Tahoe Relay

A number of years back I was driving around scenic Lake Tahoe and I saw a trickle of runners on the road. Gradually, I pieced together that it was a relay around the lake and I thought to myself, "I HAVE to run this one day!" So, when Cameron invited me to join his team this year, I jumped at the chance. 

Quick Facts:

• When: Saturday, June 13.
• The legs: The relay features seven legs between 8.5 and 12.3 miles long.
• Total distance covered: 72 miles.
• Average finish time: about 11 hours which equates to about 9:10 per mile.
• Where: It starts at the southern most point of the lake and proceeds counterclockwise around the lake. 
• Participants: Usually there are about 140 teams who participate.
• Aid stations: None
• Traffic control: None--but at least the shoulders are wide...no, wait. 

I scored the first leg which starts at 7:00 am and runs down the strip through the casinos 9.6 miles before finishing at Zephyr Cove. It's early in the morning, a short leg, and relatively flat with a downhill finish. Just the way I like it. Anyhow, everyone's talking about running very fast and I'm not so hot with my training right now (again). I'm going to try to get a little speed out of my fat legs next week and then run easy into the weekend. Stay tuned.

Back to the wheel...

On the road again...

After a brief post-Boston hiatus I'm back on the road this week with
two runs at Land Park. I'm happy to report no aches or pains from any
of the ailments which hampered my training for Boston.

Endurance running is a hobby for me, but it's an obsession for others.
I follow a couple of running blogs and I one of the guys just ran the
Ruth Anderson 50K and then the Boston Marathon two days later. I
thought I was doing well to finish two minutes ahead of him at Boston
until I realized that was because he paced his 67 year old father the
whole way (a 3:45 marathon @ 67, wow). But that's not all, the
following weekend the ran a sub 3 hour marathon @ Big Sur and capped
it all off with the Miwok 100K last weekend. That's 144.5 miles of
racing in 15 days. Freak! :)

Like I said, it's just a hobby for me, but there's a small part of me
who wants to do that too...

Back to the wheel.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Boston Photos

I took my photos, Joe’s photos, and some race shots from the Internet and created a video to recap the Boston weekend in about four minutes. YouTube shrinks the video, so the pictures get a little pixilated, but you can get the idea. After reviewing my photos, I can think of a thousand shots I missed. I’ll get those when I run Boston with my brother. :-)

The blog truncates the picture, so you may want to view it on YouTube.

Thought from the plane

I'm on the plane back to Sac and thought I'd peck out a couple of thoughts from the weekend.

What went well:
-Travelling with Joe. He's a great travel partner. I'd do it again in a second with him.
-Catching a Sox game. Even if I DNF'd the marathon, the trip would have been worth it just to sit field-side for the game. It was THAT fun.
-The people of Boston. They are amazingly patient and kind. Their city gets overrun with out of towners annually for this event. They tolerate our bumpkin invasion with a smile and a sense of humor.
-The marathon. It really is a must for any runner. If you qualify, you HAVE to go. No excuses!!!!! (More specifics to come)
-Hooking up with Carlos at the Expo. I think he had been up for at least 30 hours at that point.

What needed improvement:
-The "T." Boston public transit is called the "T." It's a network of busses and subways the spiders through the city. It's great once you get the hang of it, but it's a nightmare to figure out. The instructions and routes are convoluted at best. How is a guy from out of town supposed to figure out if he needs the "inbound" or "outbound" subway. The marathon should provide better instructions to participants and the "T" needs to make it easier to use. Really.

Special thanks to:
-Frances and Abby for being understanding, patient, and supportive of this little endeavor. Despite what you think, we know it's a HUGE inconvenience.
-Lino Cedros for keeping the wheels on this 40 year old machine.
-Joe for making the plans.

On the ground and deplaning. Gotta run. More to come.

The prize...

I don't have the time to list the experience right now, but suffice it to say that anyone who can run the Boston Marathon absolutely MUST do it. MUST! It's amazing.

AT&T Athlete Alert

Event Information:
Event:	113th Boston Marathon 2009
Runner:	Eric Norton
Latest Results:
Location Time Pace/mile 10km 0:51:28 8:16 Half-Marathon 1:48:24 8:16 30km 2:35:10 8:19 Finish 3:43:23 8:31

All times are unofficial. Times may vary in post race official results.

