Home Grown Adventures! When I was with Eric last September at his run camp we talked about a new direction for my running, at the time I was tired of…

I just caught Eric's interview on the Connect Run Podcast while on my 8-miler yesterday. Excellent interview, Eric! While listening, it reminded me of how far I had come as a runner since I started 5 years ago and how The Cool Impossible had helped become a better runner.

I was diagnosed with hypertension about 7 years ago at age 36. At the time, I was a smoker of 17 years, sitting around much of the day, and eating fast food regularly. Somehow, I had deluded myself…

Yup, I'm gonna do it. I'm going to Giants. Tor Des Geants, that is. It's a 200+ mile race following the Alta Via 1 and Alta Via 2 around the Italian Alps. There will be 24,000 meters/78,000 ft of climbing...and descending. It is a single stage race, meaning there is no designated down time for rest. You rest as much or as little as you need, but the race goes on. We have 150 hours to complete the course. There will be "life bases" every 30 ish miles with cots and showers and hot food.…

I’ve been running for years, (like 23 of them), but only started my true love affair with running 4-5 years ago when I sought Eric Orton to coach me to my first ultra marathon. At that time I didn’t “love” running. I ran for years for fitness and to…

After my time with Eric last September his plan was for me to run as much as possible in HRZ2 which for me is 134 to 144 BPM, Aiming to build endurance. At first it felt weird because its so 'slow'. But after several months I can feel my endurance building. And my pace and heart rates are interesting as well! Based on 10 mile and more runs, Averages are

November 13:15 min mile with HR 145

January 12:47 min mile HR 139

February 11:12 min mile HR 140

Want to go faster for…

Yea.....I'm not a consistent journal writer or blogger.   I have been working on the 'Cool Impossible' book training program  for the past 11 weeks.  I thought I would update in case someone was interested. The workouts have been very motivating and challenging at the same time.  Its nice that you can read a chapter in the book about the 'why' you are doing a particular run.  Some of the speed hill days have taken me back to childhood cross country days.   The coaches never…

I’ve always admired adventurous women. Women who were out there, doing what they love with passion and grit, seeking to inspire other women to do the same. I also use “she” to 

motivate me…

Starting week 6 Phase I.   Recovery run today.  Was stiff at the start.  Loosened up in middle, but some muscles got sore at the end.  I may have gone a bit far.   Weather has changed to cold, but got a good running jacket for Christmas.  Dormant muscles keep firing and getting sore and then recover.

I'm not much of a blogger, but still am working at the program.   Got the puppy on a leash...not so distracting anymore.  I think the fat burning is working more on the dogs then…

Lots has gone down hill for me lately. but I did run my first marathon about 5 months ago, after reading The Cool Impossible about 4 months before that. 3 days later I crashed my motorcycle and wound up in a wheelchair for a month and almost had 2 twos amputated, lost the girl I thought I was gong to marry, my company is in the red, and I can't find a job in my field my field or with any real responsibility or pressure. That being said, today is the first day I put on my full running gear…

I am really enjoying the mild seasonal weather.   Running in shorts in December in the Midwest is awesome. 

Been working on some strength exercises on hard running days.  My muscles started to relax this week. I took two extra days off from week one.  Over did some basketball coaching and was wiped out.  Much better week.  Quads are sore on todays recovery run from hill runs yesterday.   Checked my mileage and I am up to 22 so far this week.  Will see what the end of Phase I week 2…

Having never been to San Francisco, I can’t imagine a better way to see it for the first time than running across 50 miles along the….ahem...Northern California coast line. I would be staying with friends and had intended to drive from home in…

A cool and cloudy  morning greeted us on Sunday the 18th of October, just perfect for running and though my preparation had been interrupted due to work travel and a virus, I felt excited for what lay ahead. 

I woke at 4.00am dressing and eating a breakfast of muffin with honey, a banana and black tea. Up alone with my…

When I think of the Rocky Ridge Half Marathon, I remember the words of Wesley (aka the Dread Pirate Roberts) to Prince Humperdink in the movie version of The Princess Bride.

Wrong! Your ears you keep and I’ll tell you why. So that every shriek of every child at seeing your hideousness will be yours to cherish. Every babe that weeps at your approach, every woman who cries out, “Dear God! What is that thing,” will echo in your perfect ears. That is what to the pain means.…

So what started as a conversation between my wife and I over dinner way back in the depths of winter, came to fruition in mid September with me flying 6,000 odd miles from UK to Wyoming to attend one of Eric Orton’s mountain running academy training camps. As in his book the story began as “You In Glorious Jackson Hole” with Eric meeting me at the airport and shuttling me to the Teton mountain village which would be base for the next 3 days.…

I had no plans to do a 100 this year. 2 years of Leadville training and finishes, kinda finished me on the hundred mi distance for what I felt like would be a year or two. Last year my goal was to complete all of the US Skyrunning Ultra races. I did all but one, mostly high altitude, all…

News from Geneva. I have now 1.5 year followed the "Eric Orton" exercises  and I run 2-3 times a week. I have slowly (extremely) increased my kilometers and I am now running 10 km 2-3 times a week. I stopped last  autumn 6 weeks running because I had pain like inside the calf bone of my left leg. I never found out what is was. Just to say 3-4 months ago it all came together and it feels light to run, natural, athletic. When I come home from my runs it feels like I could easily run another 10…

This was the fifth running of Brazen Racing's Bear Creek Half Marathon and my third time to tackle it.  Though this year was unlike the past two years in that my Suunto recorded a max temperature of 97 F / 36 C at one point.

The race starts off at the entrance to Briones Regional Park and meanders through the park for about 13.5 miles / 22km and climbs approximately 3000ft / 986m.  We were all smiles, but the temps were already uncomfortable at the 8am start for the half marathon.…