Marathon Man

Excuses, Excuses

2011-09-05T09:16:00.000-07:00

Forgive me, Father, for I've not run. It has been over 2 months since my last run. I've had excuses. For one, it has just been too hot. Here in Austin we've had the most days of 100 degrees or above on record, the most 100 degree or above days in a row, and a tie for the hottest day in Austin's history at 112 degrees. And it has been dry, the driest summer on record. In fact,wild fires destroyed close to 11,000 acres and close to 60 homes just yesterday, so weather has been a good excuse. Also. I've had much on my plate. My grandfather fell toward the end of June and ended up in rehab from July 5 to August 8. I'm the closest relative and hold his medical power of attorney, so I was going to see him at least once, if not twice a day. He moved in with us on the 8th, and we had 27 people at our house to celebrate his 90th birthday. In addition, Danielle graduated from Texas Tech the first weekend in August, so there was a whirlwind overnight trip to Lubbock in there. I've also been trying to get grandpa's house ready to terminate the lease, so I've been busy. But all of that is excuses, nothing more.

I went to the dentist a few weeks ago, and when they took my blod pressure, it was very high. I always have low blood pressure except at the dentist, so I wasn't overly concerned. Later that day I checked it at HEB, and it was higher, still. I made an appointment with the doctor the next day and found not only was my blood pressure high, but I've gained 20 pounds since my last visit in May. I knew the cause: I'd stopped running. But starting again and developing that routine isn't easy!

A cold front blew through yesterday, and we were told to expect cooler temps for Memorial Day. Maline and I decided to take advantage and walk/ run this morning. So, after a banana, a cup of coffee and feeding grandpa breakfast, we took Rufus and headed out. We walked the half mile to the trail in cold (76 degrees) weather, and then I started to run. My goal was five miles, walking no more then half. My first mile and a half was difficult, but as I got to the turn for the 5 mile stretch I started to get a second wind, so I went straight, on a route that would allow me anything from 5 to 7.5 miles of running. I felt strong at each trail, and kept choosing the longer routes. I did not feel the need to walk until about 6 miles in, but decided to push on another half mile so I could say I ran a quarter marathon (this time last year I was only up to about 3 miles!), so I pressed on. At 6.5 I decided that I could run to the park, another 1/2 mile, and at the park I realized I only had a half mile to go until I got to my cool-down phase, so I finished 7.5 running non-stop and waked the half mile home.

My body is now telling me I overdid it, but my head is saying, "Let's do that again!". I did much better then I anticipated and am ready to start training again! So, look out, Austin, Marathon Man is back! Can't wait to hit Town Lake!

First Post-marathon Run/Walk

2011-02-24T09:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I am trying to get back on the trail. This morning Maline and I went for a walk/ run around our neighborhood and park. I am still sore in my right hip and left calf, but feeling much, much better. I will likely work out with the kids this afternoon, and have food run tomorrow, which is a good workout. Saturday I am leading a workshop on Games with a Purpose, and Sunday will be my first real run since the marathon.

On a side note, with the help of my neighbor, I was able to get my motorcycle going again. I rode to work this morning in a lite mist. I need to replace the rear brake pedal, as it is not very comfortable where it is now, as well as both mirrors. The tank is dented, so I am half looking for a used tank to swap out. It was good to be back on the bike, though it was a challenge for my left elbow, the one I broke in the accident. It has not completely healed, and may not ever. Oh, well, it is a great battle scar, right?

Pictures from the marathon are on-line now. There are 2 that I really like. First is a picture of me with Maline immediately after the race. It looks like we have our arms around each other, but the truth is that she was holding me upright! The other is a picture of me running with the Capital behind me (this was approaching the finish line). I love skylines and city landmarks, so this is one that I really enjoy. You can see the pictures at http://www.asiorders.com/view_user_event_video.asp?EVENTID=75398&BIB=4387&S=230&PWD=, as well as a video of me crossing the finish line.

Best wishes,

Michael

And Finished!

2011-02-23T07:10:00.000-08:00

Well, I have finished my first marathon. Sunday, February 20, I gathered around the state capital with 17,999 of my closest friends to traipse around Austin. I got in with the 5:00 pace group (they are supposed to set a run pace for you to complete the race in five hours), which I knew was a little faster then I anticipated, but I figured I would start out there and see how I did. My group got out of the gate at 7:22, 24 minutes after the start gun, and we were off with a sea of people. A five hour pace means running about a 11.4 minute mile. However, we finished the first mile in less then ten minutes, and were at three miles in about 28 minutes. I realized that at that pace I would run out of steam way too soon, so I forced myself to fall back a little. That was just about the time that I saw Maline for the first time on the race route at Oltorf and Congress. It was great to see her there and to have the moral support. We had just climbed a fairly steep couple of hills, and having her there to cheer me on was a wonderful support.

As I ran, people would call out my name and offer words of encouragement. It was about 5 miles into the race when I realized that my name was on my bib in big letters for people to see, and the thousands of people who were out in their yards, at their businesses or at water stations along the way were there to support us in our endeavor. This was all the more helpful after mile 16, when I was starting to slow down, and 20, when I was walk/running. As we ran across Ceaser Chavez toward MoPac, we came to the "Yellow Mile," the first of the Livestrong stretches. There people cheered us on, gave out water, and flooded the sides of the course with inspirational signs and posters. This much needed boost at mile 9 was a welcome part of the race, as we were hitting a long, steep hill, which by the way, was my first walk in the race. I walked about 50 yards while I did an energy gel shot, then was back on to running.

Maline and her friend Tricia met me just after we turned off Cesaer Chavez, and I told them I needed a banana. About a mile up the road I ran into them again by a Starbucks, got the banana, and felt a hundred times better. They met me several times along the route, and their encouragement was critical for my success. By mile 16, which was at Camp Mabry, I was ready for a bathroom break. The half-marathoners had broken off at mile 11, so there were shorter lines and fewer people. As I came out of the restroom, I looked and saw a sea of people behind me. I was not the last person in the pack, which made me feel great! I set off and ran another 4 miles before I needed to slow down and intersperse walks with my runs. That was not before I went through one block of people supporting the runners from their front yards, and having a great deal of fun doing it! There were signs on the road written in chalk that said, "beer ahead." Finally, there was a sign with an arrow into a driveway, where a group of men were pouring glasses of beer for the runners. I told them it was tempting, and one of them said, "You look like you need some energy. Come over and carb up." It would have been rude to say no, said being a good Texan, I had a beer with my new friends. As I drank it, I noticed signs in the yard across the street which I found humorous. One said, "26.2. Because 26.3 is just CRAZY!" and another said, "Puke & Rally (but don't puke here!). I told them I liked the signs and ran on.