AT&T Athlete Alert

Event Information:
Event:	113th Boston Marathon 2009
Runner:	Eric Norton
Latest Results:
Location Time Pace/mile 10km 0:51:28 8:16 Half-Marathon 1:48:24 8:16 30km 2:35:10 8:19

All times are unofficial. Times may vary in post race official results.

AT&T Athlete Alert

Event Information:
Event:	113th Boston Marathon 2009
Runner:	Eric Norton
Latest Results:
Location Time Pace/mile 10km 0:51:28 8:16 Half-Marathon 1:48:24 8:16

All times are unofficial. Times may vary in post race official results.

AT&T Athlete Alert

Event Information:
Event:	113th Boston Marathon 2009
Runner:	Eric Norton
Latest Results:
Location Time Pace/mile 10km 0:51:28 8:16

All times are unofficial. Times may vary in post race official results.

Now THAT is a line.

Better not be an emergency!

In line for a bus...

Joe and I are in line for a bus at Boston Common. We've been up since 4:00 am and the race doesn't start for almost 4 hours. Groan.

Calf feels good. All fueled up. Two hours of sleep.

Sox Win...

Legs pooped. Public transit, the expo, the game, and marching around Boston have the legs a little wobbly. Gonna grab some food at the hotel and watch a movie.

And we're off...

...Like a herd of turtles. Joe and I are at the gate getting ready to tour the lower 48 on our way to Boston: Sac to Phx, Phx to Charlotte, Charlotte to Boston. Aside from Joe getting a body cavity search from TSA, no hitches so far.

I'll leave you contemplating a 9 hour flight with a fully hydrated bladder. Please, no turbulence.

The Witches Brew (Patent Pending)

The following is an email from my brother. We're both big Hammer Nutrition fans and we've been experimenting with a cocktail of their products perfectly balanced for our marathons. Here's the latest iteration...

I don't think the world is interested in the "witches brew", so here it is for you. In a small mixing bowl combine:

1 single serve of Perpetuem
2 single serve HEEDs (use the unflavored)
4 single serve Hammer Gel
Just enough water to help the mixture into two Hammer Flasks (possibly 2-3 oz.)

Stir the stuff up and pour it into (as stated above) two Hammer Flasks.

No foam, froth, or gas of any kind.  As one flask emptied, I filled it with a little water and it freed up the rest of the stuff.   I thought I was going to give the flask to Mary when I saw her on mile 19, but I started to fill the empty flask with water, which worked out really well.   This gave me water when I wanted it as opposed to waiting for the water stops.  My body was very happy with that decision.   I'm in love with hammer flasks!!!!  Also, I was very happy that, for once in my life, I gambled on my race strategy for the marathon and it worked out VERY WELL.

Boston Weather and Some Thoughts on Mustard...

I got in five around Land Park this morning and had almost no pain in the calf. What does "almost" mean? It means that, while it didn't hurt, there were a couple of times when I could feel my calf wanting to knot up. Why it "wants" to knot up is a mystery to me. Lino really helped it out last night. Now all I have to do is keep it loose until Monday. 

The temp on the run was around 43 degrees which mirrors what I anticipate for Monday's run. It gave me the confidence to choose appropriate apparel for the run. Which is O so important! If the Weather Channel is correct, we're looking at low to mid 40's, cloudy, and a chance of showers during the run so I'll take gloves, arm sleeves (AKA tube socks with the toes cut off), and a couple of different hats to fit the situation.

I'm going to stop by a fast food restaurant on the way out of town and stock up on yellow mustard. It turns out that yellow mustard packets combat cramps. Apparently, it's a combination of the mustard, turmeric, and the vinegar that make it a great cramp buster. We'll see. It's a good think I like mustard.

Last visit to Lino

I'm face-down on Lino's treatment table right now with electrodes on both calves. Yeah, I'm confident. :)

After talking with Lino, I'm guessing I'm not the sole Boston runner to receive treatment. If I knew who they were, I see if we could pool funds and fly him out with us.

Time to get the rest of my fun.

Hair Removal

Okay, so I've already established that I scream like a girl. I saw fit to prove it once again. We also know I've had some calf pain and that I've been willing to do just about ANYTHING to make it go away: compression socks, somatic treatments, new shoes, stretching, etc. In that vein, I thought I'd try the Salonpas pain relief patch (It's a topical analgesic). It actually worked pretty well...that is until I took the little patch off. Now, I'm not a furry guy. In the fur o'meter, I'm about about a three (one being Mr. Clean and ten being Yeti-esque); however, my legs are a little more harry than the "three." Anyhow, I ripped that sucker off and had a carpet for a hamster (see enclosed pic). Ouch.

