Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 69 miles
6/10/12 - 6/16/12

Sun: 11.2 miles (Cloudland Canyon Connector Trail on Lookout Mountain)
Time:1.34.49 Avg. Pace: 8.29
- My dad and I had an amazing run on the Cloudland Canyon Connector Trail on Lookout Mountain at Nickajack Gap near Lula Lake land trust. It’s an awesome trail especially during a light drizzle and must do for all you trail runners or mountain bikers. I plan on definitely doing it again. The trail is very well maintained plus it’s has mile markers every half mile. At 5.6 miles one way you can get in a good 11.2 mile run or any distance in between. It took me 50 minutes to get to the 5.6 mile marker and 44.48 to get get. I was a little conservative on the way out since it was my first time out there. Great run and it was really nice to finally get away from Raisin Woods. Bring on this Stage Race!!

Mon: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.00.23, Avg. Pace: 8.37
- A little sore from yesterdays run but not too bad. Ran late in the evening due to it raining all day. It was a hot, wet, and muggy run.

Tues: 5 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 42.13, Avg. Pace: 8.26
- Was not feeling the love at all today. Too hot and humid outside this afternoon. Had to cut it short. Also was rather sore today.

Wed: 6 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 47.33 Avg. Pace:7.56
- Felt really good today, but didn't want to push it too much. Hoping I feel like this for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Getting pumped for this Stage Race.

Thur: Off
- The calm before the storm.


Fri: 18 miles (Raccoon Mountain)
Time:  Avg. Pace:
- See Race Report

Sat:  22 miles (Signal Mountain/Lula Lake Land Trust)
Time: Avg. Pace: - See Race Report

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 33 miles
6/03/12 - 6/09/12

Sun: off
- Should have ran, but decided not too.

Mon: 11 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: ?, Avg. Pace: ?
- Feel like I'm in a rut. Just looking for some motivation.

Tues: 14.5 miles (Raisin Woods), (Downtown Dalton)
Early PM:Time: 1.20.00, Avg. Pace: ? 10
Late PM:Time: ? (4.5)
- Forgot my watch today. I know that I ran 10 and that's about it. Hot and Humid and it's not even the dog days of summer yet

Wed: Off
Time: ? Avg. Pace: ?
- Had to work all day. PT Aid, Cardiac Rehab, and then fitness floor!

Thur: 7.5 miles (Raisin Woods)
Early PM Time: 40.01 Avg. Pace:  (5)
Late PM Time: 19.26  (2.5)
- Starting to feel like I back into routine. Still not where I feel like I should be but I am doing the most I can. If anything I feel like I am maintaining.



Fri: Off

Sat:  Off


Really bad lack of motivation this week. Hoping this stage race will give me a boost coming up!

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 50 miles
5/26/12 - 6/02/12

Sun: off
- Should have ran, but instead I just enjoyed my Memorial Day activities with some friends at a pool.

Mon: 10 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: ?, Avg. Pace:  ?
- Feel like I'm in a rut. Just looking for some motivation.

Tues: 10 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: ?, Avg. Pace: ?
- Forgot my watch today. I know that I ran 10 and that's about it. Hot and Humid and it's not even the dog days of summer yet

Wed: 7 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: ? Avg. Pace: ?
- Worked 10 hours today, luckily I was able to squeeze in 7 miles. Almost stepped on a snake today, luckily the "root" lifted its head up right as I was about to step down and I somehow added a jump into the mix. Still hot and humid.

Thur: 11 miles(Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.27.02 Avg. Pace: 7.55
- Starting to feel like I back into routine. Still not where I feel like I should be but I am doing the most I can. If anything I feel like I am maintaining.




Fri: 12 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.39.33 Avg. Pace: 8.18
-  Felt a little sluggish today running, I didn't realize that I ran pretty fast yesterday. I have to work all day tomorrow, but I am hoping to get something in. I'm just doing what my schedule is allowing me to do.

Sat: off

January:
Total Mileage: 177 miles

February:
Total Mileage: 193 miles

March:
Total Mileage: 190 miles

April:
Total Mileage: 269 miles

May:
Total Mileage: 234 miles



2012 Mileage: 1063 Miles

Last 2 Weekly Recap

5/13/12-5/19/12
Total Miles: 50 miles (Including Marathon Race)
- Wasn't much to keep up with since my race was at the end of the week


5/20/12 - 5/26/12
Total Miles: 23 miles
- Worked a lot this week and due to that I wasn't able to get much running in. 50+ hours of work. Have

Just having a short write up so that I can remember my total yearly mileage. I'm hoping to be back on schedule my next write up. Currently trying to fight lack of motivation and I need it because in 2 weeks I'll be running my first stage race.

