Still leaking, but keeps on ticking

Two years ago a cardiologist told me I had a leak in my aortic valve. He told me to avoid lifting heavy weights, but running should be ok. He also told me to come back in two years for another cardiac echo. In the two years since then I’ve lost at least 15 pounds and have set new PR’s for just about every race distance with one annoying exception, the 5k. I had another cardiac echo done a couple weeks ago and the cardiologist says everything looks great, of course the leak is still there, but it isn’t worse. He said I’m in excellent shape and just keep doing what I’m doing and of course come back in three or four years to drop off another wad of cash.

This is all good because this Saturday is Louisville’s Lovin’ The Hills. LLTH is one of the toughest 50k’s around. My 50k PR is 5:11, my best time at LLTH is 6:30. This year my goal is to beat that time. It won’t be easy, but if I’m patient and don’t go out to fast at the start I know I can do it. Then again if I'm slogging through mud the whole way forget about any goal other than just finishing.

Good News/Bad News

The good news is that I now have lots of time to train. The bad news is I won't have the money to sign up for races because my job was eliminated on Tuesday. I'm now looking for a job as a "Certified Internet Surfer" with a salary in the low six figure range. If anyone knows where I can find such a job let me know asap.

Actually I've been pleasantly surprised by the amount of jobs that are posted.

Bayonet 7

The Groundhog 7 was only the second time I’ve ever run a 7 mile race. Seven seems like an unlikely number of miles for a race. The first was back in 1984 at Ft Ord, home of the 7^th “Bayonet” Infantry Division. They had a seven mile race called the “Bayonet 7”. I don’t remember much about the race other than seeing guys running in combat boots and fully loaded rucksacks. I was wearing shorts and running shoes, no rucksack. I also remember the Commanding General standing at the finish line shaking everyone’s hand as they finished. I don’t remember my exact time, but it was almost certainly slower than 48:18.

I belive this picture was taken after the race. All the hardware belongs to the girls. They were pretty fast runners. I don’t remember how three girls came home with five trophies, but they did. We were all students at the Defense Language Institute, Foreign Language Center (DLIFLC) at the Presidio of Monterey. The Monterey Peninsula was most definitely a runner's paradise. I imagine it still is.

Back row: Sgt. Steve Lefavour, me, SSG Rob Pinnell

Front row: June Parsons, Debbie Hamilton, Michele ??

I ran the Groundhog 7 yesterday afternoon. The weather was just about perfect and after last week's snow storm the roads were in great shape. There were a few spots on and around the rail trail that still had some ice and snow, but they were not a problem. As usual I went out a little too fast in the first mile (6:30) but managed hang in there and ran all but the 4th mile (7:05) under 7 minutes.
I finished 31st out of 270 with a time of 48:18. My goal was to keep it under 49 minutes, so I'm pretty happy with the result.

Louisville's Lovin' the Hills in two weeks.

Stairs, Ugh!

I struggled with the stairs today. I don't have my official time yet, but my watch has me about 25 seconds slower than last year. Not sure what the problem was. I think I'm in better shape than I was last year, but it was rough going today. Last year I got faster on each trip up. This year I slowed each time. Probably pushed a little to hard on the first trip. I've been doing a lot of strength training lately and have put on a few pounds. That could be a part of it. Even though I think the weight gain is mostly muscle it still has to be hauled all the way to the top. Still it was fun. Met some new people and ran into some old friends.

Update: Ok, my time was only about 18 seconds slower than last year and I came in 5th place.

The Fun Begins

Last night was the first run for the Indy Runners Mini Training program. Nothing special, just three miles. I’m one of two leaders of the 8:30 pace group. The other leader, Bryan, lead the pack while I stayed back with the stragglers. Bryan did a pretty good job keeping the pace, finishing maybe 20 seconds ahead of the pace. I stayed with the last straggler and finished a minute over pace. I guess that’s not too bad for the first night. I didn’t get an exact count, but I think there were a little over 20 runners in our group. I actually got there early did my pushups and then ran the course alone to check it out. I pretty much stayed on an 8:30 pace. Next week I’ll do the same thing, but I’ll do the first run through at a much faster pace, maybe 7:00 or so. Of course I’ll do my pushups first. I’m working through this program designed to build up to doing 100 consecutive pushups. It’s a six week program, but based on my initial test result, I started out at week three. There are proscribed sets of pushups I’m supposed to do three times a week. If at the end of six weeks you can’t do 100 consecutive pushups then you cycle back through the last week or two. Seems simple enough.

Coming up this Saturday… Bop to the Top, Triple Step! I’m really looking forward to it.

Unbelievable!

I ran the Resolution Revolution again this morning. This was my third time to run it. It was quite cold, probably about 20 degrees at the start. That's me on the left and my friend and former co-worker John D. on the right. John is a Blackhawk pilot in the National Guard and is leaving for Iraq next week. John was responsible for turning me on to the Resolution Revolution a couple years ago. He is hoping to be back in time for the next Res-Rev on January 1, 2010. God bless you and keep you safe. Both of John's sons were also there this morning. At the moment their names are escaping me; I'm wanting to say Eric and Brian? If that's correct I think it's Eric on the left and Brian in the middle of the second photo.

I hit the first mile marker at 6:46, pretty quick for me but I felt good so I just went with it. I finished the first lap in 19:38. Ok, I'm now thinking I can crack this nut in under an hour. First mile of lap 2 is again at 6:46. I'm in the zone. Second lap down in 39:24. Lap three, I didn't feel like I was slowing, but first mile is a 6:55. No stinkin' thinkin' now, I can do this, don't let up. I've been lapping walkers and slower runners for a while now and that is helping me to keep pushing myself. I turn the last corner and head for the finish. I can finally see the numbers on the clock, keep pushing you can do this. Yes! 59:17! Somebody pinch me; I must be dreaming. Nine miles in under and hour. That's 4:04 faster than last year! That is what I call starting the year out right. Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!