How would you describe your running 10 years ago?

I was a brand new runner. I was 3 months into my running career with 8 road races and 1 sprint triathlon under my belt. I was constantly looking up information online on how to run, trying to find races, etc.

What is your best and worst run/race experience?
Best:

My best experience was the 2001 Richmond Marathon where I PRed (at the time) with a 4:09:03. I started off slowly and avoided the early traffic, something I use to this date. By Mile 6, I had my groove on and at Mile 17, I was excited to pass the scene of previous “Walls” for this race. I was still strong at mile 20 and realized that I might be able to PR. At Mile 22, I knew that I was going to PR, it was just a matter of how much.

Worst:

Same Race, one year later. The Richmond Marathon in 2002. By mile 14, I realized that I was going to hit the Wall. At mile 15, I hit the Wall and had to start walking much earlier than previous races (1999, 2000). I was pissed by Mile 17. I was ready to DNF when I would meet my friend Gray at Mile 19. He was going to run with me a few miles. I did a lot of walking from Miles 15-18 and became very angry at myself and just ready to call it a day. I had never wanted to quit a race before, not matter how bad I felt, even my first marathon. This was different, I hit the Wall REALLY early and I was angry. However, when I found Gray, he “forced” me to run with him and I ended up finishing, but it was pretty grueling last 7 miles.

Why do you run?

I run now because I have to, it’s much like an addiction. I have assimilated to running: If I don’t run, I feel bad. It’s part of my core and essence. Plus with just about everything in life, I can associate to my experiences with running.

What is the best or worst piece of advice you’ve been given about running?
Best:
Probably the best advice was to do different types of runs at different paces (tempo, easy, long, speed). Until you incorporate this into your running, you aren’t going to see progress in your running.

Worst:
I can’t say that I have had bad advice, either that or I have forgotten it. If something sounds decent, I might try it, and if it works great, but if it doesn’t I move on.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that not many people would know.

Bonus surprise:
Oh geez, something surprising? I think that I got most of my surprising and weird things about me covered already. And I am not sure that some people would really be surprised at some of the stuff that I do, I mean, have you read this blog?

Oh, here’s something surprising… I have used Dark and Lovely hair coloring before. (and here’s a surprising question that I found when looking for a link for those that do not know what Dark and Lovely is to begin with)

Rules of the game: I am now supposed to tag 5 more people and get them to answer the questions. I was pretty slack at getting this out, so if you are a runner and you haven’t done this yet, then considered yourself tagged.

1) As a child, when I said ‘Yes’, I always said “Yeah, that my talkin’ I like my say”

2) I thought that when I first got to Grad School that I should start drinking coffee, because all grad students did was read and drink coffee

3) I’ve never broken a bone

4) My First Beer was a warm Budweiser, My first legal beer was a St. Pauli’s Girl

5) So far, every country or place out side of the U.S. I have had the local beer/ micro brew

I’m not going to tag 5 more people but feel free to play, if you want to, so consider yourself tagged.

From Sam:THE RULES:

1. Once you are tagged, link back to the person who tagged you.

2. Post THE RULES on your blog.

3. Post 7 weird or random facts about yourself on your blog.

4. Tag 7 people and link to them.

5. Comment on their blog to let them know they have been tagged.

My Seven Weird and/or Random Facts:

1) I have a wax mold of my hand when I was 15. I immersed my hand multiple times in hot wax (ruined the pan) and have a replica of my hand some 21 years ago.

2) Had I been a girl, my name would have been Robin Lynn.

3) I have 3 college degrees.

4) My graduating High School class was 42 people. I’ve kept in contact with 2 of them (although, I would love to hear from more of them).

5) Longest I ever stayed awake consecutively was 38 hours, back in Grad School at UVa in 1994

6) I once literally caught a fish when it jumped out of the lake into our paddle boat

7) My first ever goal playing soccer happened almost 10 years after I started playing and was a result from a penalty kick

Seven People to Tag:

Leesa

Marianna

Dpeach

Dpal

Susan

Shirley

Mike with a Bike

Consider my Link to your website, your notification to play. Play if you want to… but play nice.

1. Click on this link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

The first article title on the page is the name of your band.

2. Click on this link: http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3

The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.

3. Finally, click on this link: http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/

The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

You then take the pic and add your band name and the album title to it, then post your pic:

“When people say ‘Christmas’ you immediately think…”

Time to make a Christmas Music Playlist

“Favourite Christmas memory…”

When I was younger, baking a ton of stuff with my mom

“Favourite Christmas song/carol…”

This one is hard for me because I love Christmas music. I guess that I will go with “Thanks for Christmas” by XTC. Not only is it from my favorite group, it’s a great optimistic look at the world at Christmas time.

