Iced Knees

Jan-you-Where-ree?

2009-01-26T07:59:00.000-08:00

Geez, more than a month between blog posts? Terrible!
So far, so good for 2009. In spite of some pretty crappy weather, I'm on track to get 60 miles this month. Since I fell short of my 2008 running goal, I'm keeping the same mileage goal for 2009, 60 miles a week.

A December to Remember?

2008-12-12T12:01:00.000-08:00

It has really been a long time since I last blogged. What has been going on? Well, my running continues. I have come to the realization that I will NOT make my goal of 720 miles for 2008. September's laziness did me in.

However, I have the chance to get to 700 if I bust my hump this month.

I am still running in my first pair of Max Moto's. They have about 330 miles on them. I'm switching between those and the Filas. I have another pair of Moto's on standby.

My new Bula Neoprene facemask has really worked well. I've also been running with the iPod.

I'm currently sitting on 666 miles. AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Jive Turkey!

2008-11-27T10:52:00.000-08:00

I got up and grabbed Sadie and we headed out for a 'Thanksgiving Day Run'. I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was! The sun was a big orange ball in the west and we headed out to the country.

There were a few cars on the road and three other people out running, so that was cool.

I guess this gives me license to eat and drink all I want, right? The in-laws brought me some Third Stone Brown and E.S.B. from Lincoln, NE!

Miles to go.

2008-11-20T08:42:00.000-08:00

Wow! Ten days since a blog post? I'm terrible!

It's been an okay week of running. The weather has been pretty mild, so that helps.

I need just under 100 miles to reach my running goal for the year. I don't see that happening. Therefore, I'm just going to run when I can and not worry about it.

My feet still bother me a bit, especially my heels. I might try and run a 4-mile race in Peoria on Sunday. The weather shouldn't be too much of a factor. High of near 50, and the race starts at 1pm.

Still running in my Max Moto 5's, and some newer Filas. I have another pair of Max Motos that I've not broken out, yet.

Back to real fall weather.

2008-11-10T08:51:00.000-08:00

My what a difference a few days makes! My last post was about the great weather, and now it's fall, y'all.

Yesterday, the dog, the boy and I all hit the road. The west wind was howling, so we took off to the east. The boy got cold and turned around early. Sadie and I toughed it out and then I added on another .6 to make sure I was over 3 miles.

My feet have been bothering me, especially my left heel. I have had very good luck avoiding injuries. So, I'm hoping this is nothing too severe.

I am sort of resigned to the fact that I probably won't hit my yearly running goal. I have less than 2 months to go, and it would take a Hurculean effort to get to my goal. It is not impossible, but tough.

Honestly, I don't mind cold-weather running, it's the wind that makes things tough. Plus, I bought a new neoprene face mask that will make me look like Hannibal Lecter! Now, that's hot!

A November to remember.

2008-11-03T07:22:00.001-08:00

Okay, if I'm dreaming, don't wake me. I ran on November 2nd, in shorts and a t-shirt.

I plan on running on November 3rd and 4th in shorts and a t-shirt. Unreal.

I had a nice run yesterday. Since I had an extra hour of sleep, I was up early, and Sadie and I hit the road.

My goal was simple, get in a long run. I had no idea of length. I just wanted to get in miles.

We headed out at a relaxed pace. Sadie peed and crapped several times, so that gave me time to catch my breath.

I really tried to relax, and enjoy the weather and the beautiful fall colors. I succeeded.

Once I got home, I got on GMaps and discovered I ran 7.6 miles. That's a pretty good start for the month.

Allerton 2008.

2008-10-26T19:32:00.000-07:00

Today was my favorite race, The Allerton Park Trail Run. We had some rain a few days this week, so I was concerned about the course. It turns out my worries were valid.

The first water hazard was one we usually could jump over with ease. It comes within a mile of the start, so you're not dead tired. But, this year, too much rain made it impossible to avoid. Everybody got their shoes wet.

Mud and standing water were everywhere on the course. I nearly fell a few times, and I'm lucky I didn't tweak my ankle.

I had high hopes for a beter time. I did p.r by about a minute.

I finished 12th in my age group and somewhere between 75th or 77th overall. My time was 46:33.

One second.

2008-10-20T09:01:00.000-07:00

I ran the Taylorville Hot to Trot 5K yesterday. The course started downtown and looped Manner's Park twice. It was a fairly hilly course, which slowed me down a bit.

I deviated from my 'normal' pre-race nutrtion. In lieu of a few bananas and Gatorade, I had four frozen waffles and a small glass of skim milk. I also heated up some coffee and drank that, plus some water. This was a mistake. I had the 'heavy belly' feeling for most of the race.

The feeling started to go away about the final 1/4 of the race. I gave it all I had, and finished in 22:55. I started to feel bad about my time, until I did some research at home and discovered...I SET A NEW 5K P.R. BY ONE SECOND!

After discovering this fact, I was really annoyed that I couldn't have run faster. I'd really like to break 22 minutes.

Hey, Lardass!

2008-10-15T08:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, I realize that I've been eating like a goat as of late. Junkfood after junkfood, etc.

This morning, I got on the scale and it told me I was 190 pounds. I was not happy. That is the upper end of where I want my weight. 180-185, I'm good. 190 is not.

What do I do? Well, for starters, I have to eat less crap. I have fallen into a horrible habit of eating junk food the first thing in the morning.

Secondly, I need to drink more water and less diet soda.

