Quigley Down Under!

Hi America! Long time no see, how come you never call?

Well, I didn't do the Astro's Race afterall. I heard the alarm but some part of me just wanted to listen to the pretty music and not wake up. I didn't get much sleep since I was at the midnight movie the night before. Initially the plan was to see the midnight showing of "Shaun of the Dead" and then hang out at a coffee shop or an all night restaurant and burn the candle at both ends and run the Astros Race and then crash for 10 hours. But at some point, I think around 3:00 AM, we decided that that was stupid. But Shaun of the Dead is great, you should see it.

And there seems to be several good movies at the midnight show coming up at the Landmark River Oaks. Like Evil Dead 2, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and A Clockwork Orange. And it seems their showing of Rocky Horror comes with a live cast to perform everything in synchrony. Might be interesting anyway. Also, rest assured that the high school counter culture is alive and well, they congregate at the midnight movie. There is definitely a specific phenotype of people there, all wierd in a rather similar way. :) Except one girl behind us, who when the guy was talking to the crowd before the show and asked everyone "what movies would you like to see at the midnight show?" she kept yelling "Quigley Down Under!" "Quigley Down Under!" and I was all, "Isn't that that movie with Tom Selleck in Australia?" Anyway, it seemed like a strange movie for a cult following. I haven't seen it though.

What else... what else... I also didn't run this weekend. Not so much from laziness, but from business. I have run this week, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I'd like to start another streak. I think I will...

The CLFC prediction run is this weekend. 6 miles, I predict to run them in 51:00. That's faster than a typical training run for me, but I think I can predict a faster run better than some kind of average steady pace run.

And btw, blogosphere, I pulled some strings for you. Because of me, you and your children are welcome at the Kids' run. From the club website it might look like that invite is for every child in the world, but be assured, between the lines, it is specifically addressed to YOU!

Anywho, gotta run. Literally, since I already mentioned that I ran on Thursday, I have to make sure that's not a lie.

Keith.

Crock Pot!

Hi America, How are you? You look good.

How has the running been? It's been okay for me. I ran 9 on Saturday, and I was actually quite tired. And 4 miles more on Wednesday. I guess that's not a whole lot of running though. This must be a pretty disappointing blog. :( You must hate me. :(

I might be running the Astro's Race this weekend. I'm not sure how I'll get my long run in then, but anyways, it should be fun. I guess I'll do it on Sunday.

My mind is wandering a little. I must be hungry. And you know, right now, at my house, my crock pot is preparing my food for me. I think that's the greatest thing ever. Not only is it delicious, but it's ready the second I get home. The only problem is the rate I drive is increased, and my mind wanders a bit throughout the day. Oh, crock pot, how I love you. And every once in a while, while I'm eating the delicious crock pot stuff, there's a chunk of undissolved bouillon cube and "Aaaiieieeeeieeey!" and I cry a little. I can't decide if I love undissolved bouillon or hate it.

Keith.

where's my umbrella?

Tuesday brought me back to the little indoor track at school for 14 laps. I've been running the last 1.5 laps or so without my shoes. I'm under the impression that it's good for my form, and also for strengthening my feets. It's gotten easier than it was at first, except for the blisters, I still get blisters. But the running is easier, I think I'll increase to two laps now. Eventually, maybe I'll run the last mile withouts me choos.

This morning I was on the Kemah Bridge, running with some peeps from the club. Bravo-Zulu to Ed and Peter and David and Terry and her friend and the other woman who may or may not be Irma, and also to me. I've got to set the alarm clock for 4:00 to get out there by 5 and get done by 6 to be at work on time, and I've made it there 3 out of the last 4 weeks. Good for me.

I'll probably have some time to hit the pool this evening. I swam on Sunday, or was it Monday? Did I blog that? If I didn't blog it, did it really happen?

Anyways, gotta work now.
Keith out.

Everybody's cooler than me.

