a work in progress

I decided to change up my blog again this year and go back to my original title. I am also trying a slightly different look, but the upgraded blog template has limits and I've lost some of my "stuff". I'll figure it all out eventually.

2009 Races... hmm... I am going to say I plan to run all the DINO trail runs this year, but I am not sure that will happen. Already I am thinking of a spring half mary - I found one here locally at the end of March, so with my base miles, should be no problem to train (emphasis on should). In May I plan on running the Dances With Dirt trail run relay again as well as run the Geist Half. July I would like to run the 42k Relay I ran a couple of years ago - this time maybe with just one other person so we both end up running a half. Not much from that point on. I haven't decided on full or half for the fall yet - either way it will be the perennial favorite - the Indianapolis Full & Half in October. Then this year I'd like to run the half marathon that is run through downtown Indianapolis in November, finishing up with the season finale trail run at Fort Harrison.... unless I run the Tecumseh Trail Marathon in December...

I'll get my race calendar updated as soon as I can, but these are my thoughts. My running will need to get much more consistent - something I have not been in the last three weeks. I did get runs in both Saturday and Sunday though.

So that's it for now - everything is a work in progress. Until next time, Happy Running...

Coffee Snob

I am a coffee snob.

Okay. I've said it. I never really thought of myself as such, but it occurred to me yesterday when I ordered a coffee from Starbucks and thought it tasted awful. I've had coffee from there before, but in comparison to the coffee I have recently been drinking it sucks.

Back in 2005 Steph and I went to Key West. I'm a big Jimmy Buffett fan, so I was excited to go. I did a little research of things to do and found a coffee roaster down there, so made it a point to visit. I was not disappointed in the least. The coffee was exquisite. They roast in small batches and can control the roasting process much better than say a Starbucks that roasts mass quantities. The coffee is so smooth and wonderful I can't say enough about it. The name of the place is Baby's Coffee - "the southernmost coffee roaster in America"

Anyway, getting back to my point (I had a point?) - Since that trip, every Christmas I've gotten coffee from there as a present from Steph. Each year I get one more pound of coffee - to try to get me through the year (which it never does). I suppose I could order my own, but it wouldn't be as special, but then half the year I am stuck with some mediocre coffee that gets me through somehow.

So for now, I am enjoying every last drop of coffee. Sometimes its the little things that mean the most...

2008

It was definitely a different year for me. My running tended to take the back burner and being a dad was what it was about. Finding balance was the key, and at times I fell short. My mileage for the year is probably at the lowest since I took up running a mere 8 years ago, but I still feel pretty good about what I accomplished - and I had fun along the way. My running began a little differently this year - I had to start a bit from scratch as I was focusing on being a dad (I was very new to this still). I couldn't get a running routine started in the mornings as I was on bottle duty, so it was lunch time runs on a treadmill. This seemed to work out pretty good, though it left me very tired by the end of the week, and it was easy to sacrifice a workout because of work. In February I ended up with a back injury that kept me out for a couple of weeks, but then it was back to a routine. I ran the first two DINO trail races of the year, the first being very cold and snowy, the second just brutal with the stairs and hills that I just was not prepared for. April was the final month of training for Dances With Dirt. I got some good trial runs in, but nothing that truly prepared me for what I was to face. In May, it was game on. Dances with Dirt was crazy - it was quite the experience and challenge. Needless to say, I finished with a respectable effort and did not get injured. The following weekend I ran the inaugural Geist Half Marathon. A great race and definitely one I'll be doing again. June didn't have much running going on, but then in July training started for a half marathon in the fall - there was no way I could find time to train for a full marathon this year... In July Lilli and I went for our first run together. Just a quick 3 mile run through the neighborhood, but she enjoyed it a lot. We found time for a few more runs together throughout the summer - when her scheduled allowed. Makes me look forward to this coming summer now... September found me another year older, but having some good runs - especially as I was nearing my fall half marathon. I was hoping to set a PR this year in it, but the course and my training didn't allow it. I kept running a few days a week as I could get them in since the half marathon. I even ran a couple of trail runs, but still no PR's for me. I guess you could say this was a rebuilding year. I am now taking stock in my running and deciding what races I will run and what goals I want to have. Will there be a marathon this year? I hope so, but who knows. I do know that I would really like to focus on running all the trail runs this year in the DINO series. How about Dances with Dirt again? Hmmm... maybe. I even thought about a possibility in doing the Pikes Peak Ascent. But it's all just random thoughts. That's all I have for now. See you next year...

The Fast and the Furious

This holiday season has come at me way too fast this year. Normally I am done or very close to being done with my shopping, but this year? Lot's to do... here's just a very brief update...

As it is, we just got the Christmas Tree up this week - actually got it up on Sunday, but did not get it decorated until Tuesday... I still don't have lights up outside!

My aunt, uncle and grandmother came into town on Wednesday to see Lillian and us. It was a short visit, but very nice. We hadn't seen them in a couple of years and they had never seen Lilli in person, so it was a special visit. We had hoped to get out to Ohio to see them this summer, but timing never worked out.

Today we are planning on running errands, then I plan on just running. Later we are going to Christmas at the zoo! I can't wait!

As for running, it is still sporadic, but work and the holidays keep me guessing on my schedule. Our anniversary is just around the corner - Thursday the 18th (#9). Next weekend is Steph's family Christmas party, and then it is Christmas. We are still not sure of our exact plans - as always we have to schedule our time around Stephanie's sister. Our house is now the host house as it was for Thanksgiving since Steph's parents have moved to Arizona. It should be nice to not have to travel as much as we had in the past.

That's all for now. Next up... a year in review? Until then Happy Running and Happy Holidays!

10 Things That Make Me Happy

I've been tagged!!

My good friend Brooke tagged me, so I'll play along... this will be easy.

10 things that make me happy (in random order) :

1. Having Lilli smile at me - a big toothy one.

2. Getting a kiss from Lilli - usually a slobbery one.

3. Playing with Lilli

4. Relaxing in pajamas with Steph and Lilli on a Sunday morning

5. A clean car - inside and out

6. Listening to music

7. Running with Lilli in her jog stroller

8. Running - anywhere, any time

9. A clean house

10. Vacations