Life is Good...New Year's Resolutions

Good-Bye 2009. This may have been the best year of my life. It may have been the worst year of Katie's. It was volatile. The economy dove into the abyss and came back strongly. I did twenty something races. Katie learned exactly what she doesn't want to do for the rest of her life.

No need to dwell on the past. Hello 2010. Here are my goals for the new year.

1) Spend more time with Katie
2) Run a marathon with Katie
3) Ironman Florida under 11 hours
4) Run a 50 mile race
5) Run a 100k race
6) Six Gap
7) Run everyday, at least 3 miles
8) 3:20 marathon
9) Less TV, more music
10) Love more, hate less
11) Thank friends and family more for all they do to make my life so great

That's it

JG

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

7 am - 31 degrees
8 am - 33 degrees
10 am - 39 degrees
11 am - 41 degrees
noon - 43 degrees
1 pm - 45 degrees

Yep! That's the forecast for Saturday. How festive! Luckily there isn't any of this stuff in the forecast (yet anyway):



But it is cold enough for me to contemplate running in one of these:



Seriously. If I could get my hands on one by Saturday morning I would totally wear it to this:






It was cold last year. So cold that when I finished my fingers were blue, so I went directly back to the hotel room to take a hot shower--that wouldn't get hot enough--and then sat in front of the hair dryer for thirty minutes. I'm bringing more clothes this time.




Here's to some extraordinarily beautiful running weather this Saturday, fantastic racing, and fun times with friends!

(And I leave you with a little something cold, random, and perhaps a wee bit odd--luckily it's not something J. will easily be able to pick up down here in the deep South . . . )



Raw carrots and snow running anyone?

Time to Play and Give Thanks

School is out for the week. (yeesss!) And I've enjoyed the slower pace of life--getting things done that have gone undone since August, visiting with family and friends, loving on my pups, and spending some time on the roads/trails.

JG did a 31-mile trail run this past weekend, and I joined him for the last five miles. It was a beautiful course, perfect day, and in general, a good deal of fun (other than the wait-around-for-five-hours part and the wake-up call at 3:30 a.m.). Congrats JG on a PR for a 50K.

I'm off for my long run--8 miles--to make up for the trail running on Saturday. The schedule is going well. I haven't been running with a watch or a Garmin and have loved every minute of it. I'll have another long run this coming weekend and then the Memphis 1/2. This time last year I was fresh out of the "boot" from my broken foot at Chicago--continues to amaze me how much can change in a year. I plan on taking it easy, finishing before the marathoners (hopefully ;o), enjoying a cup of hot chocolate, and cheering on all of the marathon finishers--first-timers, Boston-qualifying hopefuls, and everyone else in between--good luck to all of you!

Wishing everyone a festive, delicious Thanksgiving! Here's my list of thanks for 2009:

1. A supportive, adventurous hubby
2. Genuine friends and family
3. Three crazy dogs
4. Two working feet (so far at least)
5. Training schedules
6. 55-degree running weather
7. Turkey trots . . . and the turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie that follow :o)!

Being Irrational

Today I have been irrational.

I realized that I have exactly 12 weeks until the Mercedes Marathon . . . just enough time to fit in a "my-goal-is-to-just-show-up-to-the-starting-line-and-finish training schedule."

Why not, right? Chicago was a whim and it turned out well (minus the broken foot).

All things considered it's very rational compared to my threats to go ahead and register for IM Florida next year (something JG thinks I need 2 years to prepare for).

2010 is right around the corner and I want to start it off on the right foot (or both feet hopefully). So, here's to early resolutions, irrational goals, and the excitement of a crazy, new challenge.

The goals this go-round with the marathon:

1. Finish--no time goals yet
2. Finish without a broken foot
3. Finish my first loop before being passed by JG and all his speedy friends ;o)
4. Finish with an appetite for tons of BBQ
5. Finish with enough sense to not give JG my free beer at the finish line

Watch out 2010 . . . this slow-poke has big plans!

Reclaiming . . . and Counting Down

We're down to less than 20 days until Christmas break! It's survival mode until then, but I am definitely adding back my runs. This week I got in 20 miles--thanks mostly to my hubby who kicked me out of the house and told me to STOP working.

It was a beautiful weekend and I see the light at the end of the tunnel. If I can get in 20 more this week with school in session I'll be well on my way to at least finishing the Memphis half.

I hope you all had relaxing, fun-filled weekends!

And here are a few more pics of IM weekend . . . still waiting on JG to post his official race report. Special thanks to those of you who took time out of your busy lives to head south w/ JG and me. We had a great time with all of you--and personally, I enjoyed spending time with each of you throughout the 11 hours and 40 minutes. It made it even more memorable. Kudos to the support crew!!

