Don't Knock Someone's Pace Until You Try It

ARRRRGGGGHHHHHH!!!

There are few things that upset and frustrate me than people who criticize others for their pace, especially newbie runners.

About the only thing worse are those who mock/make fun of/complain about newbies at the gym. (Why would you put down someone who's trying to better themselves? Instead of criticizing, why not offer encouragement? If you see them struggling, how about offering help or assistance?)

There's nothing more discouraging to a young runner than to be told their pace is way slow.

Your pace is your pace. Own it.

If you run a 15-minute mile, then guess what? You're lapping everyone sitting on the couch.

Finding Motivation Outside of the Numbers

I had a pretty impressive streak going. It began in June of 2011 and last until October of 2014.

40 months long. Three years and four months.

Oh the streak? What was it?

Only running at least 100 miles a month. With most being at a minimum of 125 miles.

But after my last marathon in October, things changed. Depending on how you look at it, the change could be viewed either good or bad. At the time, I struggled to see the good in it. Yet, having four months to process everything, the change was good.

Very good.

My Goal For 2015: A Better, Fitter Me

It's the time of the year when everyone it seems sets goals, vows to make changes, yada yada yada.

Don't get me wrong. I strongly believe that goals are important. You need something to strive for, to challenge yourself. Otherwise, you will become stagnant, stay the same or simply become a shell of untapped potential.

My only 'beef,' if you will, is this notion that because it's January 1 and a brand new year, one should be setting new goals and that this is the only time to do so. This should not be.

Goals should be ever changing and an on-going process. Goal-setting should not be limited to one time of the year.

Goals are meant to inspire, invigorate, push a person to become a better version of themselves. To confine goal-setting to one time of the year is to put limits on yourself.

I say all this not to decry all the New Year's resolutions. Never do I want to discourage anyone from goal-setting and challenging themselves. But for me, personally, I prefer to continually add to the list, especially as I cross some off.

2014 - My Year In Running

Running is gift. Enjoy it.

We've reached that point in the calendar when we look back on the past 365 days.

To say 2014 was a roller coaster would be an understatement. There were plenty of highs mixed with a number of lows.

Here were my goals for 2014:

• Sub-4:35 marathon
• Run an ultramarathon
• Sub-2 half marathon
• Post a 200-mile month
• Run 1,800 miles for the year

Guess how many I accomplished? None. Nada. A big-fat goose egg.

Does that mean the year was a waste or not a success? Absolutely not.

The Blessing Of Getting PF - Did I Just Say That?

On Nov. 15, I signed up for my first ultra - a 50K on Jan. 3.

On Nov. 16, I experienced sharp pain going from my foot up through my ankle during my run, turning the planned- 8-, 9-miler into 4.5 miles.

Spent next 48 hours icing and resting my foot. Said foot felt better. Attempted a 7-mile run on a treadmill, which was going well until I hit the 1-hour mark. Pain returned, and my suspicions were confirmed.

I had plantar fasciitis. The dreaded PF.

Training for a 50K which was less than 7 weeks away instantly got interesting. And to be able to complete the 50K, I knew I was going to have to act fast and to replace running with some other cardio activities.

Sometimes You Just Have To Say What The Heck

By now, you've read or heard how rough marathon No. 5 was. It wasn't a pretty race. It drained me, and running was not as much fun as it used to be. While I took it nice and easy during the race and enjoyed the journey, that marathon took a lot out of me physically.

Coming back from Greenville, S.C., I was looking forward to recovery and taking a break from running. Not running for a week really appealed to me at the moment.

In fact, I ended up taking nine days off.

And it was glorious.

It was rather nice to run without any pressure of a race coming up. Just lace up the shoes and run for fitness and for the enjoyment of it.

But then, something changed.

Spinx Carolina Marathon Race Recap - AKA How To Regroup & Enjoy The Run

(Yes this recap has taken me five weeks to write. What can I say? Life happens. In any case, please enjoy.)

Happy to have Marathon No. 5 in the books!

This race did not turn out to be what I had hoped and planned for it to be.

At. All.

The Spinx Carolina Marathon was to be my flat (or at least flatter) marathon. I was supposed to PR. Not only was I supposed to PR, but I was to smash it as I aimed for a time between 4:30-4:35.

But alas, none of that was to be.

The Spinx Carolina Marathon was my worst marathon time-wise, so no PR by rather a PW by nearly 26 minutes. The course wasn't as flat as I led myself it to be.

Yet, in spite of it all, I made the most of it and enjoyed the run.

