The Honor Scroll- Covering the Distance

There is a quote, by an unknown author, that says, "There is no telling how many miles you will have to run while chasing a dream." I can't begin to explain how powerful these words are to me. I used to think the "dream" was about ME and MY desires. I thought it was about winning. About reaching a high level of endurance and conquering seemingly impossible distances. I thought the dream was all about me......

That was before I realized the "dream" has NOTHING to do with my personal achievements. It is about all of us. About our parents and grandparents. It is about our children and their children. It is about the HOPE that we will, one day, live in a world without cancer. So many of us share this dream. So many are putting in the "miles" without asking, "How many more must we go?" Without giving up, quitting or becoming overwhelmed by the distance. This is something we ALL share and I am so proud to be just a small part of this effort. The Honor Scroll 50 mile run was only successful because of this attitude, perseverance and the combined miles that we all "run" everyday in pursuit of the DREAM.

In total, there were 161 names that made it on the Honor Scroll this year. There were also a couple of last minute names that came along on a separate piece of paper (not written in marker on my belly- sorry). The support for this was awesome and the donations reached close to $1200 between online contributions and personal checks/cash received. Considering that I "JUST ASKED" for money back in February... and November.... and June..... and last April.... that is incredibly generous on your part. I will NOT ask again..... until I do. That reminds me- you can still donate by clicking here ------>DONATE<------

On to the race.....

My friend Charley and I made the trip together. We arrived in Little Rock, AR on Friday evening, set up camp and made our way over to the packet pick up. When I told them my name they said, "You will be bib #3. Because you were 3rd overall last year." Great. No pressure there, right? I had confidence that I would run a faster time but you never know.....

The race started in the dark at 6 a.m. in the typical ultra-marathon way. "Go." And we were off. With the 50k and the 50 milers starting together it was easy to start too fast. But I quickly settled into position behind the lead pack and ran "my" pace. After about 2 miles of pavement we hit the trail head and things slowed down some. The sun was starting to rise and we continued knowing that Mt. Pinnacle was only a few miles away.

Mt. Pinnacle is a very steep CLIMB that has to be negotiated around mile 5. It is a CLIMB, not a run or walk. The pace slows down considerably along this stretch. Luckily, it only lasts about 10-15 minutes. I think the total distance is only 1/4 to 1/2 mile but DUDE.... it is crazy hard. As I reached the top, I offered to kiss the photographer but he declined. Guess he wasn't as happy about my reaching the top as I was. At this point I realized that going down the backside was going to be just as slow going.

After the successful crossing of Mt. Pinnacle, it was time to start the real race. I didn't even attempt to keep pace with the leaders. I have learned, for me, that is the quickest way to crash. I would much rather run my own pace and hopefully close the gap on the back half. This strategy usually works for me. Charley, on the other hand, was right there with the leaders. He went on to place 2nd overall in the 50k. Dude is a freaky awesome runner.

Around mile 10 something happened that would cause me to change my strategy. A little pain in my right knee showed up. This was not a new pain but it had been almost non-existent in the past week or so. I chose to ignore it. This is a "child-like" strategy that usually works for me. You know, the "I can't see you, so you can't see me" approach. By mile 12, it was evident that this would not be the case. The knee was hurting and starting to swell. I knew that the 50k trail would split in about a mile and I had the option of dropping to the shorter distance. I felt that 31 miles was a much smarter distance for me considering the circumstances.

There has only been a few times in my life that people have confused me for smart. This was NOT one of those times. I took the 50 mile fork in the trail and didn't look back. This is what I came for. This is where the Scroll was going. Just the way it was. I am a huge fan of the mantra, "Rub some dirt on it- you'll be alright" and this is what I used for the next 12-13 miles. I hit the turn around in 5th place and found my drop bag. I spent a few minutes wrapping my knee and refilling my hydration pack. Opting not to change shoes or socks because all the creek were up and there was no hope of keeping dry, I left in 8th/9th place.

Despite my knee issue, I was still on pace for a sub 9 hour finish. I realized that a top 5 finish was not going to happen but I could still come in with a decent time. All I had to do was keep moving. That was all. Easy. How hard could that be? Uhhh........

I got passed by a few people over the next 10 miles. This is demoralizing and not something that anybody likes. For me, it is a very rare occurrence to be passed on the back half of ANY race and I HATED it. But I also knew the deal. Didn't make it okay but helped to keep my spirits from sinking to low. Just keep moving. No problem.

Mile 35 aid station is the last cut-off and opportunity to drop with the guarantee of a ride back to the start/finish area. I limped in and the questions started. How bad was it? Can you run? Do you want to drop? Do you....... WHAT???? Drop?? I told them that I would rather eat a bullet than quit now. Everybody got quiet except for one lady. She said, "Well then, you'd better get going. There's still 15 miles left and you're wasting time." As I limped back onto the trail, I couldn't help but smile- she understood the insanity of an ultra.

The last 15 miles were rough and I couldn't help but think that maybe it was supposed to be rough. That somehow this was showing me that it won't always be easy. No matter how prepared or confident I am- there will be days that are harder than the others. Days when 15 miles seem like 150. Days when I don't think I can run one more step. Days when the pain is all I can focus on. Days that suck. There is no way that I would even dream of comparing this to the fight of those on the Honor Scroll but it seemed almost symbolic. Just keep moving. Don't quit. Believe in the dream......

I hit the finish line in 9 hours 28 minutes and 11th place overall. This is 45 minutes slower than last year and a full hour slower than my target time. Just looking at those numbers, it my be misinterpreted as a bad day. I can honestly say after a week of reflection that it was a GREAT day. I had ONE hard day. ONE. That is nothing. I should be thankful for that ONE day. As I continue "running those miles" in pursuit of the DREAM, it is a great comfort knowing that I am not alone and that, together, we will one day cover the distance.

Expanding the Limits- Rocky Raccoon 100

A few weeks ago, I was on a training run with a friend. As usual on a long run, the topic of discussion was scattered and all over the place. At one point along the way, the subject of limits came up. In a joking manner, he stated -A man has got to know his limitations. Yep. I agree. But you will never know your limitations until you FIND them. That is what I love about running, specifically ultras, you are constantly pushing the limits of your own perceived endurance. Overcoming the fear of failure and the fear of inability is what it's all about. The more you push, the more the limits expand.

As a runner, I have come to believe that limits are set ONLY in our minds. This means that WE are the only ones that decide how much our bodies can take. Training is only part of it- of course it can change how MUCH we rely on the second part- Attitude is the most important part. How bad you want it. How hard you are willing to push it. How important it is to finish. All of these beliefs were tested and reinforced last weekend at the Rocky Raccoon 100 Mile Trail Race in Huntsville, TX. It is not often that I wonder if I had found my limit but there were some rough patches along the way where that question entered my head.

I arrived in Huntsville on Thursday afternoon after about 10 hours of driving. The drive wasn't too bad because I had my "crew" with me. Jon and Charley had both agreed to come down to crew and pace me. Four days away from their families and 20 hours of driving just to stand around waiting for me to run 100 miles. Seems insane but I think they were just as excited to do that as I was to actually run. That is why they are full-fledged members of The Idiot's Running Club.