My friend Amanda lives on the route just before mile 22. Maline and Amanda told me they would all be there waiting for me, and I pressed on to her apartment. I was walking most of the way from mile 20 to her place, where I got another banana, chatted with Maline, Amanda, Tricia and Amanda's boyfriend, Mike. We got some pictures and I started off again. At mile 22 I started running again, but was only able to do about half a mile, likewise at 23. I ran all of 24, then walked the first half of 25. At about 25.5 I began to run up a steep hill, closing in on the finish line. At 800 meters I began to sprint, well, as fast as one can sprint 6 hours and 35 minutes into a race. Finally, after what seemed an eternity, I turned the corner and saw the finish line. I finished in 6 hours and 40 minutes, not a course record, but there were still many behind me, and even more who did not make it at all. I completed my first marathon. Maline was at the finish, and she was a very welcome sight!

After crossing the finish line, we went to where the medals were given out, and I stood there as my medal was put around my neck and the volunteer told me he was proud of me for completing the marathon. After he was done, I literally could not move my legs and had to work for some time at willing them to move. We walked to the car, maybe a half mile away, and as Maline was unlocking the doors I found myself wobbling. I was about to just fall over, not from being dizzy or light-headed, but from not having enough strength in my legs to keep me upright. Maline got me into the car and we were off. We stopped at Starbucks on the way home. I wore my bib and medal into the store, not to show them off, but because I did not have the energy to take them off. I ordered a Chai Latte, regular, feeling that I did not need to do skinny today! Strangely, I tasted no difference between the regular and the skinny, but it still was nice to know that I earned the sugar and fat fix! After all, I had likely burned some 4,000 calories during the day.

I will run the marathon again next year, with a goal of doing it in under 4 hours. Then I will run New York as my last marathon. However, running will forever be a part of my life.

Thanks to all who have read the blog and supported me along the way. I will keep writing about my endeavors here, but I will also be looking at sharing other thoughts and insights from life.

So until next time, remember: 26.2. Because 26.3 is just CRAZY!

Post Script: As I proofread this posting, my eyes swelled with tears. This has been a goal for a long time, one that had really been more of a dream up until a year ago. I am proud of having met this goal, and am forever grateful to all who helped me get here.

And a Good Time was Had by All!

2011-02-17T15:26:00.000-08:00

Last evening we had our Marathon Kick-off and Wine Tasting at Water2Wine (\http://www.water2wine.us/austin/). John, Jenny and the staff are wonderful hosts who made the evening even more enjoyable. Twenty-five people came out to taste wines, bid on silent auction items, and win door prizes, all the while supporting our team. Auction items ranged from wine gift baskets to sports memorabilia to a massage or a session with a personal trainer. People tasted wine varietals they may never had thought about tasting before, learning about the types of grapes, regions the grapes were grown in, and the wine-making process. The evening found a wide array of wine drinkers, from the amateur to the professional wine snob (I find myself to be aspiring to the professional wine snob. I am currently an amateur wine snob). The evening ended with us raising a little over $1,000, which was about double what I anticipated! It put me at about $6,500 total dollars raised, about $1,000 short of my fundraising goal. I cannot say enough good things about Water2Wine. It is a tremendously fun place to visit, taste and learn. The people are friendly, fun and generous, and the experience is delightful!

So Sunday is the big day. I have not really worked out since running 20 last Tuesday. I've hit the treadmill a few times, even running a 7 minute mile, and have done the stationary bike, as well. However, I am trying to rest my body as I prepare for the race. I've changed my diet for the week, as well. I have cut out meats and trans fats, and am eating more complex carbs. Other then last night, I have stopped drinking (I have not had scotch, my poison of choice, for a few weeks). I try to be active without overdoing. Saturday will be my last lite workout before the race.

If you are interested in tracking my progress, you can download an IPhone app at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/2011-livestrong-austin-marathon/id411573278?mt=8 or you can follow me on the web at http://www.whydoyourun.com/runnertracking/. You will need my bib number (4387) in order to follow my progress.

I would be remiss if I did not give 3 shout-outs. First, to Moe Harris of Elite Fitness (http://austinelitefitness.com/). He has been my friend and trainer on the journey, and I would not be able to be at this point without him. Second, Amanda, my running buddy, who made me go out even when I did not want to. While she knows how to whine when she needs to, she will not others whine. And finally, and most importantly, to my family. Maline, Josh and Noah have been marathon widow/ orphans for about 6 months now. They have supported and encouraged me, and never gotten upset when I have been gone to run.

Well, I guess this is it until after the race. Thanks to all who have helped, supported and encouraged me along the way! More Monday!

Twenty Miles

2011-02-09T11:45:00.000-08:00

So Sunday was supposed to be my big run before the race. My longest pre-accident run was 14 miles, and my longest post-accident was 10, a hard 10, at that. My goal was to run 20 miles Sunday afternoon after church. I knew I would walk some, since I have really only had about 4 weeks of training after a two month break, but I was OK with that. I left church and was driving home, when my car died from a blown head gasket. The toe truck did not get the car back to my house until about 5:00, too late to get my run in. I did not have time to run Monday, and bad weather was coming Wednesday, so I decided to do my 20 miles Tuesday after my Kiwanis meeting.

I got to Town Lake a little before 9 a.m. and stretched, got ready, and hit the trail at 10:15. The first stretch I went from the bridge to the Stevie Ray Vaughn statue, about 2 miles in 24 minutes, which is better then I normally do. I did a quick walk from there to the water station, some 50 yards away, got some water, then started back again. I climbed the miserable hill on Riverside and was able to keep going. In the past, I've climbed the hill then walked a bit to recover. I got to IH35 and was still going strong. There are four places to cross the access road at 35. The first one had no traffic, and I crossed easily. The next two both had the lights going for me as I approached. The last crossing, however, is always difficult, and I ran in place for about 2 minutes waiting to cross. Finally I heard a car horn, looked up, and saw that a cabby had gotten the attention of a bus driver and they both stopped to let me cross. I felt like I had my own cheering squad in these 2 strangers! I found myself running the next 6 miles without a walk, a first for me. Even when I did walk, it was a short distance at a quick pace. I ended up completing the first 11 miles in two hours and 12 minutes, which I was very pleased with.

