St. Patty's Day Inline Invitational

Well hey there ya'll. Last weekend was my first inline skating race of the season. It was held at the Sparkles Skating rink in Lawrenceville, Ga. on March 20-22. Steve, Matt and I headed up right after work on Friday. We didn't have any races on Friday but we wanted to get up there and watch the time trials. A time trial is a one lap "rolling" start. A lap is 100 meters. The fastest time wins the pot of money, $200. The fastest time was 8.89 seconds, which is 25.2 miles per hour!!!

So the races are over for Friday evening and we decide to head out to find our motel. We find it and guess what? The office is closed and no one is there to check us in! So we just go across the street to the Best Western and get a room there. Who has ever heard of a motel closing their office at 7:00pm? Oh well, they lost our business.

So we check in and find our room. We have to head straight to bed because we have to be at the rink at 5:00am for warmups as racing starts at 6:00am. Of course I can't sleep being all nervous and tense about my races. I think that I finally got about an hour of sleep before the alarm went off. Another long day of racing!!! So we get up, hit a quick shower and head to the rink.

My first race isn't for a few hours, but I want to get some more time out on the floor. It is very sticky and fast. I need to try to get used to it before I have to race, so I get out there every chance that I can. You can never be too prepared for a race on a newly coated floor, especially one that you have never raced on before.


So my first race is finally here. Veteran Men 500 meter final. There are 7 guys in this division to race against. I come off the start in 3rd place. After a couple of laps I pass up into 2nd and that is where I finish. My second race is the 1000 meter final. I come off the start in 5th place because my left skate slipped!!! Now I have my work cut out for me. I really need to place at least 4th to get a medal. So after a few laps I pass up to 4th. A couple of guys are fighting for position and get together and I am able to pass both of them for 2nd again. So now I have to try to catch the leader, but he is too far ahead already and I finish in 2nd again.

My next set of races is the Novice Master Men division. There are 15 guys signed up, so we will have to race in heats with 3 to qualify for the finals. The first race is the 500 meter heat. I come off of the line in 3rd place again. But get passed pretty quick! Wow, these guys are faster than my first races! I have to pick it up a notch. A couple of the guys are pretty big fellas, so I get to pass them as they quickly run out of steam. I am able to finish the heat in 2nd place.


So we go to the 500 meter finals. I come off the line good and am in 3rd place. I am skating a good clean race when I get passesd. I will need to pick it up a notch again. Well a notch too late and I finish in 4th place. So I now have to do much better in the 1000 meter race to finish on the podium. I know that my training will payoff and I can beat these guys in the longer races.

The start of the 1000 meter heat is clean and I actually finish in 2nd place again. If I could just catch that guy in front of me!!! The 1000 meter final is here and I must finish at least 3rd or better to get on the podium. So we are off to the races again and I am in about 5th place again!!! I know that these guys are going to fight for position, so I am going to wait a few laps and see what happens. Well again 2 guys get together and fall down. Some guys start to poop out and I finally finish in 3rd place. So my final placement is 3rd for the Novice Master Men.


Another end to another great weekend of racing. More to come...

Callaway Gardens 5K

Well all I can say is Brrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! This was by far the coldest it has ever been for a race that I have participated in. I think that it was around 32 degrees at the start of the race, and not too much warmer at the finish of it. My official time was 25:31 and I felt every minute of it. It was only the second time that I wore my leg tights to stay warm and sure am glad that I did! I just wished that I would have worn my gloves too. It was just freezing, literally! I don't even think that I broke a sweat until the race was over and I was standing around waiting on the results.

Well I was elated when they finally came out because I finished in 3rd place in my age group! Cool, well I mean freezing!

It was a good race for me and I got to see several of my friends up there too.

Me & Mickey kicked ass in the Marathon

Well my most dreaded Sunday is finally over and now I have to learn how to walk all over again! Kent, Rob and I made our way down to good ole Disney World and opened up a great big can of WoopAss on that little Mouse. My first Marathon started off as a good trip with Kent as my riding partner. The trip down was good as I had someone to talk to. It really makes the time go by. So we get down to the Expo and find Rob after we pick up our race packets. We only had about 15 minutes to check things out before they closed up, so just looked around while Rob shopped, like always! We were starving by the time they ran us out, so we headed over to Celebration to find us some carbs. The Maccoroni Grill caught our attention, so in we go. It is similar to Carabbas (my fav) so all was good. Pasta and sweet tea is always a good pre-race dinner, although I really wanted some rice.

