“If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don’t spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it.”
– Priscilla Welch, masters marathon great

I must apologize for the inactivity of this site. This year has been a tough running year so far and I’ve come to one conclusion. If I’m not running, I got nothin’. Yes, there’s tons of crap floating around in this brain but when it comes time to right, I’m empty.

The good news? With rest, I think I’m back. I start my training schedule for the Fargo 1/2 Marathon this week and with it, I expect my running brain to start functioning again. Until then…

RUN MF RUN!!!

With the completion of the Red Rock Half Marathon this weekend, that makes 10 long distance races under my belt. While compared to others this number may not be earth shattering, but if you would have asked me or others that knew me and my eating habits before running, I would consider this quite an accomplishment!!!

Most know my story but when I started running in 2006, I weighed 270 pounds and decided to make a life change. Now in my fifth year of hitting the pavement, I thought I’d look back and reflect on where I’ve been:

2006
Las Vegas Marathon – 5:01:24
My first marathon. With the support of my entire family cheering me on and cramps in every muscle I finish with cheers and hugs. Discouraged with the course, I vow not to run the marathon again until they change the route.

2007
Disneyland Half Marathon – 2:29:02
The first trip to the Magic Kingdom has me hooked. Running thru Disneyland, California Adventure and Anaheim Stadium will become a yearly trip for the entire family. To date, the hottest race I’ve run in. Race was nearly black flagged before the start.

Las Vegas Half Marathon – 2:00:46
Course didn’t change and I was starting to like this half marathon thing. After being discouraged by my previous half, I set my current PR that still stands (but hopefully not for long).

2008
Disneyland Half Marathon - 2:10:53
Back again for my second running. Since the Angels were in town, we didn’t get to run thru Anaheim Stadium but the weather was much more suited to running. Now used to running longer distances more often, I quickly shower and then off to the parks with the family.

Las Vegas Half Marathon – 2:18:09
I was really hoping to go under 2 hours but a severely sprained ankle 3 weeks before the race changes my plans drastically. I end up limping to the finish but “finish” is the key word in this sentence. There’s always next year…or is it?

2009
Red Rock Half Marathon – 2:18:00
Wanted to expand my race frequency, I opt for a race right out my back door. While I know the hills will be a challenge, the scenery more than makes up for the burning thighs and breakneck downhills. Will end up being a staple on my race schedule.

Disneyland Half Marathon - 2:02:13
Missing out out a Ragnar Relay team, we’re back to the family’s favorite race. From their perspective, it’s wake up, eat, wait for dad and then go see Mickey. Tried to go under 2 hours again but ran out of gas after trying to make up for lost time with heavy traffic at the start. Will settle for a course PR.

Rock-n-Roll Las Vegas Marathon – 4:40:28
Finally!!! Devine Sports out…Competitor Racing in. This move was highly anticipated and didn’t let anybody down. A new course with nearly half of the marathon run on the strip. Cold weather, extreme hunger, cramps and bonking prevented a better time but a 20 minute PR shouldn’t be looked down upon. I considered this race as a tune up for what was to come.

2010
Walt Disney World Marathon – 4:55:18
My most memorable race to date. After encouraging my sister to start running, we met in chilly Florida to run her first marathon. While I was hoping to “help” her finish strong, I was the one who had to battle bursitis while she was the strong one. Still a great running experience and can’t wait to run with her again.

Red Rock Half Marathon – 2:09:36
Another great race. Running in the opposite direction of the previous year, I overcame a lack of training due to injuries to PR the course by over 8 minutes. If you haven’t run this race, I highly recommend it.

RMFR

This past Saturday was the Red Rock Marathon and Half Marathon in Las Vegas and what a great event!!! This demanding course is well worth it for the scenery alone being run in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area (just 20 minutes west of the Las Vegas Strip) but what makes it a great event is the event organizers – Calico Racing.

I ran this event last year and loved the organization and attention to details and this year exceeded my already high expectations. From packet pickups on both sides of the valley to the constant email updates runners were kept well informed. Since there is no parking at the Canyon itself, buses transport runners from the Red Rock Hotel & Casino to the starting line every 15-20 minutes. It’s a great place to meet new people and I’d like to give a shout out to Hobey from Seattle (in Las Vegas with his wife for their 25th wedding anniversary) and Bobby from Las Vegas (going for his Calico Slam) – my bus mates to and from the race.

With two starting lines – marathoners started at the finish while the half started at the other end – both were well equipped with food, water and bathrooms. Race director, Joyce Forier, personally sees to the start of both races and seemed to be everywhere at once. Around 600 participated in the half marathon (another 100+ ran the marathon) and while the start of the race was a little tight packed, the group was easily separated when the climbs started. The really cool thing about this race is when the marathoners (who start before the half) meet up with the half marathoners. Constant encouragement (both ways) could be heard up and down the line of runners and really gave the race a hometown feel.

Running this route often, there’s NO WAY I could handle the hills out and back and I’m very content running the route one way. With around 1,800 ft. in elevation change, this is definitely not a race to go hunting a PR on but the challenge of the long climbs and fast descents is a running reward in it’s own right. Since I’ve been hampered with injuries all year long, this race was going to just be a fun run for me. With all races, it didn’t end up that way and I bested my time from last year by over 8 minutes – no worse for wear.

Want to talk about food? By far, the best post race feed I’ve ever experienced. Waiting just past the finish line was the Salvation Army serving up eggs, pancakes, pasta and peach cobbler along with cookies, bagels, fruit, etc. I’m not usually hungry after races but there was not way I was going to pass up this feast.

Calico Racing puts on a series of events in and around Las Vegas. While I’ve only run the Red Rock races, I’m certainly going to sign up for more in the future. If you haven’t run a Calico race in Las Vegas yet, you’re missing out on great smaller races from a well organized and dedicated group of racing professionals.

