Finisher52

MORE PICS FROM COWBOYS STADIUM (STAMFORD)

2012-01-05T13:01:00.001-08:00

PICS FROM STAMFORD STATE CHAMPIOSHIP

2012-01-05T12:54:00.000-08:00

BUFFMAN AND SQUEAKY, PART DEAUX

2011-05-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

Three years after completing my first-ever triathlon, the 2008 Buffman and Squeaky Olympic triathlon at Buffalo Springs Lake, I completed my 12th triathlon at the same location and the same event.

My first experience was pretty awful: no wetsuit, slow bike, side cramps on the run, etc.

This experience would have been much better had the water not been 58 degrees which was WARMER than the air outside the lake. It was freezing.

My theory is that the cold water had something to do with my calves cramping up about halfway through the swim. If I concentrated on powering my kick from my hip joint and not my ankles, the cramping would go away. A twinge here...a twinge there.

When I reached the swim finish and set my feet on the bottom of the lake to stand, both calves and both groins cramped. That's never happened to me before. I had to sit there for a few seconds while the cramps subsided, then slowly walk up transition to my bike where I had to actually sit down to take my wetsuit off - calves and groin cramping all the while.

Frustrating.

I went to mount my bike and off they went again. The announcer said, "Here's Mark Rogers off on the bike...and, no, now he's OFF the bike." I had to get off the bike and let my legs stop cramping.

I didn't think I was going to get up the first big hill, which is about 100 yards from the bike mount. And keep in mind, a strong, cold wind was blowing and I'm wearing a wet, skin-tight triathlon "outfit" and no socks.

I made it up the hill without incident and had to keep it just under redline the rest of the bike as to not upset my abnormally crampish legs.

The wind was in our faces on the way out, but we had the luxury of a tail wind the last half of the bike.

I dismounted, changed into my run gear and had to run about 2 miles before I could actually feel my feet. Ended up with a decent run time of 45 minutes, considering all that was going on - and I had to stop and pee (it was so cold that none of the water I was drinking was going anywhere...I wasn't sweating).

Sprinted the last 20o meters to finish just under 2:40, 5 minutes faster than my first ever triathlon. My PR Olympic is about 2:24 but not at this venue. Any distance on that course is a killer because of the potential for wind and the enormous hills.

I'm looking forward to the Capital of Texas Triathlon in a couple of weeks (Memorial Day in Austin) where there will be little to no wind and very few hills. Maybe this race won't be unseasonably freezing.

4-HOUR BODY EXPERIMENT (Days 29 and 30)

2011-05-03T06:39:00.000-07:00

Day 29 - Sunday:

Weighed 180.3 (81.8 kg) this morning. Wow. Just more than 8 pounds since I started.
Breakfast was eggs and strawberries.
Didn't eat lunch until 3:30 PM (moving). Had a large salad and some black beans with chia. Dessert was cashews and raisins.
Dinner was pulled pork, beans, potato salad. Dessert was a large bowl of sliced frozen banana, frozen mangos, cashews, and honey. Mmmmm....boy.
Had more cashews and raisins later. Also had a couple of pieces of wheat bread with melted organic cheese right before bed.

Day 30 - Monday:

Felt OK this morning. Just exhausted from moving. Woke up late and got a late start. Ended up taking the day off to work at the house.
Breakfast was tuna, salad and black beans.
Lunch was the same.
Dinner was beef brisket, beans, jalapenos, pickles and mustard greens. Celery and cashew butter as snack.
Second day in a row I didn't work out.
PAGG, gallon water, cold showers.

OK...so my overall thoughts on 4HB diet are very positive. It's basically Paleo with no fruit during the week and legumes added back in. I feel great. I lost more than 8 pounds. Hopefully I'll be <180 by the end of this week...which was my goal (to be under 180 before the start of tri season - May 15).

I actually look forward to cold showers now and haven't taken a hot shower since the Saturday I read 4HB (April 2nd I think?). I may take one tonight as a celebration of 30 days in the books.

I will continue to eat the way I've been eating. It will be interesting to see where I'm at after another 60 days. I really like the whole not eating fruit thing during the week and then eating fruit on Sundays. It makes fruit a whole new experience. A delicacy. Something that triggers dopamine in my brain so I get the same response I used to get when eating ice cream and candy bars on Sundays. Oh...and this is day 121 of no candy, processed sugar, sweets, desserts, etc. Have no cravings for any of it.

4-HOUR BODY EXPERIMENT (Days 22-28)

2011-04-25T07:05:00.001-07:00

Day 22 - Sunday:
Couple of eggs and some fruit for breakfast.
Lunch was pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans. Dessert was mangos, cashews, frozen bananas. (ended up eating my dates at about 12:40AM this morning).
Snacked on figs and cashews on the way home.
Dinner was chicken fajita plate from Rosa's (had a couple of tortillas with honey). Dessert was mangos, frozen bananas. Felt terrible right after I went to bed.
Day 23 - Monday:
Breakfast: 3 eggs with spinach and cilantro and salsa. Lentils with chia and salsa.
Lunch: Salmon, lentils, big salad.
Dinner: Same.
PAGG as prescribed. 1 gallon of water. 1 cold shower.
Day 24 - Tuesday:
Breakfast: Salmon, lentils, big salad.
Traveled to Dallas for work.
Lunch: Whole Foods salad bar (including chick peas, roasted chicken, raw kale and lots of other awesome stuff.)
Dinner: Pappadeaux. Got grilled salmon with green beans and a salad.
Snack: dried veggies from Whole Foods and a raw revolution bar.
1 gallon water. PAGG as prescribed. 1 cold shower. Ran at Hillcrest High School. Also worked out in the morning before I left.
Day 25 - Wednesday:
Breakfast: Cracker Barrell. 3 scrambled eggs and a house salad.
Lunch: Ghengis Grill with my dad. Chicken, beef, lots of grilled veggies and green beans.
Dinner: Fish City Grill. Chicken, steamed veggies, salad.
Did CFE workout at Busy Body while trying out treadmills. Bought a Precor 9.3.1. Pretty sweet.
CF Richardson at 5:30 PM. Tabata workout.
Raw revolution bar before my workout out.
Snack: celery, guacamole, cashews.
Day 26 - Thursday:
Breakfast: Whole Foods breakfast bar and salad.
CF Richardson at 8:30 AM.
Lunch: Taco Diner. Chicken salad with salsa.
Dinner: Salmon, lentils, large salad (back home).
Snack: celery, cashew butter, raw revolution bar (those are technically not 4HB because they have dates in them...but I can't resist them and they only have five ingredients).
Ran in the evening.
Day 27 - Friday:
Weighed 183.5 this morning. Not getting the weight loss that I was hoping for but I feel like my core is leaning out. I'm satisfied with the physical changes I'm seeing.
Breakfast: salmon, lentils with salsa and chia, large salad. Got our first box of veggies from our farm share on Monday so I have more leafy greens than I know what to do with. Love it!!!
Lunch: salad, salmon, lentils. Closed on our house at 11AM.
Dinner: Oscar's. Chicken fajitas, guacamole, lettuce, pico, beans. Terrible service. Won't be going back there.
Ended up eating 2 raw revolution bars today.
PAGG. Gallon water. Cold shower.
Day 28 - Saturday:
Moving today. Weighed 182.1 this morning.
Can't remember all what I ate but it was all 4HB prescribed. Eggs, salad, salmon or tuna, black beans.
Cold shower. PAGG and gallon water. Taught RPM this morning.

4-HOUR BODY EXPERIMENT (Days 15-21)

2011-04-18T09:14:00.000-07:00

Day 15 - Sunday:

Weighed 181.6 this morning. Crazy. 1/2 pound less than last week but came down 4 pounds since Friday?! Had to have been the restaurant food messing with me.
My binge day was basically a Paleo day plus a helping of refried beans at Oscar's...LOTS of fruit today. Breakfast was 3 eggs with salsa, a coconut milk, hemp protein, carrot, celery, spinach veggie smoothie (still experimenting with those veggie smoothies - the one I made Friday just about made me want to vomit). Glass of grapefruit juice. Lunch was chicken fajitas (no tortillas or chips) brough sliced squash and cucumber for my "chips", and the aforementioned beans.

Dessert was a frozen banana, frozen mangos, dried figs, cashews. Had some raisins and cashews later in the afternoon. Dinner was a 1/2 chicken from Sharon's with no skin, some cole slaw, green beans, then some frozen fruit, dried figs and cashews for dessert. Didn't feel quite as bloated last night. Think not eating bread or grains helped.

Day 16 - Monday:

Didn't weigh this morning (not going to weight until Wednesday) but felt good enough to go get a work out in ... unlike last Monday when I felt absolutely horrible.
Breakfast: salmon, mung beans with chia, smoothie (1/3 c coconut milk, 2 tbsp hemp protein powder, ground flax seed, ice, water - not bad).

Lunch: spinach/kale salad with tomatoes and carrots, salmon, mung with chia.
Dinner: two eggs with cilantro on top of sauteed cabbage, broccoli (cooked in olive oil), chick peas with chia - been putting a spoonful of chunky salsa on beans/peas...pretty good.
Snack: celery and some cashew butter (had a little more than I had planned to).
Only 1 cold shower today. PAGG as prescribed. Shaved my head tonight.

Day 17 - Tuesday:

Work out this morning.
Breakfast: salmon, chickpeas with chia, sauteed cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes. Forgot to take AGG before breakfast, but didn't miss any other PAGG today.

Lunch: salad at Cypress street with veggies and blackened chicken, side of black beans, no dressing.Snack: veggie smoothie - carrot, cocounut milk, hemp protein

Dinner: Guacamole made with 2 avocados, tomatoes, chopped cilantro, lime juice, lemon juice (fresh). Ate with celery.
Snack: celery with cashew butter.

Ran tonight..."sport tosh" from CFE website. 2 cold showers today. Gallon of water.

Day 18 - Wednesday:

Weighed 183.8 this morning. I was 185+ on Friday of last week and ended up at 181.6, so I'm hoping this means I'll be below 181.6 on Sunday morning. I've always gained lots of water weight on a "binge day" (even a binge day of mainly fruit - any big increase in calories) and slowly lost it throughout the week.

Swam 1400 yards this morning.

Breakfast: salmon, chick peas with chia, spinach/kale salad with broccoli, carrots, salsa.

Lunch: Humphrey Pete's in Brownwood. Salmon, pinto beans, salad.
Dinner: Jason's - 2 trips to the salad bar.

Snack: celery, cashew butter.
PAGG as prescribed. 1 gallon water. 2 cold showers.

Day 19 - Thursday:

Still in the 183s...hmmm...
Breakfast: salmon, chick peas with chia and pumpkin seeds
Lunch: spinach/kale salad with cabbage, tomato, broccoli. Salmon, chick peas with chia.

Snack: smoothie - coconut milk, flaxseed, chlorella, carrot, ice, water, cinnamon. Actually pretty good.

Dinner: salad at super club, chick peas with salsa, raw revolution bar
Snack: celery with cashew butter, pumpkin seeds, salsa.
PAGG as prescribed. 1 gallon water. Only 1 cold shower.

Day 20 - Friday

Still in the 183s....but I FEEL like I'm losing body fat. I look different, too.
PAGG as prescribed. All meals had protein, legumes, and veggies. Had a raw revolution bar, too.

Day 21 - Saturday:

Didn't weight...in Georgetown. All meals had protein, legumes, veggies. Had a raw revolution bar. PAGG as prescribed.
Sorry for the brevity, I had written out a longer post at the end but blogger screwed it up, and I don't feel like writing it all out again.

4-HOUR BODY EXPERIMENT (Days 8-14)

2011-04-11T06:45:00.000-07:00

Day 8 - Sunday: 182.1 this morning - 6 pounds this week. Did a pretty tough CF WOD before church. Drank cold water. Breakfast was 2 eggs and a grass fed beef patty with some grapefruit juice. Lunch was chicken and beef fajitas at Los Arcos. I did 2 minutes of squats in the bathroom prior to meal and drank an entire glass of water with lemon juice in it before I began. Jenn and I shared fajitas for 1. I had chips, too. Came home and had dried figs, frozen bananas, cashews and a couple of Raw Revolution food bars. Dinner was two grilled cheese sandwiches with honey, cashews, dried figs, chips. Felt pretty bloated all night. Kidneys hurt...like they didn't know what hit 'em. I've definitely had more epic cheat days but definitely felt bloated. Ring still fit easily which usually doesn't happen after I get some chips/bread in my system. Not planning to weigh again until next Friday. I probably gained 10 pounds of water weight today.

Day 9 - Monday: Felt awful this morning. Kidneys hurt. Feel bloated. Hate this feeling. Couldn't work out. Salmon, black beans veggie smoothie for breakfast. Lunch with Cliff at Cypress - salad, side of black beans, grilled chicken. Dinner was same as breakfast. Had a smoothie before I went and ran at HHC. PAGG as prescribed. Gallon of water. 2cold showers.

Day 10 - Tuesday: Worked out this morning. Breakfast was salmon, black beans/chia, veggie smoothie. Drove to Midland - business trip. Lunch was salad bar. Lots of veggies, eggs, chick peas. Ran in Midland in the afternoon. Dinner was a mexican food place - chicken fajitas, charro beans, lots of veggies, salsa. Gallon of water. AGG (fell asleep before the PAGG dose). 2 cold showers.

Day 11 - Wednesday: Worked out at 6 AM. Didn't eat breakfast until 9:30AM. HEB - garden salad, can of black beans, 2 hard boiled eggs. Ran on Permian track right before lunch. Lunch was Rosa's - chicken fajita plate, double beans, no rice, lots of salsa, pico de gallo, jalapenos. Dinner in Odessa at Mexican food place - chicken salad. Can of kidney beans and dried veggies I got from HEB for snack before bed. PAGG as prescribed. Gallon water. 2 cold showers.

Day 12 - Thursday: Breakfast at Cracker Barrell - 2 scrambled eggs, dinner salad. Worked out after breakfast. Lunch at La Bordega in Midland. Chicken fajitas, beans, no rice, veggies - looked like it had lots of grease or butter though. Veggie smoothie when I got back home. Dinner was about 3 oz chicken breast and 2 stalks of steamed broccoli. Had cashew butter, carrots, almonds, guacamole when I got home from Gala I emceed. Gallon water. 2 cold showers.

Day 13 - Friday: Ugh - 185.1 this morning. Not good. Up 3 pounds from last Sunday and I haven't deviated. Only difference was that I had to eat out most of the week...wonder if there was just a lot of salt in the "restaurant" food I was eating. Swam at the Y this morning - 30 minutes. Cold shower at Y. If I'm not down below the weight I was last Sunday this Sunday...no "binge day" for me.

Lunch was steamed salmon, black beans w/ chia, and about 5 oz of sauteed cabbage (cooked in 1 tsp canola oil). Veggie smoothie around 5 PM (used hemp protein instead of whey isolate).

Dinner was 1 cup cooked mung beans, steamed salmon. Did "Murph" up at ACU...tough workout. Snack was celery and cashew butter and guacamole...handful of almonds. Drank gallon of water. PAGG as prescribed. Only 1 cold shower.

Day 14 - Saturday: Was 183.4 this morning...1.7 pound difference in a day this late in the week? Hmm...Maybe I will be back to 182.1 tomorrow. Planning on "binging" on Paleo diet including fruit - no bread or dairy tomorrow like I had last week. Breakfast was serving of quinoa (turns out it's a seed not a grain so I can eat it!!), 2 eggs with chopped cabbage. Taught RPM then took H out to a farm to get our eggs...real eggs. I got to go out and see where they lay them and how they gather them. Felt a "butt warm" egg...ha! Lunch was Honey Boy salmon pouch (Honey Boy salmon comes from wild caught alaskan salmon), in a bowl of 5 oz of cabbage and tomatoes sauteed in lemon juice and canola oil with flax seeds on top, 1 c mung beans with chia. Went to the Zoo.

Missed AGG this morning for some reason but got it before lunch. Dinner was can of collard greens, sauteed cabbage, mung beans and chia, and a can of albacore tuna. Snack was celery, guacamole and cashew butter. 1 gallon water. 1 cold shower. PAGG as prescribed. Be interested to see what my weight is in the morning.

4-HOUR BODY EXPERIMENT (Days 1-7)

2011-04-04T07:28:00.001-07:00

I read the 4-Hour Body over the weekend and am going to track my progress for the next 30 days to judge its efficacy. I'm just doing the diet stuff, not the work out part or "other" interesting part of the book - if you've read it you know what I mean.

Who needs a research grant when you can just use your own body!? I started out at 188.2 and 10.2% body fat (according to the machine at Hendrick Health Club). This time last year I was consistently below 180 and around 7.5% body fat...need to get back down in that range before Triathlon season really starts (May 15).

Day 1 - Sunday:

Didn't count this as the 4HB "cheat day" since I was just starting. And my "cheat day" will not include sweets or desserts since I'm going the entire year without processed sugar. It will just include a couple of larger meals and lots of fruit, dried fruit and nuts.

Woke at 630 AM drank 500ml of ice cold water. Had a 3-egg, spinach, cilantro, jalapeno omelet and a smoothie (carrot, celery, spinach, cinammon, 1/2 scoop whey protein, water, ice - it was actually much better than I anticipated).

Ice cold shower #1 - normal water temp to get soaked then turned the spout away from me and turned it all the way cold. Quickly returned to water's flow to rinse. Just about suffocated to death it was so cold. Eventually got used to it and stayed under the spray for about five minutes. Actually very refreshing.

Lunch was some free range chicken, chick peas and spinach. Dinner at Young Life leadership was chicken, sausage, cole slaw and potato salad (Sharon's BBQ). Drank 1.25 gallons of water today.

Really tough Crossfit WOD this afternoon. "Whitten" took me 40 minutes. Did it outside under the hot sun.

Took another ice cold shower before bed. Wasn't as bad as the first.

Day 2 - Monday:

Woke at 630 AM and drank 500ml of ice cold water. Took cold shower (getting a little easier and actually feel extremely refreshed post-shower...we'll see if it has any weight loss effect. Had free range chicken, chick peas and vegetable smoothie for breakfast (carrot, celery, spinach, protein, ice, water, cinnamon).

Lunch had to be quick: spinach salad with Honey Boy canned salmon, pickles, onions, carrots and chick peas on the side. The Honey Boy salmon is wild-caught Alaskan (same place I get my frozen filets from).

Got home a little after five and had a veggie smoothie: carrot, celery, 10 almonds, ice, water. Not good at all. Forced it down though.

Ran a 40:56 10K after Haelyn went down.

Cold shower after run.

Dinner was chick peas and sardines. Put chia seeds and a tiny squirt of mustard in bowl. Microwaved for about 60 seconds...not bad. Also had a can of mustard greens (only ingredients in can were mustard greens and water...no added salt or preservatives). Spiced it with pepper and red pepper flakes.

Had two celery sticks with two tbsp of cashew butter before bed.

Ended up drinking more than 1 gallon of water for the day.

Day 3 - Tuesday:

Woke at 5 AM. Drank 500ml ice cold water. Swam at the YMCA: 4x200 yard intervals with 30" rest periods. Cold shower at Y after swim. Starting to look forward to the ice showers.

Breakfast was the last of my chick peas with chia seeds sprinkled on top. About 2.5 ounces of steamed salmon (no spices or sauces), and a veggie smoothie: carrot, celery, spinach, dash of cinnamon, 2 tbsp whey protein, ice, water...pretty good). Also put a tsp of ground flax seeds in my smoothie. Lunch was 3 ounces steamed salmon, 1 cup red beans (cooked from the bag...no cans) with chia seeds sprinkled on top. Spinach salad with chopped onions, sliced pickles, carrots, ground flax seeds. Dinner at 5:45 PM was can of albacore tuna on top of spinach salad with onions, pickles, carrots. 1 cup of red beans with chia seeds on top. Went to work out at 8:00 PM, drank a smoothie before (carrot, celery, spinach, ice, water, 2 tbsp whey protein, dash cinnamon). Celery sticks with cashew butter (about 2 tbsp) at around 9 PM. Cold shower before bed. Talked to a friend of mine who had great results with PAGG. Going to Natural Food Store and/or Drug Emporium tomorrow to get the stuff to start Thursday.

Day 4 - Wednesday:

500 ml ice cold water as soon as I woke. Slept from 10:30 - 6 AM. Rest day since I'm going to work out on Sunday. Breakfast was 3.3 ounces of steamed salmon, 1 cup of red beans with chia seeds and veggie smoothie (carrot, celery, cinnamon, 1 tbsp whey protein, spinach, ice, 100ml water - those shakes don't need much water). Lunch was at Natural Food Center: spinach/romaine salad with radish, tomatoes, sprouts, guacamole, grilled chicken, and zucchini. Had a bit of Jenn's grass fed beef patty...pretty good. Went to Drug Emporium and found all ingredients of PAGG. Figured up the cost and it's cheaper (on a 20 day/month basis) to buy it here than to get it online). Snack around 5 PM was raw carrot and 5 almonds then a veggie smoothie (carrot, celery, 2 tbsp protein, ice, water, cinnamon). Dinner at 730 PM was 3 ounces salmon, 1c red beans with 1 tsp ground flax. Planning on a couple of celery stalks with 2 tbsp cashew butter at around 930 PM. About to take a cold shower. Will be second of the day (took one this morning). PAGG starts tomorrow.

Day 5 - Thursday: (Day 1 of PAGG) Woke at 530 AM. 500ml ice cold water. Rode indoor bike (2x5:2, 5x1:30")...kept heart rate at or above 160 for most of the working phases. Cold shower. Skipped the warm water part. Went straight to cold.

Took AGG little before 7. Breakfast was 3 ounces salmon, 1c red beans with chia, veggie smoothie (carrot, celery, spinach, ice, water, cinnamon, 1 tbsp protein). Was down to 182.9 this morning. Haven't been below 183 in a while.

Lunch at Sharon's - 4 ounces turkey, 1c pinto beans, salad, lots of jalapenos and pickles. Took AGG about 10 minutes before lunch.

Had a carrot at about 4 PM. Dinner was 1c lentils, package of honey boy alaskan salmon on top of spinach, carrots, celery, and 1.5 oz of avacado. AGG about 30 minutes before dinner.

CF WOD at 7:30 PM. Cold shower. Went straight into cold stream again...stayed in for 6.5 minutes. Night snack was 4 celery sticks with 2 tbsp cashew butter and 24 almonds. Took PAGG before bed. Drank more than a gallon of water today and have had at least 1 gallon of water every day of 4HB.

Day 6 - Friday:

Fell asleep on living room floor at 9:30 PM...didn't wake until 6:30 AM. Highly unusual for me. I get up or at least wake up a few times per night to pee or just turn over or something. Had vivid dreams the entire night. Couldn't believe it when I opened my eyes and it was 630. Weighed 183.9 this morning. Up a pound? Maybe yesterday was a false reading or something.

Took a cold shower, drank 500ml of ice water, and took AGG. Breakfast was 1c lentils, 2 eggs (with chopped cilantro), and a veggie smoothie (carrot, celery, spinach, 1 scoop protein, dash cinnamon, ice, water). 60 grams of protein in that breakfast.

Lunch was 3 oz chicken on a spinach salad with carrots, celery, flax seeds. 1c lentils with chia. Had a smoothie at around 5 PM (celery, carrot, whey protein, cinnamon). Dinner was spinach salad with celery, carrots, avacado, flax seeds, albacore tuna (small package), 1c lentils with chia. Cashew butter, celery and almonds as a snack. Took 2nd cold shower of the day prior to night snack. Took all prescribed AGG today but fell asleep before taking PAGG dose. 1 gallon of water. Worked at this evening, CF WOD "D.T."...

Day 7 - Saturday:

Woke at 5 AM. Weighed 182.5 this morning. Drank cold water - 500ml. Breakfast was lentils, spinach salad with carrots, celery, and some grass fed ground beef (3 oz).

Won the Kirk Goodwin 5K before teaching RPM at 9:30AM. Had a veggie smoothie post workout. Cold shower before noon. Lunch was lentils, ground beef, salad (all same stuff).

Dinner was a bowl of homemade guacamole and black beans. I ate the guacamole with celery. Had cashew butter, celery and almonds for snack. Took another cold shower before snack. PAGG as prescribed today and more than a gallon of water.

BATTLE WITH THE BEAST

2010-12-08T06:52:00.000-08:00

Anyone who's ever run 26.2 miles or more knows him.

He's horrible. He's evil. He's a juggernaut of pain and destruction.

The only time you can ever see him is when you're physically exerted past the point of orientation. Usually around the 20 mile mark for runners. It all depends on levels of fitness, but there's a point for everyone in which he appears.

Before he appears and after he's gone, you can't remember what he looks or smells like. You can't remember how he makes you feel. You can't remember how you responded to his attacks or what your strategy for defense was the last time you met. The only time to experience him is when you're at that rare moment of physical vulnerability. That is the ONLY time you ever see him.

Some call him Fatigue. Some call him Pain.

I call him...Marathon.