Thirdly, I need to get more running done. I realize that I have to rest my legs, but upping the mileage will help burn some calories.

I also found out yesterday that the cereal I eat on a 'way too regular' basis is loaded with sugar. Sadly, I will have to cut back on this, too.

The blame rests squarely on me. I will get this extra weight off, and I will do it the right way.

Ugh.

Weekend Review.

2008-10-13T06:59:00.000-07:00

We wrapped up the JFL season with a loss to Warrensburg on Saturday. It was a very warm day, but we just couldn't get it going on offense. A few long runs, and that did us in. Our record was 8-3.

The boys all played hard, and I'm proud of all of them.

The missus and I finished the night at Pasta House and Cold Stone Creamery.

We took the kids to Allerton Park yesterday for a 'family escape'. They seemed to like it, despite there not being a playground at the park. The bugs were bad.

I will remember never to go to Curtis Orchards on a Saturday during U of I Homecoming. Wall to wall people. The checkout lines were crazy.

El Rodeo was the spot for a late lunch, then we built a fire and sat around it last night.

Overall, a very enjoyable weekend.

Time to face the mileage!

2008-10-07T10:00:00.001-07:00

Hmm, it just now hit me. I have a lot of running to do this month.

I did the yearly total on my Nike Running Log, and I'm behind. I have to run 60 more miles this month to stay on track toward my goal.

As of today, I have 540.45 miles. I need to be at 600 by the end of October.

I offer no excuse, I've just not taken the time to get out as much as I should. The weather has been excellent, perfect for running.

For those of you keeping score at home, my monthly goal has been 60 miles. Multiply that by 12 and you get 720 miles for the year. This is a reasonable goal, some would say it is an easy one. For me, it keeps my legs pretty fresh, but still having a base of about 15 miles per week.

My knees are sore a bit from last night's run. Not sure if it's that the Filas are starting to lose some cushioning or it's because I ran nearly six miles on Monday.

Nevertheless, it's time to make up some mileage!

The Last Week of JFL/Running update.

2008-10-06T07:32:00.000-07:00

Well, here we go. It's the final weekend of the JFL season. We have practice on Tuesday and Thursday. Our final game is at 2pm this Saturday.

The worst we can finish is 8-3. Regardless, we've had a successful season.

After walking with my wife on Friday, I finally got in some miles last night. The weather was great, and Sadie and I headed out.

We took off to the east, and went thru town and out in the country for a bit. I wanted to go longer, so I left her at home. I ran out to the interstate and back. I finished with 5.6 miles.

I really need to have a strong October as far as mileage goes. If I want to meet my yearly goal, I have to get about 70 miles this month.

The next race on the docket is my favorite...Allerton. This will be the second race in the new Nikes. I'd really like to get in some 'hill work'. Maybe if my schedule allows, I can drive somewhere and do that?

The Three and One.

2008-10-02T11:29:00.001-07:00

Ah, look at that scary thing coming at you in the woods! This was taken toward the end of the race. I was feeling pretty beat at this time. I think the do-rag/glasses combo makes me look like Charlie Murphy's character in 'CB4'.

Three more practices and one more game is all that remains of the JFL season. I think the kids have mixed emotions about it. On one hand, I think some are tired and ready for the season to be done; on the other, I think some will be sad to see the season end.

As of now, we have no plans for tomorrow night. I don't have p.a. duties anywhere.

I need to get out and get some miles in this evening. The cooler weather makes the runs very pleasant. However, I know that short days and the cold weather are coming, and that's not fun to think about.

50 ain't so nifty.

2008-10-01T08:35:00.001-07:00

After a very nice evening at football practice, it was time to get out and run. I was lazy on Monday, and I didn't run. My legs were still sore, and well...I was just lazy.

I knew that I wouldn't reach my monthly running goal. So, I went out last night to get some of the soreness out of my legs. Sadie and I headed out and enjoyed the night air. Gavin joined us on his bike for the final part. I ended up with a 2.1 mile run. This was enough to get me to 50 miles for the month.

Initally, I was upset that I had missed my goal my 10 miles. But, after thinking about it for awhile, I realized something. I've had some great times in races this month. Perhaps running a bit less has made me fresher?

Anyway, this was the lowest monthly running total of 2008. I will have to make up the miles somewhere. I've only got 3 months left in the year.

Trail of beers.

2008-09-29T10:19:00.000-07:00

The Wild Wild Wilderness Trail Race was yesterday. I posted a time of 1:06:10, a full 10 minutes faster than last year! Jeremy was just a few seconds behind me.

I always forget how tough this course can be. There were a few times I had to stop and walk. Regardless, I really like this race, and I hope I can run it next year.

The new Nikes held up pretty well. It was the first race I ran in them.

My race schedule is down to the Allerton Park Run next month.

I bought some Goose Island Honker's Ale yesterday. I drank a few last night, they were tasty.

Sunny final weekend of September.

2008-09-27T05:58:00.000-07:00

Okay, last night we just chilled. Took the kids to Lincoln Park and messed around. Then, onto Ryan's for dinner, where we battled three busloads of kids for food!

We went for a bike ride after we got home and chilled out.

Today, we head to Lovington for our last away game. The boys lost at Bethany on Wednesday night. We didn't practice on Thursday.

Tonight, I'll be doing p.a. for the SHG/Glenwood game. It should be a loud, fun and crazy game!

Tomorrow, I'm running the Wild Wilderness Trail Run in Danville with Jeremy. This is a very difficult 7.55 mile trail run. I bought some new Nike Assail III Trail shoes last week to wear. We'll see how they perform.