As I was finishing the first lap, however, I began getting leg cramps. I would hit the ground and immediately feel a cramp hit. As I stopped running, the pain went away. I stopped and stretched, but could not get rid of the pain while running. I thought about stopping, but decided to press on. Over the course of the next three miles I tried an occasional run, but still found it painful. After the third mile, I was apparently stretched enough that I was able to start running again. My body was feeling the pain of over three hours of movement, but my spirit soared as I had yet another epiphany that I was going to complete the marathon. My hope was to complete the 20 miles in 5 hours. I figured that if I could do that, I could easily complete the marathon in the alloted 7 hours. It would not be the best time for a marathon, but for someone who had an accident and could not train for 2 months, it would not be bad. I ended up completing the 20 miles in about 4.5 hours, and was very pleased; sore, but pleased.

I still am stiff in my hips today, and now know that I need to work on some good IT band stretches between now and race day. I am working on my diet for the next two weeks, as well as a run strategy. I have no doubt that I will complete the race this year, and next year I will run with a good time. In the meantime, I am now just relaxing. No more long runs, no more pushing my body. I am to the point of lite runs and relaxation.

I want to thank everyone for your continued support. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Next week I will post highlights about you can trace me on race day via I-Phone or computer. Remember our fundraiser at Water 2 Wine on Anderson Lane next Wednesday night from 8:00 to 10:00. $25 for unlimited wine tastings, and silent auctions items, including a session with a trainer, wine baskets, massage and autographed sports memorabilia. There are also some great door prizes. Come out, have some good wine and fun, and help our team kick-off Marathon Week!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2011-02-01T15:52:00.000-08:00

I left the house this morning at 7 a.m., and the temperature was 38 degrees. By the time I finished my meeting at 8:15, it was 30. By the time we ran at 1:30, the temperature had dropped was at 25. Twenty-five, with a strong wind, and a wind-chill of 11, running on the lake. Even the ducks were shivering. We discussed making it a shorter run, especially when the cold weather triggered my asthma. However, I am 19 days from the marathon, and I need to run/walk/move as much as I possibly can, so we ran from MoPac to Congress Ave, with a few short walks along the way so I could take a hit on the inhaler and catch my breath. The first leg, other then asthma, was not all that bad. I had a good level of energy, the wind at my back, and a very warm fleece jacket. OK, my ears burned from the wind, but other then that, I was making it. However, once we crossed the river on Congress Avenue, we came to a stark and scary realization: running into the wind with an 11 degree wind-chill is just, well, insane. It reminded me of my days in Upstate New York and the reason that I left! It is now 3 hours after the run, and I am still feeling cold. I am just now able to type, as my fingers are now thawing out.

After the run, I attended my Club's J.K. Livin' program, a fitness program sponsored by Matthew McConaughey's J.K. Livin' Foundation. I worked out with the students, and for the first time since my accident, completed the entire workout, including 60 push-ups. This is the first time I've done push-ups since breaking my elbow in November. I felt very good afterward, and it gave me a renewed sense of self, and while I feel the workout in my arms and abs, I am once again reassured in my ability to complete the marathon.

If you would like to support me in running, here are two opportunities. The first is that you can make a donation through my marathon fundraiser page at http://bgcaustin.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=453053&lis=1&kntae453053=9CD2B0C8FA3648A29564247BDB045012&supId=286365985. My goal is to raise $7,500 for the Club, and I am currently at $5,664. The second way you can support me if you are in Austin, is to join me for a Be Grape Wine Tasting and Marathon Kick-Off at Water 2 Wine in North Austin. Details about this event can be found at https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179796632059571. This will be a fun event, with all the wine you can drink for only $25! And if you are unable to support me with these, then simply a note of encouragement will work wonders and carry me miles!

So, until next time, Run, Live, Sleep, Repeat!

The Point of No Return

2011-01-26T11:52:00.000-08:00

When I started this blog, I wanted people to hold me accountable, which they did. I received words of encouragement and support, and people asked me where I was in my training. I enjoyed that support and rode the wave of friendship as I increased my distances and decreased my times. However, after my accident, I did little exercise, as I was limited in what I could do, and found myself annoyed at my inability to train. I guess I was a little depressed, as well. However, I am back and am going to complete the marathon February 20. It won't be a fast time, but I am OK with that. During my ten mile run/walk last Sunday, I came to terms with the fact that I am angry about the accident, and how it set me back in my training. I am disappointed that I will have a slow time on my run, and that I will likely walk much of it. However, I am excited that I am still going to reach my goal of completing a marathon. Actually, my goal is 2 marathons. This year I run to say I did it, and next year I will run the Livestrong again, but then it will be for time. I have reached the point of no return, and have set my mind on the task at hand.

Having said that, I once again need the help of my friends and supporters. I need encouragement once again. remind me that a six hour run/ walk is not that bad. And if you are able, consider supporting my run. I am running to raise money for the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Austin Area, where I work. There are 2 opportunities for you to support me in this endeavor. The first is that you can sponsor me as I run. To do this, click on this link: http://bgcaustin.kintera.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=453053&lis=1&kntae453053=C5D2A5166A504627B624B53C78DA0AA2&supId=286365985&emaillogid=4193346122 . My goal is to raise $10,000, and I am about half way there. The second way to support me is by attending my Water 2 Wine Wine Tasting and Marathon Kick-off February 16, from 8:00 to 10:00 p.m. You can go to https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=179796632059571 to get more information and to RSVP. Maline has designed a special Boys & Girls Club label as part of the silent auction, and there will be many other great auction items and door prizes throughout the evening.

Thank you, again, for all who have been so supportive during my training. I am anxious to post on February 21 to let you know how I did.

First Run

2010-12-13T14:30:00.000-08:00

November 1 I was involved in a hit-and-run motorcycle accident. I fractured my left elbow, chipped the bone in my right wrist and received a large 3rd degree burn on my left knee. As a result, I was unable to run for a while, as well as type. Three weeks later, I finally braved the treadmill. While I was pleased with the run overall, the jarring on my elbow was quite painful. I did not run for a while, and while I would not admit it out loud, I questioned whether running the marathon was still something I would be able to do. Amanda and I set several times to run, but in the mornings I would be too sore, or too cold, or too tired to run. In truth, while all of these were the case, at least at times, the real problem was that I was depressed and scared of running. I found excuse after excuse, and my main one was that it would hurt my arm. Yet, I was willing and able to do other things that hurt my arm, such as boxing on the X-Box Kinect, deer hunting, and replacing the radiator on my car. I needed to decide whether I was going to let the accident knock me out of the race.