We woke up on Friday morning to ice and snow. Ice and snow? What? Yep. It really wasn't too bad but the locals were spazzed out and Houston had to shut down the interstates. This combined with snow and ice in other areas of the country made travel tough and, in some cases, impossible. Around 80 registered runners of the 100 miler couldn't make it to Huntsville for the race. It was a good thing we drove down a day early....

So, we had some time to kill before the packet pick-up on Friday afternoon. What to do? Hmmm..... Jon and Charley came up with a brilliant plan. "Let's go for a run on the trail." And because I am part of The Idiots Running Club, I agreed and we loaded up and drove to the Huntsville State Park. First sign upon entering the park? A "Do Not Litter" sign? Nope. An "Alligator's Exist In The Park." sign? Yep. Huh? Alligators? Sweet. We continued on and found the start/finish area and met the Race Director, Joe. He was very friendly and we chatted briefly before hitting the trail. I ran 5 miles while Charley and Jon went out for 6.2. It was nice to get a feel for the trail and the conditions were fine. No major patches of ice or snow. Just a few roots....

We hit the packet pick-up that afternoon. Watched all the "rock stars" roll in to grab theirs. I don't think they were intimidated by me. Afterward we grabbed a few supplies and went back to the hotel for an early night. After a few slices of pizza and a couple of beers, I was ready to sleep. I did. I slept for almost 3 whole hours before starting the old "what time is it" roll. Finally, at 3 a.m. I gave up and decided it was close enough. Sleep is over-rated anyway. I was pretty nervous but managed to eat a couple of microwave-able sausage biscuits and suck down a BUNCH of coffee. I discovered a card from my wife and kids in my bag that was very inspiring and motivating. Just the kind of thing I needed before this monster of a test. At 5 a.m. we were off.

Just before 6 a.m. the racers started to line up. I knew that I wanted to go out at a decent pace so I lined up towards the front. After a few minutes, a group of dudes come rolling up right in front of me....... What's up with that? Oh- I see. Kupricka, Jurek and company (including the now WORLD famous Ian Sharman) decided that was a good spot too. Fair enough. It is a pretty awesome sport where an average schlubb like me can line up shoulder to shoulder with the very best in the world. Killer experience.

The RD did the final countdown, I let out a loud WOOOOO!!! right behind Jurek-(though I'm sure he didn't hear me) and we were off. This was the last time I would be that close to the leaders but, because the course was a 20 mile loop, not the last time I would see them. The first few miles went pretty fast and somewhere just past the 6 mile aid station, I decided to back off the pace some. I had ran the first 10k at an 8:40 overall pace- great for a 50k but STUPID for 100 miles. By the end of the first 20 mile loop- the pace was sitting at 9:09/mile with a total elapsed time of 3 hrs 03 minutes and things were feeling really good. I met my crew, grabbed a few essentials and went out for round 2.

The second loop went about as smooth as the first. Everything felt great, the pace was fine and the hydration/nutrition seemed just right. The only thing that I did notice on this loop was that the 6ish mile leg of the "Damnation" loop seemed to stretch a little longer- this was a sign of things to come- but overall, miles 21-40 were pretty good. This loop slowed down some, but remained pretty steady and reasonable- I thought.... Total elapsed time after loop 2 was 6 hrs 25 minutes and the overall pace had dropped to 9:37/mile. Still on track for a great finish. (remember this is my 1st 100 miler..... I had no idea what was coming)

The day was warming up fast and I got rid of the long sleeves and gloves, opting for a short sleeved tech shirt and a dry doo-rag before heading out for the 3rd loop. Things felt pretty good here too. I hit the 50 mile mark with a PR time of 8 hrs 14 minutes. Nice. But it was starting to get a little tough and the pace slowed over the next 10 miles. At mile 55- I had officially gone farther than I ever had- and still was barely half way done. An interesting thought came into my mind at this point- "Dumb-dumb.... you have never even SNIFFED 100 miles- are you freakin' insane?" Kind of made me laugh. I continued through to finish miles 41-60 with a total elapsed time of 10 hours 29 minutes and the overall pace had dropped to 10:29/mile. Still not to bad...... I was also informed that I had started this loop in 25th place overall. I was quite confident that was no longer the case- in fact I would have bet that I was closer to 70th place. I would have lost.

Finally, the time had come for a pacer and I was READY. It was starting to get lonely out there and my legs were feeling it. It was still daylight and warm but we knew that wouldn't last long so I put on a jacket and grabbed my head lamp. Jon and I headed out for the 4th loop. We hit the first aid station at about mile 63 and, because pacers get to partake in the aid station food just like the runners, Jon finally got to eat some "real" food. Him and Charley had existed all day on peanut butter and jelly- this made the aid station food look like a 5 star meal to him. I took my time getting some hot soup while he munched the quesadilla's like Scooby-snacks. Not sure WHY I found this funny- but I did. We hit the Damnation loop and I started struggling. I was starting to question if I wanted to continue running- I didn't want to but I also knew that I would.

Jon pulled me through as it got dark and cold. We talked about all the folks that had sent emails and told their story- very inspiring, tearful and motivating- finally after mixing in some walking and much slower running- it was over. Miles 61-80 were completed in a total elapsed time of 15 hours and 28 minutes with the overall pace dropping to 11:35- not great but I did NOT really care at this point. 11:35 seemed smokin' fast to me.

Before embarking on the final 20 mile loop- I needed to sit down and assess the damage. My right ankle had been hurting pretty good and it appeared swollen. Jon wrapped it with an Ace Bandage, I put a few more clothes on, grabbed some hot soup and we were off. Charley was pacing this time and I can guarantee that him and I have never gone this slow EVER. He managed to keep me running for the first 12 miles of this loop- but after the Damnation loop- around mile 92- I was zapped. The next 8 miles would be the longest and most important miles of my "running journey". It was time to decide where I would set my limitations.

Charley and I had met at a local 5k back in 2007. We started training together and decided to run a marathon. Who knew that we would end up on a trail in Texas, freezing as I struggled to step off the last few miles of a 100 miler? Man, we had come a long way and as we approached the final 5k- Charley encouraged me to keep moving. His reminder of my "hatred" for 5k's gave me a great laugh when I really needed it. 5k's kill me- I hate them but I keep going back for more- and here I was, 97 miles in and it was only a stupid 5k between me and the finish line. Awesome.

I couldn't run. My ankle was swollen, both feet hurt from the pounding and I couldn't lift them up high enough to avoid the roots covering the trail. When I tried to run, which was only a slow shuffle, the pain would shoot through me and when I would catch a foot on a root or rock, the ensuing stumble hurt more and more. So I chose to walk. It hurt less. But it was COLD. Really cold. Finally, Charley said, "You only have about 1/2 mile to go- you CAN run it in." Yep. I CAN. I did. I kicked up that Texas dirt and blew leaves off the trees with my tremendous speed. (maybe I'm embellishing a little here) It felt slow- it was slow- but it was all I had. Soon I could see the lights from the finish area and knew that it was over. 100 miles. Sweet.