Race Report: Scenic City Trail Marathon

Time: 3:34:25
Place: 23rd out of 215 + (originally 300 but people dropped out, stopped at the half, or didn't show)
Pace: 8:11 mile

Lessons Learned
To start off, I'd like to say that I didn't do what I wanted to, but it wasn't a complete disaster. My goal today was to run 3.15.00 to 3.20.00, but as you can see i did not achieve that. I believe in my heart that I would have ran this if not beat it, but you live and you learn and turn the negatives into positives. However, considering the events that took place I am very pleased with my time considering this was my first marathon ever (even though I ran Stumpjump 50K several years ago)

I woke up at 4:50 this morning to make a good breakfast for myself to get some much needed calories inside me. I made scrambled eggs, peanut butter toast, and turkey bacon. I was ready for this race and pumped so I wasn't really tired even though I wasn't able to get much sleep. Once I arrived I went to use the restroom, grab my bib, and sat down for the next hour and half or so before the race started, everything was going smooth with just a bit of nerves. I got on the line near the front due to the fact that there was 600+ (full and half ) and I didn't won't to get caught up in a bottleneck before we hit the trail.

Once the countdown hit zero I was off! For the first mile I settled in nicely and ended up falling in behind Rock Creek Race Team member Lance Steele, and followed till around mile 14 and that's when all Hell broke loose for me. However, the first 13.1 miles I was feeling awesome, nothing could stop me. I was cranking up the hills like it was just child's play. I hit the around halfway point (12.8 I think) around 1.28.00, feeling great! There was no thought of going out too fast or anything. In an ideal perfect world which probably would not have happened even if my events did not take place (I know I would have slowed down some with the trail breaking you down), if you add say (strictly estimating now at 13.1, there was no marker) 1.33.00 + 1.33.00 that's 3.06.00. I cannot express how good I was feeling, almost euphoria like or super human, at least for me anyways.

BUT, and there is always a but right???? it was around mile 14 that I started to not feel so good, no aches and pains with my legs, but something wasn't right and I started to slow down a bit, and it all came up around mile 15. I started to puke and puke and finally stopped, and I continued and felt a little better but was still running slower than I was wanting to go. I was trying to catch back up to Lance and had him in eyesight reeling him back in, but it was to no avail to which I started taking the hills slower and also I ended up puking again. By that time I stopped taking gels/heed completely with 9 miles to go in the last leg of the race in which you need those much needed calories and electrolytes. Around mile 18 I puked again and was on the verge of pulling myself out, all of the bad thoughts and emotions were going through my head that usually seems to happen in the last half of long races such as "I'm never doing this again" "Running is stupid" "I don't even know why I signed up for that stage race 4 weeks from now" "I'm just ready to get off this trail" "I suck" I even teared up a bit. It was scary just drinking water and nothing else, and not to mention dangerous with the heat, and worse humidity!

Somehow with what little composure that I had I tucked my head down and I trucked on having to walk most of the hills. I know in my mind I wanted to quit but quitting is really not an option to me especially when it comes to running unless my life is in danger. Getting passed by people you know you could beat does not do the mind any good but everyone was very encouraging. Also, the dreaded moment when the first female passes you can suck the life out of you. To add injury to insult (literally) within the last 2 miles I ended up falling and when I fell my hamstrings tightened up and I shrieked a little and laid on the ground a couple of seconds. The most important thing/best thing that happened though was that I finished was very glad to have done so with a not too shabby time considering and having great support from friends at the finish.

Once the race was over my puke fest was not over yet by any means. On the way home I started to feel woozy again! I luckily had a goodie bag and dumped all the stuff out of it and filled it back up with my insides. So here I am in a single cab small Ford Ranger with my dad driving with my head buried in a plastic bag driving down the interstate. Other people driving probably thought I was huffing glue or something haha.