Yesterday I looked at the weather and saw that it was going to be 27 degrees in the morning, too cold to run. But as I looked at my calendar, I realized that I had free time in the middle of the day. With finals starting this week, my Club is not open, which makes the middle of the day more flexible, one of the advantages of working for the Boys & Girls Club. I contacted Amanda, and she was free in the afternoon, as well. So we decided to run together. Let me say that Amanda ran a 5K yesterday and finished in 26 minutes. She was very motivated as a result, and that helped motivate me. We met up at the bridge, stretched in the cold, and began our run. I was very winded very early on, and found myself having to stop after the first mile. I was struggling to catch my breath and wishing I had my inhaler with me. After a very brief walk, Amanda informed me that I was rested enough and that it was time to run. The second mile was worse then the first, and I wondered how she would react when I told her that we would be walking the last 2.5. I tried to tell myself that I was actually doing well after not running for 6 weeks, but I was not very convincing.

We stopped at the 2 mile marker, stretched a little, got some water, then started a walk up and across the bridge. We then started running again. I was feeling discomfort in my arm, but breathing was easier, and my legs were not at all fatigued. About a mile into that leg of the run I said that I wanted to walk, but I really did not feel that I had to. Amanda said that was good, because we were not walking. Once we were into the last stretch I actually felt pretty good! We finished up 4.5 miles in about 50 minutes, meaning that while our distance was not where we had been, our pace was a little quicker. I felt good about the run, and was convinced that I would do the marathon, after all. I may end up walking more then I wanted to, and it may take me an eternity to complete, but I am going to compete, I am going to cross the finish line, and I am going to get that medal!

Thanks for all the words of encouragement since the accident. Thanks, too, for all the words of encouragement I know I will continue to hear. And during this holiday season, take time to give thanks to God for all you have in this life, and all that you will have in the life to come!

Interval Running

2010-10-27T17:15:00.000-07:00

Several people have suggested I participate in interval runs as a way to increase my speed. Interval runs, in case you don't know, are fast runs interlaced with slower runs. For example, my regular pace is about 12.5 minute miles, but I want to be running at 8 minute miles. So, I would do a short warm-up pace at a slow pace, then do a tenth mile at my 12.5 minute mile, followed by a mile at my target speed, then back to a tenth at current pace, followed by a mile at targeted speed, and so forth. Today I decided to do my first interval run on the treadmill Maline's mom just gave us. This gave me control on what I was doing and how I was doing it, so I knew that I would not be likely to hurt myself in the process. I started out at a slow walk, then moved to my tenth mile at five miles per hour (12 minute mile). I then went to 7 miles per hour for the next mile (8.57 minute miles). This was the fastest I thought I would be able to go for a mile, so it seemed like a good starting point. After all, 3 weeks ago, I was very pleased with 8:55 miles on the track, so 8:57 seemed like it should be a good challenge.

At the end of the mile I resumed my slower pace for a tenth mile. I realized that 7 miles per hour seemed too easy, so I did my next mile at 8 miles per hour (7.5 minute miles). Half way through I realized this still seemed too easy, so I raised the incline on the treadmill to get more of a challenge. At the end of a mile I returned to 5 mph for a tenth of a mile, then decided to jump to 9 mpg (6.7 minute miles). I set the incline at 2.5 and ran. Surprisingly, I maintained the pace for the entire mile, making me feel extremely proud of my self. At the end of the mile, I slowed to 5 mph, then 4 mph, before coming to a stop. In all, I did 3.5 miles in 30 minutes, thus maintaining an average of 7 mph over the length of the run. In other words, I sustained an average speed that was the same as what I had been forcing myself to do for only a mile. I felt I could keep going, but decided that I had beaten my goal and it was best not to risk hurting myself by pushing too hard.

When I finished the interval trainings, I started working on core strengthening. Six Hundred crunches and other variants of abdominal exercises had me feeling the best I've felt in some time. In fact, I cannot remember ever feeling this healthy, motivated, and in shape! Just a few weeks ago I was going to be content to finish the marathon under the 7 hour maximum time alloted. Now my goal is to be under 4 hours, and perhaps even under 3.5. When I started this journey, I never imagined that I would set a goal like that. But now it seems attainable, and like I would be cheating myself not to run the marathon in less then four hours!

Daily I find more people who are following my writings and offering words of encouragement. I am inspired by the people that tell me I am their inspiration. I am ready for that medal which says that I completed the 26.2 miles, as well as the 26.2 sticker to put on the back of my car!

Finally, I have to thank my wife, Maline, and my son, Josh, for all their support. They get up in the mornings a few times per week after I've already left for a run. I am not there to help them in the mornings, and they never complain or get upset. I did not consider how much time this training was going to take away from them. I am grateful for their continued support!

Until next time, remember: Run, Live, Sleep, Repeat!

Fifteen Miles Yesterday!

2010-10-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

Well, we hit another milestone yesterday. Amanda and I started at Lamar and North Loop, ran down to the lake, across to IH35, back to the Pfluger Pedestrian bridge, then up Guadalupe and back to our starting point. Total distance was right at 15 miles. Last week I struggled to do 10, but I felt great after the run yesterday. Still today I feel good, a little stiff, but good.

The goal at this time is not speed, but total workout time. We will do 5 tomorrow morning, ten Friday and repeat the 15, 5, 10 next week. Then we will move to a 17 mile run for 2 weeks, and hopefully hit 20 miles by mid-November. That is when the serious training will begin. Once we hit 20, our goal is to spend less time walking and to increase the speed of our runs. My goal is to get to 9 minute miles, which I can do now, but cannot sustain, and to sustain that time throughout the race.

With this new milestone, I am feeling more and more ready for the race. Unfortunately, the time running takes away from blogging time, which means that my writings seem to be fewer and farther between. However, I will try to make the time to keep posting where I am, as I really appreciate all your support in my training.

Take time to check out my other blog, http://revmjq.blogspot.com/2010/10/musings-of-methodist-minister-luke-189.html, as well as the blogs of my running partner, http://amandastovall.blogspot.com/ and http://www.dishevelledstars.com/.