As I approached- I let out my final WOOOOO!!! of the day/night. I crossed the finish line with a total elapsed time of 20 hours 59 minutes and 40 seconds. I had finished my first 100 miler with 9 hours to spare. Even better was the sub- 24 hour designation and sweet belt buckle to commemorate the achievement. Without the support of my great friends and crew- this would have been much more difficult and the outcome may have been different. Awesome dudes.

Here is a link to my splits and overall time ---> MY STUFFS <---- if you are interested. Other numbers that I found interesting..... 316 starters with 190 finishing under the 30 hour cutoff- for a finishing rate of 60%. Of these 190, there were 77 (about 40%) that finished sub 24. I will be the first to admit that mistakes were made. I am a firm believer that success comes way before race day- it comes in the early mornings spent in the gym, the hard miles of a long run and in the discipline of the daily miles. I am thankful for the opportunity to make these mistakes because they will help guide my training for the NEXT one. Oh yeah- there will be another. Not only was this the most difficult and painful challenge in my "running life" it was also the sweetest and most euphoric feeling I have ever had. Bring on the pain- I'm ready to roll.

Thanks to EVERYBODY thatsupported me on this quest. So many of you donated money to the ACS (and you still can by clicking ---->HERE<---), shared your story with me and encouraged me along this path. It is a very unique situation where I am able to chase my goals while helping in the mutual dream of beating cancer. Seems almost selfish for me to actually enjoy the journey- but it is the only way that I know to contribute and, with your continued support, WE will keep on running. Cancer sucks and together we will make a difference.


Here is a link to the video. It is kind of long at 8:35 but it tells the story pretty well. You can see me bouncing all around at the start line right behind Scott Jurek. Guess I was ready to get moving.......

Ree-Donk-U-Lus

Sometimes the VOICES say some ree-donk-u-lus things. Like when they decided we should run the Dogwood Canyon 50k in a pink tutu. Or when they suggested that WE run it hard and try to compete. Naturally, I listened to their advice and away we went. The pink tutu brought in over $400 for the ACS and I finished the race strong, maintaining an 8:35 pace for 31 miles on some pretty rough terrain. Then THEY got really silly. HOW ABOUT A SUB 3 HOUR MARATHON?

Seemed like a reasonable suggestion. Except the marathon THEY had in mind was exactly one week after the 50k. Guess the VOICES haven't read Runner's World lately and forgot about the whole "recovery period" following a long distance event. But I'm not any smarter because there I was, a week later, lining up at the Bass Pro Marathon with the hope of breaking 3 hours. I struggled with a minor hamstring injury but pulled it off with a 2:58:52. Sweet- but only for a few days.

These FREAKS in my head started questioning everything. Was it a fluke? Could I do it again or was that just a lucky day? Was I REALLY a sub 3 marathoner? I had my doubts because my previous PR of 3:13:23 had held for 3 years and my best time last year was 3:15. So, being an IDIOT, I decided to find out at the White River Marathon in Cotter, AR. Great plan. With a new course that is flat and fast, this would be the perfect place to find out..... except for the fact that it was only 13 days after Bass Pro. Ree-donk-u-lus.

The goal was set and I was nervous. Training was tough because of the hamstring so I had to be easy for a week. But by last Thursday, I had strung together 3 consecutive days of 5 mile runs at a 6:30 pace and really felt confident that it would be okay. All I had to do now was maintain a less than 6:50 pace for 26.2 miles and it I could shut the VOICES up. Still seemed like a ree-donk-u-lus idea- but I was willing to give it a shot.

Standing at the starting line on Saturday morning, all the doubts were gone. I was focused on exactly what was necessary and I was ready to roll. The start was a little messed up because the horn malfunctioned and a quick yell of GO began the race- who knows when the clock started- and we were off. Within the first 100 yards, some genius pulled sideways into the road. WHAT?? They were trying to park. Why they were even allowed in this area is beyond me but he backed up in a hurry and everybody made it around him.

This is a small race with about 400 people total between 3 events. The 5k, 1/2 marathon and full marathon participants all start together with no organization to where everyone lines up. This always leads to the same scenario. The 50 yard dashers get up front and within a very short distance they are worn out and slowing down becoming obstacles for everyone else. Fortunately, I have ran plenty of these kinds of races and know what to expect. Be ready to dodge the adults and jump over the kids. Fun.

The first couple of miles went WAY too fast and we were rolling along at about a 6:20 pace. I backed off quite a bit but, as it turned out, not enough. The course was an out and back. Twice. This was different but kind of nice because most points on the course offered the motivation from other runners. I love throwing the WOOOOO!!! to people as they are pushing towards their goals. Motivates and inspires me to see someone who is struggling but still SMILING. This emphasizes how awesome it is to set a goal and go after it.

The first half went great but FAST. At the turn around point I was in 3rd place but the pace was too fast. My Garmin had me running a 1:27:30 for the the first 13.1 and this was faster than I had planned. Probably faster than I have ever ran that distance- not sure. This had me on pace for a 2:55 finish. I knew then that I would not have negative splits but I tried to maintain and just kept putting one foot in front of the other.

My pace did fall back some in the second half but not too bad. With a two-time out and back course, there were plenty of people on the course until about mile 18. Then it got LONELY. Once in a while I could catch a glimpse of a runner in front and as I neared the turn around at about mile 20 I could see the leaders as they started down the final 6 mile stretch. Mentally it was hard to maintain, knowing that I was in a solid 3rd but I kept plugging. After the final turn-around and around mile 21 it was nice to start seeing some other runners again. This really does help boost the motivation to finish strong.

As I watched the leaders at the turn-around I knew that my friend and training partner, Charley, would win. He has won this race the two previous years and was in fantastic marathon shape coming into this year. He was in second place at the time but I counted the distance between him and the leader. 20 seconds. I know Charley well enough to know that he would push with everything he had to get in front. This perked up my spirits knowing that he would win again and probably PR. He did- with a 2:49. Smokin' fast.

As I approached the final mile, a friend that had ran the 5k was on the course. He gave me some high fives and lots of motviation to finish hard. I hit the last mile at a 6:40 pace and finished in just under 2:58. Of course I won't know the "official time" until the race director posts them online but I know it was at least 2:58. This was another PR and I was beyond happy. Ran right through the volunteers handing out medals and found an open spot to roll a cart-wheel. I'm sure it sucked but so what? Better than torturing everyone with a non-coordinated happy dance.

Some of my friends have asked what I thought my time could be IF there wasn't a 50k and 2 Marathons within 3 weeks. My answer is this..... who cares?? Ree-donk-u-lus to even think about that. I broke 3 hours twice and have a new PR. It just doesn't matter because the past 20 days have been a blast and I wouldn't trade any of it for a minute or two off a PR. A sub 4:30 50k and two sub 3 hour marathons?? If I EVER complain about that please come punch me in the mouth. Please.

