The Brutal Reality

   So what's been up with Mark? I got bummed out because the Achilles tendinitis came back..... So what did I do? Pouted....then began to face the reality. Truth is I have extra weight that I carry every run. I needed to get serious about losing the weight before I "really" train.
  So maybe....just maybe, if I eliminate the hills and shed 14 pounds I could race again? That is my hope, anyway. So how? Well I am now into week #5 of my plan to get to "training weight".
  My plan is to burn more calories than I take in and continue to "run". I have been tread milling! I am motivated to lose pounds!! It's happening!!! I can tell by my jeans! Taking the belt up a notch!!
   I started with 30 minutes and have added 1 minute a day with the exception of speed work days.  I have developed several treadmill training runs. For instance today I did 54 minutes. I did an easy warm up gradually increasing mph to 6.3 by the 18 minute mark. Then I set in and did 36 minutes at this pace.
  I am specifically focused on burning calories but continue to practice pace and form. The treadmill is proving to be less traumatic and I think this may be the answer. If I could get back to 172lbs I believe that will help the tendons.
  For the sake of blogging and perhaps interest I will begin to post my treadmill runs. I know people say the treadmill is boring....really? If you know how to think then the treadmill is perfect! No dogs, cars, etc....you can think! I do anyway.
  So I have a secret dream....to run another marathon at racing weight..172 here I come! Peace!!!

I apologize

Good friends don't just disappear! I am sorry for dropping off the face of the blogoshere....I consider you all good friends.
  I guess even the most optimistic and positive people can hit a funk...or a rut...or fall into the "I used to be____" syndrome.
  My running is still around, though, as a week ago I passed 20,000 miles logged lifetime. I just do it nearly everyday...it's the one place I can find solace in life, a peace, yeah probably chemical for the skeptics, yet a freedom, even though I'm slowing down...sigh....I still find joy in running.
  I hope life has been treating you well...keep fighting the fight!! Peace!

Still not normal?!

  Man what's up?! I am usually confident, charming, engaging, and do my job well....tonight I just was a pitiful mess when it came to performing the wedding. Oh, basically it went fine...no one knew any wiser except me and Sandy. I am just not hitting on all cylinders for some reason? Well the kids that got married are happy! The bride was beautiful!! I guess there are gonna be days like this?
  I managed a 5k run today and ran a couple of miles @ sub 9's. Hope I sleep this off and wake up to the old Mark tomorrow! Peace!

In a Funk

   So I have hit a funk? Tired and unmotivated. Miles have fallen off....trying to regain the drive. I wonder if the colder weather has put me in a state of torpor? I feel sluggish, lethargic, and blah....not sick...just blah...you know..dull!
  I finally had a decent run today. I actually knocked off some quality miles at decent pace. One mile was 8 min mile! That used to be my easy training pace. One thing I believe...you can get some of your speed back. Back in the day I was rail thin! I weighed in at 162lbs dripping wet. Now I'm stuck on 180! If I could regain that weight I would be happy!! Well, I've a busy weekend. Wedding rehearsal tonight, wedding tomorrow, Sunday will be very full as it is every week. I love what I do!! Peace!

Still a 100

So this could be our last scorcher of a day for a while. I managed a 6 miler putting me over 30 for the week. I have been logging consistent D for 4 months now. Slowly losing the poundage...slowly building the endurance, slowly transforming into the long distance runner I am in heart. The Achilles is doing well...it barks when I run the hard hill runs, yet not bad enough to make me cry....(?) meaning whine.
  I am thinking about the next long run. I need a 14 miler next week and I'd prefer not to have to run hills but it isn't possible. I guess what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. One thing I noticed the other day...my legs. They are really muscular! Guess it's all these stinkin' hills! The shins are huge! The quads bigger than ever....I wonder if I can stay healthy what I might do on a flat marathon?
  Well, hope you are well! Peace!

Last Hurrah

They say we've a cold front coming. It will hit the 70's for highs! Man, break out the coat!!! I decided to bust out a tough run today...2K hill mid-day. It's close to 100 degrees and the sun is out full force. I did it! It was hard but I survived. I believe it will make me stronger. I had the best month in miles logged in nearly two years, 128.11. Plus I am less than 80 miles from breaking 20,000 lifetime miles! Yes, I am obsessive when it comes to record keeping! Been journaling my runs ever since 1985! Hope all is well with you! Peace!

Wane....not whine!

      Summer is on the wane here....the day light is shortening rapidly, the Walnut trees are turning yellow, the weeds are dying out....oh btw, we need rain real bad!
  I really do love Summer, though! I just find it to be the best time of year...Summertime...when the livin' is easy....
  I got out in the 100 degree temps and knocked off a 4.2 miler. The achilles is miraculously feeling better?? I guess cause I've cut down? Or that I'm running lighter? Don't know....just glad! What would I do without running? Whine! Peace!!