So we head back over to Lake Beuna Vista drive to find our motel the Orlando Vista to check in. An older motel but pretty and nice. There were a lot of racers staying there too. Everything was good until we heard the barking dogs! What the hell is that all about? So we call the front desk and find out that it is a pet friendly motel. So we complained and hoped for the best. Well I guess the pet owners finally arrived, because we never heard them again (at least not that day).

Well Rob has to get up early in the morning to run the half marathon. So we get ready to hit the sack. Kent and I decide that we are going to sleep-in and hopefully get up in time to see him finish the race. He said that he was going to run a slow pace to finish in around a 2:30 half marathon.

So it is now 7:45am and Kent and I are wide awake. So we hurry and get ready to go see Rob finish the half. We figure that he will be finishing around 8:15 or so. So we rush over to the family reunion area and start texting and looking for Rob. After about and hour goes, Rob finally texts us back and says that he is over at the finish line watching the racers come in. So we go meet him and ask him what his time was. Well he was way off of his guestimated time and finished in 1:45! So we rushed to get ready and get there for no reason because he was finished before we ever left the motel. Oh well, sorry Rob. But congrats on the great time. Hope you have enough left for the marathon tomorrow!

So we get Rob and head back to the motel to get cleaned up to go eat. Rob wants to go to Downtown Disney to find food, so we head over there. We decide to eat at Wolfgang Puck's Express Grill and of course we are looking for more carbs. I get the kids peperoni pizza, Kent and Rob get the chicken penna dish. All was quite good. So what are we going to do now?

We decide to head over to the Magic Kingdom to hit some rides and possibly see the fire works show. So off we go, hi-ho hi-ho hi-ho. Space Mountain, the Haunted Mansion, Buzz Lightyear, Monster's Inc comedy show, Swiss Family Robinson treehouse, and woooeeee we are getting tired and hungry again. So Kent decides that we need to check out Tony's restraunt within the park. So we head over there and get right in. I get the Grilled Salmon with orzo pasta which was excellent. We get talking to several other people eating next to us that are also running in the race. That was nice because we got to get their perspectives and experiences about the race. One guy was doing the Goofy like Rob and actually finished the half just a few minutes before Rob did. So we are through eating now and are trying to decide what to do next. We are all pretty tired so we decide to just head back over to the motel and maybe try to turn in a little early. We do have to get up around 3:00am to get ready for the race. Start time is at 5:50am and all of the roads will be blocked off well before that.

So we go back to the motel and watch a little tv and check my emails. We finally hit the sack around 10:00 or so. I slept pretty good but we both kept getting up to go to the bath room because we had been hydrating all day and night. I must have gone 5 times.

Ok, the alarm clock goes off at 3:00am sharp and I hit the shower running. I am kind of excited and apprehensive at the same time. I have never ran this far before and don't know if I can actually do it. Well I am here and I am going to do it no matter what. I am feeling 100% and somewhat confident even though I am not looking forward to it. I am planning on doing the "run a mile walk a while" thing and see how it works. All I want to do finish, and if I get a respectable time doing it, then all the better. So we are ready now and try to call Rob, but no answer. He is still asleep and isn't getting up. He finally answers and says that he will meet us over there at the race area.

So I grab a banana and we head out toward the race area. I also take 2 ibuprophren to preempt the on-coming pain. We get near the EPCOT parking area and it is a total log jam with cars trying to get in. We have plenty of time and at least the line is moving some. About the time we get parked, Rob calls and says that he is almost there. So we go ahead and head over to the baggage drop off area and wait for him before we head over to the starting line. He meets us there is just a few minutes and we head over with 15,000 of our closest friends. It is quite a long walk to get there and everyone is trying to get their last bathroom break in before the race starts. It is really funny how everyone just throws all of their morals out the door when you do want or can't wait to go. So we get to the starting line and it seems to be backed up a mile. We are all in different starting corrals so we wish each other good luck and head to our differnet corrals.

Rob is in B, Kent is in C, and I am in D corral. D just happens to be the front corral on the outside lane of the starting line-up. A, B, & C are all on the inside lane with the Pro-Elite about 300-400 yards behind us. We must have the longer route to run before the race merges back up at the 4 mile mark. They do this to enable the field to get spread out so their won't be that many racers on the road at the same time in the same spot. It is a pretty good idea I think and it does work. Can be kind of confusing though for some people. But I guess it all works out in th e long run, literally!

