Men are Happier (not running related)

SOME DAYS ARE DIAMONDS...SOME DAYS ARE STONES.. 
WHY MEN ARE SELDOM DEPRESSED: 
Men Are Just Happier People -- 
What do you expect from such simple creatures? 
Your last name stays put.. 
The garage is all yours. 
Wedding plans take care of themselves. 
Chocolate is just another snack. 
You can be President. 
You can never be pregnant. 
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park. 
You can wear NO shirt to a water park. 
Car mechanics tell you the truth. 
The world is your urinal.. 
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom 
because this one is just too icky. 
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt. 
Same work, more pay. 
Wrinkles add character. 
Wedding dress $5000. Tux rental-$100. 
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them. 
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet. 
One mood all the time. 
Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat. 
You know stuff about tanks. 
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase. 
You can open all your own jars. 
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. 
If someone forgets to invite you, 
He or she can still be your friend. 
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack. 
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.. 
You almost never have strap problems in public. 
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.. 
Everything on your face stays its original color.. 
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades. 
You only have to shave your face and neck. 
You can play with toys all your life. 
One wallet and one pair of 
shoes -- one color for all seasons. 
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.. 
You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife. 
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache. 
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives 
On December 24 in 25 minutes. 
No wonder men are happier. 
Send this to the women who can handle it 
And to the men who will enjoy reading it. 
Men Are Just Happier People 
NICKNAMES 
· If Sheila, Candy and Sarah go out for lunch, they will call each other Sheila, Candy and Sarah. 
· If Mike, Dave and John go out, they will affectionately refer to each other as Fat Boy, Bubba and Wildman . 
EATING OUT 
· When the bill arrives, Mike, Dave and John will each throw in $20, even though it's only for $32.50. None of them will have anything smaller and none will actually admit they want change back.. 
· When the girls get their bill, out come the pocket calculators. 
MONEY 
· A man will pay $2 for a $1 item he needs. 
· A woman will pay $1 for a $2 item that she doesn't need but it's on sale. 
BATHROOMS 
· A man has six items in his bathroom: toothbrush and toothpaste, shaving cream, razor, a bar of soap, and a towel. 
· The average number of items in the typical woman's bathroom is 337. A man would not be able to identify more than 20 of these items. 
ARGUMENTS 
· A woman has the last word in any argument. 
· Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument. 
FUTURE 
· A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. 
· A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife. 
MARRIAGE 
· A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't. 
· A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, but she does. 
DRESSING UP 
· A woman will dress up to go shopping, water the plants, empty the trash, answer the phone, read a book, and get the mail. 
· A man will dress up for weddings and funerals. 
NATURAL 
· Men wake up as good-looking as they went to bed.. 
· Women somehow deteriorate during the night. 
OFFSPRING 
· Ah, children. A woman knows all about her children. She knows about dentist appointments and romances, best friends, favorite foods, secret fears and hopes and dreams. 
· A man is vaguely aware of some short people living in the house.. 
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 
A married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing! 
SO, send this to the women who have a sense of humor and who can handle it .... and to the men who will enjoy reading it..

Guest Blog Post

I was asked by my Dailymile, Facebook, and Google + friend Jennifer Luitwieler to do a guest article for her blog about "Why I Run".  I hesitated at first, but then thought why not.  I have a pretty decent story.  For your reading pleasure, here is the original article.

Why I Run

Jennifer asked me to share with you all why I run.  Though we’ve never actually met, Jennifer and I ‘friends’ on Dailymile and Google + and now Facebook.   I enjoy following her posts on DM and reading her writings.

Unlike many people I see posting on Dailymile, this whole thing called running was foreign to me.  I was never an athlete before running.  As a youth, I grew up on a farm and sports weren’t something I had the pleasure of pursuing.   I remember one year trying to go out for track.  I participated in shot-put and discus.  I eventually had to quite as my only transportation was my horse.  Yes, you heard correctly, my horse.

Anyway, how did running come into my life?  In order to tell you, I have to give you some background.  I was in the Air Force for 22 years.  I remember once back in the late 70s trying to take up running as a fitness routine.  It didn’t ‘take’.  I was able to run/walk my annual fitness 1.5 mile test every year and that was it.  Back in 2006, I was surprised by an early Christmas present.  On Dec 14^th, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.  At 49 years old, I was devastated.  After sitting down with my family and considering all my options, I finally settled on a complete prostatectomy.  At my fairly young age, it seems like the only logical option.  On July 16^th (yes, 6 months later), I underwent the procedure.   

