Last week of school

Pray for the little people...,

Ran just to run yesterday. Felt good. I feel the motivattion slowly returning.

Slowly.

Bottom bracket on my tri bike picked up some grit/sand/road debris. Gotta hit Roswell Bikes and get that fixed. Maybe I need to upgrade my crankset?

Just kidding, Charlotte, just kidding...,

The streak starts today...,

Joe Reger streaks. Paul Kindzia streaks.

Why can't I streak with them?

Okay, so it's not the type of streaking that made Ray Stevens famous but it sounds really close. Especially the "don't look Ethel!" part.

Streaking is an synonym for consistency in the tri world. Or, in plain English-getting in a workout everyday. So, I'm gonna streak. As much as I hate to admit it, the NSAID for the knne(s) has worked wonders and they feel ready to go.

Which screams for me to use my brain and NOT train into another overuse injury. I've still got some IT issues but I can deal with it with stretching and ice. I, like Kindzia, am a huge fan of Active Release Therapy. My 2009 season is quickly taking shape so it's time to make some hay. I've mutated into somewhat of a fat bastard so I have that immediate goal. Plus, I've got some new wheels on the Kuota. Fast. Very fast.

I think I'll send those guys an email and throw a challenge at them. I can't even get begin to tell you how better athletes they are than me. They (Reger and Kindzia) are the REAL DEAL. I'm just visiting.

So, today the streak begins. In earnest. Big Time. Like for real.

Knee Update

Okay, here's the deal...,

In my neverending quest to figure out what the hell is wrong with my knees, I went BACK to another doctor. Seriously, don't these guys have a clue? Enough.

So, this guy takes x-rays. Lots of them. Hell, I started to glow like Homer Simpson there after a bit. I was thinking we might be on to something. Maybe.

I get back into the room, in walks God( I mean the doc) and he says...,

"Your knees look great for someone with an endurance sport background. Nothing structually wrong."

"Where's the pain coming from then?"

He puts his thumb over something in my knee called a plica and says, "does this hurt?"

"Yeah."

He smiles benevolently and says I have Plica Syndrome. Another overuse injury excerbated by the other overuse injuries.

I think they're all full of shit. But the game goes on. More NSAIDS, more ice, more pain.

This guy wanted to inject me today (the first time I saw him) with steroids. Uh, no thanks.

So, I'm running the Atlanta Half and I guess I'll just keep running. After all, God (I mean the doc) said my knees were "great."

You know they're never wrong.

Ever.

Gotta get the mojo back...,

I ran yesterday. It blew but what can you do? Running is just not going to feel good any more. But, I need my mojo back. Someone out there please send me some mojo...,

Good luck to all those Ironman Florida Types

Ironman Florida is this weekend. The weather looks great (it won't be) and the course should be fast (there will be some spectacular blow ups.)

Joe Reger and Paul Kindzia are going at it in the Blogger vs. Blogger Challenge. I'm glad I'm not racing either of those two-they're both really talented.

Ran again last night. Bumped the speed and ran cautiously. So far, so good.

Trial Run

Today was the day I thought I would try to run a bit. So I did. I went to the YMCA and stretched like a crazy man, warmed up for a long time, and then hit the treadmill. I thought that would be the best place to do this.

Everything works. My right knee is still tender but got better as the miles went on. So, I'm cautiously optimistic. Swimming tomorrow with a 1:30 trainer ride and then three days of running this week.

I see my doc again on Friday.

Not a bad day...,

Yep-it's on...,

Okay. I can't stand(pun intended) to stand around and not run. I've always run.

So, the knees are a little better. I guess it's time to run.

I'm going to follow a traditional marathon training plan for the 50 miler in March. Considering I'm starting from zero, I've got nowhere to go but up. I emailed Reger and he thought I could probably pull that off. Instead of doing the massive run mileage on the weekend, I'm going to split that mileage into a long ride on Saturday with a long run on Sunday. Perhaps my body will hold up until I can ticked this damn thing off my list. During the week, again a traditional easy, hard, easy plan. Who knows? We'll see if I hold up.

Swimming (kinda)

Went to the YMCA. I was sporting my new jammers that Charlotte had scored for me. They made me feel fast.

And then I got in the water.

You know, if you read this blog (all 2 of you), you know I just don't do well in the pool or the swim leg of a race. It's tedious and hard. Pool water sucks. Water is thick. It's cold. And so on.

So, I swam. Slowly. I worked on technique (none to be had) and breathing (does gasping count?)

I'll go back tomorrow. My jammers will be dry by then.

I'm just saying...,

The knees are still improving and I have a much better sense of mobility than before. That's a good thing. I feel like I need to get refocused and reconcentrated on a goal. Like most tri-geeks, I work within a set of parameters that cannot be changed. Those are the easy things to recognize. It is the intangibles that will make you crazy.

For instance, life? Work?

I need to convince myself that swimming is NOT a watery layer of Hell. I need to convince myself that hypoxia can be good for my character.

Focus. That's what I need. BTW-I have a typo in an earlier link. Paul Kindzia, a local tri guy and some type of financial guru is going head to head with the infamous Joe Reger, himself a studly fellow. Really cool blog. For a numbers guy, Paul can write.

www.atickettokona.com

Check it out.

Danger in the dark

Yep-the knees are on the mend. The prednisone is making the inflamation go down and that'll let the body do its job.

That's good news.

Gotta swim tonight but I ain't feelin it.

Yesterday was one of those Zen moments. I was riding my motorcycle to work in the dark when my rear tire blew. You haven't lived until you're trying to get a bike under control at 65 mph in the dark with oncoming traffic. The guys at the shop squirmed a bit and told me I was really lucky.

Duh.

I'm riding 50 this weekend on the SCT.

The Time of Year...,

If you stay in this game long enough, Autumn (that's what we English teachers call Fall) takes on a different meaning. No longer does it bring colors and crisp temps. Instead it brings worried looks, last minute training runs, deep philosophical rants about whether or not you have enough in the bank to go the distance.

PRs, bike splits, swim splits, nutrition, fear of getting sick-yeah, I'm talking about the build-up to Ironman. Joe Reger is going to have a hellacious race. I'm personally predicting he'll do sub 9:50. In additon to be a local celb in the world of tri, his blog is really well-written and provides Regerisms that are useful throughout the day. For true perspective, read Paul Kindzia. Another AG guy who is going to drop the hammer this year at IMFL.

These two are going after each other this year. I almost want to go to PCB to watch. Good luck to both.

Update on the knees: Better. Much better. I think the steroids/rest/whatever has helped. I think my days of running pain-free forever are probably gone. So be it. A little pain keeps one focused. Charlotte bought me a cool swimsuit-a jammer. I look like a friggin Lycra-covered braust but I'm in the pool, you know?

Marked difference and a night in the pool

So, I took the meds last night and listened to the grass grow. Wow. I can't imagine taking this stuff on a regular basis. Anyhow, my knees are 75% better.

One dose. Amazing.

I'll keep taking it and marking off days until December 13th when I can start to run again. Slow.

I swam last night. Hehehehe. That was REALLY ugly. I asked the guys at the Aquatic Center where I swim when was my last visit.

March 12th. Sweet!

I got in the pool and did one lap. The lifeguard got up and moved to my side of the pool. WTF? Did I look that bad? Anyway, I'm back in the saddle and getting it together.

March 12th.

Wow.

New plan

I went to the doc today. We talked about sports and the lifestyle that I lead. We agreed that I'm probably not going to change what I do until I'm forced to do so.

She's cool like that.

I prefer female docs. They have a better sense for what a person is really saying than a guy. I'm not sure I want her checking out my junk but I have a physical to endure on Halloween. She has small hands and slim fingers.

That's really good....,

Again, we talked about running and pain. She did the doc thing. Knees are stable but hurt when I run. Bursitis. She agreed (kinda.) She prescribed a round of steroids to shut down the inflamation and let things heal. I agreed not to run but walk agressively, hike, swim, and cycle my ass off. She said okay.

We shook hands and let it go.

I'm taking this as a sign from God I need to get in the pool and swim. I'm getting stronger on the bike and my next race is a LONG ways off. I want to go long again but not until I'm healthy. Really healthy.

That's where I'm at for today. I came home and took 24 mg of prednisone. Yeah, that'll make you vibrate on high for a while...,

Maybe I swim tonight.

