Absence

Well, looking back at my last post, I have been absent from here for well over a month. Guess I have some catching up to do. As stated in my last post, things at work have been crazy. But, prison work is unpredictable so, you have to roll with the punches. May was my first month, out of three, that I broke the 100 mile mark for the month. I have friends that do that in a week. I need to get back in the game if I'm going to be ready for my two marathons in Nov and Dec. The last three months have also included the development and putting on of Mucka Mania! This was our running club's first annual 5K/10K race! Months of planning, course development, sponsor gaining, t-shirt and medal designing, and just the long hours of bringing it all together. We finally reached the day when it would all pay off. June 9 was that day. Yes, the same day as my birthday. What better way to spend it than with my girls taking part in the race as well as many of our friends. When we first started registration, it was slow. Not many signed up at all. Up to a month out, our race was looking bleak. Then, out of nowhere, the numbers started creeping upward. When we hit the century mark, we were ecstatic. The it hit 110, the 120. Panic started setting in. We truly didn't think it would take off so much, considering it was our first race. We closed down online registration at 153. Race day registration pushed us over 160. Amazing! Race day arrived and the turn out was great. Our volunteers rocked! Everyone loved the courses! I've had a couple ask when we were going to put on another race. Many have already said they cannot wait to run it again next year. Some are verbally committing to step it up and run the 10K. There were so many smiles at the finish line! It made it all worth while. Oh, and some of the end results for the Wise Clan were as follows: Deb took 8th overall, 2nd female, 1st in here age group in the 10K. Amy took 2nd in her age group for the 5K. The birthday boy took 3rd overall, 3rd male, and 2nd in my age group. Not a bad way to spend my B-Day. :) We finished off the day with some friends and closed out a great day.

WOW!

The weather is sure having a hrad time making up its mind. Not that I'm complaining or anything. I am really enjoying these cooler temps. However, issues at work have really cramped my running lately. But, that's what I signed up for when I went into Law Enforcement. Fortunately, running is one of my stress relievers. After the longest days of dealing with some of the worst people in society, I can rely on a run to take my mind off of it. Not to mention, I have a great home life to help remove the stressors.

One thing that really helps is getting in some good quality runs with Deb. She joins me on early morning runs, before I go to work. She joins me on mid-day runs when we want to sleep in. When her running partner doesn't make it to our group runs, we team up and enjoy a great run together. How awesome is that to have a spouse who enjoys and shares your healthy habits. I'm pretty lucky in that aspect. :)

I think, with everything going on, my priorities are starting to change. I had a goal of running a certain amount of marathons within a certain time frame. I always seem to have goals of beating my fastest time, never really taking in the whole marathon experience. After running Little Rock, I saw some fellow Marathon Maniacs just runnning and enjoying their race. They weren't concerned about their time. They just enjoyed the race from start to finish. After completing 12 marathons, I think the competitive part of me is subsiding. The fun part is starting to take over. I want to enjoy these races. Take full advantage of what each one has to offer. Being one of the original Muckas Running Club founders, and putting on our own race, I think the fact of putting on an enjoyable race is huge!!

I guess what I am trying to say is, I think I'm slowing down and finally going to try and take it all in. There are so many people out there just running to have fun. I think it is time to be one of those people. Deb has shown me what it is like to get out there and enjoy it. Even though she says she's not competitive. Wink Wink!! She has shown me how to just enjoy the run. To get lost in the sounds and sights. Our morning runs are greeted with birds waking to the rising sun and singing all along our route. It has taught me to watch where I run because running in the dark sometimes prevents you from seeing the skunk crossing the road in front of you. Close encoutners of the almost stinkiest kind. :)

I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't worry what people think. Enjoy the run. It's good for you. :)

Mucka Mania Training Run

As we draw closer to our first ever Mucka Mania, our group met up for another training run on the 10K route. We had 8 Muckas show. I ran the course with Deb today. Her regular running partner, Sherry, is out on injured reserve for a bit. Always enjoy running with Deb. She helps keep me under control on these runs. :)

Temps were perfect today as we started off in the upper 40's. Would love for those kind of temps when we run Mucka Mania on June 9. Which, by the way, will be my 44th b-day. I sure hope the race directors will give me bib #44. :) Fortunately, I have some connections. LOL! The race participant numbers are starting to grow. Hopefully it will continue to grow.

Back to the training run. Fortunately, at least half our course is shaded. Running up 64B seems to be the busiest part of our run. Not to mention a long steady uphill. Making that left on Airpark would give you the false impression you're going to get off that hill but, WRONG! There's still another 1/10 of a mile uphill. Pass through Cogbill Cemetery and enjoy a nice downhill on the other side. Beautiful homes in this quiet neighborhood. Just as you start to enjoy the serenity of the pond to the right, you take on another hill. It's small and quick. ANother gradual downhill before you come around a curve and take on a larger hill. But, what goes up, must go downhill on the other side. Gotta be careful on this downhill as you cross Killough. 1/4 mile down, right turn twice then 1/4 mile up Bridges. This turns into Peterson Road, better known as Rabbit Road due to the up and down. Once you take on the last hill (Gut Check Hill), the hard part is over. Steep downhill and then turn right and it's a sprint to the finish.

Great training run with some great friends. Come join us on June 9th and meet all the local Muckas, and take on a great course.

So Many Goals, So Little Time

I started running marathons back in 2008. My first ever endurance race, over a half marathon, was the El Scorcho Dos. This was an ultra marathon. Yes, I skipped right over a normal marathon and went straight to an ultra consisting of 31 miles. I actually placed 28th overall in the male division for this race. I can remember saying to myself, "Crap! I'm gonna be last. Please don't let me be last." :) Yes, there were more than 28 runners. There were roughly 68 in the male division.

