right was the ocean and on the hilly land above were houses surrounded by trees. It was a stunning view.

Now, earlier this week, blog buddy Tricia had given me a great tip. She said to break the race up into segments - a 10-mile run, a 10-mile run and a 10K. This worked wonders. I tried not to think about the entire course but rather just wanted to get to 10 miles. Once I hit 10 miles, I focused on getting through the next 10 miles. And then after that, it was just a 10K. I got through the first 10 miles and felt a bit rejuvenated with the start of the second third of my race, Miles 11-20.

I plowed through the course, still feeling good, still getting in miles around or under 10 minutes as the course took us up a long street through a residential area before entering Golden Gate Park. I'd actually run a little inside the park before I realized I was in Golden Gate Park. I was excited because after this park, we'd be around Mile 20, and as it was Mile 12, however, that meant a lot of running.

Golden Gate Park was tough. Quite tough. The half-marathoners that had started with us were split apart so the number of runners thinned out. It was just the marathoners, and it seemed several were already starting to feel the effects of the race. I was trying not to think about my throbbing feet, which had been protesting for about a mile or so.

The scenery was nice enough - the park was quite green and seemed inviting, parts of it anyway. It seemed like a decent place for a run or a bike ride. The most awe-inspiring sight was the Conservatory of Flowers. The colors of the flowers shined in the early-morning haze.

But the course here just kept on going and going and didn't give us marathoners many prospects of exiting it anytime soon. To add insult to injury, we had to run past the 1st Half Marathon finish line. We were at about 17 miles at this point, and all the marathoners trudged past the finish line, with jubilant half-marathoners reveling in their own 13.1 conquest, celebrating their feat and certainly not running. The only ones running now were the full marathoners.

I saw a runner up ahead who was probably in her late 30s. She had written "1st Full" on her left calf, so as I got past her I said "Great job" and gave her a thumbs up. She said "thank you" and the brief exchange gave me a boost. I remember how great it felt at Surf City to have people congratulate me when I wore my bib, and some of those feelings came back.

I had originally thought the 2nd Half Marathon runners would jump in along with the full marathoners but that did not happen until nearly the end of Golden Gate Park. The park had been nice enough but near the end, it seemed to fall apart. The path wasn't as well-kept as the rest of it, there seemed to be less of a welcoming feel to it and there wasn't really much scenery here. All that made me glad to get out of the park when the course finally did.

Worst part about the park, though, was the hills. There were many more hills here than I'd anticipated. It may not have been one giant hill but the inclines, for some reason, seemed to outnumber the declines. It took its toll on me as well - I'd later learn that my pace at the halfway mark was 10:11 per mile but had fallen to 10:30 by Mile 20.

I still had energy. I was on my 10K portion of the race. As I approached Mile 22, though, I wondered where the wall would rear its ugly head. Mrs. LB had been calling me often, checking up on me and giving me a boost each time she did, and I wondered if she would call me when I was at the wall.

I got to about Mile 23.5 and had to stop. I'd been taking walk breaks but this one was different. With almost no warning or no planning, I just stopped and walked. It seemed like a long time. I didn't feel comfortable but I didn't want to start running again, at least my legs didn't want to. But I just had to will my legs to get out there once more, and begrudgingly they complied.

That was my wall. It doesn't sound bad, and it wasn't. I never once asked why I was doing this, or whatever made me think I could run a marathon. In fact, around Mile 18 I pictured myself near the finish line and I started to get a little emotional. I knew that I would finish the race then, well, I knew I would finish the race all along I suppose but at that moment I felt it. Nothing was going to stop me from finishing, so I knew that I would get past whatever obstacles I needed to get past. And all that kept the wall tiny. However, there was one thought that kept going through my mind that helped: "Just get through this and you won't have to do this shit again until March." I might not run another marathon until LA, which is on March 20, 2011.

My legs were starting to scream at about Mile 24. I tried to pick up the pace but it didn't feel like I was going fast at all. We got to AT&T Park, home of the hated Giants, and ran past McCovey Cove. Even though I despise the Giants (go Dodgers) I still was happy with having run there, and pictured what it's like during games when someone hits a home run with the ball sailing into the water.

After the stadium, it was back up to the Bay Bridge and then the finish line. I had been scanning for Mrs. LB, who said she was somewhere between the stadium and the finish. I ran and ran and ran but didn't see her.

Finally, I saw a lonely figure sitting on the sidewalk. I put my arms up and she saw me, grabbed the camera and took some shots. As I ran past, she was yelling "Go Luis!" at the top of her lungs, and that was the last bit of energy I needed to get to the finish. I had been thinking about my girls, who'd stayed behind with their grandparents, about everything I had overcome to get to this point of the race, not just that day but over the last four years, and it all helped me pick up the pace near the end.

I crossed the finish line, and even though I was happy with what I'd done, I had to remember to smile. I had my arms outstretched on my side as I crossed the finish and smiled. I got my medal afterward, a big, hulking medal that will forever be a source of pride. About the only slight drawback was my time. I'd estimated my time to be around 4:45 and was a little disappointed since I was on pace for a better time for the first 10-13 miles of the race. But then I figured my time was still good given the difficulty of the course, and on another course that day I might have finished in under 4:30.

As soon as I stopped running, I felt queasy. Lightheaded almost. I grabbed a water bottle and sucked it down in a few gulps. Then I jammed a banana down my throat along with a smoothie. I posed for a picture and went along my path. I got out of the chutes and made it out to the street and sat down on a chair in front of a booth, but the lady in the booth didn't care and welcomed me. After a while, Mrs. LB found me, in pain, beaten down but proud and happy nevertheless.

I had been in contact with some blog buddies who were also there running either a half marathon or the full marathon, but the only one who I managed to meet was Amanda from Fat Wuz Here. Amanda's an inspiration, having lost more than 70 pounds on her own weight loss journey. This was her second half-marathon of the year and she's only scratching the surface of her own running story.

The only bad thing was that I was pretty ripe and I would at least like to smell good when meeting people, particularly blog buddies. But she didn't seem to mind. We chatted with her and her husband and then continued on to the hotel. I sat for a break and had gotten some texts congratulating me on my time. It seems my time wasn't 4:45 as I'd expected by rather 4:37:51.

And that meant a PR!!!!

That topped an amazing and unforgettable day.

San Francisco!!!

2011-11-04T15:22:00.000-07:00

It happened! I can't believe it but it happened!

I was chosen to be a San Francisco Marathon Ambassador!!

It's a bit of a whirlwind right now, to be honest. I was notified earlier today and I am through the roof with excitement.

I'm definitely going to blog more about this, you can rest assured about that, but for now I just wanted to share the news with you all.

Tres Cosas Jueves

2011-11-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

1. San Francisco Ambassador: In July 2010 I ran one of the most challenging, amazing, memorable races ever, the San Francisco Marathon. I had wanted to run the race this summer but it just didn't work out. I'm hoping to run it again in 2012 and this time perhaps a bit more involved than just a regular runner. I applied to be a San Francisco Marathon Ambassador. What does this mean? Essentially I would promote the San Francisco Marathon and its races online and in person and I would get a complimentary entry to any of said races - I'd gun for the full of course. Here's a full list of the ambassador duties/perks (in PDF format) if you wish to read up more on it. Winners are supposed to be notified on Friday so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Hopefully I'll be blogging a lot more about the San Francisco Marathon in the near future.

2. October Miles: October came and went and I set a new record. I wound up running 194 miles (give or take). I was quite close to 200. In fact, I could have gone out for six miles on Monday night to try and crack the 200-mark. But I chose not to obsess over that. I realized about a week before that I would probably finish in the 190s but I didn't let that affect my training or my planned runs. I didn't want to feel like I let myself down if I went for but wasn't able to get to 200. The way I look at it, 194 miles is a load of miles for me and I will continue to pile up miles. I'm going to get 200 here in the next few months, I feel it. So I'll just enjoy my record high for October and then I will enjoy cracking the 200-mile mark soon enough.

3. Race Day, Finally: I'm dying to run a race. I can't believe that I'm piling up all these miles and don't have a race to train for. I will get to run a race soon enough. I'm running the Mission Inn Half Marathon on Nov. 13 but I'm pacing one of the new runners from my group. It's kind of good and bad - but mostly good. The bad - let's get that out of the way - I won't be able to shoot for a PR. But I'll gladly trade that in for the good - I will get to pace a new runner who has never run 13 miles to his first half-marathon. I think that's insanely awesome. I'm looking forward to helping him to such a milestone and I'm honored that he asked me to help him. My next race after that will probably be the Surf City Half Marathon on Feb. 5 but chances are I will be pacing others there too. I will definitely pace my group at the LA Marathon in mid-March. So between then and now I will run just those races. I am already looking to Spring '12 and Summer '12 for marathons and half marathons! But you know the San Francisco Marathon is at the top of my list, ambassador or not.

All In A Day's Work

2011-11-01T06:42:00.000-07:00

How did you spend your Monday?

Mine started a visit to the girls' elementary school, which included a parade and a class party; continued with a mid-day run, complete with 88-degree temperatures; and concluded with a night out on the town... okay, a night walking up and down nearby streets, visiting neighbors.

We have an 80's Valley Girl, a Skeleton Bride and Capt. Jack Sparrow.

All in all, a wonderful day.

Gunning For 50

2011-10-31T07:15:00.000-07:00

I set out a week ago to run 50 miles, and I was determined to get to it.

Here's how the week, and my lofty 50-mile goal, turned out.

Monday: A five-mile recover run to start the week off. I'm a believer in recovery runs now, have been converted. Tried to keep paces in the 10s but four of the five miles were in the 9s. Total: 5.13

Tuesday: Set out for seven. Didn't have a ton of time but had enough to get seven in. It was a bit drizzly but rain empowers me to run stronger. Solid run. Total: 7.36. Week: 12.49

Wednesday: Kind of a crazy run. Felt like I was slogging through the first mile but ran it in 9:52. Saw a coyote around Mile 4 and tried to take picture of him/her but he/she kept bouncing away from me and off into the brush, which I suppose was a good thing. My paces were solid - all between 9:21 and 9:41. Stellar run. Total: 10.14. Week: 22.63

Thursday: Originally was supposed to run seven, but got started late and only had time for six-plus. I stupidly pushed myself too much and ran this too fast. Don't know what got into me at end but held a 6:30 pace for about a minute. I felt wiped out for the rest of the morning, probably because of that. Total: 6.2 Week: 28.83

Friday: Had I not had this run streak going or my 50-mile goal, I would have not run on Friday. But I was determined to get out on a run and I did, after digging deep and finding some motivation. I volunteer at the girls' school on Fridays so I had to run around lunchtime, but I got out and had an easy run. Probably should have done five but I had running plans later that night so didn't want to destroy my legs. Total: 4.27. Week: 33.1

Saturday: Midnight run. Got dressed up and went running.

Now, it was supposed be six miles but I cut it short at four as some of the others I was running with only ran four and I didn't want to run alone. That set up a scenario for Sunday but it was cool. I enjoyed running at midnight and the costume actually kept me warm. Total: 4.01. Week: 37.11

Sunday: Our group run was supposed to be 11 but because we started in a different spot, it would turn out to be a bit more. I wasn't complaining because I had to go out and run more no matter what, and the more time to run with my group and less time to run alone the better. We finished our run at 11.5 miles so I had 1.5 to get me to my goal. I set out, ran until the 12.25 mark and turned around. I ran the last mile in a solid 9:32 and pumped my fist in the air when I hit 13 miles. Total: 13.01. Week: 50.12

Tres Cosas Jueves: Strength, Hunger and Capt. Jack

2011-10-27T06:46:00.000-07:00

1. Strong Run: My heel hasn't been bothering me too much on Thursday (although I have only been up for 90 minutes). It was causing some discomfort on Wednesday night but nothing too bad. I will be looking for a tennis ball and hopefully that will help. I was able to run 10.14 miles on Wednesday morning in what really was a great run. My first mile wasn't so great as I felt like I slogged through it but I managed a 9:52 mile. Then I got into a rhythm. My splits

Mile 1 - 9:52
Mile 2 - 9:40
Mile 3 - 9:26
Mile 4 - 9:27
Mile 5 - 9:21
Mile 6 - 9:39
Mile 7 - 9:32
Mile 8 - 9:41
Mile 9 - 9:28
Mile 10 - 9:23

I didn't ever stretch my legs, like trying to run faster than my half marathon pace but I felt quite efficient during my run. This running everyday thing (I'm up to 18 days through Wednesday) is really giving my legs some awesome strength.

2. Hungry LB: With all these miles I've been running (163 and counting in October) I've built up quite an appetite. Sometimes I am so hungry that I want to jam whatever I can down my throat. That's what got me into problems before so of course I don't do that but I am just surprised by how hungry I can get. I try to keep grapes around so I can pick at those, raisins too, because it's easy to pick at chips or something like that. But sometimes fruit doesn't curb my appetite. I swear, running is a double-edged sword. You need fuel to run and if you run more you need more fuel and all that fuel doesn't make for great weight loss conditions. Then again, when I was dropping my 120 pounds I barely ever ran, maybe a few times on the treadmill but that's it. My cardio machine of choice back then was the elliptical. I loved that thing.

3. Midnight Run: On Friday night, I'm dressing up and going for a run. I'm going as Captain Jack Sparrow. Oh yeah. I'm going to wear eye-liner and everything. Is it eye-liner or eye shadow? I don't know, whatever you do to get that stuff under your eyes. I've got an awesome Capt. Jack wig and everything. If you're wondering, no, I am not going to dress up and run alone. It's actually a Loper thing, something they've been doing for a while. In my first two years with the Lopers I wasn't able to participate but this year, I'm ready, willing and able. So yeah, I'll be singing my own tale of Captain Jack Sparrow after our midnight run, which of course will count as my Saturday run.

My Kryptonite

2011-10-26T06:50:00.000-07:00

The more miles I run, the more...

... confident I feel.

...strength I feel in my legs.

... motivated I am to keep running.

... my heel hurts.

Wait, run that by me again? My heel.... hurting.... oh yeah. It's not hurting me now but it definitely has greeted me this morning.

Well, I suppose this heel pain not all directly related to running more miles. Or is it? My heel and I have a history together. Technically it dates back to 1975 but for the purposes of running this "history" dates back to 2010. In spring of 2010 I started to experience a lot of heel discomfort, some pain, to the point where I would limp around the house. It's strange because it has never really bothered me while I run, and not even immediately following a run. But when I'm just minding my own business, at the store or cooking dinner or what have you, I would feel discomfort.

Now, this heel issue started to arise in spring of 2010 mostly because I was running hills. I was training for the San Francisco Marathon as well as the Run Through Redlands, hilly courses both of them, so I needed to train on hills. That and the many miles I was running following my first marathon... well, that was a bit of a volatile combination apparently. About seven weeks before the marathon, I shut it down for one week, ran fewer miles and fewer hills but still did well in San Francisco.

I haven't logged as many miles as I was logging then until now. I believe in May of 2010 I ran something like 130 miles, which was if not my high close to my all-time high.

I have run 153 miles in October already, and I'm in the midst of my first 50-mile week (fingers crossed). I ran 47.85 miles last week and through Tuesday I have run 17 consecutive days.

I love to run. I am setting lofty goals and meeting them. I am entering new territory as a runner and it feels quite motivating to be able to do it.

Will this heel stop me from doing more?

I don't want to overreact. I'm not going to disrupt everything I've worked for because of one or two incidents. But I also need to be cautious.

I thought avoiding hills would help, and I suppose it has. I haven't done any hills with any regularity for a while because of that. Well, I take that back. The Lopers course is a bit hilly. But that's just once a week and it's not as hilly as Mt. Rubidoux and some of the other courses I'd run regularly when I was training for San Francisco.

We'll see what happens. I will, as some of the coaches I interview regularly say about their players' injuries and health and fitness, continue to monitor the situation closely.

My Girl

2011-10-24T20:01:00.000-07:00

I'm not a good soccer coach.

I'm in my second season as a Girls U-8 coach, and my teams have never won a game. This season my team - the mighty Purple Thunder - is 0-4-2. We've scored four goals and have given up... quite a few more. Last season, I'm not quite sure how many draws we had but the losses way outnumbered the draws.