Making progress and taking a step back

Okay, I'm unburied. Well, kinda. I still have a ton of essays to read and some quizzes to grade but I'm over the hump. That's a good thing.

I'm starting to think about next season as I raced very little this year. My body is healed up except for my knees and I'm going to see the doc tomorrow. I think I have some serious bursitis in the joint itself but who knows? If you know a really good triathlete/doctor, email me his/her name. There could be beer in it for you.

I rode on my new wheels yesterday and they just rock. So, I'm looking forward to spinning them up this winter on some strong training rides.

I'm getting the diet back in line and still getting to the gym. Eventually, I'll even get in the damn pool.

Congrats to the Kona folks. What a race! Craig Alexander makes it look easy but I'm sure on the NBC show, we'll see normal humans going through what one does as they do an Ironman.

I'm worried about my knees but I'm sure if I pay enough co-pays, somebody will tell me what the hell is wrong with them....,

Keeping it real

Okay, so I've ignored the blog for a while. Remember-I'm a teacher and an English teacher at that. If you think of your old English teacher from high school, you'll remember they mostly had gray hair, tufts of ear hair, bushy eyebrows, and bad hips. They always looked haggard and often went to the bottom right drawer of their desk to find relief (okay, maybe not) but you get the idea. That's almost me. Jeez-it's tough. And I'm about to start my doctorate.

Super.

I'm friggin buried. Essays. Writing prompts. Vocab quizzes. Formal papers. I'm trying to get them ready for those of you still swinging for the fences in corporate America.

Training is going but man, it's tough to keep the streak alive. Really tough. So when training gets off a bit, what cures it? Ride the trainer. Run. Bitch. Swim. Bitch. Repeat. Smile a lot.

I think we all find our center. Family, work, training, faith. It all has its place. William Cullen Bryant wrote a poem titled "Thanotopsis." I find much comfort in his romantic view of the cycle of life and our place on this earth. Sometimes it's good to get grounded.

So, on we go. I'm doing the Burwell Bike Tour this weekend in Carrollton. Drop me a line if you are headed that way.

New direction and purpose

Yeah, I haven't posted in a while. I really don't think anyone reads the damn thing anyway but I just keep banging away on the keyboard.

Whatever.

So, I bailed on the ultras and that's old news. But, maybe that's a good thing because I came back to what I CAN do.

I've made a commitment to my friend, Adam, to hit the gym every day for thirty days. Really hit it.

Today was day 1.

It blew.

But, tomorrow is another day to show the world that I have ignored my core and my upper body for WAY too long.

Hmmmmmm.

Reality Check

I can't do an ultramarathon. Check that-my body won't let me do an ultramarathon. So, it's over. Let me explain (not that anybody reads this damn blog.)

I've been running off and on since I was seven. That's a lot of miles ago. I ran before running was the thing and I ran big distances when I was young. Really young. I ran the Atlanta Marathon when I was 15. Stupid but I did it. The local pizza shop where I worked sponsored me. I was a pretty good high school cross-country runner until a girl named Michelle and a horrific case of mono. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital and I was never the same runner.

But I digress.

Over the past three years, my kness have steadily gotten more and more painful. I've ignored them, had three MRIs, been told I needed to have them cleaned out, etc. So, in typical dumbass fashion, I decided to do an ultra. My reasoning was that I would get this done BEFORE my knees were totally shot. It didn't work.

I can't climb stairs.
I can't get into my truck without pulling myself in with the steering wheel.
I can't step off a curb without pain.
I can't walk down an hill without significant pain.
I'm taking 2400 mg of Ibruprofen and it doesn't help.

I'm done with serious running. I think I can run a half with just major pain (at least I'll be able to walk the next day.) My marathon days are over-I know that now. An ultra is simply beyond what my body will do anymore. My heart is willing to endure some pain but I'm thinking I'll destroy what's left of my knees if I continue with this madness.

So, it's over. I'm still doing 70.3s as it's a distance my body can handle and I love the sport of triathlon. I've scheduled 3 centuries for this winter as I love the bike (thanks Dave). I'm going to teach myself to swim well.

And, I'll continue to run. Slowly and miserably (regerism.)

I ran 12 yeaterday and tried to do the follow up 8 mile run today. My right knee buckled at 3 miles and I sat in the dirt and faced reality.

Hard. And as Hemingway said, "it's an ugly bastard." Damn right.

So, that's it. $200 in entry fees wasted. Who cares? I can't do the training so I damn sure wouldn't finish the races.

It just sucks. I've never felt more old in my life. I've got a wife and kid to consider. I guess it's time to acknowledge that I'm not 21 anymore. I just can't handle the miles+pain+reality.

Shit.

Meltdown this morning

My body hurts. All over. I think the miles (which are really low right now) combined with my recent faceplant+journey down the stairs=meltdown.

I could barely walk to the bathroom this morning. My knees are really hurting these days. I just avoid stairs and go slow down any type of decline. My guess is that the 34 years of running and basically beating the hell out of my body have finally caught up with me.

Whatever.

So, I'm headed to bed early tonight (like when I finish this post) and try to rebuild. I'll do the runs this week and then it's fairly decent mileage this weekend.

School is good. My kids think I have lost my mind because I force them to think (gasp) outside the box. If you take a college prep class, doesn't it go to reason that you should prepare for college?

Duh.

No buttless chaps...,

But I did run the 6. Boring. I'm going to have to find some new routes when the miles get big.

Starting back on the trainer tomorrow and have signed up for swim lessons. I have no idea if I'll have time to train after I start my doctoral program in January so I'm going to start now to work on the base for cycling. I still want to do Gulf Coast and maybe some sprints before Ironman Augusta 70.3. I'm just not sure I'll have the time, especially considering I'm doing two ultras.

Hmmmm

10 Miles

10 miles. Boring miles.

Nothing special. Tomorrow I run six. Maybe I'll wear buttless chaps...,

School's back in....,

Yep-the kids came back in waves on Monday. I'm teaching all juniors this year so it should be fun. I can really push the juniors as they have figured out they better get their asses in gear if they really want to go to school beyond high school.

My legs are tired. While the mileage isn't high, the program I'm following keeps my legs from feeling fresh so I'm always running tired. Weird. My speed is down but the endurance is coming way up. I ran with a friend last night who commented that my foot turnover was still too fast. I gotta slow that down before Pine Mountain.

Today is another slow, goofy run and then grading papers. It still beats making six figures while driving around in a car or getting on an airplane.

Just damn. Another fall...,

I'm too old for this. Way too old.

I got up this morning around 6 because I had to get the 8 miler done early. Charlotte's half-dead Yorkie, Bell, was yipping so I started down the stairs to get her. I have a pair of old LL Bean slippers with a slick leather bottom. I hit the second stair and that was it. Down I went-all the way down. I would up in a heap on the landing with my feet up the wall and my head resting on the bottom stair.

The dog continued to bark.

I yelled and said the F bomb at least eight times. Then I did my damage assessment. Huge hematoma on the left elbow. Loss of skin on left forearm. Right hip has a pretty bruise. Right wrist is a little wonky (Regerism).

The dog paused. And started barking again.

I struggled to my feet, snatched her furry ass from the cage, and took her outside where she staggered around, peed on herself, and sat down in the puddle. This is the test of my marriage.

Canine style.

Charlotte got up and asked me what the yelling was about. I can't write my reply other than it was not kind.

Yeah-I did the run and that part was really good. The sweat made the elbow burn and the constant jarring really made the hip sing. I had to carry my water bottle in the other hand because my wrist hurts.

Good stuff.

Tomorrow school starts. I think I'm just going to get up and pee in an electrical outlet to get the day started right.

Wow.

New shoes, 11.5 miles, One faceplant

So, I'm following my plan this week. Did my miles last weekend and goofed with the miles in the middle of the week. My legs actually feel pretty good and the soreness in my knees is now just a roar. Whatever-I'm mobile.

Today was the long day. I got a late start mostly due to the wild ass party we had here last night. Trivia Pursuit and a close fridge is dangerous. So, I was a little slow this morning. The heat was on when I got to Kennesaw Mtn and I spent 30 minutes talking with a woman who is training for the MS 150. Very cool.

The first lap was uneventful with the exception of my headphones shorting out. Sweat+electronics=static. So, I ditched those, refilled the bottle, and headed out to see if I could negative split this run. You know how you find that rhythm and running just becomes part of you? Yeah-I was in THAT moment. Cruising, low HR, feeling decent when I found a root.

