BigBrownTruckMan

Two in one day!

2009-04-21T22:06:00.001-04:00

Well I doubles up today. I ran 5k this morning and then another 3m at lunch. Both were nice runs. I have a lot of work to do though if I want to come anywhere close to 18 min at the AEP run. Tomorrow I am supposed to do speedwork...we'll see?!?

First run in a long while...

2009-02-09T21:20:00.002-05:00

Today I went for a short 5k run on the Huckleberry Trail (Blacksburg, VA). The weather was beautiful and I really enjoyed being out in my running shoes again. I was pleasently surprised at how well it felt and even keeping a moderate 7:15 pace wasn't that hard. My new nike plus worked great and I took the opportunity to listen to the latest Phidippidations episode. Can't wait to do it again tomorrow.

Awesome Vacation!

2008-06-09T19:00:00.003-04:00

I just got home from an awesome week of vacation. I spent 5 days in Florida with my Dad and step mom who live in Ocala. I got to go to Universal Studios on Wednesday and Thursday. (Thanks Mom!) I visited Universal on Wednesday and my dad took the day off of work and he and my step mom went with me, and then I went back on Thursday to Islands of Adventure. It was an awesome time. On Friday night, my last night there, Dad took me out to Ipanema to celebrate my 29th Birthday. It was delicious. If you have never been to a Brazilian steakhouse you have to go. They brought an endless supply of 12 different meats to the table as long as we could keep eating. I must have eaten 2-3 lbs of meat. It was wonderful. All in all it was great to get away from work and the stresses of regular life and escape to Florida. I really enjoyed visiting my Dad and I can't wait to go back and visit again. (maybe in the fall next time).

Races, races, races!

2008-05-27T19:02:00.001-04:00

A few weeks ago a friend called me asking me to run the AEP Festival 5k/10k. He runs it every year and, although he lives about an hour away, he was driving in for it. This was right after my 1/2 which was very enjoyable but totally trashed me. (I was dead tired for like a week and a half) I was initially going to just tell him I couldn't but I just couldn't resist the urge to run. I decided that I would run the 10k instead of the 5k and that I wouldn't set any kind of a time goal for myself, I would just take it easy and let the chips fall where they may. It was going to be my first 10k anyway so I was guaranteed a PR, there was no reason to kill myself.

The race ended up going great, I started out with an 8 minute mile and steadily dropped my time every mile after. My final time was 42:38, which I was very pleased with. Bring on the next race!

Trail Nut 1/2 Marathon and 10K

2008-05-10T21:07:00.004-04:00

I had a blast today at the Trail Nut 1/2 Marathon and 10k. The race seemed to be very well organized. The were somewhere between 50 and 75 runners combined, and the weather turned out to be very beautiful. The course was well marked, although because of the recent rain that we have had it was pretty muddy and by the time the 1/2 marathoners made the second loop of the first 4 miles of the course it had become very slick in places in many places. Personally I didn't think that the course conditions took away from the course, i thought it just made it more fun and extra challenging. I led the first 1/2 mile of the race and I definitely went out too fast. I quickly dropped by into third and held third position until about mile 8. The last 5 miles of the course were extremely hard for me and I ended up having to walk a few of the steeped uphill sections. I think I finished in 7th place with a time of 1:47:25. 1st in the 25-29 age group. you can view results and upcoming races put on by Mountain Junkies LLC at http://mountainjunkies.blogspot.com/

Been a while...

2008-05-07T19:37:00.002-04:00

I have been to the edges of shin splint death and I have survived to fight another day. I started running again last week and I have tried to take it really easy. No use pushing it, I'd just end up hurting these fragile chicken legs again. I've also started to cross train a little on an old bike that I have recently acquired. (The bike is actually from JC Penny, that's how old the thing is!) That's been fun and it been a good change of pace. I'd still trade a run for a bike ride any day, but that bike rides will have to suffice until I can build my mileage back up. Speaking of obscene mileage...

