FALLING FOR YOU

Sometimes, it’s the simple things in life that make you happy or motivate you.  As silly as this may seem, getting a new running shirt or a new running belt can get you “jacked” for your next run.

I had just received an early Father’s Day gift from Glenda…a Garmin Forerunner 305 running watch.  Among some of the features of this watch include reading a satellite as you run, monitoring your heart rate, and allowing you to run with a virtual partner (which is good if you’re a “lone wolf” like me).  When you are finished, you can upload your data to your computer, Garmin’s website and/or dailymile.  This allows you to share your routes with other people, and helps you keep better track of your training.

I already have a Garmin Forerunner 201 running watch, which is the equivalent of the Zack Morris cell phone.  It can’t upload your data because it’s so “old school,” but it serves my purposes nevertheless.  Lately, it’s been acting squirrely, and I wanted to replace it before it totally freaks out on me.

I decided to christen the watch this past Wednesday night.  I was about one mile into my run, and decided to take a brief moment to admire my new prized possession.  Then...out of nowhere...FUMBLE ALABAMA!!! I was doing the tango with the pavement. After a quick blood transfusion, I was back on my feet running strong. In all the years I've been running, this is only the third time I’ve gone rumbling, bumbling & stumbling.  Coincidentally, that is the same number of times I watched Pam fall during the Croom 50K last year.

Just sayin'.

P.S. No watches were harmed during the making of this blog.

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON

 

GUMBO LIMBO GREEN TURTLE GALLOP 10K - 4/3/2011

I know what you all are thinking.  A 10K???  REALLY???  REALLY???

I hadn’t entered a race since the marathon in Gainesville this past February.  Now that my foot was completely healed, I was “jonzing” for a race with some sustenance.  With spring now sprung, warmer temperatures usually produce shorter races.  There is a half marathon in Pensacola I could have entered (Pam & Jen signed up for this race), but that’s quite a schlep…even for me.  There was a half marathon in Port St. Lucie last weekend, but the course didn’t look that appealing, considering I would have to drive about two hours to get there.  My next best option would be to enter a 10K.

The Gumbo Limbo Green Turtle Gallop took place at Spanish River Park in Boca Raton.  I have run this course many times before, and I enjoy it very much.  The race begins right in front of the park on A1A.  After about two miles, you run into a residential neighborhood with old houses that are worth in the upwards of a million dollars.  You circle through, back out onto A1A, and finish out doing a lap in the park.

As I entered this race into my dailymile calendar, I noticed that a few other runners using this social media site had entered as well.  I extended a friend invitation to some of them, and we agreed to look for each other during the race.  I was excited about the prospect of actually bonding with someone at a race not named Pam, Jen or Elaine.

I did a 12.6 mile run the day before, and was pretty tired when I woke up at 4:45 on race day.  There were 602 entrants in the race, which is a very nice crowd for an event now in its second year.  I started out pretty quick (for me at least), but I got very tired two miles into the run.  I was able to suck it up and finish strong, but not really the time I was hoping for.

After the race was over, I spotted my new running buddies Elizabeth, Damaris and Michelle.  We spoke for a while, and they all told me they enjoyed the award winning documentary “I Am a Runner,” which is currently playing on my dailymile page.  It also turns out that Michelle works at FIU with me, and I went over to speak to her today.  We made tentative plans to run on Wednesday night with the Gold Coast Runners Club.

Look at me being sociable…Pam would be so proud.

KEEP TRACK OF MY RUNNING ON