He sits in isolation like a Greek mythological god. A total mystery to those who have never met him...and most never will. But when he appears, you'd better be ready to battle because if you're not? He'll leave you in a heap of misery and despair.

He has some cousins and other relatives who like to torment ultra-distance bikers, triathletes, swimmers, and others who partake in bouts of extremely long exercise, but make no mistake, Marathon is the leader of them all. He is the strongest. He is the giant. He is behemoth.

For me, Marathon and I meet up at the 20 mile mark of a 26.2 mile race (I dare not call it what it actually is for fear of upsetting the Beast - so we'll just refer to it as the "race").

I have never experienced him on the bike or in the water. Only while my legs are churning painfully forward in what seems like a never-ending task.

The first time I met Marathon was in 2006 during the White Rock 26.2 mile race. At the time I didn't even know he existed. When he appeared, I didn't even know he was there.

All I knew was that I was experiencing something that I had never experienced before. Like a wounded warrior swinging at an enemy in pitch blackness. I would describe it to you now, but, as I said earlier, you cannot recall what he looks like or how he makes you feel unless you are in the moment - so to speak.

Somehow, Marathon let me wander through his domain that day in 2006. I finished that race under my goal time of 3.5 hours. I thought achieving a 26.2 mile race goal was easy. I had no idea what I had done.

The next time I came face to face with Marathon was the next year in Dallas at the 20 mile mark. This time, however, Marathon was angry. I had not shown him respect at our last meeting (since I hadn't even acknowledged him) and he was out to make a point.

My day ended one mile later in the back of an ambulance. In one short mile (from 20 to 21), Marathon took my training, my diet, my preparation, and smashed it into oblivion leaving me lying in some grass, hypothermic, shaking uncontrollably, fading in and out of consciousness and falling into shock.

While I don't remember what his face looked like, I do remember him hovering over my shivering and beaten body while I lay in the grass that morning. And then he was gone.

Roughly 365 days of thinking about a 3:20:00 finish was wasted.

Marathon and I didn't meet again until one year later (2008). This time I was a little more prepared, but I was still no match. Marathon had called in 70 degree weather and a 30 mph wind that day. While I finished, I was nearly 40 minutes off my goal (and training) pace.

Two years dreaming of crossing the line sub-3:20:00...gone.

His defeat wasn't as pronounced, but it was sound nonetheless.

I ran the half (13.1 miles) in 2009...a decision that ultimately took me far and around Marathon's dwelling place. He didn't even know I was alive that day. One of his minions had given me a hip injury. It's like he knew I was too weak an opponent last year and he didn't even want to mess with me. He disrespected me.

Three years dreaming of 3:20:00...

All this leading up to the 2010 White Rock 26.2 mile race. About a month ago, I ran 22 miles in Abilene. During those last two miles I felt like a knight slowly creeping up to the entrance of a dragon's cave. Those last two miles were like me stepping on and breaking a twig then turning and running away. Marathon slowly opened his heavy eyes...lifted his head...sniffed the air...listened for more noises...then slowly lay his head back down. I had stirred him, nothing more. But I had come away unscathed and gained some confidence just knowing I had been near him.

When the race started on Sunday, my mind was focused on running back to the mouth of that cave: 20 miles away.

At five miles, I had 15 to go before the encounter. 10 miles, I was halfway there. 15 miles, just five left. 18...two to go. 19...one.

About 400 meters before the 20 mile mark, I swallowed my second to last Accel-gel and took a swig of Accelerade. I threw my proverbial gloves on the ground and prepared myself to see him.

I had been dealing with a slight side stitch for about the last three miles, no doubt one of Marathon's lesser relatives I spoke of earlier who he'd sent to rattle me. He had the element of surprise early in our relationship...but no more.

Then, like running through a dense fog which suddenly clears, I saw him. I wish I could describe him to you now. I wish I could tell you about his long and sharp teeth, his beady eyes, the scales on his back, the venom drooling from his mouth. I wish I could say that he wore gruesome ornaments of fallen runners around his neck like trophies, or that he breathed fire or had a deafening roar.

But I can't. Because at this time, I have absolutely no idea what he looks like. It's hard to explain, but he vanishes from sight and memory as soon as the race is over.

Anyway, I don't remember what he looks like, but I remember that I saw him. And I remember saying to him, "That was me sneaking around your cave a few weeks ago, preparing, spying, looking for weakness. And I'm ready. I've never been stronger. You're about to be dominated. For the next 6.2 miles, it's just you and me. Give me your best shot."

And some of those words I actually said out loud while the happy and naive spectators looked at me in confusion and bewilderment. "Who's he talking to?" All the onlookers standing at the 20 mile mark had no idea they were standing smack dab in the midst of Marathon and all his foulness.

They watched me run past with furrowed brows and snarling teeth with no clue of the battle that had just ensued.

I had the upperhand for about the next 2.5 miles, but then Marathon started to wear me down. My pace started slipping and I began to lose some of the mental fortitude which had carried me to that point.

When we met on Sunday, I was one minute faster than my goal pace, coming into his presence at 2:29:00 (little faster than a 7:30 minute/mile pace). Basically leaving me 51 minutes to run a 10K...slower than an 8 minute/mile pace. (A 3:20:00 is a 7:38 minute/mile pace)

His persistance was staggering, and I started to think that a 3:21:09 or a 3:20:17 would still be a respectable time. Still light years faster than my personal best of 3:28:08 four years earlier.

With 3.2 miles to go I had 26 minutes left. A little slower than an 8 minute pace.

2.2 to go...17 minutes. Faster than 8 minute pace.

He was beginning to grin.

That's when the battle really started heating up.

He made sure to show me how much farther I had to run with my watch showing 3:17:00. An endless line of runners (running either 26.2 or 13.1) bounced and surged in front of me like a sea of sweating and disoriented zombies. There was no end in sight. No way I could reach a mythical finish line in less than three minutes.

Finally, I reached the entrance to Fair Park and saw the 26 mile mark a short distance away. Two minutes...

When I crossed the white sign which read "26" I looked down to see 3:18:24 on my watch...1:36 to run 385 yards or 350 meters (all but 50 meters of a lap around a standard track). Slightly slower than a 6 minute/mile pace.

At that moment in my battle with the Beast, I was on my back. His hand or knee, something, was pinning my neck to the ground. And although I don't remember exactly what it sounded like, I do remember him laughing. And I remember being afraid.

At that moment in my battle with the Beast, something clicked. Something inside me started screaming. Now, I do remember what this sounded like: a piercing, banshee-like, supernatural sound that made me cringe under its power. An inner resolve that I knew was there but didn't know exactly how to tap into, began to pulse with strength and fortitude.

At that moment in my battle with the Beast, I realized that I was too close (less than 350 meters) and had waited too long (four years) to miss out on 3:20:00.

At that moment in my battle with the Beast, something inside me snapped.

I broke loose from his formidable grip and began to fly. Bumping and pushing my way through fellow runners (many of whom were also waging their own wars), I bore down and cast aside the feelings of pain and fear, feelings that my legs were about to cramp and that I couldn't breathe. I ignored the massive weight of 26.18 miles of accumulated pain, agony and torture and faded into a feeling of numbness and detachment.

Just a few...

more....

steps........

And then it was over.

I crossed the line. Marathon, shocked and confused, vanished like a shadow blasted with a cascading and blinding light.

A look down at my watch: 3:19:55.

I tried to recreate the scream I had just heard inside my own head. You know, that banshee-like, teeth shattering shriek. I let out a scream with my face pointed skyward, my fists clinched in a ball of epic victory, my arms spread out wide from my body.

The scream chased Marathon back to his dwelling place as I marched triumphantly towards the tables of water and food.

Four years dreaming of 3:20:00...realized.

You never actually "beat" Marathon. Never really "win". But you can survive his presence battered and bruised and end up feeling good about it once he's finally gone.

Did I save anyone's life? Did I do something heroic? Did I do something amazing, that no one else has ever done?

Absolutely not. Hundreds of people were faster than me on Sunday. I didn't do anything great or spectacular. But Marathon doesn't care about competitions or comparisons. It's just him....and you. That's it. That's all that matters.

I think Marathon purposely makes his attackers (runners) forget most everything about him because if he could be recalled, no one would ever want to see him again. And he needs to fight. It's his purpose. It's why he exists.

I know we'll meet again. He's as strong as ever, and I need some time to recover and regain some strength from the battle recently waged.

If you've ever met Marathon, you know exactly what I'm talking about.
If you haven't, maybe it's time to prepare yourself to meet him.

He's always out there...listening...waiting for someone to decide to do something that will push them to the physical limits they never thought possible, and then start to run....and run.......and run...........

Next goal?

3:10:59 sometime in the next five years...

....and a trip to Boston.

Something Marathon will do everything in his power to expire.

CF/TRADITIONAL "HYBRID" PROGRAM - WEEK 12

2010-07-05T08:02:00.000-07:00

Monday (6/21):
CF - Tabata something else: didn't PR but came pretty close. Love that workout. Tabata intervals of pullups, pushups, situps and squats.

Tuesday (6/22):
CF - Run 1 mile, 3 min rest, run 1200m, 2 min rest, run 800, 1 min rest, run 400 = 20:34.

Swim - 1400 yards, main set was 6x100 on 20 sec rest.

Wednesday (6/23):
CF - row 500, 150 DBU, 50 burpees = 12:57. Did in my garage. Last CF workout before race.

Taught RPM this morning at HHC.

Thursday (6/24):
Run - 20 minutes with 6x30 second strides thrown in there.

Friday (6/25):
Rest day

Saturday (6/26):
Rode trainer for 20 minutes in garage, hopped off bike and ran 20 minutes...nice and easy.
Left for Lubbock around 9:15.

Swam for 20 minutes at BSL at around 3 PM. Went to bed around 10 PM. Slept on the floor.

Had a grass-fed beef patty, salad, sauteed cabbage and fruit for lunch.
Ate an entire bag of dried dates starting at lunch through the end of the day.
Had salmon fillet, salad, cabbage, fruit for dinner.
Fruit for snack before bed.

Sunday (6/27):
BSLT Half IM = 5:30:21. Very pleased with how the day went.

Breakfast was three scrambled eggs cooked with mushrooms, onion and squash. Covered with a little bit of salsa. Also had two small oranges. Ate breakfast at 4:45 AM.

Had an Accel-gel at 6 AM in transition.
Had banana at 6:30 AM while walking out of transition.
Sipped on 16 ounces of water with Nuun tablet from breakfast until I left transition.

One hour into the race I had an Accel-gel.
From 1 - 2 hours, I had half a bottle of Accelerade (12 ounces = 120 cal).
Two hours in I had a gel.
From 2 - 3 hours, I had the other half of the Accelerade bottle. I took sips about every 20 minutes.
Three hours in I had another gel.
Off the bike at around 3.5 hours. Had another gel and took a few sips of Accelerade in transition.
Took a gel with me on the run along with my hand bottle filled with water and Nuun table.
Had to stop and urinate in transition, also had to pee on myself about 35 miles into the bike. Good sign. I was drinking LOTS of water throughout the bike. Every aid station I would fill up my aero bottle with another 20 ounces of cold water.
Four hours in I had the gel that I had taken with me.
4.5 hours in I had a GU from one of the aid stations.
5 hours in I had another GU from the aid stations.
Drank my electrolyte bottle during the first half of run, then stopped at every station and filled up the bottle with water...drank lots of water.
Poured cold water over my shaved head at every station as well.
I finished on a dead sprint. Never walked and never cramped (side or muscles).

Felt amazing after the race. After the Half IM in Galveston I was in very bad shape. Could hardly sit at the table at lunch to eat.

Had pizza and ice cream for lunch!! Yumm.....

CF/TRADITIONAL "HYBRID" PROGRAM - WEEK 11

2010-07-05T07:55:00.000-07:00

Monday (6/14):
CF - 30 Muscle ups in 6:58 (pr).

Tuesday (6/15):
CF - rest

CFE run - 2x 800 with 2 min recoveries, 2x 1000 with 2 min recoveries.

Wednesday (6/16):
CF - 5x: 40 DBU, 24" box jump x 30, 1.5 pood KB x 20 = 20:46.

Taught RPM this morning at HHC.

Thursday (6/17):
CF - 7x: 185# front squat x 3, 7 L-pull = 9:50.

Taught RPM in the evening (subbed).
Swam 1000 yards, too.

Friday (6/18):
CF - rest

Long swim - 2200 yards, main set was 12x100 on 15 sec rest.

Saturday (6/19):
Taught RPM in the morning.
Waited until 2 PM and rode 2:20 41.7 miles, hopped off the bike and ran 5 miles in 40 minutes.

Sunday (6/20):
Rest day. Pretty sore from this week's CF and long distance.

Week 11 in the books. Race week. Getting anxious/nervous.

CF/TRADITIONAL "HYBRID" PROGRAM - WEEK 10

2010-06-14T21:23:00.000-07:00

Monday (6/7):
CF - rest

Short run was the CFE run 2 x (1:30"x3, 2:45"x2, 3:2x1). Ran in the neighborhood.

Tuesday (6/8):
CF - for time; Row 1000, 35# KB snatch x50, row 750, KB snatch x30, row 500, KB snatch x20 in 16:50. Did in garage.

Wednesday (6/9):
CF - 225# DL x 10, 50 DBU

Taught RPM this morning.

Thursday (6/10):
CF - 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1, C2B pulls, 30" box jump, GHD sit in 11:04. Tough...

Was going to get up and do RPM but I overslept.

Friday (6/11):
CF - rest
Short swim was 10x100 on 15" rest.

Short bike in the afternoon was 45 minutes. 10' WU, then 4x1:30, 4x1:2, 4x1:30, 10 CD. Very windy.

Saturday (6/12):
Taught hour long RPM in the morning.

Ran 2:10:00 at 2:15 PM. Really windy. Felt great first hour. Second hour was brutal. Choked on my Accel-gel at halfway point. Sunburned bad. Lost a lot of salt...all over my shorts at the end. Felt better physically than after Austin though so that's good.

Sunday (6/13):
Swam 2500 in Jeremie's backyard. Good swim. 4x200, 500, 6x200.

Week 10 in the books. Feel pretty good. Been doing some intense training in some pretty extreme weather conditions which I think will pay off. A little worried about race day nutrition. Still haven't found that magic recipe...

CF/TRADITIONAL "HYBRID" PROGRAM - WEEK 9

2010-06-14T21:17:00.000-07:00

Monday (5/31):
Capital of Texas Triathlon. Not really sure of my real time. Chip time said 2:42 and change but the swim was 300 meters too long and run was .5 mile too long so it was probably closer to 2:30. Still really sore from run on Saturday. Felt good in the water and was able to push it at the end during the run. Good day considering how incredibly sore I was...

Tuesday (6/1):
Complete rest day...first since April 28. Probably a stupid fact...need to rest more.

Wednesday (6/2):
CF - 20' AMRAP of 15 BE, 15 K2E, 95# OHS x 15. Did 6 rounds plus 15 BE.

Taught RPM in the morning.

Thursday (6/3):
CF - rest

Short swim of 800 yards as fast as I could go.

Friday (6/4):
CF - Murph in 29:09. Crushed my PR. Did in the morning on ACU track. Run 1 mile, 100 pull, 200 push, 300 squat, run 1 mile.

Saturday (6/5):
CF - no CF

Rode in Plano area for 3 hours, ran for 1 hour. Had some nutrition issues. Lost my Accel-gels somewhere along the way. Had to ration Infinit which got really foamy and caused me to have some GI pain during the run. Felt great on the bike though. No lower back pain at all. Averaged just under 20.

Sunday (6/6):
Rest day

Week 9 in the books. Took it easy after a tough weekend in Austin.

CF/TRADITIONAL "HYBRID" PROGRAM - WEEK 8

2010-06-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

Monday (5/24):
CF - Helen in 9:22 subbed push up for pulls...bicep a little sore from War Frank.

Short run was the Pyramid II from my Half IM training plan. 4 x 400, 2 x 800, 1600, 2 x 800, 4 x 400. In the morning on ACU track.

Tuesday (5/25):
CF - 5 MU, 95# back squat x 15, 10 MU, 30 BS, 15 MU, 45 BS, 10 MU, 30 BS, 5 MU, 15 BS. Subbed ring dips for MUs. Left bicep a little sore from War Frank. Didn't record time because of the sub...

Short swim was Heavy Tosh. 500 yards with t-shirt on. Right at 10 minutes.

Wednesday (5/26):
CF - rest

Taught RPM in the morning.

Thursday (5/27):
CF - 5 sets of (15' rope climb x1, 5 hand stand push up, 45# one-legged OHS) in 13:33. Tough.

Swam about 2500 yards at the Y for my long swim.

Friday (5/28):
CF - 10 sets of 135# DL x 15, 15 push ups in 13:42.
Drove to Georgetown today. Olympic Tri on Monday.

Saturday (5/29):
Ran 16 miles in a terrible time of a little over 2:14:00. Really hot. Lots of hills. Brutal.

Sunday (5/30):
Rode my bike really easy for about an hour to get ready for race.

Week 8 in the books...pretty beat up.

CF/TRADITIONAL "HYBRID" PROGRAM - WEEK 7

2010-06-14T20:55:00.000-07:00

Monday (5/17): STARTED PALEO DIET TODAY
CF - 25 sq, pushup, pullup, situp; 50 sq, push, pull, sit; 75 sq, push, pull, sit in 22:30. PRed by more than six minutes.

Taught RPM in the evening for my short bike of the week.

Tuesday (5/18):
CF - rest

Ran a 10K in 42:47. Feel good. Played basketball tonight, too.

Wednesday (5/19):
CF - 7 x 3 shoulder press (95, 105, 4x115, 105). Did after I taught RPM.
And I didn't sleep at all. Went to bed at 11 PM...finally got up at 2:30 AM and made Paleo bread.

Thursday (5/20):
CF - 8x400m run on 90 sec rest in 20:35.

Friday (5/21):
CF - War Frank, 3 set of 25 Muscle ups, 100 squat, 35 GHD situps in 37:58. Hands completely bloody after 75 muscle ups. Amazed I was able to do it as rx'd.

Short swim 8x2:1 in the morning at the Y.

Saturday (5/22):
CF - rest

Rode for 3.5 hours (60.1 miles) then hopped off and ran a little more than 5 miles in 40 minutes. Felt slow on foot. Really hot. Didn't get enough calories on the bike (especially with no oatmeal for breakfast). Felt pretty bad last half hour on bike. Surprised I even finished the run at all. Rode south towards Lawn.

Sunday (5/23):
CF - 21,15, 9 135# DL, 95# overhead squat. Didn't record time. Around ten minutes...

Long swim of 2000 yards in 41:48.

Week 7 in the books...good week.

CF/TRADITIONAL "HYBRID" PROGRAM - WEEK 6

2010-05-19T01:34:00.000-07:00

Monday (5/10):
CF - rest day.

Taught 45 minute RPM class.

Tuesday (5/11):
Early morning on ACU track - 10x800 (2:56, 51, 51, 52, 51, 56, 51, 52, 53, 50). Great run. 34 laps in all. Also about 90% humidity.

CF - scaled version of "Garrett" - 75 squat, 25 HSPU (I used paralletes with my feet on the smith machine bar on highest level), 25 L Pulls in 14:14.

Wednesday (5/12):
Taught RPM at 535 AM. An "extra" session...not accounted for in my training plan. Took it easy.

CF - 5K which I did right after RPM on the treadmill. About a 6:50 pace. Nice and easy.

Thursday (5/13):
CF - Total. But I did Helen instead. Don't see the point in doing CF total for a while due to my back...which feels just about 100% by the way. Helen in 8:30 which was a PR.

Tabata treadmill on 9.3 mph and 12 incline. Ugh...always a killer.

Friday (5/14):
CF - rest day.

Raining so I rode inside - 1:25:00. Did an RPM class on DVD then rode for another 35 or so minutes. Good workout.

Saturday (5/15):
CF - 5x 1 minute WBS, 1 minute 15' rope climb, run 400 m - start each round six minutes apart. WBS (22, 25, 25, 28, 30). Rope climb (3, 4, 4, 4, 4). Toasted.

Was supposed to swim but it was stinking lightning all day so the pools were closed. I went to the Health Club and (after a brief warm up) set the speed at 10 (worked up to 10.5) mph and did 30 on, 30 off for 30 minutes. Pretty easy, but just wanted to get the legs moving and sweat a little bit.

Sunday (5/16):
CF - OHS, front squat and back squat all 5x1. Didn't do that. Not ready. Plus my muscles are super sore from the weeks resistance training...need a break.

Got my swim in. About 2500 yards. Didn't wear a watch, just focused on spl (stroke per length) and form. Averaged about 10 strokes per 25 yard length and did my last four 100s in 39 or fewer strokes. Feel pretty good about that. Not sure how FAST I'm going though.

Week 6 in the books. Good week except that I missed a swim due to rain. Starting Paleo tomorrow. Cooked beef liver and chicken today.

CF/TRADITIONAL "HYBRID" PROGRAM - WEEK 5

2010-05-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

Monday (5/3):
CF - 1 rep snatch max...didn't even waste my time. Not ready for this.

Taught RPM in the evening.

Tuesday (5/4):
8' AMRAP of 4 HSPU, 2 pood KB x8, GHD sit x12. I did 1 pood (36 pounds) instead of 2. Completed 5 rounds and through 4 GHD sits in round 6. Tough.

Ran 8x800 on a track after H went to sleep. After 10 minute warmup, did the 800s all under 2:52 (2:52, 2:50, 2:50, 2:50, 2:52, 2:51, 2:50, 2:50). A total of seven miles after warmup and cool down. I run an 800 then slowly jog a recovery lap in the time it took me to run the 800. Feel really good about those times and how my body feels.

Wednesday (5/5):
CF - Oh my heck...155# squat clean, 30 toes to bar, 24" box jump x30, 15 muscle ups, 40# DB push press x30, 30 double-unders, 135# thruster x15, 30 pull up, 30 burpees, 300 foot walking lunge with 45# over head.

OK - I subbed 95# for cleans and thrusters. Also, held 25# plate overhead for first 100 feet of lunge, then held nothing for second 100 feet, then held 35# KB for final 100. Killer WOD.

Swam Lactate Shuttle (CFE) - 5 on, 2.5 off, 6 on, 3 off, 7 on...done.

Thursday (5/6):
CF - rest.

Was going to rest but ended up riding the 10 mile time trial tonight. Did it in 27:04. 4th place out of about 20 riders. Really strong wind and I'm still super sore from yesterday's WOD.

Friday (5/7):
CF - "Linda". Linda is what caused my back pain in the first place. I didn't do it. Not ready for Linda for a long time.

Did traditional "long" swim...almost 3000 meters (mixture of 100s, 200s, 50s, 25s). Speed not where I want it to be...still focusing on new technique.

Saturday (5/8):
CF - "Tabata This", Tabata row, squat, pulls, push ups, situps with 1' rest between each. Scoring method is lowest score for each exercise (6, 20, 9, 15, 15). Pullups done at home so I couldn't kip or that 9 would be much higher.

Ran 30 on, 30 off (seconds) x10 (CFE) on a treadmill with 12% incline at 9.0 mph (6:40 min/mile pace). Tough.

Sunday (5/9):
CF - 5 x max reps of 66% body weight (118) thruster and pulls. I used 115# and did 10/23, 8/20, 8/20, 8/20, 8/20.

Rode for 3 hours (4x15 minute sets thrown in there during first hour). Total of 58.1 miles.

Week five in the books...another good week.

CF/TRADITIONAL "HYBRID" PROGRAM - WEEK 4

2010-05-10T13:00:00.000-07:00

Monday (4/26):
CF - 7x5 Dead lift. Took it easy and did weights of 95, 115, 135, 2x155, 2x165. Just focusing on form and deliberate, slow movement.

Taught RPM in the evening.

Tuesday (4/27):
CF - "Stephen". 30-25-20-15-10-5 of GHD situp, back extension, Knees to elbows, and 95# straight-leg deadlift. I subbed 55# for 95. Did it in 26:36. Back is not 100%, but definitely getting better.

Swam in the evening - "heavy tosh" CFE workout. 3x(50 + 100 + 200) where you rest the amount of time the interval took.

Wednesday (4/28):
Planned rest day.

Thursday (4/29):
CF - 10x2 back squat. Took it easy and did 135#. Slow, deliberate movements. Still recovering.

Friday (4/30):
CF - 50 WBS, 25 pull, 40 WBS, 20 pull, 30 WBS, 15 pull, 20 WBS, 10 pull in 12:54. Did this one on my lunch break on my front porch in the sun. Didn't throw the ball to 10'...just threw it up about a foot over my head. No back pain.

GREAT RUN!! 30' time trial, ran 18.5 laps and my HR averaged 168 over last 20 minutes. Last year I did this "test" and ran just over 18 laps and my HR averaged 173 over last 20 minutes. I'm als0 still really sore from Tuesday.

Saturday (5/1):
CF - 5x 500m row, 135# power clean x12, 95# thruster x15. Used 95# for cleans and thrusters and subbed WBS (with no throw) for sets 2 and 4. Did in garage in 27:27. No pain.