Still, I'm not complaining. Much.

Sure it would be nice to get some more wins - it would certainly be nice to get more goals - but winning really does not matter to me.

I coach because it's great to teach children about soccer, because I'm giving my time to help others, but mostly I coach because I get to spend time with my Yvie.

I've taken tons of pictures with Yvie but this might be my favorite.

Memorable Week

2011-10-23T21:08:00.000-07:00

I had a milestone week last week.

First, I crossed the 1,000-mile mark for 2011 on Sunday. I have 1,002 miles as of Sunday. I'm proud of this as it's my second consecutive year cracking the 1,000-mile mark. In some ways, though, I kind of feel like I should have gone over the 1,000-mile mark earlier. In 2010 I did so in September and this year it's a month later. But that's nitpicking really. I didn't run that much over the summer but am more than making up for it now.

Last week I logged an all-time high of 47.85 miles. I'm very encouraged by how strong I feel and how strong I continue to feel. I've run for 15 consecutive days as of Sunday and I definitely feel it. I had midweek runs of eight miles, three of them, and I averaged a 9:20, 8:52 and 9:19 pace for those runs. And I felt strong in each of them... maybe the third one I felt a bit tired at the end but I still closed out the run with a 9:05 final mile.

This week I'm hoping to knock out another new high. My plan is to run 50 miles in a week for the first time. My last two weeks I've had 44 and this week just under 48, so getting up to 50 shouldn't take an extra toll on my body.

My plan:

Monday - 5 easy miles
Tuesday - 7
Wednesday - 10
Thursday - 7
Friday - 5
Saturday - 5
Sunday - 11

That should put me on 50 exactly. And it should put my run streak at 22 days by the end of the week, which should make for another memorable week of runs.

Meal-ing It In

2011-10-21T07:24:00.000-07:00

I made it!

Well, I guess not quite yet... Friday has just begun, but if when I make dinner tonight, I will have cooked at home five out of five weeknights this week. This is a rarity.

Now, a bit of background... Mrs. LB commutes and has an actual sit-down-in-an-office job and I'm a freelance writer which means I work from home and handle the day-to-day household duties, most of them anyway. I got into cooking in 2007 (mostly by watching the Food Network!) and consider myself a not-too-shabby home cook. I love to bake too.

Anyway, I made it a goal this week to cook at home every night, made my meal plan on Monday and went grocery shopping. I had a lot of stuff already (thanks Costco) but some things I needed to get, mostly fresh produce (wilted celery in fridge wasn't gonna cut it).

It was kinda tough to be honest but it's nice to know that I made a plan for my meals for the week and followed through with it.

What did I make? Glad you asked...

Monday
BBQ Pork Sandwiches
Cole Slaw
Sweet Potato Fries

Tuesday
Tostadas (my own creation, Mexican-style: cover w/crema mexicana, sliced turkey meat, shredded cabbage, diced carrots, jalapenos, onions... gotta take picture next time).

Wednesday
"Unstuffed" Chicken Florentine
Onion Rice

Thursday
Pasta w/Bolognese sauce (my own creation, diced and cooked spicy sausage, diced bell peppers, onions, mushrooms; added Marinara sauce, served over penne pasta)

Friday
Kung Pao Chicken
White Rice

Well, at least that's what I have planned for today. I have time today to A) cook it and B) figure out something else if it don't work.

So we'll see if I follow through with the Asian food for tonight or if I go in another direction. Either way, it will be a home-cooked meal.

Tres Cosas Jueves

2011-10-20T06:26:00.000-07:00

1. No Dice: I should be in Honduras today. The team's there and two of the guys I went to Morelia and Costa Rica with are there but I'm home. Sad. I'm trying not to think about it too much, but really our finances are not in a place where it would have made sense for me to go. Plus, I'm having a great week in terms of running and of course with my girls so that helps offset the non-trip. Still, it would be nice to have gone on another adventure in Central America. I might actually get to go on another trip here soon, but this would be stateside. Not quite sure where as it all depends on the MLS playoffs but if it happens, it could be one of a number of cities. I'll know more by the weekend hopefully.

2. Weather Change, Sorta: Here's the forecast for the next seven days for my part of SoCal: 82, 82, 93, 91, 85, 81, 81. Yeah, we've taken a U-turn for summer with that weather. However, it's much more manageable than our summer heat, mostly because of the mornings and evenings. In July and August, it's already hot when you wake up, and when you go to bed it's still not cool sometimes. I've been able to run these days outside without the heat bothering me too much. Most days it's not reached 80 degrees at about 10-11 a.m. and I'm usually done with my runs by then. It's a good thing that I don't like to run at 2 or 3 in the afternoon though because I'd be in bad shape.

3. Swelling Up: I fell during a run recently. It actually happened on Oct. 7 and prevented me from running the next day. Had that not happened, Wednesday would have been my 19th consecutive day of running. Oh well. The knee was swollen initially and it took about a week for it to go down enough to where it feels mostly normal. I mean, it doesn't bother me like it did but the swelling is still there. It looks like a bump now and my knee still feels numb in some parts. It's not a bother at all but just kind of weird when I touch my knee and don't feel a whole lot. As long as it doesn't prevent me from running comfortably, it's definitely not a bother.

Scared Of Speed?

2011-10-19T10:11:00.000-07:00

I'm not a fast runner, and I'm not motivated by speed or PRs or a BQ. That doesn't motivate me or make me want to run.

For some time, though, I'm thinking that maybe I should be more motivated by speed. By running fast. By shaving minutes off of my PRs in the marathon, half marathon, 10K and possibly even the 5K.

I can run one mile in 6:47. That's my mile PR.

My 5K PR is under 22 minutes. My 10K PR is under 50 minutes. My half marathon PR... well, it's 1:48 and change but that was an all downhill course. I've run three half marathons in 1:55:03, 1:56:20 and 1:56:58. That's a bit more accurate I think.

My marathon PR is 4:23:38.

The paces don't work out. If I'm able to run half marathons in under two hours, I should be able to run a full in close to four, if not under. Right?

Perhaps. I know someday I am going to go for a sub-four marathon. I am actually proving now that I can handle a rigorous training schedule as I've already run 112 miles in October, and it's not even Oct. 20 yet. On Wednesday, I ran eight miles in 1:11:58, three minutes faster than it took me to run the same distance on Tuesday. My legs are getting stronger and stronger, and my times are beginning to reflect that.

So should I be more obsessed, or at least more driven, by speed? By running a full in under four hours? By running a half in 1:45 or something like that?

Maybe I should. Maybe the evolution of runners includes the desire to run fast and to test yourself. I don't know, but I think it's a test every time I step out to run. I view runs the same way, whether they're four miles or 14 miles. I enjoy (or try to enjoy) every run. I definitely focus on every run (the most important run of my life is the next run I will go on). And after every run I feel like I truly accomplished something.

Is it time to feel like I truly accomplished runs only if I meet my time goals? Right now, honestly, my answer to that is a resounding no. I would hate to feel like I let myself down just because I ran my 10-miler in 1:32:33 instead of 1:29:48.

Am I not fulfilling my potential? Should I strive for the best, the best being sub-fours and BQs and PRs?

Honestly, that's not for me. I respect the hell out of runners who meet such goals and can run at a sub-7 or sub-6 clip. That blows my mind away, to think of runners who can keep those blistering paces up for 26.2 miles. And I truly do respect runners who work hard to meet time goals, whether it's a sub-4 or sub-3 or a BQ. I really do.

But that works for them. And while maybe it would work for me too, I'm just enjoying my runs. I'm not quite sure yet if I'm ready to let speed drive me.

I guess all I'm trying to do is to find that happy medium. Yeah, I like speed and I want to run fast but I like finishing runs and that sense of accomplishment more. Somewhere in between there's the right balance for me. I suppose I'm just trying to find that balance.

Getting Stronger

2011-10-17T00:19:00.000-07:00

Strength.

That's the one quality I long to have when I run. I might not be the fastest guy, I may not have the truest form but dammit if I'm strong then I can get through anything.

I feel strong these days. My legs feel strong. I've been logging lots of miles lately and as a result I feel as strong as I have in quite a while.

On Sunday I ran 12 miles. It was a 10-mile day that turned into 12, and that gave me just over 43 miles for the week. I've run 92 miles in October already and I will cross 100 miles for the month on Tuesday, the 18th day of the month. Not too shabby.

I feel a difference. I feel stronger and I can hit mid- to low-8s and not feel like I'm overexerting myself. Not sure yet for how long I can maintain that but I suppose I can toy around with that during some of my midweek runs.

Anyway, I'm on pace to shatter my previous record high for a month. I should get somewhere around 170-180. How awesome would that be?!?

Tres Cosas Jueves

2011-10-13T14:30:00.000-07:00

1. Temperature Envy? SoCal is quite a nice area to live in. We never get snow here in my neck of SoCal, just don't get cold enough. We deal with wind and rain but aside from some quite hellacious Santa Ana winds, nothing's quite too extreme. We're the envy of a lot of folks... or are we? The mercury will hit triple digits today, supposed to be 102. As far as my 15-day forecaster can see, we're going to have sunny skies in the 90s and high 80s. I had to check my calendar to see that it is indeed mid-October. I'm not necessarily begging for some snow but a nice 70-degree day isn't too much to ask for, is it?

2. No Travels Next Week: I didn't want to do it but I had to. I turned down a trip to Honduras. The whole thing wouldn't have been free but I would have just had to pay hotel for two nights plus a one-way ticket back from Houston... not free but affordable. Sort of. Funds are running low and time away from home is difficult since I'm the parent who is at home and has those duties. So while I was able to go on fantastic trips to Costa Rica and Mexico, Honduras is not in my near future. I'm okay with it, like 80 percent. That might dip to 60 percent next week when the game I could have been at will be played but that'll be just for those 90 minutes.

3. Stronger And Stronger: One thing that won't suffer at all is my running. I threw in an 8-mile week in September in part because of my trip to Costa Rica. Ugh. That's ridiculous. Well, the week after eight I ran 28, and then last week I ran 35. This week I'm at 23 through Thursday (my runs this week have been 4, 7, 6 and 6) and I have a 10-miler on the docket Sunday. All goes well I'll run 40 miles this week, my second week of 40 or more in the last two months. My legs are indeed feeling quite strong these days. A fall caused a swollen knee and prevented me from running last Saturday but I've run 12 of the last 13 days (for a total of 71.76 miles) and my legs are responding.

Milestones

2011-10-09T19:56:00.000-07:00

I will be part of a few running milestones in October, hopefully, if all goes well. Not all involve me...

* I've run 910 miles in 2011. I have to run 90 miles in the final 21 days of the month to get to my goal of 1,000 for the year. Actually, that was just one part of my goal. I'm not quite sure if I made a goal as far as mileage goes for the year but whatever the case, getting past 1,000 was sure part of it. Now that sounds like a lot to ask for but I'm scheduled to run 10 miles the next two Sundays and 11 on the 30th. So take that mileage away (90 - 31) and you're left with 59 miles in 18 days, which is totally manageable. That's less than four miles a day on average. I ran 35 miles last week and I hope to at least run that much each week in the foreseeable future. I should be able to - barring injury - reach 1,000 before Halloween.

* I ran nine miles with my pace group on Sunday and four of the finishers had never run that distance before. I helped pace four runners to their longest distance ever! How exciting is that?!? Next week, I told them that I'm going to bring a rubber stamp so I can stamp RUNNER on them since that's when I get to help pace them to one of the ultimate rite of passage - double digits. Of course, they became runners long ago but it really is exciting to be a part of something like that.

* I tried to get my run streak started again. I did actually, had it up to seven days but on the seventh day I fell during my run. I hurt my knee, well, actually it was just swollen but I wasn't able to run on Saturday. Boo! Still, I felt the difference on Sunday from having run 26 miles from Monday through Friday and 13 the two days before that. I did my nine miles in 1:27:44 which is a 9:44 pace overall. I felt strong the whole way through. And I re-started my run streak. Sigh. One of these days it will get past 20.

When Dogs Attack, And More...

2011-10-04T11:30:00.000-07:00

Is this thing on??

Seems like forever since I last posted. Oops.

Anyway, felt like stretching my, uh, fingers now and dusting off trusty blogger for a post of random thoughts...

* Went out for a family walk yesterday. The girls were walking our vicious chihuahuas just ahead of Mrs. LB and I. We were probably a mile in, getting close to home, when a huge dog (I think it was a boxer) came running across the street, charging right at Kennedy and Rooney. For a split second I saw in my mind the dog tearing Rooney apart and then chewing on Kennedy. I ran ahead and pushed her aside, trying to shield her with my body. I grabbed poor Rooney's leash and lifted it as high as I could. I yelled at that dog in Spanish (Sacate cabron!) while Mrs. LB screamed something behind me (she later said she was yelling "Come get your f-ing dog!") I was just about to start kicking at the dog when the owner finally came over and got his dog. The mean vicious dog wasn't actually all that mean or vicious. He really could have done a number on both Rooney and Kennedy but it really did seem like he just wanted to play. I was shaken though.

* Does that guy count as an irresponsible pet owner? Or was it just a freak thing? He claims he just opened his gate to his backyard and the dog shot out. We were on the other side of the street just minding our own business so we weren't necessarily antagonizing the dog - we didn't ask for it, you know. I kinda decided on the spot that it was a freak thing and because of that didn't go off on the guy. I think I would have been well within my rights to have gone off on him but I didn't. I was relieved neither Kennedy nor Rooney were hurt and that it was over so I didn't want any extra drama to be honest but part of me thinks I let that guy off the hook too easily.

* When I get upset, I sometimes will spew words out in Spanish. And when I'm dealing with animals for some reason I'm almost always talking to them in Spanish. I don't know why to be honest... pero ese pinche perro ayer me hizo sentir tanta rabia y la verdad me asusto, pero afortunadament nada paso, A la proxima si le voy a meter patadas a eso perro cabron hijo de su chingada madre....

* On the running front, I've been really sporadic with my runs because of my trips to Costa Rica and Mexico. But now I've gotten my legs underneath me once more and am gonna start another run streak. I really think that's what I need to become a stronger runner and maintain that strength, to just run every day. So far I'm on Day 4 (Tuesday was my fourth straight day) and I've gotten in 23 miles in that span. We're going to be getting up to higher miles here soon with the Lopers, got nine scheduled for Sunday, and then all of our Sunday runs will be double digits from here on out. I need strong legs and a strong attitude to pace my group effectively, so strength I shall give myself.

* Check this out. Isn't this so cool?!? I hope it happens. I'd definitely get it. Maybe I should pledge some cash...

LB In Costa Rica

2011-09-27T00:04:00.000-07:00

Have you read my previous blog post about Costa Rica? It's pretty cool if I do say so myself.

Anyway, I'm still not done blogging about Costa Rica but I don't quite have time right now to write the blog post I want to, that the topic deserves. In the meantime I thought I'd post some pictures of myself, because I don't do that very often and I know that, as a blog reader, I also enjoy looking at pictures of the blogger I'm reading about.

Trying to look all tough at the stadium in Alajuela where I went for training and for a match. I was the first person on the field at the team's practice. I had free reign of the field for a few minutes so I think that's why I acted all tough.

This is a cool-looking sign in the stadium, nearby where the previous picture was taken. It's a plaque with the stadium's namesake on it - Alejandro Morera Soto, who was a famous local footballer.

Remember the crocodile bridge from last post? This was taken on the bridge. Had I somehow managed to fall over during this picture I would have fallen perilously close to the crocodiles and I probably wouldn't be blogging right now. Yay for me keeping my balance.

And this last picture is... well... not sure if I have to describe it...

Oh yeah. Paradise.

¡Pura Vida!

Costa Rica Trip

2011-09-24T01:15:00.000-07:00

I’ve had some pretty memorable trips in my time but I’m finding it difficult to recall a time when I had two unbelievably incredible international trips in consecutive weeks.

A week ago, I was in Morelia, Mexico, wondering if anything could match that. Now, I’m back from Costa Rica, knowing that something did.

