Back on Track

Only a 2-day weekend this week so I can only do so much. No yoga class with Kim & live music. But I did get in a nice 7.5-mile run along the Pittman Wash in Henderson. This urban trail allows the biker/runner/walker to follow a nature trail with steep ravines, much growth and wildlife unimpeded uphill one way for almost 4 miles returning over the same course on a nice 4-mile descent. This Wash primarily carries stormwater. It is lined with rock and covered with a chain link to prevent or limit erosion. (Located at Green Valley Parkway and Windmill)

The run went well. I'd say I'm pretty much recovered from the Marathon. I'm back to the Abstinence track for the remainder of the 434 Days. No marathons or 20 milers or journal entries where beer was made. So no more beer or wine until Sept. 13, 2006. Well see how the rest of the journey goes.

Besides the bs numbers have not been too hot lately. I gotta do everything I can to get the figures under control which I would say they're not now. We proceeded on...

 

 

Biking the Loop

Seeking a cross-training alternative, I took the bike for a spin on the Mountain View Trail. The entire loop is 30 miles around Boulder City, Henderson and Lake Mead. From Equestrian Park my runs have taken me about 4 miles in one direction and 6m the other way. But I figured with a bike I could see how far the trail went before it turned to dirt. I got a lot further by bike but still I wasn't close to running out of paved trail. My afternoon adventure was curtailed by the setting sun but I still rode about 15 miles.

That gave me just enough time to throw the bike in the pickup, drive home and get ready for Cypresse's Thursday night yoga class. It was a very small class. Only 4 showed up. My partner Nicole from last week was there and we did a little more partner work which went pretty good. Cypresse congratulated me on my marathon success.

All that remained was a quiet organic pasta and salad dinner while I watched the Sabres defeat the not-so-Mighty Ducks 3-2 in OT.

 

 

Post Marathon Mortem

Three days after the marathon and the leg muscles are slowly rejuvenating. Rest, yoga and a massage have brought me back to pre-marathon condition. Monday I took advantage of the day off to get a deep-tissue massage.

Cynthia, the massage therapist, really worked me over good. She said my hamstrings were tighter than banjo strings. Both ankles were swollen. Quads, calves and glutes were all pretty tight. Tuesday, a little home yoga helped and Wednesday I returned to running with a little trail trot.

Through all of this the blood sugar has been like a runaway roller coaster. Several readings in the middle 200s were cause for alarm. But by tonight things have settled down to a more typical 117. Could have been the carb-load, the anxiety, stress, Reisling reaction or any other factor. But I'm just glad that's all behind me. Now to resume this abstinence thing. There's been a few planned and unplanned interruptions but now it's back on course as we proceed on to Sept. 13, 2006. The 200 yr anniversary of L&C ending their 434 day dry spell.

 

Marathon Finish

After almost 5 months of training and buildup, the 2005 Las Vegas Marathon is in the bank. I finished. But like all marathons, it wasn't easy but it was full of pain, joy, humor and excitement.

First the joy: The dawn start at Mandalay Bay with dimming stars and exploding fireworks. I had chills as I crossed the starting line. Then after a cramp dissolved at MM22, thanks to some positive energy from Cypresse and her yoga class, the last 4 miles were as easy as could be under the circumstances. Downhill with a tailwind. And having Dad at the start and along the course was also a big lift. I couldn't break the streak of no family marathon DNF's. Death before Dishonor.

The humor: Dozens of Elvis's, couples married on the run. "Don't do it!", a runner shouted. All kind of wacky outfits. Lot's of reasons to smile.

The excitement: The first 5 miles were right down the Famous Las Vegas Strip with all the glitter. Spectators lined the entire course offering encouragement. With our names on our race bibs, it was easy for the fans to call out our names. Dozens of bands and loud music.

The pain: Besides the cramp that went away, lots of lactic acid. Knees, ankles, feet will all to take a few days to recover. But hopefully my massage Monday will ease the pain.

I was just delighted to finish, get it done and to have Dad here to share in the experience. Now back to serious resting.

 

The Day Before The Marathon

Now it's all over except for the running. Today Dad & I made the final preparations for Sunday's Las Vegas Marathon. We began the day by driving the 26.2-mile course. Beginning at Mandalay Bay the route proceeds north down the Famous Las Vegas Strip. When we got to the Riviera we stopped to take a few pictures with the bronze butts of the Crazy Girls. Some nice Brit chaps were passing by and offered to take our picture. We proceeded on and now we both know how damn long 26.2 miles is.

After a home cooked meal of tomato soup and veggie burgers we headed out to Red Rock Canyon. I took part in a little yoga class to loosen up for the run. Dad passed on the yoga and got in a nice hike.

We headed home for another home cooked meal that couldn't be beat. This pre-race carbo feed featured an all-organic fare of salad with avocados, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, garlic cloves and maybe a few other ingredients.

Many well wishers called to offer moral support from Mom, to Micky, to Susan to just about everyone in the yoga class so that's the most I could hope for on the Day Before the Marathon. Except for the chilly temperatures and the brisk wind it looks like everything is falling into place just fine.

 

 

Dad's Here!

With just 2 days to go until the Marathon things are falling into place. Dad returned to Las Vegas for the 2nd time this year to serve as my support team on race day. After picking him up from his non-stop Southwest Airlines flight from Buffalo at LAS we headed over to the Runners' Expo at Mandalay Bay. There I picked up by bib number and micro chip so I can be electronically timed at the start/finish and various checkpoints along the course. In addition to the free T-shirt I got, I also got a Cool Max Runners' hat ($18) and long-sleeve shirt ($32), three pairs of fast-drying socks ($21),  a pair of shorts ($18) that I'm sure will help me run further and faster but having dad here (priceless).

We went out to one of my favorite restaurants Sweet Tomatoes for dinner then picked up a few things at the Wild Oats Natural Market for my carbo-loading meal. Yes I'm cooking pasta Saturday night. I don't know what's more life-threatening running a marathon or my cooking.

After dinner we watched a little Alaska video on Denali National Park to get ready for our trip next summer and then Dad was in bed by 9 (midnight Buffalo time).

 

Feeling Groovy

Don't know why I feel this good. I'm running 26.2 miles Sunday and I spent most of the day doing housework but I feel great and I'm sober. Must be the multitude of nutritional supplements I'm taking. Who thought coral calcium could get you this high? Or maybe it's the flax seed oil?

Dad's coming Friday so I had to get the place clean. Not spotless like when Mom comes. So I scrubbed, vacuumed, cleaned, dusted, wiped, straightened all while the perplexed cats looked on. My idea of taking a break was going for a little 4-mile run on the nearby railroad tracks trail. How fun and easy that was compared to Sunday's run to hell. Well the first 15-20 miles might be ok but the last 5-10 miles will be pure torture and it's only costing me $100 entry fee plus one of my 28 paid days off from work. Hey this is my 2nd 5-day weekend in 3 weeks. No wonder I feel so good.

But it gets better, tonight at Cypresse's yoga class we did a little partner work that was really great. We sort of climbed on each other's back and I thought I was going to crush this little woman like a bug but the way it was done was very enlightenig for both of us. Then I topped the day off with an excellent live organic salad and lasagna from the Raw Truth Veggie Cafe. Blood sugar has been way under 150 since I took my health nut to the next level. Now if I could just feel this good around MM25. I've got a bottle of fine German Reisling chillin' in case I survive. I know. But this is a rare exception.