Other news: I went to Lino on Friday after the calf got cranky on my Thursday run...not good. I then got in two 8.5 mile runs this weekend with only modest discomfort. One week to go before Boston. It's gonna be a bumpy ride.

Back to the wheel...

5 on the strip...

Where else can you get a 5 mile run and see Miss USA contestants and the Stanley Cup?

Oh, and the legs feel great. I got a deep tissue massage at the hotel yesterday.

The Hamster is off to the tables. :)

Oh Happy Day

I ran 10 this morning. I must admit that it seems longer that it should and slower than I'd like. Other than that, all was good. <eye roll>

The good news (I think) is that I found my Garmin!! Yeah!!! Of course, the reason I added "I think" is that it will now confirm how pathetically slow I really am. 

The Hamster is headed to Las Vegas for a few days...I'm not entirely certain it's going to help my Boston training any. Of course, it's all shot anyway, so I'm off!

Two-a-day workout

Well, not really, but sort of. :-) I ran 5.5 last night and 5 again this morning. Again, no pain. This is significant because I ran on two consecutive days. Now I know, with the marathon a scant 20 days away you're thinking, "So what?" Okay, so am I. But it is significant in that I was able to do it and not aggravate any of the nasties. Given the litany of ailments in the last two months, I'll hail two runs in two days as a small victory.

In other news, 650 runners will mass at CalExpo pre-dawn this Saturday to run the American River 50 (AR50). 200 of them will be first-time ultra-runners. Good luck to you all!! Of special note: Gloria Takagishi (63) will be running her 30th AR50. If she does, she will be the first person to finish the AR50 30 times. Truly amazing.

5.5 on a Monday Night

The last few days have been a wee bit on the windy side. It's become common place to see for home "for sale" signs wizzing through the air...not to mention copious amounts of pollen. <achoo> Anyhow, the wind broke late this afternoon and I took advantage of it by getting in 5.5 in the park today. Again, everything felt good, but I'm still nervous to pile on miles or give it some gas.

Three and counting...

I'm up to three pain-free runs and counting. That's the good news. The bad news is that I'm out o shape. The best I can hope is:

A. I gain some unfair competetive advantage from finding a harmonic rhythm to the jiggle and my pace. Think "Perpetual Motion"

B. I obtain an anti-gravity suit (though none are listed on e-bay or Craigslist at the moment).

C. I accept that I'm going to feel like I'm running through waist-deep, wet cement for 26.2 miles and wimper as runners from the 30-minute-delayed second wave overtake me.

Special thanks to Cameron Yee for meeting me midday on Saturday for my "long" run and for tolerating my pace. 

Back to the wheel...

Three Runs, Two Pain-free...

Forgive me for I have not blogged. It falls into the category of the advice given to Thumper by his mom, "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all." The last two months have been punctuated by foot pain (right) and calf pain (left) and, rather than grouse about them ad nauseum, I chose to remain silent...well, as silent as I can be.

Serendipity

So, after multiple visits to Lino (AKA the miracle worker) I strapped on the shoes and went for a run on Saturday morning giving myself nothing better than a 40% chance of completing the run without another blowout. I "warmed up" (euphemism for "walked") to Land Park and ran into Kris Levy and her running partner Sharon Saltzman and begged them to let me tag along. Kris is a regular in the Sacramento half-marathon scene and Sharon is a veteran of multiple marathons (Chicago, Marine Corps, etc.). As I hobbled to catch up to them, I felt my calf getting chatty and my hopes of completing the run, not to mention going to Boston, were at an all-time low. Once I caught up with them and backed off the pace, my calf loosened up. Thank God. I was relieved to have someone to talk with during the run so I could take my obsessing mind off my calf. We meandered through Land Park and Miller Park for about five or six miles (longer than I wanted to go) and it felt great. From this run I found my Boston pace and gained confidence that I might actually make it there in one piece. It was pure luck that I ran into Kris and Sharon and boy am I glad I did. Had I not, I would have picked a stupid pace for my Saturday run and surely blown something out. I'm smart like that. :-)

Since the Saturday run, I've contiued my strengthening regemine and had two pain-free runs. Heck I'm almost optimistic.