A big damn root.

In a instant, I'm bouncing off the trail. I tried to tuck my shoulder under to roll but it never made it. Instead, I displayed the reflexes of stunned beagle. After I stopped sliding, I sat there and did damage control. All systems were go with a little blood seeping.

My shoes? They rock. I don't normally wax poetic about shoes but Montrail makes a hell of a trail shoe. I used to run in Hardrocks but they were phased out. So, I bought Continental Divides. Wow. What a shoe. Really comfy. My feet are not sore and the toe box absorbed the root with aplomb.

Anyway, tomorrow brings 8. Oh, I was in Big Peach Running Company today and the woman assisting me asked what races I had coming up. I told her the Pine Mountain 40 and her reply was rather ominous. She said, "Is that your first ultra?" I said yes and she told me it was 40 miles of super technical running.

Super.

Well, I signed up for Ironman having never even done a sprint. How hard can this be?

The High Museum and a hot run

I went to the High Museum today with 314 of my closest friends. If you haven't been in a while or are traveling to Atlanta soon, it's worth the visit.

On display are literally hundreds of Civil Rights era photographs that depict the battle of the African American to gain equality in America. As I write this, the images are swirling in my brain and I'm sure they'll make it into my dreams tonight. The rawness of the human spirit is on display and it is quite moving. The purpose of the trip was to workshop art into the teaching of literature. If you have a kid, they should be in Cobb County schools. We are definitely upping the game and the fire is hot for student achievement.

Pretty cool.

My program has me running 2 lousy miles tonight. I think my HR got to around 110 because of the heat. Of course, Saturday morning is a different (and more painful) story.

Whatever, I'll take it...,

Damn Hot 8 miles

Man, it was hot outside today for the run. I banged out an 8 miler and it was brutal. The heat in the woods was oppressive and the sweat just poured.

It's done.

The plan I'm following has the idea of distance sandwiches. Two consecutive days of high mileage with rest days on either side. On paper, it's not that bad. At my age, it's pretty bad. My legs were stiff for the first couple of miles and then I finally got a little loose as the run dragged on. Middle distances during the week (6-9 miles)

I can't wait unitl late October when I do a 31 miler followed by a 15 miler. That'll be fun.

Not.

Well, I thought about running...,

Okay, so it crossed my mind but sleep won the battle. So, it's church, afternoon running around, and then 8 tonight at Leita Thompson.

Little stiff this morning but that's more because I didn 't cool down properly yesterday. Joe Reger talks about ice baths after an intensive workout. There's something to be said for them. I've found that just running the garden hose over my quads lessens the damage/DOMS. I also use The Stick to "strip" the muscles of the lactic acid and get recovery going quicker.

After I did the Rock~Roll Half, I walked directly into the lake and sat down. I recovered pretty quick from that race. Meb (the marathon guy) goes the river behind his house and does the same.

Such is my morning rambling. I'm thinking about Six Gap but frankly not sure I want to put any effort into training for it. I guess I could just ride it just to suffer a bit....,

10.5 miles

Yeah, it blew.

I'm up. Let the training begin...,

Training officially starts today for the Pine Mountain 40 and the Mississippi 50. I want desperately to go back to bed and snuggle with Charlotte but if I do...,

Nothing special today-just 10 over at Kennesaw Mtn. Maybe I'll see a Bambi or two. Always makes the run better. I've taken off a few days because my left knee was inflamed. It's a little better and I'm targeting it at the gym.

Here we go. BTW-this is Reger's fault. It was his great blog posts that got me inspired to try an ultra.

Stupid.

What a difference attitude can make...,

I haven't posted lately because school is about to reconvene. For teachers, that means a ton of work from now until mid-May.

I'm totally cool with that.

Teaching is an amazing profession. I've done corporate America, made lots of money, and can honestly say I was bored 95% of the time. Hotels, airports, bitchy clients, and twitchy stockholders equals misery in my book. I'll never forget my sales manager saying in disbelief, "But, you're number one in the country. How can you quit to be a teacher? Do you know what they make?" I hung up and left my car at the airport with my AMEX in the glove box and computer under the front seat.

No thanks.

So now, I'm teaching at the high school from which I graduated. It's a bit surreal to walk the walks and hear the ghosts of memories past. I still remember what subjects I studied in the classrooms as I walk down the halls. Very strange.

And cool.

So, I'm hoping for a good year. I'm teaching American Literature to the Junior crowd this year. Juniors are a funny breed. They have finally figured out high school but just want to get out. It's also the year of all the high stakes testing so they're a bit more focused. That translates into being hammered by Mr. B. Good times.

As far as training goes, I've had a bit of an injury so I scaled back. My left knee was seriously inflamed so I gave it a rest and I think it will be okay. I'm been hitting the upper body really hard and hope to see some improvement soon. My strength is already improving and I see the hint of a third ab.

August 1st marks the beginning of the training regimen for the Pine Mountain 40 Miler which is really just a training run for the Mississippi 50 Mile Trail Run in March. My goal with both is to simply finish upright and coherent. I think my running days are rapidly drawing to a close so this may be my last hurrah. I don't think my body will let me do a 100 miler and not suffer some type of devastating injury. That doesn't mean I won't try one-it just means I may pay a huge price for my hubris.

Okay, enough. I'm going to the gym to see what little strength I have. It really is pitiful. A pasty guy with a M-dot tatto trying to get stronger.

Sad.

Feeling the love....,

School starts for me on Wednesday.

I'm excited. Way excited.

I almost bailed on teaching after last year. I figured if I was going to have to take all this shit, I might as well get paid to absorb it. I left corporate America to make a difference, ti impact students' lives , and to inspire them to get outside themselves and find their boundaries. Last year was an exercise in abuse, weak academic performances by unmotivated students, and a general decline in my desire to teach. Then I did the Kennesaw Mountain Writing Project.

It brought me back from the dead.

So, as I wait for Wednesday and think about the upcoming year, I think about what I want to do and what I want to accomplish in my classroom. I want students to see American Literature as I see it-our literature. American literature is our nation's history as seen through the eyes of poets, philosophers, drunks, addicts, and statesmen. It is a body of work that is uniquely American and steadfastly renounces the voice of the English. My students are going to write.

In massive quantities. In many different forms. Until they get it right.

Life is gonna be good on Wednesday. I'm looking forward to gettin it on.

Stay tuned.

Racing the storm

I sat in a seminar for 8 hours today with brand new teachers. OMG-was I ever that innocent?

It damn near killed me. After hearing 8 hours of theoretical classroom management strategies, I was ready to run.

And the storms started to form...,

As I finished 5 miles, the storm approached. Remember-I ride a motorcycle. So, I guzzled Gatorade, yanked on my helmet, and raced out of the parking lot.

Lots of wind. Lots of crabbing against said wind to maintain direction.

Scary...,

Dental work, good drugs, off day

I have the best dentist on the planet. I absolutely love her. And yeah-today she hurt me .

Whatever.

So, I went to the gym and did upper body and core work. Gotta do more of that.

Oops-Captain Darvocet is calling my name.

peace and love,

Captain Tripps

10 Miles

Yeah, it blew.

5 miles with the family

Did 5 while dragging my cute dog along. Hot, humid, and fun. Feet are okay and I'll do another decent run tomorrow.

Charlotte and Ingrid did the 5 as well. Ingrid bitches about how she has a "crazy fit" dad who runs marathons and does triathlons for fun and obsesses about his diet. Charlotte calls me "her skinny, moody, redneck-writer type."

That's cool. I hope Ingrid sees the value in living a lifestyle that has health and wellness as a focus.

Feet hurt

Yep-my heels hurt and my legs feel really heavy. But, other than that, I'm good to go. I think I'll go to my local park and bang out a 10 miler just to get the blood flowing to the legs again.

Maybe.

Then again, I may not do anything except go to the local library and find some good books. School starts back in about a week or so and I gotta get my fix of mind candy before the academic stuff starts (student essays, research papers, etc.)

16 damn ugly miles.

Damn ugly. I can't say it was miserable but it wasn't pretty. 16 miles of rock-hopping, striding, running, cursing, and generally moving forward. Weather was great and I saw ZERO critters, not even ground squirrels.

Weird.

The rice cakes were a hit although they don't taste great when heated by a sweaty back and washed down with fruit punch Gatorade. I have three new blisters so I need new shoes.

