For Whom the Dogs Bark

April 28, 2024

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Location:

Cypress,TX,

Member Since:

Oct 10, 2009

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

5K: 24:22 (March 2010); 22:33 (October 2010); 20:47 (May 2011); 21:05 (May 2012); 21:33 (September 2012); 21:23 (November, 2013); 22:31 (September 2014)

5M: 39:22 (November, 2012); 35:54 (November, 2013); 36:03 (March, 2015)

10K: 44:08 (November, 2010); 49:20 (July, 2013); 44:07 (April, 2015)

12K: 56:03 (December, 2013); 58:58 (December, 2014)

10M: 1:11:58 (October, 2012); 1:15:24 (October, 2014)

Half Marathon: 1:53:xx (London's Run 2010); 2:05:21 (Cowtown 2010); 1:37:04 (Gusher 2011); 1:42:19 (Huntsville 2011); 1:33:47 (Baytown Jailbreak 2012); 1:33:50 (The Woodlands 2012); 1:42:52 (Texas 2015); 1:49:17 (Jailbreak 2015); 1:38:34 (The Woodlands 2015)

25K: 2:01:47 (Fifth Third River Bank, May 2014)

Marathon: 5:51:35 (Texas Marathon 2009); 6:21:36 (Ogden 2009); 4:58:29 (St. George 2009); 4:13:45 (Texas Marathon 2010); 4:04:12 (Utah Valley Marathon, 2010); 5:11:14 (Hartford ING, 2010); 3:41:43 (Richmond SunTrust, 2010); 3:39:27 (Texas Marathon 2011); 3:41:46 (Utah Valley Marathon, 2011); 3:30:35 (St. George 2011); 3:41:51 (Richmond 2012); 3:49:15 (Texas 2013); 3:46:59 (Paavo Nurmi, 2013); 3:34:04 (St. George 2013); 3:49:51 (Texas 2014); 3:31:59 (Richmond 2014); 3:28:34 (Boston 2015)

Short-Term Running Goals:

3:20, 1:30, 0:20

Long-Term Running Goals:

I'm 60, there is no long term.

Personal:

I live, work and run in Houston, Texas. I have run 17 marathons, some good ones and some others. I prefer straight, flat, cold, sea-level marathons, still waiting for my first one. I feel like there are more PRs out there. When I have them, I am told it is time to dial it back, run for healthy reasons. I'm sure that's right, and I'm sure it won't happen.

My wife and I are from the mountains of the west. We have five kids, three granddaughters and three grandsons. The kids and grandkids are native Texans but we are not -- you have to be born here.

As for my blog title: I run most of my miles before sunrise, sometimes hours before. On the back road of my neighborhood two hours before daylight, I can depend on a pack of mutts behind the boundary fence lighting up when they hear my footsteps. I have wondered what they wanted; but according to Hemingway I needn't ask.

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Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00

Tue, Apr 06, 2010

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Total Distance
10.76	0.00	0.00	0.00	10.76

67F, wind SSE 6 mph, cloudy and humid. Good running weather. Ran 10.76 in 1:53:42, average pace 10:35 per mile, low heart rate and flat shoes. This beat my previous low heart rate best by 17 seconds per mile. One split was 10:16. Not sure where all the "speed" came from this morning but no complaints. I am still nursing my right ITB so I haven't done any speed work yet this week.

Two years ago yesterday I started training for a marathon. I have run a lot of miles since then, but it is kind of funny to look at my first entry:

Star Date 04.05.08, Christian Saturday, GMT 13:30 and GMT 16:30 -- Day 1

The alarm went off at 6:30. Not so fast, buckaroo. I turn over to catch a few more winks. Next look at the clock shows 9:30. Time for a new alarm clock. Dang, here it is Day 1 and I didn’t answer the bell.

I roll out and start walking around. Notice that the floor is a little cold. Check the computer and it is low 50s outside. Perfect running weather. The gods are smiling. I get dressed and head out.

I need to run 4 miles this morning in order to start a fairly steep ramp-up to merge into the mileage buildup schedule. 4 miles may not sound like a lot, but it is twice any distance I have run since I was 22 years old. I am apprehensive, but the weather is perfect.

There is a stiff head wind for part of the lap, then a tailwind. (I'm running laps, get it?) At lap two, I keep going instead of turning in. Just that one little thing creates a tinge of excitement. I am doing something new. After lap three, I am still feeling OK, and I head around once more. Lap four is a little iffy toward the end, but I stumble into the front door, and I am on my way, with a big assist from that Canadian cold front. No immediate ill effects. No dizziness, queasiness, pulled muscles or blisters. No crawling on the floor trying to catch my breath. Also no welcoming committee.

The crawling on the floor, dizziness, queasiness, blisters and pulled muscles came later. But I have enjoyed perfect running weather every day since the first day.

Comments

From jasro on Tue, Apr 06, 2010 at 11:52:50 from 198.50.4.4

I love that! What made you decide to start training for a marathon?

I also like that you slept in that first day. I thought you never missed a day and never slept in. You're disciplined, but you too had your setbacks (if only on day 1). Those morning runs are tough.

Good run. You are hanging tough.

From Burt on Tue, Apr 06, 2010 at 12:14:46 from 206.19.214.144

That's awesome Mark. Nice writing.

From KP on Tue, Apr 06, 2010 at 12:17:20 from 65.208.22.25

ha! it's fun to look back at how far you've come. great post!

From flatlander on Tue, Apr 06, 2010 at 12:33:32 from 76.31.26.153

Funny you should ask. I started running about 10 years ago, in order to prevent a heart attack which I was sure was coming. I vowed at the time never to run more than two miles, because I knew it would inevitably lead to a marathon, which had to be avoided at all costs. I kept my promise for about 8 years, running about 4-8 miles a week and enjoying some significant health benefits.

Then my son ran a marathon when he was 18, went on a mission and upon his return decided to run the St. George Marathon. He wanted to know if I would run it with him. I politely declined but said I would be happy to meet him at the finish line. Then as I was running one day shortly thereafter it was so easy I started thinking that it would be cool to show up at the starting line instead of the finish line, maybe induce a heart attack in a perfectly healthy 21-year old. So I secretly registered and started running, but didn't make it to St. George that year. I ruined my back with my abysmal golf swing and it set me back several months. My first marathon was January 1, 2009 in Kingwood, Texas (5:51 if you must know) and my son was at the finish line waiting for me. The irony of that situation reversal didn't register on me until later. However, he did run St. George 2009 with me all the way to the finish line.

My heart is now completely healthy, I have lost 30 pounds, I have no blockage left in my coronary arteries and I'm in it for good, or at least until I find out what my best time is. After that I might take a few days off. I no longer golf, however. Now you're sorry you asked!

From flatlander on Tue, Apr 06, 2010 at 12:43:14 from 76.31.26.153

Thanks Burt and KP, it's a lot of fun.

From SlowJoe on Tue, Apr 06, 2010 at 13:38:23 from 131.59.200.80

Hey cool, nice story. I had that same feeling for my first 4-miler (going into uncharted territory) back in December. Glad you're keeping healthy.

From jasro on Tue, Apr 06, 2010 at 16:57:29 from 198.50.4.4

Not sorry at all. Thank you for sharing. I love to hear the "why I started running" stories.

From Mack on Tue, Apr 06, 2010 at 17:56:46 from 71.111.186.66

Wow. Its fun to look back and see how far you have come in only two years.

From baldnspicy on Wed, Apr 07, 2010 at 01:36:50 from 72.95.167.92

Incredible progress in such a short time! Glad to have you alive and well.

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