“Favourite Christmas movie…”

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation

“Favourite Christmas character…”

The Three Wisemen. Yeah, I know, those are 3 people, but they always come in a package. They are part of Jesus’ first visitors and they brought some fine swag with them.

“Favourite Christmas ornament/object…”

In 1992, Hallmark came out with the Star Trek Enterprise ornament for Christmas. It was a HOT ornament. Retail value was around $20, but by the next year, I saw it at a Sci-Fi shop for $200. And a couple years after that it was going for $400 on eBay. Not sure what it is going right now…

“Plans for this Christmas…”

Travel to South Carolina for Christmas

“Is Christmas your favourite holiday?”

Yes, but not for candy… that’s Easter!

83%LUSH

5 Things

1. My Full Name is worth 24 points in Scrabble

2. I can eat just about anything Chocolate, except for Chocolate Gum… bleh!

3. When I am pushing The Elder in the shopping cart, I make him do sound effects when turning a corner, coming to a stop or backing up.

3.14 If you get the reference to the title of this blog, congratulations!

4. Despite being a HUGE Star Wars Fan, I haven’t seen the last movie, I guess because I don’t want the series to be truly be over in my mind.

5. I took Creative Writing (Twice) and Journalism in High school because I thought they were fun, but I ended up being a Math and Science guy because they came easier.
Here’s a Link to OTHER weird things about me.

I can’t say that I’m up to “Tag” anyone else, but if you want to do this in the privacy of your own home, then that’s fine as long as you acknowledge that you are a consenting individual and that results may vary.

Here are the rules:Each player of this game starts with the 6 weird things about you. People who get tagged need to write a blog of their own 6 weird things as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose 6 people to be tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave a comment that says “you are tagged” in their comments and tell them to read your blog. If you want to do it, you can.

1. I alternate the way that I eat a Reese’s Peanut Butter cup. Sometimes it’s the middle first, sometime the edges or sometimes a big bite.
2. I conscientiously don’t wear race t-shirts when I run races, they must be non-race related. They can be running related, just not for any specific race. The one exception is Autumnfest (Thanksgiving Day), I wear the 2000 race shirt in honor of Jen’s Grandfather (details in Episode 004 of Gravity@1053).
3. I love grapes but will not (readily) eat Raisins.
4. If I know the person on caller ID, I usually answer the phone “Yellow”
5. I typically pack more shoes on a trip than my wife.
6. I sneeze in pairs, and usually 6 or 8 times in a row. It’s better to just wait a minute to bless me after I sneeze because there are usually more on the way.

“Here are the rules; the first player of this game starts with the topic, five weird habits of yours. The people who get tagged need to write an entry about their five weird habits as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choose the next five people to be tagged and link to their web journals. Don’t forget to leave a comment in their blog or journal that says “You are tagged” (assuming they take comments) and tell them to read yours.”

But for those of you who know and interact with me will understand that I am just naturally weird all the time, but here is a shot at it:

1) I must eat my 3 Musketeer bar by eating the chocolate coating off first, then the exposed nugget.

2) If I talking with someone with an accent, I find myself speaking their accent, which I find weird and rude.

3) analyze almost everything I see by trying to figure out the physics behind why it happened the way it did

4) I recently got a huge coffee mug that says “monkey business”, I use it all the time… it gets rinsed when I remember, else it's the never ending cup of coffee.

5) This isn't weird for runners: After a long race… I will eat anything and everything. For example, that brown banana I wouldn't eat yesterday, is fair game now. Oatmeal-Raisin cookies… don't like them, but after a race… I will eat them.

As the rules states, I am supposed to Tag 5 people… so Tag your it, Tag your it, Tag your it, Tag your it and Tag your it!

You are the Chariot card. The Chariot has the
energy to succeed. Their ambition and drive
leads them into competition, and they often
come out the victor. The fast-paced energy of
the chariot is met with the ability to control
and lead. The Charioteer's leadership is not
authoritarian but rather an attempt to bring
their team to victory. The Charioteer can be
obedient to those who have proven themselves in
a position of leadership. Physical prowess and
activity are important to the meaning of this
card. Travel is found here as a journey of
personal growth. Moving from one point to
another in attempt to find a better place may
be taken both literally and as a metaphor for
the inner self. Image from: Dorothy Simpson
Krause.
http://www.dotkrause.com/art/tarot/tarot.htm

Which Tarot Card Are You?
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