After all, how could I not? It was a GORGEOUS day for a run. The scenery along the course was beautiful. And I had the best support crew (a.k.a. my lovely bride Genople) waiting for me at the finish line.

Changing Things Up From The Original Plan

Sometimes life gets in the way of our plans. When this happens, all we can do is reassess, adjust and move forward.

No need to get bitter or upset over it for I don't see a goal denied as the end of the road. For me, a goal denied is merely a goal delayed. Just because I won't be accomplish something right now does not me I won't be able to compete the task somewhere on down the road.

All year I had been saying 2014 was the year I'd become an ultra marathoner. I even went as far as finding a race to get baptized into the ultra world: the Triple Lakes Race - a 40-miler in Greensboro, N.C., in October.

Yet, after number of changes in my life, I am having to put this dream on hold. With my new job and unsure what all it will entail and encompass, I wasn't sure I'd be able to train properly for this race. Also, the 40-miler is a trail race, and I usually can't get on the trails around here until October and November.

But have no fear, I have a race all lined up.

The Slow Road Back

All I want to do is run.

On my running bucket list is to run back-to-back marathons. Perhaps not back-to-back weekends, but I'd like to run marathons within a month of each other.

Just seems like something fun to do.

However, if I am to ever do this, something will have to change because I struggle bouncing back following a marathon.

I have great respect and admiration for those who are able to run marathons, even ultras, in such close succession. I'm in awe of your fitness, grittiness and awesomeness.

Hopefully, one day I can join you.

A PR, Fun With Friends & Another Fantastic Marathon

Haylee and I right after I crossed the line.

It's official. The Knoxville Marathon is my race.

It's the race I want to do every year.

I love it.

After running it for the third year in a row, Knoxville has become THE race I must do. Every year. And I mean: Every. Year.

There are a variety of reasons why I love this race. For one, it's in my backyard. As long as I can remember, I always enjoyed going to Knoxville, and I spent the better part of my college days at nearby Carson-Newman in the city. Secondly, it is a fun and challenging course. Hills. Love the hills. Next, it is so well supported. Every year, it seems more people come out and cheer on the runners. Nothing like a place embracing an event like this.

But the biggest reason I love this race is all the friends I've made in the Knoxville running community. Each year, I've made more friends, making each trip back like a homecoming of sorts. I saw and caught with so many people this year that I would hate to list them all because I know I would forget someone.

Basket Of Nerves: Do You Ever Feel Ready?

Ready to line up under the Sunsphere!

It feels like forever since I last posted. Nearly 2 months seems like an eternity.

A lot has gone on with work and life, preventing me from posting here. But as I make final preparations for the Knoxville Marathon, I have the overwhelming need to write because I have so much swimming in my head lately.

To say it's been a wild and wacky training season would be an understatement. So much has happened to try to disrupt things, not the least of these being the wonderful winter weather we experienced. Granted, winter here in Kentucky was not nearly as bad as other parts of the country. Still, it wasn't the norm and made things interesting trying to get my runs in.

But work has been crazy with three week-long road trips interspersed over the past couple of months, making trying to figure out when I can and can't get a run in very interesting.

Looking Forward To Big Things In 2014

Not going to lie, I've really struggled with what my goals for the new year would be.

If you remember back to November, I shared with you how at a loss I am in this. And really, here on Jan. 3, I still am in a bit of wonder.

I've had some lofty goals in the past. Well, lofty for me. Some I've reached. Some it took me a while to accomplish. Some I need to work on. While I love running and want to run every day, I still need goals to keep me motivated.

"Motivated for what?" you ask.

Motivated for life.

Looking Back At The Year That Was 2013

I can't believe another year has come and gone.

Time surely does fly when having fun.

2013 was a mind-blowing year for me running-wise! I posted PRs left and right and reached heights I never thought possible for me. Since I began running in April of 2010, I have ran 5,269 miles. Not bad for a guy who couldn't run a mile without stopping when I first laced up the shoes.

There are so many highlights this year that it'd be difficult to list my top 5. My No. 1 highlight is a no-brainer for me, but I'll reveal that later on in this post.

(However, if you're a regular reader and/or follow me on Twitter and Facebook, I'm sure you can guess what it is.)

Who Knew Running Would Take Me So Far?

Cindy, Kelcey, Dave and I at the Golden
Gate Bridge in July of 2010.

Earlier this month, I hit a milestone: 5,000 career running miles.

Since I began running back in April of 2010, I have now logged 5,107 total miles. (Editor's Note: I had planned to blog about this sooner, but life has been getting in the way.) I 'think' I hit the 5,000-mile mark on my 42nd birthday. It was some time around then, but like I said, life's been hectic.

