Training Update

We're about six weeks out from El Scorcho. My training is getting better. After my long run tomorrow, I will be over 100 miles for the month for the first time since last year. Feeling better with my runs. Just trying to get my wind back. The weather is surely heating up here in Arkansas. Might have to start getting my runs in early in the morning, before work. Man, that is early!!!

Torch Run

Took part in the Arkansas Law Enforcement Torch Run today. Ten of us took part in it with State Troopers and Forrest City PD officers. Started at approximately 8;00AM at the trooper station in Forrest City. Everyone, except the few driving chase vehicles, started off together. Having a squad car escort, and a motorcycle cop riding with us was pretty cool. We started our way up highway 1. Several runners rotated in and out of the chase vehicles. We keep the torch moving at all times. Burns and I ended up running the whole way, which turned out to be 13.64 miles. We made it, as a team, in just over two hours. We rounded the corner and saw all the Special Olympians cheering us on as we came in as one big team. After we finished this leg of the run, we were told another group was coming in from Marion, AR to Wynne but, were running further with less runners. We loaded into the van and went to give them a hand with the remainder of there run. We all took turns running a mile at a time. When I took my turn, it seemed to turn into more like two miles. The guys in the van decided to get more than their monies worth out of me. Ha. It was all worth it as it was for a good cause, and I got in a decent long run in the middle of the week. Less than two months to go for El Scorcho!!

TRAINING

Hit my first real, long run since the Cowtown. Hit a 12 miler today. Other than the high winds, I felt great. Completed my run in 1 hour 39 minutes. Felt good to get out there and complete this run in that kind of weather, and not struggle. Felt strong going up the hills. Getting back into the swing of things, finally. El Scorcho is drawing nearer. Hope to stay healthy and beat last year's time.

El Scorcho Training

Officially starting my first week of training for El Scorcho Tres. Hit one 6 mile run this week but, I'm still behind by 5 miles. Gotta get in gear and get on track. I want to be able to better my time from El Scorcho Dos. So, with that said, now that the move is over and I'm on a normal shift for once, I need to lose that 10 pounds that found me over this move. Get beyond my knee pain, and get back into the game. Got a 6 miler scheduled for tomorrow. Calling for rain but, no matter, I will still get it in.

Cowtown 2009

Feb 28, 2009. The Cowtown Race. Originally signed up for the marathon but, had a lot of issues with training. We were in the middle of getting ready for our move from Ft Worth to Arkansas. That moving diet will put some pounds on ya. Also dealing with knee issues. So, I changed to the half marathon. Glad I did. Once I finished, I knew I didn't have a full marathon in me at the time. Well, the temp was about 32 degrees, without the wind chill. BRRRRRRRRRRR!!! Was supposed to run with AJ but, lost him in the crowd. The Cowtown is a great race. They broke their record for participants this year. Well, the run started, and was bottle necked for about the first two miles. Once you get out of the crowd, it was easy to enjoy the run and scenery. Great crowd support. Always love coming back into downtown, surrounded by the huge buildings, the cheering crowds, and seeing the finish line after you round the last corner. Finished with a 1:47. Not my best but, not bad for an injured knee. Next stop, El Scorcho Tres in July.

White Rock Marathon

Dec 14, 2008. Deb, Amy, & I stayed in the Sheraton Hotel, in Dallas, the night before the race. Jimmy and Hollee were there too. The hotel was about a mile from the race start. Jimmy, Hollee, and I walked from the hotel to the race, to help loosen up a bit. Temps were in the 60's and the wind was terrible. Jimmy and Hollee were running the half, I took on the full marathon. They had a F-18 flyover, smoke and confetti. It was pretty cool. We took off from the American Airlines center, running through downtown Dallas. It took me a full 5-minutes from the gun going off until I crossed the start line. There were plenty of spectators out there. No matter where you turned, there were people cheering you on. We left the city and headed for White Rock lake. I had a good pace through the first 13.1 miles (8:13). As soon as we turned into the wind, it all went downhill. Winds were 25 mph, with gusts up to 32 mph. It would stand you straight up. At mile 20, I started feeling it in my right thigh, just above my knee. Tried to stretch it out....MISTAKE!!!! My hamstring started cramping. About mile 23 and 24, my calves started doing the same thing. Eventually I crossed the finish line. 4:14:23. Not the time I was hoping for but, I made it. Jimmy and Hollee completed the half in 2:22. Hollee beat Jimmy by one second. Wonder if he paid off the bet yet. Ha Ha Next race is the Lake Benbrook Half Marathon, then the Cowtown marathon.

FALL MUD RUN 2008

Ok, we got another Mud Run under our belts. We fielded two 5-man teams, and an individual runner. We also had an all female team this year. Deb, Hollee, Tiffany, Veronica, and Kathy. After several delays at getting started, the women were off. They started off around the back of the pack but quickly moved up on the initial run before the first obstacle. They disappeared off into the distance. They were still in dry clothes and all smiles when we last saw them. The men were up next. Once they finally let us go, we took off. They changed the course up a little this year. There was about a 1 1/2 to 2 mile run to the first obstacle. Horshack, Jimmy, and I were together for the majority of the initial run. Daryl and Smitty weren't far behind us. Horshack picked it up and starting pulling away from us. I started feeling my boots wearing away at my left heal. A word of advice, double up on the socks when running in boots. The size of the raw spot on the inside of my left heel is about the size of quarter, at least. The first water obstacle came and we caught several of those youngsters with the ROTC. Actually passed them at one point. Don't think they were too happy about the old guys passing them. :) As we came off the cargo net, I could hear the women yelling for us. They were held up at the mud pit, in a huge line. Of course, that got Jimmy and I to pick up the pace. We finally caught the women at the stairway to heaven. They were moving right along. Well, we finished, as a team. We came in at about 1 hour and 13 minutes. Allen SWAT caught us on the last hill and beat us by about 30 seconds. We took second place in the Uniformed Division. The women finished not to far behind us. We were all a muddy mess. Once all the results are posted, I'll update the times and have some pics to put on here.