RMFR

This weekend is the Red Rock Marathon and 1/2 Marathon. The route follows the road that loops through the Red Rock Canyon Conversation Area. The 1/2 marathoners run it one way while the marathoners go out and back. This is a great race for one simple reason, the views are absolutely breathtaking and with some snow on the upper peaks, it’s even better. For my race review from last year, click here.

I ran this for the first time last year. The start is five miles from my front door (yes, exactly five miles) and I hit this route regularly during my longer training runs. For those of you fortunate enough to have run these hills before, you know what I’m talking about. I’ve met some really great people on this stretch of pavement. The crew from Team 180 Energy. Erin, Melina, Tanya and Mei Lan taking a time out from their girls weekend. Cruising up and down the hills with fellow “Lober” Troy.

Point is, this weekend will add another great memory to these torturing inclines. With my achilles still not 100%, I’m going to just enjoy the whole experience again. When it comes down to it, isn’t that what running is all about? I’ve always said that if I didn’t enjoy running, I wouldn’t do it. This Saturday, you can bet I’ll be enjoying every painful second!!!

RMFR

Once you’ve been running for awhile, you get it. You know what you need to do to prepare for a race. From past experiences, you know your body and what it can handle. For this reason, I’ve started to make my own training regimens. Depending on what I want to accomplish, these training programs will change.

The one invaluable piece of advice I can give anyone and their training schedule (whether you make your own or not) is to write it down. Print it out. Put in on the refrigerator, mirror, wall or anywhere you will constantly see it. Not only will you be reminded of what you’ve got to do next, it’s a great motivator when everybody else can see it. Did a day go past without you crossing a day off? Did anybody else see it? You’d be amazed at what a little encouragement can do.

RMFR

No, this isn’t about politics. In fact, I’m about the least political person you’ll ever meet. This is unfortunately about my rash of injuries so far this year and just goes to show, anything can happen at any time. Blessed with an injury free 2009, it’s coming back to me tenfold.

It all started during the Walt Disney World Marathon. While trying to be the “pillar of strength” for my sister in her first marathon, it turned into an intense internal battle with bursitis in my hip. It struck without warning and I hadn’t experienced it since three years earlier when it took a month of rest to fully recover.

Another visitor came calling just two weeks later. My phantom ankle injury came out of nowhere. I couldn’t tell you when or how it happened, but one morning I could barely walk. After applying the R.I.C.E. (Rest. Ice. Compression. Elevate.) rule to this unwelcome visitor for a week, it left as quickly as it appeared.

Now comes the latest in this short but crazy year. My achilles is now as tight as a knot and sore as can be. This one I felt coming and have taken measures to control the pain as much as possible. Thank goodness for Ben Gay Pain Relieving Patches and KT Tape, I’ve been able to work through it.

These are all taking place on the left side of my body. Even though I’ve waiting until one ailment is healing/healed, one injury is compounding the next.

With only a week and a half remaining until the Red Rock Marathon and Half Marathon, I can’t afford another week off. I’ve already canceled my back-to-back halfs and will then concentrate on getting ready for the Fargo Marathon in May.

I’ll sprinkle a prayer for all of you that are injury free in the hope that you stay that way.

RMFR

There are some runs when you just don’t know what to expect. You could run into somebody and share interesting stories, encounter a bizarre event or see something unexpected. It’s something totally different when you get throw a curveball from you kids.

In the middle of an easy 5 miles with my iPod on shuffle, who should come blaring thru my headphones but Alvin and the Chipmunks and their Witch Doctor anthem. After my initial shock, I couldn’t keep from smiling. Obviously, they must have been messing with my iTunes playlists and added this cult classic into my hard rock playlist.

They didn’t know they did it but it definitely added a little something extra into an ordinary run.

RMFR

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Sonday, Sunday.

I’ve changed my running schedule. I am now moving my long distance running days to Sunday because Saturdays have become Sondays. This is quality time that my son and I spend cruising around the neighborhood – me in my running shoes and him on his bike.

As your kids grow older, the quality time we get to spend with them seems to get less and less. I’ve now found out how cool it is to run and break down the “little things” in life with him. We find time to talk about the important things in life: the future, television shows and Bakugan. Every once and I while we get a couple of life lessons thrown in for good measure but it’s not about lecturing. This is dad and son time. It’s about being together and being active. It’s about instilling a lifestyle that you hope will stick with him as he grows older. Most of all, it’s about memories. I want him to be able to look back on these times with fondness and hopefully pass them along to his kids.

One day this routine will grow into us running together. One day my youngest son will be able to join our duet. One day, this day will be known as Sonsday.

RMFR

I can accept rolling an ankle or pulling up lame from a muscle strain but what I cannot handle are Phantom Injuries. You know the ones – you wake up and can’t walk or you’re just standing in line at the grocery store and your knee buckles. Injuries that seem to happen for no reason.

Saturday I ran and felt fine. Sunday night I could barely walk on my left ankle. Nothing of any consequence happened in between. Figuring it was some freak feeling that would go away, I did nothing. Monday morning I woke up and it was worse. I started to R.I.C.E. (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate) all Monday and Tuesday it was better. The worse part of this whole thing is that I had to stop training even before I really got started. This Phantom Injury has now sidelined me for another week so I’m scrapping my plans for back-to-back half marathons in March. I’ll be lucky to be ready enough for the climbs of the Red Rock Marathon the first weekend of March.

I’m sure these injuries have some reason for happening somewhere along the way but the way they present themselves make no sense whatsoever. Have you had any Phantom Injuries that just showed up in the middle of you’re training? Let’s hear about them.

RMFR