Another Week in the Books

my mileage went over 14 for the week...a nice increase over last week...two frigid runs bookend the week with a nice 52 degree run in the middle...MLK Monday saw me do a little over 3 1/4 miles...the warm up on Friday saw me do 5m...and Sunday in 18 degree temps I did nearly 6 1/2 miles...after my Sunday run at Jug Bay a ranger, who had drove by me on the course earlier, rode by my truck and shouted "beats a treadmill any day!" amen, brother, amen!

44

Change (hopefully for the better) has arrived...

The Running Week That Was

Got in three solid runs this week at Jug Bay...did a little over 3 1/2 on Monday when I broke my ice bug shoes out of hibernation...did just under 3 1/2 on Tuesday...my breathing was labored on Monday, but easier the next day...today I ran 4.6 miles out/back on the bus depot trail...there were patches of ice on the trail...felt sluggish the first 3 miles, but got a clear head for the home stretch...not a bad week for winter running...I'd like to step up the mileage next week...

Friday Night Lights

Returns to broadcast TV tonight for Season 3...I think it's the best show on any of the networks...teenage angst, substance abuse, sex all tastefully done...what's not to like? Down, Set, Hike!

Smiles Everyone...Smiles!

Ricardo Montalban Dies at Age 88

From AP...

LOS ANGELES – Ricardo Montalban, the Mexican-born actor who became a star in splashy MGM musicals and later as the wish-fulfilling Mr. Roarke in TV's "Fantasy Island," died Wednesday morning at his home, his family said. He was 88.
Montalban's death was first announced at a city council meeting by president Eric Garcetti, who represents the district where the actor lived. He died "from complications of advancing age," his son-in-law, Gilbert Smith, later said.

The funniest phone call of all-time occured pn the Howard Stern show when "Ricardo" called Star Trek's George Takei on his new car phone!

RIP Ricardo

Quickie

finished up the Benjamin Button book in no time...an amusing tale and I really enjoyed sepia-like watercolor illustrations...nice to see it has a (somewhat) local setting in Baltimore...it's doubtful I see the movie...at least anytime soon...

now it's on to read about Joe Namath in honor of the 40th anniversary of his famous predicition of taking out the mighty NFL Colts in Super Bowl III...

Now Reading

finished Back Spin...the name I took for my fantasy golf team this year, by the way...and now I'm starting a graphic novel interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Long Lost Run

made it over to Jug Bay for a long run for the first time in two months...and it was a happy reunion...I've missed the trails since I peaked last fall...today I did an out/back on the bus depot trail...ran at near race pace on the damp trail...didn't quite make an official long run...my standard is 8 miles...did just over 6m...saw lots of geese out there!

Post Holiday

back to work...back to the grind...and little time for a run during the week...this morning I hit the mean streets for near 3 1/2 miles including a tour through the woods...took it nice and easy...

Weekend Roundup

a couple more sunrise runs this weekend...ran 3m on Saturday and 3.75 Sunday...ran easy...haven't missed a day of running in 2009!

Two For Two

haven't missed a day of running so far this year...an overcast and cold early run...not much to note except I ran 3.3 miles at a near race pace time of 28:43...

Currently Reading

Harlen Coban's "Back Spin"...an older one of the Myron Bolitar series with a golf theme...in mass paperback format...

Running Ahead

Another year of running awaits...



trails, long runs, hills, foot blisters, toenail damage, mileage goals, sweat, frozen gatorade, races (or not), garmin, playlists, wildlife, change of seasons, vaseline, blogs, shoes & gear, beer, alone time, runners world, good health...



that's a lot to look forward too!



Starting the New Year optimistically on the prospect of a trailblazing running campaign...



Pounding out 1000 miles is again my top priority for the next twelve months...the early months I expect to fall behind because I am really a coward when it comes to the cold...I hope to maintain a 60m/month pace for January thru March...I can make up those miles in the warm weather months...I aim to peak again in the Fall...Sept-Oct were primo for me this past year...let's see if Ican top 120 miles this time around...



As for races...I have come up with a base list of 4 regional, if not local, races I might like to do...all trail...so that's nice to have on paper, or on blog if you will...to raise my game from '08 I need to actually participate in some of them!


I have an additional three races in reserve that I can add if I catch that elusive racing bug...since you asked, here are the races I have in mind...



March 29 - Backyard Burn 10m

May 17 - EX2 Adventures Trail Half Marathon

September 19 - North Face Endurance Challenge Half Marathon

November 15 - Backyard Burn 10m

all of these races are on trails in the Northern Virginia...I'll run the same BYB trail in spring and fall so I can compare times...

so that's two ten milers and two HMs...enough to keep me busy...


and if things go well I might slip in a trail race in Pennsylvania, a trail race in northern md, a local 10K road race, and another trail race in the fall BYB series...

looky here, I am serious about getting some racing in this year, that I am even keeping a two year race plan in mind...I can do the Maryland Double in 2010 which is running the Frederick and Baltimore marathon/half marathon...and maybe even ponder running my fourth marathon beyond that!

happy new year...

New Year's Run

a bright sunny 2009 awaited me as I laced up the North Faces and hit the pavement...temp was a cold 21 degrees...since I passed out prior to the ball dropping by a good half hour I felt refreshed and ready to go...the ground was frozen...the hellacious winds from yesterday were gone...said hello and happy new year to a neighbor who I see walking the mean streets from time to time...and the friendly pooch Haley was out and ready for a run too...she hung for a mile or so...did a brief tour in the woods and finished the first run of the year after 4.1 miles in 37:47...