13 Days

Here WE go again.....The VOICES have spoken and it's time to roll. It was less than 3 weeks ago that I ran the Dogwood Canyon 50k. Seems like longer but that's what it was. I pushed it pretty hard that day and finished in 4:26:10. A decent time considering the pink tutu. One week later it was on to the Bass Pro Marathon where I managed to pull off a PR despite a hamstring problem. Obviously, it was not the smartest plan to run my first sub 3 hour marathon a week after a 50k. My hamstring "injury" became noticeably worse in the following days. I had to scale WAY back on my training since but I think it is time to get back on track.

Last Friday, I forced myself to run a 12 miler and there was some pain but when it was over, I knew that things would be okay. A few days of rest and then three solid runs at a faster pace this week has left me feeling confident that the upcoming marathon on Saturday will be another good one. I am hoping for another sub 3 and shooting for a new PR. It is the White River Marathon (formerly Mtn. Home Marathon for Kenya) in Cotter, Arkansas. The course is supposed to be flat and fast- (aren't they all advertised that way?) and if things go right, it should be a good day.

I have ran this marathon the last 2 years but the course has been changed. It was a pretty tough and hilly course that left me for dead both times. The first year, I should have stayed home. I had a bad cold with a lot of chest congestion AND it was raining with freezing monster winds. My wife warned me not to run and even said that she wasn't coming to visit me in the hospital when I ended up with pneumonia. I think she probably would have.... probably. I struggled that day- and ended up coming in at 3:23.

Last year was a mess too. Worse even. The weather was perfect but I was not. This was another one that I should have skipped but didn't. I had a slight calf strain going in and by mile one it was much more than slight. It HURT. BAD. I actually stopped and debated dropping out. Probably should have. My over-inflated ego wouldn't hear it and I hobbled and limped the next 25 miles. I finished that day just over 3:30 in pain and disgusted with myself. Both of these finishing times are decent but not what I had hoped for and that eats at me.

I'm a little disappointed about the course change because I would like to redeem myself on the hills. I have legitimate reasons for the bad races but they still seem like pathetic excuses in my head. At the same time, I am excited at the prospect of another sub 3 if the day goes as planned. The hamstring is almost 100% and I rubbed some dirt on it.... should be fine.

The VOICES have been telling me that 13 days is long enough. I agree. 13 days is long enough to hold on to that PR- time for a new one.

Chasing a PR....and a Dog?

It's funny how things work out. When I started running back in 2006, it was all about losing a little weight. As things progressed it turned into a desire to compete in a few 5k's. I read EVERYTHING that I could get my hands on and listened to every podcast out there. I wanted so bad to learn the secrets and pick up tips from the pro's. I followed training plans as best I could and tried speed work outs at the track. Pearl Izumi, Saucony, Brooks and Asics replaced my Nikes and a Garmin Forerunner took away the necessity of measuring my route beforehand with my truck.

This worked pretty good for a while but it seemed like I got stuck in a rut last year. My 5 and 10k times had leveled off and the marathon times were always between 3:15 and 3:30. Late in the year, I was guilty of taking on more than my training would allow. After a 50k in September, a 25k in October and 2 marathons in November- I was done. A calf strain during the 1st mile of the Mtn. Home Marathon left me limping for the next 25 miles and then sitting on the couch for a week or two. Genius stuff. This is when I decided that something had to change.

I thought about what I wanted to do and HOW I would get there. What I came up with was simple, put in more miles, more long runs with less speed and incorporate some strength training. By the end of January of this year, I was hitting 50 mile weeks consistently and had my first 200 mile month. In February, the weight training and core exercises started. I went back to my Nike Pegasus, scrapped the iPod, forgot the training plans and canceled the subscription to Runners World. In April, Charley and I ran the Ouachita 50 miler and I started really seeing the benefits. In June, the 54 miles during the Relay for Life didn't kill me and I was running again after 2 days off. Things were falling into place.

PR's in the 5 and 10k and some faster paced long runs left me confident that the plan was working. There has been zero track work outs, just some faster paced 6 and 10 mile runs- nothing mind blowing but faster than average- a couple of times per week. A few tweaks in my diet helped shed a few extra pounds and provided stored energy for the long hauls. All of this was leading to a potential PR in the marathon.

Last week, I managed to have a great 50k trail race with negative splits. With the exception of the 50 miler, which was my "perfect day", I have ALWAYS bonked on the second half of any long distance race. Finishing in just under 4 1/2 hours was a huge boost to my confidence coming into the Bass Pro Marathon on Sunday. I knew that if I recovered in time- there would be a PR. I might have even stated that publicly a few times.

Last Friday, as I finished an easy 6 miler, it felt like somebody punched me HARD in the my hamstring. I limped and hobbled home, unable to run and was scared to death that I had royally screwed up. I could feel a little nagging pain all day on Saturday and by that night I was on edge but I went ahead with my pre-marathon rituals. Lots of food and a few beers to chill. Must have worked because Sunday morning, I felt nothing. No pain, no hint of anything. Was it just wishful thinking?

My race day breakfast is ALWAYS 2 sausage biscuits from McDonalds. Why? Because 1 isn't enough and oatmeal sucks. Of course a large coffee to wash it down is necessary too. My wife and I arrived early and met some friends for pre-race photos and well wishes and then it was time to line up.

The weather was perfect- about 40 degrees at the start- and the event is pretty small so there wasn't a huge pile up at the line. After the first 1/2 mile the packed thinned and the running lanes opened up. I started out at a 6:45 pace and within just a few steps the hamstring was talking. Not a BAD pain but enough to notice. This freaked me out and I convinced myself just to maintain my pace and not speed up. Just maintain and see what happens.

By mile 5 I had enough of the stupid hamstring issue so I decided to forget about it. There was NOTHING I could do about it and if it decided to cramp, knot, pull or whatever it is they do- there would be NOTHING I could do anyway- so I might as well set it aside and just run. I just went with the plan- maintain the pace, don't speed up, don't slow down- just stick to the plan.

I always carry a water bottle and this was no exception. It was filled with Gatorade so I made sure to get water at every aid station. Each station was 2 miles apart and I walked through each one because I am not coordinated enough to run and drink out of those cups- no matter how I fold the top. It ALWAYS ends up on my face or chest, so I just like to take a few seconds to walk. Of course, every time I did this, other runners would pass me. Not really a problem- because I generally passed them again within a short distance.

I hit the half at 1:30:10. This was actually a PR for the 1/2 by about 30 seconds(I have not ran a 1/2 since 2008)but I was a little discouraged because my Garmin had the distance at 13.4 miles. This meant my pacing was off and I could not rely on my time. I stepped it up, just a little, and waited for the hamstring to start whining. It did but not too bad. I settled into my new pace and started passing some of those speedsters that flew by me early on in the race.

I was NOT concerned with passing people- I had decided that the only race I was in was with the clock. I had dreams of a sub 3 hour marathon since my first one in 2007 but it had always been a distant dream and not very realistic. 2007 was the year of my PR, a 3:13 and 2008 and 2009 were 3:15's. That is a lot of time to make up- but I was on pace to come close. I knew that I COULD squeeze in IF the hamstring held up AND I didn't hit the wall as I always have in the past.