Well I finally make it to my corral and I am probably 100 yards from the starting line. The race director makes some last minute announcements and the count down begins. When it gets down to zero, a whole lot of fireworks go off and lights up the sky. And we are off to the races. Well at least the people at the front of the line are. It takes me about 3 minutes to actually get to and cross the start line. But I am finnally on the road and running. Everything is good as I don't run over anyone and don't get run over either. I quickly spot an older guy that a t-shirt that says he is member of the 50 states marathon club. Well of course I have go over and ask him what that is all about. He tells me that he has ran a marathon in every state and has a total 156. WOW, I am dumbfounded! That is incredible and an awesome accomplishment I told him. I wished him good luck and continued on. I wonder if he beat my time? LOL

So I am running along at an easy pace which is about the same pace as everyone else. I have brought my camera with me with the plan to take a picture at every mile marker. My other plan is to run to every mile marker and walk though every water break. Which I will definitely stick to.

So I see mile marker one coming up ahead so I go ahead and get my camera out of my pocket and out of the zip-lock baggie that it is in. I don't want to take too much time taking the photo. I take a quick picture and walk about 100 yards before I start back up. My time is 13:10. Officially my time is 10:10 since it took me 3 minutes to get to the starting line.

So I am off again looking for mile marker 2. I see it far ahead and get prepared just like mile 1. So when I get real close I merge over to the left side of the road to get out of everyone's way when I slow down. Well there is girl in front of me and she just stops without warning! I almost fun right over her. Jumping to the left of her right at the last moment, I miss her. There are several people taking photos so I fit right in. I ask someone to take my picture with me in it and they do. My time is now 24:34.

Mile 3 is now 37:40. I am sticking to about an 11:00 minute pace, which is fine.

Mile 4 is 49:09.

Mile 5 is 1:01:13 Still on an 11:00 minute pace! YEAH!!!

Mile 6 is 1:12:43 and I am starting to feel a pain in my left little toe. It is the first time that I have worn these shoes so I suspect that I am getting a blister. But what can I do about it? Not much out in the middle of no where! Oh well, I will have to just keep on trucking.

Mile 6.5 and I have got to go to the bathroom, and it is not to pee! There is a water break coming up ahead and they have porta-potties. So I will stop and do my business. This takes approximately 3 minutes as I have to wait in line.

Mile 7 is 1:27:59 so I am now up to a 12 minute pace.

Mile 8 is 1:41:36

Mile 9 is 1:52:44

Mile 10 is 2:04:15

Mile 11 is 2:16:38

Mile 12 is 2:28:54

Mile 13 is 2:41:16 But my official half marathon time is 2:40:05

Mile 14 is 2:56:01

Mile 15 is 3:09:09

Mile 16 is 3:20:35

Mile 17 is missed somehow and I didn't even get a photo!

Mile 18 is 3:46:07 and I am still on a 12 minute pace!

Mile 19 is 3:58:21 and I am starting to really hurt in my hips. I decide to walk more now.

Mile 20 is 4:11:12 and I walked a lot and it only pushed my pace to 13 minutes.

Mile 21 is 4:22:43. Oh look, I must have found so extra energy! My pace went down to 11 miuntes.

Mile 22 is 4:35:26 and everything is really starting to hurt now and my pace is back down to about 12.5 minutes.

Mile 23 is 4:49:44, a 14 minute pace and I am hurting alot!

Mile 24 is 5:02:28 and I decide to try to run the rest of the race without walking. Except to take pictures.

Mile 25 is 5:14:33

Mile 26 is 5:26:38

Finish line is 5:29:07 and officially my time is 5:26:50. an average pace of 12:48. Not bad for a first (and last) timer I think.

Mickey Mouse - Here I come....ready or not!

Well the time is here and the marathon is only a few days away. Am I ready? I don't think so, but I will give it a shot anyway. Who knows, maybe I will finish and in a decent time. As long as my back holds up, I should be fine. Famous last words my legs say! I feel as though I am 100% even though I haven't been running much. Only time will tell.

I have been hitting the Y pretty hard since the holidays began, and wouldn't you know it, the Y has changed their schedule for the new year! I haven't really figured out what or how I am going to do what I really want to do yet. So here is a rough plan:

Monday - Turbo Kick then Body Pump
Tuesday - Body Pump then Swim
Wednesday - Skate Practice
Thursday - Body Pump then Spin class
Friday - Body Pump then Swim
Saturday - Skate Practice
Sunday - Skate Practice

Tried the Turbo Kick class for the first time this week and it was a real challenge to keep up. But I was soaking wet when I finished so at least I did get a good workout. Very fast paced and high energy class, which is what I like and need. They actually started a Ballroom Dancing class on Monday too, but I need a partner to do that. Anyone interested (female that is!)? I need to learn how to be light on my toes! LOL

I really think that all of the core strengthening that I have been doing is starting to pay off. My last 2 skate practices have been really good and I can see my speed and control increasing. I think that the turbo kick class will help with all around quickness and agility too.