I have signed up to run a half marathon on Saturday. It's the Trail Nut 10k and Half Marathon. It is put on by Mountain Junkies LLC and the race is being held at a park in beautiful Bedford, VA. In case your wondering I have heard that faint voice of reason in my head saying, 'hey, stupid, you're nursing an injury. Why make it worse by running 13.1 miles.' In the words of Steve Prefontaine in the movie 'without limits', "Bill, you don't know what will happen to my foot if I do run, but you do know what it'll do to me if I don't." That, plus the registration was $30 bucks and I feel guilty if I wasted it. Plus who can sit out on a race. Bring it on. I'm hoping to break 1:30. That is about where I was before I began to feel the shin splints and so we'll give it a go and see what happens. Hopefully I'll post again on Sunday with the joyous announcement of a PR. Until then "Prepare ship for ludicrous speed!"

Hiking at Roaring Run

2008-04-21T18:58:00.004-04:00

Jake, Hannah, Sam and I went hiking at Roaring Run on Saturday. It turned out to be rather nice and the kids were really excited to see the waterfall. I was a little scared that they wouldn't make it all the way to the waterfall which is about 3/4 of a mile up the trail, but in the end they did better than me.

It got me thinking about how encumbered I am by distance. How concerned I am about whether i'm going to run 3 miles today of 5. It could have been a twelve mile hike on Saturday and I think they would have been just fine. They could really care less about how far they had to go, they just wanted to see the waterfall.

Stinkin' Shin Splints...

2008-04-21T18:50:00.002-04:00

Yes, I have been inflicted once again. When will I learn, 'Will is not superman.' Say it again, after me, 'Will is not superman.' I ran way to much the week before last and sure enough last week when I strapped on my shoes I only made it a mile down the huckleberry trail before common sense struck me with the thought that it would be better to go back now than have someone carry me back later. So it looks like ill be resting for a few weeks. Hope this thing gets better soon. I've got a 1/2 marathon on the 10th of May. Whether my shins are better or not that thing cost $30 and I intend to enjoy every penny of it!

2008-04-18T16:28:00.002-04:00

Dave says, 'run, why would anyone want to run?' No what he really said was, 'what are you doing with you phone there Ben?' quickly followed by, 'you'd better erase that, boy!' Sorry Dave this picture is just to dang funny to not show to the world. (or the 3 other people who occasionally look at this blog.)

Shamrock 5k 2008

2008-03-24T09:48:00.008-04:00

The Shamrock run was a ton of fun. I was excited and pumped about running this race several weeks prior and hoping to perform really well and everything came together for a great day. My best friend Ben Clark was running also and we were able to meet up and go trough our pre-race preparations together. (You're the bomb, dog!) The weather turned out to be a tad bit chilly but about a mile in it felt perfect.
My original plan was to go out with the front runners and try to stick with them as far as I could. I usually stick with the school of thought that vows negative splits are the way to go. (That every mile run should be faster than the mile before it. In other words do go out really fast or you'll be destined to crash and burn.) I had read an article in runners world magazine that stated that new studies had found that people who ran their first mile 3-6% faster than their last mile usually were able to post better times. I decided to take a chance a try something different.

My first problem was that the entire staring line was flushed full of little kids. Children have no business being in the front of the starting line at a race. I am glad that they were participating but it's just not safe for them or for the runners who are tyring to perform at their best. After the field narrowed I found a spot with two other runners and we were able to stick together for the first two miles of the race. We hit the first mile at 6:12 and then the second mile at 12:15. I'm still not sure as to whether they speed up or if I slowed down but after the second mile the two fellow runners that I was running with up to that point pulled away from me at the second mile mark and ended up finishing about 5-10 seconds ahead of me. While I missed the mark of 18:00 that I was shooting for I was very happy with my 19:26 performance. I was definitely happy with the 1st place finish in my age group. (23-29) It was also great to have my wife, Mary, my kids, Jacob, Hannah, and Sam with me. My mom and step dad also came to help cheer. This years run didn't disappoint.