Legs are trashed, feet hurt from the rocks, I think my butt's chapped a bit. Slugged down 24 ounces of Endurox R4 and will take an NSAID later after I eat. I'm headed for a cold shower now.

Great way to start the weekend...,

Here we go...,

It's 5:54 and it's gameday/ I'm actually pretty excited about the run. The park opens at 0730 so I plan to be there to greet the ranger.

Pre-run meal was French toast with coffee. I'm also going to scramble some eggs for the added protein. I always like to start a long run topped off with easy fuel to burn.

Coffee is doing its job. Yikes.

So, stay tuned and I'll let you know how this run turns out. It's supposed to be in the 90s today.

Okay-two rest days...,

Yeah, I took today as well. I probably could have fit in something but the day was really tight. So, tomorrow is the day for the big runs. I'm trying something new for nutrition so either my next post will be about some epic projectile vomiting or a testimony to the art of trying something different.

Yeah.

I'm feeling a bit fitter and nothing hurts as of yet. That's good news. My plan is to go slow up the mountain, bang out a strong pace through the Cheatham Hill entrance and try to be steady around the loop. God knows what type of shape I'll be in coming home.

The beer is chilled, right next to my Endurox R4 and Advil.

Good stuff (levyism)

I'm up but am decidedly undecided about the mountain...,

I'm up, got my stuff ready but didn't sleep at all last night.

Probably those damn fajitas...,

Anyway, Charlotte reminded me that I have to go to Cobb BOE this morning and Ingrid and I dentist's appointment early this afternoon. So, I'm not sure I can get the run in anyway.

Tomorrow, however, is looking mighty fine for some epic suffering. I can still knock out 12 today but it will have to be at my local park. I was really hoping for the mountain run today.

So, decidedly undecided works for me.

Rest day today-BIG DAY TOMORROW...,

I took today as a rest day and cleaned the garage. It's amazing how much crap a family of three can acquire in a few years.

It took all morning to sift through three rooms in the basement and the garage. Not fun.

Tomorrow is a test of sorts. I'm hitting the mountain early and running big Kennesaw to Little Kennesaw, crossing Pigeon Hill and doing the loop at Cheatham Hill and then finishing around the base of big Kennesaw. I'm thinking that's about 14-17 miles and if I keep it together, it will let me know where I am fitness-wise. Of course, I'm doing the run slow (9:30-10:00/mile) but it's the distance that counts for now.

Gonna hurt though.

Bad.

We'll see what happens. I'm not too proud to abandon the run if it's going to hell but I really would like to drop the hammer and see where I am.

Stay tuned.

10 miles in the books

I ran 10 today. Easy pace, walked some of the hills, watched critters in the woods, thought about the upcoming school year.

Solid effort but I wonder if I have what it takes to do an ultra. I guess I'll find out once I've completed this base phase.

I'm giving blood this afternoon so I'm hydrating like crazy. Wonder what my pulse will be?

5 miles and 1 blister

It's funny how the smallest thing can just irritate the hell out of me while I'm running.

Like a blister.

I had 7 miles on my mind today. I'm loving the park near my house and was on cruise control, listening to music and feeling the earth under my feet when I felt a hot spot developing on my right heel.

Damn.

I thought I could just override the thing and move through it but the more I tried to ignore it, the worse it felt. Finally, the skin ripped away and that was that. "All engines stop, Captain!"

So, I'll get some more miles tomorrow. Ran 12 yesterday, 5 today, and would love to get 40 miles in this week. Gonna be tough but doable. Thank God for duct tape and moleskin.

If I can manage the small things...,

Keep moving...,

My day blew up so I missed the chance to do a decent run. So, I took a walk.

5 miles.

I don't run on concrete or asphalt unless I'm being chased or have a race number on. Today saw me with neither. I didn't have time to get to the park so I headed out the door. The strips of earth between sidewalk and roadway are veritable treasure troves of weirdness. Some examples:

I counted no less than four condoms. Seriously, how did those get there?

A complete Betty Crocker cookbook.

Numerous articles of clothing including a pair of boxers, flipflops, and 1/2 of a pink bra.

A set of handlebars from a bicycle. Not aero enough to take home.

Good stuff...,

I'm up, it's 5:45, and the morning is positively cosmic!

We went over to my friend's home last night for a nice meal and wonderful company. Dave and Lindy are from South Africa and they have traveled the world. As travelers and educators, they have lots of stories to tell and ancedotes that make me laugh.

So, we ate and visited. Nan, the media specialist from RHS, showed up as well. Always good to see her. Nan's son is headed to MIT to major in something called Theoretical Math and some type of weird computer science thing. Nan says he wants to study "pure math."

Yeah.

Legs are a little sore so I'm only running 6 this morning. I'm going to try a new park, Leita B Thompson on Hwy. 92 in Roswell. I used my new handheld bottle yesterday and it worked great.

Looking forward to the Gahuti. Ouch.

Going blogging crazy!!!

Hey, third post of the day. Stephen King would call this "unbottleling (his word, not mine)." Going camping this week at Fort Mountain and that means hill training for Six Gap and long runs on the Gahuti TRail. If you've never hiked, much less run the Gahuti, it's sick.

Stupid sick.

Some sections are straight up while others are just carved out of the damn mountainside. Makes for a fun 2 hour run. Did I mention it's only 9 miles long but 2 hours is WAY good.

I think.

So, me and my trusty waterbottle are gonna get us some mountain over the next few days.

Stupid sick.

One in the books

Pretty decent run albeit at glacier speed. It's always fun to run at Kennesaw Mtn. No critters other than the human type and even those were sparse.

Good stuff.

0600 and the day has begun...,

Okay, I made Charlotte waffles and then topped them with peach jam that I made last weekend. I've pounded my second cup of coffee and am trying desperately to wake up. My goal is to be at the mountain around 7 or 8 to run a smooth 11, albeit very slow. Slow is good these days without any type of race in the NEAR future. I'm more interested in building base miles than anything else. Slow and steady is now my mantra.

Getting fat. Quick.

I'm okay with gaining a little weight, especially when out of a training cycle but...,

I'm going to apply to the Vermont 100 but don't think they take me. I haven't run a 50 yet and my most recent full marathon was in 2006. The application does say the director will consider "other endurance races." I wonder if a full Ironman counts? If anyone out there has any experience with the Vermont 100, please leave me a note. Does it fill quickly, running surface, etc..

Uh-oh. Coffee is moving...,

See ya

My wife saw me on TV...,

And it wasn't even on Cops! Seriously, my wife said she saw me during coverage of the Peachtree yesterday. I asked her how I looked. She said like everybody else. It's good to know I fit in...,

So, I don't like the new course but I'm not sure anybody was thrilled with it. I really don't like the race either but when I wear the shirt, it gives me a chance to talk about fitness and health. I'll probably run it again when they change the course back to a finish at Piedmont Park.

My time? Does it matter? I ran 57:22. I ran slow because 1) I just wasn't feeling it yesterday 2)it was really humid and 3)I had to dick around with the new water bottle. Speaking of which, I almost threw the damn thing in the bushes. I know when running an unsupported race, it will be invaluable but I've been running for a long time with nothing in my hands so it[the bottle] is quite noticeable. I'll get used to it.

Maybe.

So, today we're headed to Alabama to visit Charlotte's parents. They live in north Alabama where there are some some big hills. I'm taking my Trek and going to do some miles.

Six Gap looms large.

Looking the part...,

So, now that I have committed to the world of ultra, I have to get new stuff. That meant a trip to Big Peach Running Company. Their store is staffed with runners and tri-geeks so it's fun to go talk with them and understand each other.

I bought a water bottle. Sexy, huh?

For years, I've run with a Fuel Belt. The one I have currently has no functional zippers, very little Velcro left, and is pretty nasty looking. But, it has spent some serious time with me and I'll miss it. I went with a handheld bottle. We'll see. So far, I ain't impressed. I'm going to use it tomorrow during the Peachtree and make my decision then. It's possible the damn thing could wind up in the bin with all the other gear that is worthless.

Prediction for tomorrow? As always, finish upright. And then, who knows? I'm in Group 2 so I'm guessing I won't have a tremendous amount of human debris to wade through. I'd be happy with anything under 50:00

That said, I don't really care what my time is.

• It's the 4th of July
• I'm a teacher so no work until the END of July
• And friends are coming over for some dead animal and high octane beverages

Good stuff.

