Day 13391, & I am not 94...

But she is...

If only my memory is that good in 58 years... or now...

FYI, this was filmed at 11pm and, as usual, I was the 1st to go to bed.  My grandmother out-drank me, AGAIN!!!

Day 13385, & homo on the range...

So, I have been in Kansas for 3 days.  That is 1.5 days too many, outside of the time with the family.

Here are some quick highlights of the first couple days:

This would be the view from just about any highway in Kansas.  At first, it is somewhat serene.  Over time, it becomes tiresome and depressing to me.

BTW, I think that I took this picture right after my dad was pulled over for 73 in a 65.  The patrolman also claimed to smell alcohol in the car.  Thank god there were really not any open containers in the car.  Also, thankful that dad wasn't over-indulgent while waiting for me to arrive at the airport.  I claimed responsibility for the alcohol smell, telling the cop that I drank up on my flight to KS... I also think he was bluffing, as it was the 4th...

Despite the Planes, Trains, & Automobiles delays of the day, we made it to Dodge City and settled in at my grandmother's.  This is the view of the city fireworks from her backyard.  No fuss there.  When I was a kid, we had to go to the country club across the street and walk down the golf course to see the show.  Now, just out the back door seems easier, as I tend to bore of fireworks very quickly...

Saturday, I got up early for a run.  The run went badly, but I did get some shots of town...

Movie theater here.  It is closed for the summer though, as apparently there is a drive-thru somewhere nearby.  I guess there isn't a need for both to be open.  I did check though, and the movies are current...

And, this would be one of the major roads in Dodge City, Central Avenue...

Later in the day, we went out to look at farmland.  I should mention that one day I stand to inherit land here, worth 10s of tens of dollars per acre (read sarcasm...)

Look familiar?

Here is a bit of the aforementioned land.  He decided to grow corn to take advantage of the ethanol demand.  I have to say that it is amazing how efficient farming has become.  Perfectly straight rows, perfectly spaced plants, and then of course, one hell of a sprinkler...

My only real worry was...

I made it out OK, so no need to worry.

There was one quite amazing sight, however.  And I have to say, I think it is sad that we don't see more of these every day.

According to the information, this wind farm can power 66,000 homes.

Looking at the price of oil, along the current state of our economy, I am a bit confused.  Granted, I have no idea what it costs to build one of these windmills, let alone 150 of them.  I also have no idea how the power is applied.  I do know that the bolts used to anchor the tower are drilled 150 feet into the ground. Wow!  So, 

How many lesbians does it take to install a windmill??? 

I will leave you all to work that joke out...

Day 13384, & the beginning of "vacation"

So, as mentioned, my 4th of July holiday began with the 10K.

I awoke at 5:15 to have breakfast, coffee, and some extra stretching.  Jay decided to sleep in; he got up at 5:45.  We had decided he would come with me.  As the course was a double loop, he would get to hang out downtown, see me go by at the split, and then again at the finish.  Quality time spent before I rush to get ready to go to the airport, I'd say...

So, I ran the race.  I went out too fast, burned out too soon, and finished slightly better than last time.  Blah, blah, blah...

I watched a guy totally spill in the last mile, after the rain.  Jay witnessed a whole different disaster.  Apparently, the 5K people dress up for the race.

I guess I just wasn't feeling as patriotic as this guy was...

Post race, it was a speedy cool down, and then home to ready myself for my trip to Dodge City, KS.  

I made it to the airport by 10:45 for my 12:20 flight.  Checking in and breezing through security took a total of 8 minutes.  More time at the bar for some post race celebrating with a bartender named Dan at the Tootsie's Orchid Lounge at BNA.  It didn't help that there was a delay.  As a responsible passenger, I opted for a delay bottle of beer, vs the 22 ounce drafts I had been enjoying previously.  I have seen Airline enough times.  I know not to be visibly intoxicated while boarding.  This is especially true when my name pops up on the upgrade list...

The best seat on an airplane is always the bulkhead seat.   Sure, you have to stow your bag in the overhead.  Sure, you won't be able to get anything until the "fasten seat belt" light goes out.  But, as a trade off, you will have a better chance of having the other seat remain empty.  Apparently, most people are really that lazy; apparently, it is really that hard to stand up and get your carry-on down after take off.  And, if you manage to snag that upgrade to 1st class, there is nothing better than the feeling you get when that other seat is still empty and the agent closes the boarding door.

I should also mention that there is no better start to a vacation than a nice plane flight.  If I was clever/artistic, I might draw you a picture of how to accomplish this task.  As I am not that person, I will say only that you should do this on a traditional airline, not a discounter.  You should check your bag (regardless of the $20.00 they might charge you) as you will not miss carrying it around the airport with you.  Most importantly, you should always arrive at least 1 hour before boarding time (not departure time!!!).  If you get onto an airplane noticeably later than everyone else, I will give you the glare of death (trust me, it is bad.)  

I don't know if you are aware of this, but I am a bit of a control freak.  Things are pretty much expected to be just so.  When things are off center, out of place, or clearly just wrong, I have issue.  When I get on a plane, I pretty much have to give up control.  I would feel safe saying that once a sit down on a plane, I am completely relaxed.  Once, I sit down on a plane (without any small children close to me,) I am a completely different person.

How can you be be anything but relaxed when this is the view from the window?  If you have been living in the South for the last several years, it is pretty rare to see clouds like this in the summertime.

Ahh, relaxing...

And, in the event you are a nervous flyer, I have a solution for you, too...

Have a beer or three.  Always makes it better...

You know what also makes it better?  Getting the flight attendant on your side.  Always buy a copy of US Weekly, In Touch, or some other gossip rag to give to the attendant.  If you are uneasy about the blatant nature of this bribe, then it is recommended that you pretend to read it first.  Then you can just give it to them when you are "done."  Trust me, treat a flight attendant well, and they will hook you up...