At mile 17, I passed one of those speedsters from earlier. He was puking on the side of the road and for some reason this made me smile. Sure, that's not nice but I couldn't help it. I had to smile because there he was, puking and done, and I was feeling better with each mile. Sorry dude....

At mile 21, where I typically hit the WALL, something cool happened. I crossed the 2,000 miles for the year mark and felt energized and rejuvenated. I thought this was a good time to make a move and blow through the last 5 miles. WRONG!! My hamstring SCREAMED at me, so I backed off and maintained. That was the plan and I was sticking to it.

Coming down the last few miles, a big black dog started running with me. It was weird because there were so many runners on this part of the course. The 1/2 marathoners shared these last few miles and it was crowded. The dog chose ME to run with, sometimes cutting right in front, causing me to hit him with my legs. I yelled and even barked at it. Nothing. Finally I just laughed and realized what was happening. Bob and Joe. They were looking down and getting one final laugh as I acted like a fool with this dog. I thought about my two friends that had lost their battles with cancer within the last week and how much they had impacted my life. Bob and Joe were with me as I pushed through the final two miles toward the finish line. I KNOW they were because it was almost effortless and I was able to push the pace a little more.

At the mile 26 marker, my watch had 26.2 and I knew the time would be close. I became a little distracted as I was trying to do the math in my head and the next thing I knew there was a crowd of people in my way. What is going on? Get out of the way dummy's! WHY are you blocking my way?? Then a friend in the crowd ran over to me and told me to get back on the road. What? The road? Oh, I get it.... I had been so wrapped up in trying to figure out the time and pace that I had ended up on the sidewalk where the crowd had gathered. My bad.

I popped out just in front of my family and my wife was taken by surprise. She got an excellent picture of the road after I passed. Turning into the final stretch, I could see the clock and knew for sure that I had made it. Turning on the jets- I sprinted across the finish line in 2:58:52. Good for 7th overall, 1st in the 35-39 age group AND negative splits. The dog finished about a minute behind me.

The hamstring turned out fine and I think it was just a minor scare. A few days off and I'll get back to it. I've got a new PR to beat and a perfect opportunity to do it at the White River Marathon on November 20. Yep. I'm begging for trouble. That's how WE roll....

On The Wings Of Angels and Warriors

Turn The Trail Pink..... I threw the idea out there and YOU responded. Thank you so much for all the support. We all HATE cancer and it amazes me how many lives it has impacted. There are so many times throughout this past year that I have broke down into tears while reading about the destruction this MONSTER has caused. I am so proud to know there are such a high number of warriors ready to fight back! You are AWESOME.

This weekend was all about PINK. Pink is the "official" color of breast cancer awareness month and we represented well. I opted out of my usual Red Friday, in support of the GREAT KC Chiefs, and went with Pink Friday instead. Trust me, I am a dedicated Chiefs fan but some things are just way more important. To me, it was important to get in the right frame of mind and focus on the task at hand, which was breast cancer awareness, honoring those touched by cancer and FIGHTING BACK.

A quick rundown of Saturday morning and then I'll get to the 50k. The Ozark County Relay 5k for Breast Cancer Awareness is an annual event in our little town. We have some very dedicated and awesome people that work really hard to raise funds and they do a great job with the race. I showed up with the idea of "taking it easy" and saving something for Sunday. This was a great plan until we actually started the race. As we took off, I held back for about 30 seconds BUT I just couldn't stand not putting all my effort into it. Maybe I'm competitive and don't like to do less than my best..... uhhh.... no maybe about it. THAT is true. I ran hard and ended up with a PR for this hilly course by about a minute. (a minute is pretty BIG in terms of a 5k) Luckily, the really fast dude (Charley) actually did take it easy and I pulled off a victory with a finishing time of 18:11.

Some really cool things happened during this race. First, some great friends made the trip down from Springfield to support the event. They bypassed several closer 5k's and drove 1 1/2 hours just to run ours. It is people like this that make me proud to be part of the running community. They could have ran a more convenient event but, knowing how important this fight is to all of us, chose to show up and help out. Awesome character. Awesome.

Second, and probably the most significant event of the weekend occurred AFTER the race. A friend, whose wife is fighting cancer, commented on a towel that was on the side of the road at mile one. We all noticed the towel but he put it into proper perspective for all of us. He said, something to the effect, it was there to remind us that we can't throw in the towel. We MUST keep fighting. Very inspiring and motivating. Did I mention the towel was PINK? Yeah, I still have goose bumps.

On to the 50k..... I showed up with the pink tutu and it got a LOT of comments and looks. Imagine that. It was adorned with over 50 ribbons to honor those touched by cancer. My friend, Karla is a super warrior in the fight who found time in her VERY busy life to hand craft each ribbon. Without her, things would have been all screwed up. My wife stayed up late on Saturday night pinning each ribbon to the tutu- each one had to be in the right place and she did an excellent job. Without her, I would be lost.

Several friends were on hand to give me support and made me feel a little more comfortable about showing up decked out in pink. They all ran the 25k and had some amazing finishing times. The race started a little after 8 and we hit the first creek crossing shortly after mile one. I lost track of how many crossings there were but they ALL happened in the first 5 miles leaving us with wet feet for the rest of the race. Sweet. Around mile 5, I "thought" there was enough space between me and the pack behind to slip off the side of the trail. You know, coffee..... As things were starting to flow- a voice- "Girls don't stand up to pee." Busted. Fortunately, it was my buddy Charley (the fast dude from earlier) who was "supposed" to be taking it easy because of injury. It was great to see him and we ran up to mile 13 together. This was the point the 25k and 50k trails split. He went on to place 3rd overall in the 25k...... so much for taking it easy.

At the halfway point I guessed that my position was about 10th or 11th. I was right but things felt good so I kept a good pace and pressed through the hills. At mile 17, I passed one runner and started to feel like I could finish strong. Over the next few miles I passed 3 more runners but was starting to feel a little sluggish. Then, at mile 24, something AWESOME happened.

Coming off a VERY steep climb and really feeling like it was going to be a LONG way to the finish, I looked down at the trail. I almost stepped on it but managed to avoid it and turn around to pick it up. It was a ribbon from the tutu that had fallen off early in the race. The course was out and back, so this ribbon became unattached at mile 6. As I picked it up and looked at the name, a huge smile came across my face. It was a SIGN. The name belonged to Doug R...... (hate to use a last name here- haven't asked the family) Doug lost his fight to cancer and I did not know him. For that matter I do not know any of his family. This is what I DO know.

Doug's daughter was the first to donate online to this event. She told me that, "He was the kind of a guy who wouldn't turn down a patient-- no matter the time of day nor the fact that they couldn't pay." This is EXACTLY my kind of person. The kind that looks at the big picture in life and does what is right, regardless of his personal reward. We need more Doug's in this world. The idea that I found this particular ribbon at such a tough point of the course is not a coincidence. It can't be. It was a rally call. A reminder to stay the course and remember that this race was not about me or how I was feeling. It was about the FIGHT and honoring the real champions.

