203 days until the 2012 Leadville Trail 100 Mile Run...
Katie Gaffney, Chad Uhde, Ben Driscoll, Aaron Maurer, Curt Johnston, & Rick Fountain
This was our running group this morning on our 16.2 mile run. We were about 4 miles into our 16 mile run - it is still dark but I wanted you to see some of the faces of those who inspire us - it makes it really easy to run early in the morning when you have other great people to run with. This group of 7 (I was taking the picture) is the largest running group we've ever had - it was a blast! My mileage measurement conflicts with what a few of our runner's Garmins said (15.7 miles) - I use http://www.mapmyrun.com/ to track our route. but hey, what's a half mile between friends? It's always nice to run farther but when the running goes beyond a couple hours, I don't care a whole lot about running a mile or two farther or shorter - it's about the time on feet, staying healthy, and having the feeling that you can continue on. You can see our route at the following link http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/66353778/?new_route=1
I am feeling extremely good about today. We didn't go super long. We didn't go super fast. We did have great company and we did have a lot of laughs and good conversation. My body feels perfectly fine. Following the run I felt tremendous satisfaction because I think I could have continued on for quite some time before feeling fatigued. I don't write this to scoff at a 16 mile run (I certainly feel that is a great day whenever I run 16 miles). I feel great satisfaction because today's run was a run that we would have struggled to finish in September, yet today it seemed like a pretty easy run - which it was, relatively speaking. Remember we just finished back to back marathons last weekend so a 2:30 run today seemed lighter by comparison.
As long as I have their pictures posted I might as well tell you about them...
Katie Gaffney is a Language Arts teacher at Bettendorf Middle School. This is the 2nd time Katie has run with us. She has coached two of my sons in cross country and I can't wait for her to coach my daughter in track. She is so kind and supportive - the kind of coach every parent wishes their children would have. She's an accomplished runner - having run the Boston Marathon already. You might think we invited her to run to increase the aesthetic appeal of the photo. True as that may be, she's a great runner and I always enjoy being around her. I knew her mother-in-law for more than 10 years before she and her husband were born - which suggests to you that I'm getting pretty old!
Chad Uhde is a Science teacher and the Athletic Director at Bettendorf Middle School. You can follow Chad's blog at http://onthepositivesideofthingsornot.blogspot.com/ Chad has done several runs with us - he reached an all time high a few weeks back by going 20 miles with us - that was a day to remember. Sometime in the near future he will go at least 26.2 miles with us on a training run and achieve the marathon goal he once thought was not attainable.
Ben Driscoll is an Art teacher at Bettendorf Middle School. This was Ben's first run with us and we hope to have him back in the future. In addition Ben coaches multiple sports at the middle school and is the Assistant Girl's Basketball Coach. He played basketball in high school and college and is still extremely talented on the basketball court. It is fun to play with him because he pushes the ball up court, is always making hustle plays, and is an outstanding passer. He has a phenomenal and admirable set of personal values and is a perfect role model for others.
Aaron Mauer teaches in the Talented and Gifted programs at Bettendorf Middle School. You can follow his blog at http://coffeeforthebrain.blogspot.com/ It is ranked as the 13th best blog site for triathalon training - congrats Aaron! Aaron coaches a variety of sports for the middle school and has been extremely regimented in his training. He is competing in an indoor triathalon tomorrow and will be completing a half Ironman in Wisconsin this summer.
Curt Johnston is a former student of mine at St. Ambrose. He played basketball for the Fighting Bees but has turned his interest toward running - knocking off Bix 7's and marathons regularly, posting some very good times. This year he plans to run a sub 50 minute Bix and I have all the confidence in the world that he will. Curt has not been running long distances lately so the increase from 9 miles last weekend to over 16 miles this weekend was quite admirable. I told him to go soak his legs in cold water for 5 minutes if they hurt after he arrived at home. Expectedly, Curt's legs were heavy at the end of the run. But he persevered and finished - he did great. Afterwards he was very grateful to us and mentioned that running with us was the primary reason he finished the 16 miles. It felt good to see in his face and hear in his voice how much he felt we helped him knock it out.
Rick Fountain - you all know about Rick if you've read my blog. You can go back a few days and see all of the great things about Rick. When going out on the first loop I asked all of the others if they were joining us on the second loop - except Rick. I didn't ask him because I can't give a guy who is running Leadville the opportunity to cut a workout short :o)
I plan to write more on this blog later today but have to run now to help load some vans with raffle prizes and auction prizes for a Chili Cookoff to benefit Hand in Hand, an organization dedicated to helping children with physical and mental disabilities and their families. This annual event is held at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds at the Starlite Ballroom. The 2012 event is today from 3-7 pm - $8 at the door - you get to sample more than 30 different types of chili - it's a lot of fun and it is for a great cause. http://www.handinhand.org/
The Chili Cook Off was awesome - had an even better turnout this year than last! Thanks Rick for bringing your family and brother-in-law's family.
