Longest run ever

This weekend I had what was almost my longest run ever. I probably went at least 13.1 miles.

The only problem is I'm not completely sure. It may have been even longer.

Here's what I did. I went to visit my little brother in big brothers big sisters. I got to tell you it's a great program.

Anyway, I called my little brother's mom to tell her I'd be literally running over to pick him up and then the two of us would go for a job.

"Are you crazy?" she said. "Do you know how far away I live? You'll have a heart attack."

"No, I'm not crazy," I replied. "I know pretty much exactly how far away you live. About 5.5 miles and I ran 6 miles just last Sunday. I've run 10 miles once before and so it won't be a problem. I'll be there in about an hour."

About an hour is kind of slow I know, but I didn't want to over do it since I wanted to make sure I had enough gas in the tank to get back home.

There's a trail behind my little brother's house and so we ran to the park which is at least a little over a half a mile. What a run, my little brother lives just west of a street called Golden and the park is just east of a street called Scenic. The trail took a beautiful winding path along a creek through the woods. It's a little over a half mile running from Golden to Scenic.
Unfortunately, little bro at just 10 felt the need to stop a couple of times and say how tired he was. Fine. At the park we ran around the big lake there and then ran back.
On the way back I did some good talking at one point about how my little brother is going to be a great football player because he runs when he's tired. And when he's really tired he knows that is the time to keep going and just keep the legs moving and not stop and not stop and keep going because that's how he'll be incredibly strong and bust through tackles. And yeah. Hoo-hah.
I could have been a drill sergeant.
Anyway, it was running and walking when I was with the little bro, but it was fun and my talking helped him keep going for a while too.
Anyway, I ran all the way home and I'm just happy I made it. More speedwork comes soon.

I knew I wasn't going to have a heart attack, but I think it's time to buy some new shoes.

Why am I blogging?

Damn good question.

I don't care so much about the audience. My main audience is me.

I get to keep track a little bit of what I'm doing and where I'm going.

And I hope to go to Memphis. Right now my goal is to run and finish the St. Jude half-marathon on Dec. 3.

A little something about St. Jude. He's the patron saint of lost causes. Hopefully I'll finish well and I won't be a lost cause.

Good morning!

A few days ago, I got up to go running. It was about 6:45 in the morning when I hit the road. It was about 40 degrees out and I was aiming to go about five miles or so.

I'm trying to get back in the habit of running first thing in the morning.

I hadn't gone three blocks when a pack of beautiful college age women came running my way. They were bundled up but they were still definitely beautiful. As they got closer, I felt a little self-conscious and decided I should just look straight ahead.

Then as they started to pass me, I heard someone (maybe more than just one voice) say good morning. Doh. I didn't even really have to stare. Both the girls and I were going at such a pace that there's no way I could have stared long. I didn't have but so much breat to say good morning back, but I smiled at the second wave, a little less self-conscious.

One girl in particular smiled back and tripped on the sidewalk.
Part of the reason I prefer to run on the road.

If I'd been thinking about it, I could have concentrated on having enough breath to say, "Good morning" to everybody.
I'm still getting used to running in the cold.

this morning

This morning I went running. I didn't sleep as long as I wanted to. I didn't wake up as early as I hoped to. I didn't run as fast as I can. I didn't run as far as I can. What I did do was I got out and I ran.
I ran for about 3 miles this morning.

A few months ago, a friend of mine told me that when he was out of shape, he ran 3-5 miles everyday.

I ran about 3 miles this morning. Better than nothing.

Why do I run?

So many reasons.
I run because I can. If I don't run, I won't run. And then I won't be able to run.

Inshallah, I keep running. I will get better. I will get faster. I will get stronger. I will run longer.

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Right Lao Tzu?

I run to think.
I run to exercise.
I run to push myself.
I run to see how far I can go.