Running in the desert

It's that time of year again...

Six weeks spent in the desert, fending for myself.

It's not as bad as it sounds, actually. Six weeks at spring training has become my home away from home. I've gotten to know the lay of the land, found a couple of spots where i like to run and have some restaurants I love visiting.

Last year I started night running regularly. It took some getting used to, but eventually it became habit. I'll try to transition back to that again this year.

My biggest challenge this spring has nothing to do with running, but is all about distance. The distance...361 miles. That's how far it is from the Angels Spring Training complex to my wife.

Last year at this time, Lindsey and i were still dating. It's a whole new ballgame this time around. We are both hoping that this will be a time of growth for us as a couple as we learn to communicate better and strengthen our connection. It will not be easy, but God has put us here for a reason and we will do all we can to glorify him where we are at...whether we are laying on the beach or running in the desert.

50...

I don't enjoy running because of the alone time or the cool kicks or how it benefits my health. I don't hit the road every day to escape or to lose weight. I pull myself out of bed every morning and lace up my shoes because I love the challenge.

Ever since I started running back in the spring of 2007, I have set goals for myself. With each goal came a new challenge...a 10k, a marathon, more marathons, and most recently my first ultramarathon. With each challenge completed, I looked towards the next as my love of running grew and my physical limits stretched.

Two years ago I ran the North Face Endurance Challenge 50k in San Francisco. The beautiful, challenging, muddy race was my first ultra and it pushed me to the limit. The tough course pushed my body to levels it had never been before and I loved every minute of it.

This year I will go back to the same race and test my limits in the 50-miler.

I'm cautiously optimistic about this challenge, knowing that I could very well meet my limit and fail. For the first time as a runner, time means nothing. The only thing I care about is seeing it through to the FINISH.

Here we go...

Humbled and motivated

This past November I ran in the Malibu Marathon, a beautiful race along PCH from Camarillo to the sand in Malibu. I expected it to be a nice, easy race as I took my time enjoying the view and not worrying about the clock.

The miles were going by with relative ease until I felt pain in my chest. The pain was intense and forced me to walk. My heart beat out of my chest as I racked my brain trying to figure out what was going on. I was well hydrated and running at a comfortable speed, it just didn't make sense. I tried running again but the pain got worse and my heart beat faster still.

The nice leisurely run turned into an agonizing last seven miles. I wasn't able to move faster than a shuffle and limped across the finish line, defeated.

In the weeks that followed, I visited multiple doctors and took all kinds of tests. I am happy to report that nothing was found and I have a clean bill of health. I decided that the scare was my body giving me notice that it does indeed have limits, but as I have said before I enjoy pushing those limits. The little scare humbled me, but weeks later that would turn to motivation...

Happy wife, Happy life

That's my motto for this new year and, well, for the rest of my years.

I haven't written in a very long time, but i'd like to get back into the habit so please forgive me as I shake off the rust...

As you all know by now, I said "I do" to the love of my life, Mrs. Lindsey Cavinder, back on December 29th. Our big day was simply unforgettable. I am so blessed to call such an amazing and godly woman my wife.

We've spent the last month honeymooning, "nesting" in our new place and learning to live with each other. I've got to say, I have had it easy. I get to live with someone who cleans up after themselves, makes me dinner and smells wonderful. On the contrary, she lives with a slob who eats too much and smells like a sweaty dude. Sorry, sweetie!

As you also know, another commitment made in December will also have a large impact on my life, and that is the signing of Albert Pujols. In one month, my personal and professional lives went through a dramatic shift. Needless to say this will be an exciting year at home and at the office!

I am looking forward to this year, the challenges and opportunities it holds. To be honest, I can't believe it is already February. Here we go!

She's the one

"It's all part of a grander plan, that is coming true" -Rascal Flatts, "Broken Road"

They used to tell me things like, "When you know, you know" or "She's out there, somewhere". My favorite line I heard was, "When you stop looking, you'll find her" because sure, that makes sense.

While the friendly encouragement was appreciated, it means absolutely nothing to a single person. None of the encouragement even makes sense.

