The Long Run

     As October started I was about to go on my longest run to date.  In my mind wasn't any negativity but positive thoughts.  My Daughter came off the IR yesterday for 27 solid minutes on the pitch.  After over a month of being injured she ran a mile in 8:08 in what she said was her slugging it (we all know she is faster) in order to be cleared to play.  We are very proud of how she handled the injury and rehab. 

     Going into my 20 mile training run I did not think of how hard it might be, but of her powering thorugh over the last month.  As I started it was the first cold morning here of the fall.  I wore a long sleeve t-shirt , shorts and a fleece cap.  After the first 9-10 miles I went back into my neighborhood.  It was time to pick up my running partner as she was going to hit a 12 in her training.  I was having some stomach problems so I took a quick break to fix that and change my shirt then back on the road.  We sped out on her first five.  then I can feel my legs starting to fight me back. 

     I could hear her asking if I was ok which is usually the other way around.  I knew I must be favoring something.  So I adjusted my stride and pushed through.  We looped the school zone and were back on the mill.  This is where I started to feel the pain.  My calf started to cramp at her 8.78 mile mark.  I had to take a quick walk break and lengthen my stride to stretch it out. at 8.88 we were running again to the home stretch.  Back onto Tiny Town and straight west to the estates.  As I hit the neighborhood I knew I was over 20 and I could ease up and cool down. 

In 22 days I will run my first full marathon and I think I am ready.  St Louis watch out here I come...

Over a Month many miles and another friend says goodbye

     As the weeks wind down towards my first Marathon days are flying by or blending together.  As I run down Tiny Town dodging the speeding cars everything is a blur.  Turning onto even more risky roads just to get in the longer miles.  Am I after the rush of adrenaline as each vehicle comes within feet of me?  Or am I just out there enjoying my run? 

     I think it is a little bit of both.  We all like the adrenaline rush when we are running or competing in any activity.  I also just love to get out there and run the further the better.  I logged well over 200 miles in the time between my posts along with working an insane amount of hours over that time as well. 

     Just as i feel like I do not want to go I find other reasons to get out and go.  As I train for my first full my running partner who is my best friend and wife is training for her Half-Marathon circuit.  So I run in the morning alone or with the platoon then I come home and she is ready to go so I change shoes and we are out the door.  Everyday we all look for new motivators to add to our bag of them or we just reach in and check  off one again.  I think I have enough in my bag to motivate me for a while.  What is in your bag? 

As I was about to post a couple weeks ago yet another of my friends was taken from us too soon.  Douglas Wade Jones you were a great Husband, Father, Friend and leader.  I know we are being watched out for now from above.  Thanks for all the guidance you gave me when I really needed it.  Rest in Peace brother. 

    

Keeping your self going? What does it take?

     Getting up each and everyday to work out is no easy task.  There are days when you do not want to get out of bed, but you know you have to.  There are those times when you start running and realize this will not be a good day and you want to stop.  There is the time when you are driving to the gym and decide to turn into a lot and just relax instead of working out the core.  For years that is exactly what I did.

        That was until I started running for my health, my family and most of all my beast friend who was taken from us in Iraq.  He was on his third tour in Iraq and never faltered in his dedication to duty.  When he got in country for that last tour he ran a Marathon in the heat of day to pass the time before going on his first mission.  SSG Jon Martin is why I started taking running seriously.

          Whenever I feel like I do not want to go faster, further or at all I think of his accomplishments and what he would be doing today.  That puts me up and over the edge to break through the walls. 

     Today I ran a 10K for the Week of The Eagles at Fort Campbell.  As I ran through the woods and on the roads of the Fort I could envision him running in front with his young recon soldiers pushing them to their physical limits.  That is what still motivates me today. 

     As if having Jon to be my guiding light for his physical prowess and unmatched leadership abilities was not enough.  On 31 December 2010 at 1130 Am local time Afghanistan, I lost one of my young Sergeants.  He was a leader who cared for his young Soldiers and Sappers.  He always had a way to lighten any moment even if he was the one who made it intense to begin with.  His loss left a void in our Platoon, but as he did in life , he was able to lighten the moment and he motivated the section from the other side.  He was the guiding force for us to make it the last 4 plus months and get home.  SGT Michael Beckerman is my second light that pushes me over the edge. 

     As I rest here writing, I am looking forward to honoring them both tomorrow as I run for both of them as well as all the Eagles we have lost here at Fort Campbell in the last 10 years.  We will run in the 4th annual run for the fallen on Sunday night with these Heroes looking over us all.  They are my motivation


What gets you going? 

The Heat!!

     Wow what a couple of weeks we have had here in Tennessee.  The heat index has been insane and getting quality runs in has been nearly impossible.  I am currently training for my first Marathon which will be in about 83 days in St Louis.  I hear people say that the full is the hardest thing to train for and accomplish.  I always thought it would be a challenge, but adding in this heat has made it almost instant extreme sports. 

     With the heat coupled with work, I have started a totally different approach to training.  I start at 0430 for about an hour of running.  I then change into my PT uniform and go to my 0600 meeting.  At 0630 it is time to get some more miles in along with cross training ( push-ups, sit-ups, rope climbs etc.)  This is four days of the work week. Thursday is the fun day where I run for 30 minutes then put my rucksack on and walk 6-8 miles with 45 lbs added to my back.  Is this a good program to train to run 26.2?  I do not know yet but in 83 days it will all come to fruition. 