Michael

It's 4:58 and I'm up.....,

WTF? I'm not sure why I'm up other than my wife went to work early, way early, today. So, here I am and I was thinking about my KMWP experience and other pressing issues.

The KMWP was a vehicle to make new friends and explore what I could do as a writer. It did little for my ability to actually teach writing. I found the research work tedious, uninspiring, and dull. It will look good on the resume and ultimately provide contacts for the next level-PhD.

My new friends are fine people and I hope we stay in touch. My life experience tells me that won't happen but I'm okay with that. Sometimes snapshots are all we really need.

I thought about what I had done yesterday with the races and have determined it was indeed, stupid. But, one cannot look back and regret. So, moving forward, I'll start training soon.

Maybe.

I'm thinking about closing this blog as no one reads the damn thing and starting over. But, there's some good stuff here. I don't want to see that go away.

If you're lurking out there, leave me a comment so I'll know I'm not alone in the blogsphere.

peace,

Michael

Okay, now I've done it.....,

I admit it. I'm an endurance idiot. I'm not very fast at any of the disciplines, my knees are damn near shot to hell, and I'm just tired. So, my solution?

I signed up for some more pain.

Ironman 70.3 Augusta (how could I say no?) September 29

Mississippi 50 Mile Trail Run March 7th

Yep-$325 of misery. Good stuff.

The KMWP is over, I wrote some really good pieces, and I'm ready for a friggin break.

Michael

Thoughts on training and Scootin

Ran 6 yesterday at the mountain. Felt good except for the damn heat. My knees are really sore when I first start but are usually okay around mile 2. Next week will see a jump up in mileage. Nothing crazy but I think I'll start running 8 daily and see how it feels. My goal is to stay off the injury list at all costs. Six Gap looms and I haven't been on a bike in ages. Maybe this weekend I'll get out and turn some miles. It's just fun not having a race and the pressure that goes with it. July 1st is the day many events open their registrations. I'll be here with my credit card...,

My family and I are thinking about doing BRAG next year for a vacation. How cool would that be? I'm on the hunt for my daughter an inexpensive road bike. Kids today don't take care of themselves and diabetes is through the friggin roof. My kid is going to be okay (regardless if she wants to be or not.)

On the scooter front, I filled it up yesterday with premium. $10.19. That will last about two to three weeks, depending on how much scootin I do. I got about 200 miles from the last tank. It's fun. I haven't been terrified yet but I am really in a state of hyperawareness when I'm on it.

Off Day

Ran 6 yesterday and thought I would take today off. I'll hit the mountain again for four more days of fun. Good times. Damn-I'm tired.....,

Another workout in the books

Yeah, it wasn't sexy but it was a run. So, I've strung together three workouts in a row. Damn-you'd think I was training or something.....,

On the gas mileage front, my maxi-scooter gets CRAZY gas mileage. My first tank (2.5 gallons) yielded 128 miles. My second tank, after I figured out proper throttle control, is insane. I've already ridden 120 miles and I haven't used half the tank. In fairness, I think I managed to get a little more than the 2.5 but not much.

I took it out on I-75 and rode just fine. It handles highway speeds easily and is very stable. I have taken a casserole, my book bag and workout gear to school on the bike and it did really well.

Very cool.

Slow Going...,

Saturday was a beautiful day. I rode my motorcycle to Kennesaw Mtn and did 6 perfect miles. I ddin't see any critters (always a bonus) but didn't see many people either (bigger bonus). Got back to my bike and was slurping down Endurox when it started raining like pouring piss out of a boot. So, I got to ride in the rain. Fun. It makes cornering dicey.

I ran 5 today on the wonderful CONCRETE sidewalks of east Cobb. That sucked. Concrete is possibly the worse surface I can think of for running. And it was hot. 88 degrees when I started.

Tomorrow I'll go back to the mountain and do the 6 again or maybe 8 if I'm feelin it. Notice there's nothing here about time. I don't care-I just want to run for me. So, I am. I need to rediscover why I do this stuff because I'm kinda over it. But, I'm coming back.

Watch out. Big Unit coming through...,

Four mile run

Okay, I guess it's time to get started again. This Fellowship at KSU is killing me and I've been sick but it's time to get back on the fitness wagon. Whatever. My knees hurt and I'm old but not too old.

Four miles yesterday. Nothing special but it felt good to actually train. So, today, I'll do 6 and maybe lift. Maybe.

Been busy....,

Okay, school's over and it's time to get my life back on trak. After Gulf Coast thisyear, I just stopped. I was sick of training, sick of the lifestyle, and just over it.

Man, fitness goes QUICK. Real quick.

We just got back from a cruise where all I did was eat. Oh, and I drank some beer too but mostly ate.

I went diving in Roatan. If you're a diver, you better hurry up and dive this location before it turns into Cozumel. The reefs are beautiful and the walls were simply breathtaking. Easy going people that spend more time diving than doing anything else. Very cool place. If you go, use www.coconuttreedivers.com (they're the best).

I bought a maxi-scooter because I'm convinced fuel is going through the roof. It's a Yamaha Morphous and it looks like a friggin rocket. 75 mpg. Yeah-that works.

I'm going to start training today for the Pine Mountain 40 Mile Trail Run in December. I have my eye set on the Vermont 100 for next summer ala Joe Reger. Somewhere in there, I'll do the beach2battleship Half and the Atlanta Half marathon.

That's my story. I'm back

It's over. The school year, I mean.

Thank God. The kids are gone, the room's packed, and I've got diving on my brain. And a motorcycle.

Gas for my diesel truck is approaching $5/gallon. Quickly. So, I'm thinking about a scooter. Not a wimpy scooter but a fast scooter that I can do around town and use it to commute to work.

The problem is-I'm scared of the damn things. A mistake can very easily make me dead. Or worse. Something in between. Some idiot talking on their cellphone while using their laptop while eating a Whooper spells greasy spot on hood. Of course, it would be like that in a subcompact as well, I guess.

Not really.

So, I'm thinking about it. Charlotte is quietly adamant against the idea. So, I'm thinking long and hard about this.

That's a new thing for me...,

Three mile run

Ran three today to get just get outside. My knees are really sore and the shoulder hurts like hell. We're moving textbooks at school and the shoulder is not feelig the love.

Nice day at the park. Glad I didn't run more.

My favorite time of year

It's graduation week. And, it's my favorite time of the academic year. For those of us who are in education-this is the week we get to see the switch thrown from the petty world of high school to the non-caring world of the adult. This is the week we get to see our work and sleepless nights come to fruition with the swish of a cap and gown. This is the week we as teachers get paid.

I have so many students that I would like to say congrats to. Some are headed off to big time universities where they will quickly discover that I was pretty easy but entirely honest about freshman comp. Some are joining the military and I wish them Godspeed. A few have no idea what they're doing and I say to them, "that's cool-life will get you centered very quickly."

I mostly want to say that my classroom will soon go silent and again become just a room. Without you, the students, a school is just so much brick, mortar, and silence. It's summer and God knows I'm looking forward to the break. But, I'll miss you and the work. I can't name you here but thanks for making my year go better.

Now, go graduate.

No Worries run

Ran 6 miles today at Kennesaw Mtn. It was nice to just run with no race pressure, no plan, nothing but breathing and music. I said hello to everybody (some twice) and just enjoyed the run. I gotta do more of that.

Embarassing. Really.

Okay, I went to the gym. The word "worthless" crossed my mind. I'm weak. Really weak. And I hate lifting weights of any sort. No cardio benefit, no purpose. Pick the damn thing up, grunt, put the damn thing down, repeat. Flex and admire yourself.

Holy shit-are you kidding me? I can't see doing this for long.

I think I'm going to look into the benefits of push-ups, crunches, and pull/chin-ups. Functional fitness ain't found lifting weights. I think it's time to do some research.

New Challenge-Ultra on the horizon

So, I've been thinking. A lot. About life, school, relationships, etc. I need to find the edge (sounds so Top Gun) that will show me who I am when I am reduced to nothing. I thought perhaps Ironman would do it but instead it fueled the fire to do more. Those who really know me will say I'm not really a classic Type A. I'm fairly quiet and introspective about life and who I am. So, the idea of an ultra has appeared on my radar screen. Not a baby ultra but the whole damn 100 mile ultra. I'm thinking the answer lies somewhere between mile 0 and mile 100. I've never run more than 30 miles but I'm not letting that even slow me down. Hell no, I'm thinking I can do this. All of it.

So, the plan.