Life is Good...I Made It

Life is Good... Good Luck Wishes

My bike and gear are checked in. There is nothing left to do. I'm either ready or I'm not. I've received so many good luck text messages, e-mails, and calls in the last few days from friends and training partners. They are all greatly appreciated. One had a link to this video, which was done by NBC after the 2003 Ironman Hawaii. I guess the goal tomorrow is to not be the guy laying on the pavement and just keep moving forward until I get there. And I will get there!!

Thumbs Up, Light Up 2.4-112-26.2

I can't wait to be down at the beach with you JG! I should be sleeping, but I've been mulling over in my head what I wanted to post as your good luck wish in the IM.

It won't be organized, eloquent (my posts never are anyway), or even slightly adequate--perhaps a reflection of my state of mind these days. Yet I do want you to know, first and foremost, how proud I am to know you, how thankful I am for your love, and how amazed I am by your fortitude and iron will.

Our almost 9-year journey together has been beautiful in even the most painful moments; it's been breathtaking in times of joy and continues to expand in areas I never imagined possible. Whether you are out on the course alone and I'm waiting at the finish line, we are running the race together, or (more often) you're having to wait on me after crossing the finish line, you will always have my thumbs up.

I can't be with you along the entire course on Saturday. I know that you will have moments of pain, elation, and exhaustion. Remember, that I will be thinking of you all day, doing my best to cheer you on, and at the end of the day I'll be there waiting for you at the finish line (cold beer in hand and ready to enjoy a beach vacation with my Ironman!).

Light up the course, babe, and come home safe to me!

Light up! Light up!
As if you have a choice
Even if you cannot hear my voice
I'll be right beside you dear

. . . Have heart my dear

--Snow Patrol, "Run"



And the last bit of inspiration for the week . . . Remember that you have a choice and sometimes that's the only reason you need for doing something. Do it because you CAN.

Life is Good...I Have Arrived

Its Thursday. 46 hours until go time. The cold is still being a bit of a nuisance, but I feel fine. I had a great swim with Al & Dory yesterday morning. My splits were faster than normal, but with reduced effort. Let's just hope this was due to a successful taper.

My mom drove me down to the beach yesterday. We're staying in Seagrove, about 30 minutes away from Panama City. Katie will be arriving tomorrow night and I can't wait until she gets here. We don't spend much time apart and I miss her badly! Dad and Wess are coming down Saturday. I have to check-in today and attend a mandatory meeting this evening. I can't wait to get over there and experience the atmosphere.

This week has been so calm. 2 days of work, one run, one short ride, one swim, and probably another short ride today. Its been a week of reflection, mostly about the grueling training that is now complete.

Like the race, most of my training was spent on the bike and on the run, with 3 hours per week dedicated to swimming and the remaining 13-15 running and cycling. Some people prefer to train alone. I am not one of these people. 13-15 hours per week alone would be as bad as Chinese water torcher. Luckily, I have been blessed with great friends and training partners.

The Run

Nearing the end of my first marathon training schedule two years ago I started running with Colin and Julie. Having completed most of the build-up alone, I was thrilled to have people to run with. We all had the goal of running Mercedes in less than four hours, so our training paces worked well together. The first run we did together was a 20 miler. I distinctly remember getting dropped at mile 17. Julie went on to finish the marathon in under 4 hours, Colin and I did not. The three of us have continued to run together on a weekly basis, logging many hundreds of miles and completing more races. We've run through good times and bad times, through the deaths of family members and the births of children. We've improved so much as runners. Julie qualified and completed the Boston Marathon, and while Colin and I are not quite there yet, we're now well under that original four hour goal and our day in Boston is not far away. The picture above is the 3 of us running our second Mercedes Marathon together earlier this year, all well under 4 hours the 2nd time around.

The Bike

There was a strong group to ride with from March-August. Each week I looked forward to the rides with great anticipation. We pushed each other to get better, traveled to triathlons together, ate together, and drank together. It was a great season. I felt like a kid again. There was one lingering worry in the back of my head. Our last race together was in late August. I knew that as I was entering the hardest part of my Ironman training schedule, they'd all be transitioning into running season. Weekly rides during this period were between 80-100 miles, spanning 5-7 hours. Kyle had a 70.3 race in September, so I new I could count on him for a little while, but what about October. To make a long story short, Kyle is a good friend. He stayed with me for the whole deal. Together we rode through parts of Alabama I had no idea existed, up mountains I never thought would end, and got chased by dogs that looked rabid. We did the Mountain Goat Century, The Tour de Cahaba, and the Winnetaska 70 more times than I can count. I probably would have bailed on some of the long rides without the encouragement and the company.

Next year Kyle, Colin, and I are all going to do Ironman Florida together. It should be a blast, as long as I survive this year. ; )

JG

Life is Good...Thumbs Up

We had a fun Halloween as Pirates. I think dressing up may become an annual tradition.