That will about do it for my weekend.

Of this and that.

2008-09-25T07:27:00.000-07:00

Okay, it's been awhile since there was a blog update...sorry.

My football team is 7-2. We lost to Okay Valley at their place last night. I went the wrong way on the trip home, and got Gavin and myself home late.

We have two more games. One at Lovington on Saturday, and our final game two weeks later at home vs. Warrensburg.

Running has been going okay. I tried to break in the new Nike trail shoes yesterday. I'm running my trail race in them on Sunday.

Good Luck to Jeremy!

2008-09-15T06:54:00.000-07:00

This weekend, my running buddy, Jeremy is heading to Oregon. He's heading out for the USAT Age Group Nationals.

I know he's busted his arse, and I hope he has fun and swims, bikes and runs a strong race!

Hopefully, he will return from this trip with fond memories. Perhaps after the excitement wears off, he CAN GO GET A JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Water is wet.

2008-09-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

I mowed until after dark on Saturday night. My thoughts were, if it hasn't rained yet, I'd better stay busy.

I woke up Sunday morning to the sound of my sump pump going. The rain started Sunday morning and dumped a bunch of water on us throughout the day.

We didn't have any damage, but it's always nerve-wracking for me when there's water in the basement.

Overall, we are lucky, and have it alot better than most people.

7-1, Having fun!

2008-09-15T06:50:00.000-07:00

Well, since I've last blogged, we've gone from 6-0 to 7-1. We lost a tough one to Okaw Valley and then beat Arcola on Saturday.

I was worried about Arcola, as I heard they were pretty big. Turns out, those are the older kids, and they didn't have too much size to worry about.

The boys played well, and I don't think Arcola was ready for our speed.

We don't have a game this week. Due to Homecoming events, we're only practicing Tuesday, and giving the kids the day off on Thursday.

We only have 3 games left in the season!

IVS Half Marathon Relay.

2008-09-07T18:24:00.000-07:00

Jeremy, John and I all made the trip to Peoria to run in the IVS Half Marathon and Relay. John is training for the Indy marathon, so he ran by himself.

The morning started out on the chilly side. The relay runners waited in the shade. Jeremy rounded the corner and finished up in about 54 minutes. He warned me about the hills, so I went out cautiously.

He wasn't kidding, the first hill was a downhill as soon as you left the park. It was followed by an uphill that never seemed to end.

The course went thru a cemetary, but you were too tired to be worried about ghosts.

I trudged along, taking Gatorade at every opportunity. Finally, I was on the home stretch, rounding the corner for the clock and mats. "IS THIS THE FINISH?" I yelled to the volunteers. 'Nope, about another 80 yards.' they hollered back. I was a bit spent, but gave it all I had.

John beat the both of us, and ran a strong race.

6-0, here we go!

2008-09-07T18:22:00.000-07:00

We ventured to Bement to take on South Piatt yesterday. I felt much better about this game than I had the previous one.

Our defense was tested early, with the Wildcats completing a nice pass, and a nice running play, that had us backing up.

After that, we held them, and the defense never broke. They didn't score the entire game.

The offense came to life with some nice runs and a nice pass here and there.

We won 24-0.

Tag, you're it!

2008-09-06T05:08:00.001-07:00

Tomorrow, I will participate in my first-ever 1/2 marathon relay. Jeremy will be running the first part, and I will bring it on home. Niether one of us wanted to cover the full meal deal, so this will be just a bit longer than a 10K.

I've rested for most of this week, after my legs told me I should.

John and I are carpooling to Peoria from Lincoln. After a health scare turned out to be a false alarm, John decided that he wanted to run the race. Unlike us, John will run the race...ALONE!

Rumor is, this will be a challenging course, and we will be running past dead people!

Is "Bement" what you meant?

2008-09-06T04:38:00.000-07:00

Today, we make the exciting trek to scenic Bement for football. I feel much better about today's game than I did about Wednesday's.

Due to weather, the boys didn't have practice on Thursday. There was also an open house at school. Wet and muddy kids and an open house didn't really sound like a good idea.

I don't know much about Bement (South Piatt). I do know that the weather is supposed to be cloudy and 75. That sounds great.

If we should win today, we will guarantee ourselves a winning season!

Double your pleasure, double your fun, double your overtime!

2008-09-03T20:25:00.001-07:00

It was not pretty. It was a rainy night on a half lit field in Clinton. Our boys played their tails off for 2OT's...and WE WON!

There were probably 10 fumbles in the game tonight...most of them ours. But, the defense stopped them when they had to, and the offense got the extra point when it needed to.

These kids are going to send me to the hospital!

5-0!

8 Month Mileage Update.

2008-09-03T11:20:00.001-07:00

My running is going right on schedule. My monthly goal is 60 miles. I break that down to 15 miles per week.

I calculated up my miles, and it's scary how RIGHT ON my mileage is. I mean, I'm exactly where I need to be.

I have some races coming up, so I'm trying to increase my nightly runs by a little bit, so I can be ready for the distance.

What a Maroon!

2008-09-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

Tonight, we head to Clinton to take on the Maroons.

This is our team's first night game and first away game. Plus, we could see some rain and/or storms.

4-0.

2008-08-31T19:34:00.001-07:00

My team is now 4-0. The boys continue to amaze and astound with their play.

It was a hot one against Villa Grove today, but we managed to beat them, 12-0.