There's a local 40 mile race in December. I'll run that as a training/eye opener run. Then I'll do a race in February that's super technical and has a history of eating runners alive.

Then I've already signed up for a 100 mile run. That's just how I roll. If I spend the money on it, I'm doing it. So, there ya go. Another flash of being a dumbass.

I'll publish the runs later. I'm a little freaked out by the absurdity of the quest. It looks good on a blog but probably not so good when I toe the start line.

Okay-there it is. Keep reading. I'm sure this is gonna be fun.

Saying good-bye

Today, I say farewell to my rented Zipp 808s that were so fast at GC. Not only did they bolster my confidence, they actually stayed inflated! If you need fast wheels but don't want to spend $3K, rent them from www.racedaywheels.com Great customer service and a big selection of wheels.

I'm feeling better today. Yesterday was pretty bad. My body was just beat to hell and it was a Moan-day to boot! So, today is better. Sunburn is starting to itch so it's healing up. Next year at GC, I'll change from a tri top to a running shirt. I may even invest in one of those stupid hats from REI with the neck coverage. Just a thought.

I'm taking this week completely off. I may go for a walk at some point but I want to give my tired body/mind time to rest and reset. Again-balance.

It's funny. I have nothing planned. No races scheduled, nothing. Wait-I'm running the Peachtree this year. Okay, that's something. Speaking of running-I'm looking forward to running for fun again. Fitness and fun. Hmmmmm.

A better man.....,

Dave, my training partner, DNF'ed at Gulf Coast. He said he tweaked his hamstring and calf as he was pulling off his wetsuit in T-1. It didn't hurt much on the bike but when he got to the run, the pain was intense. If you know Dave, that means it must have been damn near crippling pain because Dave is tough. Really tough. So, Dave made The Decision. He stopped and did the right thing.

Yeah-he could have shuffled, walked, crawled, whatever, and probably gotten through it but at what cost?

I think it takes someone with guts, real guts, to call it a day. And I think it takes someone who really understands themselves and what makes them tick to pull the ejector pin and get out. I know Dave. He doesn't quit. He doesn't slack just because it's getting hard. That's just not him. So, it must have been bad.

Real bad.

Anther race day will come and Dave will conquer. And this day's chit will be redeemed.

Gulf Coast Half Report

There's an old saying: "If you want to make God laugh, make a plan." I think God laughed all morning as I attempted to go 5:30 at Gulf Coast.

Ouch.

First, let me say that I went to GC this year with ZERO swim training due to a bad shoulder. Not a little training but no training. When we arrived on Thursday, the Gulf looked liked a washing machine. White caps, steady winds, etc. I immediately soiled myself and asked Charlotte should I be doing this race at all?

She just looked pensive.

Friday rolled in and I did the bike thing. Saw Joe Reger as I was entering the transition area. I knew it would be the last time I saw that guy so we chatted for minute and I got the impresson he was in his zone. Quiet, reflective, said he had to "run a smart race." Nice guy.

I got my bike all set and prayed over my Zipp 808s. Hell, I didn't want to flat and have to change one of those tires. Cruised the Expo. Boring.

Friday night was scary because I was sure I was going to drown the next day. Hell, I couldn't swim 1.2 miles at the pool, what made me think I could do it in the ocean?

Saturday
Bang-alarm at 0400 and the day was on. Huge omlette, EnduroLytes, Gatorade, coffee, Advil, and Pepcid. Potty x3.

Got to body marking and the girl there asked me if I was age grouper or pro. I almost kissed her.

I stayed away from the beach because I was SERIOUSLY considering bailing from this race. I WAS SCARED. But the call came and out I went. My mouth was dry and I was literally shaking. The water was rough, not like IMFL, but rough enough. I saw Dave on the beach and he just looked like he was going to kick some ass. He came over to me a little before the swim and told me to relax. I think he could see the terror in my eyes.

The Swim

What can I say? I survived. It wasn't pretty and it damn sure wasn't fast. After about 500 yards, I had to throw my left arm forward because the shoulder was shutting down. This produced a swimstroke that constantly had me pulling to the right-away from the course.

Not good.

After I rounded the first orange bouy, I took a huge mouth of Gulf and really started to get in trouble. I just stopped and tried to get to my sh&t together but I was a LONG way from sand. I started breastroking and tried to get a kayak's attention. None came. I kept swimming, dogpaddling, etc. and eventually turned towards shore. I tried to freestyle and got way off course and had to work even harder to get out of the water. Finally, I got to shore.

49:57ish

The Bike

I had a hell of a good time going out but coming back was work. A lot of work. The wind howled and damn near stopped me cold. On the way out, I average 23 mph. Coming back? 18. I talked to some really nice folks out there. Triathletes are just the nicest people. Very Type A but very nice. Saw Charlotte at the turn and she looked great. What I didn't know was how much energy I was using up just to maintain the speed.

But soon I was gonna find out.

The Run

A death march. At the end of mile 1, I was in trouble. Real trouble. I had no legs. Nada. I kinda jogged, shuffled, grunted, and bitched the first few miles. Finally, the legs sorta returned but so did the sun. In a big way. Man, it got hot. Really hot. The aid stations were super. Sponges, ice, fluids, they were prepared.

Charlotte was waiting for me when I entered the park. The look on her face said it all. I must have looked really bad because I got "that smile." My daughter didn't know what to say-she just stared.

After I left the park, I'm not real sure of anything. I remember running through an aid station with Boy Scouts and the leader saying quietly to the Scouts-"He's in the Zone-let him be." Zone? Hell, I just wanted to be done. Mile 13 is the longest damn mile....,

Final time: 6:27 ish almost a full hour off what I was expecting.

Thanks to God, for not letting me drown and keeping me safe. Take care of the athlete who is now with you. I hope he gets a PR in heaven.

Thank you, Dave Roberts, for riding all those miles and for your advice. Joe Reger-you're a stud. Loranne Ausley (16th in her AG)-thanks for the high five and the beer afterwards. You're a true friend.

Most of all, thanks to Charlotte and Ingrid for being an amazing race crew.

I'm out.

Ready to GO.

Yeah-I'm feeling it. The anticipation of the pain. The excitement of the race.

Triathlon is unlike any other endurance discipline. People are more low key because they know on any given day, the race can humble you (think Normann Stadler.) The pain and effort is blind to how much your bike costs, type of gel you're eating, or body type. Sure, those things might mitigate the pain somewhat but in the end, the race is about you and the voice that says, "stop-it hurts too much" and your ability to deal with that distraction.

I'll let you know how I do. Dave (my training buddy) left a comment on the blog saying I need to average 24 mph to hit a 2:20 bike split.

Maybe that's aggressive, maybe not. He could do it. So, why can't I? Again, the mystery of the race. Will my legs fire well enough on Saturday to maintain the screaming tempo I want? I think they will. I'm headed into the race way undertrained in the swim, just right on the bike, and refreshed on the run. My legs aren't tired and nothing hurts. So, again-why not? That's what the race is about for me. I'm putting everything out there. All of it. Nothing left. Charlotte is a little worried. She keeps talking about EnduroLytes and positive hydration.

Again,I'll let you know.

Seriously, Michael.......,

Yeah-I did the manly thing last night. No, the other manly thing.

I shaved my legs.

Got them nice and smooth for the Gulf Coast.

It was hard to get it all. Finally, I gave up. Charlotte came to my rescue. I stood on the edge of the tub and Charlotte exfoliated my legs.

Nice job, Charlotte.

Okay-here we go. In Print Predictions

The Gulf Coast Triathlon is in four days. I thought it time to man up and set my predictions and goals here on the page for God and everyone to see. Gulp. Here goes:

Swim: 45 minutes

T-1: 00:1:30

Bike: 2:20

T-2: 00:1:00

Run: 2:00

That's it. That's the deal. I have a dream time but even I'm not that ballsy to put it in cyberspace. You can bet your ass that it's flashing in neon colors in my brain. Looking at the numbers-I gotta have a great bike and and a decent run. All of that is keyed to the swim.

Damn.

A good day

So, I finally met the famous "Reger" today. That's Joe Reger to most of the blogging world. He met Dave and I at Hiram today for a little jaunt before Gulf Coast.

It was probably one of the best rides I've had in a long time on the SCT. The pace was way up tempo but it felt pretty easy. Joe is one of those types you just like from the minute you meet him. And, he's fast. Really fast. I think he has 3 percent body fat. Conversation ebbed and flowed. Heartrates skyrocketed. Nobody backed off. Hell, it was just a great day in the saddle.