I woke up with a pretty bad sore throat this morning. Katie's been sick for a few days and it seems that I've caught her cold. As someone who never gets sick, this development is a little frustrating, but hopefully it will run its course by Saturday. Katie says to get a steroid shot, but Colin, the king of colds, says they give some people insomnia. The internet says they also weaken your immune system. If the internet says it, you know it's true. I think I'll just continue to overdose on Airborne.

As part of my training for Ironman Florida I've entered all sorts of races in the last two years. Marathons, Half Marathons, 10k's, 15k's, 50k's, road races, trail races, duathlons, and triathlons. The Ironman will be my 17th race in 2009. It all started in the summer of 2007 when I was a little overweight and terribly out of shape. I wanted to start running again, but new it had to be approached differently than in the past. All previous efforts to maintain an exercise plan or drop a few pounds had failed.

An idea occurred to me. Maybe if I registered for a race, the registration fee and commitment to participate would motivate me to stick to a plan. I decided to go all out and register for the Mercedes Marathon here in Birmingham in February of 2008. I wasn't really sure what Katie's reaction would be. Never having run more than 5-6 miles, 26.2 seemed a little bit outside of my ability level. Thankfully she was very supportive, giving me the thumbs up. Throughout my training schedule she made so many accommodations to help me achieve this goal. On race day she even brought a cheering squad of family members and found me four times plodding along the race route. Its amazing how the encouragement of a few folks can lift your tired spirits.

The idea of registering for a race worked. 21 months and 31 races later I'm having the time of my life. Always having an event in the near future keeps me motivated to continue an intense training regimen Through countless hours of training, with thousands of dollars spent on registration fees, travel, and gear, with early bed times and even earlier wake up calls, I'm still getting the thumbs up.

From participating in our first triathlon together, hoping we didn’t get eaten by a shark, to running the Chicago marathon side by side, to sitting in the cold for seven hours wondering if I'd ever emerge from the woods in my first 50k, thanks for always being my support system and keeping me up Katie. Without you I don't know who or where I’d be. I realize this lifestyle is not the most normal, but for me its as good as it gets.

May we have many many more adventures together.

Thumbs Up

JG

12 weeks in . . . . 1 week out

Hmmmm. Be warned--this isn't all inspirational.

It's been a long time since I've posted. It's been a long time since I've even thought about posting. Something to the effect of, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all," keeps running around my head. And in all honesty I think I've been waiting to find something nice to say--mostly out of fear that if I said what I really thought out loud it would only make it worse. And while I think I've collected enough "niceties" to balance out the weighty "negatives," for the first time in my life I'm in a state of not really having the exact words to explain this experience I've had for the past 12 weeks. I don't want to be overly negative but I am going to be honest.

So let's start with the positives:

1. I love the kids.

These kids are hysterical, resilient, and fun to be around. Of my 140 some odd teenagers, there are truly only 3 (OK, 4) that I say a quiet prayer of thanks for when they decide to skip class.

Some funny quotes:

"Mrs. G., Seriously. Somebody broke into my locker and stole all of my books. I can't do any of my homework without any of my books."

"Mrs. G., I really gotta go. It's a for-real emergency."
"But you have emergencies in my class every day. Can't you have an emergency in someone else's class today?"
"It's that time of the month though."
"It was last week too."
"I know. That's messed up ain't it?"

"Mrs. G., Can I go to the nurse? I got a paper cut."
"No. I have a band-aid right here for you."
"But I could get gankin and my finger could fall off." (maybe he means gangrene???)

"I forgot how to write."

"I forgot how to read."

And the list could go on and on, which is a good thing because that's really the only positive I can list right now.

2. The sob stories are sob-worthy.

13--number of kids I've lost since the beginning of the school year due to a myriad of reasons (new foster parents, juvenile detention, parents giving up custody, family kicked out of apartment within school district, drugs, etc.)

5--number of suicide notes I've received and had to pass along to counselors

68%--approximate percentage of students living in broken homes due to divorce, parental death, or parental drug habits

99%--percentage of students who are in alternative school who have alternative home arrangements (foster home, living with relative, step-parents, etc.)

8--number of students who have had a parent or sibling killed by a shooting or stabbing

3--number of students who have confided in me that they only get to eat at school

20--number of students I've been alerted to that only eat at school

5--number of students who have lost one or more parent to the war in Iraq

On any given day I would estimate that 50% of my students are focused on personal issues at home that keep them from being able to focus on school. It's hard to teach these kids about conjunctive adverbs when they are hungry, depressed, or scared.

I think as an English teacher many of these issues are brought to light through creative writing--giving me a window into their lives as they write about important issues in their lives. I appreciate the opportunity to get to know these students on that level but their sadness weighs on me.