I spent a whirlwind two-plus days in Costa Rica, getting into Central America late Monday night and flying back home all day Thursday. On both personal and professional levels, Costa Rica was a rewarding, unique, fulfilling, tremendous trip.

So much happened in the last couple of days that I really don’t know where to begin. From going on a run in Costa Rica and getting lost to being at an old, venerable and true Central American soccer stadium to visiting beaches and seeing some amazing wildlife to returning to the stadium and experiencing perhaps the most insane and frenzied passion I’ve ever experienced at a sporting event, the trip was non-stop action for me.

Now, I will save my run for a separate post but it was an adventure unto itself.

I suppose I should start with the best things first. Sit back and make yourself comfy…

There were four of us writers on the trip but only three of us were able to head out to the beaches on Wednesday. We’d done a lot of work on Tuesday, both in the morning when …. um, let me backtrack a bit. I went to Costa Rica to cover a soccer match as the LA Galaxy were playing Liga Deportiva Alajuelense in a CONCACAF Champions League match. If you follow soccer, that might make sense. If you don’t… well, that’s another post for another day. Anyway, at the hotel we were able to interview Landon Donovan and the team’s coach, Bruce Arena. That gave us some proper ammo with which to get started writing, so I got started, Costa Rican style of course.

Since we’d done a lot of work, actually, all of our pre-game stories were done by Tuesday night, we had Wednesday free to ourselves until about 4 or 5 p.m. So we rented a car, one of the other guys volunteered to drive and off we went to explore the Costa Rican countryside, determined to make it to a beach. We stopped after about 45 minutes for some breakfast and to stretch our legs.

Now, we had an idea of where we were going. Our destination was Jaco, although that could have changed since we only wanted to find a beach, not necessarily visit Jaco. One of the people at the hotel had told us about Crocodile Bridge, where supposedly there were some crocodiles relaxing underneath.

We came up on a bridge but didn’t see any signs or anything. But there were people on the bridge so once we crossed it, we parked and made our way back to the middle of the bridge and sure enough, down below…

… were our buddies the crocodiles. I’ve always referred to them as “cocodrilos” in Spanish but here they’re known as “lagartos.” Whatever they’re called, they’re kinda imposing.

Are you ready? Here’s probably my favorite picture from the whole trip:

Dude has his mouth open. For real.

So then we made our way back to the car. We had to stay on the straight and narrow.

We piled back in the car and kept driving. Our destination seemed close.

But it didn’t seem close. Although we were right by the ocean, we couldn’t see it. There were a lot of trees and vegetation blocking our view. Since I’d been here before, I knew the water was just on the other side of the greenery, so when the first hint of a break in the trees appeared, I did in fact see water.

We pulled off the road once more as we were right by a beach. The sight was stunning.

Absolutely beautiful.

And notice the best thing about these pictures: there is nobody there. We walked past a couple with a young boy and there was also an older lady with her grown daughter and (presumably) their tour guide there at this beach, but there wasn't anybody else there.

To be fair, I'm not sure if this was a great spot for swimming. There seemed to have been lots of rocks in the water, and not the small rocks you pick up and toss but the large ones that can tear a hole in the side of a boat. The water, though, was quite warm, so warm. I only went in to my ankles but it was so soothing and refreshing.

After a little bit there, we got back in the car and made it down to Jaco. Now, Jaco is close to where we went in 2009, to Quepos which is next to Manuel Antonio National Park, and I would recommend visiting Quepos. However, you can't exactly go wrong with Jaco either.

Now, Jaco looks easy to pronounce - hawk-o, it looks like, but it's pronounced haw-KOH, so it doesn't necessarily rhyme with taco.

I joked with the guys that I was going to move to Jaco and open up Jaco's Tacos, even though it wouldn't necessarily rhyme. And then, wouldn't you know, we passed by Jacos Tacos. I was so disappointed someone had stole my brilliant idea.

Well, anyway, more pictures from Jaco.

Now, these birds were strange.

Okay, well, strange maybe isn't the right word. Unique is more like it. I think the one on the left is a turkey vulture. It looks like it anyway. Not sure what the heck the one on the right is. I obviously photoshopped the one on there so they weren't together or anything but they were sorta close to each other.

I snapped some more pictures before it was time to head back to our hotel.

Parting really was sweet sorrow.

On the one hand, I was sad that my time at the beach had been so short, but on the other hand, I was grateful for every second I was able to spend there. After all, it was a gift, it truly was. I'd never imagined being anywhere near Costa Rica and then to have this thrust upon me was a blessing, a gift, a prize of some sort that I'm not about to slight.

Amazingly enough, the trip would just get better, for me of course. There was a little matter of a soccer game to attend and cover, after all. If you made it this far in my tale, I'm hoping you come back for another layer or two of it.

Stay tuned for the next part.

Back From Costa Rica

2011-09-22T17:54:00.001-07:00

Greetings! I made it back from Costa Rica. I'm already working on a long post with pictures and stuff but I guess I can't wait to put up something so...

This will hold us over for now. And as you can see I made it to a beach. Yay!

Another International Trip

2011-09-19T08:24:00.000-07:00

I'm heading out to Costa Rica later today. Ha, that's not something you say every day.

This will be my second international trip in a span of eight days. That's not something that happens often either. But that's how things work out for me. I go long stretches of time without traveling and then all of the sudden I'm thrust onto international flights in rapid succession.

My whirlwind travel isn't done either. I may have a chance to go to Honduras for a match in late October. That will be interesting as I've never been to Honduras.

Anyway, we'll cross that bridge in Tegucigalpa when I come to it. For now, it's on to San Jose's Juan Santamaria International Airport. Well, later this afternoon anyway.

I haven't had the chance to read up on you all so I apologize for not getting out and reading blogs as much lately. Next week things will be back to normal and I will have time to run and blog and read blogs and get to some things around the house.

Anyway, hopefully I'll check in from Costa Rica.

And if you weren't reading my blog in 2009 when I last went to Costa Rica and the land of Pura Vida, check out some of my posts from back then. That pretty much includes things that I won't get to do now. But I'm sure I will have different but still memorable experiences this time around as well.

Return To Costa Rica

2011-09-16T15:59:00.000-07:00

Have you read my previous post about my visit to Morelia? If not, make sure you do after you read this one. Got some cool pictures up from my quick trip to Mexico.

Anyway, as the blog post title says, I will indeed be making another international trip here. I am headed to San Jose, Costa Rica on Monday. I will be there until Thursday, covering another soccer match.

Now, this trip to Costa Rica won't be like my 2009 excursion there. I also traveled there for a soccer game. That time it was the United States national team playing against Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifying match while this time it's the LA Galaxy playing Costa Rican side Alajuelense in a CONCACAF Champions League game. But that time Mrs. LB traveled down on the day of the game and we stayed an extra three days on vacation there. We visited the beach in Quepos, visited Manuel Antonio National Park and had an amazing and awesome time. It was unbelievable, to be honest.

This time, I won't be so lucky. San Jose is in the middle of the country and while it is a small country, it still would take a couple of hours to go to the beaches. And I just won't have that kind of time.

Still, a trip to Costa Rica is something I'm not going to pass up, and having the chance to take this sort of excursion, for work no less, is a blessing. I've worked as a freelancer for about eight solid years now, have covered soccer since 1998 and while I've traveled before for games and tournaments (Japan in 02, Trinidad & Tobago in 01, Dallas in 05, Seattle in 09 and 10, also been to Chicago, Salt Lake, Denver...) my big trips are few and far between. To have two trips like this so close together is a bit of a whirlwind but definitely something I'm enjoying and feeling so fortunate to have the chance to partake in.

One thing that will be different from my last trip to Costa Rica - I will definitely go on a run there. Last time I didn't run but this time you can bet your bottom dollar I'm going to run. Costa Rica is safer than Morelia so I will head down there with the intention of running, and also I want to add Costa Rica to the list of foreign countries I've run in. Right now that list consists of Canada and Mexico. Woo hoo!

Anyway, I rambled on for longer than I intended to. If you haven't checked out my Morelia post, please do so now. Got some cool pics. And I'll be back for one more post before I leave for Central America on Monday.

Tres Cosas Jueves: Morelia Edition

2011-09-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

1. Back In The Saddle: I am back. I made it back to Morelia unscathed. Morelia is an absolutely beautiful city. It's a very historic city, founded by the Spanish in the early 1500s, and is considered one of the birthplaces of the Mexican Revolution. In fact, one of the main figures of the revolution - Jose Maria Morelos - was born in Morelia and was honored by having the city renamed from Valladolid to Morelia in his honor. Anyway, I got back to LA in the wee hours of Wednesday morning and had to drive home for about an hour afterward. I got two hours of sleep, squeezed in a two-hour nap but was a zombie for most of Wednesday. I did not run in Morelia (no gym at the hotel, streets leading up to hotel were very narrow, no sidewalks and lots of traffic, so no ideal conditions) and didn't run Wednesday but I ran seven miles Thursday morning so I feel like a new and refreshed man.

2. What's Next? I'm still waiting word but there's a good chance I will get to go to Costa Rica next week. I'd leave Monday and return Thursday. Of course, I would not have time to experience the best of Costa Rica - the beaches and rain forests - but that's just a minor inconvenience. I'm not going to turn down a trip to Costa Rica and the chance to cover a soccer game there. No sir, no ma'am. I've been to Costa Rica before, for soccer, but worked a vacay into it as Mrs. LB flew down there the day of the US-Costa Rica match in June 2009 and we stayed for three days afterward. It was an awesome three days and the beaches really are stunning there. I would highly recommend Costa Rica to anyone who wants to experience nature at its finest.

3. Before We Move On Completely: I'm not quite ready to yet to put Morelia in the past. Some pictures from my time there:

Morelia from my hotel; kinda hard to see but if you click on the picture you should be able to see it a bit more closely.

In front of the Cathedral of Morelia, the city's prized building. I tried to upload a picture of the Cathedral from the outside but blogger was being dumb so this is the only picture I managed to get up. Grr..

This is another building that's important in Morelia's history. This used to be the entrance to town, hence the guard tower. If you came into Morelia, you had to pass through here. The church is ornate and has lots of gold inside, but because it didn't look like much it survived because looters never bothered to go inside.

Morelia is the capital of Michoacan, and the state has fame because of its carnitas. That's why a lot of restaurants you see will say something like "Carnitas Michoacan" or "Carnitas Sahuayo" (the name of a city nearby that is really famous for carnitas). Anyway, carnitas is a pork dish kinda like pulled pork sans the barbecue sauce, but much more tastier. You eat them with corn tortillas, salsa and pico.

Cheers! or should I say... Salud!

And now for some pictures about the reason for my visit...

This is the stadium, Estadio Morelos. The team's name is Monarcas (you couldn't tell, could you?). Morelia is famous too because nearby is a Monarch butterfly sanctuary. The Monarch butterflies migrate every year from Canada to the outskirts of Morelia and have done so for centuries. The club is named after them.

Standing on the side of the field as the Galaxy train (day before the match)

My pre-game meal: Carnitas Torta and a Coca-Cola. Don't usually have straight Coca-Cola but in Mexico it's something I had to have because it tastes different - better. So good.

Galaxy captain and US national team star Landon Donovan.

Well, that's that. Hope you enjoyed it.

Traveling Man

2011-09-10T23:57:00.000-07:00

I mentioned it in my previous post but decided to post this here on its own. I'm heading out of the country for a few days, going down to Morelia, Mexico for work. I'm a freelance writer by trade and I'm heading down to cover a soccer game.

If you follow soccer, you might be aware of the game. Galaxy-Morelia. It's a pretty big deal (obviously since I'm headed down for it).

So yeah, it's gonna be great. Some friends/fellow writers are going and it's going to be an epic time, hopefully.

I've been to Morelia once before, in 2002 when my wife and I lived in Mexico briefly. We really enjoyed the city and I'm anxious to go back. Unfortunately, the crime has worsened substantially in Mexico since 2002 and even since 2006, when we took a family trip down there. I've been back, in 2009 to cover US-Mexico in Mexico City, and that was relatively safe. I should be okay.

Not sure what the area is like around our hotel but I might just stick to running in the hotel gym for the two days I'm down there. We'll see.

Anyway, just wanted to give you a heads up in case you don't hear from me for a couple of days. Who knows, I may chime in from Mexico with a post about how awesome my run was in Morelia, or how a treadmill in Mexico gives you as many ~~headaches~~ joys as it does in the US.

Hasta luego.

Mobile Blogging Test

2011-09-08T14:44:00.001-07:00

This is a test of the emergency broad... actually, no. But is a test without any annoying screeching sounds.

There is finally a Blogger iPhone app. When I got my iPhone one of the first things I did was to get the Blogger app only to find that there wasn't one.

Great.

So finally on Thursday I read somewhere that Blogger had come out with an app for iOS. Sweet. Got it and, well, here I am.

Now I have mobile blogged before (or is it mobile-blogged?). With my blackberry I would just send an email to Blogger and it would publish it as a post. You just have to set it up on your dashboard but it's not tough to do.

This is different. You get more bells and whistles this way I would assume. You are supposed to be able to mess with pictures so let me see about that.

I included a picture I took of me and the girls Thursday morning from my phone.

Hmm, if I can take pictures and blog all from my phone I could do some cool posts, like a true post-race post. Not a recap but something with a picture or three and a bit more info than "I just finished my race!" type of thing. Or if you are traveling you could put up a post about stuff...

Speaking of traveling, I am going to Morelia, Mexico next week for work. Awesome! I leave Sunday afternoon and get back very early on Wednesday. We'll see if I can run there or not. Depends on where the hotel is.

Anyway, just wanted to test this out. So far, so good...

Race-less LB

2011-09-07T06:16:00.000-07:00

If you followed this blog last year, you came across them. They weren't frequent in that they didn't appear once a week or anything, but they were fairly common. Much more common than this year.

Race recaps have indeed been in short supply in 2011 for the simple fact that I have not run many races this year.

Let me see, my races this year...

Surf City Marathon and Fountain Valley 5K in February, Diamond Valley Lake Marathon in April, Fontana Days Half Marathon and Camp Pendleton Mud Run in June and.... oh yeah, that's it.

Sad.

Last year at this time I'd done Surf City Marathon, ARMC 5K, Lefty's 5K, Run Through Redlands Half Marathon, Run For Rescue 10K, SBSD Mud Run, Camp Pendleton Mud Run and the San Francisco Marathon.

That's eight races at this point last year - twice as many as last year - and still I had two left at the end of the year.

The way my year has worked out, it's probably for the best that I haven't had more races as I was woefully undertrained throughout the summer. But now that I'm getting back into the swing of things, I feel those juices flowing, the desire to run races is once again present. I'm kicking butt and I want to test myself.

But alas, I won't get the chance to test myself much this year.

When I became pace leader, my initial thought was to make sure I did well in that job. Being pace leader became my focus and because it has been my focus, I have not looked at doing too many races. Logistically it would be difficult. Most races are run on Sundays so running a race would mean missing a day with the Lopers. Saturday races are out of the question until after Thanksgiving because of my girls' respective soccer teams and my own soccer duties. And there's not many Saturday races out there to begin with.

Now, there is hope. There are four races on the Loper calendar. There is of course the biggie, the LA Marathon in March, and there's the Surf City Half Marathon in February. I've done the full each of the last two years and I'll probably wind up running the half this year. There is also the Loper Classic but I won't be able to run that as I'll be volunteering that day for that race.

The next race I could run would be Mission Inn. I ran the half marathon last year and the 10K each of the last two years before that. I'm undecided on that one, whether to run the half or the 10K. I wasn't too crazy about the half marathon course but I feel like I need the challenge once more of running a half marathon.

That race is on Nov. 13 so it is still quite a ways away.

I don't know if I can last that long. I might have to look for some sort of race that fits my schedule in order to get the urge to destroy a race out of my system.

Then again, all this pent-up frustration could make for a strong performance at Mission Inn.

Either way, I want to just put on a bib and put my game face on once more.

The Beginnings Of A Pace Group

2011-09-04T10:15:00.000-07:00

Sunday's Loper schedule called for four miles. It's not much in the grand scheme of things. Before too long that will be just about the midway point in our runs and then it won't even be that.

