Junk Miles

So I am officially a professional radio DJ coach. Today I ran with both Cakes (from the Junkies) and Oscar (from the Big O and Dukes show). Cakes ran the longest run of his life; 9 miles. Oscar ran what may have been the longest run of his life in the past 10 years; 4 miles. Add in the 8 miles I ran this morning and I have a total of 21 miles.

(To the right we have a pile of Junk and Miles Davis. Junk Miles)

Granted, the miles with the boys are slower than I'm used to running, but at this point in my running career, I'll take it! Cakes' run was supposed to be 8 miles, but he soldered through and really impressed me running 9 miles in an hour and 21 minutes. Oscar was also very impressive, 4 miles in just over 43 minutes. For beginning runners I'm thrilled and still always inspired when I run with them. They are both training for the Pacers Running Festival. Two months ago running was the furthest thing from their minds, but that was before I got them hooked on the running thing. Its addictive and now they're both all in. A couple of sedentary radio DJ's turned fitness studs. I might write a book... or maybe I'll just blog about it.

The rest of last week was good running too 13 miles in 2 runs on Friday, 10.5 on Saturday, and a great 8 miler with my Alexandria manager Steve Crane and other HS employee Spencer Beasley. So it was 75 miles last week, probably 30% junk, but like I said before, I'll take it.

21 miles total today.

8 miles in 62 minutes solo

9 miles in 1:21 with Cakes

4 miles in 43 minutes with Oscar

x Farley

Serve, Protect, and Road Races

The other day I got a parking ticket when I arrived 2 minutes after my meter had expired. Literally 2 minutes, I had it on my watch. I took the ticket ripped it in half and stuck it on the meter maids car when she refused to cut me any slack. Pretty mature I am. Good thing I didn't make more of a scene. Sometimes my emotions get the best of me.

Well today we had a different experience with the Police. Kathy and I (mostly Kathy, I was just along for the ride) had a meeting with an Arlington Police officer and a Pentagon Police officer. We were finalizing the course details for our Pacers Running Festival Half Marathon.

It is great to live in Arlington County where they value special events and work with the local business. Lieutenant Medairos (picture above on the left) runs the special events in Arlington, so we see him a decent amount. Unlike the parking attendant, he is really fair, flexible, and wants to promote special events and health. Refreshing change. Both Medarios and John from the Pentagon came with solutions and not just obstacles. Solutions. That's what I'm talking about.

I ran twice yesterday. Once today. A 7 mile run and a 6 mile run yesterday. An 8 miler today. Maybe I can get back in decent shape. Maybe.

13 miles yesterday with Pearce and John Dooris

6 miles today with Brian McGovern

x Farley

The course is set

Kathy has been working on this half marathon in Arlington for really 2 years now. The race date is set for Sunday May 10th, Mothers Day. It is going to be an amazing event, even in it's first year.

We used to do a 10K in Arlington in May, but decided to change it to the Pacers Running Festival (which includes a half marathon, a 5K, and a kids dash). The half marathon distance is the fastest growing race distance in the county. There are a few half marathons during the spring, but a lot of people living in DC or Northern VA who run them have to travel a long way. Not for this race.

We just finalized the course (above). All in Arlington, all pretty flat, all pretty fast. It is going to be a party afterwards and even a Mother's Day brunch. That's whats up. I'll see you in May.

Two runs today.

7.1 miles with Cakes in 1:06.

7.25 miles solo in 56:00

14.35 miles total.

Another glass half full day for me.

x Farley

Being Resourceful

I was ready for it to be Spring. March is here and I was excited.

Then we got 8 inches of snow this morning? What? I mean we barley get any snow this entire Winter, then eight inches on March 2nd? Not what I’d hoped for.

I guess I actually do like snow, but now that I’m back running a little bit, I’d like to be able to get out without slipping all around and busting up my achilles again. And I’m certainly not going to use the treadmill. So when I got up and it was snowing still at 8am, I wasn’t too psyched.

Fortunately, we live close to Georgetown and the Whitehurst Freeway (above is a picture of the Freeway above Georgetown - below is the picture under the bridge). The Whitehurst runs into DC right off the Key Bridge from Arlington. Underneath the Whitehurst is a stretch of about a half mile where the bridge covers the road (K Street), and there isn’t much traffic. It has some cars parked underneath the bridge, but other than that it is the best covered stretch of running in all of DC/Northern VA.

Kathy and I ran the mile from our apartment down to the outdoor shelter of the bridge and ran for a little over an hour (10 and a half back and fourths!). It is great to be healthy and running again. When you’re training - I mean REALLY training; even a blizzard can’t stop you. Now I’m not going to claim I’m training just yet, but at least the blizzard lost today.

It was another great day to be a runner.

8 miles in 70 minutes.

x Farley

The Good life

My brother John is heading to Iraq for a 2nd time on Tuesday. He's been to Afghanistan too, but this week its back to Iraq. He is an analysis for SAIC and does all this complex mapping stuff that is way over my head. He works mostly in the "Green Zone" which is supposed to be pretty safe. Pretty safe I think, but come on, I don't care how safe it is: being a government contractor in Iraq seems a lot more dangerous then being a Running Store GM in Arlington. (Picture to the right: L-R John, Kathy, Me, John's friend Scott)


A couple things about that:


-I have a ton of respect and admiration for my Bro. He's 25 and has a very important job that he's good at. He works all the time, and has a terrible social life when he's there in Iraq - but, lets be honest, makes a ton of cash when he gets all the hazard pay. But even more than that, I think he really feels like the work is meaningful and appreciates the opportunity to make a difference.

-I realize when talking to John, that I'm living the Good Life here back at home. He's seen a lot of adversity there, and experiences more than I can image from my Pacers Running Store box.

I hope this is last trip over there. Maybe one day he'll take me up on my offer to manager one of the stores. I'm mean I know I can't offer the helicopter trips over enemy territory, but just think John, with you in the fold we'll have the best running trails maps of any store in the country!

Good running weekend (relatively) - 12 miles on Saturday with Tim, Pearce, and Bri. 7 miles Sunday with Woody and Pearce.

x Farley