Until my next post, have a great day! DIG DEEP!
This was our running group this morning on our 16.2 mile run. We were about 4 miles into our 16 mile run - it is still dark but I wanted you to see some of the faces of those who inspire us - it makes it really easy to run early in the morning when you have other great people to run with. This group of 7 (I was taking the picture) is the largest running group we've ever had - it was a blast! My mileage measurement conflicts with what a few of our runner's Garmins said (15.7 miles) - I use http://www.mapmyrun.com/ to track our route. but hey, what's a half mile between friends? It's always nice to run farther but when the running goes beyond a couple hours, I don't care a whole lot about running a mile or two farther or shorter - it's about the time on feet, staying healthy, and having the feeling that you can continue on. You can see our route at the following link http://www.mapmyfitness.com/routes/view/66353778/?new_route=1
I am feeling extremely good about today. We didn't go super long. We didn't go super fast. We did have great company and we did have a lot of laughs and good conversation. My body feels perfectly fine. Following the run I felt tremendous satisfaction because I think I could have continued on for quite some time before feeling fatigued. I don't write this to scoff at a 16 mile run (I certainly feel that is a great day whenever I run 16 miles). I feel great satisfaction because today's run was a run that we would have struggled to finish in September, yet today it seemed like a pretty easy run - which it was, relatively speaking. Remember we just finished back to back marathons last weekend so a 2:30 run today seemed lighter by comparison.
As long as I have their pictures posted I might as well tell you about them...
Katie Gaffney is a Language Arts teacher at Bettendorf Middle School. This is the 2nd time Katie has run with us. She has coached two of my sons in cross country and I can't wait for her to coach my daughter in track. She is so kind and supportive - the kind of coach every parent wishes their children would have. She's an accomplished runner - having run the Boston Marathon already. You might think we invited her to run to increase the aesthetic appeal of the photo. True as that may be, she's a great runner and I always enjoy being around her. I knew her mother-in-law for more than 10 years before she and her husband were born - which suggests to you that I'm getting pretty old!
Chad Uhde is a Science teacher and the Athletic Director at Bettendorf Middle School. You can follow Chad's blog at http://onthepositivesideofthingsornot.blogspot.com/ Chad has done several runs with us - he reached an all time high a few weeks back by going 20 miles with us - that was a day to remember. Sometime in the near future he will go at least 26.2 miles with us on a training run and achieve the marathon goal he once thought was not attainable.
Ben Driscoll is an Art teacher at Bettendorf Middle School. This was Ben's first run with us and we hope to have him back in the future. In addition Ben coaches multiple sports at the middle school and is the Assistant Girl's Basketball Coach. He played basketball in high school and college and is still extremely talented on the basketball court. It is fun to play with him because he pushes the ball up court, is always making hustle plays, and is an outstanding passer. He has a phenomenal and admirable set of personal values and is a perfect role model for others.
Aaron Mauer teaches in the Talented and Gifted programs at Bettendorf Middle School. You can follow his blog at http://coffeeforthebrain.blogspot.com/ It is ranked as the 13th best blog site for triathalon training - congrats Aaron! Aaron coaches a variety of sports for the middle school and has been extremely regimented in his training. He is competing in an indoor triathalon tomorrow and will be completing a half Ironman in Wisconsin this summer.
Curt Johnston is a former student of mine at St. Ambrose. He played basketball for the Fighting Bees but has turned his interest toward running - knocking off Bix 7's and marathons regularly, posting some very good times. This year he plans to run a sub 50 minute Bix and I have all the confidence in the world that he will. Curt has not been running long distances lately so the increase from 9 miles last weekend to over 16 miles this weekend was quite admirable. I told him to go soak his legs in cold water for 5 minutes if they hurt after he arrived at home. Expectedly, Curt's legs were heavy at the end of the run. But he persevered and finished - he did great. Afterwards he was very grateful to us and mentioned that running with us was the primary reason he finished the 16 miles. It felt good to see in his face and hear in his voice how much he felt we helped him knock it out.
Rick Fountain - you all know about Rick if you've read my blog. You can go back a few days and see all of the great things about Rick. When going out on the first loop I asked all of the others if they were joining us on the second loop - except Rick. I didn't ask him because I can't give a guy who is running Leadville the opportunity to cut a workout short :o)
I plan to write more on this blog later today but have to run now to help load some vans with raffle prizes and auction prizes for a Chili Cookoff to benefit Hand in Hand, an organization dedicated to helping children with physical and mental disabilities and their families. This annual event is held at the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds at the Starlite Ballroom. The 2012 event is today from 3-7 pm - $8 at the door - you get to sample more than 30 different types of chili - it's a lot of fun and it is for a great cause. http://www.handinhand.org/
The Chili Cook Off was awesome - had an even better turnout this year than last! Thanks Rick for bringing your family and brother-in-law's family.
Until my next post, have a great day! DIG DEEP!
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