Friday was a rest day. However, I ended up spending 6 hours in the car traveling to Ohio.
I did run on Saturday. I was scheduled to run 12 miles but only ran 10 miles, an out and back route, on a rural road (State Route 43 between Amsterdam and Richmond for those back home in Ohio). It was very hilly and starting at 1289 feet above sea level, I had over 400 feet of total ascent to deal with. My mother-in-law thought I was “nuts to run on that road.”
In that area there have always been coal trucks and heavy traffic. But now with the surge of the Marcellus Gas and Oil (Better known as the Fracking style of oil and gas exploration) business in eastern Ohio, there are some very large heavy equipment trucks that run on the country roads. I am ok with cars and trucks and running around them but I was cautious and wore my brightest running shirt, a very orange shirt from RUSeen.com. The cows that I passed by mooed loudly at me as I ran. Not sure if they approved of my shirt or were agreeing with my mother-in-law that I was “nuts.” I may be nuts but I will never be out of shape again.
It was a hard run from the stand point that I never got into rhythm with the hills and turns to contend with, but it was good to get out there on a muggy Saturday morning.
Saturday Night was Bobbi’s 25th HS reunion. Although, Bobbi and I went to the same HS, I graduated two years ahead of her. So, I knew some, but most I didn’t. The best part of the evening was listening to the numerous compliments Bobbi got for looking so great. It is really cool to be married to an athletic wife…
Sunday, was a biking day. We took the bike with us and the plan was to bike early Sunday. Well, Sunday morning came quick since we didn’t go to bed till 1am the night before. So, at 0700, I hit the road. Some more of the rural Eastern Ohio roads (this time from Amsterdam to Knoxville SR 43, 152 to 213 and back)
It wasn’t a very fast bike. I only averaged 16 mph. It was on the same rolling hills that I ran on the day before, except I did 26.75 miles. I also had 2029 feet of accent over the course and I hit a top speed of 33 mph. It was hard a bike after and hard run, but I really felt good and had great chocolate chip waffle breakfast afterward. That was good because, according to Cyclemeter App, I burnt 1400 calories on the bike…and there was bacon…yea, bacon.
Then we left the girls behind in Ohio to spend a week with Bobbi’s mom and then a week with my parents…Another 6 hour trip in the car home. We stopped a couple places on the way back…Goshen, WV and Hancock, MD. We decided two things about Hancock. One, we need to look into the Western Maryland Rail Trail for future biking adventures. And secondly, the Blue Goose Fruit market would even a better stop later in the season when all the apples orchards were producing.
So, Monday morning came pretty quick. My schedule had me running an easy 5 miles. I didn’t check that before I ran and ended up running a very quick 6.2 miles. It was another run were I never looked at my time or splits when I was running and I seemed to do better pace wise…I’m starting to think there might be something to that. I was ok with that extra 1.2 knowing that tomorrows run would not happen do to my work schedule. I feel pretty good with the adjustments I made on a busy weekend.
I was doing great at the start I found the 4 hour Clif Bar
Race pace guy and stuck with him for the first three or four miles. I got out ahead of him at mile five and
was settling into a nice pace of 8:25/mi.
It was between mile seven and eight that disaster struck. I heard and felt a pop in my left hip
and then I lost all power in my left leg on a little uphill just after mile 7
mile marker. The best way to describe the pain was as if someone and punched
me. Except if felt that way every time I pushed off and tried to use that leg
for power. There are not a lot of hills on the Marine Corps Marathon course,
but between 7 and 8 happens to be one of them. So I had nothing going up into
Georgetown.
Needless to say, I walked a lot through Georgetown (miles 8
and 9) and spent most of the race just trying to run till I couldn’t take the
pain anymore. There goes the 4hr pace guy blowing right by me…Really, really. I
can tough this out. I have trained for months and I am in great shape. Suck it
up, Sailor….Just three week prior I ran 20 miles in under 2:50 or 8:30/mi
pace…tough it out. Hell, I was
supposed to be running this for my Brother-in-law GR who is battling cancer.
Cancer sucks! This is nothing compared to what GR is going through…just keep
going.
I run across the 14th Street bridge in 9:00,
but slow down again in Crystal
City 11:00+/mi and speed up to a nice 8:30/mi pace at mile 24 mile when I see
the 4:30 pace girl and try to stay with her till the end. I couldn’t and finished with
4:35:20…10:30/mi…Ouch!
The only real set back was that my bag of extra water bottles and food was taken/stolen from the side of the road, where Bobbi (it was awesome that she came out this morning with me) had dropped them off. 
My goal for the Devil Dog 7K ( It acually endded up being 7.22K or 4.49 miles) this morning was maintaining a pace...I was shooting for 7:30 min/mi.
Overall: 996 of 3864
Also, after finding out some shocking news that my brother-in-law (GR) is fighting cancer, I have decide to dedicate the remaining of my races to him... I will be wearing a LIVESTRONG bracelet for the rest of the season and I will be posting his progress as well as mine the rest of the way on here...
I hate to start this blog out today with this...but I need help. 
She trained hard for the Olympic distance…her swim time was awesome clearly her best leg of the race. Her bike was really good..her first time on the hilly and challenging course that has 50 technical turns…the run then just becomes a slug fest…she fought it off and finished with a smile!
So, I'm off my training cycle right now... I have the Chesty Puller 5K at Henderson Hall next week. But I have not been training for it. Or realy training at all...So I figured I'd run the course this morning. Without really thinking or pushing I ran 7:11/mi. I did run the course backwards...I ran up Fort Whipple Hill. While the 5K course will have me running down it...maybe I can set a PR on this course which is a 21:08.. I have a couple more runs to get in before then...another suprise next week would be nice.
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