3. The black hole that is teaching

I've heard this statement before but didn't truly understand it until going through this myself. I used to work 7.5 hour days and had a 5-minute commute. I now work 9-hour minimum days (7 am - 4 pm--more consistently 7 am - 5 pm) with an hour commute. And on top of that there isn't enough time in the day to actually plan all of the lessons and grade all of the essays and tests (if I spend one minute on each student's essay that is more than two hours of grading--and who can actually grade an essay in one minute?).

Friday gets here and I have about 8 hours of relief until I have to start planning the next week and grading all of those journals/essays that have stacked up during the week.

The relationship with my work feels a bit like one of those relationships where you could give and give and give and it's just still not enough. We have actually been told, "If you're a good teacher, you'll find a way to make it work. Remember you're doing this for the kids."

That sage wisdom is what we hear when we ask about supply money (that just came in this week--12 weeks into the school year); when we are told we will not have money for toilet paper and soap next semester because the budget just isn't there; when your students can't afford the books that you're supposed to read in class and there aren't enough copies at the library for everyone; when you've been at school for 10 hours on a Friday, lost your prep period because you had to cover yet another class, and grades are due to be posted on Monday.

As a perfectionist I struggle with knowing when to just stop. That lesson could probably be better. I should probably have given the students a little more feedback on their essays . . . and so on. The leadership at my school is great--and they have given me positive marks but everyone is so busy and strapped for time that there isn't truly time for reflection and strategic improvement plans of any sort.

And while it may seem minor, going to the restroom is something I took for granted in corporate life. I went when I wanted to and didn't think about the legal liabilities of leaving my post in my office for the five minutes it would take to use the restroom. We have block classes--meaning 96 minutes and my prep periods are either at the very beginning of the day or at the very end. There are some stretches of time that teachers have to go without using the restroom that I wouldn't want to put my dog through.

4. Standardized testing is ruining our schools

Nothing in my masters program prepared me for the emphasis on standardized testing found in schools today. We do actually teach to the test--and are required to do so each and every day--even to the detriment of what we are supposed to be teaching in the lesson that day. My students are programmed to take tests--not to think critically or creatively. They don't want to do anything other than bubble in answers--a problem when you want them to write or provide oral answers. Multiple-choice rules in their lives.

It has been truly disturbing--and disheartening to see the ramifications of "accountability testing." While I understand the necessity of accountability, it has overtaken the more important mission of creating independent thinkers and engaging lessons.

5. The statistics

So, while I'm still standing here a little dumbfounded from the experience and unsure of what it means for my future in education, I'm reminded of the statistic they gave us during the first education graduate class I took:

Half of all teachers quit after their first year. That's right. Fifty percent of all new teachers do not return for a second year.

That is what is bouncing around in my head these days--along with worries for my own students, children of my own that I don't even have yet, and the state of our education system in this country. I have students in English 10 who spell "this" as "dis" and some students who don't know the difference between a noun and a verb. The lack of knowledge among my 9th and 10th graders has surprised me the most--along with the absolute sheer lack of adequate resources and technology in the schools. It's so broken and I honestly can't tell you where we could even start to begin to "fix it."

6. The future and what I'm sure about

All this said, my experience with the students is what I cherish--their smiles, kind hearts, and funny comments have kept me going during these past 12 weeks. So has my incredibly supportive husband.

Teaching has drained and strained everything I value in my own life--my relationship with my hubby, running, family/friend relationships. And even though I am sure that I'm not willing to sacrifice those things again, I am incredibly thankful that I know even more about myself because of this trial. I know exactly what I am capable of doing and what I value most in my life.

I'm 12 weeks into this and can't believe that JG is 1 week out from the Ironman. I'm glad he's had all of this training to do while I've been working--otherwise he would probably resent this teaching thing. I look back on the last 12 weeks and feel like I've been absent from my own life--only able to live and breathe teaching in order to survive each day.

I look forward to being able to focus on him this week and next weekend and set the teaching aside--letting things pile up until the week after the Ironman.

I'm sorry it's been so chaotic this fall, JG, and I am thankful to have you as inspiration. Your iron will, solid dedication, and endless support are priceless--and for now if that's all I'm sure about then I feel like I'm in pretty good shape.

Here's a little inspiration for you as we kick off Ironman week--and as I look to make it to Christmas break. Let the countdown begin:



Love to all and my apologies for the down-trodden post. Sometimes you have to reach the bottom to be able to find your way back out.

K. G.

Life is Good...Taper Madness

We made it to another Friday and it should be a fun weekend. We are going to be attending a Halloween party tomorrow. I haven't participated in the annual festivities since about 4th grade. Maybe there will be a photo post of the Greggs in costume.

Katie has been a little under the weather this week. She has threatened to return to the blog this weekend so keep your fingers crossed.

