Each Monday I run with the high school cross country team. Although I can still run faster than most of them, it takes me their entire workout to get warmed up. I will probably start 30 minutes early to equalize things.
I have been a blog slacker since the trip to Utah. We had a great time and I met some really cool people during our race. I have also been pretty busy since my return. A few days of getting the XC team on its feet, a few days at Cedar Point, then a busy running weekend (31 miles Saturday / 22 miles Sunday). All in all a good span of 10 days.
July is now upon us and the fun does not end. This will be the final 30 days of training for the Burning River 100. All systems are go at this point. I am finally feeling strong again - like I did in March. The fueling plan is in place, the timing system is ready, and I am looking forward to running a smart race.
Logan and I will head to OU on July 26th for orientation. Summer will be over before I know it. I am still weighing my employment options following my "Summer Hiatis". It appears that I will be the head Cross Country coach at Copley High School. It will be a fun challenge...but clearly does not pay the bills.
Regular reports will begin again tomorrow!
The last 6 legs will see some weather. We also have the 3 toughest segments. Think good thoughts!
I am taking a nap under a skateboard ramp at the school. We start the last round of legs in an hour or so.
We are progressing nicely. Sun is up and the temps are rising. Still tough to breath at altitude.
Sans Souci
Elaine is running her 7 mile leg while we mess around with glow sticks!
I went out early today and got 2.5 "warmup" miles in. Ran to the starting line to check things out. Looks like it is going to be a blast. I can clearly feel the altitude in my lungs when I am running....should be interesting. SeeMomGo has brought and oxygen tank! Maybe a few hits of O will put me over the top.
Had a great dinner last night with everyone. La T and MC were missing, but the rest of us had a really nice time. Mike (millbot) handed out a few awards of thanks prior to the event.
I will be posting fairly often once the race starts at 1:30pm local time. The cell reception will be the key as to how much gets posted. Stay tuned!
Got home this afternoon after a nice hot weekend in FL. The mountains of Utah are now calling! I will be posting frequently during this event.
Photo: Olivia, Evan, and Maddie at Sea World.
Hot. After a late night of travel I arrived I Orlando. I am renting a Honda Insight. Very cool car. Today is a typical Florida day but too hot for me. Good thing Kevin has a pool and water toys.
I just loaded the blogger app for the iPhone. I will post more frequently this week as I visit my brother then head to Utah to run.
-- Post From My iPhone
Training for a 100 mile race is unique. For anyone who has trained for distance events, whether it is the mile or marathon, you typically follow a pattern of timed running. Training to sustain race pace is the name of the game in 99% of all distance events. Not so with a 100 miler. The key is simply to maintain without falling apart physically and mentally. I keep asking "when are we going to get to the pace workouts?". Well folks it ain't happenin'! My training plan is based on time on my feet and repetition. I truly feel like the karate kid right now. I seem to be in a holding pattern of "wax on wax off" and "paint the fence" while impatiently asking why am I doing this? I enjoy running the miles of trails...but man I have no speed. How did it disappear? Recently five of my friends had an informal 10K race. I ran as hard as I could...but came no where close to my potential. I have become Mr. Tree Trunk Legs. Strength but no speed. I know in the end it will serve me well at the 100, but it can be frustrating from time to time.
Over the next three days I will have run 50 miles of trails. Like Daniel-son I will have moments of impatience and question the methods. Fortunately I trust my Mr. Miyagi and know that the payoff will be worth the effort in the end.
Lookout Cobra Kai!
* Maddie is in Florida with my Mom and my niece hitting all of the theme parks. I head there on Saturday for a few days to join the fun.
* After returning on Tuesday from Florida, Jo and I turn right around and head to Utah on Wednesday for the Ragnar Relay.
* Logan heads to Myrtle Beach on the 20th until the end of the month.
* I had a very good discussion about my future employment plans with a potential business partner. Once I get through June and July the goal will be to sharpen the pencil and pick a career direction. Things are bright on the horizon.
* I am waiting to hear about my potential coaching opportunity and things could be finalized by early July.
When I was a young kid my mother used to watch a "daytime drama" called Dark Shadows. I used to watch it as well. I have fond memories of that show. Well...I caught wind of a series on HBO called True Blood. Thanks to HBO On Demand I have finished watching the first season of this series. It was created by Alan Ball, who also created one of my favorite HBO Series called Six Feet Under. Great writing, great acting, and dark story lines. The premise is basically about Vampires as a community / societal class wanting to integrate with mainstream human life. It is pretty intense and I highly recommend it. Season Two premiers on HBO June 14th.
My running has been picking up. I did the No Frills All Hills run and covered roughly 34 miles in just under 5 1/2 hours. I maintained my 100 mile goal pace...which was my target. A good day.
I hit 104 miles last week. That is the most miles I have had in several years. I am feeling really good these days and seem to be well ahead of my 2007 fitness. June and July will be intense training months.
Next week I head to Florida for a quick visit with my brother and his family, then I am off to Utah for the Ragnar Relay. I really don't have my racing legs right now...but it will be a fun trip to take with Jo.
A great guy that I wish I knew better. Touched many lives. What better way to live and be remembered.
Popular Copley High School coach Stuart Tolle passes away at age 47
Posted by Tim Rogers/Plain Dealer Reporter June 01, 2009 11:31AM
About 200 high school football players and female track athletes gathered in the Copley High School fieldhouse around midnight Sunday to mourn the assistant football and girls track coach Stuart Tolle, one of the most popular teachers at the school.
Tolle died of an apparent heart attack after mowing the lawn at his house in Akron's Firestone Park neighborhood on Sunday. He was 47. Tolle played at Alliance High and went on to star at Bowling Green before spending parts of three seasons with the Detroit Lions, the Browns and the Arizona Wranglers of the U.S. Football League.
"This is a total shock," said Ed Robinson, a former assistant coach at Copley and a close friend of Tolle's. "I am devastated. Stuart was one of the greatest guys I know. The kids just loved him. The staff loved him. We all loved him."
Tolle, 6-3 and 245 pounds during his playing career, played in one NFL game, for Detroit in 1987. Twice he was one of the Browns' final cuts and spent time on the reserve squad. Tolle, a science teacher, was known for keeping himself in shape.
A bachelor until recently, he jogged regularly and spent time in the weight room. He also owned the most popular pet in Copley Township, a yellow lab named Claire, who went everywhere Tolle went. She even had a special spot in the school, where she patiently waited for Tolle's day to end.
"This is a real tragedy," said Copley Assistant Principal Jim Borchik. "Stuart had the gift. He connected to kids from all walks of life. I can't begin to tell you how many children he has reached and touched."
Tolle attended Copley's graduation ceremonies on Sunday before going home to do yardwork.
"He was a low-key guy who always had a smile on his face," said Robinson, now an assistant principal at Polaris Vocational School in Middleburg Heights. "Stuart kept to himself but he was always willing to help someone out."
Funeral arrangements were pending.
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