Sunday (5/2):
CF rest day.

Brick workout - rode for 2.5 hours (48.5 miles) then ran for 40 minutes (5.25ish) miles. Terrible sunburn on my lower back where tri top and bottom separate. Can hardly sleep.

Week four in the books...good week.

CF/TRADITIONAL "HYBRID" PROGRAM - WEEK 3

2010-04-23T14:57:00.000-07:00

Monday (4/19):
CF - 7 rounds of (power snatch x 7, snatch balance x 7, OHS x 7) with 95 lbs. I did the bar after an extensive warm up. Not worried about time at all. Focusing on slow, deliberate movement (what I'm thinking of as SDM). Back felt OK. No pain!!! Time of 14:30.

Taught RPM in the evening.
Successful day.

Tuesday (4/20):
CF - rest day.
2000 yard swim. 10' warm up. 30' swim. 5' cool down. New technique coming along slowly.

Wednesday (4/21):
CF - 5 rounds of (Thruster x 5, 5 muscle up, 400m run). Supposed to do thrusters with 155 lbs. I used 65, 75, 85, then two sets with 95. No pain! Got all MU's. Did it in 23:18.

Thursday (4/22):
CF - "Griff" run 800, 400 backwards, 800, 400 backwards in 11:06.
Ran 6x400s with 2' rest (1:22, 27, 21, 15, 18 and 19). Did around ACU so some were completely into the wind, some completely with the wind. Feel good!

Friday (4/23):
CF - "Kelly", didn't throw wall ball up, just thrusted overhead. Very deliberate on box jumps. Jumped up, stood up, then stepped down instead of jumping down. 5 rounds in 23:56. Drenched. Great work out. No back pain!!

Icing, stimulation, stretching religiously, numerous times a day...helping.

Swam 12' time trial. 650 meters. Technique finally starting to click today. Swim was actually fun.
CROSSFIT BIRTHDAY!!! One year ago I started doing CF.

Saturday (4/24):
CF rest day.
Ran a half-marathon course that was suggested for an upcoming Children's Miracle Network race in October. Strong wind out of the west...didn't run an exact distance (give or take a few hundred meters), but I maintained about an 8 min/mile pace. No pain.

Sunday (4/25):
CF WOD was 21-18-15-12-9-6-3 of 135# SDHP and Inverted hang/lower slow, but I didn't do it. Don't think my back is ready for even a scaled version of that one.

Rode 28+ miles in 1:20:00. Good ride.
Week 3 in the books.

CF/TRADITIONAL "HYBRID" PROGRAM - WEEK 2

2010-04-23T14:46:00.000-07:00

Since I can't do CF this week, I've decided to revert back to my Traditional Half IM program until my back is ready...

Monday:
PT at 6:45 AM. Pool work, ice, e-stim, heat, stretching. Feeling better. Bought a Tens unit (portable e-stim) that I can use at home...I'm hooked up to it right now. I use it at work, in the morning, at night. Think it'll be a good investment.

Ran 30 minutes (or about 4.5 miles). Supposed to teach RPM but I had to watch my daughter tonight so I got a sub and ran instead. Planned CF rest day.

Tuesday:
Supposed to do a combination DL, pull-up WOD. Didn't do that b/c of the back. Swam 2300 yards at the State Street YMCA. Working on TI (Total Immersion) swimming form. Completely changing my technique and mentality in the water.

Wednesday:
Did 5:35 AM RPM class. Back felt OK.

PT 6:45 AM. Same program. Supposed to Row 500 then 135 lb thrusters x 7 (five rounds)...yeah right. Planned to do 6x800s (run) today.

Thursday:
Supposed to do rep max on clean, bench and OHS...yeah right. Also supposed to swim a 10 minute TT.
Did the 800s today. Did them all <3 minutes.
Swam about 3000 meters. New technique not clicking yet. Going to take some work. Have to remember to BREATHE!!!

Friday:
PT 645 AM. Same program. Feeling better.
Did an RPM class at home on my indoor trainer. MUCH harder on the trainer than on the body bikes at the health club.

Originally planned to run 6x400s.

Saturday:
Planned to bike 2 hours and CF WOD (7x1 back squat). Raining, so I ran about 1:05 instead. Think I went about 8.5 miles. Miserable run in the rain. Ugh...

Sunday:
Originally planned to CF WOD (10' HSPU, 5' SQ, 2' PULL, 1' PUSH) and swim 3200.
Instead took a rest day.

OK week. Feeling better. May try and scale back in tomorrow...

CF/TRADITIONAL "HYBRID" PROGRAM - WEEK 1

2010-04-23T14:34:00.000-07:00

Monday:
CF - (Jan 16 WOD) Crazy combo of squats, pullups and pushups. Every number listed done in one minute sections of time: 55 sq, 5 pull, 55 sq, 5 push, 50 sq, 10 pull, 50 sq, 10 push, 51 sq, 9 pull, 50 sq, 10 push, 50 sq, 10 pull, 42 sq, 18 push, 47 sq, 13 pull, 40 sq, 20 push - 20 minutes).

MODE - Taught 50 minute RPM class at HHC (Hendrick Health Club).

Tuesday:
Made it through one round of "Fight Gone Bad"...re-injured back. Originally hurt it on February 9 and have just kept re-tweaking it. This is terrible. Went and saw Orthopedic surgeon who set me up with a PT. Can't even bend over and put my shoes on. Worst it's been. Unbelievably frustrating. Doubting whether or not I'll even be able to get sufficient training in. Doctor thinks I'll be OK. Supposed to also do Tabata Treadmill today.

Wednesday:
Physical Therapy - pool work, ice, electronic stimulation (e-stim), stretch. PT thinks it's my quadratus lumborum which has tightened up and been the cause of problems I've had since August (knee, calf, hip). Chiropractor I went and saw in October thought my leg was just shorter, but PT measured and thinks it's a muscle issue. Did some "contract/relax" stretches.

Supposed to swim 10x100 m/y today.

Thursday:
In Ft Lauderdale for work. Back feeling somewhat better. Ran about 4.5 really easy miles in the evening. Actually feel OK but it's still hurting.

Planned rest day.

Friday:
Complete rest. Iced back. Supposed to CF (100 Burpee Pulls) and swim 3200 meters.

Saturday:
Ran about 3 miles on the beach...really slowly. Supposed to run 8x800s and CF WOD (3 sets of 10 rep clean and jerk and 30 GHD situp).

Sunday:
Complete rest. Supposed to CF WOD (3 sets of 50 double-unders and 50 back extension) and bike 40K.

Overall...terrible first week.

CROSSFIT/TRADITIONAL HYBRID HALF IM TRAINING

2010-04-23T14:24:00.000-07:00

Not a whole lot of resources out there for anyone looking to train for and compete in events equal to or farther than Half Ironmans or marathons.

I'm a huge Crossfit fan (had my CF birthday yesterday, in fact) but have decided that my body needs some longer distance experience before my June 27 Half IM in Lubbock.

I believe that just following CF and CF Endurance is sufficient for anything at or below half marathons or Olympic triathlons, but a 3.5 or 5 hour race may need a little "tweaking." So that's what I'm doing.

I'm a little behind, so I'll go back through and make a few "week" posts, then try and update it every few days.

My basic plan is to keep doing CF mainsite (I'm 79 days behind the mainsite so I can plan ahead and know what's coming up) and do 6 mode workouts per week (2 bike, 2 run, 2 swim).

Breaking it down even further: 1 CFE bike, 1 CFE run, 1 CFE swim, then 1 of the "traditional" or longer sessions in each mode.

It significantly reduces the overall volume of training but has just about the same number of workouts than the Half IM program I did last year (and allowed me to finish Lone Star in Galveston in just under five hours). It had hardly any strength training but at least three and sometimes four workouts in each mode per week...tons of volume.

So here we go...

Workout Updates

2009-12-24T06:56:00.000-08:00

Cross Fit workouts of note:

PRed Angie by about 5 minutes. 100 pulls, 100 pushups, 100 situps, 100 squats in 16:01. Previous best was 21 minutes.

Rowed a 15 minute time trial on my NEW C2Rower in my garage!!! Went 4,060 which isn't very good in the rowing world, but it beat my PR by 200 meters.

Worked out at Cross Fit Georgetown over the weekend. Good people over there.
Also worked out at an elementary school "fitness" playground with a pull up bar up to my chest. That was interesting but I got the work in.

Rode a 56:50 20 mile TT on the bike in Georgetown...felt good to get out there and open it up a little bit. Love those Austin hills.

PRed 30 Muscle ups by 3 minutes. Did them in 9:22. Kipped them though because of the type of rings I'm forced to use. Hopefully will be getting some Rogue rings soon.

Oh, and I got 35 and 54 pound KBs and an abmat for Xmas so my gym is slowly but surely progressing. It's actually coming along much faster than I had originally planned.

I have:
C2Rower
med ball
dip rack
paralettes
jump rope
20lb weight vest
abmat

I need:
GH developer
sturdy pull up bar
plyo box jump (20")
rings
Powerblock dumbbells
olympic bar and weights
bumper plates
climbing rope

WHITE ROCK EXPERIENCE

2009-12-24T06:45:00.000-08:00

For the first time since 2005, I did not run (or attempt to run) the Whiterock Marathon in Dallas.

I've been having some hip issues so I decided to just do the half. Per some ideas I generated from the running bible "Born to Run", I ran without a watch and had fun...finished in 1:39:37.

I chatted with people before the race and during. I showed fellow VFF runners and Born to Run readers my Chia Fresca.

I didn't run in my VFFs but saw about eight people with them on...one guy was sans shoes. I saw him about the 24 mile mark.

My hip hardly bothered me throughout the race, but I did start to feel some tightness in my lower left calf/achilles about 6 miles in.

I finished without incident and have not run more than .5 since that day to give my hip/feet/achilles time to relax and recover.

Interesting to note that I have run farther than 6.2 miles one time since April and was able to finish 13.1 pretty easy.

It would have been more interesting to see how I could have done if I didn't have all these stupid little ailments nipping at me. I can't wait to be pain free, and I think I'm close!

Anyhoo, I chatted with fellow runners and smiled throughout the race and had a very enjoyable experience.

I even got a chance to head over to the finish line and watch some of the faster marathoners come through which is very inspiring.

I did notice that about 98% of everyone finising right around three hours had similar running styles and shoes.

They landed under their center of gravity on the balls of their feet and had very minimal support underneath them. Good to see.

My friend, John, who ran the full, was hindered by some calf and quad issues and still ran a 3:20. Must be nice to be limping through 26.2 and still beat my PR by 8 minutes.

Way to rub it in.

Depending on how I feel the next month and if I can finally get some long runs in, I may run the full in Austin in February...but we'll see.

Thanks for reading.

LYNNE and 10:5

2009-12-11T07:17:00.000-08:00

Completed Lynne this morning at ACU.
It's 5 rounds of max repetition body weight bench press and max rep kipping pull ups.

That in mind, I hit the scale to find my BW and it was 179.0. I did a total of 48 reps on bench at that weight in five rounds and 101 pull ups.

My bench was not a PR (last time I did 185# 60 times), but I PRed on the pull ups.
Don't really have a reason for my bench declining like that. Thought I was just tired, but then how could I have PRed pullups??? Hmmmm....

Going to run the 10:5x20 when I go home for lunch. It's a quickie - 15 minutes (including warmup)...but O so intense.

Hip feels good. Looking forward to the 1/2 Marathon.

12/9 & 12/10

2009-12-10T19:26:00.000-08:00

Jumped awake a little after 3 AM on Wednesday and couldn't go back to sleep. Taught RPM at 530 AM all by my lonesome. Went well...

After RPM:
5x1 Shoulder Press at 135#
5x3 Push press at 145#
5x5 Push jerk at 135#

Weight was down from last time, but I feel like my form is improving on these lifts...especially the jerk.

Ran 10 200s on Old Ironsides when I got home from work. Stepped out 250 paces. Hip feels good. Ran the last one in 00:32.

------------

Ended up teaching RPM again this morning but came straight home. Very tired because I woke up again at around 4 AM.

7x1 Dead Lift at ACU after work
(1x295, 3x305, 3x315)

Felt like I could've done more but was really focusing on form and don't want to tweak anything before Sunday.

Came home and slept for about 90 minutes.

TEMPO 90%

2009-12-08T06:42:00.000-08:00

So today's CrossFit Endurance workout was a timed tempo at 90% effort. I had four options: swim, bike, run or row.

It was just below freezing and wet this morning. Hmmm...

Bike for 35 minutes? No.
Run for 35? No.
Swim for 15? Don't want to drive all the way over to the Y. No.
Row for 15? Ah, yes.

Drove to ACU, warmed up on the treadmill and rowed 3,814 meters in 15 minutes. It was a lot harder than I thought it'd be. I've never rowed that long before.

Teaching RPM tonight at 530 PM then again in the morning at 530 AM.

21-18-15-12-9-6-3 & 3x5:3 RUN

2009-12-07T11:20:00.000-08:00

Hand Stand Pushups (HSPU)
and L-pullups.
11:51 PR (never done this one before)

Did this workout at ACU at 6 AM. Abs still pretty sore from yesterday (5x30 GHD sits and 25 back ext) so the L-pullups were particularly tough...never did more than 7 without stopping. HSPUs are done with my homemade paralletes with my feet on the smith machine bar on the highest setting.

After I got finished I stretched then did some unassisted hand stand work. Since I first started seeing if I could hold a handstand without assistance from a wall until now, I have seen drastic improvement. I held up for about 7 seconds today without having to tap the wall with my foot.

It was tough to get up this morning. Still tired from driving home from Dallas at 330 AM on Saturday night/Sunday morning.

When I got home from work I put on my snow suit and ran three, 5-minute intervals with 3 minutes rest in between.

I had absolutely no hip pain on the first two intervals and very, very minor discomfort (wouldn't even call it pain) on the third. Iced twice before I went to bed.

The Wild Geranium extract is doing the trick!!

2009 US OPEN - THE BOOGER INCIDENT

2009-10-13T18:11:00.000-07:00

I don't know who they are or where they live, but someone somewhere is laughing about the guy they saw running in a triathlon who apparently ate one of his boogers for nourishment during the run portion of the race. I can assure you...they are wrong.

On Sunday October 11, I completed the 2009 US Open Olympic Triathlon in Dallas for the second straight year.

I was able to beat my time from last year despite rainy conditions on the bike and an ailing hip.

Wondering about the booger incident? Keep reading...

I left my parents' house at 4:30 AM heading for the American Airlines Center. Once there, I set up my gear for T2, hopped on a charter bus and slept almost the entire 40 minute drive to Joe Pool Lake.

By the way, T2 is "Transition 2" which means the area and time that you transition from the bike to the run portion of the race.

I arrived at T1 while it was still dark, rainy and cold. Last year it was warm and dry.

I had checked my bike into T1 on Saturday so it was still hooked onto the bar at number 276. It was soaking wet.

My hip has really been bothering me for about a month. Turns out my right leg is anatomically 10mm shorter than my left leg which causes some problems if I don't wear a support in my right heel.

I haven't been able to run very much since September 18 so I was a little concerned how the run was going to go. I've been cycling and swimming instead of running.

What about that booger? Almost there...

Anyway, I got everything set up and went through my mental checklist a few more times. This race is a little different in that you don't transition in the same spot both times.

It's a point-to-point race which means once you leave T1, you don't ever come back to T1. So if you want to see anything you leave in T1 again, you have to have it all packed up in a big bag for the high school volunteers to pick up and throw in a truck. Great.

I fought into my wet suit at 7 AM and made my way down to Swim Start about 20 minutes later. After a 15 minute delay, the national anthem and the start of the pros, we were off.

After four triathlons, I really feel comfortable in open water swims. I need to get faster though because I swam as hard as I could and still only posted a 32:36. My goal is to always break 30 minutes at this distance.

Gaining my equilibrium, I shuffled up to my bike (your always a little dizzy coming out of an open water swim for a half-hour), stripped off my wetsuit, put on my helmet, guzzled a few gulps of homemade Chia Fresca (that's foreshadowing to the Booger Incident), put two Goo gels in my pocket, grabbed my bike and made a quick mount onto the course. I was in T1 for 3:06.

It had been raining and misting for the past few days so the entire course was wet, slick and terrifying.

I didn't see anyone fall, but I'm sure there must have been a ton of wrecks. The moisture definitely hindered my speed but I was still able to finish the 40K in 1:14:04...an average of 20.1 mph.

Not even close to my best 40K time (sub 1:04:00) but it stacked up OK compared to the field. Plus there was a slight wind out of the northeast which are the two directions we cycled for the entire 40K.

Another interesting factor in a point-to-point: if you have a tail wind, it's great! A head wind? Not so great. At least it wasn't very strong.

I had a tough time dismounting due to the moisture but was in and out of T2 in a parking lot near the AAC in about 2 minutes. All you have to do there is lose the helmet and add the shoes.

It was at this point that I made my first contact with the family. I saw my brother Jeff holding his camera out, snapping my picture. The American Airlines Center towered over him as I made the turn to run around it.

My mom, wife and daughter were also there. Haelyn (3-month old daughter) had on an outfit that said, "I love my Daddy." She did really good as a spectator...her first race.

I caught them again on the way around the AAC and headed up the Katy Trail.

I carried more homemade Chia Fresca with me on the run and took some gulps periodically.

And finally...without further ado...the Booger Incident.

The Chia Fresca is water, lime juice, sugar and chia seeds.

The seeds have a tapioca-like texture once they've been soaking in their sweet surroundings. The drink is packed with a good balance of carbs, omega-3 fatty acids, anti-oxidants and other good stuff. Great nourishment during a long race.

Anyway, the seeds won't go through the top of a spout so I had to unscrew the cap and take swigs on a dead run.

The three or four times I did this always resulted in a clump of wet, goopy seeds setting up shop somewhere on my face.

On one particular occasion, some seeds ended up on the tip of my nose.

I noticed the cluster, wiped the seeds off with my finger and inserted the energy-giving, nutrient-packed seeds into my mouth...

...at the exact moment I passed some non-racers that were taking a walk on the Katy Trail that morning. They were looking at me funny.

To them it must have looked like a delirious and exhausted triathloner (I won't use the word "triathlete" when referring to myself) pick his nose and eat his boogers.

Nice, Mark. Nice.

My hip didn't start hurting until about halfway through the run but I was able to manage the pain and finished the final 5K a few minutes faster than I did the first 5K.

The run took me 46:21, and I finished all three modes of transportation in 2:38:08.

About a minute faster than last year (when there was a tail wind on the bike and it was dry and warm) and 182nd overall out of 639 participants. The average time was 2:55:16. I just missed the top 10 of my age group of 44 men from age 25-29, finishing 11th.

To give some more perspective, my personal best at this distance is sub-2:25:00 at the Capital of Texas Triathlon in Austin.

Overall, I was very happy about two things: not dying on the wet bike course and being able to finish despite a questionable hip.

Triathlon season is over for a while. Next stop?

Whiterock Marathon in December.

Hopefully I won't eat my boogers during that race, too.

Thanks for reading.

CAPITAL OF TEXAS TRIATHLON

2009-06-08T17:55:00.000-07:00

Austin - My streak of races with absolutely perfect conditions (and no major technical disasters) continued on Memorial Day with my participation and completion of the Capital of Texas Triathlon in downtown Austin in just under two hours and 25 minutes.

Ever since the 2008 Whiterock Marathon, every event I've completed has been picture perfect from the weather, to all my equipment, to my muscles, joints and endurance.

I posted a PR (personal record) in the half marathon in Austin in February, finished more than 30 minutes faster than my goal at my first Half Ironman in Galveston on April 5, and PRed by more than 15 minutes in the Capital of Texas Triathlon (1.5K swim, 40K bike, 10K run).

All events had very little wind, weren't too hot or too cold and couldn't have gone any better all the way around.

I was the first of my wave into the water so I had great position at the start of the race. It was an open water start and about 95 men from ages 25-29 were in my wave.

I hadn't been in the water in more than two weeks thanks to the three fresh tattoos on my arm, side and leg, but I had my best Olympic distance swim ever at just under 30 minutes.

My comfort level in open water is exponentially higher than in my first couple of races. I feel very at home out there...still one of the slower swimmers as all my times have been just barely better than average.

I got out to a quick start on the bike and was able to maintain a speed of just over 23 mph over the 40K course.

On my previous two Olympic distance triathlons, I've been pretty toasted on the run...even had to stop in each race to relieve the cramp in my side.

In Austin, not only was I able to avoid a side cramp, but I maintained a 7:12 mile pace and probably closer to a 7:00 mile pace over the course of the last 5K.

I credit my fast time to the Crossfit workout. If you haven't heard of this and are looking for a way to increase endurance, power, strength, balance, speed and on and on and on, I highly recommend trying it out. Crossfit.com and crossfitendurance.com - do them together.

I'm obsessed.

I guess now I'm just waiting for everything to balance out and have some really horrible experiences coming up soon...

Of course I did have my fair share of terrible experiences ranging from a DNF at the 2007 Whiterock Marathon, to a hellish open water swim experience in Lubbock, to an almost as hellish open water swim experience in Dallas in which the sun blinded everyone in the water, to a relatively slow finish in the 2008 Austin Half Marathon due to the fact that I wasn't sure if my body could handle the stress based on my bonking in Dallas a few months earlier.

My next event is the US Open Olympic Triathlon in Dallas on October 11...my mom's birthday.
Thanks for reading.

WHEN YOU'RE NOT READY TO BE A FULL IRONMAN, YOU CAN ALWAYS BE HALF

2009-04-07T18:18:00.001-07:00

Competition has always been a part of my life. It drives me...makes me tick. I can't imagine life without it. It's the reason I don't just exercise. It's the reason I have to participate in events that push the limits of strength and will.

My first Half Ironman Triathlon could not have gone any better. I would have been pleased with a 5:30 finish but broke the five hour mark on a beautiful day in sunny Galveston.

After a tough year that saw me finish the 2007 White Rock Marathon in an ambulance, battle hip and foot injuries and struggle through my first venture into triathlon, it's been nice to have a couple of races with near perfect conditions and great results.

The Austin Half Marathon was a perfect day that allowed me to post my personal best in that distance, and I couldn't have written a better script for the 2009 Lone Star Half Ironman Triathlon.

A 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike followed by a 13.1 mile run.

My main worry was the humidity. Sunday was forecast to be in the mid 70s with 67% humidity and a strong wind out of the north. I had trained in cold, dry, windy weather. During my 12-week program, every training session I had which lasted longer than three hours was in near-freezing temperatures. My body was not used to warm, humid weather.

The 2008 White Rock Marathon was warm and humid and I finished about 35 minutes off my goal pace after training in dry and cold conditions. I was worried that was going to happen again.

The swim started about 100 yards off shore...an open water swim. There were about 60 guys in my wave. All the men under the age of 29. We were all clumped up together like a bunch of dumb-looking seals.

When the gun sounded for our wave to start, I was immediately grabbed by the shoulders and thrust under water as the perp propelled himself over me towards the first buoy.

After regaining my composure, I set out myself. I wanted to get out of the water in under 40 minutes, but would've been happy with a 45 minute swim. Nothing is more frustrating than coming out of an open water swim and being several minutes slower than you were hoping.

I came out at 38 minutes and broke into a wide grin. The next step was to strip my wetsuit down to my waist and flop down on the ground in front of the "peelers" so they could peel my wetsuit of my legs. The fastest swim of the day was just under 27 minutes...unbelievable.

That being done I headed to my designated area to get ready for the bike. I spent a little less than 3 minutes in T1 - Transition 1 - putting on my helmet, sunglasses, race belt/number and shoes.

I navigated through the winding course up to the seawall where the majority of the course took place and got into my groove. I ended up averaging 22.8 mph through the 55 mile course...it was supposed to be 56 but a small part of the road was washed out due to Hurricane Ike.

At around the 15-mile mark, I noticed a water bottle on the ground. A few miles later I passed a guy with an empy water bottle cage and the exact same bottle I'd seen on the ground in a second cage. As I passed him I yelled out that I had seen his bottle a few miles back. My intention was to share in his disappointment for dropping his vital fluid.

He must have thought that I was annoyed to have to steer around it. He apologized. I think he was from Australia because he called me "mate" and had an Australian accent.

About thirty minutes later I came up out of the saddle to rest my weary bum, and when I looked down at my legs, nearly lost control of my bike. I went squirrly all over the shoulder before finally gaining control. That would have been bad.

I saw three guys stopped on the side of the road fixing flat tires. I prayed out loud to the God in Heaven to please keep my tires inflated throughout the duration of my ride.

Out on the course I started doing the math and realized that if I kept up my pace, I might be able to break five hours. That was exciting.

I came in from the bike about 22 minutes ahead of where I'd hoped to be so I took it easy in T2 taking just about three minutes to prepare for the run. I took my helmet off, put my hat on, switched sunglasses, turned my race number around to face the front, grabbed a sip of water and put my shoes on...without socks.

It's hard to come off the bike where you're averaging 23 mph and start running at a 7.5-8.0 mph pace. Your brain wants to go a lot faster, but you have to keep it slow.