Half Marathon

2010-10-12T13:00:00.000-07:00

Milestones are nice, aren't they? Amanda and I set a goal to run 13 miles yesterday. That is a half marathon, and a third longer then we have been running. We decided that we needed to spend 2 weeks at that distance, even if we walked the last 3 miles, just to get to the next stage. We met up a little late on a humid and hot morning and took off on our run. First, we did a 3 mile loop, realizing that if we did ten, then tried to tack on the 3, we may not succeed. As I said, it was hot and humid, and a difficult run, but we did the first loop and began the real run. Each bridge over Town Lake was a temptation to cut the run short, but our will power was stronger then temptation, and we raged on. Well, moved on is more like it. But we moved. As we passed Congress Avenue, we discussed walking the hill up IH35. But the closer we got to the interstate, the more I felt we should run, so I encouraged Amanda, who called me a liar, grumbled, argued, then finally decided, as I knew all along, that I was right. So, up we ran. About 2/3 of the way up, however, I was running out of steam. I was not sure that I would be able to make the sharp assent, and I began to complain. Amanda sternly rebuked me, saying that running up the hill was my idea, that I forced her into it, and that I had no choice but to keep going. I called her a liar, grumbled, argued, then finally decided, as she knew all along, that she was right, so I ran up the hill.

We celebrated the feat with a toast of Clif Bar Gel Shots, trying to restore our energy through the delicious, thick snack of glucose and caffeine. (Note to self, a shot of scotch is a whole lot tastier then a Clif Bar Gel Shot!) We then started running again.

The humidity was really getting to me. I was drenched with sweat. I could feel it pouring off every inch of my body and my clothing. I felt sluggish and uncomfortable, and longed for the water station on the other side of the interstate. I was starting to feel dehydrated and wondered if I would be able to make the whole run. We ran to the dam, walked across, walked/ran on and finally crossed the interstate. I could taste the water as I ran, and knew that its life-giving potion would allow me to live. But as we approached, we were not met by water. Not even the bench the water normally sits on was there. It was a tease, and we were forced to go on, thirsty, hot, and not very happy. We decided that the next water fountain would be our next stop, so we kept on, looking for the next place to hydrate. After an eternity of about 3 minutes, the water fountain came in to view. New life and energy filled my soul as I surged on. I hit the button to the magic machine, only to find that it did not work. Pushing harder did not help, nor did yelling at the lifeless hunk of metal. With a sad heart, I went on, still thirsty, still needing to replenish fluids.

The next water fountain worked, but only a little, with the water just dribbling over the spout. As parched as I was, I did not feel that the little water I would get from this fountain would help. So I pressed on, Amanda encouraging me. I considered plunging myself into the lake, but thought better of it, so I continued with a combination of runs and walks. I actually ended up walking about the last mile and a half. Amanda finished stronger then me, but we both found it to be a bit of a challenge. I quickly drank my Gatorade and water, replenishing fluids, and wondering what we were thinking. I decided that I really did not need to run a marathon, after all, and decided it was time to give up on my training.

We will be running a half marathon again next week. We will have camel backs to keep us hydrated, and we will leave earlier in the day. I am proud to say that yesterday I ran a half marathon. I know that soon I will be able to say that I completed a full marathon, and that while I might complain during some of my runs, I will prevail!

And I have to say that I could not be doing this without support from my readers and followers. The comments I get help me to press on. It is certainly a wonderful thing to be surrounded by so many supporters.

Until next time, keep on keeping on!

Saturday Morning

2010-10-10T07:00:00.000-07:00

Today is 10/10/10. A piece on the Today Show spoke about how many weddings there will be today because it is a magical number. An expert on the subject stated that if you add the numbers in the date up, you get 5, which she saw as a very positive thing. It seems that being born or getting married today is supposed to make you successful. I disagree. Your success or failure in life is about your attitude about where you are and what you do with that. Life is what we make it, not allowing ourselves to be victims, but to be successes (see my blog, Musings of a Methodist Minister, http://revmjq.blogspot.com/). This attitude is what keeps me running on toward my goal of completing the marathon in February.

Saturday was my first short, relaxing run in quite a while. I met up with my group at 7:30 and just ran. My goal in the beginning was 4, but decided to move on to 5. In the end, I ended up doing 5.6, which made for a nice morning. The cooler air continues to make the runs nice, with temperatures in the upper fifties when I start and no more then 68 when I finish.

Last Monday I did 10 with Amanda. It was her first 10 mile run, and we ended up stopping a few more times and a bit longer then I am used to, but surprisingly I found that our time was still better then my last run. I believe this is the result of 3 factors. First, I am more in tune with how fast I am running. I get a good feel for my speed, and am more in touch with when I am slowing down. Second, I have a running partner, and with the accountability there is someone to help me push through when I am tired, and vice versa. Finally, taking rests for stretching and water seems to give me more energy, making me feel better about the times I stop.

Monday I have a new goal. We are planning on going 13 miles. I am both nervous and excited about this new challenge. The goal is 13 for the next 2 weeks, then 15 the next 2 weeks, then 17 for 2 weeks, and finally 20 from the third week of November through the end of January. The 20 mile runs will be the longest I do before the race, and I will be focusing on time on those runs. My goal is to be able to do 20 miles in 3.5 hours.

So live today, not because it is 10/10/10, but because it is the right thing to do. Look to overcome the adversity in your life, and make the most of what you have!

Love, love, love, then love some more; then, and only then, will you be truly alive!

Marathon Man: It's Been a While

2010-09-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

Marathon Man: It's Been a While

It's Been a While

2010-09-27T13:07:00.000-07:00

It's been about 3 weeks since my last long run. Two weeks ago today I did 8, and it was a struggle. I've run with my running team a few times since then, including one timed mile run. I have been pleased that my timed runs are getting faster. In about 3 weeks I've gone from a 12:26 mile to right under a nine minute mile! I ran with my daughter last week in Lubbock. She warned me about a hill we would be running up in Lubbock. Really, Danielle? Over the course of a half mile we climbed maybe 10 feet! It was fun to run with her, though, and we did a decent 3 mile run.

This morning I decided it was time to get back out and do the long run. I would have done this Saturday, but we were pushed for time with a big work event, so Saturday's run was only 3 miles, but at a fairly quick pace. Today I met Amanda under the MoPac bridge and we took off. Her goal was 7, so she went with me to IH-35. We stopped briefly at South First for a water break, then went on our way. We walked a short piece across IH-35 and said our good byes, then I took off for Longhorn Dam.

Up to this point I have been doing about 13:30 minute miles on my long run, but we were averaging 12.25 on our first 4 miles. Unfortunately, I had to stop for about 6 minutes to wait to be able to cross IH-35, so I had significant time added to my run. Despite that, however, I still averaged 12:57 miles, taking about 5 miles off my run time!

