Surprise Surpise!!!

I was pleasantly surprised with my performance at the Suncoast Half in Lakewood Ranch yesterday.  I went into the race not expecting much and planned to run nice and easy at a 10 to 10:30 pace.  I lined up a little behind the 9 minute pace group at the start and was feeling fairly well, so I decided to stick with them as long as the legs felt fresh.  After about 5 miles I was still feeling fresh, I looked at my heart rate and surprisingly I was below 80% of my max, so I decided to pull ahead of the pace group and go it alone.  It was also at this time that I started to realize that I really needed to use the facilities!!!  I tried to think about anything but this new urge to wet my running shorts during the remainder of the run by concentrating on my breathing and using straight lines along the course to make the run as short as possible.  I almost stopped around mile 10, but a fellow runner beat me to the lone Porta Potty by mere seconds.  At this point water/Gatorade stops were no longer an option, due to my earlier liquid consumption that was seemingly about to come full circle and no doubt not as tasty this time on the way out.  Even with the bladder issues I was able to maintain a 8:50 pace for the next seven miles.  The final mile I managed to run an 8:30 pace, get a medal, and use a near by Porta Potty just in the nick of time.

Suncoast Half Marathon: 13.1miles, 1hr. 57min., 8:53pace, 1751 calories, 81% max heart rate.

In closing, this is half was among the best organized that I have ever participated in. The weather was perfect, close parking, awesome course, and the after party had a great spread, including cold beer.  A definite must do for local runners. I'll more than likely be back in 2014!!!  Run In Peace!!!

Looking for Answers!!!

A few questions that are stuck in my head that I feel like sharing in no particular order:

1. Why is my running partner getting faster each day, while I seem to get slower?

2. For that matter why is he losing weight, while I gain?

3. Is it possible to have a head wind in both directions when bike training?

4. Are the 3 available lanes, not counting the bike lanes, not enough room for a 2012 Mercedes at 5 A.M?

5. Does said Mercedes and or SCAT bus driver need to blow their horns while bumping my elbow on the way by?

6. Do all 10 year old boys know all the words to Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You UP"?

7. And can they dance FIERCELY to it?

8. Despite my 245 frame, am I completely invisible to all cars during my morning runs? You know who you are Lexus couple this morning that I slid across your hood "Bo Luke" style!!!

9. Should I let my wife, children, and all my friends know about my secret girlfriend?

10. Even if it's Mante Te'o late fake girlfriends sister?

Run In Peace!!! 

Promises Promises

Bless me blog land for I have sinned.  It has been one and a half years since my last check in.  If you don't believe me just look at the post below... Feel better now you doubting pr&#ks???  In that post, if you bothered to read it,  I promised that I would right something every week.  Well, I feel a little short so Back Off O.K!!!  I also was about 13 pounds lighter then.  Once again don't Judge!!!  For a wise man said, "those of you that live in fat houses, cast the first doughnut", or something like that.

Enough, I digress... The reason I have returned is to attempt to live up to the  promise I made a year and a half ago.  I have a new set of goals and I will share them with you now.

Running:  I plan on running 2 or 3 half marathons and 3 or 4 full marathons this year.

Halfs--- Lakewood Ranch, Sarasota and the Dirty South Half in Knoxville TN

Fulls--- Mammoth Marathons (in Idaho and Utah), Chicago and possibly the Dirty Double in Knoxville TN

Other--- Ringling Bridge, Keys 100 and I'm sure some Tri's

Thus far I'm only signed up for the Mammoth Marathon, which is going to be an exciting challenge for my fat ass!!!  The Mammoth Marathon takes place around Bear Lake, which is bordered by Idaho and Utah.  So on Friday I will running 26.2 miles around the Idaho half of the lake and on Saturday I will be enjoying the views along the 26.2 mile Utah side.  That's right folks 2 marathons in 2 days.  Convenient Huh!!!

Biking: Twice a week!!!

Cross Training: Three times a week!!!

Blogging:  Once a week!!!

Weight:  I want to get down to the teens.  Which for me means somewhere between 211 and 219!!!  That's only 34 pounds!!!  Secretly, I would love to get close to the 200 range. I'd also like to be a male prostitute, unfortunately I don't see that happening either!!!

Well I did folks!!! I completed my first blog of the year.  Pretty painless for me, very painless if your still reading!!!  Oh Well!!! High Five!!!

Run In Peace!!!