But Sunday's run really felt like it helped from the semblance of our pace group. I led the group for the whole run and kept a steady pace. Fewer runners ran ahead of me this time than last and the whole group was close, there wasn't too much spacing between the front and any stragglers in the back.

It felt like a pace group, not like a collection of runners.

It was nice being in front and having the runners stay behind me. There were some runners who I know can run faster than the pace I was holding but they stayed back, or level, with me. And when I was going a little too fast, I slowed down and the runners around me also slowed down.

Some runners went ahead, four to be precise, but three of them I know are experienced marathoners so that's fine. They can run on their own and be okay. The rest of the group stayed back.

It was a solid, strong run. Of course, it's only four miles but in a way that's good that we had this kind of run now. The miles will only keep increasing. Next week is five, then six, then seven, eight, nine and 10. Once we hit 10, we won't single digits again.

But that's the good thing about these short miles. While the first-year Lopers are just getting used to running longer miles, us pace leaders are getting the hang of this pace-leading thing. By the time we hit double digits we will all be ready for it.

END OF THE STREAK

So much happening on one day...

On Saturday, for the first time in 19 days, I did not run. I couldn't. I was much too sore to run. It was a bummer because it was the end of my streak.

All told, I ran about 95 miles over those 18 days and I really did get my legs to be stronger, which is what I wanted when I began the streak (although I didn't set out with a streak in mind).

It's not a long stretch of time in the grand scheme of things but it felt great to force myself to get out and find new ways to fit runs in. This boot camp that I just started - which is the culprit for my run streak's demise - forced me to find ways to get my miles in around that. And running two-a-days, which I did twice this week, also helped me get my miles in which forces me to be more disciplined.

Funny thing is, I ran eight times this week, which averages to more than one a day obviously, but still my streak ended. Irony.

Anyway, none of the progress I've made in the last three weeks will regress. In fact, I plan on leaping to the next level. The boot camp classes will help catapult me into becoming a more fit person, not just a better runner, but it will help carry over into my running as well. A strong core is such a benefit for a runner to have and that will be nice to have once more. My core is not strong as I don't usually work it out. Stronger leg muscles and more toned muscles will also help out when I run.

This end of my streak is merely a one-day break. Sunday's four-miler is the start of a new streak. We'll see where I am 18 days from now. That's the most exciting part about all this, just seeing my progress as I gain more and more strength.

Taxing Week

2011-09-02T18:44:00.001-07:00

I am so tired.

This week has been a bit of a difficult one. I've got my run streak going but I also started a boot camp style workout routine. The two worlds collide indeed.

Friday was particularly tough. I ran 2 miles at home to warm up after dropping the girls off at school, then as soon as I was done, jumped into my truck and went to the boot camp gym about 10 minutes before class started.

We warmed up a bit but I was already warm, and then we jumped right into it once more. I did single-leg step-ups (30 sec on each leg) then jump squats, repeated about five times; then reverse lunges using a rope (30 sec on each leg) then knee highs (basically, running in place with the knee coming up really high, hence the name), repeated about five times; then we put our backs against a wall and squated down so where our thighs were parallel to the ground and held a 16-lb kettle ball for 30 seconds and then side-stepped with a band around our feet rotating five times; then single-leg thrusts (30 sec on each leg) and squats, rotating five times. And then some other squats to properly destroy my thighs and butt.

When we finished of course I hadn't had enough torture so I went on a run and wound up running four miles. The first 2.5 miles were mostly uphill. In fact, one particularly rough stretch saw me go from an elevation of 938 to 1227, from mile 1.3 to mile 1.68. Yeah, that's pretty much straight up.

So here's the body count then thus far for the week. I've run 28 miles this week. My goal was to stay at 40 for the week like last week. I think that would make it my first-ever consecutive weeks of 40 or more. Not sure if that's going to happen though. Sunday I'm running four with my awesome pace group which means I'd have to run eight on Saturday and I don't know if my legs have eight miles in them. I may set out for 5-6 on Saturday morning and then see how I feel. One option would be to run whatever I can tomorrow and make up the difference before or after our group run on Sunday. But as long as I get out and run I'm not going to fret too much about the mileage.

I feel good. My legs feel good. Well, right now they don't actually because I had to hobble around just to sit in my office chair to write this blog post. I'm probably going to be sore as crap on Saturday and Sunday so getting out and running might be a chore.

Well, I'll let you know how things go on Saturday and Sunday. I know it's Labor Day Weekend and most of you probably won't be on your computers reading blogs but if you did happen to stop by, thanks for including me in your weekend and have a great, fun, safe and hopefully run-filled three-day weekend!

Tres Cosas Jueves

2011-09-01T11:01:00.000-07:00

1. Run Streak Alive And Well: On Thursday morning I ran for the 17th consecutive day. It was just a 2-mile run (I'll explain why so little in a second) but it was a run nonetheless. A good run. Any run is a good run. My legs feel so good right now, every run I go on lately just lets me know that my legs are getting stronger and stronger. I've done two 10-mile runs during my streak and the difference between the first and the second was quite noticeable. I plan to keep this streak going as long as I can so I will be able to continue getting stronger while burning more calories and hopefully losing some weight.

2. Boot Camp: I started my first day of a 30-day boot camp workout. I got a Groupon earlier this year and finally redeemed it. It's for 30 days' worth of these boot camp classes. I didn't know what to expect but I wanted to run a little so I ran two miles - one mile out from the parking lot and then back - and had about 10 minutes to rest up before we started. That class kicked me in the butt. We warmed up, did some core work, then went right into it. There were four stations and you alternated two workouts at each station. There were either weights or ropes for one and then something involving the core (planks, tricep planks, burpees, mountain man pushups... yeah, wasn't too familiar with anything but the planks before today). So you alternate workouts - there's a group leader there, very energetic, telling you how much time you have left and stuff. So when she'd say switch, you switch. I was dripping with sweat pretty early on. It was all challenging. Somethings I couldn't do very well - mostly the core stuff - while the other people in the class - mostly women - were doing the core stuff just fine. We tore through all the different stations in maybe 35 minutes or so, so that was essentially 35 straight minutes of just alternating things. It was tough but worth it. I'll be back on Friday for more torture.

3. Disneyland Resort Trip: On Wednesday I took the girls out of school early and we picked up their cousin and went to Disney's California Adventure. Their cousin is going back home to Washington state on Sunday so we wanted for the girls to spend time with her before she went back. We all had a great time. We were there from like 11 until about 8. Tiring, mostly at the end, but worth it.

A few pictures:

Excited for the day

Nabbing an autograph

Daddy and a daddy's girl

Best Week Of The Year

2011-08-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

Is it a stretch to call this the best week of 2011 for me? Well, maybe the best week that did not involve a race, how's that? The best training week of the year.

I can't remember a better week.

First, the stats

Distances

Mon - 10.07

Tue - 3.38

Wed - 6

Thu - 8.15

Fri - 6.05

Sat - 4.17

Sun - 3

Mileage for week: 40.82

That's seven runs in seven days. My total run streak is up to 13 consecutive days. And this is my highest-mileage week in months. I usually get close to 40 during January because A) I'm running 13, 15, 18 miles on Sundays and B) I'm refereeing HS soccer games and count the mileage. But this might be my highest mileage week ever of just straight runs, excluding the mileage I get from reffing soccer games.

How am I holding up? Physically, fine. I did feel some heel discomfort on Saturday morning, briefly, but I think that's because I ran eight hilly miles on Thursday and my heels don't like the hills so much.

I'm hoping to extend the streak for another seven days and get up to 20 so hopefully next Sunday I will be able to reflect on that. I don't see any reason why I can't keep going to be honest.

It's really, really hot right now. I was planning 10-12 on Monday but the weather is supposed to be ridiculous on Monday morning. I can't start until about 8 and the forecast for 8 on Monday is 78 and sunny, and it's supposed to be 86 degrees by 10, so I'm not sure a long run will fly on Monday. Might just go for 6-8 or I might get adventurous and split up the mileage, run 6-8 in the morning and do 4-6 in the evening. Oh yeah! Maybe I'll throw in some two-a-days here for kicks.

Regardless, it's been a great week and I really do feel like my legs are getting stronger. Days like the ones I've had are causing a snowball effect. The better I run, the more confidence I gain, the more confidence I gain, the more I want to run. I'm completely embracing this and am glad and grateful that I have the ability to run, both physically and with my job. Believe me, I don't take anything for granted. A month ago I wasn't running jack, and now this.

It truly has been the best training week of the year.

Hilly Run, Streak Lives

2011-08-25T10:44:00.001-07:00

It's a streak now, a bone fide streak.

Ten days of running and counting. I made it to 10 on Thursday after knocking out 8.15 miles in 1:22:39. It was quite warm during my run but that wasn't the toughest part of the run.

Check out the elevation:

This is a run I've been wanting to do for a while but haven't been able to. Just wasn't trained properly enough to do it.

As you can see it's quite hilly. I started at my house and ran straight up a street that takes us over a hill and into a neighboring county. Over the hill, I usually turn around and come back but that would have only gotten me six so I ran a little more on the other side of the hill and then came back. So that's the same peak that I ran over and back.

The crazy part (since this is the first I've ran this with my micoach app, all of these stats are new to me):

at .75 mile the elevation was 942 ft.
at 2.1 miles the elevation was 1289 ft.

That's a gain of 347 feet in 1.35 miles. It took me a little more than 14 minutes to run that stretch. Now, that's the tough part, right? Well, on the way back you drop that much, 347 feet down, in 1.35 miles, so you can go pretty fast for that stretch.

Crazy stat from the way back.

Mile 5.25 - 1060 ft
Mile 5.94 - 1289 ft

That's an elevation gain of 229 feet in less than three-quarters of a mile.

Now, this hill I ran a lot when I was training for San Francisco. This and the one I ran last week were the two hills I used to train for the hills of San Fran. It worked obviously since I ran that in 4:37:51, besting my then-PR by about five minutes.

So the streak continues and it lives on after a tough run. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Awesome Running Days

2011-08-24T09:25:00.000-07:00

I just finished a run that's got me so amped that I wanted to share it here.

You know how in the summer I wasn't running nearly enough? (yes, I know it's still summer but the girls are back to school now so bear with me)

Well, since the girls went back to school I've had more time to do more things, including running. I just ran six miles and it's the ninth consecutive day I've gone on a run.

This run was particularly grand. I've been wanting to get my legs back and I think this week I've taken some major steps towards doing just that. On Monday I ran 10 miles and today I ran six miles in 53:45. That's at a sub-9 minute pace.

Here are my splits

Mile 1 - 9:16

Mile 2 - 8:54

Mile 3 - 8:48

Mile 4 - 8:54

Mile 5 - 8:55

Mile 6 - 8:56

It was just a run that started out sort of leisurely but my legs felt good, felt strong and I just went with that. I ran the first mile in 9:16 and wondered if that was too fast and was pretty sure I wasn't going to be able to hold that pace but as the miles went on, I got stronger and felt strong throughout. I think after four miles I felt a little spent but I pushed through that and had some nice bursts of speed in the last two miles, including the last quarter-mile or so, which was uphill.

These are the kinds of runs that motivate me to keep running, that drive me to pursue and the ones that I'll remember for days and weeks and months.

I'm so grateful I was able to experience that and that I now have the time to commit to running. And that's why I didn't sweat the summer too much. I enjoyed my time with the girls and now I'm enjoying my time and making the most of it.

Tree Tings Tuesday

2011-08-23T09:26:00.000-07:00

I know, it ain't quite Thursday yet but I felt like banging out a few things now and I can't change the calendar so I improvise.

1. LB The Speaker: I volunteered, they accepted. Before the start of the Loper season, I volunteered to speak in one of our meetings. We meet for 30 minutes before each of our Sunday runs and the topic varies. I offered up my services to talk about motivation. By sharing my story I hope to motivate fellow Lopers to get through their long runs and overcome whatever challenges they may face. On Nov. 27 I will have the chance to share my story with the Lopers. I actually already have, as I gave a speech at the 2010 Loper Banquet. That was one of the highlights of my life, to be honest. I still get chills thinking about the standing ovation I received. I mean, honestly, how many times in your life are you going to get a standing ovation? And it was heart-felt, not a token standing o. I'd wanted to give the talk sooner but late November will work well also. We'll be on the cusp of knocking out long run after long run at that point, plus the holidays are always a time where a little extra motivation is needed. A while to go before then but it's been finalized. And this time, unlike my speech, I will record it and share it here for you all to see.

2. Cluster Eff: Yvie said this to her mom on Sunday: "Sometimes my room is a Charlie Foxtrot." This is very true, her room sometimes is pretty bad. I think it's hilarious though since she used the term perfectly. I told her a while back... "Yvie, if there's ever a situation where something is like a gigantic disaster and it seems like everything is going wrong, you can used the term 'Charlie Foxtrot' to describe it." Nice to know she listens!

3. Not Rockin' Out: I sacrifice a lot for my girls, including music. I've burned several musical soundtracks and the girls have enjoyed them quite a bit. Commonly found in our CD player: Annie, Sound of Music, West Side Story, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. I'm thinking of burning Phantom of the Opera and throwing that into the mix. I don't have Oklahoma but that might be another one. Any other suggestions? I know I'm digging a hole though with each new musical I introduce them to but oh well. Mrs. LB is big into musicals and she wanted the girls to enjoy them as well. I guess I'm doing my part, despite how much my ears suffer.

Pace Leader Challenges

2011-08-22T12:26:00.000-07:00

LB, the Pace Leader.

It's official. I led my first run as a bone fide pace leader on Sunday. Two miles!

And it wasn't great.

Sigh.

Now, the group of runners assembled was fantastic. There seems to be a great mix of first-timers and veterans and we will have other runners join our group here as the weeks go on. My fellow pace leader was also great and offered a lot of info to the runners and was strong in her part during the run.

But the run itself was a bit of a disaster. Pace leaders are supposed to lead (duh) but I had runners get in front of me for a lot of the run. That threw off the pace and the run was way faster than it should have been.

I'm trying not to get too disheartened by it and even though I tried to get over it on Sunday, I suppose some feelings still linger about it. I'm guessing though that the only way to get past that will be to redeem myself next weekend.

After our run, we had more time to get together and talk as a group, so we did introductions and we had the runners all say their names and how many marathons they've run or what kinds of runs/races they've done recently if they hadn't done a marathon. We have runners who have done 0 marathons, 1 marathon, 2 marathons... all the way up to someone with 58 marathons. I didn't count exactly but I think about half of the 20 or so runners there were first-timers.

Of course my goal will be to keep them all there, all engaged, all motivated to run and of course pace them through runs.

Anyway, before we did introductions I told the group that that run was WAY too fast, that it was my fault for that. I also talked to them about staying behind the pace leader. I am going to have to hammer that point until they get it, and keep reeling them back when it happens. It will happen, of course. It's just natural.... one runner gets a head of steam, wants to stretch their legs and gets in front of the pace leader. That only draws the leader forward though and if it happens too much or for too long it will speed up the group.

So, I suppose that if that's my biggest headache at the start, it can't all be too bad.

And I really did enjoy meeting all the new runners and all the potential marathoners in our group. I know how grandiose and glorious it is to run a marathon and I would love nothing more than to help these runners experience that for themselves.

Oh, one more thing. I made it out Monday for a 10-miler. I worked on my pacing. Not bad, huh?

Mile 1 - 10:03
Mile 2 - 9:50
Mile 3- 9:58
Mile 4 - 10:04
Mile 5 - 10:24 (ah! my phone rang!)
Mile 6 - 9:50
Mile 7 - 9:52
Mile 8 - 9:52
Mile 9 - 9:43
Mile 10 - 9:30

Pacing Others

2011-08-19T00:07:00.000-07:00

On Sunday, my incredible fitness adventure will take me on yet another once-unimaginable turn as my pace leader duties will begin in earnest.

Along with a fellow marathoner, I will pace the Loma Linda Lopers' 10-minute-per-mile pace group. This new part of my fitness journey will be challenging. Now, I've conquered so much from then until now that this might seem like just another challenge to overcome. However, this will add a new wrinkle - it's not all about fitness anymore.