I have to say the cool weather helped quite a bit with this. It was 54 when I left this morning, chilly with a lite breeze. Having people to run with helps, as well. I will be doing a timed mile Wednesday, and my goal is 8:15. Saturday when we do our group run, I will be doing ten again, and I believe Amanda will be doing it with me.

As for the rest of you, stay active! I hope to see you at the finish line February 20, 2011.

Damn You, Amanda!

2010-09-13T09:38:00.000-07:00

I worked Saturday which meant no run. I knew I needed to find time to run this week, especially since I will be in Lubbock next week with Danielle, so I decided I would run this morning. However, I did not eat right last night (pork ribs were on sale for $2.99/ pound at HEB), so I ate fatty foods and no carbs. However, on a brighter note, I posted on Twitter and Facebook that I would be running, and my friend Amanda decided to run with me. Amanda is 26, thin and in good shape. While she doesn't run regularly, she does do Yoga and the run was easy for her. She ran faster then I am used to, and I was glad she was only running short of 2 miles with me! Having said that, we did those 2 miles in 24 minutes, which was hands down my best 2 miles ever!

Once we parted company, I went on to Longhorn Dam and Amanda crossed IH 35. I did not know what was wrong, but I knew I just did not feel right. I pushed myself as hard as I could, but at about 7 miles I was unable to run anymore. I ended up walking the 3 miles back to my car, feeling very bad about the day and the run. I tried to convince myself that this was only my 3rd week at this distance and that I should expect to have bad days, but it did not help. The more I thought about it, the longer my walk to the car seemed to take!

Once I got back to the house, I soaked in a hot tub, then worked on my new blog (http://revmjq.blogspot.com/). I've decided to start blogging about my sermon writing as a way of getting ideas out as I think through the sermon preparation process. Reading, reflecting and writing helped my mindset some, but I still feel like I should go run this evening and do the whole 10 miles. However, I know that is not what would be best for my training, so I will wait for Wednesday for my next run, the first run I have with my marathon team.

So for now, enjoy the week and we will speak again!

Marathon Man: Back to School

2010-09-09T09:28:00.001-07:00

Marathon Man: Back to School: "Here it is Thursday, and I have not posted about the weekend run yet! My Boys & Girls Club opened this week, and that has been all-consumin..."

Back to School

2010-09-09T09:28:00.000-07:00

Here it is Thursday, and I have not posted about the weekend run yet! My Boys & Girls Club opened this week, and that has been all-consuming as far as my time is concerned. I've made time to run and workout, but that is about it.

Saturday's run was the 10.1 again. I started out with the girls, who left me at First Street, then went on to Longhorn Dam. As with last week, it was a run a mile walk a minute day. I felt stronger at the end, though it was still tough to push myself that last little bit. My total time was 2:15:32 with an average speed of 4.5 and pace of 13.26 minute miles. I am working to get the time down, so I am no longer adding distance to my runs, at least not right now. While the time is slower then I would like, at least I see my times increasing bit by bit.

I am working on 2 ways to increase speed outside my Saturday runs. The first is that I am doing a timed mile on Wednesdays. Last Wednesday was only my second attempt, but I knocked 19 seconds off my mile from the previous week. I did not do the mile yesterday, as it was raining. How much was it raining, you might ask? Well, I would tell you, but I can't. I emptied my rain gauge twice, both times it was overflowing, which means 6 plus inches. Over the course of about 48 hours we received somewhere in the neighborhood of 16 inches at my house. That, my friends, is not good running weather. So, I will do the mile tomorrow. My goal will be a 10 minute mile for tomorrow, and ultimately I am looking to be able to sustain 5 miles at 9 minute miles.

The second way I am trying to improve my time is on my mid-distance runs. Ever since hitting 2.5 miles, I've started doing my training with the idea that I run a mile walk a minute. Now that I am running 10 miles on the weekend, it seems silly to do the run/walk combination on my mid-runs, so now I am working to run that one the whole distance. This morning was the first attempt, and I was pleased with myself. Total non-stop distance was 4 miles. Speed was 4.7 miles/ hour with an average mile of 12.59 minutes/ mile. My goal was 13, so I made the goal! I will continue this distance until I can get the time down to about 12.5, then will start increasing the mid-distance run.

One thing that has helped is hearing people talk about following my blog. One friend recently told me she was inspired to start running after reading it, and another told Maline that he reads it all the time and is impressed. We have a friend who is a runner and who used to run marathons who gives advice on technique, some of which I started implementing today, which is helpful. All this support and all these comments are helpful. No one says to run faster or better, which helps. They support me where I am, and I know that with friends and family supporting me, I will complete this race in February with no problem, whatsoever!

Well, back to work. Until next time, ponder these words from Michael Franti: "Love like your life depends on it because it probably does."

Marathon Man: Ten Miles!

2010-08-29T06:18:00.000-07:00

Marathon Man: Ten Miles!

Ten Miles!

2010-08-29T06:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I set out yesterday with a goal in mind. I would run from the MoPac bridge to IH 35 and back, for 7 miles. I met Marianna a little after 6:30 and we started at 6:45. Our first mile was very brisk, at least by our standards. We probably did about an 11 minute mile. Then we did our minute walk, before continuing to First Street. We got water at First Street and said our goodbyes, then I headed for IH 35.

There is a hill, a big hill, seems to me to be the biggest hill in Austin, maybe all of Texas, which we face on Riverside Drive. Each week we run a little farther up the hill before settling into a walk, and we make a goal for a longer stretch the next week. Well, I started up that hill and could not remember what our goal was. I was on my own, so I could not confirm with Marianna. So, like Forest Gump, I just kept running. Next thing I knew, I was to the top of the hill! I was about to start walking, but felt so good that I kept the run going. When I got to the turnaround at IH 35, was still feeling so good about running up the hill that I forgot to turn. Next thing I knew, I was at Baby A's on Riverside! I continued running to Longhorn Dam, then walked across the narrow bridge. After that, I started running again, and did not stop until I was west of 35 again at a water station. I stopped for about 30 seconds to hydrate, then was off again. At that point I had completed my 7 miles, but I still had 3.1 to get back to the car, and I was feeling good. My next stretch was to the Pfluger bridge, which is at Lamar. I walked for a minute there and was now at somewhere between 8.5 and 8.75 miles. Now I was starting to feel the run, and was debating about walking the last stretch, which would have made me feel OK. I walked for about a minute and was going to keep on, when a lady passed me up. On the back of her shirt was written for me in big letters, "Why quit now?" I started to tear up and realized that I was going to beat the trail, so I started running. I ran for about 5 minutes, then had to walk for a minute. I was hurting, and not sure if I was even capable of walking back to the car. Then I realized that I was at Anderson High School and that at the end of the campus was my stopping point, so I started running again. After about 3 minutes I walked another minute, then ran the last stretch to the hydration station, where I cooled down, drank water, and basked in the knowledge that I had just run 10.1 miles, the longest distance I've run in my life!

