Contentment Through Failure

Well, I didn’t finish first in the Shamrock 5k…but I did finish third overall with my fastest time (16:23; 5:17 pace) from the last couple of years, so I’m altogether happy with my output. Could I have run faster? I’m sure. But I learned long ago that in running, there is generally something regarding your result about which you can be pleased. And on Friday, I had a good time (both on the clock and in my head) and the legs felt good after. Next race: The Boston Marathon.

It’s a mad dash to get to the race’s first turn…



…after which most everyone realized that I’m faster than them.



Also, I ran 21.07 miles in 2:38:14 (7:31 pace) on Sunday.

Shamrock 5k and Motivated Push-ups

Shamrock 5k today. It’s supposed to be pretty ugly out—70-75% chance for rain starting anytime now, and lasting throughout the evening (with sporadic thunderstorms beginning at/around 5:00 PM EST). The race itself begins at 6:00 PM EST. Fun stuff. Anyone that knows how susceptible to flooding downtown Savannah is will recognize that runners may need to become small craft boaters at some juncture during the run; I will hope that someone is just in front of me, affording me the opportunity to tether myself to them and use my ski-feet, both saving me energy and wearing them down.

Though I’d seen it before, I got particularly jazzed about the video/song below (the song is Ali in the Jungle by The Hours) Wednesday evening and knocked out 45 push-ups in short order—not something altogether wise when I’ve not been doing any at all, so suffice to say I’m a little tender in the abdominal and underarm/wing area. You probably didn’t even read that last portion of the sentence, because you were too busy knocking out your own push-ups, weren’t you? That’s how motivational that song is. Anywho, the song reinforced my already-pretty-strong belief that I’ll be running an ultra marathon later this year (barring injury), the training for which will begin shortly after I’ve completed the Boston Marathon. The two I’m currently considering (especially the latter one):

Nashville Ultra Marathon
North Coast 24-Hour Endurance Run

More on these at a later date.

Me, My Dog, and Running Long Distances

Intro: Because it would only be appropriate, I likely ought to perform a sort of introduction. My name is Chris Ramsey, I'm 29 years old, live in Savannah, Georgia, and am currently employed as a glorified answering machine for a cellular billing company.

I am, in most every measurable way, a "normal" sort of guy. I like sports, I like beer, I like women, I like things cooked on a grill. Yes, I'm altogether normal. Except for my notion that running 18 miles is both relaxing and enjoyable; it seems that, for many, the idea of running any farther than to the mailbox is as queer a concept as is owning a dog which was bred to run, yet spends a majority of her time asleep in very peculiar, upside-down positions.... My greyhound Calli is 9 years old and is a retired racer out of Florida (for more about her history as such, please visit the following link--be sure to click on "12 races" at the top of the page: http://www.greyhound-data.com/d?i=405841&z=xM8UzT). She is beautiful, bossy and, on occasion, belligerent. She sleeps 85% of the day. She is a wonderful dog.



Goals: I majored in English while in school, hoping to graduate and become the next Dr. Seuss. Which means that, these days, the only evidence of that can be found in the wonderfully written emails I send to my clients. Suffice to say, this is lost on them. Thus I've decided that a blog, which I'll admit to having looked down upon in the past (as a feeble lifeline used to keep in touch with friends, whom the writer believes want to know about every-day activities he/she has performed), is in order. Not only can I use this as a way to hone my writing, but I can also keep in touch with friends and family as I prepare to run my very first Boston Marathon. I like to run. I like to write. How self-important of me.

A Brief Training Synopsis: I've run two marathons, my best time being my very first--2:53:40 (6:38 per-mile pace) in the 2009 Miami Marathon (a tremendous run, if you're looking for a late-January race). Because it was a generally flat, fast course, my hope is not to better my time, rather to not be too far off it--I'd be happy with a 3:00:00 Boston finish (though you can't fault a competitive guy for wishing for more...).

Though I've already been training for five weeks, today was the official start of my "Boston Bound" training plan (which can be found by visiting http://www.halhigdon.com/boston/bostonbound.htm)--I've used Hal Higdon's plans in the past, for races varying from 5k-marathon, and have nothing but good things to say about them all. For today's workout, nothing too exciting--went to the gym and knocked out an easy three miles on the treadmill in 23:46 (7:55 per-mile pace), followed by some stretching and strength training. This is following 13.81 miles in 1:46:29 (7:43 per-mile pace) yesterday. 3xhill (1 downhill) tomorrow.

In Conclusion: I'll try and fill in the blanks along the way--why I run, the gear I use, if my dog did anything noteworthy throughout the day.... Just anything that helps you get to know me as a "normal" guy and runner, while at the same time allowing me to remember what I love so much about writing.