Rallee enjoying her Christmas present.



The new WBG album

Get to go to Howie's tonight for NYE. A nice laid back good time for those involved. Entirely too much food, but man is it good. Thankfully I'm off until Tuesday and then 4- midnight so I can get some good work in this week. I have the Siberian Express on Saturday at Kickapoo so I need to get a couple good runs in to keep my legs fresh this week. I was really hoping to be on the RIT tomorrow, but the rain looks like it will keep that from happening. Probably a Bradley run instead.

I need to get busy on the Midwest MTB Summit this week too. I've kind of taken the holiday season off, but it's time to get going again. I have a lot of local places to talk to and I need to touch base with our corporate sponsors to make sure we are on track.

Christmas Time

I enjoy Christmas, contrary to popular belief. Everyone thinks I'm a grinch, but that's not really the case. I just don't get all wierded out about it and acting like an idiot. But I really do enjoy it. Actually this year was especially nice because Tiffany was off last night and it was nice to actually wake up with her on Christmas morning. We'll eat a light breakfast here and open our gifts before heading to her parents for dinner at noon.

My weight was 215 this morning. Not too bad. I'm usually over 230 this time of year. My goal heading into '07 was 215 so I guess I need to have a good week between Christmas and NYE.

I'm hoping my week goes like this:

Tuesday: RIT
Wednesday: 60 minute run
Thursday: off
Friday: 90 minute trainer
Saturday: 90-120 min trail

2007 Plans

They're coming together. I have two "main" goals next year. First is the Howl at The Moon 8 hr. trail run and then I'll do the 33 miler at Farmdale on October 13th. Big aspirations, huh? We'll see. I'm flirting with some long bike events as well, but we'll have to see on that. Sounds like Brakeville already has plans to get me over for some gravel fun with him and Howie while they prepare for TI. I could go for that!

I did 2 hours on the RIT today and I feel pretty good. I don't have much power, but I feel like I could go forever right now. The rest of the week is shaping up like this:

Tuesday: 60 min. Bradley Park run
Wednesday: Off
Thursday: 2 hrs RIT
Friday: 2 hr. trail run at Farmdale
Saturday:Xmas with the fam, back home.

Good Decision

Yeah, I'm happy I decided to stay here today. I saved some vac. time and I got in a very nice 94 minute run at Farmdale. I don't think I've ever ran that long before. I guess I'll need to start getting pr's on a lot of my long runs this year. My knees are a little achy tonight, but I'll hit the Aleve and try and do a short spin on the trainer tomorrow. Now I can officially say that my next event will be the Siberian Express run early next month. I'll still try and hit the 15k and 20k RCTS races in February and March maybe. Hopefully my guys Howie and Matt get in the Trans Iowa race. If they do, maybe I'll volunteer to help out with it.

Change in Plans

Well, after careful deliberation, I have decided to NOT do the 5K at Rockford tomorrow. I'm having trouble justifying a 2.5 hr trip (one way) for a 5K run when I can save some comp time and get in a nice long run at any of the trails here. Then I'll work tomorrow night saving another 8 hours of vacation and getting some more "street time". I should probably be responsible this one time.

Runnin' Fool

That's me. I did a 62 min run on Monday and another 57 min last night. I am really lovin' it actually. The first Rock Cut run is Saturday, a 5K. I figure I have a couple longer runs in this week already, so I'll use this race as a temp type of run. I would imagine the trails will be sloppy so it will be a learning experience in that regard as well. Any "new" experience I can get will help me in the long run......literally.

So tonight it's 90 minutes on the trainer to loosen things up. Tomorrow a shorter easy run, maybe at the dog park with Rallee.

Things are lookin' up.

Slow & Steady

I suppose that's how I would describe my effort at the Deer Run Run yesterday. Conditions weren't all bad. Temps were low with a pretty good wind coming off the lake, but it wasn't uncomfortable when you were moving. I ran a 49:03 for the 8K race, just under 10 minute miles. Normally this would bother me, but that's the pace I'm looking at for the longerish events to come.

Next up is Race #1 of the Rock Cut series, a 5K next weekend. I'm already working on a plan for 2007 and it starts with the Siberian Express run at Kickapoo, a 7.5 miler in early January.

A new WBG CD is set to be released next weekend as well called Drunk as Dragons. I've heard several of the songs live over the last year and can't wait for the new studio CD.

Running The Streets of West Peoria

That's how I spent a little over an hour this morning. I busted out the new Smartwool socks and hit the road. I tried to get to Bradley Park, but with no sidewalks to run on to get there, the traffic was making things a bit sketchy. I decided to just turn around and keep to the streets of West Peoria. Most of the streets were still anywhere from 40-100% ice/snow covered so it was pretty slow going. It was only about 20 deg. so I ven had the little ice formations on my eyelashes and eyebrows. I've always wanted to have those!

Tomorrow will be my first day back on the dreaded trainer....Booooooo! Four days left 'til the Deer Run Run 8 miler.

Weather Be Damned!

So there's a foot of snow on the ground with ice underneath. So the temps are only going to get into the upper 20's this week. I still need to run. I have an 8 miler next weekend. So I better get used to the conditions and temps. This "race" will be about survival....period. I just want to finish.

If you get a chance to read the book "Ultra Marathon Man" do it! It is possibly the most inspiring book I've read and it came along at a great time. Thanks, Howie! Not that I will ever be in that guys league, but it taught me some lessons in sacrifice and doing what it takes...in all aspects.

I stumbled across a nice trail run series kicking off 12/19 at Rockcut State Park. It's a 4 race series starting with a 5K and building to a 20K by the last race. Sign me up! That sounds like a helluva training routine for me and a nice way to build up my base with some nice events.