I have to admit that I did nothing for the rest of the day yesterday, except drink Gatorade and water and watch TV. I could not have gone any farther, but I did exceed my goal. In fact, as I was driving home, I realized that the week before I had run a quarter marathon at 6.6 miles, and that yesterday, just 7 days later, I did 40% of a marathon. I am on track and even a little ahead of my goal. My next goal is to be at 15 miles by the end of September, which is a little ambitious, but possible none the less. February 20 will find me running 26.2 with pride, maybe not with the fastest time, but with the knowledge that less then a year before I struggled to run a mile.

Oh, and my timed mile last Wednesday was 10:35. My hope was between 10:30 and 11, so I was pleased with that. I start training with my marathon team in 2 weeks, and am pleased to know that I am ahead of most of them, a first for me.

So, until next time, "Why quit now?"

Quarter Marathon

2010-08-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

As a minister, I've known my fair share of people with hip injuries. However, I've typically equated hip injuries with broken hips, and seen it as an "old person problem." Imagine how I felt, then, when my hip started to hurt while running last Wednesday. I did about 4.2 miles for the day, but it was an extremely slow and painful run! I rested Thursday and Friday, in the hope that I would be better able to run Saturday morning with Marianna.

Saturday came, and I was feeling better. We met a little late, as I was running late, and found that there was no parking. I parked at the Pfluger Bridge and walked about 1/2 mile to meet Marianna. The run was great. She went with me to IH35, then back to First Street, where she finished and I kept going. I got to the MoPac bridge, which was my goal for a stopping point with a walk the rest of the way back, but ended up running the whole way back, making the workout 6.6 miles, or a quarter marathon. I actually walked about a third of a mile, because I would run for about a mile, then walk for a minute. I also worked on picking up the pace around walkers, as I sometimes feel like I am barely running when I approach them. So, I saw this as an opportunity to work on the speed aspect of my run. As I approached a walker, I would speed up, then would keep that speed up from the time I approached them to about a minute after passing. I would not allow myself to walk in that time, even if it was my scheduled time. I ran at my normal pace for at least another minute before slowing to a walk.

Next Saturday we will be meeting at Austin High for our run. The IH35 loop will be 7.1 miles. My goal is to do a mile run minute walk and complete the entire thing in under an hour and a half. I was at 1:29:56 Saturday, so I will need to pick the pace up a little.

This morning's run was 3.5, and was at a faster pace then I normally run. I ran 1.5, then walked a minute, walked .5 then walked a minute, then ran finished doing 1.5 miles to finish up. My workout was completed with 400 abs.

Wednesday's goal: 1 mile for speed. I am a little nervous, but interested in seeing how I do.

So, until next time, Run like your life depends on it!

Saturday, Sunday and Monday

2010-08-16T06:16:00.000-07:00

Saturday morning I ran Town Lake with my Marianna (my sister-in-law) and her friend Jill. They are training for a half marathon in January and are both avid bikers. They ran from the First Street bridge to IH 35 and back. I kept going when we got back to First Street and went to the Pfluger bridge loop, which is by Lamar. I found myself walking some, which I don't normally do, but I think there were 2 contributing factors. First, I was talking while running. The second factor was the terrain. The parks around the house where I run are all flat. Town Lake, however, has several hills and a few ramps to get from lake level to street level. I think for next Saturday my goal will be to start at First Street, go to IH 35, then back the other way to MoPac, then back to First Street. I will walk the hills, ramps and steps, and run the rest to MoPac, walking from MoPac to First Street.

I found a great app for my Blackberry called Roadrunner GPS. It is a running and fitness tracker which works off the GPS on my phone. This app tracks my distance, mapping out the trail, gives me the total time for the workout, what my mile time is, average mph, and calories burned. It seems to be very accurate, and it should be a great help for tracking the progress of my runs!

Yesterday I rested. Well, I rested from running, at least. I preached about Dietrich Bonhoeffer and his commitment to his faith, even being committed to death by hanging for doing what he knew was right. The scriptural basis was Luke 12:49-56. I believe there is a crisis of faith in our nation. There are many who say they are religious, but they do not practice that religion. Bonhoeffer lived his faith and died for his faith. According to the doctor that witnessed his execution, “I saw Pastor Bonhoeffer ... kneeling on the floor praying fervently to God. I was most deeply moved by the way this lovable man prayed, so devout and so certain that God heard his prayer. At the place of execution, he again said a short prayer and then climbed the few steps to the gallows, brave and composed. His death ensued after a few seconds. In the almost fifty years that I worked as a doctor, I have hardly ever seen a man die so entirely submissive to the will of God.” May we all be so submissive to our God and our faith!

This morning's run was 4 miles. My goal was 3, so it was good to go past it. However, my time was way off. Maline started back to work today, so we had to get up and get going earlier then we are used to. We hit snooze a few too many times, but we finally got up and took care of business. Tomorrow we have training with Moe, then running Wednesday and Thursday.

Until next time, Live, love, laugh!

New Shoes, New Shirt, New Route

2010-08-12T09:42:00.000-07:00

My new shoes arrived yesterday. I bought the Asics Gel-Nimbus 11 running shoes from Amazon.com. They feel good. I did a short run of 2 miles and then 1 mile walking last evening to start breaking them in. I also received a running shirt as part of registering for the marathon. Between the shoes, the shirt, and my natural good looks, I looked great!