I was proud of all my kids. My son had a great game.

I think my forehead got sunburned.

Beer update.

2008-08-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

I bought Shiner Bock the other night. I drank one after my run, and was underwhelmed. There had been a lot said about how great Shiner was, but it just didn't do it for me.

Since I bought a 12-pack, I guess I'll drink it. Perhaps it will grow on me.

Friday Night Lights.

2008-08-22T09:32:00.000-07:00

Well, almost.

Tonight is the 'Meet The Storm' at the high school. I will be announcing and the boys will be scrimmaging, etc. I put together a new opening for the boys to run out to, I hope they like it.

We had sort of a crappy practice last night, and there are reports of a player quitting. I'm not sure what that's all about, yet. We play Central A&M tomorrow at 2:30.

I just got tickets to see Frank Caliendo at UIS. He's a great impressionist. I might even get a chance to meet him before the show. He sounds like a nice guy.

I was lazy and didn't run last night. Boo, me!

Beer Night.

2008-08-20T13:34:00.000-07:00

I think I will hit Shop 'N Save after work and buy some beer. I looked in the garage fridge this morning, and noticed that I'm getting low. I'm pretty sure I'm down to about 6 Buds, one Miller Lite and one bottle of St. Pauli Girl Dark.

I'm not certain what I will buy, but I'm in the mood for something other than what's in the fridge.

Overall, an okay night.

2008-08-20T06:17:00.000-07:00

We had our rag tag practice last night. Most of our team was with Coach Greg in preparation for tonight's game vs. Decatur Catholic.

Coach Mike lined up the offense in the wishbone. We want to take advantage of some of our big hitters, and run them as dual fullbacks.

After going over some offense, we did a blocking/tackling drill, a fumble drill, then sprints and let them go home.

Sadie and I enjoyed a nice 3.2 mile run afterwards. I gave my legs the night off on Monday, to recoup from the 10K. They felt pretty good last night.

Back at the football thing.

2008-08-19T12:41:00.000-07:00

After having Sunday and Monday off, we are back at football tonight. Our 5th graders are prepping for a game vs. Decatur Catholic tomorrow, so our boys will be with Coach Greg.

Therefore, we will have a motley crew to assemble and do drills, etc. with. Tonight also begins our 'school year' practice schedule. We will practice twice a week...Tuesday and Thursday.

I was pretty lazy last night and didn't run. It was a really nice evening, too. I spent some time cleaning up my Intrepid as I don't have my demo car anymore. However, I have it on good authority that someone is working to rectify that situation.

Today I mailed three race applications. Fall is always my busiest running season. Two trail runs, and the Shoreline 5K in Decatur. You may recall that I actually WON AN AWARD at the Shoreline last year. w00t!

Football Update.

2008-08-17T20:12:00.000-07:00

My JFL team is now 2-0. Last week, it was a 6-0 OT victory against Macon Meridian. Yesterday, it was a 6-0 OT win over Warrensburg.

The defense was spectacular! I put in my son at noseguard for the goal line defense, and we stopped 'em on about the 6-inch line!

So far, 'The Cardiac Kids' are hanging tough! They are a ton of fun to coach.

Yes, the Gatorade does taste better when you win!

48:16!

2008-08-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

It was a beautiful morning for the Abe's Amble at the IL State Fairgrounds. Jeremy made the trek over from Champaign and we carpooled from my house.

We got there early enough for Jeremy to get in his pre-race dump and pick up our packets.

My number for the event was 1045. For those of you that know, that's pretty cool.

It was still really nice at the start of the race. The event was chipped timed, so we had to tie a chip to our shoelaces. It was small, and I forgot it was there.

I started out pretty well. I wanted to try and run the race in 48 minutes.

I heard the first time barked out at mile 1, "7:45"! I was right on target, I mean RIGHT on target. So, I was feeling pretty happy.

The rest of the race went well. I didn't pay that much attention to my watch. I set it to count down from 48 minutes, instead of a stopwatch mode.

I took water everytime it was offered. It began to sit a bit heavy at mile 5.

As the miles wound down, I looked at my watch and knew I would have to pick the pace up to reach my goal. My legs felt pretty good, even as we re-entered the fairgrounds for the final sprint.

I looked at my watch as we passed the "6" mile marker. It would be close!!

I did my best to get a finishing kick going, but just didn't have enough in the tank. I felt like I might hurl, so I eased up a bit.

I crossed the finish line at about 48:21. But, this is a chip timed race, so my time was 48:16. A new P.R.!

Jeremy finshed up in about 51 minutes and we headed over to refuel and have a cold drink.

I gave him the scenic tour of the "I", and we enjoyed a few beers in my garage before he headed east.

Overall, I felt very good about my performance. This is a tough course and the SRRC people did a wonderful job with the race. I haven't a complaint.

On the field!

2008-08-07T07:47:00.000-07:00

The boys got their first taste of the football field last night, as we ran a few plays vs. the bigger kids. We just found out that we have to kickoff and kickoff return at our games. Last year we didn't, so we threw our team out there.

I'm proud of our guys. They took some hits, but gave some back, too. I think if we can keep the mental mistakes down, we'll be fine. We have two more practices before Sunday's game. I'm excited and nervous.

It was pretty nice after practice. I put on my ultra geeky headlamp, grabbed the dog and away we went. I felt very strong and confident last night. I ran just over 4 miles. I could have done more. It was a 100% improvement over Monday night's run.

Whether the weather...

