4.50 miles / 967 in 2013

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I originally was urged to write this blog to document all the things I was finding on my runs. The last 2 weeks have been good for the hunt. I found a bungee cord, a penny, a gel bike seat cushion, and a cool pencil with fish on it. 

Today I found the strangest thing to date. 

Wired burlap ribbon. New. Still in the plastic. Found on the side of a lonely country road outside Louisburg, NC. I think it's a weird find. You?

I also found 35 cents today in the grass along the same road. There were 2 coins that reflected the sun just right. One of them was not a quarter, can you guess what coins I found?

4.36 miles / 954 in 2013

If you've read any of my previous posts, or at least the first one, you know I set a goal to run 1000 miles in 2013. With only 46 miles to go, I've started thinking of how to run my 1000th mile.

My top 3 finishes that I've come up with so far are as follows....

1. Finish with a 'cool' race. My original thought was to finish with a marathon. I'm not sure I'm ready for a marathon, but I'm not ruling it out. The other problem is there is not one close and in the right time frame. So, then I thought maybe just a 'cool' race to finish would be good. I really enjoyed the Race of the Dead experience in Chicago. If I could find another experience like that to finish, I think that would be a great finish.

2. Finish at the NC State Bell Tower. The Bell Tower is very special to me in many ways. I can imagine running down Hillsborough Street for my last mile with the Bell Tower in sight as a great way to finish. If I could add actually running up the stairs in the Bell Tower and finishing at the 'top', that would be even better.

3. Finish where I started, sort of. My first mile this year was at Sunset Beach, NC on January 1. My thought is to finish by running over the Sunset Bridge (which I've done numerous times this year), onto the beach, and finish with a plunge in the ocean. This is where I finished my first 1/2 marathon (I created the route), but without the plunge in the water. It should be nice and cold. Brrrrrr

I need your help. Give me some ideas or give me feedback on mine.

7.52 miles / 925 in 2013

IT'S COLD!! The temp in the mornings has hovered around 30 degrees this week. Although, I remember enjoying running in the cold weather earlier this year, I'm not ready to do it again. Yet.  So instead of braving the low temps, I wimped out and went to the gym.

I'm actually not a member of a gym, but I talked my way into a free one-day pass to our on-campus gym. (A big shout-out and thanks to the staff of Carmichael Gym.) This was the first time I had been in this gym since I was a student many years ago. It was weird how some of the same nerves appeared just like I was a freshman in college again. Also, it smells the exact same as it did in 1991. However, it is much more advanced than it was back then. It still has the old rubber track that runs around the interior of the building (I think. I actually didn't see it), but now it has MANY treadmills available.

In reality, I'm not a big fan of running inside, especially on a treadmill. I've mentioned in earlier posts - I like having a destination. On a treadmill, I'm already there. But - it's cold, so a treadmill it is.

I just picked a random treadmill, actually the first one I came across. It was in a row of maybe 18-20 treadmills surrounded by elliptical and stair machines. When I started, there was only one other guy within a machine of me. He finished pretty soon after I started.

About a thirty minutes into my run, I realized that I was surrounded by young college co-eds. Surrounded - 2 on each side on treadmills, 4-5 of five in front of me on elliptical, and the same behind me on the stair machines. My first thought was, wow the gym has really filled up. After taking a quick scan of the other equipment, that was not the case. In fact, almost all the other equipment was empty. My second thought was - "wow, maybe I've still got it" :) Why else would all these young ladies be surrounding me? This thought quickly passed when I realized that of the 20+ TVs in the gym all but one was on a 'sports' channel. On the TV directly in front of me - Survivor. I guess Survivor still has 'it'.

3.23 miles / 901 in 2013

Final weekend update...

Really this is from Monday - After a personal record at Carrera de Los Muertos and the Battleship 1/2 Marathon, I was on a running high. Add in all the travel and work, I was also very tired. Two emotions fighting each other like two seagulls fighting for the same piece of bread. 

Monday was a good opportunity to take a break and rest. However, I was only 2 miles away from running my 900th mile for 2013. Most would say - why not wait one more day? It's a rather simple answer...