There are cool people everywhere. Everybody cooler than me. Go to the gym, the ultracool are there. At the rock wall, they're even cooler. At the bike shop, cooler than cool. Name one person that's not cooler than me.

Claudia and I were ice skating last night, and the cool people were there, seeing how fast they can go, weaving in and out of the beginners, freaking us out. We had dinner at the Grand Lux Cafe, and the ice cold peeps were there too. Everybody except our waiter, he was funny, he kept apologizing for the food, which was great. He warned us beforehand that the petite filet really was petite, and that my burger was going to have mushrooms, which I knew from reading the menu. And then he apologized that the molten chocolate cake wasn't as molten as it usually is. Everything seemed excellent to me, I wouldn't have guessed that it was all crap.

This morning I got up early to run, hoping to reach 10 miles. It's been a few weeks since I've run that long, and the mental barriers have returned already. But apparently I'm fit enough for a ten miler, since I didn't have much trouble. The only problem was the giant burger with the mushrooms from the night before, which made me keep my pace easy, or I'd start feeling sick.

Afterwards, we took our bikes into Houston and parked by Shepard and Memorial. We rode down Buffalo Bayou, and parts of it were very muddy. We passed another rider that warned us about some mud up ahead which he had obviously fallen into. And apparently Claudia doesn't have any fear of mud, so we went right through it. We rode our mud covered bikes to Jones Hall and bought tickets for Joshua Bell's performance tonight.

On the way back we rode along Allen Parkway and saw all the cool peeps with their cool artcars in the Artcar parade. It was a cool day.

Anyways, be cool America.
Keith.

Go ahead.

Okay, now that I got the go-ahead from Coach Bill, I can start training, and also return to blogging. That's right, I was waiting for the go-ahead to post again. So don't complain about the lack of updates because it's your fault!

Hmmm, now I'm wondering if I should run the bridge tomorrow morning? What do you all think? Should I go?

Keith.

Update: I ran the bridge.

Update: Now, I'm trying to see how long I can hold my breath.

Update: I'm getting dizzy.

UPJkadate: kzzzzzk nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnxnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn
nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

Thinking out loud...

The San Antonio Marathon is November 11 this year.
That's 193 days, or about 6.5 months from now.
My goal is to break 4:00 (9:10 m/m), in that race or in Dallas in December.
My PR is 4:17 (9:49 m/m), so 4:00 is sufficiently ambitious.
The McMillan Calculator says I can run a 3:51 (based on a 1:49 half marathon). Even Galloway's Calculator says 3:53.

My mileage is around 25 per week right now, which isn't that much, but I think okay for the offseason. I'll be designing the training plan soon and I'll post it here. I'm thinking it will probably have two key runs in the week, and lots of junk miles because I loves me the junk. I'll have one long run, and the other alternating between a tempo run one week and a medium long marathon pace run the next. I've never really done any tempo runs or speedwork of any kind other than the bridge, so that should be interesting. I think I'll have three 20+ milers and 6-8 weeks over 50 mpw.

How does that sound? Too ambitious? Training plan not difficult enough?

Keith.

Weekend workout wrap-up

Early Friday evening, Claudia and I headed to the pool, but forgot that the gym closes at 8:00 on Fridays and the pool closes 30 minutes before that. That only left us with 10 minutes to swim so we reconsidered and just ran a bit. I ran 2 easy miles and then 1.5 laps in my barefeet.

Saturday morning I got up and headed out to the park to run with the club. 3 miles early by myself and 5 miles with the group. GPS watch says it was 9:37 pace average.

Saturday afternoon, we made it back to the gym to get in our swim. It seems like I'm improving already. I started out as planned with 4 laps, leaving every ninety seconds and then switched to 4 laps leaving every 60 seconds. After a couple laps, I confused myself with trying to count the intervals between laps instead of the laps, because that's what really counts, since four laps with 60 second starts really only stresses my cardiovascular system 3 times (or maybe it is 4, I dunno... No wait, I'm right. I should count the intervals because the first lap isn't any more difficult than those before), but anyway, I started losing track of how many I had done. I was feeling good so I made sure I did more than 4, I think 6 or 7. Then I returned to several laps with 90 second starts. I think there were 16 laps total.