Boston

I got an email from the Boston Marathon this week talking about a new feature: text tracking. All you need is my bib number (8599) and date of birth (4/5/1969) and ATT will text my progress to your phone from the start, 10K, half, 30K, and (if all goes well) the finish. Of course, my approach to this run is, "Start out slow and back off from there." So, expect there to be a wide range of splits and a LONG time between texts. I'm going to see if I can get them posted to my blog as well.

Chocolate Milk

At the risk of sailing off the edge of the Earth, I want to talk about Chocolate Milk as a sports drink. That's right: chocolate milk. There's an increasing body of work extolling the benefits of Chocolate Milk as a sports/recovery drink. I know my two daughters enthusiastically embrace this school of thought. Anyhow, I'll stick with HEED and Recoverite, but it's certainly interesting. Has anyone experimented with this?

Random Thoughts on Anger Management

Sacramento DEFINATELY needs a smash shack. Who's in?

Back to the wheel...

The Black Knight of Marathons

Okay, so we all know that my right foot has been giving me fits trying to get ready for the Boston Marathon. Thankfully, I've been going to see Lino and he's worked wonders. Thanks to Lino, I got in two solid weeks of training (stop laughing) and began to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Unfortunately, that light was an oncoming train and it arrived in the form of a seized left calf. Is it too early to call marathon a trian wreck...sorry, I couldn't resist that one. Anyhow, Lino made room for me yesterday and really gave my calf just what it needed . 

So I get up, put what's left of my dignity in my pocket and head for the door when I run into local running stud Andy Harris. I've always been happy that Andy is usally in the "next" age division. Andy had blown a wheel and was there to have Lino fix him up too.  Suddenly it dawned on me. As I approach 40, I no longer have my running reunions on the trail, they're in the office of my somatic practitioner (translation: guy who repairs old runners). With all of the ailments I've experienced leading into Boston, I've become painfully aware that I'm not 20 or 30 anymore. I've been bouncing from one ding to the next. This is certainly new to me. I'm staying confident that I'll complete the marathon, but there are days when I feel like the Black Knight.

Eight is Great!

I ran eight miles this weekend. Of course the pace sucked. I started on Saturday morning and I don't feel like I finished until Sunday. But the good news is that my bum wheel held up!

Random thought: Now, most of you know that I love NPR but this morning they kinda pissed me off. I was listening to NPR Morning Edition this AM and they ran a story on how media failed to report more vocally/persistently on the risky investing practices which, in part, led to the current economic crisis. Essentially, they were saying that media fell asleep at the switch. NPR immediately followed up the "call to arms" with a story on "Barbie turns 50." Huh? Way to answer the call NPR. 

Two runs on the repaired wheel

I'm in Lino Cedros' office awaiting my next treratment and thought I'd use this opportunity to update my progress.
Since my last treatment, my foot feels much better. I've had some other aches an pains pop up, not "bad" pain. I think it's a result of body parts shifting and two runs after three weeks off.
The runs went better than I could have hoped. My feet feel stable and pain-free. Initially, I was overly conscious of my foot, aware of every little noise it made. But over the last few days, my foot feels so normal I've stopped thinking about it altogether; a good sign. 

I can see!!! I can SEE!!!

Okay, so blindness was not my particular issue, but that's how I felt when I left the office of Lino Cedros today. The man is nothing short of a miracle worker I'm back on the road for Boston!!!

Here's the situation, I've been moaning about plantar fasciitis for way too long. Suddenly, over the weekend, I decided to call a Somatic Practitioner I've heard rave reviews about from neighbors, fellow runners, and the gang at Fleet Feet: Lino Cedros from Kinections. Luckily for me, he had a spot open this morning at 9. 

I arrived and quickly scanned the joint to see what I was getting myself into. The facility occupies the bulk of the first floor of an office building. It's wide open (no walls) with the exception of four treatment beds (think massage tables) along the wall partitioned by those hideous hospital curtains. The middle of the space has bench seating and the rest of the facility is strewn with a ton of exercise equipment: two nautilus machines, leg press, barbells, yoga balls, etc. 

