Running Down a Dream 2: It's All About the Swag

[ScoJo15]

Thanks everyone

...gotta play catch up a little bit here....

Saturday I did 30 minutes on the elliptical and Sunday I completed an 8 mile run. My run was great & it just felt really good to be out there...I felt real strong every single mile. I did the 8 in 66:22 for an 8:17mpm pace.

Yesterday I knocked out another 30 minutes on the elliptical.

Today I'm gonna get out there and run for 50-60 minutes.

I'm still undecided on this weekend. There is a 5k race on Saturday that is real close to my house and might be fun, but I'm just not sure if I want to do it or not. With the temps up and DD wanting to go to the pool, it has renewed my interest in finally learning how to swim....besides....gotta be able to complete that Triathlon in '09 LOL

Have a good day

 

[goldcupmom]

Scott, you continue to AMAZE me! You've come so far in the last year+. It's INCREDIBLE.

So, here's a race for you - all up hill at a good altitude(4900 - 6500 ft - view is beautiful!):

http://www.newmexicomarathon.org/

But, if you do the http://bioparksociety.org/runforthezoo/ and break the event record, you get $10,000 CASH!!! (New bike???)

Have a wonderful week & weekend!

 

[toystoryduo]

You're doing a great job, Scott! Keep up the good work!

 

[kimwim8]

AWESOME pace, Scott!! Enjoy the pool and the time with your daughter. We both know they grow up WAY too fast!

Enjoy the show tonight!!!

 

[ScoJo15]

Good morning

Julie - Thanks for the links, but "all up hill"??? are you trying to kill me??

Last night I did a late evening run. I had planned on doing the 6.6 miles around my 'hood which would have resulted in 60 or so minutes...but as I was nearing the 50 minute mark I decided to stop there and walk the last mile home. Nothing was wrong, I was a bit tired but that really didn't impact anything...it was just a nice night, 50 minutes was sufficient for my current training plan and I really thought a nice walk would do me some good. So I did 5.6 miles in 50:30 (9:01mpm) and strolled 1 mile in 16 minutes, happy and content with my thoughts.

I have decided to run the 5k race on Saturday morning, for mostly personal reasons. I do hope to have a good showing though...and I don't have any expectations on setting another PR or placing...just gonna get out there for the sport of it.

Tonight I'll do 30-40 on the elliptical...tomorrow I'll run 4 miles...Friday I'll either rest or do 30 XT...and Saturday will be the race. Sunday I plan on running 8 miles again for my long run.

I hope everyone has a good day

 

[AmyBeth68]

Hi Scott

Just a couple of comments about your training. All I can say is HOLY CR*P.... that run you had on Saturday was just outrageous!!!! I'm so proud of you Scotty!!! You have really reached this level in your running that is so inspiring. I know I say it all the time, but your dedication to the training, the consistency of your runs and cross training, it is simply text book! Speaking of text books ....when are you writing YOUR running book? What you've managed to achieve over the course of a year is simply astounding to me. I'd buy your book....just make sure to include triathlon training in there ok .

Have a great day Scott. Enjoy the big Idol finale tonight and of course Lost!!! Oh yeah....and way to go Apolo!!!! So glad he won last night . Was a really good season of DWtS.

 

[ScoJo15]

Thanks Amy

About the book....I'm in desperate need of a co-author. One who is intelligent, witty, knows a bit about medical conditions and has some marathoning experience... Also, I'll need a catch phrase..a slogan..an icon..an identifiable "brand" a la the Penguin for our friend J.B. When can you start?

And Apolo!! LOVED that he beat out Joey...I thought Joey was a bit cocky and heck, he had a bit of dancing experience....Apolo and his partner were consistently awesome and had some of the best dances I've seen on the show since it started. Makes me want to drag my two left feet out there and boogie

 

[kimwim8]

Hey guys. I gotta agree that I was SO glad Apolo won last night! In the beginning I was rooting for Joey, but soon lost interest since the dancing really wasn't a challenge for him except for his bum sticking out.

Scott - I definitely agree with Amy that you need to write a book. (and the co-author idea is a great one ). Both of you are awesome runners and have such inspirational roads that you've "run" so far.