After 34 weeks of training buildup, the last two weeks of my training plan are designated as a taper period. Nearing the end of the first taper week, its been interesting. After getting used to 15-18 hours training each week for the last 4 months, suddenly the volume has been reduced to about 8 hours. I have so much free time on my hands. It has been a little maddening. As soon as the last long workout week ended, doubt started to creep in. Emotionally it feels like I should be doing more, but rationally there is nothing in the last 8 days that will improve my fitness. It is however, hard to not worry about losing some of it or gaining a few pounds. As someone who recovers quickly, tapering is something that's never been part of my plan. The recent intensity and volume is something new. After many hard weekday workouts, 7-8 hour Saturday bike/run sessions have been followed by 2-3 hour Sunday runs. At the end of last week I felt physically and emotionally exhausted. Its amazing how much better I feel now. After just 5 days of rest my legs feel better than they've felt in months. Next week the schedule only calls for 4 hours of activy at low intensity. I should be well rested on the 7th, but I may be crazy by then as well.

JG

Life is Good...Thursday Tri at the JCC

Ironman Florida is in less than 9 days. There are so many things on my mind. Good Things! I am Thankful. I plan to post daily blog updates until the race. There is more than enough material bouncing around in my head.

When I signed up for Ironman Florida almost a year ago I had one fear, the 2.4 mile ocean swim. I did several triathlons in 2008. They all seemed to present the same problem, the swim. I was a terrible swimmer. Despite being a lifeguard back in 2001 when I met Katie, swimming has never been my strong suit.

Coach William, pictured in the middle above, literally swims like a fish. He swam a little back in college at Sewannee. Since he was already a good friend, I figured he was my best bet at learning to swim. At some point last winter, he told me about the Thursday Tri. Every Thursday William swam alone, went to RPM, and then ran on the treadmill alone. I decided that if I started showing up at the pool on Thursdays and swimming in the same lane as him, he'd see that my swim stroke was pathetic and give me a few pointers. I was right! William began to slowly help me with my terrible stroke. The free coaching I've received has been such a blessing. My once dreadful swim has now become enjoyable.

2 beat kick, reach, high elbow, bilateral breathing, head down. I got it!

At some point this spring a funny thing happened. More and more people started showing up at the pool every Thursday at 5:30. Turns out I wasn't the only one that wanted a little swim instruction. The Thursday Tri became an event. At the high point this summer, a dozen people showed up each week for the swim, bike, & run. Many of them completed their first triathlon in 2009, mostly due to Coach William helping them get past their fears of an open water swim.

Another benefit of the Thursday Tri was getting to know Kyle, the instructor of the Thursday night RPM cycling class, pictured far right above. He has become one of my closest friends and has been with me on every long training ride, for which I will be forever grateful. The amount of encouragement he has given me deserves its its on blog post, which will come in one of the following days.

Tonight was my last Thursday Tri before the Ironman. Since triathlon season is almost over, the group was small again. It was just William, Kyle, Julie, and me for the swim. I swam hard, I swam fast, I swam strong. I thought about how much I've improved in the last few months. I thought about how I'll never be able to repay William for the gift he's given me.

The run tonight after RPM was 3.5 miles. It was only William and me, which in a way seemed fitting. We ran hard. We ran fast. I felt a sense of completion. At the end the world seemed to make sense.

JG

Life is Good... Barefoot Running

A few weeks ago I mentioned that I was reading the book, "Born to Run". It may be the best book I've ever read. A large portion of the book discusses running injuries. The author believes that most common injuries are causes by running shoes. If running shoes protect our feet so much that running improperly does not hurt our feet, it becomes comfortable to run in a way that is harmful to our hips, feet and knees. The answer is simple, RUN BAREFOOT. Barefoot running is supposed to strengthen our feet and force us to run with proper technique. The Ironman is 20 days away. As soon as its over I'm going to start running in Vibram Five Fingers, shown below.

Life is Good...Stump Jump 50k Race Report

Kyle and I survived Stump Jump and had fun in the process. Arriving late Friday afternoon we headed straight for the expo, which for a 50k was huge. Vendors were setup displaying all kinds of funky trail shoes and outdoor stuff. At some point we wandered over the North Face booth to meet Dean Karnazes. I read Dean's first book, Ultramarathon Man a little over a year ago and blogged about it. http://keepmovingkate.blogspot.com/2008/09/life-is-gooddean-karnazes.html

Dean was really cool and down to Earth. He's currently on tour with Northface and had been on 3 continents in the last two weeks. Despite the hectic schedule and the fact that he probably had no idea what city he was in, he was chatty and in a good mood.

Later at the carbo dinner I won a gift certificate for a pair of La Sportiva running shoes, which was exciting. I don't think I've ever won anything. we're going to order a pair for Mrs. G. so she can join me on some of my excursions into the woods. After the carbo dinner Dean spoke to the group for about an hour.