The run was four laps around hurricane ravaged Moody Gardens...each lap about 3.25 miles. The first two were a breeze. I was keeping a little better than an 8 min/mile pace.

However, the wind picked up during the second and third laps making the going much more difficult. I ended up running a 1:47:25...a little over an 8 min/mile pace.

I've run some shorter distances without socks so I decided to save six seconds and not put on my socks...big mistake.

At about the four mile mark, I felt the blisters starting to form. I kept looking down thinking I was going to see blood on my shoes but could never get a good look. Plus I thought "there's no way blood would show up on the OUTside of my shoe with all the sweat and water diluting the substance." I was wrong.

After the run I had blood visible on the outside of the shoe from the six blisters on my right foot. Three on top, one underneath, one on my pinky toe and one on my heel. There were five nasty ones on my left foot but they weren't bad enough to leave blood.

I can't explain what it feels like to finish a race of that magnitude and physical "hugeness." You feel like you've been hit by a truck. But it hurts so good because you know you've done something special...something you'll remember forever.

It also helps to have supporters watching you and cheering you on. Tyrrell and Krystle Henley, my mom and dad and, of course, Jenn stayed out in the hot ocean sun to watch me go by at every stop.

Their presence would give me a boost and make me go a little faster when I'd see or hear them. I can't imagine doing an event without my support team.

My ultimate goal is to complete a full Ironman someday, and I really think I have it in me.

But until then I'll spend time training for and competing in shorter events to stay in shape and keep my competitive thirst quenched. I think it's in my nature to to always have something in my life that makes my heart race and my stomach hurt...the feeling before a football game or speaking in front of a large crowd.

I think it's kind of like a drug...an addiction. Competition.

My next goal? Breaking a five minute mile on my birthday...about 2.5 months away.

Thanks for reading...

10 DAYS TO GO

2009-03-26T18:29:00.000-07:00

Just about ten days to go until my first Half Ironman competition. I feel like I'm physically prepared but you just never know how the body will respond to race day conditions.

If there's anything I've learned from endurance races, it's that you can train all you want, but you'll only be as fast as the event wants you to be.

I'm hoping to finish in less than 5.5 hours. It will be the longest continuous exercise I've ever done. I've had a couple of 4-4.5 hour days during my training period, but nothing over five hours.

My ideal scenario would be finishing the swim and heading out of Transition 1 in 40 minutes. Be off the bike and out of Transition 2 at the 3:4o mark and run a 1:50 half marathon which is slower than an 8 min/mile pace.

The only other thing I'm worried about is not being used to humidity and heat - which I'm sure there will be in Galveston next week.

I've been training in cold, windy and dry conditions. A few of my long bike rides have been done with absolutely no water consumption. That won't happen if it's hot and humid.

Physically, my body feels good. I am having some very minor issues in my right shin. But I don't think it's anything some massaging and ice won't fix.

I'm ready to race!

AUSTIN HALF-MARATHON

2009-02-16T08:09:00.000-08:00

For the first time since December of 2006, I ran in an event feeling good with great conditions.

My goal was to run the Austin Half-Marathon in under 1:30. But I really didn't care how fast I ran it at all.

I was supposed to run 1:20 anyway for my Half Ironman triathlon training so it was really just a training run. Not to mention I had to ride about 55 miles the day before so my legs were somewhat fatigued on race day.

I met Gregg F. at his friends' house at 5:30 AM, and we walked to the start line which was about a mile away. Ryan dropped me off and headed back to his apartment to meet up with the rest of the family. Gregg and I had about a 15 minute walk that got the blood pumping. It was a good time.

We got there around 6:15 and had to wait around about an hour before the race started. It wasn't too cold or humid or anything bad weather-wise...I had on a "trash" beanie and sweatshirt which I discarded shortly after the race started.

I started out with the 3:00 pace group and stayed with them for about the first two miles. About 15 minutes into the race, I left the group and went on ahead.

I crossed five miles at 33:00 and six miles at 39:30. I wanted to be at 10 miles around 1:10 so I could run the final 5K in 20 minutes. I made it to 10 miles at 1:07:15 so I was able to cruise in the final 5K without exerting myself too much.

I ended up running a 1:28:44 which was 78th place overall out of about 7,000 runners who did the Half.

It goes by so fast compared to the full marathon. Before you can even get going it seems like it's already halfway over.

Jenn, her parents, Ryan and Abbie, Brandi and Cindy were all there waiting for me at the finish line. Always good to have family there supporting...

After the race I had to ride about 15 miles back in Georgetown then ate a feast of a lunch and half a pecan pie...it was a good day.

WORST MORNING EVER

2009-01-22T11:37:00.000-08:00

I was already pretty tired last night and thinking about maybe making today, Thursday, my "off" day and doing my planned swim, run and weight lifting workouts on Friday.

Deciding against it I went to the trouble of packing my bag including socks, shoes, briefs, undershirt, pants, shirt, tie and belt for work...razor, mirror, shaving cream, deoderant, toothpaste and toothbrush for the locker room...stopwatch, workout folder, shorts, t-shirt and swim jammers for my actual work out...banana, cup of milk, package of oatmeal and paper bowl for breakfast...and set out my tennis shoes, wind pants, sweatshirt, wallet, phone, wedding ring, keys and work documents.

Needless to say, it's kind of a pain to get all that together.

I woke at 4:30 AM wanting nothing more than to roll over and sleep another three hours. But I fed the dogs, gathered my belongings and headed out the door with just enough time to get to the YMCA as the doors opened at 530 AM.

Halfway there I realized I had forgotten one thing on my list...one necessary item that you can't swim without...goggles.

I mumbled something incoherent under my breath as I turned around and headed back to the house.

On the way my stopwatch (which was in my pocket) felt like it was going to fall out my pocket, so I took it out and set it on my lap.

I reached the house, raised the garage door halfway, stopped the car at the base of the driveway, hopped out, ran inside, grabbed the goggles, ran back to the car, hopped in, shut the garage door and headed back the way I'd come just seconds before.

Only about ten minutes off schedule. No big deal.

I reached the YMCA. Gathered my belongings. And walked inside. It was 5:40 AM.

After trudging up the stairs with my clothes and suitcase, I crammed my bag into my locker, undressed, put my clothes in the locker, reviewed my 3200 meter swim workout, picked up the formerly forgotten goggles and started looking around for my stopwatch (yet another necessary item as the entire workout depends on time).

No sign of it.

Not in my pocket. Not in my bag. Not on my wrist.

I remembered setting it on my lap in the car and thought it might have fallen out in the YMCA parking lot...and keep in mind it's very early and I haven't awakened all the way.

At this point I'm starting to lose valuable time, so I ran outside and looked all around and inside my car for the watch.

No sign of it as I squinted into the darkness beneath my car and in the shadows of its interior.

I ran back inside and asked the YMCA lady for a flashlight. She had one. The battery was dead.

I ran back upstairs and rechecked my bag. Not there.

That watch is also a heart rate monitor so it's not cheap. I couldn't just have it laying around for someone to take or runover. I had to know where it was.

I called Jenn's cell...it was dead.

I called the house. Jenn fumbled with the phone for about 10 seconds, dropping it a few times before she could finally raise it to her ear.

She wasn't happy. I asked her to please look and see if my watch was in the driveway. She remained unhappy.

About a minute later she came back to the phone..."it's not there."

Crud.

Nearing 6 AM I had run out of time to swim and workout. I had to find that watch.

I went back downstairs where the YMCA lady had just found a working flashlight. I grabbed it and ran outside. The addition of artificial light helped a great deal but revealed no watch.

I ran back inside, trudged upstairs, gathered my belongings, trudged downstairs, loaded everything back into my car and drove home. I was not happy.

The watch was at the bottom of my driveway. Just far enough away to escape Jenn's sleepy gaze moments before.

I picked it up, parked the car, walked inside, dropped my belongings, slipped off my shoes and got back in bed. It was 630 AM.

So now in order to be able to sleep in tomorrow (my "off" day), I'm going to have to workout, swim and run tonight which will take about 2.5 hours.

I should have just slept in this morning instead of waking up at 430 AM and being up for no reason for two whole hours that I could have been enjoying wonderful, deep, peaceful sleep.

Now I'm tired and won't make it home until 9 PM.

At least I get to sleep until 7 AM tomorrow...

"Worst Morning Ever" is an overstatement. But that's definitely what if felt like at the time.

COLDEST RUN EVER

2009-01-15T19:08:00.000-08:00

I woke this morning at 5 AM. Hit the "T" on my blackberry which dials the time and temperature. Listened as the recorded voice told me it was 22 degrees. And prepared for the coldest I've ever been...ever.

I wore thin Nike shorts. A tight, long-sleeve Nike shirt and a loose-fitting long sleeve shirt I was given for finishing the 2008 White Rock Marathon.

I normally don't wear gloves or anything on my head, but I did today. Thin gloves. A thin head piece.

My training had me running for 1:15:00, so I decided to run to my marked five mile point on CR 503 north of my neighborhood...a total of 10 miles.

Normally I keep my hands and fingers moving when it's cold since I'm usually bare handed. Since I was wearing gloves, I guess I thought my hands were fine.

I was wrong.

One hour, fifteen minutes and 10.5 miles after a run which the wind chill was in the teens, I tried to open the front door and realized that my hands weren't cold, they weren't hurting, they weren't tingling. I couldn't feel my fingertips AT ALL.

I managed to get the door open with my elbows and stumbled inside to the guest bathroom where I couldn't wait to put my hands under warm water.

I was a little disoriented and turned the faucet to the hottest it would get, waited a few seconds and held my hands underneath the scolding deluge.

I must have held them under the water for 10 or 12 seconds and didn't feel a thing. I could barely feel my face at this point.

What happened next I've never experienced before.

My hands seemed to "wake up" from a deep sleep. And it was like they woke up from a nice, peaceful sleep at the exact moment a pack of hungry wolves broke into their home and began attacking without mercy, ripping flesh, devouring blood, killing children, drinking the last bit of milk in the fridge, whizzing on the new couch, pooping on the marinating chicken, calling a mob boss and insulting his wife while pretending to be the residents, chewing through the television cable and leaving nothing behind.

I don't know if it was the cold blood in my hands being revived or if my hands were just burned from the water, but the pain was so intense and lasted for so long that all I could do was scream out in frustration.

And I screamed.
And I screamed...

And I screamed at the pain, confusion and frustration. Jenn was thrilled.

Oh the pain.

My hands eventually warmed up, and I was able to get ready for work. Although my right pinkie is still tingling and numb.

Moral of the story - move your fingers when it's cold even if you're wearing gloves and run luke warm, LUKE warm water over cold, numb hands to GRADUALLY bring life back to the extremities.

Live and learn.

Man it was cold.

DOMINATORS EXTEND WINNING STREAK TO THREE

2008-12-21T11:29:00.000-08:00

Patriots lose again despite major off-season changes

Plano, Texas – In the end, it all came down to the quarterback-dads.

In a game much closer than expected, the Dominators of the FFL (Family Football League) extended their all-time record against the Patriots to 3-0 with an 11-10 overtime win Saturday at Hackberry Park in Plano.

Overtime rules in an FFL game call for the opposing quarterback-dads to throw an uncontested pass from the seated position. The farthest throw wins, and Keith Seibert, the Dominators newly-acquired flame thrower, proved to have a stronger arm than Patriots long-time quarterback-dad Urban Rogers.

“Urban’s throw went the length of the field so I was pretty doubtful I’d have enough in me,” Keith screamed from the shoulders of his teammates after the game. “But I just dug deep and was able to throw the pass of my life. This is the greatest day ever.”

Michael Seibert, a new addition to the Patriots in the off-season, took home the coveted MVP trophy despite the loss with an unprecedented seven touchdowns in the game.

“I was happy to come out of retirement to try and help the Patriots out,” Seibert said as he slowly strolled off the field with his head down. “I had a good game, but it really doesn’t mean much right now. They signed me to help win, and we didn’t get it done. I think I have a rash.”

Seibert was an offensive force in the late 90s for the Chim Chim Charoos, but was indicted and charged with having an inappropriate relationship with a basketball. He served time but was later cleared of any wrongdoing. The incident effectively ended his career, until his coming out party today.

His late-signing wasn’t the only change in the game this year. In the off season, Dominators’ wide receiver, Allison Seibert, made it clear to team management that she was not happy with her contract.

After several weeks of negotiating with her agent, something team owner, general manager and MVP, Mark Rogers, does not do often, both parties felt it was best for Allison to move on. She was reluctantly traded to the Patriots for semi-retired and oft-injured Jeff Rogers.

Jeff couldn’t have been happier with the move since he was about to be released anyway.

“I just love playing the game of football,” Jeff said from his mother’s basement while playing Fable after today’s game. “I thought this was the end of the line for me with my back being as bad as it is, but Mark Rogers just showed what kind of owner and person he is by trading for me. I’m so thankful. Mark is really a shrewd business man. I think I'd like to date him.”

The Dominators also signed Allison Rogers’ dad, Keith Seibert, in a move that seemed motivated by Allison’s desire to leave the team. Rumors spread that the Dominators acquired Keith to create controversy and a distraction for Allison. It was an awkward press conference for all involved. Especially when Allison yelled, "I hate you, Dad. I hate you," and walked out.

The Dominators claimed Keith was necessary since then the team needed an extra player with Jenn Rogers on IR with a baby in her belly. Team doctors did not clear her to play. She could have cared less.

The FFL playing field, Westwood Park, had to undergo an emergency sprinkler installation so the league scrambled to find a suitable alternate venue.

Officials found and secured Hackberry Park with a payment of $100,000 to the local Boy Scout chapter. Officials argued that they were grossly overcharged. The Boy
Scouts just giggled and disappeared in between some houses with the money.

With the new teams assembled and a playing field determined, the stage was set for the third annual grudge match.

The cones were set, flags were handed out and the rules determined. The teams would play a total of 20 points. Whoever had the most points after four 5-point quarters would be declared the 2008 winner. In the event of a 10-10 tie, officials would come up with a tie-breaker.

The team captains met at midfield, Allison Rogers of the Patriots and Jennifer Rogers of the Dominators.

“It was weird meeting Allison at midfield before the game,” said Jennifer. “She’s been such a big part of what we’ve accomplished over the last few years. I spit at her but the wind took it just wide and I missed. I immediately apologized and we hugged.”

Jennifer won the best-of-three Rock, Paper, Scissors match and the Dominators took the ball first.

Heading into a stiff wind, newly acquired Keith Seibert and team MVP Mark Rogers decided to pull one out of the bag and go deep on the first play. It worked.

Mark ran a streak past Brad Rogers, who hyper-extended his knee and clumsily fell down, and Keith hit him in stride to make it 1-0 with just three seconds off the clock. It seemed the Dominators were on their way to another decisive victory.

It was the first 100 yard play in FFL history, but it would not be the last of the day.

The Patriots took control at their own goal line. After a short pass to Brad, who was able to walk off the knee injury, Urban Rogers hit Michael in the end zone to pull even, 1-1.

But Michael wasn’t done there. He intercepted Keith on the next Dominators’ possession and returned it for the score giving the Patriots their first lead of the day, 2-1.

On the next Dominator drive, Keith hit Jeff on a short pass. He then lateraled to Mark who outran the defense for the TD, and the score was tied at 2.

The first quarter ended with the second 100 yard pass play in FFL history. Urban hit a streaking Brad and the Patriots led 3-2. Mark had flawless coverage on the play.
It was just a perfectly thrown pass.

Michael continued his record-setting day with another pick-6 (or in this case, pick-1) to give the Patriots a 4-2 lead. Keith sat alone on the bench with his head in his hands.

But he couldn’t sit there long and the Dominators responded when Jennifer caught her first of two TD passes of the game keeping the score close.

Urban hit Michael with a jump pass capping a three-play, 100 yard drive that kept the Pats up two points.

At this point the game seemed to be over. A two point lead in such an offensive shootout would seem to have been enough, and the Dominators had yet to get a defensive stop.

With the game slipping away, Keith and Mark decided to go deep again. And for the third time in the half, the FFL record for longest play was tied as Mark streaked 100yards to catch the perfectly thrown touchdown pass.

The momentum stayed with the Dominators when their first defensive stop finally emerged. Mark intercepted a worn out Urban and ran in for the score.

“I tried to stop my arm from making the throw,” said Urban. “But my elbows are just too weak, and I thought I saw a man dressed up like a Diet Pepsi. I was distracted.”

At the end of the first half the score was tied at five points each.

The third quarter was more of the back-and-forth action. Michael caught another touchdown pass, and newly-acquired receiver, Jeff, caught a touchdown pass and intercepted Urban for a score giving his team their first lead since it was 1-0 in the first.

The Dominators were rolling and on a 4-1 run.

Michael then made the catch of the day, a one-handed beauty for a score. Jennifer countered with her second touchdown catch, and after three quarters of play the Dominators held an 8-7 lead.

The fourth quarter was full of controversial and odd plays.

On the Patriots first drive of the final quarter, Brad executed the “whirling dervish” route to perfection. He twirled in circles with his arms straight out all the way down the field singing "The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music", knocking down his own teammate in the process, and was able to clear enough space to catch a pass in the front corner of the end zone.

The Dominators countered with the longest drive of the game, a 6-play march that ended with Keith hitting Mark to make it 9-8.

Just seconds later ex-Dominator turned Patriot, Allison, who’d been used as a decoy much of the game, made a great catch over two defenders that knotted the score at 9.

“It was great to score against my old team,” said Allison while pulling away in her new Cadillac Escalade. “I love my new contract.”

On the first play of what could have been the Dominators’ final possession, Keith tried hitting Mark on a deep bomb, but Michael was playing a zone and jumped the route. On the ensuing interception return, Keith reached out and pulled Michael’s flag just short of the goal line. Since the quarterbacks-dads were only supposed to throw the ball and count to ten, officials reviewed the play in the press box and ruled the play a touchdown. The Patriots held a 10-9 lead.

The Dominators had one chance to tie the score and get into overtime. A failure to score would have meant a victory for the Patriots and vindication for Allison and the Patriots.

Facing a third-and-long, Keith fired a low pass to Mark who dropped to the ground to make the catch in a cloud of dirt. When the dust settled, it was clear that the he had picked up a first down.

Facing third and goal, Keith fired a bullet to the back of the end zone for Jeff, but he was ruled out of bounds.

Fourth Down. A touchdown would send the game into overtime. An incomplete pass or interception? Game over.

The Dominators faked the shovel pass to Mark which drew the defense’s attention away from Jeff. Keith dodged Urban as the tall, lanky defender dove out for his ankles, rolled right only to find Mark covered by Michael, rolled back to his left, stepping over a fallen Urban who wasn’t anywhere near getting up, and lofted a pass into triple coverage.

Jeff leaped up in the air with flashes of greatness entering his head. A catch in a moment like this would prove that he was a good player which the Patriots should have never traded.

The ball landed in his hands. His feet came down in bounds. It was tied 10-10. And how the Dominators rejoiced.

The victory celebration was short-lived as league officials had to discuss the tie breaker. After consulting the rule books (since there has never been a tie at the end of regulation), it was determined that the quarterbacks-dads would have to throw a football into the wind from a seated position. The farthest throw would win the game.

“Urban’s throw was a perfect spiral and went the length of the field,” said Mark afterwards while hoisting his third consecutive FFL Championship Trophy. “I had my doubts since Keith is still recovering from the motorcycle accident in Las Vegas, but as soon as it left his hand, I knew it would be the winning throw.”

All Michael and Brad could so was say, "Oh no." It was the closest game in league history and third straight loss for the Patriots.

“I’m really getting tired of losing,” Brad said. He then added, “Geeez.”

Brad only had two touchdowns in the game since he was blanketed by Mark for most of the contest. Mark ended up with four touchdown catches and an interception return for a score. Jeff had three touchdowns, Jennifer scored two and Allison had one.

There was no debate about Michael getting the MVP trophy. He scored on offense four times and had three interception returns for touchdowns. A feat that may never again be duplicated, it was the shining moment in a long and prolific career for Michael.

The quarterback-dads also played exceptionally well. Urban threw seven touchdowns and was picked off twice while Keith threw eight touchdowns but was picked off three times, all by Michael.

Urban retired immediately after the game. Something he’s done each of the last three years. We expect him to play again next year. He was still laying on the field when the rest of the players left to go eat lunch.

The only spectator at the game this year was Janet the Photographer. She didn’t have media credentials but since there was no one else at the game, officials allowed her to work her magic.

It was a fantastic chapter in the FFL series. We can only hope for another great match up next year when the teams meet up during the Christmas holiday.

WHITE ROCK 2008 - A LESSON IN THE AWESOME POWER OF MARATHON

2008-12-14T21:51:00.000-08:00

It was supposed to be warm and windy.

But I wasn't prepared for what the 2008 White Rock Marathon had in store for me this year. The wind was blowing 30 mph out of the southwest, it was 70 degrees at race time and very humid (very humid for a guy who trains in Abilene).

I trained for 18 weeks at a 3:20:00 pace, and the only run I didn't make time was caused by a very stiff south wind.

I was supposed to run about a minute off my pace until the seven mile mark, then catch up to my pace at 12 and run the rest of the race at my pace or faster. That's how I'd trained...that's what I was expecting.

What I wasn't expecting was what the humidity/heat would do to my heart rate. At the first mile...the first mile...I was 50 seconds slow and my heart rate was way too high.

I had to shed my shirt in the third mile and poured at least two cups of cold water on my head at every water station for the duration of the race.

By the 11th mile I was two minutes off pace and about to turn south into that horrible wind. So I did something I would have never even imagined I would do one year ago - I turned my stopwatch off.

I switched my watch to just show my heart rate and monitored it the rest of the way. I tried to just run and enjoy the ride. A lesson I learned from my good friend Gregg Fuhrman - who was just about 90 seconds behind me at the time.

It was 3:20:00 or bust last year, and I sure did bust. But I ran a much smarter race this year and decided I didn't care how fast I finished...just that I finished.

And the beast they call Marathon taught me another lesson. One can never say "I will run a ____ time in the marathon today." You have to say "I've trained at a ___ pace, and will run whatever time Marathon wishes me to run today."

I was reminded what a physically daunting task Marathon is today and was proud that I finished.

Frank Shorter (the last American man to win the Olympic Marathon) covered the race for WFAA in Dallas. He said the conditions today could be compared to running at altitude...like going to Colorado and running when you haven't been training there.

I haven't run in 70 degree weather since August and have only run in that kind of wind a few times over the last three years.

I ran past the point which I "bonked" last year (little after 20 miles) and was in a lot of pain. My heart rate had hovered around my anaerobic threshold since the first mile and it was taking its toll on my muscles and lungs.

I took a few "test" steps at a walk and immediately broke back into a jog just to make sure I could still run - last year at around 21 miles I stopped to walk and was never able to run again that day.

After I had determined that I could, in fact, walk then run, I decided to slow it up and walk to try and get rid of the horribly painful side stitch that sunk its gnarly teeth into my lungs just under the right side of my ribcage.

A slender man in his thirties came up behind me, and we talked and walked for a few minutes. He told me that he was trying to run a 3:15:00 today but the wind around the lake had sapped all his energy. This is a guy that ran track in college and has run a sub-3 hour marathon before.

He made me feel a lot better, and after a few hundred yards he broke off into a run wishing me good luck in the process.

About thirty seconds later, I felt a hand on my shoulder. I looked back to see Gregg had caught up to me and wasn't prepared to pass me. We could think of no better ending to the day than crossing the finish line together.

We walked together for a few minutes, picked up to a run and jogged the rest of the way in...barely breaking 4 hours.

Both of our personal bests are around the 3.5 hour mark. It was a rough day for both of us physically, but mentally it couldn't have ended better.

My legs began feeling fatigued early on...something that has never happened to me while training. Very frustrating but just speaks to the awesome power of Marathon.

On a tragic note, a few minutes after Gregg and I met back up around the 23 mile mark, we passed a horrifying scene. A young woman was receiving CPR on the curb. She had apparently stopped breathing and we could hear a man counting out loud while he administered chest compressions.

Tonight I found out that the woman, 29, was a participant in the race and died right there on the curb.

I thought I was going to throw up when I took the scene in, and it took everything in my power to keep running as bad, physically, as I felt.

My heart and prayers go out to the woman's family and all involved in that tragedy. That scene will haunt me forever.

Here are some things I remember from the race...

