Countdown 12 Days

Cannot say I am a fan of Coke. Call me silly, but there's just something about tar burning acid, hydrogenated oils and high frutose corn syrup that's makes me happy. But, after you run your heart out for 14.5 miles (5.5 miles short of the goal), you'll take anything you can get your hands on...I blew 1045 of hard earned calories on a gut wrenching jaunt on the ole treadmill. I could have just eaten a couple spoon fulls of mayo. Lard anyone? Has anyone ever inhaled crisco? I gotta sleep.

Countdown 12 Days

I was told today by a kid who raced on one of the best college cycling programs in the US, "Marathons are the best things in the world if you can actually run them. You feel every emotion that you could possibly feel in the course of 26 miles." I agreed and for about 2 hours felt the motivation that was necessary to run the 20 miles that I should have run last night. Today after ramming my gut full of MSGs at good ole House of Taipai, I felt the need to make up the sleep I was shafted all this week (there was definately a 2 hr sleep night this past week). After a nap, I realize that I have to push this run to tomorrow after work. This run is looking less like training and more like a nagging cough. How does anyone run an ultra?

Countdown 13 days

The marathon is getting near. I can just smell the discarded GU packs. I can envision the people scurrying for Porta Potties. I know the sign of someone who is faking a cramp because they are done...finished...tapping out. As I wait for my Five Guys burger and fries, it hits me that the next two weeks will require mega sleep and monk like diligence. Its time to channel the inner Zen, drink water, get my chi right, and breathe deeply. It's a call to be organic and think clarity...oh wait, they just called my number, they better have put Mayo and A1 on this thing -- I need a milk shake.

nice

I wanted a shot out

Sure, he had to hear me munching on doritoz late night. Yes, there was the time I forced him to walk 4 miles in the rain. I do vaguely remember a time in Judo class when I made him bleed. But, at the end of the rainbow, look who ended up a big time artist!

I might even make this short

Rant #1: First I assumed that it would be rude of me to boulder at a cemetary. Upon this act of respect and overall creepiness, I paid 14 bucks to climb at one of Charlotte's two indoor spots(since there is really only one "indoor" spot, you can do the math). So, when you haven't climbed in a while, it's a bit pathetic. Your arms do the standard jelly, non-working manuever. You aim to look cool, but instead look like someone removed most of the major working muscles in your arm. That's ok ya know because there were a ton of kids around. But, since I chose to return to the bouldering area instead of top rope climb like the rest of the place, I put myself in the room with the elite folks. Ya know, the ones that stare at the wall for 30 mins moving their hands in the air in front of them like they are miming cats pawing at a scatching post. So while I was struggling at best trying not to look like a total waste of $14 in front of my wife, some chica comes out of no where with her "typical" climbing tank top and spandex pants that doubled as Class A Yoga, down by the water, half moon, Rodney Yee style knickers --- she says excuse me. This was not in the, can I get by, kind of excuse me...it was more of the "you are blocking the wall that I want to show off on" excuse me. So I moved to the side even after realizing that she intended to show me up, only to realize that she was slapping me on the other cheek that was already turned when she dragged MY drop mat into my feet, thus excusing me, and climbed up and down the wall.

Rant #2: Well, I won the war of leg pain on Saturday. As most of you know, mile 17 has always been a hard mile marker for me when it comes to running. But, as I raced past 17 without serious distress(let's be honest folks, anything after 1 mile hurts bad), I noticed that I have a new arch enemy, mile 20. So, this goes to you mile 20, it's 4 more weeks until the marathon, and something tells me that you better just go ahead and pass the torch of pain, regret, and agony off to one of my other friends, mile 26.2.

Rant #3: I officially endorse O'Reilly Auto Parts over Autozone. I find the prices to be about the same plus, I don't have to step one foot on HWY 115 to get there. Plus, I always support the Irish. You all know I appreciate things like Irish Resturants for their fantastic food. And who doesn't like a good bowl of lucky charms. We don't have one millimeter of Irish in this family, however; I will keep supporting Notre Dame when my wife is not looking, and the people who sit with their gold pots at the end of the rainbows.

Is it wrong?

Is it wrong to go bouldering in a cemetary? I mean, some of the best rocks are lying dead(no pun intended) in the middle of tombstones. AHHHH --- What do you do? But, let me pause in the middle of this dilema to ponder something different ---

There appears to be great irony in an ironical situation or statement as you would assume. But, case in point would be an unnamed set of folks who talked to my wife and I just the other day. They told us that they hated when people wasted their time talking about random things that made no sense and had no baring on their original conversation. So, they like we all, engaged in long moments of "fake talk." I tell you that "fake talk" always leads to someone(most of the time YOU) getting roped into situations that you would have rather not. Take this moment to reflect back to the last time you were forced into that xmas party that you really didn't want to go to. When you think back of the invite, it started with them asking you to go, and you in your agreeable, happy mood quickly agreed, but assumed that your husband/wife had something planned that would get you out of the situation as to not make you seem like a jerk...you know the rest of the story. You spent the most boring 6 hours of your life laughing at jokes that are not funny on any level, you smiled so much that your checks were sore for a week, and you probably committed to more "outings" that you never would have been linked to had you just not "fake talked." So, back to the ironic situation, those folks speaking to my wife and I filled our ear with several minutes of idle chatter to fulfill the prophecy of irony, and told us a bunch stuff that had nothing to do with our meeting, and thus...followed through the with pure irony of the ironical situation.

Case in point --- this blog, you have sat through yet another ironic blurb meant to deter you from these type of ramblings, and you know what, you'll watch this sweet bouldering video, and why? Because you would rather do that then fake talk.
Chao

Vets, I Salute You!!!!

Now, this is worth having a holiday. To all the folks who have and do sacrifice their lives for freedom, I say thank you. And, since I am on the video kick, I offer a clip from my favorite war movie from 1941 --- Thanks Gary Cooper.

I just coughed up my lunch

Well, maybe marathons are not that hardcore after all. I need to raise up my game....

CrossFit Champions Oktoberfest Obliteration from CrossFit Champions on Vimeo.

el grabadora

Because I need sleep more than the blog needs more words, I will leave you with a highly inspirational video of an ultra marathon. I think I teared up. Oh by the way, how about an American taking the men's NYC marathon. Not too bad!