Red Hills 2009 and An Ultra or Two

Yes, you heard correctly, "The Toughest Sprint Triathlon in Florida" runs this weekend - April 4th at 7:30 a.m. from Maclay Gardens.

And, yes you also heard correctly that The Youngest Competitor in Event History (2008) is returning to race again - faster than before! Go Colin!!!

The many returning athletes from years past in addition to the new faces and names promise to serve up an athletic competition like no other yet this year. Colin Abbey and his ATAC team mate Colby Allen are joined this year by two new youngsters: Tim Venable and Taylor Knight. Another ATACer, Patrick Shropshire, is making his Red Hills debut on the 4th. Lots of "the gang" from last year's group and the Ironman C'ouer d'Alene training group are back: David Bigoney, Mike Boll, Frances Gilbert, Emma Good, Marguerite McCauley. Robert Palmer and numerous others. New faces include Sean Hudson and Jerry Lewis along with what appear to be several families all signed up for a spring morning of fun and healthy competition.

I know it's early to be up on a Saturday morning, but think how appreciative Colin and 300+ other triathletes will be to see you along the bike route and the 5K run route cheering them on to the finish. I suggest picking a spot along Thomasville Road (on the Maclay Gardens side of the road) between Bannerman and Maclay for the safest viewing of the cycling route; maybe along Bannerman where the sidewalks are between Meridian and Thomasville. The 5K is run inside Maclay Gardens along the Overstreet Trails and it is a beautiful run.

Remember once the race starts cars won't be allowed in - not that there will be any spots left by that time. Parking at the Sunshine Credit Union and in the Fresh Market lots are strongly recommended.

Not to be forgotten are two trail runs (one of ultra distance). Since this race is usually over by 10 a.m., you will still have plenty of time to grab a snack; hop in the car; and head to Torreya State Park to see nearly all of the Draggin' Tail 25K/50K Ultra which starts at 8:30 a.m. and has at least 10 Tallahassee Runners participating including our very own Robin Adams in the 50K Ultra and in the 25K: Kay Posey, Chuck Davis, Pam Breza, Jennifer Winegardner, Brian Corbin, Kristen Baggett, Judy Alexander, Joe Brannon, and Sterling Bryant.

Hope to see you out on Saturday. Swim Fast! Ride fast and safe! Run even faster!

March Madness - Continued...

Good Morning!

The Blue Line 100 (Ride for Those Who Died - Police Unity Tour) fund raising century ride was awesome! The head winds were wicked, and the hills...well they were the Havana Hell Hills, but the ride was great. All of the soreness and fatigue that I took into the ride from the previous days' runs are gone now. Who knew that 60+ miles would work that all out. Not a bit of tightness or soreness remains. The neck is a bit stiff, but that I can live with. So, maybe if I can get out, it's back on the bike today.

More later when I have some pictures to post.

Have a great final two days in this mad, mad month we call March.

March Madness

No, I have not become obsessively compulsively addicted to viewing the Sweet Sixteen college basketball teams battle it out for the "number 1" ranking in the NCAA Tournament. I do mean not running for 31+ days in order to allow an appropriate healing and rehabilitation of feet, ankles, hamstrings, and Achilles tendons to heal after two back-to-back marathons.

I now know why I have never done this before ... it is madness! Sheer madness. If it were not for my bicycles I would be insane - Insane I tell you! I knew on February 15 that I would impose a one week mandatory "no-run" period just for the sake of allowing muscles and feet and ankles and such to rest and recover. I ran one 4 miler, slow and easy, 8 days post-Donna and discovered that indeed a longer recovery was truly necessary this time around. So, I declared to the world as I know it: "I am taking the month of March off from running." And, so hopped on the road bike 4-5 times a week and the mountain bike a few times in order to keep the fitness level boosted until I would return to pounding the pavement.

This past Thursday, 31 days into my self-imposed running moratorium, the weather promised it would not hold out long enough for me to get in my regular ride. What to do know? I am thinking to myself: March is not yet over; the Blue Line 100 ride is Sunday; I really want to rest on Saturday; and yet I can't ride today, maybe not tomorrow or Saturday... So, I say to myself, "Self, we will hit the streets a few days early, and see what we shall see. We will keep it easy and short for the first run out of recovery, and that is what we will do."

I have to tell you, the run itself was GRRRREAATTTTTT! I put in about 3 miles at a wicked good pace (8:42/miles) and felt good afterwards. Friday morning was a completely different story. Thank goodness the Achilles was not plaguing me as I was worried it might. But, can I tell you, creaky creaky. That same old left hamstring reminded me that yes siree bob it is still connected, and the quads spoke up and voiced their opinion of maybe a slightly too ambitious pace for the first time in a month. So, as I am again faced with the weather dilemma today (one day before a 100 mile ride) I ask myself: "Self, do we run a short run? Or, do we rest and ride hard tomorrow?" I will probably run short and slow to stretch out a bit, and then ready myself for the Hills of Havana Hell tomorrow. Truly, I am looking forward to tomorrow's ride. It is an anniversary of sorts - a year since my first century (The Blue Line Metric 100, March 2008). It will be an awesome morning.

I'll let you know how March finishes out. Who knows, maybe 31 days is just enough of a recovery if you do it right. ;-)

Doin' The Twist

I have a friend whose philosophy on birthdays is that everyone gets their "birthday month." Now, I have to tell you, as a die-hard proponent of the "week long birthday fest" for some years, I could very easily completely adopt her theory on celebrations. Anyway, moving on. This past Wednesday, four days AFTER her actual birthday but well within the parameters of the Birthday Month, the neighborhood "witches" and I gathered to celebrate with her.

There are only four of us neighborhood witches (The Witches of Killearn), and every time we get together I visualize a new and improved scene from the movie Practical Magic (Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock are the witches...). In the original scene the two women awake to the sound of a blender and immediately know it is time for "Midnight Margaritas!" Yes, there is a song, and a congo line and lots of laughing.

We don't make "Midnight Margaritas" but we do have a blast every time we "circle up" for fun. The other night we did in fact have Margaritas - Pink Lemonade Margaritas, YUM! - and awesome chicken enchiladas. And, of course we laughed, and danced (see the Twist below) and celebrated another year of joy, health, happiness, and friendship.

Happy Birthday! Uga Chucka!