So in short I learned my lesson today. Just because some people do certain things in races doesn't mean you should. I decided that I would take my gels every 20 minutes as opposed to 30 like I do in practice and I believe that it all caught up to me and upset my stomach forcing everything to come back up. And it mixed with that nasty heed that they give out is not a good combo at all. After discussing with Johnny Clemons (overall winner/beast) that was the conclusion and that whatever you do in practice you should do in a race. Just too many gels to quick and it cost me for sure. Other than all that I'm happy and healthy and it was great to be running out on the trails today!

Happy Trails

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 76 miles
4/06/12 - 5/12/12

Sun: 16 mile
AM - 8 miles (Downtown Dalton)
Time: 1.06.00, Avg. Pace: 8.15
- Early morning run. Felt good, honestly thought I was running faster than I was.
PM - 8 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.04.00, Avg. Pace: 8.00
- Goal was to run a little faster than this morning, which happened.

Mon: 8 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.06.00, Avg. Pace: 8.15
- Just sore and stiff today

Tues: 20 miles
AM- 15 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.58.00, Avg. Pace: 7.52
- Snake almost ate me today at the end of my run. Wanted to run 20 but by 15 I just had no energy left to give. I just hit rock bottom when I got to my car the 3rd time and decided to call it quits for the day. Going to the All American Rejects concert tonight!!

Wed: 10 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.20.05, Avg. Pace: 8.01
- Rained all morning and early afternoon. Sun came out afterward and it felt amazing outside. Decided that I would take advantage of this awesome weather and get some more miles in. No to mention I felt pretty good doing it too.

Thur: 6 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 49.33, Avg. Pace: 8.01
- Very tired and sore. Honestly thought my time would have been worse.

Fri: 16 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 2.01.45 Avg. Pace: 7.53
- Plan was to run early this morning, but my legs were still tired and sore. So I decided to wait till this afternoon to run and it worked to perfection. Felt great today. Weather was awesome.

Sat: off

Weekly Recap
Total Mileage: 71 miles
4/29/12 - 5/05/12

Sun: 16 mile
AM - 6 miles (Downtown Dalton)
Time: 45.12, Avg. Pace: 7.32
- Met with the Dalton area runners early this morning to run in town. Ran with my younger brother and the plan was to take it easy but our civil rivalry would not let that happen. Felt pretty good running. Last mile was a 6.43.
PM - 10 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.19.28, Avg. Pace: 7.57
- Ran good this afternoon also. Legs just allowed me to run quick out on the trail with just a days rest since my 20 miler. Pretty wore out afterwards however. Hopping tomorrow will be kind to me.


Mon: 8 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.06.36, Avg. Pace: 8.20
- A little stiff and sore but not much. What got me today though was the heat!! It's the last day of April and it's already over 90 degrees!!

Tues: 20 miles
AM- 12 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.35.04, Avg. Pace: 7.55
- Decided to run with music which seemed to help consider I woke up sore and stiff. Not sure how this evening will go. Probably going to try to take it easier, but I'm not sure yet. May just go based on feel, which is kind of what I did this morning.
PM- 8 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 1.04.19, Avg. Pace: 8.02
- Having the feeling of being burned out. Hopping something exciting happens in my life soon. Hot and no fun. At least I'm under trees 90 percent of the time

Wed: 6 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 54.21, Avg. Pace: 9.04
- I almost want to say I hate running today. Sore and tired from 20 miles yesterday. Didn't want to be out there especially in the heat!

Thur: 6 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 50.29, Avg. Pace: 8.25
- Took me about 25 minutes or so to get the legs loose and moving in a good rhythm, and once they started going it was a whole lot easier. Feel way better about my long run tomorrow than I did yesterday. Now I am off to take the GRE test. Don't really want to spend the next 5 hours of my life taking a test. It only decides if I can get into physical therapy school or not. Hoping I'll only have to take it once.

Fri: 15 miles (Raisin Woods)
Time: 2.01.45 Avg. Pace: 8.07
- Nothing special on this run. Ran early this morning due to the fact I have to work in the middle of the day and I am going to a concert later tonight. Wanted 5 more miles this week but everything is fine.

Sat: off

January:
Total Mileage: 177 miles

February:
Total Mileage: 193 miles

March:
Total Mileage: 190 miles

April:
Total Mileage: 269 miles


2012 Mileage: 829 Miles
Getting those miles in this past month. I'm pumped and ready for this trail marathon coming up. No injuries (knock on wood) or anything to complain about except for the hot weather. My slow and steady progression is working like a charm. Goal is to get 100 mile in sometime during a week this summer if I can.