A young woman was running a few yards in front of me in a residential street and clipped the side view mirror of a car with her hip causing her to crash to the ground. I was going to stop and help, but two other runners ran to her aid...I tried reaching for a water bottle a young girl was holding out but at the last second she brought the cup back into her body not knowing I was grabbing for it. I missed and knocked the cup all over her neck and shoulder. I felt terrible...I passed a guy with a wig and an inhaler in his headband...A sweet old man held out an orange slice for me, but he dropped it before I could make contact. It dropped to the pavement and I ran on as he tried to pick it up and hand it to me...Two young men in speedos and running shoes were running in front of me for a few minutes at the beginning of the race, gross...At around the 20 mile mark I felt something warm running down my leg. I thought it was blood at first, but when I looked down I didn't see anything. I don't know what it was. That kind of freaked me out...I passed the 3:30:00 pace group at five miles. They caught me at 15. I tried to stay with them, but couldn't keep up...At the very beginning of the race, I noticed a man with gel packs in the back pockets of his shorts that were not secured and bouncing around. A few steps later, everyone one of the packs had fallen out. Poor guy...I didn't make small talk with anyone this year, something I've done the last two years. Saving my energy...My quads felt like someone was hitting them with a sledge hammer with every step at around the 21 mile mark. After I walked for a few minutes and started running with Gregg, they suprisingly felt much better...I had no other pain at all, not foot, not knee, no pain...I cried when I crossed the finish line. That kind of physical mountain of a task makes you lose control of your emotions...I showed my marathon tattoo at a couple of the picture stations along the way...I never did see the woman who helped me last year when I collapsed. I looked for her diligently...People normally yell your name out as encouragement and no one was calling my name. Towards the end of the race I noticed my race number had blown up and the back was showing. No one could read my name...There was one sign that said "If you can read this, you're in front of my husband." I thought that was funny...I saw a guy walking three beagles. It made me smile. A few minutes later, I saw two more beagles...I saw a little girl holding a cup of water on the curb. Her large dog nosed at the cup and it spilled all over her. Her dad laughed. So did I...When I switched my watch from displaying the time to just displaying my heart rate, I looked across the lake and smiled...The shore of the lake looked like the ocean. The waves were turning over and crashing onto shore...I smelled a cigarette when I ran through one of the aid stations. That made me mad...I was also mad when I saw some little kids holding out a box of Starburst. You get irritated easily at around the 22 mile mark...I turned the final six miles into two mile sections. I'd say to myself, "just two more measley miles"...From the 15 mile mark when the 3:30:00 pace group passed me until Gregg found me at 23, I anxiously looked back at every approaching footstep hoping to see him so we could run together...I saw a golf cart carrying a runner late in the race. I wanted to hope on and ride in. I was in a lot of pain...

What I learned today was that you can't control the elements on race day. You just have to go with what is given to you. If you finish at your goal? Great. If not? You'll live to race another day.

Last year I was devastated that I didn't finish at my goal (I didn't finish period). This year I finished forty minutes off pace and couldn't have scripted a better ending to the 18 weeks of training...finishing with my friend Gregg.

It was the perfect ending to a warm and windy day.

And I can't wait for my next racing adventure! Thanks for taking the time to read...

DOMINATORS LOOK TO EXTEND WINNING STREAK IN ANNUAL GAME

2008-12-09T07:09:00.000-08:00

Abilene, Texas - On Saturday, December 20 the Dominators and Patriots of the FFL (Family Football League) will meet in Plano for the third time in the league's young history.

The Dominators hold a decisive 2-0 all-time series lead, and at the league's summer meetings in Abilene, Dominators' owner, general manager and MVP Mark Rogers was not shy about his feeling that the trend would not change.

"We have the same core players. We're faster, stronger and more athletic. Why would I think the Patriots would even have a chance against us? Because Brad wears a bandana? Please."

The 2007 game was reviewed this summer at the meetings and it was determined that after breaking both knee caps, Patriots QB and Turnover Machine Urban Rogers will be required to wear knee pads and a helmet in 2008 per a league insurance policy. Brad Rogers, the Patriot offensive lineman turned hero in 2007, was fined $10,000 for displaying a poor attitude at the completion of last year's game when he muttered "Geeez" under his breath and walked away from the field. To date, he has still not paid.

In 2006 the teams met in the inagural FFL game. They marked the playing field with shoes and articles of clothing and played down-by-two-touch rules. The appropriately named Dominators won in a route as Mark Rogers, Jenn Rogers, Jennifer Rogers and Allison Rogers executed their game plan to perfection in all three phases - defense, offense and special teams.

Last year, after the league was able to raise funds through its charitable non-profit organization "Heal Urban's Knees, Please", the two teams were able to use cones to mark the field and had flag belts to determine when a player was no longer eligible to advance the football.

In that game Mark Rogers had an unprecedented two interception returns for touchdowns, a kick off return for a touchdown, ran for another score and threw a touchdown pass in a 5-4 win. It was the greatest performance in league history, and league officials erected a monument next to the field in his honor. Last month a gang of hoodlums vandalized the monument, and it was taken down. Initial reports named Jeff Rogers as the prime suspect. No charges were filed, and Jeff has declined comment.

Others believe that Mark Rogers, himself, vandalized the monument. He was not in favor of the recognition and was quoted several times throughout the offseason heaping praise on his teammates rather than taking all the glory himself. What a team player.

Over the last year, the athletes have been keeping in shape and preparing for the game in their own mental and physical ways.

Urban Rogers is on a strict diet of Pepsi and Kolache Station dinner rolls in milk. He exercises by pushing himself back and forth with his heel while sitting in his rocking chair. Jeff Rogers continues to rock climb and pole dance at bed-and-breakfasts around the Long Island area. He and his wife, Allison, are in prime condition after living in New York City for the last 12 months. They are constantly running from criminals, muggers and celebrities. Jenn Rogers is pregnant and may be a liability for the Dominators this year...oh wait...she almost cost them the game last year, too...and rolled her eyes just now when she read this. Mark Rogers continues to keep himself in shape in unorthodox ways by hanging upside down from the side of his couch and seeing how much water he can drink before it comes out his nose or he loses control laughing. Rogers believes this helps with hand-eye coordination. Jennifer Rogers' work out regimen consists of chasing after little kids and lighting things on fire. She has also been working on her rotator cuff strength by throwing Chinese darts into the back of her husband's 67-inch LCD TV. Her aforementioned husband, Brad, is in prime physical condition. He has lost more than 75 pounds and completes Ab Ripper 90 X every other day with his sole motivation the upcoming FFL game.

"My favorite part of the day is when I'm finally done with Ab Ripper 90 X and the guy is like 'you've just completed Ab Ripper 90 X.' Then I know I'm almost prepared for the game," Brad said after just completing Ab Ripper 90 X.

In an interesting twist this offseason, Mark Rogers has invited members of Allison Rogers' family, the Seiberts, to join in the game this year. Rogers has cleared the additions with the league and if they accept, Michael Seibert would join the Dominators, Meredith and Keith Seibert would join Urban, Brad and Jeff on the Patriots.

Other Seiberts (namely Lara and Katherine) who will be available and wish to be included in the game need only contact Dominators GM, Mark Rogers to gain access.

The Seibert family relocated from Eastern Russia ten years ago and are considered by many to be the most talented family from Eastern Russia in history.

The King of the family, Keith, can play the guitar and is well-known for his four-year term spent as a CatchPhrase judge. Janet, yon Queen, is a marvelous cook and can read people's minds. The eldest daughter, Allison, vaulted into celebrity status with her circus catch during last year's FFL game. Michael, the only son, has 32-inch biceps, once killed a bear with chop sticks, beat Mike Tyson up in an alley fight and likes to lick the chocolate from the bottom of the brownie mixing bowl. His wife, Meredith, instigated the Mike Tyson fight when she threw a cupcake at him for, according to police reports, "looking at me wrong." She is also a world-class pole vaulter. Lara Seibert just won a Tony for her performance in the Broadway Musical "Wumsee-doodle, the Story of Mike Tyson getting Beat up In an Alley by a crazed Maniac." And last but not least, Katherine Seibert - the youngest of the bunch. She defeated Dwyane Wade in a one-on-one game on a neutral court and was mentioned by Kobe Bryant during his MVP acceptance speech. None of the Seiberts speak english.

"We're not sure if the Seiberts or which ones will be able to participate, but we'd sure love to get them involved. Michael Seibert is a force to be reckoned with and can bench press more than 600 pounds," Rogers said at a press conference earlier this week. "I mean, c'mon, the guy beat up Mike Tyson in an alley fight. They even made a musical about it."

Rogers also said the teams would be fair if these additions were made with Mark, Michael, Allison, Jenn and Jennifer (2 male, 3 female) pitted against Urban, Keith, Brad, Jeff and Meredith (4 male, 1 female).

If Lara and Katherine are able to attend, Lara would play for the Dominators and Katherine for the Patriots. Any other combination of players will be determined by league officials prior to the game.

The game will kick-off at 11 AM at Westwood Park in Plano on Saturday, December 20. Pre-game coverage will begin at 10 AM.

Please send any questions and/or comments to the FFL Commisioner, Chingus Domingus at PO Box 8729, Notting Hills, XZ 32092.

THOUGHTFUL QUOTE

2008-12-04T13:01:00.000-08:00

I read this today in US News. A quote from Abigal Adams to her son John Quincy:

"These are the times in which a genius would wish to live. It is not in the still calm of life, or the repose of a pacific station, that great characters are formed. The habits of a vigorous mind are formed in contending with difficulties. Great necessities call out great virtues. When a mind is raise, and animated by scenes that engage the heart, then those qualities which would otherwise lay dormant, wake into life and form the character of the hero and the statesman."

I agree...good to know that in these troubling and difficult times for our country, the right people will emerge from the storm and lead us in the right direction.

Just a thought...

21 MILE SUCCESS

2008-11-26T09:51:00.000-08:00

Quick marathon training update:

I ran 21 miles on Saturday and was able to break my all-time 4-mile record today. Needless to say my body feels really good.

During my 21 miler, I started off very slow to see if I could catch up to my pace and finish fast. I was about a minute slow at the 7 mile mark, caught up by 11 and crossed the 20 mile mark faster than I ever have before. Then I ran an extra mile just to prove to myself that I could do it...since that's where I faltered last year.

I ran that last mile in 7:21 - 17 seconds faster than my pace.

If I can do that on December 14, I'll just need to run the final 5.2 miles in about 42 minutes...which should be really easy.

This week I ran 5 miles on Monday, swam yesterday and ran 4 miles this morning on the Plano track. I ran a 24:41 - my fastest 4 miler ever.

It was good to be out on the Plano campus. That track brings back a lot of old memories. Like when I used to throw up after running sprints...

Less than three weeks away...

Gregg and I are planning to run our 12 miler at White Rock on Saturday. I'm looking forward to that.

TECH FINALLY FEELS THE PAIN

2008-11-26T09:50:00.001-08:00

...And I mean that as a compliment.

After the Oklahoma game...actually during the second quarter of the Oklahoma game...as Texas Tech fans realized what was slipping through their fingers, a new type of pain they've never felt crept into their souls.

It's the feeling of complete and utter loss, of everything you've hoped for being swept off the board...the feeling you get only when the college football team you root for, invest in, are passionate about, loses a truly big game.

It's a similar feeling across the sports world in every sport...but it hurts a little more on the college football continent.

Texas Tech has never before felt that pain.

Oklahoma has. Most recently when they lost the national title game...no, got obliterated in the national title game...by USC.

Texas has. Most recently when they lost to Oklahoma in 2004. The Longhorns only loss of the season which cost them a shot at the conference and national title.

USC has. Most recently when they lost to Oregon State on a Thursday night which will probably be their only loss of the year and cost them a shot at the crown.

I could go on and on and on giving examples of big time programs losing big time games which mean everything.

Texas Tech has averaged four losses since 2002. When you lose a game early or late in the season which is part of two or three other losses, it doesn't hurt as bad.

Yeah, it'd be nice to upset OU or OSU or UT, but lately if Tech were to lose to those teams, it's really no big deal.

Tech can say goodbye to the Trivial Loss. The Trivial Loss comes with little or no real pain. Sure, there's disappointment but not the kind of pain that makes you want to throw up. The Trivial Loss is experienced week in and week out by the lower class teams in the FBS. Baylor, Vanderbilt, Duke, Virginia, Washington State, Rutgers, Indiana and Southern Miss go through it many times every year.

Welcome to the big show Texas Tech.

My brother-in-law lives in Austin and bleeds burnt orange. When Texas loses a truly big game, he crawls under his bed and won't eat, drink or talk to anyone for weeks.

He has a friend who went to Tech who would always make fun of him and call him a baby.

That friend texted my brother-in-law on Saturday with these simple words, "Now I know how you feel."

As simple as that.

National title expectations come with horrific costs of losing.

And now Tech is a part of the club.

Now it's not to say that Tech still doesn't have an outside shot of winning the conference and even playing for it all...but at this point they're out of the driver's seat and need some help from OSU and A&M.

That fact cuts deep and will definitely leave a mark...and I mean that as a compliment.

BAD NEWS FOR BIG 12 HEISMAN HOPEFULS

2008-11-26T09:49:00.000-08:00

As a self-proclaimed Heisman Trophy expert, I have a bad feeling for the four Heisman Trophy hopefuls out of the Big 12.

Graham Harrell, Michael Crabtree, Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy have all had fantastic years and received national exposure, but they might end up canceling each other out. Let's look at the nominees.

Crabtree (the Texas Tech sophomore WR) trails only seven receivers across the country in receiving yards. He's second in the nation with 18 TD catches, tied for sixth in receptions and plays for a team that's been seen on national TV several times this year.

Bradford (OU's sophomore QB) is third in the nation in passing yards with 3,710, second in passer rating, second in yards per attempt, first in TD passes with 42 and has only thrown six interceptions. He, too, has played on a national stage this year and is a well known name.

Colt McCoy (Texas' junior QB) is eighth in completions, first in completion percentage at just over 77%, 12th in passing yards, has thrown 30 TDs against just 7 picks and is fourth in passer rating. He's played on a national scale the last three seasons, is a household name after his performance in big games this year and gets a ton of coverage from ESPN.

Graham Harrell (Tech's senior QB) is first in passing yards, first in completions, third in completion percentage, third in TD passes, only thrown six interceptions and also receives national coverage and people know him.

You could make a case for any one of those players to be a legitimate Heisman Trophy contender.

There's just one problem.

They all play in the same conference and in the same region.

Historically (and as unfair as it may be) the Heisman Trophy voting has a lot to do with TV market size, publicity and seclusion.

And I mean seclusion in the sense that the candidate is in a region or area or coast all by himself.

Harrell, Crabtree, Bradford and McCoy may have all picked the wrong season to be playing so well.

They could very well split all the Big 12, midwest votes and allow another candidate from a big market to take home the most coveted trophy in college football.

Look at Tim Tebow (my pick before the season). He's fifth in passer rating, thrown 22 TDs against just two picks (a better ratio than McCoy, Harrell and Bradford) and is completing nearly 66% of his passes on a team ranked second in the AP that will have a chance to be #1 going into the bowls if they can beat Alabama in the SEC Championship.

And there's really no other true contenders on the entire East Coast or in the SEC.

You could make an argument for some other guys, but they may be on non-contending teams.

While true that the Big 12 contenders are household names, not all of the Heisman voters follow the games and performances across the nation. It's easier nowadays with ESPN GamePlan and all the different channels that games are on. And it probably wouldn't matter if there were just two Big 12 contenders...but having four is just too many.

I hope I'm wrong, but I don't think any of the Big 12 contenders has a shot to win. There's just too many good players in too close a zone.

You may read and see on TV that one of those (or two or three of those) Big 12 guys is the frontrunner...but when the voting shakes down, it'll go to the player on a contending team that doesn't have any competition (especially not four athletes that deserve to win) in his region.

Tim Tebow.

IS MY WATCH BROKEN?

2008-11-15T09:26:00.000-08:00

I think Nike is playing a cruel trick on me.

I bought a new stop watch/heart rate monitor in August to assist in my training. You know, one of those fancy-dancy ones with the thing that wraps around your chest?

Anyway, I think the seconds on it must be a tad slow...

I broke my 8 mile personal record on Tuesday morning averaging less than a 7 min/mile.

And this morning I ran 12 miles in 1:24:31 which is about a 7:02 pace. I finished in a sprint and didn't even feel tired. My heart rate averaged 153 for the entire run, and it never went over 171 (my high end). I don't even think it got close to 165.

The elements were in my favor. It was 37 degrees with hardly any wind when I left the house. When I got to the 6 mile mark and turned around, the wind began blowing rather hard out of the north but I was running due west, and a cross wind is much, much easier to run in than a head wind. The last 2.5 miles of my run were due south so I had the wind at my back.

So my watch is either lying to me, I had a good pace because of the elements or my body is beginning to respond like it never has before at this point in my training.

I hope it's a combination of the last two things. I'd hate to have to sue Nike.

PLAYOFF MEMORIES

2008-11-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

The Texas High School Football Playoffs are a unique and once-in-a-lifetime type of experience (although many athletes will experience it more than once).

High school football players in the playoffs stop caring about the length of practice. Those bumps and bruises that have been nagging for several weeks don't nag so much anymore. Coaches seem to be nicer and more enjoyable to be around. You feel like a superstar walking the halls and driving around town.

It's such a different experience because you don't know if Monday's practice will be the last Monday practice of the year - and if your a senior - the last high school Monday practice of your life.

Because of that you don't care how long it goes because you never want it to end. And these guys don't realize the magnitude of the moment right now. They will in ten years.

I was at the 2004 3A Division 1 State Title game between Abilene Wylie and #1 Cuero. Wylie went into the post-season unranked and beat the #2, 3 and 9 teams in the state to get to the final game. They beat Cuero on a field goal as time expired.

The guys that won the State Championship in 2004 are beginning to realize just how special they're run was. I sacrificed a ton and would have given tenfold more to have been able to go through something like that. To win a state championship.

Today more kids have the chance to win a championship than ever before since every division crowns 14 champs, but it doesn't water it down any for those guys that are going through it or for their memories and bonds with their teammates that will be broken by death alone...nothing more.

I always get a little nostalgic this time of year. My Plano team went three rounds deep and was destined for a rematch with Duncanville in the state-semis. Duncanville had beat us in the
second week of the regular season and we were ready for revenge.

What we weren't ready for was a Jersey Village team that none of us had ever heard of. Their running back was a freshman named Selvin Young - he's now a running back for the Denver Broncos.

Jersey Village had us figured out. We didn't adjust. And just like that. The season was over. Gone with the sound of the Texas Stadium horn, the roar of the opposing sideline and the deep and utter silence of our own.

The young men playing out there tonight all over the state will remember tonight and the rest of these games forever. They'll remember their specific opponent, the guy they battled all night. They'll remember the date. The place. The sounds and the smells. They'll talk about it with their teammates for years to come. Every time they get together.

And the only ones that will have no regrets, that won't stare off into silence with a half-smile and squinted eyes will be the ones who were lucky enough, good enough and tough enough to win the whole thing. To realize every high school football players' dream.

To end the season...with a win.

20 MILE RUN

2008-11-08T09:47:00.000-08:00

Ran 20 miles this morning. First time to run that distance since the marathon last year. I felt surprisingly good.

My right knee cap has been giving me some small pain issues on the tail end of my long runs (17 or longer). During the 17 it started in mile 16. During the 18 it started at 17. And today it started at 19. I guess that's a good sign. It doesn't make me run any slower...just a little uncomfortable.

I was never really in any amount of pain at all during the run, which is rare. Usually you're wanting a car to run you over after about 2 hours.

I'm still nervous that I won't be able to run 6.2 more miles. I'm planning to run 21 in two weeks.

I also think it's very mental. I remember thinking last year that "there was no way I could run 11 more miles"...etc.

I've got to take it in stages...two or three miles at a time and not let my mind wander.

I took a 1/2 serving of Infinit at 12 miles and took the last sip at 14...that's all I took in the whole run and felt great.

There was no wind today which was good, but was it ever cold. My hands were burning then numb until about the 13 mile mark.

Feet giving little twinges of pain underneath, but nothing that doesn't work itself out. Other than that, no pain whatsoever in any part of my body...except that knee cap thing.

Just a few weeks to go...

MARATHON TRAINING UPDATE

2008-11-01T08:38:00.001-07:00

My marathon training is going very well this year. I just completed my week 12 runs and have steadily increased my stamina, eliminated injuries and lowered my heart rate during the runs since beginning my 18 week program in early August.

My first long run of this year my heart rate averaged around 165 beats per minute. This morning I ran 13 miles 1:20 under my pace and my heart rate averaged 146.

Last week my heart rate averaged 151 during my 18 mile run in Plano.

I had some major foot issues when I started running in August and during the first month of training. Those issues have been absent for about a month.

The only things that are giving me problems are my left hip, which is minor, and my right groin, which is a little tight during the early stages of some of my runs but not all.

I have six weeks until the race. I believe I've figured out what went wrong last year and have resolved those problems.

I'm not stopping or walking during my runs and am not using solid food either.

I'm very paranoid that something will go wrong this year. I just want to cross that line under 3:20:00. It's been two years coming, and I really took it for granted last year...thought it would be easy.

It will mean much more to me this year. Six more weeks until we find out if I can do it...

TENNESSEE/ALABAMA ADVENTURE

2008-11-01T08:34:00.001-07:00

The following recaps Mark Rogers and Jackson Alexander's trip to the Tennessee/Alabama game in Knoxville on October 25, 2008.

My college roommate, Jackson Alexander, transferred to Tennessee and made the football team as a walk-on when we were sophomores. He played one season and came back to Abilene. We've been meaning to go up to a game for the last several years and finally made it happen.

The trip was not without its disasters.

I forgot my driver's license and had to be searched and searched again using credit cards and insurance cards to make it through security.

Then Jackson left his car keys on the parking lot shuttle at DFW.

Then we went to the wrong gate and had to run .656 miles (I looked it up) in about 5 minutes in boots, jeans and with our luggage to the correct gate for the flight which (according to the flight attendant) we were 60 seconds away from missing.

And that was all within the first hour of the trip.

Once we got there, things settled down and we were able to enjoy ourselves. We made it to campus on Saturday at around noon leaving around 7 hours to kill before kick off.

The Tennessee/Alabama game is an interesting phenomenon. Not an in-state rivalry, but is a lot like OU/Texas - the states are connected, most of the time the game has national title or the very least conference title implications, etc...

I couldn't believe how many cars had Tennessee and Alabama flags. Or how many people were in groups that were split right down the middle...half wearing crimson, half wearing orange.

You don't see that at Texas/OU. You're either all Texas or all OU. I think it has to do with the fact that there are so many extended families that branch out all over the southeast. My mom is from Alabama and has a huge family from the coast up to Birmingham into Georgia and Tennessee.

I think that's what makes SEC football so intense. There are so family close connections between families, players and coaches.

Anyway, back to the pre-game. I got to stand at the front of the line during the "Vol Walk" when the players and coaches walk to the stadium from the athletic offices. Philip Fulmer slapped my hand in what will probably be one of his final "Vol Walks".

The band went marching by soon after the players which completed the electric feel on campus.
It was crazy because as bad as Tennessee has been this year, those fans still get up for games like they're in the national title hunt. Unbelievable dedication.

And not one seat was empty in the monstrous structure that is Neyland Stadium. More than 106,000 people. I've been to the Cotton Bowl many times and to a few Texas games in Austin(before the major renovations there) and have never seen anything like it.

The first half was a close game much to the chagrin of the Alabama fans whose section we were sitting in.

You could just feel the upset developing.

That's when Tennessee decided to try a long field goal in a 6-3 game. I've talked about it on the webcast before...in a situation like that - a low-scoring, defensive struggle - field position is king.

You win field position, even as an underdog, and you have a great shot at winning the game.
Tennessee lined up for a field goal, which I was sure was going to end up being a quick kick, and they kicked the field goal...???!!!

No one could believe it, not even the Bama fans.

It game the Tide a short field which they used to score the game's first touchdown and that was all she wrote.

The game never had the same feel. Had Tennessee punted, pinned Bama deep and preserved the three-point defecit, the second half would have been much different.

As it turned out, Bama won 29-9 and secured their #2 ranking for at least another week. Most of the fans had departed with a few minutes to go in the game. No doubt had Tennessee won, there would have been a huge party and celebration right there on campus. That would have been fun to be a part of...

My buddy and I made it back home with no other major catastrophes, but it was definitely a trip neither of us will forget.

Sorry for the tepid tone of this post...it was also posted on www.bigcountryfootball.com - my Abilene Reporter News blog.

WHY THE ROCK FINISHED ME...

2008-10-06T14:20:00.000-07:00

In a previous post "The Rock Finished Me (sequel to 'I Finished the Rock'), I told the story of training for and not quite completing the 2007 White Rock Marathon in Dallas.

It was a disappointing day and circumstance...but over the last few months I've come up with a number of reasons as to why this happened. Four reasons to be exact.

I don't believe that any one of these things acting alone could have stopped me from finishing the race. I do believe that all the factors combined created the scenario which put me on a stretcher in the back of an ambulance.

Reason #1: Apparel.

I was wearing a new type of shirt during the race which I think kept me warmer than I thought it would. Many people in 2007 were wearing short sleeve shirts or no shirts at all so it wasn't THAT cold. I was wearing a T-shirt and a long-sleeved shirt along with gloves and a beanie on my head. I think overheating was an issue which caused me to dehydrate even though I'd had plenty of fluids up to the point of failure.

Reason #2: Diet during the race.