Since then, I have completed 11 more full marathons. My goal is to eventually run a marathon in all 50 states. As you can see by my map, I have a lot of ground to cover. Only having five states knocked out, the last 45 may be a challenge. Getting older, job responsibility getting higher, and money lacking, completion is looking bleak. But, one must never give up. And, if we survive December 21, 2012, it will be on! :)

Check back from time to time and see how the progress is going. Hoping to knock out OK and MO soon. And, depending on where the job takes me, there will be some new states falling as well. Eventually, we will start conquering the West Coast. My cousin wants me to take on the Goofy Challenge with him, at Disney World. That would knock out FL but, gotta save up some moola to cover that kind of race. Not to mention my girls would have to enjoy some time at the Magic Kingdom. :)

Follow me on this journey. Who knows, some of you may join me along the way. To date, I have run marathons with Tony Brake and Barrett Burns. Two of my followers. I hope to run more with them as they recover from various injuries. They both inspire me to run and push beyond the pain threshhold.

Mucka Mania 5K/10K Race

Our running club is putting on its first race on June 9th, 2012. We are joining up with the Wynne, Arkansas Farm Fest and giving runners a challenge to run through some of the scenic areas of Wynne, take on some hills, and just enjoy the open air. Both races have a final hill that we have so lovingly named, "Gut Check Hill". It's not a long hill, just tall. The 5K race will allow for runners and walkers. The 10K course is strictly for runners as time will become a factor. Either course will challenge you. But, that's why we do what we do. To conquer more challenges. So, if you are looking for a challenge in June, come join the Muckas and run through some hills in Wynne. Afterwards, you can enjoy the Farm Fest in downtown Wynne. Registration is at: http://www.racesonline.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=public.race_detail&race_id=13216

Course info:
5K - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/74032162
10K - http://www.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/74016260

Come join the fun and meet some Muckas. :)

Catching Up

Wow, time has flown by with the new job. Unfortunately I haven't been keeping up on here, as well as keeping up with my Dailymile friends. Time to catch up. :)

After my biggest mileage month, in January, I came back with my lowest total since last February. No worries. Still broke 100 miles. Opened March up with the Little Rock marathon. This marked my 12th marathon. Is it a bakers dozen since my first marathon was an ultra? Gotta love it. Now for the race review. We had 12 Muckas show up to run different races. Four of us, (Holly, Jerry, Kevin and myself), ran the full. Sherry, Brandon, Jody, Jeff, and Greg ran the half. Allison, Sarah, and Brad ran the 10K. The day started off with good weather. We were at about 40 degrees to start. We all fought our way into the corrals and found our places. Once the gun went off, it was like speed walking for the first quarter mile. Once everything started to thin out, it started getting easier to settle in. Holly and I stayed together for the first two miles. Unfortunately, I hydrated so much, I had to make an early pit stop. Holly kept rolling. I caught back up to her by the first water station. As we made our way under the bridge, it was her turn. I kept running.

As I was running back on the bridge, over the Arkansas River, I came across a wheel chair participant. If you have never run the Little Rock marathon, there are some killer hills along the full course. The wheel chair participants were doing the full, and rocking it! Amazing!!! I'd also like to say, Little Rock has some awesome fans out there! Supportive the entire way. As I passed the 6 mile mark, I got to see Occupy Little Rock. Not to offend anyone but, I thought hippies went out back in the 60's. Oh well, press on. Shortly after passing them, I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Holly. She caught up. As we made our way through downtown and around to the Governor's mansion, the temps started to rise. Holly started to fall back. Normally, I would stay with her and try to motivate her but, I knew I was facing a rough trip up the hills myself. I wanted to push on through and try to stay under 4 hrs total. Once I passed the halfway point, I didnt see Holly anymore. I pressed on through the hills and made it the whole way, pulling ahead of the 4 hr pace group.

Around mile 18, it was a full on head wind! I had my phone with me and told Deb where I was on the course. She text back and told me Jerry was in trouble around mile 21. Asthma attack! I started looking for him but, at mile 20, I had to take a walk break because the winds were killing me! Oh yeah, just before that, I unofficially met Marathon Maniac, Dave Mari and his big Afro wig! Funny guy! At mile 23, I saw Kevin heading the other way. High fives exchanged, we pressed on in opposite directions. By this point, the wind and 60+ temps took their toll. Walk breaks were more frequent. At mole 26, I was running in and felt another tap on my shoulder. It was Jerry. I found him!!! Ok, he found me. :) We ran in together and crossed the finish line together. That was pretty cool running in with another Mucka.

After collecting the dinner plate sized medal and making our way out of the finish line chute, I was greeted with some awesome hugs and kisses from Deb and Amy! My finish time was 4:07:09. Not my fastest but, I'll gladly take it considering the conditions. Waited for Holly and Kevin to finish. Holly crossed with her Daughter, Bailey. Kevin beat the 5 1/2 hr mark. Even with his pit stop to have a few beers around mile 25. Great race by everyone. Tough course, tough conditions. Will do it again!

Joy and Sorrow

2012 started off with a bang. I finally breached the 200 mile mark for the month of January. This is the highest monthly total for me, ever. I felt great the whole way. My goals are being met, and I'm on pace to break that 2000 mile year. That, coupled with the fact I just received a promotion at work, has made this a good year so far. I say good, not great. Not great because the same day I received the promotion, I also attended a funeral to bury one of my young officers. He was only 28. Unfortunately, with triumphs, sometimes great sorrow follows. However, I am blessed and fortunate to have my family and my running to help keep me sane. Count your blessings my friends. Enjoy life to the fullest.