”Focused. Determined. Stubborn. Let’s go crush this week.” ~ Shalane Flanagan

Training log (past week)

Sunday: 10.64 (10:12); ran the hilly country road training route, cloudy, 51° F, 86% humidity.

Monday: stationary bicycle 10.49 miles.

Tuesday: 3.46 (8:57); ran in the park, partly cloudy, 62° F, 72% humidity.

Wednesday: stationary bicycle 10.59 miles.

Thursday: rest.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: 7.08 (10:08); ran the hilly country road training route, sunny, 67° F, 31% humidity.

Week total running: 21.18 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 21.08 miles.

"Stay confident. Trust the process." ~ Sara Hall

Training log (past week)

Sunday: 4.11 (9:23); ran in the park, partly cloudy, 62° F, 69% humidity.

Monday: stationary bicycle 10.41 miles.

Tuesday: 4.56 (9:19); ran in the park, mostly cloudy, 77° F, 49% humidity.

Wednesday: rest.

Thursday: stationary bicycle 10.53 miles.

Friday: stationary bicycle 10.57 miles.

Saturday: Mulekick 5k 3.1 miles (8:50); cloudy, 36° F, 87% humidity.

Week total running: 11.77 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 31.51 miles.

"Running helps me stay on an even keel and in an optimistic frame of mind." ~ Bill Clinton

Training log (past week)

Sunday: 4.15 (9:31); ran in the park, cloudy, 48° F, 41% humidity.

Monday: stationary bicycle 10.57 miles.

Tuesday: stationary bicycle 10.43 miles.

Wednesday: rest.

Thursday: rest.

Friday: 5.17 miles (10:02); ran in the park, sunny, 77° F, 35% humidity.

Saturday: stationary bicycle 10.63 miles.

Week total running: 9.32 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 31.63 miles.

"According to a study released Wednesday by doctors at Michigan State University, running for 20 minutes every day was found to be effective in adding several years of soreness to people’s lives." ~ The Onion

Training log (past week)

Sunday: 10.10 (9:47); ran the hilly country road training route, cloudy, 47° F, 62% humidity.

Monday: stationary bicycle 10.39 miles.

Tuesday: 4.50 miles (9:32); ran in the park, sunny, 76° F, 32% humidity.

Wednesday: rest.

Thursday: 4.50 miles (9:40); ran in the park, mostly sunny, 52° F, 47% humidity.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: 10.41 (9:55); ran the hilly country road training route, sunny, 55° F, 48% humidity.

Week total running: 29.51 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 10.39 miles.

"Running is a simple activity. Just lace up your shoes and go, one step at a time, like each breath." ~ Adharanand Finn

Training log (past week)

Sunday: stationary bicycle 10.42 miles.

Monday: stationary bicycle 10.46 miles.

Tuesday: stationary bicycle 20.83 miles.

Wednesday: rest.

Thursday: rest.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: Nashville Rock 'n' Roll half-marathon 13.1 miles (10:10); sunny, 50° F, 85% humidity.

Week total running: 13.1 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 41.71 miles.

“It was ridiculous, do or die. But you go with it or you hang back. I just said: go with these guys, see what happens. If you’re gonna die, you’re gonna die.” ~ Mo Farah

Training log (past week)

Sunday: stationary bicycle 10.34 miles.

Monday: stationary bicycle 10.41 miles.

Tuesday: 4.41 miles (9:28); ran in the park, sunny, 79° F, 37% humidity.

Wednesday: rest.

Thursday: 3.45 miles (9:14); ran in the park, sunny, 78° F, 52% humidity.

Friday: stationary bicycle 10.25 miles.

Saturday: stationary bicycle 14.00 miles.

Week total running: 7.86 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 45.00 miles.

"What I’ve learned from running is that the time to push hard is when you’re hurting like crazy and you want to give up." ~ James Dyson

Training log (past week)

Sunday: 4.28 miles (9:52);ran the hilly country road training route, sunny, 79° F, 47% humidity.

Monday: 3.55 miles (9:19); ran in the park, mostly sunny, 78° F, 41% humidity.

Tuesday: 4.21 miles (9:07); ran in the park, sunny, 78° F, 38% humidity.