Sunday, we tested Claudia's new bicycle and rode down to Burke-Crenshaw Park and around on the dirt roads behind the park a little. It was about 5 miles or so.

Thursday morning on the bridge

Believe it or not, I actually got myself out of bed at 4:00 this morning to go run the Kemah bridge. Everybody likes to get done early so they can go to work, so we start at 5 and try to get done by 6:00. There was about 7 or 8 people there Thursday morning.

I ran the warmup loop around the parking lot and two laps on the bridge and then another lap around the parking lot to cool down. I didn't find it all that difficult, but I'm still going to have to get in better shape if I'm going to answer my the Kemah Bridge Challenge, and run 10 laps without stopping.

Keith.

Running, Swimming, Ditching

Since my last post...

I ran 4 or 5 miles on Thursday, I think. Or did I? I know I went to the gym on Friday to run and swim but then they had a swim meet so we couldn't swim, but the leisure pool was open and only for a half hour longer so we did that first and swam a little but mostly played basketball in the pool and went down the slide a couple times, but that was Friday, so maybe I don't remember what I did on Thursday, but maybe I ran on Wednesday then.

But I'm sure I ran 5 miles on Saturday morning with my beloved club, and then 6 miles on Sunday morning with Broadway Joe and his beloved club. We ran down in Texas City from Anchor Park and it was very nice. They have some nice trails and a nice 5K loop and a nice long levee to run on. It seems our clubs might try a new level of cooperation, offering both club's members a service which is greater than the sum of the parts. (You know how it is, since we're both competing with a certain gargantuan for-profit running club, that looks like a non-profit company, and even has coaches and support crew that volunteer their time as if it were a non-profit, but isn't non-profit at all.)

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaanyway, tuesday night I ran 5K in a mess of loops around the indoor track at school, and then 12 trips across the pool. The pool is always an experience. I think it went better than last time, and I tried to follow some kind of a pattern so I could track my improvement. The first time I just swam until I was exhausted and rested until I could swim again. This time I started out with one trip across the pool, which was taking around 27-30 seconds, and then resting until the end of the minute, and then leaving again. After 4 trips it was too much, so I changed it to 90 second starts, which I could maintain for the rest of the workout. Next time I think I'll start with the 90 second starts and switch to 60 seconds for the middle laps.

Anyway, I'm at work so I can't blog too long. But I have to tell you, I just got back from a Podcasting Summit, that I really only signed up for to get the free lunch. But anyway, I'm sitting there with my friend Claudia and my other friend Yong, and we finished our food and we're sitting, planning our exit, thinking one goes this way and the other that way and so forth and so on, but there really was no good way to do it. Any way to go would be mildly awkward on some level, since they had people standing by the doors, probably for just that reason. Eventually though, Claudia and I just bit the bullet and got up and walked straight out, and we totally ditched Yong. He looked at us with such shock when we got up. The keynote speaker was talking at the time and he had made the rounds and chatted with us a little before the start and we all agreed that he had figured us out and were just there for the lunch. Anyway it was funny. I think Yong is still there. I feel a little bad about it.

Keith.

Where do all my pens go? I buy them all the time!

Update:

Friday, dinner and drinks with JD and Jaclyn and Broadway Joe. It was a lot of fun, and incidentally, I am not very good at drinking. I was half drunk after only half a beer.

Saturday, 4 miles long run with the club on Saturday morning.

Sunday, 3.1 miles consisting of 14 laps around the little track at school.

Also Sunday, 300 meters in the pool. Is that good or am I out of shape for swimming? What is it like for normal people when they first start swimming? I'd swim 25m across the pool and have to wait at the other end for several minutes before crossing back. A couple times I tried to go back right away and I couldn't make it and had to stop and doggiepaddle it back in shame.