2008-08-06T09:16:00.000-07:00

So, football practice was a hot beast on Monday, with gnarly heat index values in the triple digits. Last night, we got about an hour into practice when the rain and lightning cut practice short.

Since my run on Monday was a crapper, I decided to rest last night. The weather is better today, so I will try to hit the asphalt tonight.

I'm officially running Abe's Amble. The check is in the mail, as they say. I'm trying my best to get Jeremy to run it, too. He's pretty fast for an old dude, so he will probably beat my time...handily.

Sweat from my...

2008-08-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

Okay, the last week has been crazy.

Football is going full blast, and work has been busy, too.

Plus, I've been lazy. I missed my monthly goal by 3 miles. I could have reached it, but again, was lazy.

August and September will be a mad dog.

Blow the Whistle.

2008-07-30T06:58:00.001-07:00

Last night was my second as a coach for my son's football team. I had worried all day about the heat and humidity, but by the time 5:30 rolled around, it was cloudy.

About 90 minutes into practice, the weather rolled in from the west. There were some nasty clouds! Once the lightning began, it was time to call it a night. Plus, the kids were freaking out.

Tonight will be the first night of full pads for the lads. I think they're ready to hit each other!

Running the soreness out.

2008-07-29T06:50:00.000-07:00

Last night, around 9pm, I hit the streets. My legs were still quite sore from Saturday's softball experiment. However, I needed to get in some miles, so off I went!

The first mile or so wasn't pretty. I could feel the stiffness in my quads and hammies. After a bit, I felt things loosen up, and eventually, I began to feel almost normal.

Even with my jaunt to Las Vegas, I'm still really close to getting my monthly mileage goal for July. I'm happy about that.

Softball did this to me?

2008-07-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

We had a tournament in Illy on Saturday. We played two games at 6pm and 8pm. I cannot believe how sore I am today. My hips, quads and obliques are all sore. I feel like an old man.

As I sprinted from third to home, I felt my left hammie start to cramp. I've not had a leg cramp since the 2006 Chicago Marathon. Pitiful.

Back from Vacation, etc.

2008-07-28T08:30:00.000-07:00

We had a nice time in Vegas. I can't say enough about how awesome Ellis Island Brewery and Casino was. Their beer is good, and $1 for a 20 oz. draft. They have a hefe, stout, light and my personal favorite, amber ale.

Their steak dinner special is the 'worst kept secret' in Las Vegas, just ask for it. $6.95 for a steak, baked potato, veggies, and a beer! LOVED IT!

We stayed at The Flamingo, but spent most of our time at their pool.

Vegas has changed so much in 13 years, it's hard to fathom. It does appear that the town is going away from the 'family destination' scheme, back to sex and gambling!

The visit to The Hoffbrauhas was a bit of a letdown. First of all, there's no longer a free shuttle to the Hard Rock from Caesar's, so we had to cab it. (Haus is across from Hard Rock.) The place is pretty cool, and the beer is pretty good. The food was pretty meh and overpriced. Overall, cheaper than a trip to Germany for Oktoberfest.

I had a good time, and there's no way I'd take kids out there. There's too much smut, you can't avoid the Mexicans trying to hand you cards featuring nearly-naked chicks and phone numbers to order prostitutes to your room.

Allegiant is having a special to Vegas, you can get free airfare for your guest when you book a trip for two. (hotel and air) www.allegiantair.com The offer ends at the end of the month.

It was 'hot in the city'....er village.

2008-07-18T06:31:00.001-07:00

Like a dummy, I took off about 5pm for my run. I tried to be smart about it, filling up a water bottle and my water belt and hitting the road. I had a bandana around my head, plus a cap.

I took off down Matilda Street, my water and ice jostling with every step. Sadie stopped to pee about three times in the first .3 of a mile! Overall, things weren't going too badly.

We continued our jaunt through town, and out to the country. There was a breeze, so that did help matters. I could feel an occasional drip of cold water on my right calf.

As I turned onto a stretch of road that is a straight mile, I opted to take the shortcut and turn home at .3. I was hot, but I just felt an overall tired feeling.

We headed home, and I put Sadie back on her tie-out. Then, I took a long drink from the water bottle, caught my breath in the shade, and took off again.

I headed into the sun and back through most of my old neighborhood. My goal was to at least get in 3 miles. If I didn't, I couldn't have any of the Anchor Steam Beer I had chilling in the fridge. Hey, we all have to be motivated by something!

So, I made it back home, and after rehydrating, found out I had done nearly 4 miles. Needless to say, I was happy.

I grilled some chicken breasts, and had a few Yuengling's, then the Anchor Steam. I liked it.

Good Luck to Jeremy!

2008-07-16T08:53:00.000-07:00

I want to wish my buddy, Jeremy good luck this weekend. He's really trying to punch his ticket to Oregon with a good finish at a triathlon this Saturday.

Rumor has it, if he qualifies, he will reward himself with...

ICE CREAM TREATS!

Genghis Khan on the grill.

2008-07-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

We went to Sakura in Decatur again yesterday afternoon. It was my daughter's call. My wife had the lady make her a fresh dish on the griddle. I guess it would technically be a , 'Mongolian BBQ'? Anyway, I was so jealous of hers, I had the dude make me up a plate, too. Add some eggs, chicken, shrimp, carrots, etc. It's the only way to fly.

Besides, the sushi didn't taste too good, I'm not sure why.

We then ventured back to the pet store to get a new hermit crab, as one of my daughter's had died within the 14-day warranty period. The new one is named, 'Bubby'.