A little over a year ago, I got to know a beautiful little blonde and she immediately stole my heart. It wasn't easy (it never is), but we managed to find our way through the broken roads of past relationships and tough emotions to get to the place I had been looking for. The one that all those people told me about. The place of "knowing". I have never experienced such a comfortable yet exhilirating place.

Suddenly all of the encouragement made sense. When I knew, I knew. I found her and the rest is now, as they say, history.

On June 12th, 2011 at Thousand Steps Beach in Laguna Beach, CA, Lindsey Joy Linker agreed to be my bride.

I could not possible be more excited to start the rest of my life with her by my side.

Preparing to prepare to train for my next race

Baseball players play games almost every day, Basketball players a few times a week and football players every Sunday. Runners train for months to prepare for ONE DAY. It's a strange idea when you think about it.

For serious marathon runners, training can take anywhere between 3-6 months and is often accompanied by a strict diet, supplements and special recovery techniques. Most will invest hundreds of dollars into gear, registration fees and other expenses for that one day.

With so much invested, the pressure to perform is incredibly high. Runners don't have the luxury of 'turning the page' and playing again the next day. It's do or die, all or nothing.

As I work towards my next race, the Malibu Marathon on November 13th, I can't help but think about the months that lie ahead. Here's hoping it all works out...

Humbled...Double Race Report: Part 2

They say you should take at least 1-3 weeks to recover from a marathon. Most doctors recommend no running for at least that long. I needed to be back at it 19 hours later, so I relied on every recovery method I had ever tried.

An ice bath, compression socks, blister pads and stretching routines were the tip of the iceberg. There was also a healthy dose of Aleve, a massage roller and two Chipotle burritos. I'm not sure where the magic was, but I woke up Sunday morning at 4:45 with energy. I stood up to legs that were sore, but not stiff. I stretched and experienced very little pain.

"Today may be a good day" I thought as I hurried to get ready. For everything that was wrong with the Palos Verdes Marathon the day before, Pasadena got right. Ample parking and porta-potties, a solid finish area and an organized start helped calm my nerves on race day number two.

I ran into Ron (my Maniac friend who helped me finish Carlsbad and gave me valuable tips on running a double) who did what all Maniacs do, pump me up. Bby the time the race started, he had me feeling confident in my tired legs.

The race started and our shuffle turned into a small stride. A comfortable rain was coming down, distracting me from my stiff legs. I yawned as I forced one leg in front of the other. Running wasn't as effortless as I was used to. Normally on long runs I am able to turn of my mind and go into 'autopilot' as my brain told my legs what to do and I stood by as a third party.

Not today.

I had to constantly remind myself to keep moving forward, forcing myself not to walk until my scheduled breaks. Today would be just as tough a mental test as it was physical.

Miles 8-12 brought me tons of encouragement. Fellow Maniacs gave high-fives and fellow runners shared a few laughs as we ran the "lonely miles" together. I passed one guy who was dribbling two basketballs throughout the entire race. I thanked the soldiers running with the American flag. I smiled at the elderly Asian woman shuffling through the full marathon.

When your energy is depleted and you have nowhere to go but towards the finish line, you look for any type of encouragement you can find. Thankfully, there was plenty of it out on this course. Maybe it was the cool weather, but everyone was social and everyone in a good mood.

As the miles ticked off I noticed I was keeping with my target pace, ahead of day one even. I didn't expect it to last, so I pushed myself in the middle miles. To my surprise, I reached mile 20 and was maintaining my pace. The mental effort was still exhausting, but my legs had turned into some kind of senseless machine, turning over as fast as my mind could tell it too.

Mile 22 came and a steep incline thankfully coincided with a scheduled walk-break. I looked down and noticed a spot of blood on my shirt. Uh-oh.

This being my 13th marathon, I had seen my fair share of nipple chafing, some producing some gnarly blood stains, but thankfully never had the pleasure of experiencing it for myself. Until now. Rather than risk any further damage, I took of my shirt and ran most of the rest of the way while I worked on my tan.

Four miles from comleting my toughest challenge yet, I wasn't about to let that slow me down. I pulled negative splits over the final four miles and threw my 'Marathon Maniacs' singlet on to run the last quarter mile.

I passed my parents and sprinted through the finish at 4:11, six minutes faster than day one. Three days later I still don't know how I ran faster on day two.