Lino is a short, stout man with a quiet voice, firm handshake, and a no-nonsense approach. His style is to view the body as a system and pain as a symptom. He does not treat symptoms, he treats the root causes which feed the symptom. Read on. We went through a quick Q&A and some movements to help him diagnose the issue. His first statement after this was, "You don't have plantar. You have a muscle problem."  Essentially, it all comes down to relaxing my big toe...which naturally starts with my hips, right? Er..right. Wait, you lost me. Lino went through a few exercises with my legs to demonstrate the limited range of motion in my right foot/leg versus my left. I was alarmed by the difference. So Lino set to work loosening the leg. And when I say "loosen" I mean inflicting eye-watering pain into my hip flexors, IT band, calf, and foot. By the way, in case you weren't aware of this, and I know I wasn't up until 9:15 this morning, I scream like a girl. 

After the Maquis De Sade, AKA Lino, finished "loosening" my leg he gave me a couple of stretches for home and asked me to walk/run around the office. I'll be darned if my foot didn't feel better. It felt relaxed and noticeably more stable. I can SEE!!

Eric: "Can I run?"

Lino: "Run. Go, run, run all you want."

Eric: "Really?"

Lino: "Yes, really, you'll hurt in some new places because we've 'loosened' things up. Come back on Friday, but run all you want between now and then."

I apologized for screaming like a girl and the fingernail marks in his table, paid $75, set an appointment for Friday and left. Now I need to work, but I'll go for a run tomorrow night and let you all know how it goes. 

Keep you fingers crossed, but it looks like I'm back on track for Boston...albeit a slow one.

Oh, and file this under the category of "learn from my mistakes." If it hurts, don't think you're a Somatic Practitioner and self-diagnose. Go see someone who knows what he's doing. I lost over three weeks of training trying to self-treat my self-diagnosed ailment. Don't do the same!!!

Back to the wheel...

Strassburg...

No, not Strausburg as in France, Strassburg as in, the sock. Read on...

I fanned the run this morning. Partially because it's raining, partially because of the extra glass of wine I had last night, partially because I went to bed late last night, and mostly because my friggin foot hurts! Yes, plantar is getting worse. So I made a trip to Fleet Feet yesterday and procured a Strassburg Sock . If you're looking for something sexy, then you're goin' the wrong direction with the "sock." This bad boy was designed to speed the healing of Plantar Fasciitis. Essentially, Plantar Fasciitis is heel pain (just in front of the heel) caused by micro tears in the tendon connecting the heel to the ball of the foot. At night our feet point and the heel tries to heal. However, the healing occurs with the foot in an pointed position and the plantar fascia contracted. So, when you get up in the morning, you stretch the plantar fascia and undo the healing process (think stitches ripping out). The sock keeps the foot at a 90 degree angle to the leg so that the plantar does not contract, heals in a normal position, and stretches lightly overnight. 

Anyhow, I now own one and tried it last night. My foot felt better (thought not all better) this morning. Stay tuned for more updates.

Back to the wheel...

5 in the LP

The thermometer read a brisk 30 degrees this AM. BRRRRRRRRRRRRR! It's a good thing I forgot my long sleeve shirt. That said, the bank robber hat I purchased a couple of weeks ago really kept the dome warm. Popular believe is that the "typical" head holds 13 - 16 percent of the body's blood and accounts for up to 30 percent of the bodies heat loss (cite). Of course, with a dome the disproportionate size of mine, I could safely up that to 40 percent. :-) However, with the hat on, I actually felt very comfortable. It seemed more like a balmy 40 degrees.

Anyhow, I got in five and ran into long-time friend Grietje Reuter. She's not training for any runs right now, but she wants to swim across Lake Tahoe this summer. I told her she was crazy to which she replied, "I'm a large Danish girl...cold water doesn't affect me." Power to the Danes, once again proving that I am a big sissy. :-)

Back to the wheel...

Boston Logistics

Joe was kind enough to take care of booking the flights and hotel for the Boston trip. Here's the itinerary. We'll be on US Airways (hopefully landing at Logan and not in the water). The trip out will be a little brutal with two transfers and only 30 minutes to spare with each. Gulp! We'll be staying at the Logan Airport Hilton.