Your training plan, Scott, is nothing but spectacular. I'm sure you'll do incredibly at the 5k.

 

[toystoryduo]

So glad Apolo won! DWTS is really the only reality show that I have watched on occasion this year.

You are doing a great job with your training Scott! Your times are awesome! I think you are going to do a great job at the 5K this weekend. Keep up the good work!

Have a great Thursday!

 

[ScoJo15]

...had to skip a run yesterday due to injury...

...nothing serious, but enough to merit a day of healing...

...allow me to rewind a bit and explain how it all happened...

It was a gorgeous day, the kind of weather that you dream about all winter long...high 70s not a cloud in the sky...slight breeze, smell of freshly planted flowers wafting through the air, the sound of aluminum bats hitting baseballs in a park nearby...who know the tragedy that was soon to befall us...

I was at the pool participating in an evening water polo match when a thunderous sound distracted me from shooting the go ahead goal...an object that can only be described as a rounded metal Twinkie (without the cream filling) hovered over the entire aquatic center. Within moments, a little pod like thing (think Ding Dong - again without the cream filling) descended and plopped down over by the diving boards. Soon an odd shaped martian like creature stepped out with a massive phototronic plasma particle gun (don't ask how i know this) and proclaimed war on all humanity. I had to think quick...rely on my instincts...I jumped out of the water and roughed him up WWE/UFC style, not looking for a tap out or submission...my intent was much worse. It was fast though...so fast that after my initial assult it made it back to the Ding Dong in a flash, followed by a hasty retreat to the world it came from. Humanity had been saved...back to water polo. Oh yeah, the injury...almost forgot...during the rouging up session, that PPP gun flew out of it's appendage and landed squarely on my toe (the toe next to the big toe, does it have a name?) In hours after the battle, my toe swelled up a little and shows some discoloration. I don't think it's broken, but I didn't want to make it worse by running on it.

So there you have it. The headline reads:

Toe injury prevents ScoJo from Training Run

Don't mind the paragraph afterwards that describes the injury resulting from kicking toys around with the dog and stubbing the toe on a baseboard in a clumsy display of adeptness....can't believe anything you read these days


Today I'll be easing back into the elliptical and tomorrow is that 5k race.

I hope y'all have a great day!

 

[AmyBeth68]

I think the technical term for it is....wait for it....


2nd toe


Hilarious post! Please wear shoes whenever you are out of bed. I believe this is the 3rd toe injury in one year. You either have freakishly long toes or you may be slightly clumsy. Steel toes on all footwear may also be warranted. Oh yeah....and watch out for steps too.

Have a great day. GOOD LUCK tomorrow!!! I know you'll kick booty.

 

[ScoJo15]

... You either have freakishly long toes...

You know what they say about people with freakishly long toes...

 

[AmyBeth68]

You know what they say about people with freakishly long toes...

They can't wear toe socks???

Oh....and for the record....I find toe socks freakish and frightening!

 

[kimwim8]

Ahhhhh. I just love the S&A show. Thanks for the afternoon chuckle!

Good luck in your 5K race, Scott! Enjoy and maybe you'll get another HUGE prize!!

Have a wonderful extended weekend, too!

 

[toystoryduo]

They can't wear toe socks???

Oh....and for the record....I find toe socks freakish and frightening!

You guys are too funny!

Hope your 2nd toe is feeling better, Scott. Thanks for saving the world for us!

Have a great weekend and good luck at the 5K!

 

[ScoJo15]

Thanks everyone!

Yesterday I made it to the fitness center and completed 30 minutes on the elliptical. It was a good "toe test" and thankfully I had no pain or discomfort. At this point it's only noticeable when I'm shoeless...and since my "running buddy" has insisted that I keep those feet protected, I don't find myself in a shoeless predicament. (wonder how I'm gonna pull off the trips to the pool this weekend?...hope Asics are waterproof )

I rolled out of bed early this morning and participated in the Holly Springs Memorial Day 5k. No, it's not Memorial Day today, but it's close enough I suppose. I guess if you live in Holly Springs, you can open Christmas presents on Dec. 23

Anyway...I was instantly disheartened when one of the first people I saw was the winner of my age group in the last race that I ran....my chance of winning my group had officially been eliminated before I even got out of the car. But the Zen mantra that is infecting these boards took over and I shrugged it off and mentally set out for just a nice solid run...who cares about placing.