This was the moment that I KNEW the finish was within reach and would be a strong one. I kicked it up a notch, passed another runner and headed toward the finish line. Coming around the last bend on the trail, I caught a glimpse of another in front of me. He was quite a ways ahead of me and I tried to catch him. I needed another 1/4 mile- he finished 20 seconds before me. Can't win them all.... As I came down the last stretch, there were a lot of cheers for the dude in the pink tutu. Most were my friends that had stuck around after the 25k and it was really cool. I ended up in 5th place and had a finishing time 0f 4 hours 26 minutes. Very good for a chump like me that thought if I could hit 5 hours- it would be by pure luck. Turns out I didn't need luck, I had something better...... The wings of angels and true warriors.

One last thing before this turns into a novel. Thanks to everybody that helped support this effort financially. The total amount raised, as of now, is $405. This includes online, cash and checks. Thank you so much for opening your wallets- it takes money to FIGHT the monster and you have, once again, come through in a big way. There has been some suggestion of possibly running the Bass Pro Marathon, next Sunday, in the tutu. I am open to the idea IF we can make that total $500. Yep. I'm still trying.......

Thanks to LSD....

Yesterday on September 11, 2010, The VOICES Club showed up in full force. Seems fitting that our BEST 5k performance would occur on this date. The race was held in Seymour, MO at the town's annual Apple Festival. It is a great little race because it is FLAT and FAST- I have been every year except once for the last 5 years. It draws a small crowd but grows a little each year.

I fit this race in as part of my everyday running with the thought that it would be fun and a good way to squeeze in some speed work. Speed work. I HATE that stuff and it is a very RARE occasion that you will catch me at the track running Yasso 800's or some other variation of KILL YOURSELF repeats. I just don't care for it or I'm not willing to work that HARD- both of these are probably true. My friend, Charley, and I had decided that we would run the 5k and then run afterwards to make it a combination speed- long run day. His training schedule called for a 20 miler and mine called for.....uhhhh..... whatever, 20 sounded great to me.

We lined up, said a prayer for remembrance and took off. I managed to keep a hard pace (for me) and kept Charley within sight even running with him for the first mile. Significant because he is FAST. I crossed the finish line in 2nd place with a time of 17:07. WOOOOO!!!!!!
WAIT....17:07?? No- that couldn't be right. It wasn't. A quick glance at the Garmin showed the course to only measure out at 3 miles instead of 3.1. Bummer. Doing the math- I have calculated the actual 5k time to be 17:48- Still a PR by 30 seconds or more. Of course, some would claim that it is NOT a 5k PR but those people SUCK. I call it a 5k PR. Done. That's how it is.

Charley and I ended up getting just over 20 miles in for the day- and had a great long run together. This is something we have not been able to do in a while due to schedule conflicts so it was really nice to run with my REAL training partner and friend. Dude knows how to push me when I need it.

Weird. That is how WE explain it. Because of my lack of "expertise" when it comes to all things running, I am confused. There has been ZERO speed work, ZERO training plans, ZERO pressure to improve and ZERO focus on races. Oh well, no need to think to much about it- that just ruins the fun. The VOICES have explained in very simple terms that even a dummy like me can understand. A whole bunch of LSD can really speed a guy up. (no drug test required)

Training is for Chumps- Next Time I'll Be a Chump

It is always fun to try new things and this time was no different. The Lake Freebird Sprint Triathlon in Mtn. Grove, Missouri was a blast. I was a little nervous about giving it a shot but less so than I have been in other events. This was mainly because I had no idea what to expect. Guess that is one good thing about not training..... you have no clue how hard it will be, so there is no need to be nervous.

I got the call at about 10 a.m. Saturday morning that my old Schwinn would be ready for pick-up by noon. Great news. Kind of. That would leave me PLENTY of time to test ride it. Except it didn't happen. A pizza party for my sons baseball team and a promise to take the boys to White Water made this impossible. But I DID get the bike and it appeared to work okay....how would I know anyway? I DON'T ride. Also purchased a helmet while I was there. Probably should have asked for help adjusting the straps and all that- but, in typical style, I didn't even bother to take it out of the box in the store.

We closed the Water Park down and made it home around midnight. Perfect for a few hours of sleep after rounding up some of my gear for Sunday. (last minute is ALWAYS best) I got up at 5 a.m. Ready to roll.....almost. After loading up the bike and the rest of my junk, it was off to McDonalds for a little breakfast and coffee- the perfect pre-race meal.

I arrived plenty early for packet pick-up..... I thought. It was about a one mile walk from the parking area, had I known THIS I would have done things differently. Got the packet, bib, t-shirt and numbers marked on my arms/legs and hiked to the parking area for my gear. Made it back with 5 minutes to spare- missing most of the pre-race instructions but my friend Charley filled me in. Charley actually “trained” for this- at least 4 or 5 swims and a few bike rides. He doesn't think these things through real well either.

The swim. 600 meters. Pretty sure that I was the ONLY person without goggles. Goggles? In the lake? I wasn't planning to scuba dive. It did have me second guessing things and really feeling like a stupid rookie (which I was) making me wonder JUST what I had got myself into. A deafening boom from the cannon signaled the start. I went after it like a pro, gliding through the water, so smooth that there was hardly a trace of ripples to tell where I had been......uh, not really. I flopped out there and splashed like the non-swimmer that I am. I was leery of starting to fast for fear that I would fade out and be “that dude”. You know, the one everybody talks about for the next five years- almost drowned and had to be saved by the lifeguard types. Half way down the front side, I realized that it would be MUCH easier if I actually used my legs and kicked once in a while. Coming down the backside, my competitive side kicked in and I pushed pretty hard, knowing that I had plenty left to make it back. Coming out of the water, I was a little wobbly but not too bad. Time to transition to the bike.

I probably spent too much time here but I was figuring things out on the fly. I scrambled to get my shoes, socks and shirt on. Then I remembered my Garmin- but did not have it set up for biking- so it took a little bit to straighten that out. Helmet? Oh yeah, gotta have that. After securing the helmet and hydration pack I was off. Just in time to see Charley coming in to the transition area. Wasting no more time I pedaled away and began the bike portion.

The bike ride was 14 miles and immediately I realized that it was not going to be as easy as I had imagined. A HUMONGOUS hill started the ride. (maybe not humongous but it was a hill and seemed like a mountain to a novice) Pushing the old bike through the first couple of miles was the toughest but I soon settled into a groove and got the hang of shifting, something I should have probably figured out beforehand. About 4 miles in, this dude on some super duper speedy road bike came up on me. He asked if I had done this course before. All I could do was laugh and say “NOPE”. He advised me to watch the corners. Dumb me- “for what?” Apparently loose gravel is an obstacle to watch for when on a bike- I felt like an idiot but thanked him for the advice. Finally hit the turnaround and knew that I would be able to complete the bike portion. Pedaling hard, I ran into Charley. He was only behind by about a mile and looking strong. We hollered the usual words of encouragement and kept going our separate ways. Around mile 10 a woman looked at my bike and told me that I was at a huge disadvantage riding a bike like that. SURPRISE!!! She also told me that I was doing an AMAZING job, so she gets a pass for the first comment. I managed to maintain a 16.4 mph average on the bike which I think is pretty decent for my FIRST ride and considering the monster mudder tires rolling on the pavement.

