Dusting off the blog... again!

Cough, cough... it certainly is a bit dusty in here. It's been a long time since I've posted. I considered moving my personal blog over to Tumblr, but I've got over six years invested in the baby and it was hard to let go. Each November, I make an attempt to blog here every day of the month- note keyword "attempt". I think there was one month where I went all the way. Some day's I'll post a few words, and others maybe a picture or two, but we'll see how long I can take it this time.

Today is November 1st, so here is post number one to get things started. I'll see what sort of adventures I'll get into. If you're still here, thanks for sticking around!

Climbing!

Climbing!
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

She never fails to impress but I think she wants to go higher!-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Ragnar Start line waving of runner #1- Karen!

Ragnar Start line waving of runner #1- Karen!
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Ragnar Relay Ready!

Well, the time has come. I'm one day away from joining 11 other amazing runners to take on the Madison to Chicago relay Friday through Saturday. We leave for Madison, WI. around 6:30 a.m. Friday for our 10 a.m. start. Two vans, 6 runners each, no sleep, tons running, and lots of fun awaits us! It looks like we'll be challenged with some rain in the forecast, but the race goes on rain or shine unless really threatening weather comes up. In that case, they'll postpone it and then continue when it's safe to do so.

I'm feeling pretty good today. The nagging IT band on the right side of my leg has been really sore since the weekend- more than usual. I've been doing a lot of resting and stretching this week with lots of one on one with the foam roller. I haven't done any running in fear of aggravating it further, so keeping it loose with all the stretching has been vital. We'll see how much it complains during the relay. Either way, I'll be taking a couple of weeks off when I'm done before beginning my Chicago Marathon training later this month.

Just like last year, I'll be providing updates on our progress via Twitter, Facebook, and here whenever possible. So make sure to check back!

Here is a photo gallery from last year's race and a video of our finish!

Wish me luck!

Splish Splash I Need A Bath!

I'm resting up as I write this after running a decent 13 mile run on Saturday. This comes after a 3 miler Friday afternoon, with a decent four hour "nap" in between. This is sort of a carbon copy of last weekend, except I had an official 13 mile half marathon to run on Sunday- the Splish Splash half-marathon at Keylime Cove in Gurnee. That race wasn't my best performance, finishing in an unofficial 2:06- that's about 13 minutes beyond my personal best in the half at 01:53. It got dang hot! But it was more of a practice run for the Ragnar Relay coming up here in a couple of weeks.

I hadn't run a race that big since the Chicago Marathon back in October. Plus, how could I miss running a half marathon in Gurnee of all places! I can now admit to being partly responsible to holding up traffic on busy Grand near Gurnee Mills. And I got to run through Great America and UNDER the American Eagle. How cool is that? It was the inaugural running of this race and I think a first for Gurnee. It was a really nice experience despite the rather slim spectator turnout. I hope it becomes an annual thing and more people turn out. The post-race buffet at Keylime Cove was really awesome. There was a HUGE spread of all kinds of goodness, and a band to boot. Applause to Splish Splash for a job well done.

The Ragnar Relay is in a couple of weeks, so my training has been focused on that. I have a string of double digit long runs planned, including 13.1 last weekend, 13 this weekend, and and another 10 next Saturday. Even though I only have a total of 19 miles to do over three legs, it still feels good to finally be hitting big mileage.

More photos from the race can be found here.

I can't wait for this thing to begin!

Splish Splash Half Marathon packet pickup, Keylime Cove, Gurnee

Splish Splash Half Marathon packet pickup, Keylime Cove, Gurnee
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Madison to Chicago Here I Come!

Well, in less than 30 days I'll once again be running the Madison to Chicago relay on June 10th and 11th. Its been something I've been looking forward to all winter. Almost 30 hours of non-stop running with a team of 12 and two support vans between us, hopscotching between two states to make it to the finish line in Chicago. We start at 10 a.m. on Friday and finish some time in the afternoon on Saturday.

Last year, I ran three legs for a total of 12 miles or so, and got maybe 20 minutes of pure sleep over two days curled up in the front seat of an SUV somewhere on a lakefront near Kenosha. Some of the team in the van I was riding in tried to sleep on the beach before a fearce north wind came through to stir us all awake. I met 11 of the coolest runners you'll ever run into, and it was a joy teaming up with them last year. We lost a couple of that same crew for this years run, and they will be sorely missed, but we still managed to fill the 12 person team just as well this time.

We are ready to roll.

My training over the winter was pretty scattered and light. I absolutely hate running on the treadmill because it seems I can't stay uninjured running through the winter months on it. One year it was the left knee, the next the right knee, a hip flexor, and an IT band the year after that. This time around I did no more that two or three miles at a time on it, and came out mostly unscathed. I am still fighting that IT band on my right leg, but targeted stretching has helped it a lot. I am mostly healthy, thank God.

So here I go again. I'll be blogging throughout the relay here, on Twitter, and Facebook along with the usual random post.

Thanks, friends, for sticking around. I'm still alive and healthy.

Oh, and Katie says hi :)

Annoyances:

Annoyances:
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

I HATE it when I break the pocket clips off of my pens.-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Supplying the world with copper

Supplying the world with copper
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Test from Blogsy

One annoying thing about this blog is its ability to post while mobile. I can put up a post using my phone, but it's a bit annoying to type an entire post out using my phone (via email that is). This little post here was put up using Blogsy for the iPad- one of many blog posting apps I've used via my phone (or iPad) that does involve tiny, little email messages.

I wonder If I can post a picture:

Hey, that wasn't too bad. I can even resize the photo and everything. By the way, that's a photo from the start line of the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle that I ran last weekend. Neat, huh?

How about a link to the techie blog I write for?

Niiice.

I like it!

Ready for the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8K. First race of '11!

Ready for the Chicago Shamrock Shuffle 8K. First race of '11!
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

-- Sent from my Palm Pre on Verizon Wireless

Coca-Cola Thursday's

Coca-Cola Thursday's
Originally uploaded by automatic_man2

Can I say that I love Thursday's?

Ever since I started training for my first Chicago Marathon back in 2007, I made a promise to quit drinking Coke. I loved it. I drank it almost every day. Not only is it unhealthy, but it was doing a number on my teeth (so says my dentist).

Fast forward to now, I still keep that commitment- except for Thursday's.

I drink it once a week with my lunch and/or dinner on Thursday's just to have that taste again. I maybe drink half the can, but it still tastes oh so good.

The water bottle behind it has been my constant companion since quitting.

Better for me I'm sure.