Almost Race Time!

2008-03-14T12:45:00.002-04:00

All right, time is ticking and start time is getting closer and closer. I ran six miles yesterday and I hope that that wasn't too far. It was gorgeous outside and it just felt to good to stop running until my lunch hour was totally gone. Anyway, I feel good about the race tomorrow. I am planning on heading out with the front runners. I'm going to run with my Garmin and set-up the training partner for an 18 minute finish. Here's hoping. I figure if I can stay with the top 10 or 15 runners I should be able to pull it off. This course is flat as a pancake with one small hill at the end so no time like the present.
My best friend, Ben, is coming over tonight and we're going to eat the customary pasta and get mentally prepared by watching 'Without Limits'. If you haven't seen this movie about Pre you need to stop what you're doing and get it...NOW...I'm not kidding, it's that good. I usually have to stop in the middle and go out for a run.

Slow Week!

2008-03-09T15:41:00.002-04:00

Well, I guess a little rest never hurt anyone. At least I hope so, I have a race to run this Saturday. A race that I am actually hoping to doquite well in. It's amazing how this time last week I felt great about the upcoming Shamrock 5k, and now after a week that I finished with 10 less miles recorded that the week before, I suddenly feel less prepared.
I do think that the rest was needed. I was definately begining to feel the dreaded shin splints coming back and that has never been a good thing. I have started to feel some of the speed that I had a few years ago, that last time I was taking my running this serious, and I think I just got a little to anxious. A few to many runs that my heart was excited about but my body just wasn't quite ready for yet. Anyway, lesson learned...yet again.
This week I'll probably take about the same as last week, maybe one extra run if the weather turns out to be as nice as it looks on tv. I'm hoping to PR at the race on Saturday, but I think I'll be happy just to drop below 19 minutes. Next I'm setting my sights on the AEP run in June. that 18 minute PR there would be awesome.
Run strong and don't hold back!

UPS in 'Fortunes' most admired...again!

2008-03-05T19:15:00.002-05:00

Georgia has landed five companies on Fortune magazine's Most Admired Companies 2008 list, with one company cracking the top 20.
The list, published March 4, ranks Atlanta-based United Parcel Service Inc. (NYSE: HD) highest among the Georgia companies, placing 17th overall and No. 1 in its industry category.
"The world's largest package-delivery company may be 100 years old, but it hasn't gained corporate America's admiration by acting its age," Fortune writes. "Known for its ability to combine cutting-edge technology with its own brand of 'human engineering' to great effect, the $49.7 billion shipping giant continues to develop, delivering a record four billion packages in 2007."
Also on the list were The Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO), Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (NYSE: CCE), The Home Depot Inc. (NYSE: HD) and Genuine Parts Co. (NYSE: GPC).

Day off from work!

2008-03-03T12:26:00.002-05:00

Well, I got the boot from UPS this morning. Just for the day, so no worries there. I am heading back down to the greenway to run by the river. I started out way to fast yesterday and before I knew it I was knee deep in a footrace with my imaginary olympian racing buddy. I didn't win yesterday, nor have I ever, but today is a new day with new chances.

Beautiful Sunday!

2008-03-02T15:50:00.000-05:00

Well as soon as I said I couldn't wait for the warm weather it showed up. What would you know. Maybe I should start voicing my opinion more often. Being that it is gorgeous outside I think I will leave the florescent filled compy room here at the library and hit the greenway downtown for a nice long run by the river. Happy trails!

Always a first!

2008-03-01T16:18:00.000-05:00

Alright, here I am sitting at the library rushing to finish this post before my timer runs out and I get kicked off of this compy. Running this week has been fun and enjoyable but I am so ready for the weather to get warmer. The Shamrock distance 5k is coming up in two weeks and I don't know if I am going to be able to topple that 18:00 PR like I was wanting to, but it is going to be fun none the less.