Wednesday: stationary bicycle 10.28 miles.

Thursday: stationary bicycle 10.22 miles.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: 8.12 miles (10:42);ran the hilly country road training route, sunny, 80° F, 56% humidity.

Week total running: 20.16 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 20.50 miles.

”Running has always been my form of moving meditation... it allows me to get out of my head.” ~ Meghan Markle

Training log (past week)

Sunday: 3.59 miles (9:32); ran in the park, sunny, 88° F, 45% humidity.

Monday: rest.

Tuesday: 3.59 miles (9:24); ran in the park, partly cloudy, 81° F, 56% humidity.

Wednesday: rest.

Thursday: 3.20 miles (9:30); ran in the park, partly cloudy, 71° F, 84% humidity.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: 7.57 miles (9:58); ran the hilly country road training route, mostly sunny, 72° F, 89% humidity.

Week total running: 17.95 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 0 miles.

”There is magic in misery. Just ask any runner.” ~ Dean Karnazes

Training log (past week)

Sunday: stationary bicycle 10.00 miles.

Monday: 3.22 miles (9:29); ran in the park, partly cloudy, 78° F, 63% humidity.

Tuesday: stationary bicycle 10.24 miles.

Wednesday: 3.54 miles (9:26); ran in the park, mostly sunny, 83° F, 54% humidity.

Thursday: 3.54 miles (9:46); ran in the park, sunny, 84° F, 50% humidity.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: 7.81 miles (9:55); ran the hilly country road training route, mostly cloudy, 73° F, 88% humidity.

Week total running: 18.11 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 20.24 miles.

”The first and greatest victory is to conquer yourself.” ~ Plato

Training log (past week)

Sunday: stationary bicycle 10.21 miles.

Monday: 6.19 miles (9:42); ran the hilly country road training route, partly cloudy, 70° F, 97% humidity.

Tuesday: stationary bicycle 10.15 miles.

Wednesday: stationary bicycle 10.63 miles.

Thursday: rest.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: 5.86 miles (11:28); ran the hilly country road training route, partly cloudy, 81° F, 78% humidity.

Week total running: 12.05 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 30.99 miles.

”As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life—and travel—leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks—on your body or on your heart—are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt.” ~ Anthony Bourdain

Training log (past week)

Sunday: 6.29 miles (11:30); ran the hilly country road training route, sunny, 76° F, 92% humidity.

Monday: 3.26 miles (9:02); ran in the park, mostly sunny, 77° F, 47% humidity.

Tuesday: stationary bicycle 10.13 miles.

Wednesday: rest.

Thursday: 3.86 miles (9:50); ran in the park, mostly sunny, 86° F, 50% humidity.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: 3.10 miles (9:14); ran in the park, sunny, 83° F, 87% humidity.

Week total running: 16.51 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 10.13 miles.

”Is it not remarkable? Simple oil of cloves, and how amazing the results. Life can be that simple: relief—discomfort. Now which of these I next apply? That decision is in your hands. So... take your time... and tell me... is it safe?” ~ Dr. Christian Szell in Marathon Man

I watched a movie on Hulu called Marathon Man. This is an old movie from 1976 that I’d heard about for years but had never seen. The most well known part of the movie involves a Nazi war criminal torturing Dustin Hoffman with dental instruments. The main character, Babe, played by Dustin Hoffman is a runner and a graduate student. His brother is a government agent who is pursuing Dr. Szell a former Nazi dentist. Dr. Szell captures and tortures Babe believing he has information regarding a large cache of diamonds that had been stolen from Jews killed at Auschwitz.

Marathon Man is a suspenseful thriller. Babe is a runner, he talks about marathons and he has to run to escape his captors, but the movie has very little to do with running. I found the plot somewhat difficult to follow leaving many unanswered questions; however, I enjoyed the movie even though it wasn’t quite what I had expected.

”Champions do not become champions when they win the event, but in the hours, weeks, months and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely the demonstration of their championship character.” ~ Alan Armstrong

Training log (past week)

Sunday: 3.55 miles (9:33); ran in the park, mostly sunny, 77° F, 82% humidity.