Thanks, Joe, for a great morning ride. I'm hoping to do that again soon.

Okay-so I've been a little slack

Life gets in the way. School, kid, spouse-all distractions I am blessed to deal with on a daily basis. But seriously-the world of tri has gotten a lot smaller this year.

Charlotte and I were shopping today and she told me it seems like I'm never home. WOW. What the hell did she think when I was training for IMFL? Oh yeah-life went on. She remodeled the kitchen, installed a garbage disposal, supervised the hardwood floors going in , new stairs, etc.

Again-balance. Right?

Gulf Coast is in 7 days. I'm so blessed that I get to race, okay, participate in , okay, finish the race.

I'm feelin it.

Or maybe that's the granola.....,

Something new on the horizon....,

I think I have run my course with triathlon. I'm not sure just yet but I know that I'm starting to get weary of the "I gotta_______." You know the deal-run, bike, or swim. I'm just a little over it. So, I'm thinking about doing something I've never done before and that's weightlifting.

Stop laughing.

Yeah-I know. Most endurance athletes run like hell from the weights, including me. I'm weak. Very weak. And soft. When I take my shirt off at the pool, folks don't whisper, "he did an Ironman" nor do women swoon. I don't expect six-packs abs and I damn sure don't expect to be "ripped." But, I do expect some improvement and strength gains pretty damn quick. I have just really decided that I'm going to retool my body and strengthen all the parts I've ignored over the years.

Gotta do my homework but I think it's cool. It sure has got me motivated. We'll see what happens....,

I think I'm done.....,

So, I swam last night and things are not any better. While the shoulder may be okay in the eyes of the doc, I'm starting to realize that I ain't getting younger and this is the only body I have. I tend to agree with others when they say balance is the key to a happy life. Tri-Geeks tend to be obsessive and overly motivated to achieve more and more. That drive often decimates the body during a season creating an entire new motivation of rehab and getting stronger.

I'm tired. And frankly, I'm over it.

GC is out there and I know it's just not going to be a pretty thing. I may be able to swim the distance in 55-58 minutes. Maybe. I'm not even sure my shoulder will take that. Then, I'll have to attack the bike to make up time. Assuming I can walk after the bike, the real race starts with the run. I started this year knowing I could do sub-5:30 at GC. Knowing it.

Now I don't even know that I can finish the swim.

That sucks. And it makes me very sad and somewhat depressed. I just need to heal.

I just need some time....,

Diagnosis

So, I went to the guy with all the initials after his name and braced myself for the news.

Nothing is torn. Nothing is broken. Hell, nothing is wrong. Except for the pain. That's what is wrong.

So, what to do?

I went to Busch Gardens in Tampa to mull things over. I ran and biked and studiously avoided any contact with water or goggles. My shoulder still hurts. The doc says it's a chronic overuse injury exacerbated by the fact the shoulder has been separated twice and broken once.

Whatever.

I got back late Saturday and went for a ride on Sunday. Stupid. The winds howled and despite my best efforts, the ride sucked. So, I went to the pool. I pull up to the Y and guess what? The pool is closed. No, not the usual poop excuse but the place was ROBBED last night. Seriously, who in the hell wants to get on the karma train?

So, best case scenario: I swim at Tanner and I'll see how it feels. My goal is to finish the GC swim before dark. I'll really push the bike and aim for a sub 2:30 bike split. It'll take whatever I have left in me to get under 5:50 on the run.

Gulf Coast is gonna hurt a bit....,

MRI Today, Verdict tomorrow

I went to the MRI joint today and had the full treatment. They were nice and when they were done, I even got some oohs and ahhhs as they glanced at my films.

That ain't good.

But, I'm thinking they don't have a clue so I paid with my right kidney and bolted out of there. I'll let you know what the doc says tomorrow.

I did do 60 minutes on the trainer this morning and ran through the gears. Felt really good.

Except for the shoulder.

I went to the Y and cranked out 5 miles in 42 minutes and had lots more under the hood.

But the shoulder got in the way.

So, I'll keep you in the loop but I'm thinking it may be touch and go....,

Last night, I lost my virginity...,

Last night I lost my virginity. For those of you who know me well, I can hear you laughing. But it's true. I lost my E-bay virginity. I had never bid on anything and last night, I did it for the first time.

And lost. It's okay. I don't think she meant to hurt me.

I found a set of aerobars and watched them all day. I discovered that you can ignore the bid cycle up until there are about 30 seconds left. Then-it's game on. Wow. The price climbed $40 in a matter of seconds. What was a deal became overpriced. I was disappointed. But, I'll try again tonight. Thank God the site is blocked here at school. Otherwise, the kids may not learn anything other than a few expletives and some random literature.

The whole idea of e-bay is fascinating. Charlotte has won several times and saved tons of money. I think I could literally buy everything I needed to survive off of the site. It seems as though I heard or read about someone actually trying that. My training partner Dave has scored much of his tri gear on e-bay. I suppose now it's my turn.

I could use a new crankset, some carbon aerobars, and a set of Mavic wheels. I really don't want to pay more than about a $100 for the lot. There has to be a bargain out there somewhere.

Tonight in school, we finish Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy. If you've never read Conroy, you owe it to yourself to read at least one of his novels. Rich in imagery and detail, Conroy forces me to confort my Southern roots and focus on the real issues that color our society. More than Grisham or Baldacci, Conroy has staying power. His sentences resemble Rubik's Cube in their complexity and structure. Good stuff. Really good stuff.

My shoulder is trashed. I'm beginning to think that Gulf Coast just might not happen. That, my friends, ain't good news.

10 miler today-Shoulder is becoming problematic

Today was just a nasty day. Windy, cold, wet, and I had to run. Of course, I should say, I was blessed to be able to run, right?

I went to the Roswell Park where I run and did the work. Yuck. Cold and nasty. It was also the first time in a while where I ran without pain meds.

Stupid.

The shoulder is frigged. Screwed. Doesn't work. I can't wait to swim the 1.2 miles for Gulf Coast or even the 600 meters at Tanner. How am I going to swim with one arm?

Maybe I'll just ride the current or .....,grab an ankle.

I think I'll take tomorrow off and then hit it again on Tuesday.

Boy, the weather guys got today wrong...,

Wow. What a day! Beautiful weather, perfect temps-had to go outside and play a bit. Oh yeah-the shoulder.....,

I met up with Dave at the Comet and we headed out. I had taken 800 mg of Motrin and a Tylenol #3 so life was pretty rosey-for a while. We hit Floyd rd, did the u-trun and pointed our bikes towards Rockmart. I was in the 140s for HR and actually felt good about being there. In the early season, it's about base. Anything over 138 and fire rains down from heaven. But, Gulf Coast is near and I gotta really ride now that the swim will totally suck. So, I push. Dave had no idea what I was doing. He pulled up and asked me if I was on a mission. Whatever.

The ride was really good. Had some wind but that's just part of it. At one point, Dave and I were racing uphill (on the Comet, that's a misnomer) and maintaining a speed of around 25 mph. Good times. I broke first or should I say-my shoulder was hurting pretty bad by this time. Dave never looked back. He is going to kick some SERIOUS ASS at GC this year. I fully expect him to be low 2:00s, maybe sub 2:00. He can really move on the bike.

I caught him at the tunnel and we turned around. Coming back, the shoulder hurt but I wanted to get home. We got passed by a skinny roadie type and Dave had to go. See ya!

Great day of training. About 52 miles or so. Felt good. At least I know the shoulder will survive the bike and run.

Tomorrow, I'm going to Kennesaw Mtn for 11 miles. Should be a great day for a run.

Percocet Flavored Running

Yep-the shoulder hurts. Not a pain that's unbearable but a dull throbbing and general weakness in the joint. It's enough to make me pay attention to it. If one does endurance sports long enough, you learn to deal with aches and pains. I can't ignore this one.

I've been taking pain meds and trying to run. I tell you, you just haven't lived yet until you've run 6 miles in a Percocet haze. The Mp3 player becomes your best friend, especially when Eddie Vetter is blasting out "Hard Sun." So, today is going to be different.

No pain meds. None.

We'll see how that goes. I don't want to lose fitness and I need to be in the pool. I just can't figure out how to swim with one arm. Maybe they'll let me wear a water wing for that side.