During my training on the long runs I would eat 1/2 a Clif bar every three miles. My body was used to that up to the 20 mile mark. My body had not trained with solid food past the 20 mile mark. When you eat solid food during a race, blood has to go to your digestive track to assist in digestion. Where does the blood come from? Well, during a marathon it comes from your muscles. Precious, oxygen-rich blood was sent to my GI track instead of keeping my muslces fueled during the latter stages of the race.

Also I had not had anything during my training other than water and during the marathon I had Gatorade at a few aid stations.

Reason #3: Diet before the race.

In an attempt so lose a few extra pounds before the race, I began taking a weight-loss supplement called Lipo-6 the week before the marathon.

Reason #4: Over-training.

During the training of my first marathon, I ran four days a week, cross-trained two days and rested one day. In 2007 I ran five days a week and cross-trained the remaining two days...never took a day off. I also had about 90 more miles in my training in 2007 than in 2006. I think I over-trained just a little.

Like I said earlier, I believe that if one of those factors were entered into my marathon equation, I would have finished.

For instance, if I had run the same amount of miles during my training and hadn't overheated or eaten solid food during the marathon, I would have finished. Or if I'd overheated but had a day of rest per week and not taken that supplement. Or if I'd started taking the supplement and not overheated or eaten solid foods...you get the idea.

This year, I have gone back to some of the principles that brought me success in 2006. I am resting from cardio exercise one day a week, running a little bit less every week compared to my 2007 regimen, training with a liquid sport mix and goos instead of Clif bars (solid food) and will not wear as many clothes during the race - unless the weather absolutely calls for it (in 2006 I wore a cotton long-sleeve shirt with a dri-fit shirt underneath and it was a little colder).

So in conclusion - I'm pretty nervous about the marathon. I'd just hate for that to happen again. And I won't feel good about it until I'm about two miles away from the finish line and feeling good. Up until then, that little voice of doubt will be whispering in my ear...

I just want to cross that line in under 3:20:00. It will be a moment of redemption and personal comeback for me. Two years in the making...

I DIDN'T WIN ANY MONEY

2008-10-06T09:28:00.000-07:00

DALLAS - Yesterday I completed the 2nd annual Toyota US Open Triathlon in Dallas, TX. It was a major disappointment because the race had a $250,000 purse for prize money. I won $0.

I don't understand what could have gone wrong. I started the race great. My wetsuit and newly learned sighting technique did their jobs on the swim. I felt fast and strong. Even when I turned back to shore and the sun was pounding its hideous and violent rays into my goggles and reflecting off the water causing many swimmers to become disoriented and confused, screaming out "where are we? which direction do we go? why am I surrounded by water," I was able to maintain a fast pace and finished the swim in 33:38 - six minutes faster than my previous triathlon.

The transition area was pretty huge. More than 1600 bikes sat in rack after rack, looking like some type of gargantuan garage sale at the house down the street where the impulsive bike buyer lives.

I made the tranistion from seal to Lance Armstrong wannabe in just over three minutes and was headed out on the bike trail.

At this point I figured I was in contention for some serious money because there were quite a few bikes still in the racks. Also, keep in mind that my first triathlon, when I came up out of the water after a terrible swim, there were about two bikes left in the racks because everyone else was way ahead of me. The two bikes belonged to a UPS courier and a guy who was bitten by a snake and died in the water.

I made great time on the bike, 1:12:47 to be exact. Probably my fastest 40K time EVER.

Arriving in downtown Dallas about an hour and fifty minutes after I first stepped into the water, I changed from Lance Armstrong wannabe to that guy you make fun of on Sunday morning running in tights ... in 1 minute and 43 seconds.

I finished the run in 48:20 and as I crossed the finish line with arms raised and tears flowing, I started looking around for my huge check filled in with whatever prize money I had just won.

Alas, there was none. I only finished 10th out of the 27 participants in my age group. The guy that won first finished in 1:46:52. My time was 2:39:31. He must have a really good and expensive bike...that's the only thing I can think of as to how he could've defeated me and left my penniless.

Oh, I almost forgot...instead of getting a huge sum of money, they did give me a participant medal and a towel so I really have nothing to be disappointed about. I didn't stick around to make sure, but I'm almost positive I was the only person who got a medal and a towel. That makes me feel special even though I have nothing extra in my bank account to show for my efforts in the race.

TOYOTA US OPEN TRIATHLON

2008-10-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I completed my second Olympic distance triathlon. The Toyota US Open in Dallas which began at Joe Pool Lake and ended downtown at the American Airlines Center.

I finished in 2:39:31...more than five minutes faster than my first triathlon and with transition areas that were about ten times bigger.

514 people completed the Olympic distance (a Sprint tri was run at the same time). I finished 224th of that group. Nine men from my age group finished ahead of me...17 finished behind me.

Registration was at the Hilton Anatole on Saturday. I showed up around 1 PM and was directed to a conference room for a "mandatory race briefing." It took about thirty minutes for a race organizer to explain to about 250 people all the logistics of the race...where to check your bike in, what shuttles were running at what times from and to what places, etc....

The race was a point-to-point race meaning you start at one place and finish at another. This creates some planning nightmares trying to get all the gear left at the first place to the finish line. I guess that's why a race briefing was "mandatory."

After the meeting a lonely volunteer placed a stamp on my hand so I could get my numbers and goodie bag.

I sat in the back of the meeting and was the first one out and the first one to the registration table. I got my numbers, shot down the table to get my shirt, hat, huge cookie and other coupons in a small green bag and was on my way.

Mom was waiting outside and we headed down to the lake to check my bike in and check out the open water clinic for morons who haven't ever done an open water swim - or who have and had a nightmare of an experience because they were freezing and had a parachute on their back (see post on Buffman & Squeaky).

We paid the five bucks to get into the state park and followed the cones to the transition area. It was absolutely huge. Rack after rack after rack...more than 1600 participants.

I put my number (488) on my bike and was allowed into T1...as it's known. I was pretty close to the exit of T1 which is good. The bad part of that is I had to run barefoot across the semi-gravel parking lot surface a long way go get to my bike.

I left my bike on the rack and headed over to the swim entrance for the open water clinic. About fifty people signed up for the "class." Twenty of them actually got in the water and practiced swimming, floating, sighting and breathing. Some of folks looked like they had just learned how to swim.

I just stood on the dock and listened. The only valuable piece of information I received was the correct way to sight...which means how to look where you're going so you can stay on track without losing too much speed.

I didn't stick around for the free open water swim...I did, however, forget to check out, which was a necessity so they knew who was gone safely and who might still be in the water dead and bloated.

They called my cell phone at about 6 PM, and I assured them that I had just forgotten to sign out and was not in fact answering my phone from the bottom of the lake having been rescued by lake mermaids.

This brings us to Sunday...

Woke up at around 3:45 AM. I had trouble getting to sleep which didn't happen until around 11:30 PM. I know this because of the forty wind-up clocks in my parents' house. They let you know about every fifteen minutes if you're still awake...and if you're just dozing off, they'll wake you up anyway to let you know that you weren't quite all the way asleep.

I had a quick, hot shower to wake up, a cup of coffee and filled up my water bottles with water and my custom made sport drink mix...breakfast was oatmeal, MonaVie and a banana.

Mom, Jenn and I headed to the AAC at 4:40 AM. This was the site for T2, or the place where you finish the bike and get ready for the run. I set up my shoes, sport drink and sunglasses, met Mom and Jenn and we hopped on the shuttle for Joe Pool Lake.

We arrived around 5:20 AM. Again, I was the first one off the bus so the first one to the body marking folks. They put a 488 on my right shoulder and a 27 on my right calf then pointed me to the Champion Chip pick-up. This is the electronic device you strap to your ankle for two reasons: to see how fast you go and to make sure you don't cheat.

I took my bike pump into T1, aired up my tires and set up my area. I put down a towel, placed my bike shoes on it, put my sport drink bottle in the shoe, placed my helmet on my handlebars, put my sunglasses and two gel packs in my helmet, and looped my race belt with my number (488) around my aero bars.

That was about 6 AM so I had about 2 hours to kill before race time. I warmed up a little, went over my race strategy in my head and tried to get off my feet.

At around 6:50 AM I went into T1, went over the checklist in my head one more time and put my wetsuit half-way on...up to my waist.

The race started at 7:30 AM with some professionals and elite amateurs. I didn't get started until around 8:09 AM because after those guys started they would let four people start from the different age classes every ten seconds. The 30-34 men went first...then the 35-59 men...then the 29 and under, which - obviously - was my group since I am a 27 year old male.

The water felt great and I was able to get into a really good zone for the first half of the swim. I executed my "sighting strategy" and was right on all the markers, no problem. I made great time to the turn-around buoy and then made the turn for the shore...

That's when the sun made its unwelcome debut into the equation. Having just come up over the treeline, the sun was right at eye level and reflecting off the water...no one could see ANYTHING.

You couldn't see the buoys. You couldn't see the shore. You could barely see the splashing of confused hands and feet in all directions.

I didn't want to waste much time so I just kept swimming in the direction I thought was right...following the hundreds of splashes in front of me. At one point I was heading in the direction of the splashes headed out from the shore and started drifting way off to the right. A man in a kayak pointed me back in the right direction. I only went inside one buoy.

There were people all over going in wrong directions, screaming out that they couldn't see and wondering which way to go. It would have been a lot worse if I hadn't had a wetsuit. At least I was up on top of the water and able to move fast.

I finally made it back to the shore and up the boat ramp in 33:38. Just about six minutes faster than my swim in Lubbock. I wasn't nearly as disoriented as the Lubbock race and began stripping off my wetsuit as I ran around the wide-arching runway into T1.

To give you an idea of how big T1 was...it took me 3 minutes and 5 seconds from the time I got out of the water to the time I left transition. I was probably at my station for 60 seconds. During that time I took the rest of my wetsuit off, stuffed it along with my goggles and swimcap into my transition bag, put my bike shoes on, put my sport drink bottle into the pocket on the back of my triathlon top (which I wore under my wetsuit), put my sunglasses and helmet on, clipped my race belt around my waist, put a gel pack in my teeth, took my bike off the rack and ran towards the exit.

You have to completely exit transition before you mount your bike. Once I was across the blue line, I hopped on my bike and was off.

I finished the 40K bike in 1:12:47. The first few miles were uphill, into a strong south wind, but once we turned north, I was able to average well over 20 mph and had a very fast bike time. The course went right through city streets which were blocked off by police cars and lined with steaming-mad motorsists just trying to get around town. Some were even cursing at us... :( That hurt my feelings.

Jumping off the bike outside of T2, I ran through the entrance and found my station. It was right next to a big light pole and someone had drawn a big, yellow smiley face at the end of my rack. No doubt someone who had gotten lost trying to find their gear at a previous event...I was grateful.

I was in T2 for 1 minute and 43 seconds. All I did was take my bike shoes and helmet off, laced up my running shoes, took the bottle out of my back shirt pocket, turned my race number around, grabbed my second sport drink bottle and took off.

I finished the 10K run in 48:20. Just under an 8 minute-mile. Not very fast, but I was on the verge of getting a side cramp for most of the run and didn't want to overdo it. I was also feeling some slight twinges in my quads just above both knees and didn't want those to start cramping.

We ran around AAC and up the Katy Trail which is a bike/running trail in the middle of downtown that I didn't even know existed.

We ran out about 3.5 miles, turned around and headed home. I crossed the finish line, was given a medal and an ice cold towel.

It was a good experience. I'm not that sore today...just a little bit in my neck and back. My next event is the White Rock Marathon on December 14 which I'm currently training for...I'm registered to run a 1/2 marathon in Austin in February, then my next goal is a Half Iron Man next June (1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike, 13.1 mile run).

Thanks for reading...

Tour de Gap

2008-07-27T14:36:00.000-07:00

You know, you really wouldn't think that adding another eight miles to an already completed 70 would make that big a difference...and I guess today, one day later, it really wasn't that big of a deal. But yesterday after four hours in the saddle of my Specialized road racing bike with aching legs, a numb yet still burning rear end, and a severe lack of fluids in my system, I sure thought those eight miles would be the end of my life.

The Tour de Gap's 70 mile route had to be "redone" thanks to some construction on the originial route. Somewhere along the way seven miles was accidentally added in there - the final mile was the distance from the Finish line back to where we had all parked our cars.

Like I said, one day later I feel fine and am totally recovered so in retrospect it was actually a very favorable experience. The race started at 8 AM and for the first ten miles or so I tried to stay towards the front and just observe how the teams and teammates worked together as one unit.

I was able to stay with the lead pack for a while and at one point was running in second place - let me explain.

We turned onto a very small road and about a half-mile down it everyone at the front came to a screeching halt. I thought someone had wrecked or had a tire go down. What had happened was that someone at the front had questioned whether we had taken a wrong turn.

Me being naive and not knowing any different just avoided those who had stopped and kept right on going vaulting me up towards the front where I was able to stay for a few miles before the pack regained its momentum. So it was by pure accident that I was able to get that close to the lead.

It was soon after this moment that the pack was finally too much for me and I had to hang back. It was about the twenty mile mark. I lost sight of the lead pack at about 25 miles.

For the next 25 miles I was able to stay with different groups of four or five and we'd take turns in front while the others drafted behind us. It was my first experience in the draft and it was quite pleasant. Now I know what a NASCAR driver feels like...sort of.

By the time we got back to Buffalo Gap to start the final 25 mile route, I had lost most of my companions. Basically the point where we turned back into the warm, steady south wind.

I thought the course would never turn off Highway 83 and realized at one point that the race was definitely going to be longer than 70 miles since we were reaching that milestone and hadn't even made the turn back towards town. Heaven sent an angel in a small car with a bottle of water, cold water I might add, at the 65 mile mark which would end up being my last drink of the whole race.

About the last 20 or so miles were ridden competely alone so no one was around to hear my nonsensical babbling about how thirsty I was or see me nearly ride off the road while I rested my weary head and neck on my handle bars for a little too long.

By the way, that heaven-sent car told me that when I got to the next aid station that it was only seven miles to the finish. Well, seven miles after that aid station I came to another aid station which told me it was only six miles to the finish. Well, six miles later at the finish is where they told me it was just one more mile back to where we started. I thought when I got to the starting point, someone was going to tell me that they had towed my car back to my house for me and that I was going to have to ride 30 miles back to my house.

Long story short, I finished about thirty minutes behind the leader in just over four hours - fifth in my age group - about 40 minutes longer than I've ever continuously exercised at one time.

Overall, it was a fulfiling experience and I'm very glad I took part. I'm sure I'll do it again next year and will have a better idea about the course length and will make sure not to believe anything anyone at the aid stations say!

Good day.

PAC-10 or SEC? Who's Tougher?

2008-06-13T07:14:00.000-07:00

Let's get one thing straight right here at first: I'm a Big XII guy. Born in Fort Worth. Live in Abilene. If a Big XII school is playing a non-Big XII school, I root for the Big XII. Having gone to a Division 2 university, I have no ties to any Division 1 school so I can root for them all the same...Texas does get more of my attention, however, because my wife's family are Longhorns and they did win a National Championship in 2005 and have some of the best athletes in the country in all sports.

BUT...I believe the debate for the toughest conference has to be between the SEC and the Pac-10. And I don't base my arguments on the conference's overall records against other BCS conferences or records in bowl games. I base my arguments on who plays the toughest schedules top to bottom.

If you think about it, a conference with the toughest schedules might have somewhat of a down year in the bowls because they're completely exhausted, beat up and worn down from the regular season. Now, I don't completely throw those stats out the window...they are on the window sill if I need them.

Let's look at the Pac-10. Since 2000 it has produced some pretty good teams. USC comes to mind - an AP National Title, a BCS National Title, a BCS Championship game loss and a few seasons that just a few points kept them from playing for the national title - see 2006 UCLA (13-9).

USC opens the 2008 season at Virginia, a team that was a win away from playing for the ACC title last year, then they host Ohio State and will host a much-improved Notre Dame team in November. That's a pretty tough schedule.

Let's also keep in mind that the Pac-10 is the only BCS conference where every team plays every team. That's nine conference games. That does make a big difference some years. Look at Kansas in 2007. A Big XII North team that didn't have to play Texas, Oklahoma or Texas Tech out of the South Division last year. No wonder they were 12-1. The only non-cream puffs they blew out were Baylor, Nebraska and Iowa State...impressive.

Washington has a case for playing the toughest schedule in 2008. They, of course, play the entire Pac-10 with road games at Oregon, Arizona, USC, Washington State and California. Then on top of that they host BYU (arguably the best team in the Mountain West), Oklahoma (arguably the best team in the Big XII) and Notre Dame, which will surprise this year and be WAY better than its 3-9 record from 2007 - but that's another article.

Arizona State plays Georgia on September 20. California plays Michigan State, Maryland and Colorado State. Oregon goes to Purdue early in the year and hosts Boise State the next week. Oregon State goes to Penn State week 2 then hosts Hawaii and has a road trip to Utah a few weeks after that. UCLA plays Tennesee to open the year, then goes to BYU. Stanford plays TCU and Notre Dame. Washington State plays Oklahoma State and Baylor (I know...Baylor's terrible, but they do have a new coach). Those are tough, tough, tough non-conference games.

Let's go through the Big Ten like that...Ohio State opens against Division IAA Youngstown State then hosts Ohio before they're biggie with USC. Penn State opens against Coastal Carolina. Wisconsin begins its year at home against powerhouse Akron. They do end the year against Cal Poly, though. Iowa plays Maine (they have a football team?) and Florida International. You get the picture... I will give Michigan State credit for playing at California and hosting Notre Dame.

Now let's look at the SEC. Last year the conference finished the year with two teams on top of the final AP poll - Georgia and LSU. That hasn't happened in a while. They also had 35 NFL draft picks - best of any conference.

The SEC teams play each team in their division and then draw three teams from the other division. That's eight conference games, and really the only "bad" teams in the whole conference are Vanderbilt and Kentucky. But even those teams have made some noise lately. Vanderbilt had a good year with Jay Cutler and Kentucky beat a #1 team last year. Those kinds of years help with recruiting and bring in quality athletes. And you may not be a good team, but if you have athletes on the field, you can beat anybody if the chips fall right. See Stanford vs. USC last year.

In other words, the SEC doesn't get a break in conference no matter who they play.

Florida draws Ole Miss, Arkansas and LSU from the West Division and plays Hawaii, Miami and Florida State in non-conference. That's a top 10 tough schedule if you ask me. Georgia draws Alabama, LSU and Auburn from the West and plays Arizona State and Georgia Tech. South Carolina has NC State and Clemson on the non-conference schedule, and Arkansas plays Texas on the road.

Keeping it fair, LSU and Auburn are known for playing cream puff non-conference schedules and they live up to the billing this year with teams like Troy, Louisiana Monroe and Tennessee-Martin on the list.

But I have to say, after writing this article and flipping through my schedules...top to bottom, the Pac-10 has the tougher schedules.

We could look back at the end of 2008 and change our minds, though. You never know, The Citadel might contend for a national championship then Tennessee looks a lot better...stuff like that might happen. Especially if 2008 is anything like 2007 in the way of absolute crazyiness and chaos every week. For the record 13 different teams in the top 5 lost to unranked teams last year...unbelievable. Makes for good TV.

OK, we're at the end. I vote Pac-10 is the toughest conference. Agree? Or Disagree?

Buffman and Squeaky Heals the Soul

2008-05-27T14:15:00.000-07:00

I finished the 2007 White Rock Marathon in the back of an ambulance. As I've written before, it was an experience that will haunt me for a long time. The ultimate come-back from that failure will be when I cross the finish line on December 14, 2008, but there is one other accomplishment that can do a body good- an Olympic distance triathlon.

I crossed the line on Sunday morning, May 18 at around 11:05 AM. Two hours and 44 minutes from the time the guy with the bull horn yelled "GO!" The Buffman and Squeaky Triathlon, named for two Boston terriers owned by the race organizers, is a 1500 meter swim followed by a 40 kilometer bike ride wrapped up with a 10 kilometer run.

Different from a marathon in two ways - swimming and cycling. The training is different, the mind set is different, and the course is different. I had to learn proper swim technique. I had to get a bike and spend hours "in the saddle" as they say. And "the saddle" will cause more harm than good until the inside of your upper, upper thighs gets used to the chaffing...yum.

I did have one major setback during the race. I had no wetsuit for the 63 degree water. I was one of four in the starting field without a wetsuit. We were a combination of poor and ignorant - me being a whole lot of both.

Having no wetsuit I decided to swim in the triathlon jersey I had received in the mail a few weeks before. Great for the bike and run, my jersey could have also doubled as a "swimmer's parachute" thanks to the three large pockets located directly in the back.

These large and extremely inconvenient pockets immediately filled with water when I submerged into the arctic water for the first time. It was a battle I fought for just about 40 minutes. A battle that took who knows how many minutes off my time.

No substitute exists for swimming in open water. It's cold, very cold, there are waves (which cause me extreme nausea and dizziness thanks to my incredibly weak and stupid jerk stomach) and you can't see two inches in front of your face. Not to mention the army of arms, legs, feet and hands declaring war on your own limbs with each passing stroke.

I came up out of the water 10 minutes behind where I thought I'd be when I came up out of the water. Before I could get angry I had to stop spinning. The spinning finally stopped about 10 minutes into the bike ride so I could finally get angry and not risk falling over and looking like a complete idiot (for the record, I looked like a complete idiot before during and after the swim - orange swim cap, goggles and rear-end hugging tights).

No one passed me on the bike route, and I finished the ride a few minutes ahead of pace. All the training in the wind and on the hills of the Abilene area must have done some good. I was much stronger than all the slow, fat swimmers who had crushed me in the water thanks to my "swimmer's parachute." I hope you're picking up my sarcasm.

I must have passed 20-25 riders and arrived back at the transition area three minutes ahead of where I wanted to be after the bike portion of the race. I quickly put my shoes on and hit the road.

Immediately after leaving the racks, I received a visit from a very unwanted guest: the dreaded side cramp. I battled this side cramp with breathing and mind games for the first 30 minutes and decided to run the final two miles at a record pace. However, five seconds after picking it up, the pain was so intense that I could hardly stand up straight.

Flashes of the marathon debacle flooded into my brain as I struggled to keep running. Panic began to seep into the corners of my mind.

I decided to stop and walk. It must have been about 60 seconds, but it felt like an hour. I slowed my breathing, brought the pain down to a manageable level and continued...leaving my marathon failure in the dust.

Finishing races is not a sure thing by any means. So many variables can play a role. Weather. Injuries. Sickness. Last night's spoiled milk. Tripping on a Halloween mask.

My first endurance race, a marathon, ended at the finish line so I took that fact for granted. Never again.

Every race I finish from here on out will mean more and more to me as I get older and the time for "regular guy greatness" slowly slips away.

Now I just have to train, train and train some more for the 2008 White Rock marathon and hope I complete this year's race where I'm supposed to...at the finish line.

DOMINATORS WIN AGAIN

2007-12-25T09:31:00.000-08:00

Annual match lives up to overwhelming expectations

Plano, Texas - On Christmas Eve, Mark Rogers and his team, the Dominators, defeated the heavily-favored Patriots in a game that lived up to all the hype.

Facing fourth-and-long with a "first-one-to-five wins" rule in place and tied at four, Mark Rogers flipped a pass to Jennifer Rogers who seemed to be boxed in. At the last second she lateraled back to Mark who split the defense and ran to the endzone for the win.

"It was a great day for the Dominators, " said Mark, the game's MVP. "I have to give all the credit to my teammates. Without Jenn, Jennifer and Allison, we wouldn't have won today - plain and simple."

While Mark was quick to thank his teammates, the Patriots MVP, Brad Rogers, was not the epitome of a teammate.

"Urban and Jeff were worthless today, " he said. "I felt like I was out there all alone doing everything by myself. When you get down that quick to such a quality opponent, it's tough to climb out of that hole. We almost did it, but we found our groove to late - plus Urban and Jeff were worthless."

The early hole was thanks to interception returns for touchdowns on the Patriots first two drives. Urban started at quarterback, and on the second play of the game, Mark picked off a pass and outran the dismayed Patriots quarterback to the sideline and to the end zone for the quick 1-0 lead.

After a nice kick-off return by Brad that gave the Patriots good field position, Mark picked off Urban again, ran it back untouched and the Dominators found themselves up 2-0.

Urban left the game with a -54.3 quarterback rating. Brad replaced him on the ensuing drive and threw a touchdown pass to Jeff Rogers to cut the lead in half.

On the ensuing kick-off, Mark caught Urban's short kick at mid-field and outran the Patriots to paydirt, making the score 3-1.

Jeff caught another touchdown pass on the next drive, and the Patriots were in business. The Dominators offense hit a snag and could not get anything going. They were nearly flagged several times for delay of game. It sometimes took Mark nine minutes to get the play communicated to his team. The teams traded punts in a rare stalemate.

Once the Dominators regained control of the clock, they seemed to find their rhythm. Allison Rogers made the catch of the day - a 35 yard bomb from Mark down to the one yard line. Mark hit Jennifer in the corner of the end zone on the next play which made it 4-2.