I have to lead people. That requires being a leader of people. Which requires leadership qualities.

In some ways I think I'm more of a lead-by-example person. But this is an undertaking that will require more than that. I don't necessarily think it's an impossible task but it's one that will take me a bit to get the hang of.

I do after all have some fears about this whole pace-leading thing.

Such as...

* The Right Balance: If this group is anything like the other groups I've been in with the Lopers, we will have veteran marathoners and runners who have not run more than 5-6 miles. Finding a balance between the two groups of runners within the group could pose a challenge.

* Pacing Myself: I fear that I will either take the group out way too fast or way too slow. I'm not a speedburner by any means but sometimes I run in the 8-minute range, and sometimes I run in the low 9s. In fact, my comfortable pace is in the low to mid 9s. So an excited LB means a sped-up LB which could mean running closer to 9 minutes per mile than 10.

* Speaking Up: If you've ever talked to me in person, you know that I don't have a loud booming voice. I wish I did sometimes. I have to consciously project my voice when trying to talk to a group of people. If I just talk loud, it may not be loud enough.

* Guru? Hardly: I want to show the group that I am capable of being a pace leader by sharing things I've learned since I've taken up running. But I don't want to come across as a know-it-all.

* Finishing Strong: When I was training for my last marathon, in April, I struggled with finishing my long runs up strong - by long, I mean my 18- and 20-mile runs. For my 18-miler, I was done at about 15. We've got some time until we hit double digits, let alone 15, so I have time to work on this.

I'm sure there are more areas that I've worried about and pondered over but I can't think of them now. Hopefully I just put them out of my mind for good and that's that. But this list is just some of what I will try and focus on and improve over the course of my life as pace leader.

Now, my co-pace leader is an awesome runner, faster and stronger than me but we're both very dedicated and optimistic. We are on the same page in terms of what we want the group to be like and what we want our focus to be. We want our group members to have smiles on their faces after each and every run, and we want to focus on finishing runs, hopefully strong, instead of focusing on our time. Sure, we want to keep it as close to 10 minutes per mile as possible but we're not going to obsess over it either.

Anyway, with my co-pace leader around I think we'll have a strong group before too long. I just have to sort through my own challenges first and go from there.

The Run That Won

2011-08-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

Thursday's final score: Mt. Rubidoux 1, LB 0.

Thursday's run was a bit taxing. Not sure if it was the weather (sunny, high 70s at start) or maybe improper nutrition (I had cereal for dinner on Wednesday, sad face). Or maybe I just over-exerted myself (but I had a good reason to do so, trust me). Or maybe I am still reeling from Saturday's hike (my legs feel fine now but still...).

I ran up Mt. Rubidoux. Instead of the usual four miles it takes to get up there, my journey was five since I have to park a little further away now.

Anyway, here's what the run looked like.

All those peaks and valleys suggest that I was really all over the place with my pace. The higher the line, the faster my pace. I was up and down and up and down and very inconsistent.

How does that compare with another run?

Here's Tuesday's six-miler.

It was a bit more steady, but it wasn't on a hill at all.

This is what the elevation was for today's run.

So I went from 789 feet at the start to 1299 feet, a change of more than 500 feet in about 2.5 miles.

I tried to do the run hard too, and that may have been my problem as well. Once at the top I had to take a break. I was breathing very hard and the sun was just shining down on me. Once I got back to my truck, I was dripping in sweat. I drank an entire bottled water in one drink, then pounded another one.

All in all, a pretty draining run.

Hike Up Mt. San G - Bad Idea

2011-08-15T00:01:00.000-07:00

I don't know what I was thinking.

I'd never been hiking, really, nothing like the hike I attempted Saturday. For my first real hike, I chose to hike up the highest peak in Southern California, all told a 20-mile hike.

Dumb idea. Actually, it wasn't my idea as my overachieving brother talked me into it. Looking back on it, it would have been better to have done a shorter hike to get acclimated to hiking and then work our way up to the monster hike we attempted Saturday.

I'll try to keep this blog post short but here goes...

My three brothers and I got up to the trailhead at about 5:45 a.m. on Saturday and about 20 minutes later we set off on our quest. If I'd have known then what I know now, I would have turned around or told Danny that I was only going up 4-5 miles. Ah well.

Now, we started off at about 6,000 feet elevation and were supposed to gain about 5,500 feet over the course of 10 miles. The first mile seemed like it was just one constant uphill and it kept climbing and climbing. There were few parts where the path leveled out, mostly it was just going up and up and up.

I felt fine the first mile, the second mile, the third.... I was doing great by the time we got to eight miles. We still weren't quite sure if there were two more miles to go after eight miles or not, we'd hoped it was more like one mile remaining, but we had energy and were hoping to get to the top soon.

I could tell I was in some high altitude here. I'd take a few steps and I was feeling short of breath. That feeling got worse, became more amplified when we got higher than the tree line.

Yeah, this kind of was a bit unsettling. I was at such a high elevation that trees couldn't grow there. The only things around me were rocks... rocks big enough you could sit on, rocks that fit in your hand and rocks that resembled thick sand.

Me and my brother Hugo, about 20 minutes before reaching the top.

At this point, we'd gone for more than nine miles but every step was difficult and more challenging than the last. The air was thin and our bodies felt it. We'd been at it for well over six hours at this point and all I wanted to do was to get to the top. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, I was at the summit. It was an open area and there were maybe two dozen other hikers up there. Danny had gotten there first so we found a spot to sit in, waited for our other brothers and celebrated our achievement by eating sandwiches.

A friend wanted some of my sammie:

Now, I was so tired once at the top that I took my shoes off and, after downing one of the best sandwiches I've had in my life, I laid down somehow, found a sort-of comfortable spot and rested. And slept. For probably 15 minutes, I slept on the top of the highest peak in Southern California.

After about an hour, were rested and recovered enough to attempt to start our long journey down. But not before posing for a rare family photo.

The Bueno men

We were feeling refreshed and hopeful that we could get down to the bottom in about four hours. But the thin air tried to hold me back, and it did. My three bros seemed to have more energy than I did as my steps were slow, my breathing labored. We were making good time though and stopped at around the two-mile mark. I was parched, drank a lot of water and after about a quarter-hour we were off again.

My knee was starting to speak up.

A few more miles later and were bound to beat our goal time of reaching the bottom before 6 p.m. But my knee wouldn't shut up.

Eventually, my knee was screaming and I couldn't ignore it any more. I grabbed a long thick stick and used it as a crutch. I tried to balance myself with it in order to help shuffle my leg down the path as it hurt when I put any weight on it. Had I known beforehand how beneficial it would have been to have a hiking pole, I would have bought two and taken them with me. Instead, I was relying on a stick.

I had slowed to a crawl. My knee was in agonizing pain and I was barely moving. I had no idea where I was and no idea how much longer it was going to take.

Eventually, though, my knee started to feel better. Perhaps taking off some of the pressure from my leg helped as I was able to walk semi-normally.

After about five hours, I finally made it down to the bottom. Part of me was happy that I had done the hike but most of me was disappointed that I had attempted it in the first place. It took us a few hours longer than we had planned for, so of course our families were worried. With no cell coverage and some dead cell phones, they feared the worst while we had no way to quell those fears.

Ultimately, the hike was too long to have attempted. But we did it and came out relatively unscathed so it was a difficult learning experience but sometimes those are necessary in order for us to progress.

I'm not opposed to hiking but I do want to be much more prepared next time, with hiking poles in tow and attempting a much less demanding outing than the one that slapped us around on Saturday.

Big Pair Of Days

2011-08-11T21:43:00.000-07:00

The next two days will be memorable. I hope I can survive to tell you the tales of each respective day.

SATURDAY

I'm heading on my first hike. Well, it will be my first official hike. I've hiked across Disneyland dozens of times but not sure that counts. I'm going with my brothers to hike up the highest peak in Southern California, Mount San Gorgonio, which is 11,530 feet above sea level. Nothing to sneeze at, is it? According to some Web sites I've seen, the trail we're taking - the Vivian Creek Trail - is a demanding trail that features a 5,600-foot elevation gain, which mean's we'll be starting around the 6,000-foot mark.

I've never been on a real hiking excursion like this but my brother Danny has. I'm putting my faith in him. I figure I can run pretty good so my legs should be up for such a difficult hike as this. My only concern right now is what to wear. Being the runner I am, I'm probably going to end up hiking in my running clothes. Well, shorts for certain. We'll see about the shirt. Danny's provided me with a list of provisions to take so I should be good on that end too.

It's supposed to take us 10-12 hours to do the whole hike, from bottom to top to bottom. We're leaving my house at 5 a.m. to get up there so we can start the hike around 6 a.m. or so, hopefully earlier. I'm used to getting up early and going on long runs so this will be a bit of a change of pace, getting up early to go on a hike. However it goes I'll make sure and let you know all about it.

SUNDAY

The Lopers season starts on Sunday! I'm going to assume my official role as pace leader. Okay, well, that will mean that I will help out with the newcomers, so I wont' actually have a group to lead on Sunday, although once everything is said and done on that day we will put people into groups so I could have a list of runners that day. But then, I think I remember last year having the choice to join a group... ah, I don't know what I'm talking about.

I guess the bottom line is that I will be the 10-minute pace leader for real on Sunday, so I'll be able to introduce myself as that come Sunday. It will be interesting once the actual running part of the season starts on the 21st. I actually wanted to explore my thoughts regarding myself and being a pace leader and my hopes, desires, fears, etc. are before taking on this new challenge in my life.

For now, though, I will be content with helping out on Sunday however I can as a bona fide pace leader.

Birthday Goodies

2011-08-10T00:21:00.000-07:00

Since I started running in 2008, I've been an Asics man. Not sure what made me choose that brand in the first place but I did and I had success with my first pair that I opted to make my second pair an Asics... and my third pair... and my fourth pair... I probably should have had more than four pairs of shoes in that span but let's save that for another day.

Anyway, being as it was my Geburtstag/cumpleaños/birthday on Tuesday, Mrs. LB took me to the local running store and I splurged and got me some new shoes.

What do you think?

Daddy got a new pair of shoes!

They're the Adrenaline GTS 11 model, which apparently is popular. What I liked about them was that they felt very light on my feet. The Asics I've had haven't felt heavy or anything but these shoes made my current pair feel like bricks by comparison. I'm excited to try them out... as early as today!

The shoes were awesome but I didn't stop there. I also got me...

so comfy

I splurged and got me a good pair of running shorts. Not that the pairs I have now aren't good but these... wow. They made me feel like a runner just by putting them on. I tried them on at the store and I felt like going on a run right then and there. They have built-in underwear, the longer kind that I prefer, so that will help out a great deal.

But I also bought...

where the magic happens

... some of the long pair of underwear I prefer. Sorry but I can't model them for you. Well I suppose I could but not sure how that'd go over with my readers.

I have now six pairs of running/workout underwear. I like them because they hold everything together comfortably and prevent chafing, two good qualities to have in workout underwear.

Ah, but that's not all. I also got me some of these:

sock it to me

This would be known as a 10-dollar pair of socks. I could have paid like two bucks more and gotten six pairs of Adidas socks at Costco but I've been wanting another pair of socks like these. I have a similar pair of socks that I bought for nine bucks a while back and those are really good and comfy socks. Hoping for the same from these.

And finally I nabbed some of these on the way out:

GU times six

A good supply of GU. It's funny - I swear by GU but I've not tried four of these... or is it three? I've tried the orange and lemon ones - love the lemon the best, it's my favorite flavor - and I think I may have tried the chocolate one at some point. Haven't ever seen the blackberry so am interested in trying it out. Also, Mrs. LB grabbed the Roctane and threw them in as well. The guy checking me out... the guy at the counter... you know what I mean... anyway, that guy said to ease into the Roctane as they are like an ultra GU or something.

"Ultra? Hear that? Your favorite word," I told Mrs. LB.

Ultra... dem's fightin' words 'round here. I bring up and ultra-marathon and Mrs. LB instantly shoots it down. But she did say something new on Tuesday. If I can get to the point where I run marathons and... how did she put it?... "I'm not worried about whether you can walk back to the car or hotel without collapsing" then she would be open to me running an ultra.

Woo hoo! Just another reason to train harder now that the Loper season is upon me.

And with all my awesome new running gear I got for my 3_th... (or is it 3_st) birthday, I'm gonna do so with pleasure!

Full disclosure, I turned 36 on Tuesday. I am washed up :)

Time Will Soon Be Back On My Side

2011-08-08T09:54:00.000-07:00

I'd like to think my blog reflects my life. What goes on in my life is right here for everyone to see.

More than just in words, though, that has been true of late.

Posting has been sporadic of late.

Part of that has to do with my lack of runs - tough to blog about running stuff when you haven't been running. But part of that has to do with the reason why I haven't been running - lack of time.

School will start on Tuesday however, and that's going to free me up for the whole day now as Kennedy starts first grade. Now, that doesn't mean I'm going to have a party from 8-2:30 every day. There are a lot of things that will require my attention on a daily/weekly basis. But I will be able to fit some things into my schedule a bit easier starting on Tuesday. Well, actually Wednesday. On Tuesday - which is also my birthday (!) - Mrs. LB and I will spend some time relaxing - out for breakfast, perhaps a movie, possibly pedicures... yeah, pedicures... but I digress...

Anyway, one of those things that I will be able to fit into my schedule is blogging. Yay for blogging!

I like to just sit down sometimes and craft blog pieces. Usually that's at a time when I'm alone and I'm feeling it, I can write a good blog post or three. I like to spend time at Panera, drinking coffee, writing about whatever... sometimes it's work-related, sometimes it's for the blog, often times it's alternating between one and the other. I tend to write best when I just have an open-ended time period ahead of me... well, I take that back, sort of. I can put out a lot of copy when right up against the deadline and that's when I'm the most efficient writer but in terms of the content, the better stuff comes up when I'm not under any pressure, relaxing, drinking coffee...

I hope that happens often in the days/weeks/months to come.

A Post About Nothing

2011-08-03T07:00:00.000-07:00

I hadn't planned on writing a blog post today. I mean, I didn't run on Tuesday and it will be tough to fit in a run today. But I have time to blog right now and figured I'd take advantage of it this way.

What to write about.... Oh, I know. Recently there was a thing going around blogs where bloggers revealed seven random facts about themselves. I'll go ahead and do that now. I'll reveal some things about myself and hope that doesn't chase you away from this blog :)

1. Hatin' On The White: I don't know what it is but there are a lot of "white" things I don't like. I'm talkin' food here, people :) Anyway, in no particular order, some things that I just don't really care for at all - Alfredo sauce, cream cheese, ranch dressing, mayonnaise, sour cream... and I'm sure I missed another thing or three.

I don't know what it is that makes me not like those things. Alfredo sauce is the best way to ruin pasta for me. I can't have any sort of creamy sauce in my pasta. It has to be tomato-based or like an oil-based thing or otherwise, forget it. I do like cheesecake and a few other things with cream cheese in it but I put butter on my bagels, not the Philly spread. I guess aside from my wife I just don't do white ;)

2. That One Guy...: I'm horrible with names in movies. Like, if I'm watching a movie I can't pick up on characters' names. It makes it really confusing when in the middle of the movie they start to refer to other characters who are off-screen by their first names. I can't keep things straight sometimes that way and it bugs me because I can easily get lost. I always have to lean over to my wife and ask "Are they talking about Leonardo DiCaprio's character?" or some crap like that.

3. Permanent Siesta: If I didn't care about my family and my wife's family as much as I do, I would seriously try and move Mrs. LB and the girls down to some tiny Caribbean beach town. I'm not even joking. I've been to the Caribbean once, to Trinidad & Tobago, in 2001 for three weeks and it was really awesome. I only went to the beach once while there but it was something else. I picture life there or in Jamaica or St. Kitts or the Virgin Islands or wherever to be stress-free. Who cares about the world when my own world is paradise. I know it wouldn't be like that every day but I'd like to find that out for myself.