I wish I had more time for swimming and other sports as well. Like ping-pong and bowling and pool and skating and more running too.

I'm very excited about going to the Cirque du Soleil on Thursday night. And next week we'll go see Itzhak Perlman with the Houston Symphony. I have to admit, I'm budgeting very well this month. Those two things aren't cheap, and I had to pay 700$ for the rediculous UH fee bill this month also. But I've been ordering from the value menu and packing a lunch every now and then too. How very mature of me! WTG Keith!

Keith.

Mobilize the Geeks : Spirit of the Marathon

Hi Bloggers,



Christy's right. We should mobilize and get a special screening of Spirit of the Marathon here in Houston. As she mentioned here on her blog, you can send an email to info@marathonmovie.com and tell them to come to Houston for their special screening. Whoever they hear from the most wins. Email your club members, bloggers seem to have representatives from all of them.

Stupid New Yorkers with their Biggest Marathon in the World probably think it should be there and probably assume it and wont even send any emails, they'll just assume it! They're so self-centered! New Yorkers. And LA? Please. Those people are too cool to care about anything. They show up at the Lakers games in the third quarter and talk on their cellphones the whole time. And Chicago! Well, they already get the official screening, we're competing for a second special screening, so Chicago doesn't count. That leaves us as the fourth biggest city in the world, so we should get it. And we've got the spirit of the marathon bleeding from our pores. That should help.

Keith.

Congrats JD!

While I was rolling over, hitting the snooze and pulling the covers back up over my head, Das Mixture's own JD was finishing up 10 laps on the Kemah bridge. Congrat's JD! I'm sorry I wasn't out there to meet you, but the cold rain and my stuffy head and fever said "no." We should arrange some way to deliver your award. I can't promise it's going to be worth all that effort, but I can promise this, it will be the most beantastic medal you have.



Rock on like JD. (and JC - haven't forgotten you buddy!)
Keith.

I am not happy today.

I say that and giggle because it reminds me of a couple times when I was at the Galleria Skating Rink and there was a middle aged asian man training a bunch of little tiny asian girls, not more than 10 years old, and they were all skating around, 100 times better than me, and he just kept yelling at them, "Faster!," "Bend your knees," "Faster!" and one time, as one little girl looked at him sheepishly, he turned and said mournfully, "I am not happy today."

In general, I am not happy today because I'm still feeling miserable from the cold that hit me on Wednesday night. And my long run is scheduled for tomorrow, and it's supposed to be cold and rainy. Cold and rainy is not what I want to hear at this moment. Otherwise things are going great. I study biological science. I love my classes. I've got a crazy teacher, he wears dark glasses.

If I still feel bad tomorrow morning, I'll postpone the long run until Sunday. Actually, lets just plan to do it on Sunday and make sure I'm recovered. That's what Sundays are for, making up for lost miles. Sundays are for forgiveness. I'll run 10 on Sunday and I'll dedicate those miles to Jesus! Thanks Jesus for all the forgiveness and everything else. Big props to the Big Man! Whoo hoo! Rock on!

Keith.

14 laps around the 360m track.

14 laps Wednesday evening on the indoor track at school. I think it's about 5K.

But I was feeling a little under the weather, and now after the run, I'm feeling a lot under the weather. I'm feeling cold even though it's not cold, and everything is louder and brighter than it should be. On the other hand, I am wearing JD's medal for when he answers the Kemah Bridge Challenge, which is helping. Anyway, I've been sleeping a lot, but I'm ready for some more sleep, so see you later.

Keith.

Still doing my runner impression

7 miles through the neighborhood this morning. That's more weekday miles than I've had in a long time. Mmm mmm good.

I plan to get back to something like 30-35 mpw for a month or so, then build, then add some tempo runs and marathon pace running, and put all my eggs in the basket of some lucky November/December marathon and see if I can't break 4:00. Hows about 2 7milers, 2 3milers, and a 10-13miler? How does that sound? Good? For the off-season?