MRI on Thursday. Hopefully it will just show a strain and nothing The pain is really starti ng else. I've still got time to salvage the swim if the diagnosis is positive.

Hopefully.

Update: The pain is starting to impact my ability to sit still and concentrate. I may not be able to go without some form of pain med today. Damn-it hurts.

Diagnosis: Possible torn rotator cuff

I'm pissed. Really pissed.

Can I swim 1.2 miles with a torn rotator cuff? Without drowning? Maybe. I don't know. Goal#1 should be to get my arm over my head (that'll help...,)

I'll medicate and still do the bike and run. I think I'm fit enough to get through the swim (it won't be pretty) but I'll get through it.

I just don't know what else to say........................................,

Mean Old Injury Bug

Damn. I thought I was bulletproof.

Not.

Eight years ago, I fractured my collarbone and separated my shoulder while playing co-ed soccer. It never healed correctly and I just dealt with it.

Five years ago, I was involved in a car accident where I separated the shoulder again. The healing went poorly.

Fast forward to the insanity known as training for an Ironman. I stressed the shoulder constantly and it stayed sore throughout the training regimen.

Last night, it finally showed its ass. I was doing intervals and something went pop.

Not good.

Now, I can't pick up a coffee cup without pain. The thought of swimming makes me cringe.

Can I breaststroke the swim at Gulf Coast?

Cold Ride

Today was one of those weird days. It looked warm, should have been warm but stayed cold. And windy.

Damn windy.

Dave started at his usual "this is really a good pace" blazing speed and I took up my position on his Lycra-covered ass. The first 20 were fast and then the work began. Maintaining pace and HR became an issue.

Did I mention the wind?

Anyway, we rode 64 good solid miles. Felt good but I was really glad to get off the bike.

Really glad.

Thought oh so briefly about running, got over it and came home. Good ride.

Did I mention the wind?

Good Friday

I went to church last night and again was reminded that every Christian has to have a "Good Friday." I once heard this day referred to as Christianity's Ground Zero. How perfect is that? You know the Easter story and I'm not one to preach or to push an ideology but I encourage you today to take a moment.

Just a moment.

And think. Hard.

Yeah-I guess everyone has to have a Good Friday to get to their Easter.

Peace,

Michael

Crazy Week

For those of you who have kids in high school, you know what this week was: GHSGT. For those of you who don't have kids, here's the deal: Georgia, in its infinite wisdom, decided that all students should be able to pass a series of standardized tests covering the alleged curriculum found in the Georgia Performance Standards. They (the students) start taking these exams in their 11th grade year. These exams run concurrent with the EOCT (End of Course tests), SAT, ACT, ASVAB, and whatever else the government can line up for you and your kid. At first glance, it seems like a good idea. All students should be required to demonstrate mastery of core subjects. What if your kid has test anxiety? What if your kid had a lousy Science teacher (Science is the hardest-74% failure rate 1st time test takers)? What if you moved into Georgia from another state in your kid's junior year because of a job transfer? My point is there are no waivers, no breaks-nothing. It's pass or fail. If they pass, super. If they fail, they try again. And again. And again. What if they never pass the exam? They don't walk and they don't graduate. Imagine a kid with a 4.0 who is LOUSY at taking standardized tests. Imagine that kid not getting a diploma; instead he gets a Certificate of Attendance. Which is worthless. Even more so than a G.E.D

This was the week. Kids came to my classroom with vacant stares and generally pissed off. Nothing got done. My classroom was a crucible of stress, tempers, and haggard students.

I ran 9.5 today and it was glorious. I turned my music up really loud (like the kids) and just hauled ass.

I'm glad tomorrow is Friday.....,

Custom Ordered Day

Wow. What a day in Atlanta! It was just about perfect. I rode 52 strong and steady listening to soem really funky music Charlotte loaded on the Mp3.

Felt good. Ready to kick some ass at GC...,

Stormy Ride

Last night, I was pumped. I washed my bike, lubed the chain (not a metaphor), and packed my bag for a solid ride on the SCT. I have taken the last two days off because I was tired and just over it-Gulf Coast be damned. So, I was looking forward to doing some miles.

Rain. Thunder. Wind.

Super.

As I sit here writing this, the sky is exploding and my house shakes. The dog is whining and I'm thinking really seriously about going back to bed. Then-I think:

What would Reger do?

So, I'm going to put on my thinnest pair of shorts, wrap my head in aluminum foil, and go ride in this soup. Not.

Clearly, a ride is not smart this morning. Maybe this afternoon.....,

The issue of blogging and voice is making its rounds at my school. Voice is almost impossible to teach a kid but relatively easy to uncover in one's writing. For many of us, writing is something that we have to do, it's not something we enjoy. I have always enjoyed the crafting of words and the nuances of language.

Blogging, however, is something that is really intimidating to me as a writer. Reger makes a good point in that to effectively blog, you have to be willing to let people in because at heart, most people are voyeuristic. We like to peer into the lives of others and see what they have to offer this world. I'm working on that. Microblogging appeals to me in that narrative writing is perhaps the most effective writing. CNN is making millions from I-Report and news organizations are now requesting that the public essentially do their job for them by posting pics and accounts of events formerly only covered by reporters in the field.

So, voice. Stephen King has it. Grisham had it (the first book). Sebastian Junger really has it. In King's book, Memoirs on Writing, he says voice is a manifestation of the soul. It's only present when all other conventions are stripped away. Yeah.

Where the heck did that come from?

Tired

Have you ever been so tired that you just want to sit down and sleep somewhere? I ran 3 miles tonight and just feel like I ran a marathon. Overtraining will get you everytime.

Gulf Coast will either be a really great day or a fast trip to an ER. Hell, I don't know. I'm just living the dream.

Riding in the Cold....,

Okay-admittedly riding in the cold isn't fun but it's great fun to put on that much lycra and polypro and then go sweat like a pig for 50 miles. Good times.

I rode the Silver Comet Trail this weekend. Pushed hard on the way back and felt okay. I'm still not ready for Gulf Coast. My swim sucks (as you know) and the bike is just kinda there.

I did score a new HR monitor from Polar. I couldn't get the damn thing to work so my wife bailed me out. She has the patience and small hands.

Pics and other crap are headed here soon. I'm still learning the blog world.

Sometimes it's about Integrity....,

All a teacher has in todays' world is integrity. It is an insult to the soul when you are asked to compromise that integrity, regardless of the reason. Somedays, the classroom is not so appealing....,

A Day in the Life of a Teacher

For all those who have been there....,

So, this morning my class was giggling. This is always worrisome to a teacher but I thought it was the rain and hormones. I could not have been more wrong. Just before class, I went to the bathroom. I noticed a different feel on my zipper but never checked to make sure the barn door was closed. Alas, my zipper was broken and the world knew my business. I, being the clueless type, walked around my classroom, totally oblivious to the fact that my zipper was gaping like some lewd clothing monster. More giggles. More being clueless. The class ended and I went the restroom (I have to pee when a bell rings). I quickly discovered my wardrobe malfunction. I borrowed two large safety pins and tried to repair the damage amidst more laughs from the front office staff. I immediately stabbed myself with the safety pin by pinning my thumb to my crotch. Clearly, this was not a solution. I could not get the safety pin to close the gap so I yanked out my shirt and covered the now obvious gap. This is a clear signal to everyone that my zipper is broken and I am an idiot. Jeez-it's only first period.

Swimming Woes

So, I went to the Y last night to give this workout a try. A little warm-up of 200 yards then 6X50 yards all out. At the end, I am convinced the lifeguards thought I was drowning. Form went to hell, I was gasping, and all I wanted to do was get out of the damn pool. But, progress was made.

You see, I hate swimming. When I was a kid, I wore coke-bottle glasses so going to the pool meant being blind for an afternoon. So, I learned to hate it. Unfortunately, as a tri-guy, you gotta swim to get to the bike. So, I swim. Slowly and inefficiently. I've bought the DVDs and had myself videotaped (ugly) but nothing beats the pure misery of a hypoxic workout.

Tonight brings 2000 yards. I'm going to try 4X500 sets with 1 minute rest between each set. Who knows? Maybe I'll learn something...,

Just getting started

Okay, so here I go. I'm a huge fan of Joe Reger's blog and he got me motivated so I'm going to give this a shot. Let me know if you read this thing and see what you think....,

Maybe I'll post a paper or two to give the readers an idea of who I am and what drives me to be what I am.