4. Travels: So the countries I've visited, in order of the most time I've spent in each foreign land, are: Mexico, Japan, Trinidad & Tobago, Germany, Costa Rica, Canada, France. The next new foreign country I'll visit will be.... dunno. I'm putting my money on Honduras. See, I write about soccer for a living and there's a lot of soccer in Honduras and soccer has taken me to Japan, Trinidad and Costa Rica (and Mexico a couple of times) so I'm guessing Honduras is next. Just a guess.

5. Domestic Travels: So the states I've visited, in no particular order... okay, maybe geographically from West to East... : California (duh), Arizona, Nevada, Washington, Idaho, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois. I had a three-hour layover at the Miami airport once but I can't count that as having visited Florida. Boo.

6. Tentative: I'd like to teach. Wow. That's actually progress from my stance on the profession. I was a teacher once, for six months back in 2003-04. Professionally, it was the most horrible six-month stretch of my life. It was a disaster and ruined my hopes of becoming an effective teacher. I think I'm a bit removed from that time though and now I might be ready to consider teaching again. The situation was tough for me - inner-city kids, a community I was unfamiliar with, a long commute. I think if it was closer to home, it could be different. But it might not be. And it's not the best time to try and become a teacher here in SoCal. For now, I'll just stick to writing for a living and volunteering in the girls' classes. I might get back into substitute teaching here soon. That alone might make me *not* want to teach.

7. Tatted-Up: I have two tattoos, on my left calf and on my back. I want to get some Japanese Kandji on my forearms but Mrs. LB has protested that thought. I'm trying to get her on my side for those. I'd also like to get my daughters' names tattooed on me but not sure where. And I'd like to get a tattoo on my right calf to reflect my marathons and my running, something with a 26.2 and... well, a buddy of mine sort of designed something, with a 26.2 surrounded by flames, bursting through a finish-line tape and I'd put a small star on the tape for each marathon I've run. Does that make sense? That sounds pretty awesome but I have to see if he has that design handy and then we can work on it or something. That may very well be my next tattoo.

Okay, there you go. Seven random things from me. Hope it doesn't scare you away :)

Back In The Swing Of Things

2011-08-01T20:31:00.000-07:00

Finally.

It only took eight days but finally I was able to run. I knocked out a six-miler on Monday. It wasn't exactly the distance I had planned for but I just couldn't stop at four, and then when I got closer to five I figured to just go for six. I wound up running for one hour and managed to get in 6.27 miles.

It was a bit liberating to just get on the treadmill and run. Yes, the 'mill. The only way to have gotten that run in was at the gym so I took my girls there, paid the six bucks it costs for the kids club and then hopped on the 'mill.

I felt good. My legs felt a bit heavy and I didn't feel quite as smooth as I normally do but I figured I'd have some setbacks. But they weren't major setbacks, just minor stuff.

I don't want to get ahead of myself and plan things but I do think that I will run again either Tuesday or Wednesday and then Thursday for sure. The girls are staying the night at their grandma's on Wednesday night so I will have a bit of time early Thursday morning. I may try and head out at 6 a.m. and will play it by ear and see how I'm feeling and just run.

Once school starts, I know I will increase my miles substantially so between now and then I just want to spend the time transitioning and getting back into the rhythm of things.

It's nice to feel like I will get into a rhythm here soon enough.

A Whole Lotta Zero

2011-07-31T08:48:00.000-07:00

I threw in a zero this week. Zero miles run.

That's simultaneously incredibly depressing and not bothersome at all. Wait... is that even possible?

On the one hand, I didn't stress about not running so when I wasn't able to squeeze in a run, well, I wasn't surprised so therefore not bothersome.

At the same time, no running means no exercise, no endorphin high, no time to tune out and think about whatever runs through my mind when I run.

I will make it a point to run this week, though, which helps take the sting off what could be a sad situation.

Since this is the last week of summer vacation for the girls, we will make a point of it to transition back into school smoothly. That means a 6:30 wake-up call for them every day, including Monday. So we'll wake up early, get dressed and go to the track. I will get in at least four miles on Monday morning and will start off the week with four miles. That's a good start to any week.

My plan will be to run 10 miles next Sunday. That's when we have our pace leader meeting (!) so I have to run that day and I figure why not run 10? Actually I'd like to run 12 or something but I think getting to double digits will be good.

On Aug. 14 is the first day of Lopers so I will be excited to get out there and start the season. So that's my target, to start the season off with a couple of solid weeks of runs under my belt. And when the season does start, the girls will be back in school and I'll have more time to run.

See, even with a zero week, it ain't too bad.

Stretch Crawl

2011-07-27T06:57:00.000-07:00

I haven't had a chance to run much lately. I think I had like 16 miles last week, maybe less.

To top it off, my bike has a flat tire so I can't even do that right now. Sad.

I'm trying not to be a Negative... uh... Nick.... about it. I've accepted the situation and that's that. Besides, my girls start school on Aug. 9 and so only one more week after this and I'll be running again.

That doesn't mean though that right now I can't lament the fact that there have been some unexpectedly cool mornings (overcast, no sun til 9-10) that I have not taken advantage of and that I feel a bit bummed about it.

Anyway, my girls are starting school as I mentioned before. This has led to some interesting mornings this week around the house. All summer long, I've not woken them up at a certain time. I've let them sleep until they get up by themselves (which has sorta led to my lack of running). Now, they don't sleep all morning. The tend to wake up anywhere from like 7 to 7:45, maybe once in a while one of them will sleep past 8.

But during school, I make them get up at 6:30. I really should make them get up at 6:15 and I might do more of that this school year, but 6:30 even is still much earlier than they are getting up now. So this week we've had the alarm set for 7 and next week I'm going to make it 6:30, just for them to get used to it.

Surprisingly Kennedy has taken to it quite well. Not sure if she has a sixth sense or something but she's beaten the alarm every day. She's been sprite and full of energy in the morning. That's... good I guess. Well, a large dose of 5-year-old energy at 6:45 a.m. is sometimes difficult to deal with.

That part is good. The other part that I've neglected is their actual schoolwork. I thought I would make more time for them to write and do math problems and stuff so they don't start school not remembering anything they learned last year. It hasn't happened. The only thing the girls have done a lot of has been reading. That's a given in our house, that they'll read books. Yvie has read an inordinate amount of books this summer. She's read several books twice or more, chapter books. She's into this series of books called English Roses which were written by Madonna. She also has read Diary of a Wimpy Kid and some Judy Blume books.

Anyway, school's almost here and these last 12 days or so left of summer vacation will be geared towards getting ready for that. For them, it means getting up early and working on some schoolwork. For me, it means biding my time until I can run again.

See, it ain't too bad. Could be much, much worse, right?

Bittersweet Anniversary

2011-07-25T00:07:00.000-07:00

On July 25, 2010 I felt like king of the world.

Today, not so much.

A year ago today I ran the San Francisco Marathon. I've done lots of things in my brief tenure as a runner but I can't imagine running a more challenging, rewarding and outstanding course as San Francisco. The City offers stunning views, from the Golden Gate Bridge to Golden Gate Park and the Embarcadero. The hills of course are notorious but getting over and surviving them really puts you in a class of our own. Not everyone can do that and survive, after all.

Alas, despite planning on running this race again in 2011, things did not quite work out that way. I won't be doing the San Francisco Marathon, and even though I'd held out hope of doing one of the day's half marathons, I won't be in San Francisco at all.

Sad face.

I will always have my memories of San Francisco. I will have the medal to remind me of the hard work I put in, not only to run the course itself but to train for it, how my heel nearly gave out on me during training because I was running hills like a madman to prepare for them, the solo 20-miler I did in preparation for it and how it nearly destroyed me mentally and a 22-miler I ran on July 4, 2010, the first 17 miles of which I ran alone.

And I will always remember how I felt down the stretch, seeing Mrs. LB after such a long and harrowing journey, of coming into the finish area and feeling like a champion, of nearly collapsing once I finished running, and of course how I felt after the race. I did not feel as beat-up and worn-down after any of my other marathons as I did after San Francisco, but this is a good thing, trust me.

So why did I not decide to do it? After running the Diamond Valley Lake Marathon in April, I took two weeks off to rest my body and mind. I had planned on hitting it hard in May but once the end of May came and I realized that my time was short if I wanted to do San Francisco, I knew it was either crank it up or forget about it.

Summer vacation came early for the girls and thus I realized that it would be a massive struggle to get enough miles in each week to run a marathon in late July. Judging how little I've run these last few weeks, I made the right decision.

It's just disappointing, though. I did not make this a priority but figured I would just do all the training involved and then the race itself. Things did not work out the way I wanted them to, though.

I'm not sure about next year. I want to do it but I want to do other summer races as well. Perhaps if I apply for and get to be a race ambassador, I'll do it again. But if not, that's fine. I do want to run more than two marathons in 2012 (sure, I say that now but come back to me in a year). LA is one (March 18) but a late summer one would be great as it would cut down on my training time.

I don't know what next year has in store for me. I barely keep up with the days and weeks, let alone next year. But I hope to run more regularly in 2012 and if I am fortunate enough to run San Francisco next year, awesome. If not, I will always have my memories of when conquered San Francisco in 2010.

Tres Cosas Jueves

2011-07-21T07:09:00.000-07:00

1. I Know The Way To LA: I know it's quite a ways away, as in more than seven months away, but I signed up for what will be my fifth marathon. I registered for the 2012 LA Marathon. Why so early? Well, a few reasons, but mostly financial. Instead of the $145 it would have cost me, I saved 20 bucks so, with taxes, it cost me $130-something. Wow. Absurd prices, but I'll save that for another blog post. I am quite excited that I signed up because I will run LA next year and because it gives me a target. Plus when I start my pace-group leader duties, I can tell all the newbies that I will pace them through hell if need be and I have the proof to show that - my four marathon medals and my registration for the fifth 26.2-mile torture/glory session.

2. Standout Run: I got my run in for the week on Tuesday when I took the girls to the beach. My youngest brother Jesse went with us and he stayed with the girls while I went running. I say "my run in for the week" kind of half-joking. No runs on Monday or Wednesday and Thursday was looking dicey as of 7 a.m. PT. Anyway, Tuesday's run was grand. Not only did it feel good to stretch my legs but it was great scenery, good weather (maybe a bit too sunny) and the path wasn't too congested. Plus, the route I took was part of the Surf City course, and it never gets old running that. The Surf City course... okay, maybe some of the memories weren't the greatest. I remembered the latter miles, like 23 and 24, and.... those aren't great times. Those are times you just have to endure. Anyway, a splendid run.

3. Planning: Since I'm pace leader and I want/need to go by the Loper training schedule, I don't plan on running another marathon from now until March 18. Long time, I know. But I want to get back into the groove with marathons so I can start to look for marathons in the late spring/summer of 2012, to see what's out there. Without doing too much research yet, my pie-in-the-sky scenario would be Seattle in June and Salt Lake City (Deseret News Marathon) in July. It would be great fun to do both of those in one summer. I ran two marathons in 2010, will run two in 2011 but next year may be the year I am mentally strong and physically able enough to run more than three in one year. These marathons, they're kinda tough ya know.

Amazement Just Around The Bend

2011-07-18T22:28:00.000-07:00

I've been an all-too absent blogger lately, but not having had the chance to run much lately, I've been sapped of energy to blog about... not running.

Instead of focusing on the negatives (only one run last week, sadness) I will focus on the positives from my recent vacation.

I blogged about one memorable run a week ago but I had two memorable runs in northern Arizona. The second one was to something called Horseshoe Bend. Now, the annual vacation is to Lake Powell and we always stay in nearby Page, Ariz. So when researching Page, it's inevitable to find information on Horseshoe Bend.

This year, I made it a point to go there.

After my run on Saturday, I was encouraged. I wanted to get to Horseshoe Bend the next morning, go do some exploring and see what I came back with. I realized that not only was I within running distance of Horseshoe Bend, but that I was actually quite close. From our hotel, Horseshoe Bend was just two miles away.

I set out early, getting up again before 5 and hitting the asphalt shortly thereafter. The northern Arizona skies greeted me.

It was a strange feeling right from the start. The day before, I'd been running to something visible; my destination was in front of me and there were buildings and signs of life around me as well. But this way, I felt as if I was in the middle of nowhere about one minute after starting off on my way.

I'm not sure if this made the run seem any longer or if it was the slight elevation that was making me feel sluggish but I got through the first two miles in about 21 or 22 minutes, not the fastest time.

Now, I'd read about the turnoff to Horseshoe Bend. It supposedly was a small sign that unless you were specifically looking for it, you probably wouldn't realize it was there. Sure enough, I saw a small sign on the side of the road shortly after Mile 2 and knew I was there.

I turned down towards the parking lot and saw a sign with some warnings and general information. "Do not stand on the edge" seemed like a prominent warning, and since there were no railings, I figured it was a smart warning to heed.

I made my way up the hill, just past the parking lot...

... but didn't see much of anything.

Somewhere out there, though, was Horseshoe Bend. There was an unmistakable ravine over there but the splendid and magnificent glory that Horseshoe Bend holds was nowhere near evident from the top.

The trail there was sandy and the footing wasn't the greatest but I still ran down it. Once I got close to the overlook, the trail ended and there were simply massive rocks to stand on.

I got close to the edge. Not too close, but close enough. Like a giant's open-palmed slap to the face, I was instantly hit with the glory and amazement that was Horseshoe Bend.

I shut off my music, took the headphones out of my ears and soaked in the silence. I was in shock. Disbelief. Awe. Amazement. I felt so meaningless, so completely and utterly insignificant. Here was nature's glory, nature's treasure. This was far more beautiful than any man-made structure could possibly be, more awe-inspiring and stunning than any sight I'd seen since... I don't know. It's been nearly two weeks since and I haven't yet thought of something that took me aback quite like that.

I felt lucky to be there, yet also felt a bit unworthy. Shouldn't something like this be reserved for truly deserving people? Aside from running nearly three miles to get there, what did I do to earn the right to see such an amazing sight?

I'm really sorry that these pictures in no way capture the glory and amazement that is Horseshoe Bend. It's almost like a cheap imitation, looking at these shots. You can't fit such glory and splendor into a photograph, but I tried to capture the scene nevertheless. The ominous cliffs overlooking a mirror-like Colorado River. The protruding rock in the middle that over thousands of years forced the river to bend and twist and swerve to avoid it. The tiny trees and debris down below - part of that debris were kayaks and tents, property of amazing souls who were able to use Horseshoe Bend as their five-star hotel for the night.

Taking in all the scenery, pondering all these thoughts, I was overcome by emotion. I teared up. Couldn't help it. It's not every day a possibly undeserving soul is privy to such sights. This, after all, was nature at its finest, crafting such a beautiful picture on an already gorgeous canvas.

Others were headed down and I felt a tinge of excitement. Soon, they would behold Horseshoe Bend's glory.

I took a few more pictures, and wasn't quite sure how long I'd been sitting there, lost in thought. Had it been 10 minutes? 15? 20? Whatever the case, I knew it was time to head back. I smiled at one of the visitors, and went off running up the sandy trail. I didn't look back. I ran up the trail, legs burning but plowed on through and at the top I kept on going. I didn't want my last memory of Horseshoe Bend to be watching some people standing by the side of a ravine that I couldn't see. I wanted to remember Horseshoe Bend as it stood.

Out on the road, I was in a sort of stunned disbelief, not having yet digested what exactly had happened. But I felt good, felt strong. If anything, the visit to Horseshoe Bend had re-energized me. The run back was faster than it had been on the way there

Just at the end of my run, the skies opened up. Rain came down on me and I was helpless to stop it. I was close to the hotel so I wasn't in the rain too long, just long enough to drench me.

But not even the rain could dampen my mood that morning.

MIA: Midweek Runs

2011-07-14T22:58:00.000-07:00

I'm not quite there yet because I really am enjoying this time right now but pretty soon I will be ready for school to start up again.

Dang, I can't believe I said that out loud... well, you know what I mean.

I love my girls and love the time we are spending with each other. Sometimes I need some space but for the most part we have been having fun doing all sorts of things - namely, Disneyland and riding our bikes.

However, there has been one huge negative to our time together. I have barely been running.

Sad face.

