Cloud 9 part 2, and 25 or 6 to 4 other things of interest

Sometimes I feel like my life is all about numbers. My running right now is going well, but I feel like I live for the old mileage chart. I love adding up the new miles on the way to my upcoming race and raising the number on the counter at the bottom of this page. I am obsessed with knowing how many miles it is around the neighborhood. I have 3 different 3 mile loops. I've got a mile, a 1.5 mile, a 4 mile, and a 7 mile loop. But what I did not have was an accurate measurement before last weeks 9 mile run. As it turns out, each of my 3 mile loops was actually 3.4 miles. So, after 3 loops I racked up 10.2 miles, not 9. I was very happy about this revelation. For starters, that's an extra mile I get to add to my tally. Second, It means I was running a faster pace than I thought, About 12:30 per mile as to 14:00(roughly). Third, I actually did ten miles. That gave me extra confidence going into this mornings run.

I got up at 5:50 AM and was out the door by 6:20. The first bands of tropical storm Fay arrived early this morning so it was sprinkling when I started. It sprinkled the entire duration going between a light drizzle a moderate rain. Luckily, there was no lightning. I don't really mind running in the rain as long as I don't have to worry about being fried by 1.21 jigawatts of electricity. The rain actually helped keep me cool and there was a bit of a breeze, because of the tropical storm, remember. I made it through 9 miles today in 1 hour and 58 minutes. My goal was to do it in less than 2 hours. Thus, today I am the greatest runner ever on the south side of my street between the stop sign and the house with the LSU flag and the little white ceramic bunny in the yard.

A FEW OTHER POINTS
1. My new job is going great. I am teaching civics. I have 3 classes of all freshman and 2 classes that are a mixture of repeaters and transfers(ranging from grades 9-12). For the most part, I really like the kids. There are probably only one or two kids that I see any "major" potential problems with. The administration is great. That have been totally supportive and are always offering to help, I just haven't found anything for them to help with yet. Finally, the faculty is awesome. The other teachers have been super friendly and have been very helpful. I gotta give mad props to the crew of newbies, we all hit it off really well and that has made the transition to this school easier for us all.

2. K-love starts school tomorrow at big ole' state U. She is excited and I am excited for her. I am even considering wearing the State U. shirt that has been sitting in the bottom of my closet for the past year as a show of solidarity. I have given up saying bad things about the school, but I haven't quite begun saying good things yet.

3. I am sad that the Olympics are over. I look forward to them for 4 years then they come and go so quickly. One good thing about them being finished is that I won't have to see Michael Phelps face for a while. Damn endorsements, he'll still be all over my TV for at least the next six months. Good bye baseball and softball. I am sad to see you go. I don't know who you pissed off to get kicked out but the least you could have done is take syncrhonized swimming and diving with you. I also think they should combine judo, karate, and taekwondo with fencing and the shooting event to create a new "ninja skills" category. That would be awesome, but I imagine it would also be hard to see what was happening given that they are NINJAS!!!!!



Cloud 9- a wonderful song by R&B legends the Temptations
25 or 6 to 4- Hard grooving track by the group Chicago, with some tight horn parts. Very akin to songs like "Spinning Wheel" and "Vehicle". But I'm to lazy to look up who sang those songs

Cloud 9

The Manchac 10 mile run is coming up in about 7 weeks. This is one my measuring posts on my way to the Mardi Gras Marathon Feb. 1st. As part of my training I do a long run on Sunday mornings. I am happy to announce that this past Sunday I set a new personal record. I ran 9 miles without stopping. It took me 2 hours and 15 minutes to do, but I did it. I felt surprisingly good afterwards. I had run 7 or 8 miles several times before, but something about 9 just seemed really far. My training guide(that I printed of of runnersworld.com) says I am to run 9 miles again this weekend. I feel confident in getting it done and feel like I can even pick up the tempo a step or two.

Yes, I was a bit sore on Monday, but not as much as I expected. One of the nicest things about the long run is that it adds a big jump in mileage. For those of you who have not noticed, there is a tracker at the bottom of this page keeps up with how many miles I have run this year. I love putting in the Sunday mileage. It makes it look like i really did something substantial. Well, after doing it I would definitely call 9 miles substantial. On the down side, I only ran one third of a marathon. I've still got a long way to go.

Ps.I had a great time at the cookout Sunday. K and all were glad y'all came over. I hope the grilling was to your liking and we definitely like the idea of the mountains or anything having to do with Alaska.

My favorite time of every four years.

I love the Olympics! I love the spectacle and the fact that competitors face off against the best the world has to offer in each sport. I love the history of the games and the great moments of Olympiads past. I love the Images of John Carlos and Tommy smith with their gloved fists raised in the air. I love watching video of a barefoot Abebe Bikila winning the marathon in 1964. Just weeks ago I finished Jeremy Schapp's book Triumph, that tells the story off Jesse Owens and his great showing in Berlin in 1936.

Yes, I actually woke up at 5:30AM on a Saturday to watch they Olympic marathon trials. I can not wait for the track and field(aka trackfield) portion to begin Friday. k and I have been watching a lot of the swimming and gymnastics, but it is the track events that I really love.
I'm not real big on the events where the competitors are judged(like diving and gymnastics). It's not that I don't appreciate the sports, it's just that I don't like the subjective scoring system. I favor races where the first one from here to there wins. Or, whoever lifts the most weight wins, or whoever throws this big rock the farthest wins.

Please don't misunderstand me. I think that gymnasts and divers are great athletes. I am especially impressed by the guys on the rings. Those guys are freakin' amazing. I don't think I could ever do what they do. It's just that it's hard for me to say that one guy is better than the other. I understand that there is a criteria that judges use to judge them. But its just that, a judgement. It's opinion, and for some reason that bothers me.

Now I have a new least favorite Olympic sport, synchronized diving. I mean, are you kidding me? How did this get to be an Olympic sport? Did someone say"hey man, you know what would be totally rad? what if instead of you doing that dive by yourself, we did it together?"
Whoever said that needs a smack in the back of the head.

I love the Olympics but some of the sports are out of control. I originally made list of events that should be removed. I deleted it. I don't want to judge those events. Those athletes work hard and as a runner, I appreciate and understand the hard work that they out in. I understand the sacrifices they make to be the best in there sport. So, I wish them well. It's not their fault that there sport is in the Olympics. It is a blessing for them and I fully support the struggle that leads to the triumph. So, here to the Olympians. I may not like or understand what you do. But I know it means the world to you, so show the world your best. You've earned the right to compete. Right here, right now.