For every 100th mile I've run this year, my wife has taken my picture. This is not an egotistical thing, but something that I want her to be a part of each time it happens. If I had waited until Tuesday, I would have been away for work and she couldn't have been there to take the pic or more importantly to me, to be a part of it. 

Courtesy of my wife's iPhone...

1/2 Marathon / 898 in 2013

2nd Weekend Update....

After the Race of the Dead, I spent the rest of the day in Chicago at the conference I was in town for. Normally, I would stay through Sunday, and take in more of one of my favorite cities. However this weekend, I needed to get back home for my first 1/2 Marathon - The Battleship Half Marathon. 

My flight was scheduled to leave at 6:30PM from O'hare to Wilmington with a layover in Charlotte. If you're not familiar with Wlmington, I'm not surprised. It's a very small airport. Very few direct flights. The parking lot for the airport isn't much bigger than a typical grocery store parking lot. No parking deck at this airport. 

Back to the flight- the flight from ORD to CLT went off without a hitch. Actually arrived 20 minutes early. Normally this would be a great opportunity to catch an earlier flight home. If 'home' this time wasn't Wilmington, maybe. There were no earlier flights to ILM. In fact, I think it was the 2nd of 2 flights all day. This was already a late flight considering my first half was the next morning at 8 AM. To add insult to injury we were delayed over an hour while seated on the plane waiting for a co-pilot. After arriving at my hotel around 1AM, I quickly got to bed with great anticipation for an early morning run. 

My first half marathon... 

I've run a 1/2 before, just on my on course. See an earlier post for more on that. This was special, I was going to run a 'real' half marathon! Not only that, my great support system was there too. 

Running with me - my wife, sister, and my brother-in-law. In the crowd - my mom, my brother-in-law, my nephew, and my youngest son. 

Although, much credit too my co-runners - much more to my cheerleaders. Running is a terrible spectator sport and it was cold. 

I must say, I was really excited to get this started. That sounds crazy to me. I used to make fun of my wife for wanting to run. I would say things like - 'if you ever see me running, somebody is chasing me'. So this excitement was exhilarating. 

My goal was to finish in less than 2 hours. Unfortunately, I failed. My time - 2 hours and 29 seconds. DAMN!! 29 seconds!!!!! Next time, I'll pay better attention to the clock. 

That being said, it was one of the most rewarding athletic achievements I've ever accomplished. I'm still a little giddy thinking about running that far with a pretty decent pace. 

Here's my running team, after the race...

And my awesome medal...

One more update to follow...

5k / 881 for 2013

Sorry for the delay in updates, it was an awesome weekend. 

First Update-

I did make it for the Race of the Dead in Chicago. By far, it is my favorite 5k I have ever run. The people, the turn out, the costumes, the entertainment were awesome! 

I ran a PR for a 5k. I contribute this to one thing - it was freaking COLD! This country boy from NC was not properly dressed. I was affraid if I slowed down, I would freeze. 

If ever in Chicago during Carrera de Los Muertos, this is a must run!

More updates to follow....

0 miles / 878 for 2013

No actual running today. However, I'm stoked for this weekend. I flew out this morning at 5:30 to Chicago. Arrived with a full day of pitches and some impressive moments with current and a former student. Now to the running...

My name is Lewis, I'm a procrastinator. I've known about this trip to Chicago for a year, but I pushed everything to the last minute. Flights, my room (not the student's), and the race of the dead. Since I was going to be in Chicago, I wanted something 'cool' to do during my short stay. I LOVE Chicago. I've been many times. I would move here if my wife became a snow bunny instead of a beach bum and/or if the climate would change in Chicago. It's 71 degrees at home today, 41 here. Big difference. 

Anyway, I found this cool race - Carrera de los Muertos (race of the dead). Actually, I'm only assuming that's what the translation is - based on the marketing. 

Back to my procrastination - I postponed my registration until I knew for sure my travel plans were set (ie procrastinated, I knew I was coming for 3 months) At that point I tried to register (today)- too late :( Registrations were sold out. However, I'm a nice guy and was able to acquire a registration, bib and shirt to run. I'll leave the details out of 'how', to protect the nice people that went out of their way to make this happen. I'm extremely excited to Race with the Dead! 

Look for an update, pics, and the next reason for my 'stokedness' for the weekend tomorrow afternoon.