TwentySixPointWhat?

I've been negligent in keeping my 'running' log updated. . . visions of a well-intentioned New Year's resolution are surfacing. I'll try to be more diligent. . . hopefully This morning I had a very difficult time getting out of bed and then my run sucked. Yesterday morning was horrendous but somehow L- & I were able to run 5 miles in the exact amount of time we did it two weeks ago, even with my two desperately needed walk breaks. I stepped on the scale after my ridiculously short run and just about fell over. I'm preparing myself to go dry on 05 July. . . Don't get me wrong, I love beer, but it's not helping my waistline, nor is it helping my training.

I've decided that if I'm going to get to running and not be overheated this summer I need to get running at 0'Dark Hundred. Special thanks to K- for swinging by my house to pick me up at 0530 for an easy 5 miles.

This morning was a sort of coming round of sorts. For the past year I've been saying that I need to get my butt in gear and start training seriously (again) and somehow I've always managed to come up with an excuse and go about my business. Being able to continue running marathons, and now ultras without so much as a hangup really hasn't helped convince me to train, either. But today, today I decided that I'm going to start doing this right (again) and put in the effort to get the results that I want. Hello, long boring Saturday morning runs (solo). Hello, 0500 training runs to beat the heat. Goodbye staying up late (as if I do this anyway). She's back in training mode. . . for today.

This past Sunday was a local 5k during which I decided to start training seriously again. As we were warming up the thought occurred to me that it was two summers ago that I began to train for my first marathon. Bear in mind that I knew nothing about training or the level of commitment required to run a marathon but, as with most things in my life, I jumped in feet first and asked questions later. The past couple of weeks have been an experiment in cross-training; swimming, biking, and running. Body feels good - now to throw some speed work and hills back into the mix, along with more mileage per week. . . and we're good to go.

Once again I’ve decided to participate in the Marine Corps Marathon with Fisher House. Two years ago I began running to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the accident in which I fractured both of my femurs, ankle, and wrist, and which left me on life support with questionable odds for recovery. There is at least one Fisher House at every major military medical center to assist families in need and to ensure that they are provided with the comforts of home in a supportive environment. Annually, the Fisher House program serves more than 12k families. This year, we will honor the memory of LCpl Chance Phelps. In conjunction with the Chance Phelps Foundation, the 2009 team will "Run4Chance" and build a Fisher House in Salt Lake City. This is why I run in support of Fisher House. http://www.active.com/donate/FisherHouse2009MCM/1HBisbee

Providence Marathon 2009 Race Report I really had no business running this marathon which, I suspect, is exactly why I ran it. It all started with Vicky and I organizing our weekend plans; specifically scheduling for Saturday. Our conversation went something like this: VICKY: So what time is the wedding? ME: 4:00, downtown Providence. VICKY: What time do you think you want to be at the church? ME: Somewhere around 3:45. VICKY: Okay, well I need to go into Providence to pick up my bib for my race in the morning. ME: Can I come along? VICKY: Sure. ME: Which race is this? VICKY: The Providence ½ marathon but there’s also a 5k and marathon. ME: hmmm. I could run the marathon. VICKY: Do you want to? ME: Yeah, I think I do. I need RI. And that is how it all came to fruition. Fast forward to race morning. . . Vicky wakes me up around 0600. After deciding that Vaseline is just as good as Body Glide, that Cliff Shots are just as good as Powerbar gummy things (I still don’t know their proper nam...

Shamrock 2009 Race Report Writing this because everyone keeps asking how it went so will start at the beginning. Sometime in December I remember sending out an email inquiring who was running Shamrock. Not many people responded but enough did to convince me to try running it again in 2009 because 2008 literally sucked (even if it was a marathon PR for me). On Saturday, my friend Trina drove us down to Virginia Beach; made the expo just in the nick of time to pick up my race packet and then jetted over to ‘Pi’zzeria for dinner with Jamie and Becky. Becky was running her first ½ marathon and Jamie was running it with her. While we waited for our table we got to talking, and drinking and talking and somehow convinced Trina to run the ½ marathon with absolutely no training. Fast forward-hotel was too warm, bar next door was boom, booming until 0200 so had a very restless night. Was also very worried about what we’d talked Trina into. Race morning 0600, alarm goes off. Wake up, get dressed,...