Speaking of pets, I think my son's gecko, Leo is not feeling well. I don't know shit about lizards, but the dude just seems pretty listless. Time will tell.

I did manage a run after we got home. My stomach felt heavy. It was not one of my better runs. I was sweating like a ho in church. Not pretty.

At least the humidity is down.

2008-07-15T06:52:00.000-07:00

After I spent two hours mowing the lawn, I decided to get out and get in a run. I left about 7:45, and ran into the sun.

Since it had been a few days since I had a decent run, I took off at a pretty good clip. (at least for me) I felt pretty good until the incline on the interstate overpass on the way home. I'm pretty sure I needed some fuel. So, I cut the run short and just did a 3-miler. I should have done more, but I wanted to eat and have a Yuengling.

The good/suprising news is, I'm on track to meet my monthly goal. Hopefully, I will get my ass in gear and turn it up a bit.

Bright Lights, Big City.

2008-07-15T06:51:00.000-07:00

Well, we finally went and dropped the hammer on a Vegas trip. Yup, it's off to The Flamingo. This will be our first time in Vegas since our honeymoon in 1995.

Caught in the downpour.

2008-07-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I got home from work and attempted to sneak in a run before the rain. Sadie doesn't like storms, so I put her in the garage, grabbed my cap, and sped off down the street.

The air was very heavy, and I tried to keep an eye to the west, as I knew the weather was coming.

All was going well, until I ran past Old Route 36. Then, the sky opened up, the wind picked up, and I was being pelted by wind-driven rain. It actually kinda stung!

Luckily for me, I only had to run into the rain for a bit, then I ducked down the alley and the wind and rain pushed me home. I snuck thru my neighbor's yard, then slipped into the house.

After ditching my wet clothes in the washing machine, I trotted upstairs to get a shower. I noticed that my wife wasn't home, but that really wasn't too surprising.

Once I got dressed, I started putting away some laundry, then I heard my wife yell from downstairs. She was happy to see me, but mad that she had been out looking for me. My phone was downstairs and on vibrate, so I didn't hear her call me...several times. Oops.

I must admit, running in the rain for the final stretch was sort of fun. It was only 3 miles, but it was an adventure.

Sunday run.

2008-07-08T06:53:00.000-07:00

Oh, after a day of drinking with my cousins, I got up about 8am on Sunday, grabbed Sadie and headed for the country.

It was already pretty warm, so I was glad I managed to drag my sorry self out the sack and hit the asphalt.

We did the 'country square' route, but I was feeling pretty good. So, I figured we'd add a bit more. So, we trekked thru the old neighborhood and back home.

The run was just over 4 miles, and I felt good. Perhaps I should drink heavily the night before my runs...maybe not.

Please, growl at me.

2008-07-08T06:47:00.000-07:00

I am now anxiously awaiting some very tasty beer from Lincoln, NE. I phoned the in-laws with my order and they should have it here by tomorrow night.

I got my first taste of Empyrean's 'Super Nova' when we dined at Lazlo's. I really liked it, but it's not available in anything but draft. ('tis a seasonal beer) So, I left with a six of Third Stone Brown.

The good news is, you can get the beer, 'to go', in a 'growler'. A 'growler' is bascially a big ass bottle. The shelf life is very limited, so I just might have to down it all tomorrow night!

Premier Bank 5K.

2008-07-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

What a lovely morning it was at Nichols Park in Jacksonville. I was actually chilly for a bit when I picked up my race packet! CRAZY!

One cool thing about this race is, there's an EMI Records plant in Jacksonville. So, everyone got a CD in their race packet! Here's mine!

FEATURING HITS BY FERGIE AND GOOD CHARLOTTE!

Anyway, I ran okay, a bit faster than last Saturday, but that's to be expected with no hills on the course. My time was right about 23:00.

All is well.

2008-07-04T08:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, my faith in humanity was restored, as I found many Tootsie Rolls at Dollar Tree! I cannot express how happy I am about this!

This is bad.

2008-07-03T12:41:00.000-07:00

The wife and I ventured to Decatur yesterday after my 4-miler for a supply run and to eat at El Rodeo.

As I usually do, I started craving dessert after my tacos. So, we went to Dollar Tree. My wife knew it was because I wanted Tootsie Rolls, but I told her otherwise.

So, we strolled in, and I went right to the candy aisle....NO TOOTSIE ROLLS! Surely, I had missed them! But, after scouring the aisle and enlisting the help of my wife...NO TOOTSIE ROLLS! We asked an employee, it sounded like someone had just bought the last of them!

Today, I will give the Dollar Tree another chance. I will hit the location closest to work and see what I can find.

This is seriously bad.

A cold brew with a buddy.

2008-07-01T08:19:00.000-07:00

Big thanks go out to 'Scoot the Toot' for brining me back a case of Yuengling. This is a beer that you can't get in Illinois. He grabbed some for me in Tennessee.

While I was only available to enjoy one with Scooter, I plan on having a nice 'sit down' session with a few of these babies, and probably a steak on my plate, too.

It's been a good few weeks with new and/or different beers!

Some Vacation Pictures...

2008-07-01T08:11:00.001-07:00

This was the brewpub, adjacent to Lazlo's. They make some really good beers. Their 'Super Nova' summer common beer is wonderful.

This is the pint of I.P. A. before I downed it. Very tasty, plus it was 'happy hour'!