When we arrived at Motel 6, thankfully the light was still on for us. The man at the front desk was old, foreign, and incoherent. Kyle made some smart-ass comment to him when we were checking in, which thankfully he did not understand. The lobby and hallways were dirty, but our room was clean. $45 at the Motel 6 gets you a room with crazy looking bedspreads and creepy mirrors, a cross between a dorm room and a prison cell. At least it was clean.

The race began at 8:00 on Saturday morning outside Chattanooga atop Signal Mountain. The 31 mile course ran along portions of the Signal Mountain Cumberland Trails. Most of the running was done high above the Tennessee River. In the beginning it was chilly and foggy and we were running above the clouds. After it warmed up and the fog rolled out the runners were treated to breathtaking views of the mountains and river down below. There were 350 participants in the 50k. By mile 5 the runners were spread out and I was alone in the woods. My legs felt great and I was thrilled to be running alone on such a beautiful day in such a beautiful place. At mile 7 I saw another runner up ahead. Quickly gaining ground, at some point I realized it was Dean. He was struggling to breathe due to four crack ribs that were injured last month during a multi-day stage race in Colorado. It felt strange to pass him, but after chatting for a moment, I wished him the best and went on my way. The 31 mile course was difficult but runnable. There were some steep climbs and tricky descents and a brutal mile long boulder field at mile 17. The terrain allowed me to run about 95% of the time. At mile 26 I was still going strong when Dean flew by me at a blistering pace. Withing a few seconds, like a ghost, he was gone. Guess the ribs were feeling better. Severe pain and fatigue set in around mile 29. I was able to block it out mentally and continued to the finish line at a strong pace.

Overall I'm very pleased with how I ran. My time was 6 hours and 14 minutes, which is a 50k pr by over 26 minutes.

No more races until the Ironman. Just 5 more weeks until race day.

JG

Life is Good...Stump Jump 50k

Kyle and I are headed to Chattanooga tomorrow to run the Stump Jump 50k on Saturday. There's nothing quite like running 31 miles in the woods. Some of the most notable names in ultrarunning will be there. Dean Karnazes is speaking at the carbo dinner tomorrow night and running the race. Krissy Moehl, who may be the best female untrarunner in the world, will also be there. I wouldn't be surprised if she wins the race outright. We have reservations at the cheapest motel we could find, the Motel 6 downtown for $45 bucks. The hotel had 12 reviews on the Internet, which were all bad. The run is supposed to be ridiculously hilly over tough terrain. It should takes us around 6.5 hours. Below is a video of the race taken a few years ago. Fun Fun Fun!



JG

Life is Good...Back on the Wagon

Katie setting a PR earlier this year

Gimmie that water

After several months of setbacks and difficulty, it appears that Mrs. G is climbing back on the running wagon. She's been able to get in some good runs lately and is registered for the Memphis Half Marathon on December 5th. On a positive note, she also feels that not being allowed to sit down ALL DAY LONG at school has made her feet stronger. Go get em babe!

JG

Life is Good...Ironman Augusta 70.3

We survived Augusta! You would assume the home of the Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters would have a quaint deep south feel, with huge oak trees and beautiful old homes. The kind of place where you sit on the porch and sip bourbon and lemonade and talk about politics in seersucker suits. I expected Augusta to be something straight out of a John Grisham novel. Upon arrival I realized that this is not the case. The city is a little rundown and has more fast food joints and strip malls than big Oak trees.

The Ironman Augusta 70.3 triathlon is exactly half the distance of the full distance Ironman Florida, which is now only 6 weeks away. The race was a good measuring stick to test my fitness and help me set realistic expectations for Florida.

Katie and I drove through some pretty bad weather on Friday night before finally arriving at the lovely Hilton Garden Inn, next to I-20 and a package store, around 11:00 pm. On Saturday morning we drove the bike course, most of which actually takes place in South Carolina. It was much more challenging than expected, with continuous rolling hills and a lot of turns.

Later that day we began to prepare for the race, which seemed like an endurance event all by itself. After attending a mandatory meeting and standing in packet pickup lines for a couple hours, it was time to put my bike in transition. This led me to ask the question, where in the hell is transition? Although the race director had done a good job at the meeting explaining the rules, he didn't really provide any logistical support. I called Kyle, knowing he had already racked his bike, to get directions. His only directional help was, "Dude, transition is a long way away". It took some time, but we did eventually find transition and rack my bike.

Next on the list was dinner. The plan was to meet Kyle and Jeremy and family at the Italian restaurant at the Marriot. Although we'd already been to the Marriot, somehow I got lost and turned onto a parkway without any exits, which caused us to arrive about 15 minutes late. The food was very average, but I really enjoyed the conversation. It was entertaining to hear everyone else's experiences of navigating through the day's chaos.