Now how does that relate to running?  Well, during my lengthy recover time, I put on a considerable amount of weight.  In fact, I ballooned up to 250lbs.  Considering I should weigh around 190lbs, I was extremely overweight; however, I was limited in what I could do.  My body had to heal.  The prostatectomy is a pretty invasive procedure.  I won’t get into everything, but let’s just say there were things that had to get better before I could strain or exert myself in a number of ways.  In January of 2009, a year and a half post surgery, I decided to test the body.  I went to a gym and asked if I could try things out.  If my body cooperated, I’d join.  Well it did, so I joined.   I was 50 years old!

After a month of going to the gym, my son approached me about running with him.  He had played freshman football in the fall and wanted to stay in shape.  I was starting to feel good about myself and thought why not.  Why not give this thing called running a shot.  The next morning, we got up at 5am.  We did our stretching and then headed out.  I no sooner got around the corner and I had to stop.  Seriously, I couldn’t make it around the corner to my neighbor’s house without having to stop?  Anyway, I keep going and probably stopped 3 or 4 more times before finally stopping back at the house.  How far was my first run?  One mile!  Yep, one whole mile! 

We did this a few more times that week until my son’s football coach told him he was an offensive player and he didn’t want him running.  Well, there went my running partner.  By then, however, I was beginning to think to myself that I could do this thing called running.  For the next couple weeks, I continued to run this one mile.  I was very determined.   In fact, during this time, my work started a “Fitness Challenge” and I decided to join up.

I kept up the running and before long I was able to run the whole mile without stopping.  Before I knew it, I was venturing out to other streets.  I remember at one point, my knees really started to bother me.  I wondered whether I was going to be able to continue.  I was really getting into this running thing and I seriously didn’t want to stop.  So what did I do?  Well duh, I prayed!  Yep, I prayed to the Lord to let me continue running.  And He did! Before I knew it, I was able to remove all those silly braces I was wearing.  I even went out and had my gait analyzed and bought a good pair of running shoes.  I was slowly becoming a runner. 

Over the next few months my running continued to progress.  When the end of the school came in late May, I was lucky enough to win the “Fitness Challenge”.  I had gone from 250lbs down to 203lbs!  At that point, I was probably running around 15 to 20 miles a week.  I was officially addicted.  I remember being at a restaurant one night with my wife and her looking at me and saying “you’re thinking about running aren’t you?”  I asked how she knew and she said my body wouldn’t stop moving.  At that point I knew I WAS a runner! 

The only thing missing by this time was running a race.  I don’t remember who it was that suggested I run a 5K, but in Oct 09 I signed up for and ran my first 5K race.  Like they say, the rest is history.  I have run almost 100 different distance races since then.  I have my first full marathon scheduled for Sep 2012. 

Why do I run?  I run to be healthy, I run to be fit, I run because I can!  I AM a runner!

Fat Burning Workouts

What is better: cardio, resistance, or cardio with resistance?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ben-greenfield/fat-burning_b_1154259.html?ref=health-and-fitness&ir=Health%20and%20Fitness

Running Terms Made Sexier?

This a good read.

http://www.runaddicts.net/start-to-run/nerdy-running-terms-made-sexier

Thanks to my DM friend Jason for posting this on his blog.

Pace Calculator

Runner's World simple pace calculator.

http://www.runnersworld.com/cda/pacecalculator/0,7823,s6-238-277-398-0,00.html

Heart Rate

It is important to keep tabs on your heart rate, however, in order to do that, you need to some baseline information. There are many websites that can help you determine that.  I found this one and thought it had the basics.

http://www.cchs.net/health/health-info/docs/0900/0984.asp?index=5508

Make it to the Line Recap

Best Race Shirt Ever!

I look forward to this race every year. You never quite know what the weather will end up bring on race day.  I had been watching the weatherman the last few days and it looked like it had a chance of being a nice day.  There was a 20% chance of rain though.

This race has a start time of 10AM.  Something I appreciate since I live about an hour away from the race.  Got up early and headed out to be there around 8:30.  As you know if you read my race reports, you know I like being to my races early.  Anyway, it was a bit overcast when I headed out.  In fact, I think I noticed a little bit of sprinkling, but as anyone who lives in Florida near the beaches knows, the weather in one place has little effect on the weather in another.  It was a bit chilly, but the weather ended up being perfect for morning run.  The sun even came up right at start time.

Me, Kelly, Griffin, Patrick, and Teresa

We had a Dailymile meet-up at the race too.  I got to meet Kelly M. and Griffin P. for the first time.  Both great people.  I just love my DM friends.  Also made 3 new running friends.  Patrick Willi and his wife Teresa Hess and Anna Hallex.  Patrick and Teresa are both PRA members and in our Grand Prix (which I run).  Anna, I come to find out is one of the areas best runners.  I though I had heard that name before.  I hope to have all 3 of them on DM pretty soon.