This morning I had a bit of a hard time getting started, however. Just after I walked out the door, the battery on my mp3 player died, which meant no tunes for the morning. My pedometer, which does not actually measure my distance accurately (after doing 6 miles on Town Lake Saturday, it said I had done .15!), also bit the bullet this morning. It has a clock on it, which I use to keep track of my speed, and to some degree, my distance. I had to really force myself to say I could make it a decent run, and set out grudgingly with my eye on 3 miles. I hit the road at a slower pace then normal, doing what I think was probably 13 minute miles and went my usual route. I got to the park, ran under the road, and came out to another park, which I started running last week. When I got to the end of the trail at the second park, there was a sidewalk leading into the neighborhood, so I took it instead of turning around. I followed the road to the middle school, then back up and around the soccer fields, up to the head of Harper Park, then turned around and came back. When it was all said and done, I hit right around 5 miles, I think (remember, my pedometer was dead, so I had no way of timing myself and determining how far I ran). It was a good run, and the new shoes feel great.

Tomorrow will be a lite upper body workout. I want to rest my legs for a day before running Town Lake Saturday. My goal is to do 6 miles Saturday running at a pace of 12 minute miles. So, anyone wanting to run Saturday, meet at Town Lake under the First Street bridge at 6:30! See you then.

Food for thought: Veni, Vidi, Vici.

A Sense of Accomplishment

2010-08-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

I started a project Friday afternoon which should have taken me a few hours to a day and a half, at most. I had a leak in my car and had to rebuild the front end. I took it all apart, did my repairs, then reassembled the car. When I did, it ran rough, almost not at all. I took it back apart and thought I found the problem, but then, when I tried to put it back together, I found a damaged piece that required me taking the car back apart again to replace. Before I reassembled everything, I tried starting the car with only the bare minimal parts installed. I reassembled the car and tried to start it, but it would not go. I broke it down again, inspected things very carefully, and found that a sprocket was out of alignment by about 1/64th of a degree. I worked tediously to put it back together and now have it running. A day or day and a half project became a 5 day project, which angered me, sickened me, and just made me feel stressed. But I have a great feeling of pride and accomplishment for having done the work my self, as well as a good understanding of why mechanics are so expensive!

Last week I had a post about a great run. Then I tried to repeat the run Saturday, but my time was off and I struggled to meet my goal. Today I had what seemed like a difficult workout with Moe, and I thought about quitting. I started this whole getting in shape thing wanting to lose 15 pounds so I could fit into my pants again. I have since lost 47 pounds and am wearing pants that are 4" smaller in the waist then the ones I was trying to get into. I exceeded my goal, and was ready to say, "Enough!" However, I chose to stick with it. I stopped thinking about the marathon and whether or not I still wanted to compete in it and focused at the task at hand. I did not ask what I would have to do next while working out, but instead waited until I finished the task at hand before inquiring where to go next. I worked tediously to complete the task at hand, focusing only on that task. In the end, I was glad I did it.

Now I am looking forward to February 20, but I am living and training one day at a time.

Food for thought: Training for a marathon is like working on a car. Focus on the step you are on without getting caught up in wondering if it is going to work in the end!

Sermon Block

2010-08-09T08:36:00.000-07:00

I know that I set out to write a blog about training for a marathon, but I have to make a confession. I have had a severe case of sermon block for quite some time, which has been quite frustrating. I have even pondered whether or not this is still my calling. I know that it is, but I am finding myself frustrated each week as I try to figure out what to preach about. Then something happened. As I was going through this struggle, I received a comment on one of my posts that said there was probably a sermon in this running thing. This brought a tear to my eye, as I began to realize that my sermons have been more of a job, rather than a calling, and that I was going through the actions of sermon preparation and delivery without having any real motivation. As I went through the week, I began looking at suggested lectionary readings and came across Isaiah 1:1, 10-20. I will not quote it here, but the gist of the message was that the people were going through the actions of worship, but their actions were empty, and hated by God. I began to realize that I was guilty of this same sin! So, I decided I needed to make a change.

In truth, I have not been as zealous in any other aspect of my life as I have been with marathon training. I have not been as passionate about my work with the kids at the Boys & Girls Club as I once had. I have not shown as much passion with my family as I once had. It is time for me to refocus my life and reset my priorities. I am setting work goals which will be focused on impacting the lives of youth. I am continuing to work on strengthening my family and our relationships. And I am changing my sermon prep time.

So, my first post of the week will be about the potential lectionary readings for the week. I need to refocus on looking at Scriptures early in the week and thinking about what I will preach about the following Sunday. So here are some thoughts on next Sunday.

Lesson 1: Isaiah 5:1-7
The prayer of the vineyard. In this passage, God refers to Israel as a vineyard he created to produce good grapes, but the vineyard instead gave wild grapes. Thus, the owner will allow it to grow wild and will stop tending his vineyard. Are we producing wild grapes in our lives, or good fruit?

Lesson 2: Jeremiah 23:23-29
In this passage God challenges the false prophets, those who dream dreams that are not what God wants. "Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let the one who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? says the LORD."

Lesson 3: Hebrews 11:29-12:2
This is a powerful narrative about the power of faith, setting example after example of how faith has helped people persevere. The message seems to be that our faith does not keep us from suffering so much as to guarantee the long-term end of suffering through death and resurrection. This is the message we must remember: faith does not mean easy life; faith means salvation.

Lesson 4: Luke 12:49-56
I come to bring fire and I wish it were already kindled. This was the passage of scripture I preached from my first sermon in my first church. It talks about Jesus turning families against each other, father against son and mother against daughter. "You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?" What are the signs of the times today? Where is there injustice in the world? What are we doing in response to these injustices? Where is God leading you today?

Water 2 Wine and Walking With my Love

2010-08-06T05:57:00.000-07:00

Last night we had a wonderful sushi dinner at Midori Sushi, then visited Water 2 Wine's North Austin location (http://www.water2wine.com). If you are a wine drinker in Austin, this is a place you must visit. They are a winery which imports grapes from all over the world, then create their own wines. There are numerous varietals and regions represented, as well as what the owner refers to as styles of wine. In addition, you can make your own, at least in a token way, which allows you to be involved in the process by adding yeast, tasting along the way, and in the end, designing the labels, bottling and corking.

We probably tasted 7 wines, and found 2 which we especially liked, but our favorite was the Rattlesnake Cab-Shiraz, with the Italian Pinot Nero running a close second. A bottle of this sells for $21.95, but you can make a batch for $369, which makes about 2.5 cases, meaning you have a custom wine with label for about $12.00 a bottle. Keep checking back, as I hope to have a Boys & Girls Club fund raiser here in the Spring.

I did not run this morning, choosing instead to walk/run with Maline and Rufus. Note to self: Basset Hounds run very slowly!

Ladybird Lake Saturday morning at 6 a.m. Let me know if you will be running with me!

And remember, when in doubt, add more wine!