That's when Brad took over.

He split time at quarterback and receiver on the next drive and made an unbelievable diving touchdown catch on a pass from Urban to bring the Patriots to within a point. Jennifer had the coverage on the play and was distracted when a transformer blew near the field. Jennifer is appealing the play to the league office.

Needing just one point to win, the Dominators saw their hopes dashed on a crazy play. Mark called a reverse to Jenn and she panicked when Brad started to close in. It seemed the play called for Jenn to lateral back to Mark, instead she threw the ball forward right into the hands of the charging defender, who ran in the tying score. All Jenn could do was scream.

The game was tied. It was a sudden death situation.

"That last drive was pretty intense," said Allison. "We all knew what we needed to do. We've practiced for that opportunity all year. I can't say enough about our coaching."

The Dominators took over at their own five in the pressure situation. On third down Mark dropped back to pass and could not find an open receiver. After what seemed like an eternity, Jennifer broke free. Mark flipped it to her Brett-Favre-style and when the defense closed in, she alertly flipped it back to Mark who ran to the end zone for the win.

"I knew if I could just get open, we'd have a chance," said Jennifer. "When I caught the ball and saw them all closing in, I found Mark and knew he'd take care of the rest. He's so awesome."

All two people in the stands did not make much of a cheering sound as to not make the losing team mad. One of the spectators, one-year-old Annalyse Rogers, did not even know what was happening.

The game will forever be lost to memory (except for this story) because the other spectator and "camera-woman" accidentally hit the record button and recorded the ground for fifteen minutes.

"Don't be critical," she said after the game.

Urban declined comment in the locker room, claiming his knees hurt too bad to talk. He fell down on almost every play.

Jeff, the leading tackler for the Patriots, would not take questions but gave this statement:
"It was a good game. Both teams played hard. I'm happy for my wife Allison. She is a great athlete and made a great catch that seemed to put the game away. I am hungry. When are we eating. Where am I?"

Jenn had this to say, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"

The Dominators now have a 2-0 lead in the all-time series. The next game will be during Thanksgiving break in 2008. Let the hype begin again.

THE ROCK FINISHED ME (The sequel to "I FINISHED THE ROCK")

2007-12-15T05:35:00.001-08:00

DNF.

In the NASCAR world, when a car doesn't cross the finish line whether it be engine failure, a wreck, a spring coil breaks loose from the rotary endline girder...whatever...they call it DNF. It stands for Did Not Finish.

That's what my race result will read forever after my attempt at running the 2007 White Rock Marathon in Dallas.

My training started on August 6, 2007 with a three mile run. From that point I ran more than 580 miles, never missed a workout or run, ran in Tampa, Florida and Salt Lake City, Utah, ran in the heat, ran in the rain, ran in the cold, ran in the dark, ran in the light, ran and ran and ran.

I don't run with music in my ears so all I have is my thoughts, and all I thought about was the marathon and my goal of finishing in three hours and twenty minutes or less. 03:20:00. That's it, that's all I thought about. I thought about strategy, pace, injuries, apparel, recovery, victory, success and triumph.

I never once thought about failure.

It never crossed my mind.

Four months of serious training, twelve months of running with my goal pace swimming around like a great white shark in my mind - thinking about, dreaming about the marathon. 364 days I thought about it every day. The marathon consumed me.

So, one could imagine that at the 20 mile mark, when the realization of not reaching my goal was inching up my aching calves over my knees and to my quads, I resisted. Surely after all the running, thinking, dieting, stretching, cross-training, swimming and support, it couldn't end like this - with me in the back of an ambulance fighting dehydration and hypothermia.

My unbelievable supportive family waiting at the finish line with cameras, binoculars and signs in hand for a runner who would never appear. Waiting for a dream and a goal that would never be realized. Waiting for a phone call - "Mrs. Rogers? Your husband is fine - but he's not going to finish today. It's not his day."

My legs failed me about a half-mile past 20. They just wouldn't work. Not so much a cramp, more of a complete muscle failure in my entire legs that eventually worked its way to my shoulders, back and neck.

My dream lay five miles away. As they say, so close yet so far.

My vision of crossing the line at a full sprint with arms raised and a smile across my face which I had seen for so long on so many runs - vanished. Vanished in the sense that it would not happen, but still very much apart of my mind. A vision which will haunt me for at least a year. A vision which is now like a close relative's death - so very much a part of you...now gone, now the pain.

Thoughts of success, strategy, victory and accomplishment were tossed aside, replaced by thoughts of disappointment, failure, weakness and sorrow.

When you invest in anything a great deal - work, sports, your car, a hobby - the highs are really high and the lows are really low.

I experienced a high last year, when my goal was reached. I experienced a low on Sunday, when my goal slipped through my fingers like a wet fish on a cold day.

Gone.

There for so long - through the pain, the sleep deprivation, the endless pounding of feet on pavement, the near death experiences of running on a two-lane highway - through everything...everything.

Now gone.

At first you think "NO, surely it's just right underneath the water. I can just reach down and it will be there. It's not out of reach yet. I've worked too hard." But it doesn't take long to realize that, no, it's not just beneath the water. My dream is slowly yet rapidly falling through the seaweed, drifting faster and faster, never again to be seen, soon to be resting far below on the soft mud, hidden by the rock of failure...forever.

Gone.

No.

DNF.

TRAINING UPDATE

2007-10-16T13:56:00.001-07:00

After successfully completing the White Rock Marathon in December of 2006, I am about halfway through my training for the 2007 run.

I am on an increased running schedule and have run nearly 90 more miles this year than I had at this time last year. Unbelievably, the right-knee tendonities which so horribly bothered me since November got better and better the more I ran long distances. I was not expecting that. Right now my knee is 100%. My body feels great.

I have only missed one day of training - a 30 minute swim a few weeks ago when I was out of town and did not have access to a pool. I have managed to stay pretty much on track despite a hectic travel schedule. I swam, ran seven and 15 miles in Tampa. I also swam, ran four and eight miles in downtown Salt Lake City. Those should be the only times I'll have to do out-of-town training.

Last year I ran more than 16 miles twice. An 18 mile run (which was the beginning of my knee pain) and a 20 miler. This year I have already run 17 miles, will run 18 this Saturday and have two 20 mile runs coming up.

I finished in 3:28:08 last year, and my goal this year is to break 3:20:00 (a 7:38/mile pace). I've incorporated more "refueling" breaks in my long runs and am following my trainer's instruction to run the "long ones" at a slower pace. That's hard for me to do. I also ran without a watch for the first time ever this week. I will run 44 miles this week, so I didn't think it was necessary to try and set land-speed records every time I run. Ran five miles nice and easy yesterday, eight this morning ahead of my pace, will run five tomorrow, eight Friday and 18 on Saturday.

This Sunday I'll be seven weeks out from the race. Seven weeks until my whole year of training comes to a crucial close. 3:20:00...

PLAYOFF PREVIEW

2007-04-21T14:29:00.000-07:00

OK, here we go again. For third straight year, the Dallas Mavericks are on the brink of an NBA championship. They're within striking distance of the Larry O'Brien Trophy. They are 16 games away from literally making me the happiest man on the face of the Earth.

But, alas, as close as it seems, the title is still a world away. To end the year with a win, Dallas must get past a pesky Golden State team in the first round (a team coached by former Mav Coach Don Nelson, the guy who turned the worst pro team of the 90s into a perennial power).

After the first round, Dallas will play the winner of the Utah/Houston series. Both of those teams are gritty, hard-nosed teams which will be tough for the Mavs to match up with. Clearly, Dallas is better than either of those teams, but it wouldn't be a huge surprise if the Mavs lost.

After the second round, the Conference Finals' opponent will more than likely be the Suns or Spurs. The Mavericks have played in three Conference Finals in their history: they've played the Lakers, Spurs and Suns.

I think Dallas finally broke its mental hurdle against San Antonio when Dirk made that lay-up/3-point play to tie Game 7 of last year's conference semis. We'll beat the Spurs.

It's the Suns that scare the bejeebers out of me. They're a matchup nightmare, and are the underdogs this year.

My prediction is that hopefully Steve Nash will finally break down and get hurt in the post-season. I've thought that would happen ever since he left Dallas. But he's a wiry one, tough as they come. Hate to say it, but I love the guy. Sometimes I just wish he would blow out every ligament in his knee going to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

I truly believe Dallas can win the NBA championship. If they don't, we have maybe one or two more seasons with this group to go for it.

One thing to note: We went 6-4 in the last 10 games of the season. Obviously the worst 10 game stretch of the year. But as I wrote in a blog about a year ago - "Last season (2004-2005) the Mavs won 19 of their last 21 games and nine in a row to close out the season...they lost in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semis (2nd round). The year before that? Dallas went 10-2 in the last 12, a good finish, but lost in Game 5 of the 1ST ROUND! So where does the positive come in? Right here.In 2002-2003, arguably the greatest single season in Mavericks history, Dallas went 9-6 down the stretch but advanced to Game 6 of the Conference Finals. The only other time the Mavs have made it further? Game 7 of the 1987-88 Conference Finals, but that year they didn't win 60 games."
Dallas goes deeper in the post-season when they close out the season on a downward spiral. Just something to keep in mind.

The first game is tomorrow night. Dallas vs. Golden State. Today is April 21st, 2007. Hopefully, sometime in June, I'll be writing a "What this Championship Means to Me" blog.

Hears to some good memories...go Mavs.

I FINISHED "THE ROCK"

2006-12-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

I woke up the morning of August 7th, 2006, went to the weight room, lifted some weights, then ran three miles.

They were the first three miles of an eventual 466.2 miles I ran in preparation for the Whiterock Marathon in Dallas, TX on December 10th, 2006.

I crossed the finish line at approximately 11:28 AM that morning. Exhausted, disoriented and physically traumatized, I hardly remember having the "Finisher" medal placed over my head or walking past the multitudes of people to pick up my bag I had checked previously that morning.

Nearly four hours before that moment, I was standing at the Start line with about 3,500 other people. I didn't know what to expect during the race or how my body would respond. What I did know was that for 18 weeks I ate all the right food, got all the right sleep, took all the right supplements and thought all the right thoughts to prepare myself for the most grueling and physically challenging experience of my life. The marathon.

It's truly amazing to run a marathon. Thousands of people surround you that have the same goal in mind: finish the race. Finish the marathon.

Preparation is most likely different, but all in all, the runners have a great deal in common. It's kind of a bonding moment really. You get to talking with those around you about past experiences or how you're feeling and by the end, feel a strange attraction to those who've become so familiar to you over the course of the race. The marathon.

I remember a man with a green shirt on. It said "STAFF" on the back. I ran behind him for many miles, lost him somewhere in the middle but found him towards the end. Seeing that shirt brought me an odd sort of comfort that pulled me towards the finish line. The end of the marathon.

While I was running I tried to put myself back in my training. In other words I tried to imagine myself all alone on the country roads north of Abilene. During the marathon.

I spent many and will probably spend many more hours running alone, with nothing in my ears, just my thoughts to keep me company. All those hours were an amazing physical and emotional release. The marathon.

I ran as the sun broke through the lush, green horizon. I ran through miles and miles of open fields where cows gazed at me like they had never seen a human on their road before. Kind of a "what in the world is that guy up to" look. But I was noticed and gone before they had time to get spooked and run away. So they just sat and watched me run off into the distance. Towards the marathon.

I ran through town, I ran around a track, I ran on a treadmill, I ran in my neighborhood, I ran and ran and ran. All the running with one thing in mind: finish the marathon in 3.5 hours. Finish the marathon.

My Thanksgiving holiday was ruined because I could only eat a portion of the smorgasbord which was set out before me. For the marathon.

I ran in the heat. I ran when it turned cold. I ran in the rain. I ran when it hurt. I ran fast. I ran slow. I ran. For the marathon.

I will never forget my first marathon. I finished in 3:28:08. 328th out of 3,507 full marathoners that day.

A sense of accomplishment follows you through the finish line. One that is unique to a full marathon. I can't wait to have that feeling again. So beginning in August I will train again. Eating right. Sleeping good. Thinking. Running. Sweating. Hurting. Longing. For the marathon.

McCOY FACES UNFAIR EXPECTATION

2006-12-11T08:02:00.000-08:00

written: 8/28/06

Starting University of Texas quarterback Colt McCoy will make a lot of mistakes this year.

One of the greatest prep school athletes in Texas history, McCoy steps into an unbelievably unstable situation. His job? Put on Vince Young's shoes and lead Texas to a second straight national title. Don't do that and face a firestorm of media scrutiny and fair-weather-fans turned against you.

But wait just one second. Those expectations are unfair and may be a little premature. Young's shoes are the biggest shoes ever to stomp all over college football. He's the only player in history to pass for 3,000 yards and rush for 1,000 in the same season. Only two players have ever reached the 2,000/1,000 mark. Also, only two teams have won back-to-back national titles in the last 27 years: Nebraska and USC.

If given the fair and proper chance, McCoy will be a great quarterback. He will bring the Longhorns conference championships and maybe even a national title. He will rewrite the record books and become a beloved figure in Texas lore.

But we have to give him a chance. It's highly common, almost assured, that a first year quarterback will make lots of mistakes and be questioned as the starter.

Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn is the Heisman Trophy front-runner. The "Golden Boy" of college football, he's already set all kinds of passing records for the Fighting Irish. But Quinn struggled his first year as a full-time college quarterback. He only completed 54.1% of his passes, threw 17 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Last year, Quinn's touchdown-to-interception ratio was 32-to-7. Just a tad better.

Young's freshman year was much worse: 58.7% completion rate, 6 TDs and 7 INTs. And Young had the luxury of a veteran quarterback, Chance Mock, to share snaps with him.

Chris Leak, another Heisman favorite and quarterback at Florida was sacked 22 times his first year under center and tossed 11 interceptions compared with just 16 touchdowns.

Florida State's sophomore QB Drew Weatherford set an ACC freshman record with 3,208 passing yards last year. But he threw 18 interceptions and the same number of touchdowns.

Native Texan Drew Tate, QB at Iowa, struggled his first year: 20 TD, 14 INT. Last year Tate catapulted to the top of the QB position nationwide with a 22/7 TD-INT ratio. Two more touchdowns, half the picks.

Nothing can substitute experience. Young quarterbacks will make mistakes.

Michigan started a true freshman at QB in 2004, Chad Henne. He threw 25 touchdowns and 12 picks. After one season of experience, Henne came back with a 23/8 ratio last year.

The ACC rookie of the year a few years ago was Georgia Tech QB Reggie Ball. His ratio that year? 10/11. He threw more picks than touchdowns.

When Colt McCoy throws an interception or gets sacked when he should have run or runs when he should have thrown it away or does something you don't think he should have done. Take it easy. The mistakes will come. It's how he responds to the mistakes that will make him great.

I will guarantee that McCoy can handle adversity. I've watched him play in big games and seen him perform in pressure situations.

Expect the mistakes, let him grow into a great college quarterback and McCoy will put Tuscola on the national map. He just needs the chance.

Proud to Be a Mavs Fan (written June 21st, 2006)

2006-12-11T07:59:00.000-08:00

Today I am proud to be a Dallas Mavericks fan.

Sound crazy? Given the fact the Mavs just completed one of the most devasting meltdowns in playoff history would make it seem crazy.

Yes, Dallas let one slip away. Six and a half minutes cost the Mavericks the title and brought on the same old criticisms of "not being tough enough." But it's not what Dallas didn't do, it's what Dwyane Wade did.

That player is something special. In 10 years we may be looking back at this series as the start of an incredible run by an incredible athlete. I foresee many championships for that young man. He transcended the 0-2 hole, Dirk Nowitzki's star status and the Mavs' home court advantage to put on a show of epic magnitude.

Saying that, let me say this: any Mavs fan not proud today was not a fan in the early 90's. They don't remember winning 11 games in the 1992-1993 season or just 13 the next year (we won 14 playoff games this year). They don't remember being voted the worst sports franchise of the decade. They don't remember staying up late, even for west coast games, to watch Terry Davis, Donald Hodge, Lorenzo Williams, Popeye Jones, Hot Rod Williams, Robert Pack and the great Oliver Miller lose game after game, night after night, season after season.

Dallas Mavericks "fans" embarrassed today weren't around when the only team we could beat was the Minnesota Timberwolves. They weren't there the night Jim Jackson missed a wide open lay-up at the buzzer that would have defeated the mighty Chicago Bulls in 1996. They don't have a shoe box full of $5 nose-bleed tickets that were good enough for floor seats because no one was ever at the games.

Mavs fans who don't recognize the team's success this year weren't jubilant when Richie Adubato was named head coach, or when we drafted Leon Smith with our #1 pick or the time we beat the Rockets in double-overtime in Houston the year they won it all.

If this is as close to a title as the Mavericks ever get, I will be proud of what we accomplished this year and in the 2006 playoffs.

Call me crazy, but today? I am proud of the Dallas Mavericks. I am proud of my team.

WHERE IS GRIFFIN?

2006-05-16T16:33:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed the lack of Adrian Griffin's minutes in the Spurs/Mavs series. So far in four games, he's played 24 minutes and 20 of those were in a game one loss. Since the first game, Griffin has played four minutes and hasn't stepped on the floor in the last two ball games. This point raises some questions: is Griffin mad about this? why isn't he being utilized? shouldn't he be rewarded for his role in the first round? The answers to these questions are: no, he doesn't match up, and yes.

Griffin was instrumental in the Mavs winning 60 games this year. His hustle, defensive rebounding and quick hands don't show up in the box score but make winning easier. Griff played 100 minutes in the first round Memphis sweep averaging 5.25 points and five rebounds, but his role was much greater than those numbers suggest.

His replacement in the Spurs series? Devin Harris. The second year point guard was just recovering from an injury when the post-season started. He only averaged six minutes and 1.25 points in the opening round. But since Avery Johnson implemented him in the starting lineup for the Semi-Finals' second game, Harris has been the difference: 31.5 minutes in four games, 16.25 points per, four rebounds and 2.2 assists.

Don't worry about Griffin. He's waiting patiently, like the good role player he is, and will be a factor in the Western Conference Finals. If the Suns make it past the Clippers, Griffin would be a great matchup with Raja Bell, Boris Diaw, Shawn Marion or Kurt Thomas. A Los Angeles win and Griffin could make life very difficult for Elton Brand.

This move just shows the brilliance of Johnson's game planning. If the Spurs were going to find a solution to Harris, they would have done it by now. Instead, he'll continue to slice through San Antonio's defense like a hot knife through melted butter, and Griffin will get much-needed rest for the coming games. Johnson hasn't forgotten about Griff; he knows exactly what he's doing.

The Mavericks are championship contenders because even while winning three of four games from the Spurs, they still have players on the bench waiting to match up with opponents down the road. Waiting...and rested. And rest will go a long way in the NBA playoffs.

BONDS TAKES A LOT OF HEAT

2006-05-15T15:53:00.000-07:00

Before we continue, let me say this: I am in NO way, shape or form a Barry Bonds fan. I think he's bad for the sport, and his demeanor and attitude drive me crazy. I hope he goes 0-189 from this point and then retires. BUT in his defense....

Bonds plays baseball in a very interesting time period. He is performing in a time when the media can say whatever it wants, whenever it wants and hardly ever faces consequences for false or erroneous reporting. We, as baseball fans, know everything about every player in the game. We know about players personal lives, if they're womanizers or abuse their children. We can open up any sports page across America and read about professional athletes and all the stupid decisions they make: drugs they try to smuggle in and out of airports, speed limits they ignore, driving under the influence and if they're bad family men.

In 1920 that was not the case. Reporters and players were friends. If a reporter wrote something controversial or something the team didn't want printed, they were outcast. Chicago Bears owner/coach and co-founder of the NFL George Halas sent many reporters to different beats when he didn't like what they wrote. That was the norm. Reporters followed players to training camp and stayed with them throughout the year. They traveled with the team, spent many hours in the clubhouse and were seen socially with the players. If a reporter printed a story about a crazy night of a player he was covering, that player would simply shut the reporter out.

The relationship was very different between professional athlete and reporter back then than it is today. Had Joe DiMaggio, Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb played today, they would be seen very differently than they are in a historical concept. DiMaggio was in contract disputes nearly every off-season with the Yankees. Ruth spent countless hours on the road away from the team hotel doing whatever it was Ruth did. You can speculate on the specifics. Cobb was a ruthless, vicious competitor who found a way around rules and constantly lashed out in violent episodes on and off the field. Yet we remember these players and other players from the past with fondness and selectivity. With the much more limited coverage of yesteryear, history remembers what history wants to remember.

So, in Barry Bonds defense, he's in the wrong place at the wrong time to break the Babe's record. Ruth is remembered as a hero, and I'm not saying he shouldn't be, but Bonds will always be remembered for his attitude, steroids and cold relationship with the media. I'm not a Bonds fan, but I think many of us need to reconsider how we feel about him and his chase for history. Only time will really tell how history will remember him. The next few weeks will play a large role in the story. Soak it in. Sports fans will remember this time (good or bad) for the rest of their lives.

Give Me Three More

2006-05-10T15:35:00.000-07:00

Flawless. Beautiful. A masterpiece. The most perfect and admirable work of art I've ever seen. The kind of thing you want your daughter to marry. Game Two of the Western Conference Semi-Finals between the Mavs and Spurs.

Anyway way you want to describe it, the truth rings out. The Mavs' performance in Game Two on Tuesday night was the perfect basketball game. Who cares if Avery Johnson says they could still find things wrong. Who cares that we didn't shoot 100% from the field and free throw line. Who cares that people say nothing is perfect.

I'll love that game as long as I live. I'll think about it when I go to sleep at night (after I kiss my wife of course). When I'm old, dying and can only utter one more thing out of my decaying, chapped lips I'll say, "Remember game two....." Then I'll die, with a half-smirk on my face, a Mavericks flag in my hand and a Josh Howard dunk in my heart (that's no longer beating).

OK, back down to earth. The Mavs dominated game two, but lets not get carried away. The Spurs are good. We split in San Antonio, but we're playing the Spurs, not the Grizzlies. I do, however, like what I see in Robert Horry, Nick Van Exel, Michael Finley, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli and Brent Barry: a lost step. Every one of those guys is either hurt or old. Tim Duncan is hurt, but he doesn't make that list because he can still take over a game with only one good wheel.

All we have to do the rest of the series is run circles around our I-35 rival. If we continue to out score the defending champs in the fast break, bench, and second chance columns, I will guarantee a win. And with a series win over our arch-nemesis, the Mavs will ride the confidence boost and mental edge all the way to the franchise's first NBA championship. So just give me three more wins against those dang Spurs, then I can really die happy.
mr

Who do we root for?

2006-05-04T13:58:00.002-07:00

I've thought long and hard about this decision. At night I lay awake, staring at the ceiling pondering which road I will take. I forgot to feed my dog and left wet clothes in the dryer yesterday. My mind is occupied. My brain can't stop asking the same question over and over and over: Who should the Mavericks root for, Spurs....or Kings?

The initial answer is obvious: Sacramento, of course, they're the eight seed. BUT, the Kings won 20 games after the All-Star Break. Dallas won 19, the Spurs 23. They've been as good as anybody over the last half of the regular season to this point. It's a hard decision because in the last five seasons, Sacramento or San Antonio has ended the Mavs' season prematurely four times. The Spurs are the team that won't ever let Dallas win the division. The Kings are the team we've met three times in the post-season since 2001.

Who should Dallas root for? After hours of deliberation and one hungry dog that's mad at me I have made a decision. Bring on the Kings.

The disadvangates of a Sacramento/Dallas Western Conference Semi-Final match-up are many. If we win the championship, there will always be an asterik in the record book because we "avoided" the defending champs. Bonzi Wells has been a Maverick killer since he played for Portland. Mike Bibby is known for his playoff performances against Dallas. And, last but not least, Ron Artest. The Dennis Rodman of this era, Artest is one of the most dangerous players in the game. He can handle the ball like a point guard, score in the post and is one of the best, most tenacious defenders in the NBA. The Kings are a tough mathcup.

But one advantage rings out above all the disadvantages. Home court advantage. Dallas has been one of the best home teams in the league the last few years. That fact coupled with Sacramento's long, drawn out first round series and long road trips on short rest will work in the Mavs favor. Dallas will have had over a week's rest. And rest always spells success in the playoffs.

So bring on the Kings. They'll be beat up. We'll take care of them in six games, then it's on to the Conference Finals. So who do we root for? L.A. or L.A.? Let's cross that bridge when we get there.
mr

Let's Keep It Positive

2006-04-14T16:32:00.000-07:00

Allright, as upsetting as the past month has been, let's try and put the Dallas Mavericks' recent plummet into some perspective.

Last season the Mavs won 19 of their last 21 games and nine in a row to close out the season...they lost in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semis (2nd round). The year before that? Dallas went 10-2 in the last 12, a good finish, but lost in Game 5 of the 1ST ROUND! So where does the positive come in? Right here.

In 2002-2003, arguably the greatest single season in Mavericks history, Dallas went 9-6 down the stretch but advanced to Game 6 of the Conference Finals. The only other time the Mavs have made it further? Game 7 of the 1987-88 Conference Finals, but that year they didn't win 60 games.