I awoke early on race morning. Everything felt good and the goal of finishing the race under 5 hours still seamed realistic. On the bus ride to the swim we ran into Casey, another friend from Birmingham who was doing the race. We arrived at the swim start just in time to see the pros go off. I strapped on my wetsuit and chatted with a few familiar folks until my wave started.

THE SWIM

Holding onto the dock, waiting for the horn to go off, the current seemed strong. The downriver point to point swim in the Savannah River presented the opportunity for a great swim time. Due to the high number of entrants, the first few minutes were pretty rough. There was quite a bit of contact and people running into each other. I finally found my rhythm and started to really enjoy myself. The swim ended quickly. The current must have been strong or the 1.2 mile course must have been short because I finished in 26 minutes, 10 minutes faster than my previous best.

THE BIKE

The 56 mile bike course started out easy enough. The first hour was a straight shot into South Carolina over mostly flat terrain. I was able to hold 22 mph without much effort. Piece of cake, right? Wrong! Somewhere around mile 22, things changed. The wind picked up, the course got hilly, and it seemed like there were a million turns. At mile 30 I was getting passed by more people than I was passing and my legs and back were a little fatigued. The only word to describe the last hour on the bike is "painful". I finally finished the bike with a time of 2:45, about 12 minutes slower than expected. My average speed over the 56 mile course was 20.4 mph.

THE RUN

The 13.1 mile run course was 2 loops through downtown Augusta. I quickly calculated that I'd need to run about a 7:50 per mile pace to finish the run in 1:43, which would get me to the finish line in under 5 hours. Under normal circumstances this would not have been a huge challenge, but after 3:15 of redlining my body, I new it was a long shot. I decided to go for it.

Mile 1 : 7:15 – Wow, that was fast

Mile 2 : 7:20 – Feeling good.

Mile 3 : 7:45 – My legs feel so good it doesn't even feel like I've been on the bike today.

Mile 4 : 7:30 – In town, lots of fans and music. I am pumped. I am an animal. This is easy.

Mile 5: 8:00 – Uh Oh, don’t feel so good, starting to fade quickly.

Mile 6: 8:45 – My legs feel like lead. This is not fun. I want to quit. Don't quit. Just keep running

Mile 7: 9:15 – I see Katie. She cheers me on but later said she's never seen me look so bad in a race.

Mile 8: 9:30 – One of the pros who already finished and has now turned into a spectator / cheerleader for all the age groupers tells me that I need to relax my shoulders. For him to say that, I must look really bad.

Mile 9: 9:30 – My shoulders are killing me. Just keep running. No walking allowed.

Mile 10: 9:40 – I spent way to long at an aide station

Mile 11: 9:20 – I see Katie again. I try to think of something to say to her but no words come out of my mouth.

Mile 12: 9:20 – I feel bloated from drinking all that water.

Mile 13: 8:15 – Thank you God! I didn't think I was gonna make it.

After crossing the line I laid down and Katie tried to stand in front of the sun for me to provide shade. It was a nice gesture, but unfortunately (or fortunately) she's not big enough to block the sun. My run time was 1:50, a pace of 8:25 per mile. I fell a little short of my overall goal, finishing in 5:07. It was my best time at the 70.3 distance by over 8 minutes, good enough for 46th out of 189 finishers in the 25-29 male age groups.

Kyle, Jeremy, and Casey all did well. After spending months together swimming, biking, and running, its always great to see your friends and training partners have success.

This experience has made me rethink my approach to the upcoming Florida Ironman. Augusta was a rewarding, but painful race. At this point thinking about doubling the distance is kind of mind boggling. Here are my amended Ironman goals.

Pace myself, better to be a tortoise than a hare
Just finish. I have thrown out all finishing time goals
Have fun.

That's it. I'll try to post some pictures later.

JG

Life is Good...Race Wheels

We're off to Augusta this afternoon for the Ironman Augusta 70.3, which is half the distance of the Ironman Florida in six weeks. It should be a good tune-up race. If all goes well I'd like to finish under 5 hours.

Since I need all the help I can get, I rented race wheels. They're much more aerodynamic and should shave 5-6 minutes off my bike split. At a minimum, they'll make me look cool.

http://ironman.com/events/ironman70.3/augusta70.3

JG

Life is Good...If You're Greek

Since this week is kind of a taper week, I skipped the Thursday tri tonight. Katie and I went to the Greek Festival at the Orthodox Church downtown with with one of my old high school friends and his wife. The experience made me want to be Greek for the following reasons.

1. The deep sense of culture. The Greeks are so proud to be Greek, and they should be!
2. The food was fantastic - from the Bakalava to the lamb, it was all good.
3. Music Music Music
4. Dancing Dancing Dancing
5. Everyone was happy
6. The inside of the Church was beautiful - It even made a skeptic like me feel good

In my family we don't really have any sense of culture. I guess we're just European muts.