I just hope that the Mouse doesn't get in my way this Sunday!!!

Can you sing "YMCA"

Well it has been a while since I wrote anything, mainly because there hasn't been much to write about. Almost everyday I go to the Y after work to get my workout in, except for the days that I have skate practice. Here is the routine:

Monday - Body pump class 1 hour then swim 1000 meters
Tuesday - Body pump class 1 hour then spin class 1 hour
Wednesday - Skate practice 2 hours indoors
Thursday - Body pump class 1 hour then swim 1000 meters or something else
Friday - Body pump class 1 hour then swim 1000 meters or take a day to rest
Saturday - Do something else to have fun - A day off!
Sunday - Skate practice 2 hours indoors

I know that it sounds a little mondane and boring with the same ole routine, but it is winter time and it sucks outside. The weather has been really shitty to say the least. Freezing 2-3 days, then it warms up and rains for a day or 2, then it gets cold again! No daylight hours to do anything outside even if the weather did cooperate.

I do have one little note of exciting news. I actually did do something different last week! I played racquetball for the first time in about 10 years. I saw an old friend at the Y and she invited me to play a few games with them last Thursday. It was a lot of fun. I actually didn't play as bad as I thought that I would! The only down side to the day was that I played in my running shoes and both of them ripped through the mesh on the outside edge towards the toes! Oh well. The good thing is that I have another back-up pair to run in. I also ordered me a new pair of Ektelon racquetball shoes too. So I am good to go as they came in today. Yea!

As for this week, I am leaving on Thursday to go to the Bahamas for some Scuba diving. We leave on the 18th and return on the 24th. Going to Nassau and diving with Dive Custom Aquatics outfitters. Then we are hoping to do a little open ocean fishing. They say the Wahoo are really good this time of year.

Well here's to a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

It's indoor time now

Well old man winter has come early this year and is here to stay I think. So I have hung up the bike and running shoes at least for while. I am totally training indoors now. Started going back to body pump and spin class down at the YMCA. My back is about 95% now and getting stronger every day. Body pump has really helped I think but it is a little sore since I started back. But I think that is a good thing. Spin class has been good too since it really gives me a great workout.

I still haven't started back running since I hurt my back. I have been thinking alot about that lately because the marathon is only a couple of months away now. I really don't know what I am going to do about it either. Any suggestions? I am scared that I am going hurt myself again. The body pump classes are really going to help strengthen my core and lower back, so maybe that will be enough to keep it strong. I can only hope! I will probably start training on the elliptical machine and then move over to the tread mill after a few weeks of that. I'll just have to take it slow and see how my back feels.

Skating practice has been going good with my new skates. My feet are slowly getting used to them and hopefully the break-in process won't be too long. There actually is a skating race this Sunday in Warner Robins, but I really don't think that I am ready for it right now. Steve is trying to talk me into going, but I just don't know right now. I will have to get back with you on that.

Last weekend I had the kids after the Georgia-Auburn football game. Rob and I had planned to take all of the kids to the Callaway Gardens Nitewalk through the Christmas lights. We did it a couple of years ago and the kids had a really good time. Robs girlfriend Lisa and her 2 boys also came, so we had enough kids to keep entertained. The weather was good but cold. The walk went good too but I think that it was just a little too long for the kids. Well all had fun especially after the walk eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate. We also got to see Santa in the big top tent.

Training slowly restarts

Well it has been almost 4 weeks since I hurt my back and things are really looking and feeling good right now. My back is getting stronger but still a little sore. I decided that since I couldn't just sit around and do nothing every day that I would do some no-impact training, swimming. So I have been swimming almost every other day for the last 2 weeks. It really seems to help alot by stretching out my back muscles. Last Thursday I actually got on the eliptical machine for the first time and did it for 20 minutes and it felt really good. I have also been back on my bike a few times.

Slowly but surely I am getting back into the swing of things. I had my first complete skate practice this Wednesday and I could really tell that I have been off of the skate floor for a while. My legs were really feeling the pain and are still bothering me some right now. It is amazing to me how fast your muscles seem to get out of shape.

I have still not even thought about running again and don't know when I will. I might have to be a specatator at the marathon instead of a particpant. Only time will tell.

Til next time. I'm out.