So, looking back over the past month: Dallas is a .500 team, 7-7 in the last 14 games, two losing streaks after having one all year before that and losses to Orlando and Golden State. Not only that, the San Antonio Spurs are slumping as well, but Dallas couldn't take advantage. Once again the "bad guys" will win the division by probably a single game.

Go back and change one game...1 STINKING GAME...in the last 79 and we'll win the division. 3 losses to Golden State, inexcusable. A 2-point overtime loss at Milwaukee, seriously? Two losses to the Lakers, the horrible, good-for-nothing Lakers in the span of a week, gimme a break. An overtime loss AT New York, quite possibly the worst team in the last decade (OK now I'm exagerrating).

But all is not lost. This fan is very encouraged by the fact the team plummeted in the season's waning moments of '02-03 only to advance within one game of the NBA championship series. We'll find a way. Avery always finds a way. And after this highly upsetting month, the Dallas Mavericks will prove all the naysayers wrong once and for all.
mr

NASCAR in Texas

2006-04-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

Well, it's that time of year again. And thanks to the powers that be, "that time of year" happens twice in a 12-month span. NASCAR is in Texas. Now, to many of you, the idea of watching cars drive in circles just makes you frustrated and dizzy. But to those of us who know the history, prestige, strategy and wonder of stock cars traveling at high speeds at close range...there's nothing better. Once you go to a race, your ideas of the sport will never be the same. I've been to two races (both at TMS last year), and I can honestly say there's nothing like being in the infield, the pits, the grandstands and the garage. Granted, I have media passes and can go where the average Joe cannot, which probably makes it a lot cooler than watching from the 574th row in the upper deck next to some huge fat guy eating bratworst named "Bubba."

How's this for a weekend: Busch series race on Saturday afternoon, Mavericks game on Saturday night (media passes, locker room, post-game interviews, all that stuff) and the Cup race on Sunday afternoon. Never thought I'd hear myself say I couldn't wait for a NASCAR race. By the way, I know every Cup series champ since its inception in 1949. I'm a nerd. But I'm a nerd who will be rubbing shoulders with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Carl Edwards, Troy Aikman, Roger Staubach, Mark Martin, Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon and on and on and on. Have fun doing whatever it is you're going to do this weekend. Don't call me. I won't be able to hear my phone. Boo-yah.

NASCAR'S FIRST CLASS

2006-03-27T16:30:00.000-08:00

NASCAR fans and members of the media have three years to argue and debate about who should enter the Hall of Fame's inagural class.

We could take some lessons from other sports by looking at how many members they put in and the caliber of first class athletes. Among the NFL's inagural Hall of Fame inductees were Sammy Baugh and the father of the sport George "Papa Bear" Halas. Perhaps the NASCAR equivalent of those two would be the father, Bill France, and the first true motorsport gunslinger, Buck Baker.

A case could be made for many drivers, owners and crew chiefs. Richard Petty and Dale Earnhardt are the obvious favorites. Petty won 200 races, 95 more than second place David Pearson, and won seven championships. Earnhardt won seven titles with only 76 wins. But what about NASCAR's first champion, Red Byron or its first three-time winner, Lee Petty? Will those responsible for the inductions look past daredevils Curtis Turner, Glenn "Fireball" Roberts and Joe Weatherly? All three of those men died in their primes and only Weatherly won championships, but they were the heroes of the early days.

Should there be special recongnition for those who perished in race-related events? Adam Petty, Davey Allison, Alan Kulwicki, Roberts, Earnhardt, the list goes on and on. Just this week an Indy car driver lost his life in a practice session.

If I had a vote, which I don't and probably never will, my hats off to the late Earnhardt, Petty (Richard and Lee), Byron, Turner, Roberts, France, Pearson and Junior Johnson. We'll see how close my prediction is, but it will have to wait until 2009. Here's to happy voting and endless debating.

DALLAS ENDS TOUGH STRETCH WITH TOUGH WIN

2006-01-11T19:49:00.000-08:00

January 7, 2006

DALLAS – The Dallas Mavericks overcame a tough four game stretch in five nights with a determined 83-79 win over Minnesota tonight at the American Airlines Center. Dallas had to recover quickly from last night’s overtime win in Denver to face a Timberwolves team it’s seen three times in 21 days. Seven straight points from All-Star Dirk Nowitzki in the closing minutes sealed the win.

“It’s a nice feeling,” said Mavs forward Josh Howard. “Four games in five nights is difficult, but we pulled it out. I just wish we could have gone 4-0.” The only loss in the four games was a 91-78 thrashing in Minnesota on Wednesday night.

“We won the games that we had to,” said Jason Terry. “Minnesota, give them credit, they won that game up there, so we got that game back tonight and now we can just look forward to what we have on the road.”

Dallas shot a season-low 35% from the field, but out-rebounded Minnesota by 20 overall and 14 in the offensive column. Howard helped the Mavericks keep the game close throughout the first three quarters with 12 points and some key rebounds setting the stage for the dramatic Nowitzki finish

“That’s classic Dirk. He’s been doing that all season,” guard Devin Harris said. As usual Kevin Garnett pestered Nowitzki the entire night, but Dirk had the last laugh scoring 13 of his 26 points in the final 10 minutes.

Forward Adrian Griffin is used to watching Nowitzki carry a team late. He thinks it’s time the German received some higher recognition. Griffin said, “I know it’s early, but you have to start thinking about [Dirk as an] MVP candidate. He’s got to be number one.”

Garnett ended with a game-high 26 points but was shut down during some key defensive stops late in the game. Garnett’s inability to score coupled with a Jason Terry three-pointer with just over three minutes remaining kick started the struggling Mavericks offense, which was held under 20 points in both the second and third quarters.

“I was waiting all night [for that shot],” a relieved Terry said. “I say my prayers every day.” The “Jet” fought his way to 11 points, all coming at critical moments.

Avery Johnson won his 41st game as the Mavericks head coach with a 3-1 record in the aforementioned span.

“We’re spoiled,” said Dallas guard Jerry Stackhouse. “We’re at the point now where we expect to win. That’s a good thing but at the same time we can’t get complacent. We’re one of the top teams, if not the top team in the West, we have an “X” on our chests.”

The Mavericks have Sunday off before traveling to Boston to face the Celtics.

ANOTHER SEASON COME AND GONE

2005-12-13T14:48:00.000-08:00

Well, another big country football season is officially over. The year ended with two state champions and two state semi-finalists. The year began with thousands of high hopes and lofty goals.

The surprise team of 2005 had to be the Early Longhorns. A team surrounded by failure in recent years won a district championship and lost by eight measley points in the Class 2A Division 1 semi-finals. No surprise that four Longhorns were named to the All-State team.

The squad suffering the biggest drop was Jim Ned. After two straight undefeated regular seasons and a state championship appearance, the Indians lost nearly two full teams worth of seniors and failed to make the post-season.

I was stuck in the studio for the majority of the year, but I was rewarded for my imprisonment with some great playoff moments. Not so great, however, for the Abilene High Eagles. The first Warbird game I attended all year was a 52-0 defeat at the hands of the Class 5A jauggernaut Southlake Carroll. The great part was being able to watch the Dragons dismantle one of the best teams in the nation. I was also in attendance the next week when my Plano Wildcats held a 27-16 lead over Carroll in the third quarter, only to watch it slip away in the fourth. Plano lost 37-27, and Carroll improved to 61-1 since moving into Class 5A.

I was also smack dab in the middle of another state championship celebration. The Throckmorton Greyhounds (home of Dallas Cowboys Hall-of-Famer Bob Lilly) defeated Turkey Valley 68-22 in the 6-man state title game. I was there the whole time and was priviledged to be in the midst of their jubilant celebration. I had not been to a Throckmorton game all year, did not know any of the players and briefly spoke with the coach on one occasion, but I found myself wrapped up in the moment with a tear in my eye.

On August 1st I set out for Coleman. My first stop on a 44 school preview tour which shattered the previous KTXS record of 25. I traveled to 28 schools by myself. Many miles spent thinking of what might be. Many hours of dwelling on the past. I watched 28 different teams prepare the way they felt was right, 28 teams sweating in the heat of August for one purpose: to win on Friday night.

Towns are brought together during football season. Players fly to heights of greatness and legend. Coaches lose and win their jobs.

From August 1st to December 10th, high school teams in the Big Country had one chance to play one year. They'll never get it back no matter how hard they try or how many dreams haunt their sleepless nights. They had one chance. Some made the best of it, others will harbor regrets until their dying day. Most will regret. Most will always daydream of what could have been. What should have been.

As for me, I'll do it all over again next year. My job stays the same. I'll just have to learn some new faces and new names.

Brothers Camping Trip '05

2005-06-21T15:33:00.000-07:00

The 1st annual Brothers Camping Trip went off with a bang, a flat, a slip and a whole lot of beer.

Brad, Jeff and Mark Rogers set out for Inks Lake with the hope of having a weekend of relaxation and reflection. What they got was four days of heat, four days of laughs and four days of Jeff taking pictures of himself.

The weekend started more like a professional baseball team playing the five & under softball squad. The weekend started with a blow out. Brad's hybrid tire couldn't hold the weight of two former heavyweights and all their food. About 20 miles outside of Llano, all hell broke lose. Expecting an old, broken-down motorcycle to pass them on the left, the Rogers brothers Brad and Mark quickly realized no motorcylce was near them. The grinding noise was coming from the left rear fender. A blow out to such an extent as to make the Myrick-tire-place-guy say, "Damn."

If it wasn't for the purchase of one Toyota Tacoma some four years earlier by the brother Jeff, the trip would have come to a quick and abrupt halt on the side of highway 71. Alas, the Tacoma came, the weight was lifted and the weekend was on.

However, a second major obstacle soon thwarted the brothers-three. A planned eating experience at Cooper's BBQ would have to be rescheduled due to time limitations. The plan was made by the brother Brad, bad news for the brothers Jeff and Mark. We all know when Brad's plans are altered, women and children should be hidden from view. Had Brad reacted in his normal manner, the trip would have been canceled, the tent nary unpacked and the beer never consumed. BUT! Amazingly the detour resulted in minor eruptions and the weekend was on again.

The tent was set up and the food was laid out. The brothers-three were ready for the BCT. A canoe trip awaited at four o'clock. The canoe trip was straight out of a Mark Rogers' nightmare. A crying child ruined the day for all, including the poor, poor tour guide. Her first experience as such, she'll probably never guide again. The tour was over for the brothers-three with five dramatic words: "Hey look! A dead snake!" With those words the canoe headed back to shore. The brothers headed to the cliff of death where they would find a rite of passage unlike any they had ever gone through.

The cliff of death was 50 feet tall. 50 feet from the rocks to the white water rapids. A fall ending in snake bites and broken necks. Dead fish littered the shore from acid and poison coming from the steaming rocks. Alas, the brothers-three did not fear. They climbed that rock of death and plunged to the murky, precarious waters below. When the heads reached the surface, all three brothers realized the baptism which they had just undergone. Doody dwelled in the depths, and the doody touched their skin.

Meal times were good times on the BCT. The brother Jeff went to endless trouble preparing rice, sausage and hash browns. His meals soothed the soul and stomach and brought the relaxation all were searching for. The brother Brad brought no shortage of egg whites and Myoplex bars. His meals filled to the brim and left no pleasure unturned. The brother Mark's meals were highly uncreative. Hot dogs, turkey sandwiches and snack packs littered the green Coleman cooler. His lack of preparation, however, had a reason. His lack of trouble had 27 reasons. 27 Miller Lites.

Grumpman yelled for all to hear: "Fuzzikins!!! Get your ass over- Get away from that po- Schaizie! Take that out of your damn-!!!!" All Grumpman wanted was a fun weekend, but what Grumpman failed to realize is that he brought dogs and kids with him. A combination so treacherous that even the brothers-three could see his folly. The brothers-three were just the brothers three. No wives or kids or dogs, just food, a tent, a machete and beer.

So many things to discuss and breakdown in the three nights and four days of the BCT: pending poker games and movie reed-whacking quizzes. But one thing stands out against the rest: espionage. A recon mission was performed on Friday night. It would take the brothers-three 25 minutes to get across the lake and at least that to make it back. The brothers-three were not altered. The plan was a go, the mission was on, the camp would be contaminated with the brothers' urine. And so it was, that on Sunday morning at 0230, the $26 dollar raft set out with a front oarman, a rear oarman and a motor named the brother Mark. Contact was made at 0300, and the pissing began. Off the slide and on the pool, in the cabin there slept a fool...so we peed on him.

The brothers camping trip started off with a blow out, but ended up a hit. The brothers-three each made it back to their respective wives with stories of grandeur and fame, stories of pain and laughter, and some stories that would remain secret for many years to come. The BCT will become a part of the brothers' tradition. An integral part of a sacred bond. The missing link of the life so far. Amen.

p.s. "Damnit Tootsie, getchyour ass out of the water!!!!!"
-Grumpman

10 Reasons Why I Hate Jackson

2005-04-21T19:48:00.000-07:00

1. He smells.
2. He dips.
3. He wears sweat pants to Nascar races and tries to pick up chicks.
4. He says, "See ya on Wednesday" really weird.
5. He falls down in the aisle at Summer Youth Series.
6. He goes through DAV sometimes and never wants to play basketball.
7. He didn't get me any cool, free football clothes from Tennessee.
8. He almost didn't room with me at Kadesh one year.
9. He left me for some guy named Jeremy at Iron Springs one year.
10. He kept kicking my legs when we were sleeping in the back of the company Trailblazer.

Those are 10 reasons why I hate Jackson. There are many more, but the internet is not big enough.

-Heisman

An NBA Championship

2005-04-20T15:27:00.000-07:00

The Dallas Mavericks will win the 2004-2005 championship. A bold statement from a patient fan. A laughable statement just three years ago. A realistic statement when the facts are known.

The Mavericks have lingered at the threshold of greatness for the last two years. The 2002-2003 season saw the most wins in franchise history. However, a 60-22 record could not win the Midwest division title (stinkin' Spurs). Dallas blew a 3-0 lead in the 1st round with Portland before winning an incredible Game 7 at the American Airlines Center. The 2nd round was revenge at its best as the Mavs advanced into the Conference Finals in 7 games over the hated Kings. In the Conference Finals, a resurgent Steve Kerr ruined a chance for the series to go the distance in Game 6. He hit four 3-pointers in the final quarter. Dallas lost 4-2. The home team came out on top in one of the six games. Dallas played 20 playoff games.

Last year the Mavericks won fewer games than they'd won since the 1988-89 season going 52-30. A dissapointing season capped off with a dissapointing playoff loss in round number-one to Sacramento. A series decided in five games, three of which were lost on last second Dallas shot-attempts.

So now it's 2005. Dallas is on the verge of having the second most wins in franchise history. With a win tonight against Memphis, the record would stand at 58-24. Even with the loss of Steve Nash, Dallas is a better team. Once again we're in the top 10 in fewest turnovers. Nash's absence opened up new scoring opportunities for future MVP Dirk Nowitzki (he scored a career high in points).

But here's the reason why the Mavericks are different from years past, why they'll beat the top teams in the league including Phoenix, San Antonio and Detroit: Avery Johnson. The Little General brings a defensive mindset to the clubhouse that Don Nelson could never bring. Since taking over, Dallas has won 15 games under Johnson. They've lost two.

The Mavericks are 7th in the league in opponents field goal percentage, 2nd in opponents 3-point percentage, 4th in steals and 7th in blocked shots. Dallas is 4th in the conference in rebounding, a stat incomprehensible to life-long Mavs fans.

Defense will win the championship, but the offense helps. Dallas is 1st in the league in free throws made, 5th in free throw percentage, 8th in field goal percentage, 7th in 3-point percentage and 3rd in points.

Avery Johnson's coaching and defense coupled with the offensive power, Dirk, Josh Howard, Marquis Daniels, Eric Dampier, Michael Finley and Jason Terry, Dallas will no longer linger on the threshold, they'll bring it all home.

The Dallas Mavericks will win the NBA championship. A bold statement from a patient fan. A laughable statement just three years ago. A realistic statement when the facts are known.

Babe still the Best

2005-02-16T19:38:00.000-08:00

Babe Ruth hit 54 home runs in 1920. Before Ruth the most homers hit in a single 154-game season was 24 by Philadelphia's Gavvy Cravath. The Babe hit 59 in 1921 and 60 in '27. If you claim to be a baseball purist, Barry Bonds single-season record of 73 is a joke.

For the first 15 years of Bonds' career, he averaged - averaged - 33 homeruns. Then all of the sudden he hits 40 more than his average and no one wonders if something is going on? Mark McGuire's 70 in 1998 also doesn't hold water in my book. Steroids or not, Bonds and McGuire obviously used supplements Ruth never had in the '20s and '30s. Imagine a beefed up, muscle-bound Ruth...he would have hit well over 714 career bombs. He may have been in the thousands by the time it was all said and done.

If you ask me, Roger Maris's 61 homers in 1961 also cannot be counted as a legit number because he played 8 more games than Ruth did in '27. Had Ruth played 162 games, he may have hit 64, we'll never know. But here's the point: Babe Ruth's 60 homerun season in 1927 is still the all-time record in Major League Baseball history for a single-season. Maris had eight more games, McGuire and Bonds had supplemental advantages, and nearly 80 seasons later, Ruth is still the best the ever was...period.

So when Barry Bonds surpasses Ruth in the career home run category, don't cheer or give him an ovation because it doesn't count. Bonds is a cheater. McGuire's name should be scratched out of record books. And what does it say about the baseball fans out there that Sammy Sosa and McGuire's chase for 61 brought the fans back. Sure that was a fun time, but it's not the same. Babe Ruth originally stormed the majors into the national spotlight, and it's Ruth who will keep it there. It's up to the few baseball purists left to make sure the names Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron don't get forgotten. They were the real sluggers, not these beefed up, greedy cheaters who think cheating is the way to be remembered. Oh, we'll remember McGuire, Bonds and Sosa but for all the wrong reasons.

Hank Aaron's career home run mark will never be touched. And if Bonds passes him, it will be the dirty hands of a steroid abuser who erases Aaron's name...and that makes me sick. Why couldn't they have done it like real men? Like Ruth and Hank did? The home runs brought the fans back for a while, but in the end all it did was alienate the fans from the players even more. We've been betrayed for what? So that a bunch of no-good cheaters could pass the greatest players in history in the record books. I'll never acknowledge any of Bonds's home run records. Ruth is still the man after all these years.

It's Over

2004-04-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

Well, the Mavericks 2003-2004 season came to an abrupt halt last night at ARCO Arena in Sacramento. I wasn't mad when the game ended. I didn't throw anything. I didn't even cuss. I just turned the channel and began getting ready for next year.

What a crazy series. The Kings in the first round. We lost in five. BUT, if you go back and change three plays in the series, THREE, the Mavs win in five.

In a series that lasted nearly 250 minutes, a few seconds could have changed the outcome.

In Game 5 if Dirk hits the last shot? Mavs win 120-119. In Game 2, if Marquis Daniels hits the lay-up after the offensive board with just seconds to go. Mavs win 82-80. And in Game 4, if Stevie Nash comes away with a 3-pointer instead of a crazy fadeaway (which he is perfectly capable of hitting), Mavs win 95-94 and win the series.

Three plays. Three plays will haunt the Mavs all summer. Three plays will make the "experts" say the Mavs were horrible. They were "blown away" by the Kings. They need to make big changes. Well, all the "experts" will be wrong.

Charles Barkley said after the season-ending game that the Mavs can't rebound. They were the #1 offensive rebounding team in the league this year and were right up there in defensive rebounds, too.

This season reminds me a lot of the 2001-2002 season when we acquired Raef LaFrentz and Nick VanExel about halfway through the season. We lost to the Kings in five in the Western Semis. The Mavs hadn't had a chance to gel. The chemistry wasn't there.

What happened the next year? They won 60 games and took the Spurs to Game 6 in the Conference Finals.

Don't worry Mavs fans. We'll keep the core we have, become a better defensive team (as we have done every year) and make a deep run in the playoffs next year.

All is well. The Mavs will be back.

A Letter to My Idiot Professor who we'll call: Mr. Smity

2004-04-23T09:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Mr Smity,

Let's get a few things straight. I don't like you. Never have. The way you walk and talk annoy me in ways that I have never been annoyed, and I grew up with 2 older brothers.

I am writing you this letter in regards to the $25 you are requiring me to pay to graduate. I had no idea that we were going to have to pay any extra money for your pointless class. And when I say pointless, I mean pointless. I would have learned more sitting on the pot reading Highlights for Children for three hours a week.

I don't have $25. I just took a $400/month paycut, am married, just moved into a bigger house and don't give a rip about school. So I'm not giving you $25 dollars that I could spend on the golf course or on gas.

And let me tell you something else. The stupid book that you required us to buy cost $85. Are you kidding me? We never even used it. And when you did decide to open it up in class, it was obvious you hadn't looked at it. Hey! Smart guy! We can all read. We gave up listening to teachers read to us in class about 15 years ago. Learn to teach! You are NOT a good teacher. You weren't even a good professional. Why else would you be teaching at a Division II school? Oh, because the company you did PR for went bankrupt because their PR guy didn't have the first clue as to what he was doing. Makes sense.

Yeah, I'll end up paying the #O#*$ $25. But let me tell you something. When I'm done with school and I see you around town. Don't expect a "How do you do?" from me. What you can expect is a dirty look and maybe even an assault. You suck.

Love,
Your favorite student

Dallas Mavericks

2004-04-21T20:14:00.000-07:00

The Dallas Mavericks will win the NBA championship.

Just some wishful thinking from a fan who watched every game from the 1991-1992 season. The year the pitiful squad won as many games as the number of years I had been alive. That's right: 11. 11 games in an 82 game season? Wow. And four of those wins were against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Led by the great Christian Laettner.

The Mavericks have since seen better days. Winning 40 games in the 1999-2000 season, the mavericks have been over .500 in every season after that. Where were the crazy fans then? Where were the body-painters, the "Mavs Fans For Life" when they won 13 games in '92-93? I didn't see anyone wearing Mavericks apparel back then? I didn't hear anyone analyzing games or talking about playoff matchups then? And I sure didn't hear people saying, "Oh the Mavs will never win it all." It would be asinine to even use "Mavs" and "win" in the same sentence.

Where were the analyzers, the critics? Everyone would have been happy with a .500 record, let alone a 10-10 playoff performance as the Mavs pulled off last year. 10 and 10! They won 11 games one entire season and they won 10 games in the playoffs. That's great! Success! But no.

Now that the Mavs have a fair-weather fan following, no one will be satisfied until the Larry O'Brien trophy is safe in the halls of the American Airlines Center. Now there's nothing wrong with high expectations, but c'mon. Dallas completely change the make-up of their team, have two rookies (albeit incredible rookies) playing heavy minutes, and everyone assumes they'll win a championship. There aren't any other teams in the Western Conference. A conference better, maybe, than any other conference in league history. In the Midwest Division alone, all seven teams were over .500. All seven teams would have easily made the playoffs in the East or even the West in any other year.

But the stigma remains: win it all or you're horrible. No, I'll tell you what horrible is: 11-71. That's horrible. 13-69. That's horrible. Only rooting for a team the "experts" say have a chance to win it all. That's horrible.

You show me 10 tickets from the years 1991-1998 and I'll call you a true Mavericks fan. If you can't do that? Don't come complaining to me telling me how bad the Mavericks are. That they looked horrible last night. What do you care? As soon as they drop off the map, so will you.

If the Mavericks get swept in the first round this year, it will be a successful year. Dallas hasn't won fewer than 53 games since 2000-2001, but the Western Conference has NEVER been stronger. They played the Kings in the opening round for crying out loud. The Kings! That's not a first round opponent. That's the Conference Finals.

Until you show me those ticket stubs. I don't want to talk to you.

The End of An Era

2004-04-21T16:15:00.000-07:00

As the end of my college career sneaks ever nearer, I am reminded of a few, helpful quirks:

If you go to ACU, don't ever buy textbooks.

Sometimes pooping in your pants is funny, BUT people remember stuff like that for a long time. You'll never hear the end of it.

Don't make fun of people for being fat and hairy because the person you're telling could be their son or daughter.

If you call your employer and he tells you that "O'Reilly's is hiring," don't go into work that day, you've been fired.

Driving around town in a stolen golf cart is fun until you run into an occupied police car.

Driving around campus in a stolen golf cart is fun until the Dean of Students (whose golf cart you're in) catches you doing it.

When your roommate is sick and puking in the hallyway, it's fun to call up some other friends and hold the phone up so they can hear him gagging.

When you leave the dorm past 10 o'clock and have to sneak through trees and shadows and avoid a spotlight, your school sucks.

Graduation comes in about two weeks. I can't wait until the first person from my school calls and asks me for money because I'm not going to pay. Not one single, solitary dime. hahahahahahahaha. Eat that.

SpxBump

2004-04-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

Hello internet. My name is Roe Jackson. Pleased to meet you.