Well, I’m two weeks out from the Disneyland 1/2 marathon and am so excited to get out of Las Vegas, I (and the family) can hardly wait!!! So far training has gone by the books and to my own astonishment, I’m injury free (knock, knock).

Yesterday was my longest run of my training (11 miles) but I stretched it to 13.1 – why not? The morning was relatively cool (80º) with overcast skies and a slight breeze. I had made up my mind to go hold an easy pace out and back just to get the enigma of the distance out in the open and put it behind me. After 2 1/2 miles, everything was going fine…and then I met Joe.

It was at the time that I heard somebody gaining on me from behind. I had just passed over the Red Rock Bump and was going slightly downhill so I wasn’t completed surprised that somebody would be cruising up behind me but I wasn’t totally prepared for what happened next.

He slowed down and introduced himself as Joe. Now you can just tell from looking at certain runners how fast they are and Joe – he was a machine. With introductions over, we covered our running histories and upcoming races; training regimens to nutrition and supplements. It was a great distraction that I don’t get to enjoy that often since I run alone. Because I run alone, I don’t ever get pushed like I got pushed on Saturday. Without fully realizing it, Joe had brought my pace well under 9 min./miles and we were still climbing uphill. Once I fully understood that we had just done a little over a mile at that pace and I was about a 1/4 of the way thru my run, I knew I had to back it off. Wishing Joe well, we went our separate ways.

I was spent. I had gone much faster than planned and struggled to my 6.6 mile mark to turn around. Since the out is uphill, I was dying to head back and hopefully coast most of the way home – but there was a problem. Joe was running for 2 hours (not distance) and I knew he was going to be coming back my way. With my bravado getting the better of me, I challenged myself to see how long I could hold off the ultra marathoner. As it turns out, not that long. With about 4 1/2 miles left, familiar foot falls sounded behind me and Joe greeted me once again.

I was proud of the fact that I hung with Joe (or to state it simply that Joe slowed for me) and we shared the road until we had to go our separate routes home. I wish I could say I broke my PR but I did not – far from it exactly but I did see what I could take physically which to me was a lesson I will take with me on all my races. Running alone is great. I love the solitude – but running with somebody that’s going to push you over your comfort level is much more rewarding.

Now Joe, if you read this please don’t get the wrong impression. I really did appreciate the comradeship and quicker pace. I hope to see you out there again and this time, I’ll be ready for ya!!!

OK, I’m a month into my vegetarian life change. While there are many people that think a vegetarian diet and running don’t make great stable mates – let me personally say they’re wrong. I’ve haven’t felt this good or had this much energy in a long, long time. On top of that, I dropped 15 pounds in the same amount of time and it just keeps falling off.

There is a really informational article dispelling the myths of a vegetarian diet and running (in this case triathletes). I’ve tried to cover my bases by taking vitamin supplements and making sure I get enough iron but I have nothing but rave reviews so far.

I always thought I was a very informed and conscious eater – until I actually started looking at nutrition labels. You’d think being a son of a dietician that I would have learned this lesson years ago or inherited some sort of nutrition gene but unfortunately no. It took a doctor slapping me around while looking at my blood tests before the alarm bells went off. The craziest thing I discovered was that my whey protein drink was a cholesterol nightmare wrapped in a time bomb covered with barbed wire. I’ve now switched to a soy based protein drink and I’m back into the good graces of my blood vessels.

Being a vegetarian isn’t easy. The looks I get from my meat loving friends and strangers eyeing my salads aren’t easy to deflect. With a little stubbornness and support from my wife, the transition is complete – and I’m loving every salad loving moment of it.