Week Countdown

It's 7 days till the first marathon. I'd be lying if I told you my ambition has not caused any apprehension. It's normal though and probably healthy. I am also pretty excited for the course here in Denver. I have never had so much training on the actual marathon course. Part of why I wanted to do the Rock n Roll Denver is that between miles 25 and 26, it actually goes by my home. Literally, I could see my porch easily from the course. that sort of familiarity will be a tremendous boost when exhaustion is waging full battle. It should be a ton of fun and I am ready to be conservative to an extent with my energy.

Seven Days till 26.2 Mile Round One

It's bit one week till the Rock n Roll marathon, the first of my double header this fall for Team PAWS. My long run was 7mi. today. It felt smooth and easy. I was relieved the reoccurring pains were absent and it would appear that despite the routine doubt, my taper period of less mileage and more rest is doing exactly what it is supposed to. There is a disbelief that "game time" is close to test my meddle and put all my training to work. In May I set a new best in my marathon time by 12 minutes by implementing my harder training regiment. I was highly focused. Over the summer I was also trying to find raise and am proud to report I have pulled in $1,565 thus far. I have however been distracted by this and hindered by my difficulty in heat. I have used the same training though and need to trust it has been as effective in building the base I will need next Sunday. I'm excited. 

High Country

I love my routines and a well laid plan. What I also enjoy are spur of the moment ideas. Tiff and I got a yen to head up to the mountains on the loosest of excuses and within an hour here we are in the crisp high country air. This is one of those perks living in Denver we enjoy. Our backyard holds amazing mountains and views like few other places. It's fun to have just picked up and done this. 

Credit Where Credit is Due

I am a lucky guy. While that picture may make this statement seem a bit tongue in cheek, I assure you I meant it much more seriously. The picture was taken while we lived in Hollywood. Till would occasionally drag me out of the house on these horrible runs. I truly did not like them, especially how she would kinda sprint the last couple blocks leaving me in her dust panting and frustrated. "What a stupid exercise!"

Then I tried to quit smoking for the first time. Running was the only time I wasn't going nuts. Ergo, I ran… A LOT. I started to actually enjoy it. I had no idea what I was doing really. I ran in crappy tennis shoes with cotton shorts, no shirt (or sunscreen), and no water through the middle of the day in LA in the summertime. As though all that wasn't foolish enough, I later found out I should have been checking to see if the air was even safe enough to be outside most of that time. Ah, Los Angeles… city of dreams.

After a while, I began running races and marathons. I still run A LOT, but to train now. My wonderful Tiffany has encouraged me and supported me now through 6 marathons and on the verge of 7 & 8. It requires many hours out logging miles, hours of soreness, ice baths, and the truly worst part of all: me talking about it all the time! She does all this and more. She even manages to be interested periodically when I talk about a hill repeat workout or why a PB GU gel was amazing when chased with a grape NUUN. I know what I do is odd, at least among my immediate circle, but she makes me feel supported and encouraged.

THAT, is why I know I am a lucky guy!

I love you Tiff!

Simple Thursday Wish

Happy Thursday ya'll! Do something fun!

About PAWS Chicago

Monday Night Yoga

My wife and I have a great routine on Monday nights that involves hitting a yoga class and grabbing dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Denver. This routine evolved a bit naturally and I don't know exactly when it became a no brainer. I recall how our yoga teacher remarked that she loved seeing us every Monday, that our "date night" made her smile. We have hence adopted her term. We often duck into a fantastic shop on the same block, Pandora on the Hill to mostly window shop. We have such a rapport with the ladies that work on Monday nights that they were upset last night that we had not stopped in the previous week. They just enjoy seeing us. This little routine and pocket of good people in our neighborhood has rapidly become one of my favorite nights of the week.