Oh, those Nebraska jokesters! The menu at the Nebraska Dairy Store has been played with!

This fine fellow was looking at us looking at him at the Omaha Zoo. They have a wonderful gorilla exhibit. Cool creatures!

Back from Vacation.

2008-06-30T12:15:00.001-07:00

We journeyed to Lincoln, NE to see the in-laws for a week.

I managed to get in two runs, and 5K on Saturday. My time was okay, 23:34-ish. It was a fairly tough course at Pioneer's Park.

Hopefully, I'll have some pics to post in the near future.

Low humidity is a good thing.

2008-06-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

I had a decent run yesterday after work. While the temperature was around 80, I had a breeze and the humidity was down. I was amazed at how overheated I wasn't getting as I ran shirtless on Niantic Road.

Sadie was 'dragging tail', so I left her at home and after completing my first leg, took off for another. I knew I needed about 5.9 to reach my weekly goal, but didn't have quite enough in the tank for it. Total mileage was 5.6 miles. I'm at 50 for the month, which means I'm ahead of schedule.

On a different note...there are two cats hanging around my house. I don't know where they came from, but one was in my garage this morning. I think Sadie is failing, no way she'd let them hang around if she knew they were there. Alas, the old girl is 11 years old, an old woman in dog years.

Fair thee well.

2008-06-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

The Sangamon County Fair began today in New Berlin. The real excitement gets underway tomorrow when Little Big Town takes the stage. I like LBT, and think they will put on a good show.

Friday night is Kellie Pickler and Blake Shelton. This should be a fairly rowdy time! Friday night, coupled with great weather and two nice acts.

Saturday night is the legendary Randy Owen. Of course, Randy is the longtime vocalist for Alabama. Should be a wonderful show.

We have a V.I.P. tent to the right of the stage. Should be some cold beer and good grub. It sounds like the weather will be incredible. Last year, I found some Stag in the beer truck, so that was an added bonus! (Coors Light is the beer in the grandstand.)

The 'doing it' is the thing.

2008-06-16T16:07:00.000-07:00

Today after work, I came home and ran. I find that when I do that, I really can relax and enjoy the rest of my evening.

There was a pretty good west wind out there, and I was not looking forward to running into it. I took off to the east with Sadie. I could feel the sun and wind on my back. As we worked our way thru town, and eventually out of town, we got less protection from the wind.

As we got out into the open, I really found the wind refreshing. When we headed back west, and we were running right into it, I didn't mind!

At one point I found myself thinking about my time, then almost immediately, shutting that thought down and rebutting with, 'the doing it is the thing'. That is, being out and running, moving forward, that's it. It's not about negative splits or racing, just about doing it.

Today was one of those runs that was unexpectedly good. I don't know why. It was just nice to be out there and feeling steady.

When I got home and GMapped the route, I had done 6.4 miles! Pretty good!

Oh, the new Moto 5's arrived today.

Father's Day.

2008-06-16T06:29:00.000-07:00

I had a great Father's Day!

After sleeping off a short night/afternoon of drinking, I managed to get in a run before church. I did about 3.7 with Sadie. It was about 8:45am when I hit the street.

The kids had woken me and gave me an ice cream maker for Father's Day. Plus, I was given a 'Napoleon Dynamite' card that played a bit from the movie. It was cool.

After church, we headed to El Rodeo for some grub. Then, we hit the mall quickly, and then took the kids to see, 'You Don't Mess With The Zohan'. Now, this is not a movie that I was dying to see. The kids had been excited about it, so we figured, 'why not'.

'The Zohan' was basically 2 hours of dick jokes. There were some funny moments, and it was odd to see boxing announcer Michael "Let's Get Ready to Rumble" Buffer in an acting role. Overall, this was not a movie to take kids to see. There were way too many sexual references. Save your bread, and just rent the DVD.

The day ended with a family bike ride, having some homemade ice cream and playing catch with the baseball. Overall, it was a nice Father's Day. I'm lucky.

Rice, rice baby.

2008-06-12T08:25:00.001-07:00

Here's a great article about ASICS' special shoes, made with rice husks. American Olympic Marathoner, Ryan Hall wants a pair.

I think I'll stick with my Max Moto 5's.

Just when I needed them!

2008-06-11T13:54:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon an ebay auction for some Nike Max Moto 5's last night. The last pair of these I bought from Runner's Warehouse for about $50. So, I was prepared to go at least that high for this pair.

The auction was ending while I was at work, so I knew I'd have a chance to get them. I watched and pulled the trigger a bit early. Since there were no other bids, I got them for $41. Yes, that includes shipping and handling!

Overall, I'm pretty stoked with this deal. My Moto's are my favorite pair of shoes and they have over 140 miles on them. It's nice to have this pair ready to go!

Summertime sandals.

2008-06-11T07:04:00.001-07:00

I think I have discovered that while I like to wear sandals in the summertime, I don't like my toes exposed. I'm not sure what it is, but I guess I'm wierd like that.

So, my journey began to find myself some 'covered toe' sport sandals that didn't cost an arm and a leg. I know Keen probably made the first pair of these, so I was after a copy cat brand.

My search led me to Kohl's, where I pulled the trigger on some Kamik sandals for $27. This wasn't a huge bargain, but I was okay with it. Actually, I grabbed some at Wal-Mart initally, but they made my feet sweat.

After bringing the Kamik's home, I decided that I didn't like the ankle strap. So, you guessed it, I took those back, too!