Yet, not too hectic to keep me from running. :)

Truthfully, when I began my running journey, I never imagined I'd become of the runner I have. With the mileage I've racked up, I could've ran to the Golden Gate Bridge and back home - which by the way is one of my favorite places I've run and I ran there very early in my running career.

And The Winner Is ...

Wow! What a great response!

Some of the swag I got from last year's 7 Bridges Marathon

When I first decided to run this giveaway, I had no idea what kind of response I would get. In truth, I was super surprised when the good folks, in particular Denny Marshall, from the 7 Bridges Marathon granted me an entry to giveaway. They run a fantastic event, which, in my humble opinion, will only get better and better with each year.

In all, there were 131 total entries. Given that this was my very first giveaway, I am pretty happy with that.

I also enjoyed hearing all the different reasons of why people wanted to run 7 Bridges. Running really does bring people together, and I really wish I could help fulfill everyone's goals and hopes in running this race.

But alas, there is can only be one winner.

And the winner is ...

There's Nothing Like A PR - 2013 Knoxville Marathon Recap

A beautiful morning for a race. Let's do 26.2!

P - FREAKING - R!

There! That's my recap!

Now, you know better than that. I love to talk, especially about running. So, sit back because I fear this could get very long.

I went into the 2013 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon with several different goals I wanted to achieve, and I met all but one. And with a little extra work, I might be able to hit that goal next time if everything else comes together like it did for this year's first.

My goals were: 1. finish (check). 2. sub-5 hour time. (check). 3. PR (check). 4. hit 4:45 (not quite). And 5. have fun and enjoy the fun (double check).

In the end, I posted a time of 4:51:11 - 7:32 faster than last year's race (and my first marathon). While I feel I can improve on this, I know I gave it my all because after I crossed the finish line, collected my medal and running hat, I found my beautiful family in the front row of the stands and just collapsed against the padded wall, lying my head on top of the wall.

I had laid it all out on the course. I had nothing left to give. So no regrets on not getting my ultimate goal time for this race of 4:45.

Is It Race Day Yet?

Scenes from my 22-miler this past weekend.

On the one hand, I can't believe I am in week 14 of my marathon training. Yet, on the other hand, I can't believe the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is still 17 days away!

As per my normal insanity, I am enjoying marathon training. Call me crazy (FYI, you won't be the first nor the last to do so), but I really do enjoy training. The constant challenge, the upping of the mileage, the tons of miles being logged, hill and tempo workouts.

I mean, what's not to love?

But while I do love training, I am so ready for race day to be here ... LIKE NOW!

Oops! I Did It Again

Road rash is pretty, isn't it?

It's funny how history can repeat itself.

Last time I was marathon training, I hit a little 'bump' on the trial. (OK, it was a root.) So, I was really wanting to avoid a situation like that again.

But yesterday, I took a 'trip' down memory lane.

Set out with the plan to run 5 miles and finish at the rec center to do a spin session before running the mile-plus way home. It was a simple, easy plan. What could possibly go wrong you say?

Well, how about another fall?

Yes, I took another tumble. This time, though, it was on the sidewalk.

How I Saved Myself Hundreds Of Dollars

Did the title catch your eye? Good! It was supposed to.

But I must tell you this is no get-rich-quick scheme nor is it how you can save hundreds off your car insurance. No, this is just a simple running tip I feel the need to share with you.

So, how did I save myself hundreds of dollars? Two words: Ziplock baggies.

Scratching your head yet? Great. Keep reading.

Remember last autumn when I took a great fall while trailing running? Sure, you do. It was epic! I mean, it happened right smack in the middle of my training for the 7 Bridges Marathon. Well, I didn't share every detail about that spill, but now you will get to hear (in the words of the late Paul Harvey) the rest of the story.

5 Weeks Down, 11 More To Go - Training Update

I can't believe how fast time flies. Seems just like yesterday I started my training plan for the 2013 Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon. Yet, here I am with five weeks under my belt already.

Thus far, I am feeling good about things. My approach this time is more focused as I'm looking to find ways to improve my performance, and more importantly to me, my endurance.

Above everything, I want to be able to remain strong throughout the race. This takes place planning, focus and practice. Slowly but surely, I'm coming to understand it is OK to have a slower, consistent pace at the beginning of a run/race in order to have more in the tank at the end of the run/race.

This is not an easy concept for me to put into practice. Being a bit Type A, I want to go all out from the get go. And this approach wears me out, forcing me to take more and more walk breaks during the final stages of the run/race.