One of JD's comments tangentially brought up a good point. Are we never going to have another blogger gettogether? Just because we're defunct as an official club doesn't mean we can't all take a lap around some large thing and then eat some terribly unhealthy food once in a while.

Or should we just meet up at the races? Who's running BlueBell?

Kieth.

The Kemah Bridge Challenge

April 2, 2007.

Okay, this will be the official post with all the necessary information for future reference.

Inspired by crazy Kemah Bridge Ultrarunners like Bob Linza, Buddy Brown, and Mark Henderson, I've decided to challenge the moderately crazy runner inside the rest of us to push themselves with some extra laps on the bridge. And I'll even back it up with a custom award of undefined form, handmade by myself, or possibly my friend Claudia if I can convince her to make some also.

Completion of the challenge consists of running 10 complete laps on the Kemah Bridge with only as much walking as you realistically feel that the walking didn't count. One lap is defined as the entire round trip, over the bridge and back, run the safe way, looping around under the overpasses on both sides, staying on the left side of the road at all times, like this. This distance is approximately 1.92 miles per trip, making the entire run about 19.2 miles.

Previous Award Winners are:

James David Dykas : April 6, 2007 : 10 laps in 3 hours 25 minutes

Questions you may have:

Who are you to pose a challenge like this? You haven't even done this yourself! - Fair point. You're right.

Is your "handmade award of undefined form" really worth this much effort? - Likely not.

How will you officially verify that I finished? Will you be there? - It's my backyard, so maybe I can be there. Otherwise I'll verify it by your lack of shifty eyes and your overall demeanor when you tell me you finished it. You could also provide a photo, as suggested by DirtRunner, to help convince me and the world. It would also help commemorate your achievement, which is nice.

How well equipped are the aid stations? - The aid stations are as well equipped as you equip them.

What will the award be like? What will it be made of? - The medal is still undesigned. Knowing myself, it might have a monkey on it. They might all be different. As far as the material, it might be made of clay, or metal, or nuts, or shells, or wood. I've also done some work with macaroni in my early years.

Where is the best place to park? - There's a little japanese restaurant named "Ichibon's" right where the start/finish is on this map, that's where the CLFC people park when they run the bridge.

Good luck!
Keith.

Bridge Challenge Roll Call

Ten loops on the bridge, as defined here, = 1 homemade trophy commemorating your mental instability.

To answer some questions:

Steve, no I don't have to be there, but it's possible that I can be since it's my backyard. And many times, the water that you stash there will still be there when you loop around, but one time, a guy from the club put a cooler with some provisions there and somebody stole it all.

JD, I don't know exactly what the award will be like, but probably not hobo-related. Maybe they will all be different (assuming I have to make more than one). Unless you really like hobos.

Christy, I'll make sure yours can be worn like a medal.

Steve and JD might try it. I might even have to do it also. Christy will do it if Sarah does it, and Sarah secretly wants to do it.

Keith.

10 miles Saturday morning

I didn't know how far I wanted to run. Probably 8 or 9. I started out with Ed and Robin from the club, around 6:00 AM. About 6:05 it got cold and started pouring, and about 6:10 it stopped raining altogether. We headed out from the parking lot at the Seabrook trails and headed south towards the Bridge. I ran about 6.7 miles in the first leg, over the bridge, down the boardwalk, and back to the trails. I stopped at the park for some candy and a very small amount of chit chat and then finished up my 10 miles on the trails. It was raining again, very hard, with lightning also and not mud, but huge pools of water on the trails. I kindof enjoyed it, but was a little frightened by a few lightning strikes that were too close for comfort. When I got back to the pavillion my GPS said 9.9 miles, so I had to continue on just a little further. I was afraid the people in the club would be upset by my running through the lightening and not finding shelter, but instead they cheered and said 'go!' as I ran by.

Keith.

Crazy Kemah Bridge Runners

Bob Linza started the Seabrook Lucky Trails Marathon. And it seems to have taken off pretty well.