     If there is anyone who has a plan that can fit into this schedule please post it here or send me a message to let me know.  I also have a 1/2 two weeks after this first full which I am running with my family and friends. 
   
     What has been your biggest challenge? 

The Zone

     Have you every gone for a run with a distinct mileage goal in mind, and realize when you finish you have gone further than you planned?  I know this happens to more than me.  I was running the other day with a goal of three miles before PT (physical training) then three miles with cross training during PT.  This was an easily obtained goal in my eyes.  This week the temps have been horrible for running any time of day never mind the beautiful humidity of the western KY/TN border land.  So I started my first part at around 0445 and 4 1/2 miles later I was finished with part one.  I did not realize I had run that far or the pace I was going.  I kind of went into the zone and just pushed forward with it. 

     I went and got my PT uniform out and ran to my office to change before our morning meeting and the start of the day.  I drank down some refreshing HEED took some notes reset my watch and was ready to take my platoon on our Cross training day.  Right face, double time march!!  We were off just jogging at first then for the next 1.5 miles I had a guest want to speak to me so we went out at at 6:30 pace it was awesome talking and running then realizing the Platoon was way back so we had to double back and scoop them up.  I did not care it felt great to run that free and talk at the same time again.  We then started doing push-ups, pull-ups, chin-ups, dips, crunches, sit-ups and some squat thrusts for about twenty minutes.  The energy was awesome everyone was pushing each other to go harder and do more.  

     Once the muscle break was over the run started again for about 3/4 of a mile then we hit the ropes.  You know you have always had the urge to climb ropes when you were running we just happened to find some to climb on our route.  The four ropes hung about 4o feet into the air off of a beam it was beautiful.  All of the platoon members ponied up and climbed them.  It is a thrill to be up that high hanging on just by what you can (hands and legs).  Then it was a short jaunt to a crazy looking area with lines painted in it, most people call these parking lots, we use them as the urban gymnasium.  Sprints were in order so after 8 x 100 and 4 x 200 we were ready to pack it in and head back the last 3/4 of a mile to cooling down and awaiting the rest of our day.  

     We all had been to the pinnacle of the zone which for us is "war".  We all now just found ourselves in a physical war of one upsmanship which created an awesome "zone" to train in.  By the end of the 12 who started 4 had left everything on the field and the other 8 were not far behind them.  It was a great training day which I eclipsed my goal of 6 total miles to hit almost 9. 

     Some times the zone is not peer to peer competition but it is an inner competitor that pushes us all forward. 

     What puts you in the ZONE?

Oh yeah all of the HEED was gone by the end of it all. 

The Fifth Annual Haley's Team Twilight 5K and Haley's Kids 1K

     The team works for almost the entire year getting ready for the next year's event.  You write e-mails to countless corporations asking for support, make sure you have insurance and a safe course for the runners to run on.  Everyone on the team works with out worrying about themselves to ensure we put on a tremendous event to raise money to help research to find a cure to Cystic Fibrosis. 
     By race day you have already stuffed all the pre-registered runners bags with shirts, energy gel , biofreeze and pamphlets.  This year we were very fortunate to have the McClellan Park Medical Mall as the race start and finish with use of the building.  We also had a local band providing music throughout the race.  ( it was their first ever gig) 

     The race set up goes pretty smooth except for losing a box on the road to the race.  It was a pretty important one since it had all of our cups for the drink stations.  This was yet a small hiccup during this years event and we were able to power through it. 

     Volunteers are amazing and helped us to man water stations, ensure dark areas of the course had light and the race was timed correctly and we greatly appreciate all of them. 

     By 730 PM  the registrations were at 251.  This is a great number.  We start the Haley's Kids race and the youngsters took off quick.  The young winner finished in just over 4 minutes then went on to run the 5K less then 30 minutes later.  He also placed in his age group there.  by 8 PM all the runners who would take to the streets of historic McClellan were lined up.  Randy gave the pre-race instructions then counted them down to start. 

     Although it was after 8 at night and the temp had lowered a bit, the humidity was the key factor to the race this year.  The winner crossed the finish line in just over 17 minutes with the runner up right on his heals.  It was a great race with the runners led and followed by the Anniston Police Department.  A huge thanks to the APD. 

     When it was all over we had over 210 finishers and had raised over 11,000 to go to research. 

Huge thanks go out to all of our Sponsors especially : Taylor Construction, RoadID, GU and Biofreeze. 

Oh yeah planning has already begun for next year and we are less than 51 weeks away from executing the 6th annual race.  Hope to see ya'll there!!!  Go to www.haleysteam.com for updates throughout the year.

T- 1 day till the Event

     Another year of preparations has been completed.  We have upgraded to course (due to construction) and have gone to a new shirt design.  The shirt is designed by our race namesake Haley so it is cool.  The amount of runners is always a crap shoot but we are hoping for a good turnout.  in the four previous years participation has grown steadily.  This year should not be any different. 

     All of the work that goes into an event is for a great cause, to help find a cure for Cystic Fibrosis.  For most of us a deep breath is an easy feat, for some it is like you are constricted.  Our goal is to help the research teams in their pursuit of a cure for this disease. 

    The race will start at 8 PM from the McClellan Medical Park in Anniston , Alabama.  The course takes you through scenic areas of the former Fort McClellan and also attempts to keep you cool  by running at night during these hot days. 

     We hope to see every one come out with their blinkies on and shoes tied up to run our Fifth annual race. 

Until Next Time  Happy Running