Still Kickin'.

I haven't fallen off, just fell off writing and keep track of my treks.

I've recently signed on to do the DFW Marine Mudrun and so have peppered my runs with weights which has been liberating. I've had to pull back my running and will not be planning any marathons or anything else within the next few months as I have a little one who is almost here, so that's where my concentration will lay. Maybe at the beginning of the new year I can start looking to longer races, until then I'll stick with a half (maybe) and the occasional 10k here and there as I don't want to venture too far from my home as of right now.

If I'm lucky, I might be able to finagle my significant other into training after she's ready. I'll keep my fingers crossed on that one.

Cause He Can't, He Won't and He Don't Stop.

It's getting easier. The main loop of of the trail was inundated by runners, training in the weeks before school I'm sure, stretching out those legs that had gone a little comatose over the summer break, but damn there sure where a lot of them. Lucky for me, as I turned off onto my usual route the gazelle count dropped considerably as they were all corralling themselves behind.

Ten miles down on paper, going into it I had my head held as high as my expectations, and I did not disappoint myself. Up until today I've been training with a 5 min run to 1 min walk switch off. The last five miles I changed it up and went for a 10 min run to 1 min walk switch. I was expecting to feel sluggish, tired, and as if the 10 min would drag. Running farther and longer actually made the run feel shorter. I'm going to see if I can switch to 10 to 1's on my training days and leave the 5 to 1's for my recoveries.

Tomorrow I start to include a little cross training with my recovery runs and off days. A little mountain biking will definitely add a little spice and fun to my weeks.

What would YOU do for a Kondike Bar?

First thought as I walked into my heavily air conditioned apartment from the trail, "Holycrapneedwater." Never mind that I'm officially back up to double digit mileage I just didn't feel like celebrating any mile stones at that moment. The heat wore me down the last 3 miles, multiply that with what started as a decent breeze early in the morning that become a constant hot wind, and that water was not my stomaches' friend and quickly vacated after every sip, and we have a good ol' time in the Texas sun, I tells ya! After a week or two I should be alright, it always takes my body a little extra time to recalibrate itself to the unrelenting heat.

After I took a shower and got some cold fluid in my system (as well as a Klondike Bar boo-ya!) I felt better and was able to actually see that, indeed, I had run 10 miles. My pace was good, water intake could be better, but over all it was a good run. My shoes will probably need changing out soon as I could feel every single rock today, and noticed it more as I began to wear down, so that's someting to add to my to-do list over the weekend.

I've never actually realized just how much grime I accumulate as I run. Before heading inside, I take my shoes and socks off at the front door and the majority of the time I see mud or dirt that's stuck to my legs, but today it looked as if I was sporting dark brown tights.

Moonlit Paths of Brushy Creek

Today I stepped back onto the trail following a week long sabbatical. The low mileage of the previous week aided in the feeling of euphoria straight out of the gate.

It was 5:30ish once I stepped outside. The moon was 3/4 full and helped give the dirt of the trail a faint glow against the black of the trees surrounding it. I kept my iPod off just to hear my breathing, footfalls, and the animals in the brush that I startled with all my constant noise. My flashlight mounted on my water bottle, cut through the dark and made every shadow larger and created a run that was eerie but exciting. As I got closer to the 183 cutoff of the trail head, the steady swath of cars of the busy highway swam on the night air and sounded more like a ghostly being. I ran hard, and loved every minute of it.

I explored the break off trails, the ones made of wood instead of dirt, but sadly they only lead to neighborhood entry points, nothing too exciting. Though, the views from the entry points were a nice change. The 183 cutting through the green of the trails and the surrounding hill country. A gray ribbon going on into the distance.

Slithery Serpents Startling Sidewalkers

Brushy Creek trail, where I predominately do all of my training during the week, is right across the street from our apartment. It consists of a half paved half dirt trail that goes for 3.2 miles one way of paved, and at least 6 the other of dirt (I haven't run it all the way to the end in that direction yet to get an accurate mileage, but that's going to be resolved this weekend). The majority of the trail is in the shade but can grow pretty damn humid as there is also a creek that it follows. There are a few offshoots that I've seen from the paved section that consist of woodchippy like paths, but I haven't checked those out yet (that's for tomorrow mornings run).

Along the sides of the paved section of the trail, for about three to four feet on either side, there's grass and hard packed soil (thank you Texas heat) before the treeline starts. Usually, the grass is anywhere from ankle to just below knee high. Running through it is a simple pleasure, especially during early morning runs when the grass is still wet from the night before.

Recently, The Powers That Be, mowed all along the sides, which wasn't a big deal, until I began to notice just how many snakes I've been missing. All this time I've been truckin along in utter bliss of the slithery suckers that have been just beside me. Normally I don't mind, coexisting with Mama Nature ispart of the package, but when I step up on a snake at the last minute and it's as thick as my wrist and as long as my arm, then I have a few issues.


The second snake of note that I ran into was farther down the trail. Some walkers had stopped about 10 feet from it and were looking and pointing in it's direction, they were so transfixed on the sun bather that they were startled when I was almost upon them. Normally I take an ear bud out on such occasions just in case, and as I did they warned me. "You should stop and let him get off the trail, he might jump at you."


