Mad Manatees Mentor Group - VERY CLOSED!!! Sorry! (Page 21)

Glad you are OK! I think my dogs are responsible for 90% of my falls on the run. Which is why I've been leaving them home more. It's done wonders for my run!

Good grief! Have you got English mastiffs like Stacey does?!

Darren, ouch!  Glad you weren't badly hurt.  My dogs (2, totaling about 140 lbs) once ran through me like that--sprained my ankle. 

Nice totals everyone, here are mine.

 I am thinking about getting out today for a little run/walk.  Still coughing, not sure how my lungs will feel about it.  It is snowing lightly here right now, so the air will be cold, that might hurt...

I grew up with a St Bernard. Wonderful dogs!!!! I still want one sometimes but they eat so much! And NM probably isn't the best locale for them either.

Don't over-do. You'll be back out there soon enough.

I got my run in today, 6.5 miles in 1:08. I had to take advantage of the nice weather and warm temps. It was up to 26F today with overcast skis. I would have got up and ran sooner but the darkness makes me want to stay in bed. Attached is what it looked like when I left for my run.

My 2012 totals are:

 This also does not include a round of Insanity I did last February/March before joining BT or my "forced" Army PT. I think I should be able to get in at least 50% more distance this year, pending work training events.

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Lucy must have been very excited!  I'm glad that you are OK.

Happy New Year!

Weeeeeeee! That's so great...and way to push it at the end of the year, too 

Hey manatees!

Got a few pages behind. Been busy last few days. Hope everyone is having a great New Years Eve! Finished December up with my strongest month so far at 38 hours. I know that's not even half of what some of y'all do but I've only been doing this 8 months so I'm very pleased with how December went. Can't wait to step it up even more in January. Spent some time discussing my schedule with my coach and I am going to do a sprint in March as practice followed by a long run that afternoon and then my A race my first 70.3 in April. My training is on track and I can't wait to see how my season goes!

Ha Ha, that's great!  I used to have a Newfounland and they are a lot like that.  In fact, my dog would pretend to be asleep (fake snoring and all) anytime he thought you were going to wake him for a walk.  He was a great dog.  If I didn't live in Florida I would always have Newfies!

Goodbye, old year. Hello, twenty-TRIteen!

Just finished last ride of the 2012. Cold and windy, and I'm happy to log another 15 miles

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Ummm...wow, sorry about the big pic

Happy New Year! to those who've already seen their fireworks shows...and to those on the cusp of the countdown.

For the rest of us...Happy Waiting!

Looking through everyone's 2012 totals has been inspiring. Just what I need to kick off 2013. Thank you, Manatees.

New Year's Eve
Chad - half marathon

January 1
Marcus - Polar Dash 10k 
Jo - Commitment Day 5k

Wanna hear something cool?  Before my race I thought "I can't wait to finish my race and update my pod mates"  I totally thought of the Manatee's.  Feeling like a member of the "family" already.  

Here is my race report:

FUC**NG AWESOME!!!  

Started out hectic - since my boss wouldn't give me the day off, I got up at 4:30 a.m. - went to work and got my work truck - delivered wine to 2 of my stops - then went home, changed into my running clothes and drove to the race in my work truck (A big truck full of wine).    

At home, I couldn't find my heart rate watch - so my race plan was out the window.  

Got to the race 10 mins before start - it was 32 degrees out.  

Started at the front - was running with "Al" and asked him what his watch said our pace was.  He replied "7:18"... I'm thinking "WTF, I never run that fast!"  Better slow down.  Slowed down to 7:25 or so, keeping a pack ahead of me insight.  I new if I could keep them insight early, I could pass some on the hills.  

Al took off at about mile 4 - I was thinking, "I'll catch him later" (I did).    

Hit the hills and the pack started falling apart, not me, I started picking them off 1 at a time.  Made the turn around and picked off a few more competitors.  The legs felt good from mile 7 - 9...then at mile 9 one of the people coming the other way said "You are in 8th place."  I couldn't believe it....so I ran faster! LOL...I went from an 7:30 pace to 7:05 for that mile! (I didn't know it then - checked my splits later).  

I knew I was running faster than I should, so I slowed down a bit...and kept that pace.  Shortly after, I got passed by 3 people - which surprised me.  They had one hell of a kick.  

Mile 10 - 12...pretty damned good.  At mile 12 an 18 year old kid passed me.  I kept him in site thinking I would pass him back in the last 1/2 mile.  I kicked it in and was closing the gap but ran out of time to get him.  

As I was chasing him, my hands went numb.  I left everything on the course and had a great race.  I have never pushed myself so hard that I couldn't possibly have gone any faster.  IT FELT GREAT!  I finished my race in 1:36:55 to finish 12th place overall, and 3rd in my age group!  I am still on cloud 9 and think I will be for a while to come.  

My splits were:

1. 7:03
2. 7:24
3. 7:19
4. 7:31 (couple minor hills)
5. 7:28
6. 7:42 (medium hills)
7. 7:32 (medium hills)
8. 7:27
9. 7:31
10. 7:05
11. 7:16
12. 7:29 (paying the price for speeding up mile 9-10)
13. 7:05

Super excited and can't wait for my next race!  I'm running a 15K 1/27/13.  

Eagerly awaiting race reports from Manatee's Marcus and Jo

Chad-

Fantastic!!!! What a way to end the year! Now you have all of 2013 to top it  

Year in review (did not include my 140.6 in August)

Bike:  559.65 Mi - 60h 56m 40s 

Run:  730.24 Mi - 103h 52m 10s

Swim:  46041.65 Yd - 23h 42m 30s 

I am floored by these numbers..especially the running.  My running miles do not include Jan or Feb because I wasn't logging them back in those days.  It's amazing how quick they add up.  Can't wait to see next years numbers.  

I feel like an athlete now, and I love it!