Sacramento (SMF) to Phoenix (PHX)                       04/18/09              12:32 pm - 2:20 pm

Phoenix (PHX) to Charlotte (CLT)                              04/18/09              2:50 pm - 9:39 pm

Charlotte (CLT) to Boston (BOS)                                04/18/09              10:09 pm - 12:11 am

 

Boston (BOS) to Phoenix (PHX)                                 04/21/09              6:25 am - 9:18 am

Phoenix (PHX) to Sacramento (SMF)                       04/21/09              9:51 am - 11:52 am

Los Altos Hills Fun

I wish all of my runs were as much fun as this morning's jaunt through Los Altos hills. Abby and I are in the Bay Area for a Red Egg and Ginger party so I got up to sneak in a few miles before we headed out for the morning. I'll run through the pics to give you an idea of the fun.

Moffett Field: Here's a pic of Moffett Field. I snapped this shot from the deck of a McMansion under construction. No one was there, so I thought I'd take advantage to get a good shot...okay, and peak through the windows. The construction crew will show up this morning to drool and nose prints on the sliding glass doors. Sorry about that. Of note in the McMansion: the 10 foot wide fireplace and the laundry room with a view...as all laundry rooms should. :-)

Coyote: I've seen this guy a couple of times but I haven't had the BlackBerry with me to snap his pic. Like all coyotes, he's a little camera shy, so please forgive the bad pic.

Here's a shot of yours truly with San Jose in the background. I stood on a guarrail to get this pic and caught the attention of a dog with "super bark" capabilities. His bellow caused me to lose my balance and fall off. Smooth move. Speaking of dogs, shortly after this pic, I came by another McMansion with a McLong McDriveway. The owner needed his newspaper at the foot of the driveway, so he opened the door and his dog ran dow and picked it up. Now THAT is a cool dog!

Sunrise Over San Jose: well, the caption about sums this pic up. :-)

Mountain On Fog: I liked this shot because you can see across San Jose to the coastal range rising above the fog. I thought is was cool and snapped the pic.

Land Park 6

I got in a quick 6 with the new shoes. I'm always amazed at how good new shoes feel. When I'm in the old shoes I think to myself, "They're not that bad, I could get another 300 miles out of them." Then, after only a few steps with the new shoes <pause for heavenly music> I realized that my old shoes cushioned me poor feet as well as wooden clogs. There's never a wrong time for new shoes...er, unless it's the day before a marathon.

I'm hoping the nagging twinge of plantar goes away and I'm pinning those hopes to the new shoes. <fingers crossed>

Busy day, back to the wheel...

Land Park 10 and some other stuff...

Here's the dirty, got in 10 with Joe and Carlos on Saturday. They're both in great shape while I resemble an amorphous blob. I titled this the Land Park 10, but in reality we went all over the place: Land Park, Pocket, along the river, Miller Park, to the edge of Old Sac, through downtown, and back to the park. Oh, I forgot over the river and through the woods...oops, wrong blog. 

Boston Update: Joe booked our flights last night, I'll post the info as soon as I have it. 

Shoe Update: with the specter of plantar and Boston less than three months out, I decided it was time for a new pair of shoes. I love the Brooks Defyance! In them, I was able to train for a marathon and, for the first time, not lose a single toenail. (pause for a collective EWWWW! from non-runners and a collective REALLLY?!?!?! from the runners) :-) So I ran over to Fleet Feet on Saturday and picked up the latest edition, the Brooks Defyance 2. So far, the only difference I notice is that Brooks decided to drop bile green as the color choice. I'll let you know more after my first couple o runs.

Back to the wheel...

Boston Registration Closed

It's official, all 25,000 spots for the Boston Marathon have been filled. So, if you were on the fence, you'll have to wait until next year.

http://www.bostonmarathon.org/BostonMarathon/Registration113th.asp

Thug?

So, should I avoid my bank wearing the hat? I don't see it? :)

Ran 5 around Land Park on this chilly AM. I felt the specter of plantar for the first mile. Stay tuned for hopefully no more info on that little issue.

Back to the wheel...

New hat

Ok, I've been whining about the cold so I went to REI and picked up a hat to give me some motivation to get out of my warm bed pre-dawn. (Pic to come...of the hat, not the bed) I love it. It fits my oversized melon...and that's saying something. Usually one-size-fits-all it about two sizes too small for my dome (Think of an orange on a toothpick...yeah, it's that bad). Anyhow, it's one of those black, skull cap, beanie-type, fleece hats. Warm, wind resistant, water resistant...or so it says. It's a great running hat.