JG

Life is Good...Rain Rain Rain

I am not going to complain about the rain. Two years ago we were in a terrible drought. But what did we do God? It couldn't have rained on Noah much more than its been raining here in Birmingham. It seems like it rains every day and the forecast for the next 7 days is...... more rain.

This can make training a little tough. For my birthday day Mrs. G bought me a bike trainer that, up until yesterday, had been reserved for short weekday workouts. The weekly Saturday ride was canceled so I had to hammer out 2 and a half hours on the trainer in the basement. It actually wasn't too bad. Watching football seems to make basement training more manageable. After the ride I got in a great tempo run in the rain.

We had a great time eating with friends and watching the Auburn game last night. Its nice that Auburn is winning more this year. Lots of work this weekend for Mrs. G, but she says she's going to start setting limits on work time to she can enjoy other parts of life, like me ; ).

I got up early this morning and ran 17 with the crew, in the rain of course. Marathon season is around the corner so there was plenty of company.

The next two weekends are race weekends, which will be a nice break from the long training workouts. We'll be in Augusta next weekend for Ironman 70.3 and Kyle and I are heading up to Chattanooga the next weekend to run the Stump Jump 50k. Dean Karnazes will be speaking at the dinner the night before and running the race. Maybe I can run with him a little before he leaves me in his dust.

Until then we'll be watching it rain!

JG

Life is Good...Thursday Thoughts

Sus sent me the picture above of Memaw and Wess yesterday. I usually quickly view and discard pictures, but thought this one was particularly good. They both look great. Wess looks like such a grown-up. He seems to be enjoying the world as a recent college graduate. Although we don't share many of the same interests, I am very proud of how he has turned out and the person he has become.

Life has been more of the same this week at our house, "Two a days" for me and 12-14 hour work days for Katie. Teaching at a school with limited resources and large class sizes continues to be a challenge, but she's doing a good job. I continue to be amazed how hard teaching is. If you see a teacher this week, thank them for their service to our education system. It truly is a service. If things ever calm down hopefully she'll make a return to the blog. Her posts are more entertaining than mine.

My runs this week have been mostly in the rain and dark. The sun isn't showing himself these days until around 6:20, when I'm usually either finished or on my last mile. I swam 2 miles yesterday in the outdoor pool at the J. There wasn't anyone else out there and it was quite peaceful. Staring at a blue line for almost an hour put me in a meditative state.

I am about halfway through the book "Born to Run" Its a true story about American ultra-running and the Tarahumara, a tribe that lives in the Copper Canyon in northern Mexico. Without any new age training techniques or even a pair of running shoes they are able to run for days on end, over 100 miles at a time. Its a great book that I would recommend to runners and those who just think runners are crazy. Here's a quote from the book I read last night and enjoyed.

"Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own; sources of strength never taxed at all because we never push through the obstruction"

Whatever your current obstruction may be, good luck pushing through it. I hope you find strength on the other side.

Life is Good...100

Its halftime of the Auburn game. After an afternoon of wondering around town, it appears that Mrs. G. has passed out, with her glasses on, on the the floor.

On the training front, I've had a big week. Coach William has successfully taught me to breathe bilaterally (on both sides) when swimming. Lots of swimming, running, and riding. I rode 100 miles for the first time today.

Rudi is barking... Mrs. G. is now awake, annoyed, and checking her iPhone.

The ride wandered out toward Pell City. After getting chased relentlessly by dogs, we finally turned around and headed to Odenville. It was a great ride. Kyle of Kyle's Tracks went the whole way with me. Thanks dude.

I've got a long trail run on the schedule for the morning. Looking forward to watching football tomorrow at noon with JCC friends at On-Tap.

Thinking of opening a Facebook page. Always said I wouldn't, but it looks like a lot of fun.

Mrs. G. has now disappeared into the back of the house.

JG

Life is Good...There's Always Next Year

We had fun last night at the high school game. Katie's school beat their number 1 rival in a close come from behind win.

We both got up early today and hit the pavement. I rode 63 miles in the rain with a few friends. The legs felt tired, but I managed. Katie and M. had a successful long run in between rain showers.

We had a good lunch and have been asleep most of the afternoon.

Tonight we're going to watch the Alabama and Auburn games with friends. Last season was miserable for the Tigers. They were 7-5, but it seemed much worse. So many times I caught myself saying, "There's always next year". Well next year has arrived. With a new coach and quarterback, hopefully the once mighty Tigers are headed back in the right direction.

We shall see.

JG

Life is Good...Katie the Cougar

Katie is now a Cougar.

She's been working night and day trying to provide her kids with a quality education. Now its time to have some free fun. The team's first football game is tonight and we're going to cheer for her kids. Despite being in the 9th and 10th grade, some of her students are good enough to play on the varsity sqaud. We haven't been to a high school game in years. It should be fun.

JG

Life is Good...Pics from Age Group Nationals