2nd AG

Anyway, on with the race.  I knew as soon as I got up, that my hamstring was, or could be, a problem. That really bummed me out since I usually do well at this race.  1st in AG the past 2 years.  I didn't feel real confident that I was going to be able to "run".  I even told Kelly that I would hang back with her and run at her pace.  The race got off without any problems.  I was hanging back with Kelly.  Now I had skipped my usual warm-up run because of the sore hammy, so essentially, this was the first test of the leg. To my surprise, it wasn't bothering me much at all.  I stayed back at a slow pace for about 3 or 4 minutes, but then found myself slowing picking up the pace and passing people.  I say Patrick and Teresa up ahead and set my sights on them.  By the time I reached them, I was feeling fine.  I pushed on past them and settled into a pace around 7:50.  I continued to pass runner after runner until around the 2 1/2 mile point were I came up on a young lady I had been trying to catch.  She was beginning to struggle a bit so I told her to press on.  She stayed with me until about 3 1/4 miles and then dropped back.  There was one more person in front that I wanted to catch, but by then my legs were tired and I was starting to 'feel' the hamstring.  It wasn't bad, but it prevented me from pushing hard to the finish.  I ended up about 40 seconds behind the guy with a finishing time of 31:35.  About a minute slower then last year.  Considering I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to run, I was elated.  The time resulted in 3rd in my age group, but 2nd for awards since the first guy won the Grand Master award.  Not too bad!

The DM crew and our new friends Patrick and Teresa hung out for the awards and we were fortunate that 3 of us were able to place.  I have to say, this ended up being one of my best race experiences ever.  Funny how the company can change how you feel! Thanks guys!!!

Kelly and I

Well my friends, as always, remember, "Real athletes run!  All others just play games!"

Stretching

Here is a great link regarding stretching!

http://wpblogs.runningtimes.com/blogs/performancepodcasts/2011/08/active-isolated-flexibility-with-phil-wharton/

I tried some of these and they really worked.

PRA Cross Country Trail Run Recap

I could do an entire blog just on my job these past few months!  My goodness!  The life of a school technology coordinator!

Anyway, I'm here and I want to talk briefly about my last race.  The PRA (Pensacola Runners Association) Cross Country Train Run put on by the University of West Florida Cross Country team.  For me, this is the first trail race of the season.  One of my favorite races.  As with most trail races, at least around here, there aren't many people that run this race.  Usually around 50 runners.  This time was no different.

It was a brisk morning with the temps somewhere in the mid to high 40s.  Perfect for a run actually.  Did my usual mile warm and then waited patiently for the race to start.  I thought I noticed more 'little' people then usual (kids) for this race, so I wanted to be sure to get up front.  I don't usually take off like a rocket, so I had to be sure to get some distance between me and the kids.  If you have ever run with young kids, you know why!

The race starts in a small field and then heads up into the woods after about 75 to 90 yards.  I managed to get in front of most of the kids, but not all.  Once we got in the woods, I found myself behind a young boy and his mom.  Lisa F. (from Dailymile and a local friend of mine) was in front of me and the son and mom in front of her.   Our pace was slowed way down.  I didn't check my Garmin because on a trail run, you want to keep your eyes on the trail.  Nothing worse then taking a tumble on a trail run (which btw, I have done a few times).  At one point, Lisa managed to dart past them.  The path narrowed quickly, so there wasn't time for me to get past them as well.  I had to wait a minute or two more before the path opened up enough for me to get past.  Once pace them, I settled into a pretty good pace.  This course is a steady up hill for 3/4 of a mile.  Then you get a nice steep downhill that goes past the original point of entry.  We then loop back up the hill for the second loop.  The second loop is longer and has a pretty steep uphill.  By the time I reached this point, I was plum tired!  Legs were definitely burning.  I have to admit, I slowed to a walk a couple of times going up the last big climb.  The nice thing about that last hill is that you get to go down.  I relished the downhill.  It gave me a chance to make up some of the time I lost on the uphill.  I got to the original point of entry and then there was another 100 yards to the finish.  I pushed myself as best I could on some worn out legs.  I crossed the finish line at at time of 25:13.  Not too bad.  You never know how it is going to go on a trail run.  Some say you can usually expect a minute or more slower time on a trial then on a road race.  My time would indicate that is true.