After a lenghty discussion where I tried to explain that he might be hanging around for a while as he was taking in a little sun, I just gave up and grabbed the longest stick I could find and nudged the little (I use that sarcastically) guy off the trail.


The remaining miles went by without as much excitement, but it was nice to play the hero and this definitely boosted my mood for the duration of the run.

The Ever Graceful Gazelle

"Gazelles are widely known for their speed, and being able to maintain it over long periods of time. They tend to live in herds and sup on soft foliage that is easily digestible."

Svoosh, svoosh, svoosh, svoosh.

Can you hear it? That's the sound of a gazelle either coming up on you from behind or coming just around the bend. Now let's multiply that by four or five and you have what I heard all morning long. As they run by, with feet that NEVER seem to touch the ground, they talk to each other about their speed, pace, and what their secret workouts are for keeping max VO2, they scare neither a woodland creature as they seem to run in harmony with all around them. All while keeping that insane pace.

TWHOP! svoosh TWHOP! svoosh TWHOP! svoosh TWHOP! svoosh TWHOP!

How about that? Tell me you can hear that, right, everything else sure as heck does as I can hear them running in fear through the trees? Now that's what I sound like. I'm what you call a Clydesdale. I gave up on

the speed game years ago, trading it in for ever building endurance. When it comes to my speed, it doesn't matter so long as I stay vertical. Pace? Uh, this side of an hour. Secret workout for max VO2? LOOK A SQUIRREL!

Caution: Cuddling Can Prove Catastrophic

Got home and started the usual routine of sneaking into our bedroom to dig out my duds in the dark without rousing the lil lady. Now, I know I could just leave my gear in the guest bathroom the day before and bypass all the tiptoeing, but she'd rather know I made it home and that I'm headed to the trail, no loss of sleep on my part. That is, except when cuddling is required before I go.

Fast forward 35 minutes. I'm under the blankets in a frigid dark room, snuggled between her and our two dogs, that generate body heat equivalent to two small ovens, and quickly drifting off to sleep. Dragging myself out of bed was just a bit difficult. It was made easier as she began to kick me out since I missed my long run Sunday, and she wanted the bed to herself a bit longer. She can be so suportive when I need it most.

Warming up the the dirt took a bit, a little longer than the usual mile. Once things got under way I drifted along just fine.

Gear wise, today was the inaugural use of my new Quickdraw water bottle. It was nice having some water on the trail and not worrying about actually cumbersomely carring a bottle with me as this system straps to the hand. There's even a little zipper-pouch so I could stow away some extra gum (it gets overly hot and soft in my shorts' pockets) and a Crystal Lite or two. Next on the list is to replace my old Camelbak with somthing that doesn't jostle around as much.

530am

(From Saturday, 25 July 2009)

Another morning of mileage behind me. For a full hour I had the trail to myself. Well, mostly besides the deer that scared the living scat out of me. Just coming over a hill to watch the sun rise over the horizon continues to remind me why I enjoy being on the trial. The solitude can be scary at times, but the sound of my foot falls has mind numbing qualities that nothing else can compare to. Tomorrow I have my mind set for a three hour run. Here's to getting up early, packing the ol' Camel with water and some trail mix, and hitting the dirt.

"Great Pace!"

(From Thursday, 23 July 2009)

Thank you unknown biker on the trail today, you made my morning. As she zipped by in a flash of green bike jersey and red hair, she called over her shoulder, "Lookin' good! Great pace!". I hadn't noticed passing her earlier but I must have.

Remember, even if they don't wave back, even if they look at you funny, there's always that one person who's having a bad run/bike/swim, who's wondering why their putting themselves through hell in the first place. A little word of encouragement goes that extra mile in helping that person realize they are not alone on the trails.

Rock on mystery biker!

Why haven't I thought of this before?!?!

(From Tuesday, 14 July 2009 )

Running = r = Good.
iPod = i = Good.
Comedic podcast = c = Good

(r + i) * c = WTFOMGTHISROCKS!!

Now I know the bonuses of some good adrenaline churning tunes, and their counterparts, the thought-numbing soothing sounds of the seventies when added with running, but who knew that laughing, (YES, laughing) would be a step in a differant, and maybe better (?), direction?

Will definately have to experiment with this more often on my longer runs as maybe the thought used to follow the rantings and stories that my favorite podcasters spew are actually taking my mind away from the pitfalls of my harder runs.

On the negative side, I think I may have been a bit TOO oblivious as I'm worried about misstepping and potentially spraining (if not, God forbid, breaking) an ankle.

Here we go again...

(From Tuesday, 07 July 2009)

50 here I come!!Researching training programs and future races during offtime at work is always exciting.

Tomorrow I start again, with that golden carrot of a 50 miler not far in the distance. This will be my second attempt at the distance as the last time I trained for something this big it ended in a severely swollen knee and the advice to stay off running long distances (longer than 50 miles a week) for a few months. If my math is correct, I should be expected to start sweating the big day sometime in September, with a marathon or two thrown in between now and then for good measure.

This time I plan to go at a slower pace, listen to the creeks of my body a little closer, eat more pb&h ban-agels, drink a LOT more water, and enjoy the trails a little deeper. I CANNOT wait to lace up my runners in the morning.

-Mannie