I hit the transition area and fumbled with my Garmin again to set it for the run. This was supposed to be the “walk in the park” portion. I am a RUNNER, right? A freakin' marathoner, better yet an ULTRA-marathoner. Whatever. Jumping off a bike and going straight into a run is a little different. I learned this real quick. The 5k started with hills that were small but felt like mountains. Just when things started to feel better- that same HUMONGOUS hill from the bike course showed up. I ran pretty slow for 2/3 of the run but finally decided to step it up and bring it in at a decent pace. 21:15 for an overall pace of 6:51, pretty slow for me. I think that IF I would have got my head together earlier it would have made a difference of a few places overall but IF's don't really count. I crossed the finish line with a total time of 1 hour 29 minutes and 14 seconds placing 27th out of 65 finishers. I was very pleased with this time because I had figured that it would take at least 1 hour 45 minutes. Charley, who ran an 18 minute 5k, came in at 1 hour 32 minutes for 32nd place. Not bad for a couple of rookies.

This was a lot of fun and I would recommend that everybody try it at least once. Me? I HAVE to give it another shot....... after a little training.

A Wrong Turn and a Dozen Roses

Nothing like knocking down a new Personal Record. That is exactly what I did this morning. My previous PR for the 10k distance was set back in September of 2007. It was 38:23- I thought it wouldn't get any better. WRONG. I have not run a 10k for about 2 years and was really hoping for anything under 40 minutes, and thought that might be a stretch. My training has been focused on longer, slower distances with zero speed work so it was a surprise to me that I was able to come through with a 37:38 in the Ava 10k.

This was the first year for the race, which was a 5k and 10k, and with over 250 entrants it wasn't a shock that they were a bit disorganized. I sensed this when trying to register- nobody wanted to accept my registration form and I ended up mailing it in last minute, missing out on the “good” goodie bag and settling for a plastic bag full of coupons. No big deal but a little frustrating- the good bag had some water bottles and a coffee cup. WHO couldn't use those? Oh well, I still got a nice T-Shirt and really, WHO couldn't use another one of those?

The course was laid out in a weird figure 8 pattern that had us crossing the same intersection so many times that I was dizzy. One loop for the 5k and two loops for the 10k, easy enough, right? Nope. I managed to jump in front of the pack early on the first loop and was following the lead car- a police car- but he didn't really know the course.....see where this is going? He took a wrong turn before the completion of the loop one and I, of course, followed. Luckily, I realized the error and adjusted but many runners didn't and ended up short on the distance. The “organizers” recognized this and made the proper corrections.

I don't think the course change affected the outcome as the lead pack followed me and we got back on track. Again, frustrating but not that big of a deal. As the race pressed on, my lead grew and I found myself pushing but probably not as hard as I would have if the pressure was on. Still I put forth a hard effort and was very pleased with the outcome. Nothing is flat around here so the few small hills actually helped because I run hills EVERYDAY.

So I finished the race in first place with a new PR. Not bad for my training. If I didn't fully believe in the benefit of cross training before, I do now. It has made an unbelievable difference for me and I highly recommend it to anybody that is serious about improving. Now if I could just force myself to get down to the track once in a while and put in some speed training.......yeah, right. I despise that stuff.

The award presentation was disorganized. No big shock there. I think it will be better next time- first year mistakes. It was worth the long wait when they finally got around to my award. No real age groups- just ages 0-39 and 40 and up. Weird. I received a Bulova watch, about $200 worth of gift certificates and a Silver Dollar City pass. Not bad. There was also a trophy, which was nice but I figured that I had won enough stuff. I asked that we bump the trophy back to the 2nd place finisher and that would allow the 4th place finisher to take home some hardware too. I really think this was the fair thing to do. Sure, I would have liked to add a trophy to my collection but I already had a freakin' PR- and all the other stuff that I couldn't carry- and that was good enough.

The watch, certificates, PR and a 1st place finish were cool and nice but the BEST part was a certificate to the local flower shop for a dozen roses. This was a $50 value and great timing. I swung by there on my way out of town and had my kids give them to my wife for an early Mother's Day gift. Nothing like winning twice in one day.

A Funny Thing Happened Along The Way....

I didn't set out to become a runner. It just happened. In the beginning there were no thoughts of marathons or ultras. In fact the idea that I “might” be able to run 3 miles one day was dreaming big. To think that running would become not only a passion but a lifestyle for me would have been laughable. It was definitely a case of one day at a time and not looking any further than the next run.

Running was the only reasonable way that I knew of to drop a few pounds and that was my goal, to lose some weight. Why? For my health or to look better in a swimsuit? Nope. Money. Plain and simple, it was greed for the cash that got me up off the couch and out the door that first rainy day in 2006. I had entered a “Biggest Loser” type contest and wanted to win. I weighed around 230 lbs and knew that I needed to lose some weight and this seemed like a great opportunity to try. With the cash as motivation, I set out on January 16, 2006 in the early afternoon to run 1 mile. No problem, easy as can be, just a mile- how hard could it be?

I couldn't hardly breathe, my heart felt like it might explode and my legs were dead tired. I had covered almost 1/3 of a mile. Luckily, I am hard-headed and a little stubborn, so I continued running for the entire mile. It took a lot longer and much more energy than I had thought it would. It seemed like 30 minutes before I could breathe normal again and left me wondering how I was going to be able to do this again. I really had doubts about doing it again but for some reason there I was the next day, ready to torture myself again.

It didn't take long to lose a couple of lbs and that helped to fuel my motivation. Soon I was stretching the distance to 2 miles and shortly after, 3. Secure in the knowledge that I could run the entire distance, I registered for a 5k run in May. Wandering aimlessly with butterflies before the race an older runner asked if it was my first one. Replying yes, he just smiled and said, “You're going to love it. After this one you'll want to run more.” Yeah right, that was my thought. He was right. By the end of that first year I had run several 5 and 10k's along with two ½ marathons.

The running has brought me to a new place in my life and a realization that motivation comes through passion. I love to run. Plain and simple. Some days are harder than others but EVERYDAY that I run is rewarding. The weight loss may have served as a catalyst for my motivation but has become more of an added benefit than anything and I guess I have become a runner. This week I will cross my 6000th mile since that first day 4 years ago and I have learned a lot about myself in this time. There is still a lot more to learn and I look forward to the next 6000 miles......still just one run at a time.

List of Milestones and Races

The following are dates, times and races completed since my first run in 2006. Nothing fast and nothing special. Just a diary of accomplishments and events. Looking at this I can easily see my level of training/over-training. If only I could have seen it at the time........