The after party was nice.  The UWF cross country team does a great job with the help of the PRA.  It was a good time spent socializing with the local runners and meeting new people.  I actually got to know the mom and her son that were in front of me at the start pretty well.  She is one of the leaders in our Grand Prix series which I manage.  Her and I are now friends on Facebook.  That is one of the things I love about running, the people.  I am constantly meeting new runners and making new friends.

Me and a pretty girl! 

Anyway, I digress.  The awards were wonderful as always.  I wasn't sure how my time would fair.  I didn't notice who was in my age group and on a trail run, it's hard to see who is in front of you.  Lisa ended up taking Grand Master, my new friend Angela took 1st in her AG and her son took 2nd.  Numerous other friends did well in their age groups also.  Me, well, I ended up taking 3rd in my AG.  No idea who the guy was the took first, but the guy that took 2nd is one of my major challengers.

All in all, another fun,successful race!  As always my friends, remember, "Real athletes run, all others just play games"!

Pensacola Beach Jingle Bell Run for Arthritis - 28 Nov

One of my favorite races of the year.  One that is very special to me.  As a sufferer of 2 arthritic conditions, I appreciate all the the Arthritis Foundation does.  This is also my first 10K of the racing season.  There have been years where the weather was a bear for this race.  Not this year.  The weather was about perfect.  Perfect for the beach anyway.  If you have read my race reports before, you know that the wind on these beach runs can be brutal.  It might not have been brutal this year, but the winds were pretty strong still.

The race got off on time at 7:30.  Since this was a 10K, I wanted to keep my pace around an 8 min mile.  I managed to keep this going until about the the 5th mile.  The winds had kicked my butt!  I usually don't stop on a 10K, but I did on this one.  And not once, but twice.  This ended up being one of my worse 10K ever. The worst one in a couple of years for sure.  I'm sure it didn't help that I had just ran a hard 5K only 2 days earlier.  Anyway, I finished at 53:25.  Good enough for 3rd place in my age group.  That was a complete surprise.  However, I was benefited by 2 of the runners in my age group winning the Master and Grand Master awards.  Hey, I'll take it!  LOL

Pensacola Beach Turkey Trot Recap - 26 Nov

My first #1 Race!

Nothing better then to run a race Thanksgiving morning.  Good way to pre-burn some calories.  This was the first ever beach Turkey Trot.  They were rasing funds for "Communities Caring for Christmas".  Participants were also asked to bring one new toy for "Toys for Tots". Both very good causes!

Marianne C from Dailymile

I also got to meet another local Dailymile member.  Marianne C. stopped by to congratulate all the runners she knew that were running the race.

Interesting note.  There is another Turkey Trot at Seville, downtown Pensacola. I heard rumor that some attorney was upset with this group for naming their race a turkey trot.  I say whatever, this area is big enough for two turkey trots.  Even more so considering this one was actually on Thanksgiving day and at a totaly different location.  That said, let's get to the race.

The race had a late start time of 8:30 which I appreciated.  I was glad not to have to get up too early on Thanksgiving morning.  Since this was a first time ever run for this group, I was curious to see how things would go.

First off, they only expected about 50 to 75 runners.  By race start time, they had closer to 300.  That should tell you right there how things might go.  They had no official time keepers and that usually means trouble. The race off on time.  They have lots of races at the beach and they used one of the usual routes.  They only problem was they started at the wrong place and ended up making the route a tad short.  Not a really biggie.

The weather was really nice, except we had a pretty strong wind East/South wind.  It had to be gusting over 20 MPH at times.  There were times when it felt like I wasn't even moving.  Pretty normal actually for the beach.  Seems every race they have there, the wind is killer.

Wind and all, I finished with a pretty good time of 24:01. Not a PR, but a dang good pace nonetheless.  Here's where the part about being a first time race comes into play.  After hanging out and congratulating many of the finishers as I always do, I made my way to where the awards were taking place.  I walked over to the table and noticed there were not many awards there.  Come to find out, they had the age groups set at 10 year intervals and not 5.  I hate that!  And, and here's the kicker, they were only awarding awards to the winner of each age group and not the top 3.  And yes, there is more. They stopped at 50 and awarded a winner in a 50+ age group.  Needless to say, I was pissed.  Why diss on the old people you know?  Oh and they didn't have a Master, Grand Master, or Senior Grand Master award either.  What really made me mad was that I ran a fast race and would have done pretty good in my age group had it been a 'normal' race.  Oh well, maybe they'll do better next time if they do it again.  If they make some changes, I'll be there with bells on.

The turkey after I told him he was going in the over!

Oh, I forgot to mention that I got a picture with the turkey too.  Yeah I know he looks more like a chicken, but hey, what can you say, he tried.

As always my friends, remember, "Real athletes run, all others just play games!"