First, I see no reason for the so-called Versus channel to exist beyond broadcasting the Tour De France. Not a hunter, never will be. Hockey? Never a fan. Ultimate fighting and watching Poker is right up there with not only having a root canal, but also watching a root canal being done. They should just spend from now till next July airing a complete past Tour each month.
Outside of missing a few early stages, this was the first one in a few years I was really "in" it to the end. Yeah, okay no coincidence Lance was back. Yeah, I know the whole Sheryl Crow thing was not good in it's ending. Maybe someone can find other reasons as well to dislike him. However, he has not done enough in his personal life for me to hate him as an athlete. Plus, the Cancer episode and recovery - big one to get around in disliking him. Actually, just as an athlete - he is the greatest of the last 50 years in my mind.
Bo Jackson could've and should've been the best ever. Ali, was nearly the greatest. One too many badly out of shape comebacks. I also think Ricky Henderson, Mike Pigg, Nolan Ryan, Jerry Rice and Carl Lewis were never fully appreciated and should be up there. We all know about Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods. However, with each of these guys, too much hype. Which pretty much overlooks some good athletes in their respective sports who came before them and currently playing. I also think many female athletes should be right up with Lance. I really cannot separate athletes into best female or male. Mia Hamm is number two or three for me overall. Plus, how could ya not think of Jackie Joyner Kersey, Annika Sorenstam, Martina, Nadia, Janet Evans, plus countless others. I have Jamie Donaldson, who just won her second Badwater pretty darn high. Amazing fete to me and almost completely unrecognized.
Okay, I will get off my Armstrong thing now. Mentioning Jamie Donaldson brings me back to running. Which, I really hate to say and even more hate to do - I need to take some time off. I noticed it going into the beginning of last week. However, I finished out the week with a near 14 miler this past Saturday. It was the toughest of the long runs I have done in a month. Time was so stupid slow - I think I heard the Six Million Dollar man theme in my head (remember the slo-mo footage of Lee Majors running, that for some reason tricked people into thinking he was going 60 mph). I was seriously dragging to the point halfway through an odd thought hit me - I think I can walk faster than I am running right now? Three times felt I just needed to stop. It was this last feeling to stop, when, I was just about to start walking - something inside loudly and clearly said NO! I just couldn't stop. I had to finish it. Not sure where this is coming from now in my life. However, no matter how painful things get, how hard I am hitting the wall, how exhausted I am - I just cannot let myself stop. Yet, with that said, I realize I need some rest/recovery time. It is during the training runs themselves - I just will not let myself stop before I finish.
As mentioned previous, I have dashed well past my mileage goals for the month. I thought at the beginning of the month 80 would be reasonable. Thus far, I have kicked in 88 miles. My legs, are okay. Stiff around my lower calves. I will get a slight dull wince every now and then in my left knee at times. This plus, a sore shoulder is all I have going on. Yet, my legs and entire body feel like dead weight. Spirit, feels great. I have a hard time admitting I need this break. So, lets see, yesterday was off day, today will be off, and I think tomorrow as well. Wednesday? Will see how things go by Humpday. I might start kicking things again by then. However, the other thing in all this - Stupid Vegas Heat. I think I need a longer break from that.
Anyway, I will spend this time thinking about next months training goals with the Half Marathon coming up Labor Day weekend. Not sure what the mileage will be. I will need that 3, maybe 4 day rest prior to the event. Want my legs to be as fresh as possible. Plus, I think I want to work more on speeding things up. Will do some tempo runs, seeing how I can get my (fire hydrant body) speed up for at least 6-7 miler's. My time goals for the Half - getting in under the time limit. So, basically, I just want to finish. However, I know, for my first run in 13 years - I will go way too fast in the beginning. So, at this time, I think I will play too that. I will concentrate on some faster 6 milers for the upcoming month. Then after the Half is over start kicking in longer runs again. Who knows maybe Stupid Heat will be gone by then as well?
Hey, watched a Doc on Fred Labow (sp) founder of the NYC Marathon last night. Couldn't get into to it overall. I think you have to be a New Yorker, NYC 'Thon participant or know this Labow character to really get into it. However, I think it is worth a rent for at least 35-40 minutes of the film. I liked the far too short, Nova Doc, Spirit of the Marathon much better. Yet, in saying that - the two Doc's are apples and oranges in subject matter and purposes to a degree or two.
Keep Kickin!
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