*January 16, 2006 – 1mile in the rain. First run.

*January 20, 2006 – 2 miles

*February 1, 2006 – 3miles – 30 minutes

*May 6, 2006 – Bradleyville 5k -21:06 -17th overall 2nd age group

July 1, 2006 – Seymour 5k – 19:43 -2nd Overall

*July 4, 2006 – 5 miles -39:37

*July 11, 2006 – 6 miles- 43:15

*July 15, 2006 – Hall of Fame 10k- 43:15- 7th Overall

August 5, 2006 – Mtn. Grove YMCA 5k -19:13 -2nd Overall

August 12, 2006 – Finley River 5k Ozark- 19:22 -12th Overall

August 19, 2006 – MSU Alumni Run Springfield -19:25- 17th Overall

September 2, 2006 – K-Life 5k Branson 1910 - 10th Overall

September 9, 2006 – Seymour Apple Festival 5k- 17:53 -1st Overall

October 7, 2006 – RRS 5k Springfield- 19:14 -8th overall

October 14, 2006 – Sunshine Run 10k Springfield- 39:56- 23rd overall

*November 18, 2006 – Mtn. Home ½ Marathon Arkansas- 1:30:36 -5th Overall (Flu)

December 2, 2006 – Jack Frost 10k Springfield (ice)- 42:09- 1st age group

December 9, 2006 – Jingle Bell 5k Springfield 19:47- 16th overall -2nd age group

December 16, 2006 – Ozark Christmas 5k -18:41- 16th Overall

December 17, 2006 - 1st 20 mile run. -2 hrs 28 min.

December 31, 2006 – Run for the Ranch ½ Marathon Springfield -1:34:04 Rain

March 25, 2007 – Frisco ½ Marathon Springfield- 1:33:54- 16th Overall *lesson learned

May 5th, 2007 – Bradleyville 5k -19:30 -10th Overall

May 12, 2007 – Caney Mtn. Trail 5k- 19:42- 1st Overall ($100)

June 9, 2007 – Finley River 5k- 18:32- 7th Overall

June 30, 2007 – Seymour 5k -18:16 -3rd Overall

July 14, 2007 – Hall of Fame 10k Springfield- 40:44- 10th overall

September 8, 2007 Prep Summit 5k Springfield -19:25- 2nd Overall

September 15, 2007 Are You Faster Than a 5th Grader 5k Springfield- 18:18- 3rd Overall

September 29, 2007 Kiwanis 10k Springfield- 38:23- 5th Overall

*November 4, 2007 Bass Pro Marathon- 3:13:48- 20th Overall- BQ

March 2, 2008 Little Rock Marathon -3:29:17 -60th Overall

April 26, 2008 Gainesville 5k- 19:20 -2nd Overall

May 3, 2008 Bradleyville 5k -19:18- 17th Overall

May 17, 2008 RRS Springfield 5k -19:18 -12th Overall

June 14, 2008 Seymour 5k- 18:10 -4th overall

June 21, 2008 Nixa 10k -40:00 -7th Overall

August 30, 2008 Branson k-life 5k -18:42- 2nd Overall

October 1, 2008 Gainesville 5k -20:04- 2nd Overall

October 18, 2008 Rogersville 5k- 19:34- 4th Overall

*October 26, 2008 Dogwood Canyon 25k -2:11:30- 8th Overall

November 2, 2008 Bass Pro Marathon -3:16:54- 12th Overall

November 15, 2008 Mtn Home Marathon -3:26:43- 3rd Overall (Sick)

November 27, 2008 Turkey Trot 5k Springfield -18:48 -50th Overall

November 29, 2008 Mtn Grove 5k -19:01- 2nd Overall

December 6, 2008 Charleston Mo 5k -18:25- 5th Overall

February 21, 2009 Sylamore 25k Trail Arkansas- 2:31:33 -5th Overall

*April 18, 2009 Frisco 50k Willard to Bolivar -4:20:57- 5th Overall

April 25, 2009 Gainesville 5k -20:08 -2nd Overall

May 2, 2009 Bradleyville 5k -19:49- 8th Overall

May 16, 2009 Branson Rec Plex 5k -19:52 -1st Overall

September 12, 2009 Seymour 5k -18:36 -3rd Overall

September 13, 2009 Tulsa Turkey & TATURS 50k- 6:05:23- 6th Overall

October 10, 2009 Gainesville 5k -20:13- 2nd Overall

October 25, 2009 Dogwood Canyon 25k Trail- 2:11:13- 8th Overall

November 1, 2009 Bass Pro Marathon- 3:15:03- BQ -20th Overall

November 21, 2009 Mtn Home Marathon Arkansas-3:32:39- 6th Overall (calf strain mile 1)

February 20, 2010 Sylamore 50k Trail Race- Allison, Arkansas- 5:15:52 19th/139

*April 17, 2010 Ouachita 50 Mile Trail Race - Little Rock, Arkansas- 8:47:07 3rd Overall
April 24, 2010 Gainesville 5k- Gainesville, MO- 19:24- 1st Overall
May 1, 2010 Bradleyville Scholarship 5k- Brownbranch, MO- 18:39 7th Overall, 1st Age
May 8, 2010 Ava Lions Club 10k- Ava, MO- 37:39- 1st Overall
*June 18-19, 2010 Relay for Life- Gainesville, MO- 54.08 miles- 10:33:00
*July 11, 2010 Lake Freebird Sprint Tri- Mt. Grove, MO- 1:29:20- 27th/65
July 17, 2010 West Plains 5k- West Plains, MO- 18:45- 2nd Overall
September 11, 2010 Apple Fest 5k- Seymour, MO- 17:48- 2nd Overall (short course-5:44 pace)

* denotes 1st time at distance *

But the BLING is nice........

Sometimes the VOICES chime in with this......Why keep racing? You will never win. Just stop already..........

To this I don't usually have an answer. Could it be for the BLING, the friendships or the self-satisfaction of pushing the limits of my own body. I will never be an "elite" runner and at 190 lbs it is unreasonable to believe that my PR's will ever rival those "fast dudes" at the local races but I can push myself to run my time and have a respectable finish.  I love to expand the distance and have completed numerous races including a few 50k ultras since my first 5k in 2006. 

It is nice to get a finisher's medal at the bigger events and the age group awards are always nice. I have even WON a few smaller 5k's and raked in a whopping $175 in cash awards. Nice but not fooling myself. The friends I have made are much bigger than any win. The people that show up to regular area events are always friendly, focused and very generous with encouragement, tips and good conversation. I have had the good fortune to be featured in the local newspaper and have made an appearance in another because of my running. This is as close as I will ever come to SI's Man of the Year and oddly, I am good with that. 

When the VOICES ask again I will tell them.......For the camaraderie of fellow runners, the fame, the fortune and the BLING baby. But they will know it is more about pushing the distance and challenging myself to see just how much I can handle. That is what really drives me....The challenge of it all, everything else is just frosting on the cake. Delicious frosting but still just frosting.