So I threw the new find on last night and Abby D pops off with, "You look like a robber." Whatever. Shake it off, it's still a cool hat. Right? Then my girls see it lying out and ask me to put it on...you look like a robber daddy. Doh!!!!! Oh well, I'm not wearing it to a bank anytime soon, but it'll be on the dome for sure tomorrow morning. :)

Back to the wheel...

Easy 10 To Discovery Park...and a Muffin Top

I dragged my carcass out of bed the morning to run 10 miles at 6:45 with Stephanie. She's a very, very talented runner and it took all I had just to hang with her. My lack of training is taking it's toll on my svelte physique. As I strolled past a mirror this morning, I couldn't help but notice the jiggling muffin top spilling over my running shorts. I need to lay off the good eats and add some more miles to my week.

Speaking of good eats, I spent the afternoon at a child's birthday party which featured a better selection of food than most inaugural balls. So much for cutting back on the calories. Anyhow, one of the featured events of the party was a Dora the Explorer pinata. I the kids tore through poor Dora like sharks in a feeding frenzy. I almost felt bad for the pinata. Once they were through Dora looked like she was taken out by a vicious mafia hit. We rolled what was left of Dora up in the outdoor carpet and dropped her in the river. 

The Water Soluble Hamster

The good news, I'm sticking to my upper body strengthening regimen. The bad news, the much-needed rain we've had in Sac over the last few days has sapped my diminutive resolve to get out of bed and run (think jaws of life). Sissy.

More good news, Mike's marathon photos were posted and there's actually a good photo of him. I think most marathon photographers must have on their resume, "Laid off as DMV drivers license photographer" before they're "qualified" to shoot runners. Great. Seriously, the photo is good. The bad news, the guy in the photo with Mike looks like he just took a bullet in the back...is he race walking?

http://www.asiorders.com/stf.asp?EVENTID=44488&PWD=&ID=61051528

Back to the wheel...

Catching up

Okay, I've been off the blog bandwagon for a bit. Here's the catch up.

Saturday, I ran seven with Rob. He's been a real sport about trekking down from Folsom to the LaBou on Howe Ave most Saturdays to get in a long run with me. So I figured I'd reciprocate...Okay, so one trip is hardly reciprocity. Anyhow, I met Rob at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery (Mile 22.5 on the AR Parkway) for the run. Good fun. Rob, you have my permission to whine about the drive down from Folsom...not that you need my permission to whine. 

Sunday, Mike ran the RNR Marathon in Scottsdale . Yeah buddy. 4:23:26 (about seven minutes ahead of his goal time)

Tuesday, five around Land Park. Not much to note...brrr.

Back to the wheel...

Jack Frost Nipping at Your Nose...

...and ears, and fingers, and toes, etc. It was a frosty five around Land Park this morning. I felt like every joint in my body seized due to the cold. Of course, it's -40 in Minnesota today, so I can't complain too much.

Speaking of weather, mi hermano  runs the Scottsdale Rock and Roll Marathon this Sunday. He's done an admirable job getting back into shape and, thanks to two bouts of stomach flu in seven days, he's down to 188 pounds. He's been training in great weather (duh, Arizona in the winter), but there's a warm spell headed his way which threatens to send the mercury up to 75 on the day of the run. 75 is great for golf, but less than ideal for running 26.2 miles. The typical marathoner hopes for mid-40s and cloudy on the day of the run. It will be interesting to see how the flu-impaired training and warm weather impact the run.

Back to the wheel...

How do you train for Boston during January?

You fly to Hawaii and run in 70 to 80 degree weather. That's how. Cameron (left) and Carlos (right) have been on Oahu and have whole heartedly embraced the island lifestyle. In a recent email from Carlos he proclaimed, "My new motto.. Life is a bitch so, why not go to the beach instead." Nice.

All I can say is...where's my coat, I'm late for a meeting?!

Back to the wheel...