This week, I ran all of five miles. All of them were on Monday. On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I had the same distance - 0. Not sure if I'll be able to run Friday. I might have enough time on Saturday to run 5 and Sunday I'm hoping to do 13. Best case scenario I'll get 23 miles in this week.

My legs want school to start already.

I treasure our vacation though so I don't want it to end yet. The girls will have three full weeks of summer before going back to school on Aug. 9 (which doubles as my birthday). So, come August I will be able to plan runs and actually follow through on them.

Until then, it's just going to be mostly cramming runs in when I have a chance.

Now, while my running has suffered, not everything else has....

After seeing Judy Moody

Joke's on me

Holding a baby lizard

At Disney's California Adventure

Midway through a bike ride

Summer will be long gone before I know it. Next thing I know, the weather will be cool and I'll be longing for a day off with my babies.

So, I'm not ready to hit the accelerator quite yet on our vacation. If I miss runs, I miss runs. I'll chalk that up to perils of being a work-from-home parent.

Glen Canyon Run

2011-07-13T00:50:00.000-07:00

Vacation is a time to unwind, get away from it all and just relax. Being a freelancer, I don't often get to indulge in taking full days off and not worrying about a deadline, a story, an interview or some other work-related task I have to fulfill.

But on Saturday I was able to not worry about work at all. While on vacation at Lake Powell on the border of Arizona and Utah, I was relaxed. Perhaps this played into my mood as I set out on an early-morning run from my hotel room in Page, Ariz., to the Glen Canyon Dam.

Now, I've done this run before. In fact, one previous run was very memorable. So in a way I knew what to expect and the newness of it all was just not there. At least, I didn't think it would be there but it certainly felt like it was a new experience.

Arizona in early July seemed like a daunting prospect. I wasn't quite sure of how the heat would affect me, and actually I wasn't quite sure what time it was. I'd set my alarm for 5:30 but beat it by about 20 minutes as I woke up at 5:10. But it was actually 4:10 Arizona time. My phone, for some reason, was showing Utah time.

I was up and dressed at 4:30 a.m. but stayed in the dark and quiet hotel room for a bit longer, careful not to awake any of the slumbering females in the room.

Around 5 a.m., I finally made my way outside.

What I saw at the start of my run

I figured it was a good thing that I got up super early. After all, the inevitable heat wouldn't wilt me.

Off I went. The road to the Glen Canyon Dam is actually Highway 89, the portion there being a one-lane highway. I did my best to stay on the side of the road but there weren't very many motorists to dodge.

Before too long, the sun started showing signs of life.

Sunrise in Page, Ariz.

I wasn't quite fearing the heat but rather in awe of the sunrise.

I was nearing the end of the second mile and looked ahead to see my eventual destination. Somewhere beyond that terrain was a bridge that stood 1,000 feet above the Colorado River and the Glen Canyon Dam, which allowed for the existence of Lake Powell.

Can you spot the Glen Canyon Bridge?

I glided forward. I was so into the run, so into my surroundings and my environment that I barely felt any strain on my body as I moved forward. I was in running ecstasy, being carried forward on air. I smiled, threw my arms in the air and to my side and thanked myself for the umpteenth time for having taken up running in the first place.

Finally, I made the turn and came upon the Glen Canyon Bridge in all of its glory.

Just don't look down and you'll be okay

I didn't exactly debate whether or not I should run over it. I knew I was going to run over it, but my legs gave the slightest bit of hesitation, a final are-you-sure-you-want-to-do-this? pause before I set across on the bridge.

Right away I looked down. I smiled a nervous smile, and muttered "Holy crap" to myself.

It's a loooong way down.

Luckily, I was safe. A chain-link fence stood between me and an enormous fall. Once on the other side and on firm ground again, I crossed the desolate highway and ran past the visitor's center. Before me was the Glen Canyon Dam in all its grandeur.

The Glen Canyon Dam, magnificent and intimidating

Also bearing its glory to me was Lake Powell, a stunning sight in the early-morning hours.

Unadulterated beauty exists in nature

I stood there for a minute, watching the sight before me. I looked over at the bridge once more moments before I set out to scale it again.

The Glen Canyon Bridge, a sight unto its own.

On my way to the bridge, I was reminded of what sort of area I was in, and the history it possessed.

How often do you see dinosaur tracks during your runs?

Afterward, I set across on the bridge. The second part of the run did not seem as exciting. After all, it was bound to be fairly anticlimactic, what with the payoff already in my rear-view mirror. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the run as my high carried over well into the second part of the run.

I took in the scenery the area had to offer. After all, I didn't get to run with this on my side very often.

The Vermillion Cliffs

I glided on through to the end, and if my feet hit the ground during the run I was blissfully unaware of it. There were no onlookers, there was no medal waiting for me at the end, nor was there a finish line or chute to carry me through the end. But this run was what made running enjoyable, what made running grand.

Seeing these kinds of sights up close, being witness to the sun's rise above the desert and lake and staring at the Colorado River from above... if there is a better way to spend an hour-plus on a Saturday morning, I have yet to experience it.

Spectacular Runs, Pictures

2011-07-10T19:30:00.001-07:00

Greetings from Mesquite, Nevada.

We are on the last leg of our vacation, as we spent the weekend at Lake Powell in Arizona/Utah. It was an actual vacation for me as I didn't have work to do, which is rare for me. I also got the chance to go on a pair of absolutely amazing runs.

I will have much more on these runs in the coming days but I did want to share my two best pictures from the weekend. In fact, these might be two of the best pictures I've ever taken. Period.

The first picture was in the middle of my run on Saturday morning. It's of Lake Powell, just after sunrise.

The water is like a mirror as people hadn't quite yet been out on the lake carving it up with their boats and jet skis.

The next one is simply majestic. It's called Horseshoe Bend, a place where the Colorado River carved a unique formation.

That's extremely high up, as in a 1,000-foot drop to the bottom. And there were no railings there so you have to be extremely careful. I was of course.

I took loads of pictures during each run and will share them here soon. Anyway, just wanted to say greetings and share these with you now.

Hotness

2011-07-07T00:02:00.000-07:00

Remember during the winter when I would ~~brag~~ write about the weather here in SoCal?

If you were a reader then, I'm sure you must. Especially if you live in a landlocked frozen wasteland of a state like... well, like many that aren't California.

Well, all that glitters isn't gold.

It's been very hot around here lately. As in, too hot to run unless you set out before 7 a.m., and preferably before 6 a.m. if you are doing anything longer than five or six miles.

On Sunday, I ran 11 miles. I left on the run at about 6:10 and it was already warm when I set out. Every time I stopped to take a drink or GU or something, the fatigue slapped me in the face. I didn't realize that I was so tired while I was running, but the sun really does a number on you when you do run.

I can't take advantage of the cool not-as-warm-but-getting-there mornings because I can't leave the girls alone here while I run so I haven't been running as much as I would like. It really does make for a strange and difficult schedule - run early or not at all.

(You're probably wondering why don't I just run at night, and while this is a valid point, two things prevent me from that - 1) I enjoy spending the evenings at home with Mrs. LB since she commutes and gets up early and I don't like to just leave her here on weekdays, and 2) I've never really enjoyed running in the evenings.

Anyway, that day above (which is Wednesday, today) doesn't seem too bad and I plan on taking advantage of it. The clouds make a big difference and we have had blazingly clear skies which makes it feel hotter than it is.

Anyway, I know I'm not getting much sympathy for all the times I ~~boasted~~ rejoiced in my good fortune during the winter. We have quite mild winters in SoCal and I'm grateful for that. But that comes with a price, and triple-digit temperatures don't always make for the greatest running conditions.

The Run That Keeps On Giving

2011-07-05T08:45:00.000-07:00

There are some runs that you remember long after you've finished them, whether because it was a new distance, a blazingly fast time or perhaps a unique location. Then there are runs that are seared in your memory, runs that seem so vivid you may as well have done it that very same day.

I have several runs that fall into the last category and the only one in that bunch that was not a race was the run that catapulted me to the runner I am today.

My best run ever was on Nov. 22, 2009 in Renton, Wash. I ran 18 miles in pouring rain and 40-degree weather on the Cedar River Trail that day. With so much time removed from then, so many other grueling and not-so-grueling runs, I can say now without bias that that run made me a full-fledged runner.

I earned my runner badge along the Cedar River Trail.

I reminisced about that run recently because aside from the rain that pelted me on the trail, I came across two area runners who recently ran their first 26.2 mile run. In researching the area and potential running sites, I came across Kerrie T. of Mom vs. Marathon. Now, I had an 18-mile run on the schedule and was going to be up in Seattle on business, far away from the comforts of my running group. I was not going to skip an 18-mile run and was determined to run it.

Kerrie gave me some advice and suggested the CRT. Since I had no other options really, I figured why not follow the advice of a local?

The run itself was brutal. From the start. It was in the low 40s and rainy at the beginning and it was in the high 40s and rainy at the end. It didn't really let up either.

Somewhere around Mile 6, I literally ran across Kerrie and her friend Zoë of Run Zoë Run. We stopped, chatted, took a picture... or six...

They were training for a half marathon which in fact would be the following Sunday. They looked fresh and I wanted to run with them but they were going one way, I was going another and I was probably a bit too shy. Oh well.

I made it to Mile 9, turned around and all I needed to do was to run back to my rental car. Easier said than done. By about mile 13 or 14, I was feeling it. Water had long since penetrated through my shoes and socks and the cold threatened to do the same. By Mile 16, I was done but I had to push through, and push through I did. After running/walking/shuffling/hobbling for the last two miles, I made it Mile 18 and stopped.

I still remember vividly how it felt to finish that run. The lush green trees on my left, the beginnings of a rock-laden parking lot on my right, a foot bridge separating me from the final steps before getting to the car, taking my hat off and feeling the brunt of the rain on my face for the first time, the aches and pains that shot up through my legs, feeling the icy blocks that were my feet.

I got through that run and afterward really felt like I could run a marathon. Not physically, in fact I wondered how in the heck I was going to run another eight miles on top of that come Surf City 2010. But I knew proper training and a couple of longer runs would prepare me. Mentally, I was ready. I had all the confidence I'd need. Ever. After running that long, in those conditions, virtually alone, you can do anything, right? Indeed. I ran my first marathon about 10 weeks afterward, ran my second marathon later in 2010 and have run two other marathons since.

Now, my running buddies from that day are also marathoners. Kerrie and Zoë are full-fledged marathoners, having run the Seattle Rock n Roll Marathon on June 25. They ran every step together, finishing in 4:42:51. (read Kerrie's recap here)

That's an odd time. It's a great time of course but it's odd because I ran my first marathon in 4:42:26. It's almost like it was meant to be. Well, maybe they don't remember that run as fondly as I do but to me that time speaks a lot.

Now, when I look back on that run, I will be able to not only see my own progress from that day but also will be able to use that meeting as further motivation. After all, those three runners had never run more than 15 miles on that day and now, less than two years later, are marathoners.

June Recap/Stats

2011-07-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

It is really already July? Unbelievable. Half of 2011 is gone. I'm sad about that. Time just goes by too damn fast.

Miles ran: 81

Long runs: 2 - (10 miles, 10)

Highest mileage week: 22

Favorite run: The six-miler that was the first half of my brick (run-bike). I stretched my run to six miles, was anticipating the bike ride the whole time.

Most hardcore run: The Camp Pendleton Mud Run!

Race(s): Set a monster PR at Fontana Days Half (1:48:34); ran the Camp Pendleton Mud Run for the fourth consecutive year.

Current Reads: I really need to read me some books more often.

Current Shame-Inducing Guilty Pleasure: Playing with my iPhone. It's seriously an awesome piece of technology.

Current Obsessions: I've been keep track of my calories like crazy for the last couple of weeks (thank you, My Fitness Pal app). It's really helped me get ahold of my food intake and take control of what I eat.

Current Drink: Water, especially now that the temperatures are in the 90s and 100s.

Current Song: The Man Comes Around by Johnny Cash

Current Wish List: A babysitter, so I can get my runs in early in the mornings. Prime running time is wasted because I can't leave the girls alone and I don't want to wake them up early so I can run. The babysitter can get here at 6 a.m. and leave at 8, and the girls would be asleep for most of that time. How easy of a gig is that?

Current Need: A new holder for my iPhone. I've been just holding it during runs and that's getting old.

Current Triumph: I finally was able to get all of my music from my external hard drive onto my Mac. Yes, I've had the Mac for more than a year and I never really needed to get the music but since I got my iPhone, I needed to get it onto the Mac in order to put it on my iPhone, so that was finally the impetus for change.

Current Bane of my Existence: My wrist. It doesn't hurt a ton anymore and I don't wear the brace but every now and then I'll get a shot of pain on the outside of my right wrist :(

Current Goal: To get in 3-4 runs a week. I've found it difficult to squeeze in runs this summer, more than I thought.

Current Indulgence: I love to drink coffee, even now when the temperatures are soaring.

Current Blessings: My girls, Kennedy and Yvie.

Current Excitement: Our annual summer family vacay is coming up. I might actually get to enjoy most of it since I won't have to work too much during the trip. Holler.

Tres Cosas Jueves

2011-06-30T11:16:00.000-07:00

I had some thoughts for this Tres Cosas Jueves post (Three Things Thursday translated into Spanish) but they became their own blog posts... sigh. Too long for quick-hit items.

So I figured I'd share three pictures with you.

Before a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth

Enjoying a sundae at Disney California Adventure

Wave 1, Yvie 0.

That was at Seal Beach, and although this wave knocked her down she stood up and took many more without falling.

Just some of the stuff we've been up to this summer.

Setting The Pace

2011-06-29T08:17:00.000-07:00

It's official - I will be the pace leader for the 10-minute pace group this upcoming season with the Lopers!

I'm quite excited about this. I had put my name in a while back and had heard afterward from someone in the know that I'd likely get to be pace leader but wasn't 100 percent certain until I got the official e-mail with the list of pace leaders, and it included my name.

I am actually one of two pace leaders. The other, an awesome gal by the name of Alex, is a pretty speedy runner, very committed and has a few more marathons under her belt than me.

I really can't quite grasp this pace leader concept yet. It's a chance to tackle running in a whole new way, to take on new challenges, to help newcomers meet and overcome challenges they may have felt weren't attainable before.

I know there will be challenges on my part. I'm kinda quiet sometimes. I'm not necessarily a grab-the-bull-by-the-horns kind of guy. I will have to be more vocal and assertive, and I suppose that leads into one of my biggest fears with this. Not all runners in my group will be newbies. The Lopers club is welcome to one and all, but there are quite a few hardcore marathoners in the club. I have fun four marathons which is freaking fantastic but there are others who have run 10, 20, 40 marathons... and I don't want to act like I know everything there is to know about marathons to someone like that.

Ultimately - and this goes for both new and veteran runners who will be in my group - I'm just going to have to prove my worth. Run strong, run hard, run run run and try and keep close to a 10-minute per mile pace.

I really do want to show others that nothing is impossible, and whether you're a first-timer or a been-there done-that runner, that's a lesson anyone can stand to gain from.

Mud Run Pics, Part I

2011-06-28T00:01:00.000-07:00

In the last few weeks, I've been rather busy, with running the Fontana Days Half Marathon, the Camp Pendleton Mud Run and taking the girls to their own Mud Run. Plus, we went camping and I was swamped with work. I've barely had a chance to breath.

So I wanted to go back to one event and post some pictures. The girls' Mud Run on June 11 was a success. The girls did well to conquer the Mud Run once more, and this time they enjoyed themselves all the way through.

Here's pictures of Yvie, followed by pictures of Kennedy (I will post pictures of my own Mud Run as well as Fontana Days later this week so keep an eye out for that):

Just gotta get through this dang water

My dad's around here somewhere... I hope he's not taking pictures again...

I wonder if I should put my mouth in the water, just for fun...

They call this an obstacle? Whatever...

I'm coming into the home stretch... yay me!

Do you see a sissy? I don't see a sissy.

Shoes? I don't need no stinkin' shoes... but I could use a hand.

Hug the side, the side is my friend.

I know it's "Excuse me while I kiss the sky" but it sounds like "while I kiss this guy." hehe

Don't step on a rock, don't step on a rock, don't step on a rock...

