Super Bowl weekend

I want to first give a big shout out to our most faithful readers so far-- PW and EW---thanks for the hits!:) We're surprised to hear that people are actually reading this--who knew!? It would be interesting to add a 'ticker' to the bottom. I've also received some feedback that my first post resembled War & Peace. Well, if that’s true, then this one might be Anna Karenina. (Yes…I had to wiki that). Everyone reading this should learn a lesson--you better buckle yourself in when I post, because it's going to be a long ride (TWSS).

Sade and I had a nice relaxing weekend---Friday we got the chance to have dinner with a big group of friends and then finished the night with some Wii (my frick'n shoulder still kills). Saturday was basement work for me and then we hit up Sadie's company's 10th anniversary party at the Walker in the evening. Yesterday was pretty relaxing as we didn't really have any big plans--we got to watch the City of the Lakes Loppet from a few different places and incidentally got to witness Duluthians dominating the races. Always good to see. After that it was errands and the big Super Bowl party. For those that know me, you can attest to the fact that I'm not a big football fan. I'm self-admittedly a fair-weather fan if that. I have to say it was an excellent game to watch. I'm still torn on if I should be happy or not on the outcome. I think I'm disappointed.

Well I pushed the button. (for you LOST fans…I'm not referring to THE button) I registered for Grandma's and got in. So I suppose that kind of seals the deal…and I should start running huh? I put in my first run yesterday in the new marathon season; although the official training plan doesn't start for three weeks I figured I could use some base runs in. I'm following the advice of a boston-qualifying co-worker who suggested the 'FIRST' running program. It's an interesting program and I'm a bit nervous for it, because it actually only requires three days of running a week. I'm all up for only three days, but it seems a bit unorthodox to only be running 3 days a week, when your ultimate goal is to run 26.2 miles as fast as possible. But seeing that she was successful using it to qualify for Boston is sufficient proof for me. My PR stands at 3:18 and I know I have a big enough gas tank to get under 3:10 (Boston) or even under 3:00, but I guess it's about becoming fuel efficient, not just using up the gas just because you have it (weird how this analogy is paralleling current geo-politics!). In races past, and even my training, I think I've developed into a gas-hog. And not a smart one. I've never finished a marathon feeling good and I would like to this year (to those who've never ran one--yes it's possible to feel good after). I have this bad habit of running at race pace all the time because it feels so darn good. But, this is the season of training and racing smarter so I have to change that. Long story short, I have to become a Prius, not a Corvette. Doesn't sound nearly as sexy, but it will have to do (maybe I'll try for in between ….like a Porsche or something). If all goes well and I stay healthy...Chicago will be the next stop.

More to come later, but I'll save your eyes for now.

-Joel