Then, do you remember when Bob ran 14 loops for more than a full marathon distance on the Kemah Bridge? All by himself, before work on a Thursday morning. (I always wondered why that idea didn't take off like the Seabrook Marathon. - probably because it's crazy)

But now, two people have broken the record for most laps on the bridge. On Saturday, March 24th, Buddy Brown, of the CLFC ran 17 laps on the Kemah bridge! And then on Sunday, March 25th, Mark Henderson, of BARC also ran 17 laps on the bridge! So now it's tied at 17 laps on the bridge, and there's talk of trying to run 20.

FYI, a loop or a lap on the bridge is defined as the entire round trip, back and forth run the safe way, meaning looping around under the overpasses on both ends, always on the left side of the road of course. like this.

I understand the challenge to run farther and farther and more and more loops of the bridge, but it's already too much to be an active participant for a two-bit chump like me. How about 7 loops? that seems hard enough. Or 10, maybe that should be the standard challenge. Yeah! There should be a standard challenge for the only moderately crazy people. Okay, I'll define a standard challenge, and I'll even back it up with some hardware! If you, my loyal reader, run 10 consecutive laps on the Kemah bridge, I'll make you a custom award with my own little hands to commemorate you mental instability.

Rock on,
Keith.

Are you following me?

There's a lot to catch up on. A lot I haven't blogged. I've been busy with the Seabrook Marathon website, which should be less active for a while now that all the results are up, and all the pictures are up, and the feedback form is up.

But that's not all I've been up to. Here are just a few of the things I've done and not blogged about.

Ran the Seabrook Marathon Relay with my pals Yong, Heather, and Claudia.

Ran 8.25 miles with the club on the 24th, and even some with my long lost training partner.

Went ice skating on Sunday evening - 1 fall, getting better, less scared.

Ran 5 miles Monday morning.

Can you believe that? I even ran a race and didn't blog it!

Anyway, I brought my running clothes and ran after work this evening. There's a route around campus and down the bayou that is about 10K.

It was just about sunset time, and I got to see some bats flying around down by the bayou, which I thought was cool. I keep meaning to check out the bats around the Waugh Street Bridge. Has anybody seen them? Is it cool?

Anywho, I was running along, on the return trip along the bayou, and by this time it was already dark. Now, the bayou has some nice houses alongside it, and it looks like a nice area, but if you're running in that area at dusk, it will occur to you that only that one row of houses that border the bayou are nice, and the rest... is somewhat less nice. The bars on the doors and windows are a good clue to that.

Well, I'm running along and the first wierd thing I see is the silhouette of a man that apparently had just been laying on the ground. There's a grassy area between the road and the bayou trail, and he had been laying there for some time. As he started walking around it was quite clear that he was completely intoxicated. He was stumbling and stomping around, and it was strange because he was dressed in what looked like a sportscoat and nice pants. How he got there, and how he got so intoxicated so early in the day is a question I had too. He was fairly young, maybe early 20s, and much too drunk to be a real threat to a strapping vibrant young man like myself, but I ran softly anyway until I passed him.

But then there was this other guy, walking on the trail ahead, and he yells out, "Hey white boy!" This other guy was a very large black man, who could have been a threat to me if he wanted to be, but it was clear he was addressing the drunk. "Are you following me?! Are you following me!?" he yells at the drunk man. On and on he yelled, "I saw you over there, when I was there, and now you're here! Are you following me?!" The drunk guy looked completely terrified. There was only yelling though, and I don't think there was ever any real threat to anybody. I think he was just having some fun, messing with the drunk guy. It's fun to mess with drunk people. I understand that.

But anyway, I covered the 6+ miles, and now, with 8 on Saturday, 5 on Monday, and 6 on Wednesday, it's almost starting to look like I'm an actual runner. It feels good to get back into it. I've been running lately, but mostly just the group runs on the weekends. It has been hard to get myself out the door for more miles all by myself. I'm getting over that though.

Rock on.
Keith.