Which way to the finish line? Oh yeah, just crossed it with my brave barefoot self.

Who just did a Mud Run for the second straight year? The Bueno sisters, that's who.

My First Brick

2011-06-27T11:24:00.001-07:00

On Monday, after weeks of longing for one, I finally went on a brick.

What the frick is a brick? I'm not 100 percent certain myself, but my blog buddy Michael (a triathlete) said recently that a brick is when you run and bike, or bike and run, one after the other. So that's what I did on Monday morning.

First of all, the girls stayed the night with a family member, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to do it. For a good brick, you need some time.

I wasn't quite sure what to do first, to bike or to run. I know the order for a triathlon is swim-bike-run so maybe a bike-run would have worked. But I figured I could do a run and get through a bike ride, and that being tired for the end of a run would be harder than being tired for the end of a bike ride. Just a newbie thought.

I set out for five miles and of course I got very excited and energized and wound up running six. I'd run 10 miles on Sunday so I still had that long-run mentality lingering I suppose. Anyway, I wasn't too worried after the run part of my brick. I got through 6.12 miles in 59:36 (I should really have ran for 24 more seconds to have made it an even hour of running, but oh well). I got my bike and set out for.......... a ride.

I had no idea what would have made for a good distance. 10 miles? 12? 15? During my run, I figured out that in an Ironman, the ratio of miles biked to miles run is greater than 4-to-1 but I wasn't feeling a 24-mile bike ride. Not quite. I set out though, not really worried about a distance.

The first mile flew by, in about 4:50. The next mile came and went and I was enjoying myself. I got to three and then four and figured that I would get to six and then turn around. The bike path I was on was great. No cars to deal with, a few other cyclists but for the most part it was just me and the path.

Oh yeah, and the hills. Okay, "hills" is too strong of a word. Inclines are more like it. There were a lot of inclines in some parts, and the inclines and declines are much more pronounced on bikes than they are when you run. The uphills are so hard and the downhills.... weeeeeee!!!

I made it to six miles in about 30 minutes, turned around and headed back for my truck. I was feeling fine, save for the occasional "hill" that forced me to pedal harder. On two occasions I stopped and walked the bike. It wasn't intentional but I figured it was time to do what when I'd pedaled and pedaled and pedaled until the bike stopped moving.

I felt good until about mile 10.5. Then, I felt it. My legs weren't burning but there was smoke coming out of them. I made it a goal to finish strong. I pedaled my legs off for the last mile and change and came in at 12 miles in 1:00:51. I have no idea if that's good, bad or whatever, but I'm just happy I got through it.

All told, six miles running, 12 miles biking and one very hungry LB. I can't remember the last time I was that hungry after a workout. But hey, I did well to work up an appetite.

Disneyland Return

2011-06-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

We did it. We broke down and renewed our passes. Even though we had decided against it, we changed our minds and splurged.

We got our Disneyland annual passes once more.

Since the girls got out of school, we've been four times already. I am determined to go to Disneyland and/or California Adventure as often as possible - once a week if I can swing it - until summer vacation is over. Even if we only go until the crowds get there, which is usually about four or five hours into the day, we can get a lot of rides in and a lot done.

In our four trips there, there have been a few new wrinkles from last time.

New Attractions, Part I: A few new attractions have opened or re-opened since we last went, namely Star Tours and The Little Mermaid. We've not done Star Tours yet because the lines have been ridiculous, and the girls aren't all into that anyway. But we've experienced The Little Mermaid. It's a really fun ride, with lots of music and singing. The line is really long but it moves very quickly. There's also a ride called the Silly Symphony Swings which the girls can go on alone; for that ride, you sit in a swing and you spin around and around and around... I can't handle it for very long because I'm old and am way more susceptible to spinny rides.

New Attractions, Part II: We are now able to do some more rides together, some new to us, because the girls are taller. We rode the Indiana Jones ride for the first time on our last trip, and the girls really liked it. Kennedy was very scared right before and she even asked to get off right when the ride was going to start, but later she was begging to get on it again (the line is usually very long for it so we couldn't go on again). We've done the California Screamin' coaster at DCA as well. That one is very fast and has a loop and the girls like it. Well, Yvie loves it. I've let her go on the single-rider line a few times (under my watchful eye of course) and she has a blast. She went on three times in a span of about 30 minutes on our last trip there. And Kennedy returned to her nemesis, the Tower of Terror. She didn't cry on that one (you sit down on this ride in a simulated elevator and it takes you real high and drops you very fast over and over again). But she wasn't exactly asking to go back on it.

Pictures: I will post pictures later since I've got them on my other computer but I've taken some cool pictures.

Costly: Yes, the passes cost us some serious change, but we aren't planning on anything extravagant this summer, or year, in terms of a family vacation, so spending this money is like going on a vacation somewhere in terms of cost. Plus the girls really enjoy Disneyland/DCA and it helps me keep them entertained as well. It's a win-win for us all, especially if we can get in a double-digit number of visits before the girls get back to school.

Camp Pendleton Mud Run: Lacking Grace

2011-06-19T20:32:00.000-07:00

This doesn't sound like a proper pre-race song.

After a restful night's sleep in nearby Carlsbad, my brother Jesse and I found ourselves on a bus headed towards the start line of the Camp Pendleton Mud Run. Madonna's "Holiday" blared overhead, in stark contrast to the Metallica songs that accompanied us to the parking lot.

As I had run this race three times before, I knew what to expect. My mind wasn't so much on the obstacles or the course or the logistics, but rather a bit free to think about things like Madonna.

The bus ride was short enough to keep us from having to endure the entire 80s hit song and before we knew it, we'd checked our bags in and were pinning our bibs on our backs. We'd met up with our other brother Danny and his brother-in-law David, the four of us setting out for our fourth consecutive Mud Run together.

It's called a tradition.

There were more casual conversations, jokes and a sense of calm around us than before. It felt a bit low-key, although everything around us was not. There were hordes of runners, throngs of stands and vendors and a field full of checked-in bags. This was no small event.

After running for about five minutes or so to get my heart rate going, I met up with the other three and waited. We weren't quite ready for the start line yet but rather waiting to be let in to get to line up at the start. Yes, a pre-start line start. If there was anything we'd learned about this event, it was this - if you want to avoid being stuck like cattle for the first stretch of the race, a good starting position was imperative.

Finally, we were allowed to go to the start line. We walked. Sort of.

This is more of a walk-shuffle-almost run.

We were in prime position to start off well until...

Um, this isn't the start line?

... we walked forward a few hundred yards to the start line. Previously the early part of the course thinned out quite a bit, and with the crowds made it impossible to avoid getting herded like cattle. To avoid that, the start line was moved up. The four of us got split apart, but no bother. I was ahead and hopefully I would finish ahead, of Danny anyway. My goal was to finish ahead of him.

Even that's not a really big goal... just something to target.

As we were at the real start line, Metallica's Enter Sandman serenaded the runners...

Now that's more like it.

... and after a few more words from the host, we were off.

I got off to a quick start, was moving past runners and trying to focus on my breathing. I got wet with the first water truck that sprayed runners down.

Cold!

After the first turn, we went up on the road and then the path cut through some trees. I was keeping a good pace, passing some runners, getting passed by others. So far, no mud or water.

The dirt trail weaved out of the brush and meandered uphill. We passed the first mile marker very quickly and were still going uphill.

And more uphill. And even more uphill. I looked to my right and saw runners running up another hill.

Did they add more hills too?

Of course, this part of the route was unchanged but it certainly seemed as if there were more hills. We kept going up and up and up, and when I thought we were done going uphill, there was another one.

Finally, after about four miles, we started our descent.

Okay, here comes the wall. I was worried about the wall. I'd hurt my wrist recently from a bike spill and while it had been feeling better, I feared that I wouldn't be able to get over the wall. Add to that the fact that I was tired from the hills and I wasn't exactly expecting to prance over the walls.

I sloshed through some foul-smelling water and mud...

I don't even want to know what's in there.

... and came up to my nemesis, the wall. I put my hands on top, leapt and got my right leg on top. I wanted to step up onto it and leap over but I had no energy to do that, so I sort of rolled my other leg on top and let myself fall over into the stinky water/mud on the other side.

As graceful as a swan.

I was exhausted. Wasn't sure why I was feeling more tired now than I had in other races at this point, or perhaps my memory was fuzzy.

I tried to run hard to the next obstacle, the river, but I was too tired to hit the extra gear. I just maintained my pace, got to the river, and got in. The water was about to my chest and I grabbed one of the two ropes that stretched out across the river. I tugged on the rope to keep my balance as slippery algae on the bottom threatened to knock me down.

Once out of the river, I took a few steps before starting off on my run once more. More running, another uphill, and then we were at the famed slippery hill. A water truck on top made for a muddy hill, but I went up the middle and didn't encounter too many problems. Once at the top, I encountered my nemesis once more, the wall. I got to this wall okay but wasn't sure of myself. I must have had a look on my face because one of the Marines near the wall asked me: "You got this?"

I think so.

Again, I placed my hands on top and pushed, and again I laid my leg on top. Somehow I will the other leg on top as well and as I was falling over I heard "There you go!" from the other side.

Something was dragging me forward. I sure didn't feel like I was blazing through the end of this race as the obstacles and the hills had done a number on me. Now was probably the worst obstacle for me, the tunnel crawl. I had to get on my knees inside a tunnel and crawl through. Others, like the lady in front of me, managed to stay on her feet, sort of crawling along on all fours. Not it. I didn't have the energy to do something like that, nor did I have the agility. I got on my hands and knees and shuffled forward, certain that I'd be slicing my knees up in the process. I eventually made it through, and the giant metallic worm I'd been in regurgitated me out.

I bet you looked like a ballerina, you were so elegant.

I got up and tried to reach down inside. We were a quarter of a mile away. The last obstacle was upon us, the mud crawl. I rather liked this. I got into the water, extended my legs behind me and moved across with my hands. I felt better doing it this way and actually crawling. I felt...

Graceful?

... quicker going this way. I got up, got out and pushed forward towards the end. Almost at the finish line, I passed someone but then someone passed me. A woman. She was gonna chick me. Wait... she was gonna chick me?

Um, NO, I'm *NOT* going to get chicked.

I went full throttle. She'd passed me up but I overtook her, and as soon as I did she picked up her pace but I was too strong for her. I finished ahead of her, glad that I wasn't some dude to be chicked.

I got past the finish chute and saw Danny.

Aw man!! What the hell?!?

My finish time was 1:07:35 and his was 1:07:10. Had I known he was so close to me, I'd have run harder towards the end.

No matter. Not even finishing behind my brother could ruin this day for me. I conquered the Camp Pendleton Mud Run once again, and again I had one thought running through my mind.

Next year's gonna be fun!

Mud Run In The Books

2011-06-19T08:17:00.000-07:00

I'll have a full race recap later on from the Camp Pendleton Mud Run but for now, just wanted to share this picture.

I've now run that many Camp Pendleton Mud Runs - four.

The fourth one was different, as they all have been, but like they all have been as well, quite enjoyable.

I didn't bleed this time, so that's a positive. The hills were long and longer and longest and neverending but the mud and water was just as fun now as they've ever been.

And I'm trying to put up four fingers but I guess I was more exhausted than I thought.

Tres Cosas Jueves

2011-06-16T06:15:00.000-07:00

1. Accommodations: Before my very first Mud Run, in Oct. 2008, I splurged and got a hotel room in nearby Oceanside. The last two years, I've gotten up at about 5 a.m., jumped in my car and driven down to the race. Guess which was better? Let's see... driving six miles to the entrance of the military base or driving 90 miles? Gee, that's a tough choice. Well, this year, I decided to splurge and got a room in Carlsbad, which is right next to Oceanside. Ultimately, I said "screw it." I will still have to get up early - and knowing myself, I won't be able to sleep past 5:30 anyway, but at least I will be much more refreshed at the start line than the last two years. Plus, my youngest brother is going with me so we're leaving a little early and catching a movie and having dinner somewhere down there. I don't get out much like that so that's going to be fun too. An awesome race weekend for sure!

2. Walking Away From My Addiction: For years, I've had a BlackBerry. I loved it. I didn't think I needed one when I first got one, which was I believe in 2006, but it came in very handy with my freelancing work. I don't know what model I had at first but I eventually upgraded to a Pearl and then a Bold. For Father's Day, Mrs. LB decided to get me an iPhone. Now, I'd been having some issues with my BB of late, mainly it was very slow. I'd go to use it and the screen would freeze, sometimes for a minute or so. It was the few apps that I'd downloaded that were slowing it down apparently. I could have gotten a newer model BB or just say goodbye and go the iPhone route. I actually had to think about it because I was so used to the BB, but in the end I decided the things I wanted from my phone went more in line with the iPhone. I used to get alerts every time I got an email or FB something or other, Twitter... but I didn't need to know that every time. Sure I had work emails but they can wait. None of them were life or death emails that demanded my immediate attention but sometimes I treated them like that. So my new phone is working out splendidly. I can do so much with it that I couldn't before, it's just insane. The one thing I need is something to carry it in when I run. My first two runs with it, I've had to just hold the phone. They were four-mile runs so it wasn't bad at all, but still would like to get that taken care of soon.

3. Apps: Here are the first five apps I downloaded in the order I downloaded them: Netflix, micoach, Flixster, AccuWeather, Facebook. I had all those but one on my BB. I couldn't stream Netflix on my BB but I can now! It's just crazy! I've only downloaded maybe 12 apps in all but that's enough to keep me busy. The worst thing I did was to get Angry Birds (and Angry Birds Rio, which is free) and let the girls play them. I've been asked a million times... "Can I play Angry Birds Rio?" already... Oh well. At least now I have the option of entertaining them when I need them entertained, like if they're waiting to meet a world-famous athlete... which they will later today...

Gearing Up For Camp Pendleton

2011-06-15T09:32:00.001-07:00

It's that time of year again.

On Tuesday, I got my bib from the Camp Pendleton Mud Run in the mail. It instantly put a smile on my face.

The Camp Pendleton Mud Run is one of my favorite races. It's become a tradition since I first ran it in 2008. It also inspired the name of this blog. When I first started blogging, back in spring 2008, I didn't intend on running marathons or becoming an all-out runner. I had signed up for this race, the Mud Run, and figured it would be cool to write about my experiences in training for the race and running it.

Like my running progressed and developed, so too did this blog. I guess the two go hand in hand. After my initial Mud Run, I caught the running bug bad and went on to run a 10K and a half marathon in the six months after.

And while I've run a lot of races and lot more challenging races (no matter how tough this race is, a marathon is more of a challenge after all), the Mud Run is very special to me.

This year is no different. I'm looking forward to running past the water trucks, trying to avoid getting soaked; trying to pick up the pace as I traverse the hills; scaling the mud pits and walls; wading my way across the river; inching my way through the tunnel and hoping I don't bleed... too much; dragging myself through the mud crawl and coming up with the inevitable mouthful of mud; and pushing myself at the end to finish strong.

Yes, this race is a challenge. It's a 10K course with obstacles. And while there are many other mud runs out there, this one seems like it's about as tough as you can get. Maybe the Tough Mudder is a challenge as well, but this course is unique. I mean, it's on an active marine corps base, and this mud run is scaled down from what marines used to run. I mean, there used to be barbed wire on the mud crawl. Yeah, you had no choice but to get down on your stomach and crawl.

Anyway, unlike the Fontana Days Half Marathon, I feel confident and great entering this race. I know what to expect. I know I have a good effort in me and I know that I will kick some major ass in this race once more.

This is a fun race and I will have a fun time there, I know it.

Girls' Mud Run Done

2011-06-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

The girls did it!

On Saturday, the girls plowed through the SBSD Mud Run and it went well.

Don't take my word for it, though. Listen for yourself.

I will have more description of the course, some pictures and other stuff hopefully on Monday so please come back for that. But just figured you'd like to hear the news from the horses' mouths.

Girls Take On The Mud Run

2011-06-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, the girls will compete in their second-ever Mud Run. It will be an exciting day to be certain.

For the occasion, I decided to ask the girls about their experiences with the Mud Run and record it.

Enjoy. First, Kennedy.

And up next, Yvie.