 

How Running Marathons Made Me a Sissy

It's true! Running marathons has made me a sissy. I used to run around dehydrated, malnourished, and hungover without a problem. Then I started training for marathons. Stupid! As I got in better shape, I began to eat better (lest I pay the price of an urgent need for a restroom), I began to take supplements (to offset the readily apparent effects of aging), and I began to properly hydrate (to make my runs easier and recover quickly). The net effect is that I've created a hyper-sensitive system...yes, the sissy. Now, if I eat wrong, my sissy tummy grumbles. If I drink too much...defined as anything more than one sissy drink, I get a sissy hangover. And, if I don't hydrate properly...even when not training hard, you guessed it, I get a sissy dehydration headache. So, I ask you, what is the upside to training for marathons? I think we're better off eating junk and drinking too much. Our body acclimates  to the adversity and mutes all of our "normal" responses. Hence, we live a happier life. Yes, I know this conflicts with the my post extolling the benefits of exercise but it's my blog. :-)

5.6 around the park

Ok it's time for me to get off my lazy butt and take Boston seriously. I just got through with 5.6 miles around the park and it felt like 10. Of course, staying up late last night and a large order of Vegas Fries didn't help any. What are "Vegas Fries" you ask? They are french fries tossed in buffalo wing sauce and served with a blue cheese wasabi sauce. I still can't feel the tip of my tongue. :)

Back to the wheel...

Why Exercise?

Why do I like to run? No, why do I LOVE to run? Because I find exercise tremendously rewarding. I feel more alert and somewhat more sane when I exercise regularly...the voices in my head are not the topic of this blog. :-) Where was I? Oh yeah, the benefits of exercise. I stumbled across this article in the Scientific American (Jan. 02, 2009) which corroborates what those of us who exercise regularly already know: reduced cancer risk, reduced risk of heart disease, increased bone density, increased sex appeal...okay, so I threw the last one in there for the heck of it. Anyhow, I highly encourage you to read the article. 

 

http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=does-exercise-really-make

 

Back to the wheel...

 

Boston Marathon Entry Confirmation

It’s official! The Boston Athletic Association confirmed my registration today for the 113th Boston Marathon. Oh S##T!! The email is listed below.

________________________________

Dear Eric C. Norton,

This is to notify you that your entry into the 113th Boston Marathon on Monday, April 20, 2009 has been accepted, provided that the information you submitted is accurate.

You can verify your acceptance into the field by searching the 113th Boston Marathon "Entrants" database on the B.A.A. web site, www.baa.org/2009/cf/Public/EntryLists.cfm. Additionally, an acceptance postcard will be mailed to you via US Postal Service mail.

In early April 2009, an official Number Pick-up Card and extensive information regarding the B.A.A. Boston Marathon and related race week activities will be mailed to you via US Postal Service first class mail. If you do not receive your Number Pick-up Card (required to claim number) and brochure by April 11, please contact our Registration Office at registration@baa.org. Registration related inquiries may also be directed to 508-435-6905.

Note that bib numbers will not be distributed on Race Day. Your travel arrangements should take into account picking up your number at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston on Friday, April 17 from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., or Saturday, April 18 or Sunday, April 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

We look forward to seeing you in April! Best of luck in your training!

Sincerely,

Boston Athletic Association

Wet 5

I woke this morning at 5 am and realized that there was no way I was going to get back to sleep. Apparently, the snooze feature on my mind has malfunctioned. So I got up, threw on some running gear and figured I'd make the most of being up early by getting in a few miles. I opened the door and was surprised to discover rain! I've been in a fog since going to Napa this weekend (go figure) and have not paid any attention to weather forecasts. Oops. Oh well, I pulled the hat down and headed out. I was hoping for a slow five, but I ran into Austin and my pace suddenly took a turn for the faster. We caught up on the last month and talked about upcoming runs. Austin has family in Solvang so he wants to run the Santa Barbara half later this spring. He figures 1:05 or 1:06 will win it and he wants the $700 in prize money, watch and two magnums of wine...he seemed most interested in the wine. :-) Good luck Austin. 

Back to the wheel. 

Land Park 8

I got in 8 with Carlos, Joe, Cameron, and Strada. We met at Land Park at 8:30 and had no idea about how far we'd want to go...my favorite kind of run. It was really cold (around 34 degrees plus wind). Yes, I know that there are many places where "cold" means 30 below, but this is Sacramento and 30 degrees is cold enough for me. We did a couple of laps around Land Park and then headed to Tower Cafe and back. 

On the run we discussed Boston logistics. Of course neither Carlos nor Joe have registered yet. Assuming they get in, Carlos and Cameron plan to stay with a friend in Boston. If Joe decides not to go with the fam, then he and I will make it a low-budget affair: cheap hotel, short stay, no frills. If not then Abby and I will make other arrangements. Luckily airfare is coming down ($400 round trip per person) but it's still hardly affordable. I really want to run Boston, but I also really DON'T want to go broke doing it!

Back to the wheel...