I found some on ebay for $24, and so far, so good. They are Nevados brand, which I'm sure are not top of the line. They will be my go to shoe for most of the summer.

Let me see that Tootsie Roll!

2008-06-11T06:46:00.000-07:00

I got in a run last night after getting back from having some sushi, etc. at Sakura in Decatur. The kids decided they wanted Chinese, so I was more than happy to oblige. We had never been to Sakura before and it was a pretty nice place. From the outside, it wasn't that impressive, but once inside, it was nice.

They had a very large selection on the buffet. I had some sushi and some of their General's chicken. The chicken, while good, didn't taste like the Tso I know. It was okay, and tasted more like teryaki. The sushi was okay and the wife and kids enjoyed their food. I had some vegetable mai fun for the first time, it was okay. Of course, I had some soft serve for dessert.

We toodled around the mall and got some new shoes for the kids. Plus, a stop at Dollar Tree to secure some big Tootsie Rolls for me.

Once I got home and the tummy had settled, it was time to lace up the Nikes and hit the road. The weather was really nice. The humidity was down, and it was getting close to sunset. I headed west, to do the 'over the I-72' route with my dog. I was pretty tired after yesterday's run, but my body felt a bit better this time around.

Sadie and I ran the first part, then I left her at home to get in the final part of the run. I knew I wanted to get in some more mileage, so instead of turning around at my .4 spot, I ran down by Stub's house, turned around and headed home thru town.

As I am want to do, I immediately went to GMaps and found out I had done nearly 6 miles. I was pretty happy with that.

I had a post-race Tootsie Roll and watched, 'Workout'. I know how to have a good time.

In praise of the swoosh.

2008-06-10T09:40:00.001-07:00

There are many people who like to talk smack about Nike. I am not one of them.

Growing up, I was never a big Nike fan. I was into hip-hop and adidas ruled my world. I had some black adidas high tops that I loved. In fact, I had a little ceremony and burned them after I had worn them out. My wife (then my girlfriend) was there for it.

Let's jump ahead 20 years or so, and I'm loving the swoosh. Nike's Dri-Fit products are top notch. I currently own about 5 pair of Nike Dri Fit running shorts and I love them. You can add a few Nike Fit Dry shirts, caps, and of course, Nike shoes.

Nike first made their money from selling running gear, and while they've expanded into just about everything, they still make damn fine running gear.

Nike's Traning Log is what I've used for years and I love it.

I have also had great luck with Nike Customer Support. In the times where I've had trouble with my traning log, my e-mails were answered very quickly. I can't say that about other companies I've tried (underscore 'tried') to contact.

The swoosh is fine by me.

Which shoes to choose?

2008-06-10T07:08:00.001-07:00

Running is a simple sport. It does not require much equipment. However, since I'm not an African or some barefoot kook, I wear shoes.

I love shoes. Shoes are an obsession of mine. I'm on ebay every day, several times a day, looking for bargains on shoes. The most I've ever spent on a pair of running shoes is $60. I did this twice; once for some Asics online at Finish Line, and once for Nikes from the Employee Store in Oregon. That's the highest I'll go.

My current workhorse shoe is the Fila Flow Providence III. I got these on ebay for about $30. They remind me a bit of Pearl Izumi's in the forefoot, as it fits like a slipper. I like these shoes, and they are comfortable. The only downside to these is the concave heel, which is a magnet for rocks. I have had to remove rocks from these shoes quite a bit.

I have other shoes in the closet:

-Reebok Trinity KFS

-Nike Max Moto 5's (my favorite shoe)

-Asics 2110

-another pair of Filas (different model, but Flow series)

Right now, the Nike's are my 'race day' shoe and the second shoe in rotation. I figure I'll burn out the 'bargain' shoes and keep my 'premium' shoes for racing.

Give the brother some room!

2008-06-10T06:55:00.000-07:00

I don't ask for much in this world, but a little space is appreciated. One thing that really pisses me off is when cars crowd me on the road.

We only have one main drag in my little town. I always make sure I'm over as far as I can be without falling into the ditch. Most times, cars will move over. I try to acknowledge with a wave, thumbs up, or some kind of, 'thank you'. However, sometimes when I'm really gassed, or I'm really trying to focus and finish strong, I don't. I think most people understand.

However, this phenomenon is not limited to Matilda Street. I also run along Dye Road, which goes past the I-72 overpass. There's a good number of people who will give me some room. This is even more important, as many of the Curry semi trucks travel this road, and the speed limit is higher.

So, drivers, give a bald brother a bit of wiggle room!

Of raining and running.

2008-06-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

The weather in Central Illinois has been crazy. I can't remember when we've had so much rain so fast.

For me, the biggest culprit has been water in the basement. The poor sump pump just couldn't keep up with the rush of rainwater. Overall, we were very lucky. Many people had a lot more basement water, and flooded yards.

I think we dodged a bullet over the weekend and yesterday with the weather. I don't think we got nary a drop since I got home from work yesterday. That's fine with me.

Summer Racing Schedule.

2008-06-10T06:43:00.000-07:00

I finally made myself sit down, fill out the forms, sign the checks, put on a stamp and mail some race forms.

Sadly, since I work nearly every Saturday, finding races to run is very difficult. So, since I have some vacation coming up, I pulled the trigger.

Upcoming Events:
-6/28, Lucky 7 Run, Lincoln, NE
-7/4 Premier Bank 5K, Jacksonville, IL
- 7/26 Mud Mountain XC 5K, Edwardsville, IL