The race started promptly at 8am and Papa Roach got me off to a nice fast start on the beginning downhill portion. What followed after that was something that I've yet to experience....a 5k race with NO flat parts! Up short steep hill, down long hill, up long hill, up short hill, down steep hill, wash, rinse, repeat until wiped out. I managed to keep up with the dude who wins my age group all the time for about 1.5 miles...and I actually had the police pace car in sight for the first 2 miles, but I had to slow down and run my race which meant some short walk breaks to compensate for the hilliness. I actually was only passed a couple times and managed to finish in 25:05, far from a PR, but very satisfying for me considering the conditions. When I filled out my race card I noticed that it was No. 20 I had finished 20th overall which made me even more happy.

I stuck around for the results and was pleased to hear my name called for 3rd place in my group (35-39)...got a nice little plaque/award thing (at least it's bigger than the last one )...here is my proof:

2nd place beat me by at least 2 minutes, so I definitely have my work cut out if I want to improve on my placement...kind of nice to have a new goal to start shooting for.

I certainly hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday weekend.

thanks for reading.

 

[AmyBeth68]

WOW! Congratulations Scott!!!

VERY proud of you buddy! That is an impressive time considering the difficulty of the course. WAY TO GO!!!!!!!!! You are just kicking butt and taking names!

I bet by next year you shave another minute or two off your time and start consistently placing in the top two. Just my prediction .

Have a great weekend!

 

[kimwim8]

GREAT race, Scott! And congrats on your placements both overall and in your age group. Glad to hear the prizes are getting bigger and bigger. Just a mind-boggling pace to me right now, honestly.

Also glad to hear the toe is doing well. Please keep that thing covered up. (yuck)

Have a great one!

 

[AmyBeth68]

ITA Kim....mind boggling to me too. Hard to believe Scott and I started out running at the same around the same pace a year ago and he is LIGHTYEARS ahead of me. I never expect to run much faster than a 9 mpm LOL. It totally blows my mind.

Again....AMAZING effort Scott!

 

[ScoJo15]

Thanks for the nice words there Amy and Kim. I'm just a very lucky person to have escaped any major kind of injury and let's face it, I had the biggest room to improve. I was way overweight and had never run before when I started...kind of makes it easy to show noteable improvement over the course of a year. Couple that along with the fact that I'm a male and I'm 6' tall (longer strides)...and I'm probably right where I should be...right in line with those people my age who run. I do appreciate the nice comments though...makes me feel good every time I visit the journal. Thanks guys

Today was my long run day. Since I skipped Thursday's run and raced yesterday, I pulled back a bit today and decided to do 6 miles instead of 8. The first part of the run was great, but I noticed my right knee and hamstring tightening up around mile 3. Then the smoke from the wildfires 250 miles away started rolling in around mile 5 and it's probably a good thing that I stopped at 6.

I stretched out as much as possilble afterwards (knee just wasn't too forgiving) and I'm happy to say that as I write this, it feels pretty good...just slightly stiff.

I did the 6 miles in 51:25 (8:00/8:48/8:52/8:32/8:48/8:22) for an overall 8:34 pace.

The smoke conditions around metro Atlanta today are really bad and have put a damper on the outdoor activities this afternoon. I was gonna take the kid to the pool, cut the grass, cookout or something productive but instead I'm stuck indoors watching the Indy 500 and researching heart rate stuff. So much for a tan this weekend

I'm learning lots of information about heart rate and will share as soon as I have a better grasp on things. Amy and I are trying to figure out how to maximize our trainings thru use of HR information...to make sure we are getting the proper cardio workouts and also to make sure we aren't pushing ourselves too hard during our training runs. I was shocked to find out that my resting heart rate is right around 44bpm....I was checking it out last night before drifting off to sleep. While it's cool to know that it's right in line with an endurance athlete, it's a bit scary to think that my heart is beating that slow every night. More info on all of this later (gonna be a good chapter in the book)...

I hope everyone has a great day today.

Thanks for reading.