My nose = your business

Here's me passive-aggressively sticking my nose into your business ...

I know a lot of folks who have signed up to run their first half marathon at Fort4Fitness, which is awesome. I also know that several of those folks have been a bit lax in their training. I feel compelled to say something because if you don't get on the stick, your lack of training is going to bite you in the butt.

Depending on your training plan, you should be running about 20 miles a week with a long weekend run of 10 miles or so. If you've been letting it slide, don't just jump right into the schedule where you should be. Consult a running coach (there are several in the area that donate their expertise to help beginning runners). It's not too late to be prepared for F4F, but that window is rapidly closing.

I'm saying something because I want this experience to be a triumph for you. I'd love to hear your name called out over the loud speaker at Parkview Field and see you cross the finish line with your fists in the air and a look on your face that says, "I am a beast!" Keep your eye on the prize and train like your health depends on it.

If you need guidance to get back on track, ask.

That is all. Please resume your day as I pull my nose out of your business.

Another bite of the apple

Ever since finishing my first marathon (May 31, 2014), I've been thinking about what I could have done differently.

I finished, so that was a victory, but I bonked fairly badly as well. I was hoping for a time around 4:30, and I was a little ahead of that pace through mile 20. I finished with a 4:56.

If I remember correctly, miles 15-19 were through a park, alongside a river and mostly in the shade. I was feeling strong and was really enjoying the race. I was mostly oblivious to everything around me and was just basking in the "I'm actually running a marathon!" experience.

After leaving that part of the course, I began a long stretch that was without shade, 85% humidity and 85 degrees. I started losing steam and then the charley horses started ... several of them ... simultaneously.

I had to completely stop and wait for my calves to calm down. I stood there in agony and disbelief while staring at incredibly visible muscle spasms in my calves. I was genuinely terrified that I wouldn't even be able to start moving again.

My calves eventually calmed down, and I got moving again ... but just barely. I wound up walking most of the last four miles. I later learned that I was severely dehydrated. My best guess is that I wasn't hydrating properly while running in the park and by the time I realized what was happening, it was too late to do anything that could help. The real bummer is that all of my training and preparation were spot on. I was fit enough to run the entire marathon, but I blew it on race day because of my inexperience.

So, for the last couple of months, I've been mulling over in my mind how much better I might have done had I not bonked. I've been wanting another bite of the apple.

I've just registered for the Nationwide Children's Hospital Marathon in Columbus, Ohio on October 19. Watch out, Columbus ... I'll be smarter and in even better shape ... and I'm going to crush you.

Driving bribery

My son, Tim, has a driver's learning permit. Tonight, I told him that I was going to do a group run with some friends at one of the local shoe stores. If he went with me, I'd let him drive there and back.

He said yes, so he drove out there, ran two miles with me, and then he drove back home. One of his miles was at a 12:35 pace, which rightly impresses quite a bit. It was not a particularly flat run, so I'm even more impressed.

It's a good day, folks. Yep. It's a good day.

Florida

We just spent the last week in a beautiful condo across the street from a beautiful beach. Siesta Key in Florida is amazing!

Part of my prize package for winning season six of Fort Wayne's Smallest Winner included a week in Florida. I'd never been to Florida before, so this was uncharted territory for me. We felt like royalty while we were there. We spent a few hours on the beach every day, and it was very neat that the weather conditions were just different enough to give each day a different feel.

Rose and I were still planning on working out in Florida, but without the luxury of a gym. I opted to work running into the schedule each day. What I discovered is that running in Siesta Key is hard. The heat and the humidity were demoralizing. I suppose local runners are used to it, but this Hoosier was not. If I had decided to become a runner while in Florida, I would not have continued with it very long.

I loved visiting Florida. It was awesome. It's also nice to be home again. I look forward to getting reacquainted with my old friend, the River Greenway. It's been too long ...

5k milestone

I set another 5k PR today. My overall time was okay (22:55, 7:22/mi). The cool thing was that my first mile was a 6:55. I've never ran a sub-seven mile in a race before!

I was spent afterward, and it was all I could do to hang on and finish the race. Each mile got progressively slower, so there was no negative split. Now my goal is to get to the point where I can maintain that initial pace ...

Incidentally, today's race was the Run Like A Hero 5k (http://runlikeahero.com/). This event raises funds for organ donor awareness and organ transplant research. It was a privilege to run for such a worthy cause and in memory of an incredible young man, Caden Bowles.