I had to change planes in Dallas.  Lucky me, I arrived at C21 and my connection was C31.  Luckier me, the flight crew from Nashville was transferring, too.  No need to buy more gossip rags...

Delay number two was a result of said flight attendant feeling "uncomfortable" with the way the emergency slide was arming itself during pre-flight.  Judging from the look the Captain gave her, he seemed a bit uncomfortable with her judgment .  Me?  I had my bulkhead seat to myself, and had a pre-flight cocktail, so I was good...

Here's a preview of the next entry

Day 13384, & a quick race recap...

So, I am in Dodge City, KS and I am a bit hungover today, cause that is how we roll at Granny's...

Anyway, a quick race recount:

According to Garmin, I did really well.  According to the race people, not so much.

I started Garmin about 5-10 seconds before I made it to the start mat.  I also forgot to stop him until I had made my way past those annoying people that try to get your chip and gotten some water, probably another 10-15 seconds.

So, in the world according to Garmin, I ran just over 54:00 and just under an 8:34 pace, broken down as follows:

Mile 1-7:56

Mile 2-8:11

Mile 3-8:25

Mile 4-8:54

Mile 5-9:20

Mile 6-9:07

I am pretty happy with my 5K time, under 25:00.  Clearly, however, that first mile was way too fast for me and burned me out too soon.  Lesson learned, again...

Now, according to the race folks, I was 54:09.  I think that this was the clock time, not the chip time.  Only the one time is posted and they are listing my pace as 8:44, which seems high.  Either way, I beat my previous 54:52, so I don't really care.

Also, true to form, I came in right down the middle:

Age: 15/32

Sex: 84/156

O'All: 105/276

I have quite a bit of blog material from my day yesterday, both the race and my travels.  I will try to get to the rest of it later today.

Day 13381, & my leg is sore...

So, my right calf is sore.  Well, not really the calf, just the muscle that runs down the side of the inner calf.  

I assume that I hurt it somehow after my long run Saturday, followed by 2 faster runs Sunday and Monday.  

Anyway, it doesn't hurt to walk on it, or run on it for that matter.  It is just tender and feels a bit swollen.

So, as I have the 4th of July 10K here on Friday, I opted for a 2.5 mile elliptical warm up before my training yesterday.  I forgot how much I hate the elliptical machine.  Tomorrow, for training, I will probably stick with the elliptical again.  Why push it?

Cut to the chase, you say?

Last week was great at 36 miles.  This week looks like it will end up in the low 20s, depending on how I feel after the race.  Also, my long run will be in Dodge City.  I have no idea how I will find a good route so it could go either way.

Race goals:

At worst, I will beat my 54:52 at an 8:49 pace

Hopefully, I will hold under an 8:30 pace, coming in under 52:45.

At best, I will come in under 52:00, and I will drink many a celebratory beer on the flight(s) to Kansas.

We'll see...

Day 13374, & I might have seen the wall come down...

So, just to be clear, the wall I referred to in the last post was not only in reference to running. Sure, the analogy was inspired by running. Sure, it was on my mind, as I has just listened to Clay talk about his bad run last week.

All true, but...

My wall was much, much bigger. It was a work wall, home wall, life in general wall, and yes, also a running wall.

Now, in order, I will quickly tell you about each:

We designed our restaurant concept to be fairly recession-resistant. We did not design it to be George W Bush-135.00 a barrel- mortgage crisis- real estate is in the tank- recession- resistant. Who can do that? Well, apparently The Cheesecake Factory can, which is ridiculously annoying. Nuff said.

On the home front... Well... Let's just say that Jay and I do not compartmentalize our feelings very well. Just close your eyes and imagine working with your significant other, full time, in a public setting... OK? How is that dream working out for you? Moving on.

On the topic of life in general... It's just hot! I don't like being sweaty. Well, I don't like it when all I am doing is getting the mail. Sweaty, in general, is just not pretty. Note: there are a few exceptions to this rule that I need not explain...

Finally, on the running front, I did indeed hit a wall last Saturday. My planned 12 mile run turned into a very poor 6 miles at a 10:13 pace. And, here's why...

A. I had been on what I am only able to reconstruct as a 20 day stretch of running activity. I realize that I should probably have taken a rest day or two in there, but I didn't, until last Thursday (due to work related traumas) and Friday (again, due to work related traumas)...

B. As I was running by anyway, Jay made me stop at the restaurant to see him on my long run. Stopping is never a good idea. Stopping for 10 minutes? Insane...

Regarding stopping, I give you my new nemesis...








So, yes, I did hit the wall with the running, too.

Maybe, I do need to run another race. I had planned the 4th of July 10K here, and a 10 mile race in the Adirondacks. Now, however, I am going out west to Dodge City, Kansas to see my grandmother on her 94th birthday. I am sure the blog posts will be entertaining and frequent on this trip...

I had picked out a few other races, but then I registered for the Murfreesboro 1/2 on Oct 11th. That screwed up a number of the planned races. Oops! Time for a calendar... I am now on a search for some training races. Training races, you say? Why yes, I did...

I think I have picked my first marathon. In fact, I started a 16 week rookie training schedule on Monday. I should be ready for the Chickamauga Battlefield Marathon by the end of October, allowing some inevitable adjustments to my training regimen.

All said, I need some 10Ks, 20Ks, 10 milers, and 1/2 marathons to choose from. All should be close to Nashville (3-4 hour driving radius), as I will also be opening that new restaurant in September...

I picked a hell of a time to start running...

Our water plants bloomed today...

Whatever it takes to smile, right?