Monday: rest.

Tuesday: 3.24 miles (9:25); ran in the park, sunny, 77° F, 76% humidity.

Wednesday: 3.34 miles (9:33); ran in the park, partly cloudy, 79° F, 81% humidity.

Thursday: rest.

Friday: 4.04 miles (9:43);ran the hilly country road training route, sunny, 73° F, 96% humidity.

Saturday: 4.11 miles (9:34); ran in the park, sunny, 68° F, 95% humidity.

Week total running: 18.28 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 0 miles.

"Run when you can, walk if you have to, crawl if you must; just never give up." ~ Dean Karnazes

Training log (past week)

Sunday: rest.

Monday: 4.67 miles (9:38); ran in the park, sunny, 69° F, 97% humidity.

Tuesday: rest.

Wednesday: 4.12 miles (9:23); ran in the park, sunny, 81° F, 73% humidity.

Thursday: 3.48 miles (9:25); ran in the park, partly cloudy, 83° F, 66% humidity.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: 8.14 miles (10:14); ran the hilly country road training route, cloudy, 73° F, 93% humidity.

Week total running: 20.41 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 0 miles.

”It's been a long journey, I've been trying to get this record for eight years, and I was finally successful. It just took me three tries to do it. It's a very special time right now—definitely a stamp on my career. With failure comes greater success, I knew I could do it if everything fell into place, so I just wanted one more crack at it.” ~ Karl Meltzer

I watched a documentary on Netflix called Made to Be Broken. It’s about Karl Meltzer running the Appalachian Trail. He covered 2,190 miles in 45 days, 22 hours, and 38 minutes setting a new record. It’s an interesting documentary.

That guy is a beast. I always wanted to hike the AT. I saw a documentary about the John Muir trail and got so into it I started looking at lightest pack videos on youtube.

This blog works great. I read like 4 quotes and Im juiced.

Thanks HeretoApologize. You’re right, ultrarunners like Karl Meltzer are incredible. He’s 48 years old and covered forty-plus miles daily for 46 days running on very rough terrain up and down mountain trails. It seems impossible, but he did it. It’s an amazing accomplishment for both him and his support crew.

”Everything you want is in front of you. Go get it!!!” ~ Shalane Flanagan

Training log (past week)

Sunday: 3.06 miles (9:44); ran in the park, partly cloudy, 85° F, 66% humidity.

Monday: stationary bicycle 10.15 miles.

Tuesday: 2.91 miles (9:33); ran in the park, partly cloudy and raining, 82° F, 73% humidity.

Wednesday: stationary bicycle 10.15 miles.

Thursday: 4.15 miles (9:24); ran in the park, sunny, 76° F, 85% humidity.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: 4.31 miles (10:11); ran the hilly country road training route, partly cloudy, 78° F, 85% humidity.

Week total running: 14.43 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 20.3 miles.

”I knew if I quit, nobody would ever believe that women had the capability to run 26-plus miles. If I quit, everybody would say it was a publicity stunt. If I quit, it would set women’s sports back, way back, instead of forward. If I quit, I’d never run Boston. If I quit, Jock Semple and all those like him would win. My fear and humiliation turned to anger.” ~ Kathrine Switzer

Training log (past week)

Sunday: 3.24 miles (9:43); ran in the park, sunny, 75° F, 94% humidity.

Monday: 3.57 miles (9:40); ran in the park, mostly sunny, 80° F, 82% humidity.

Tuesday: rest.

Wednesday: 3.24 miles (9:38); ran in the park, sunny, 72° F, 99% humidity; stationary bicycle 10.35 miles.

Thursday: stationary bicycle 10.09 miles.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: 6.20 miles (10:14); ran the hilly country road training route, mostly sunny, 70° F, 100% humidity.

Week total running: 16.25 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 20.44 miles.

”I always loved running—it was something you could do by yourself and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs” ~ Jesse Owens

Training log (past week)

Sunday: rest.

Monday: rest.

Tuesday: stationary bicycle 10.00 miles.

Wednesday: stationary bicycle 10.12 miles.

Thursday: stationary bicycle 10.15 miles.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: stationary bicycle 10.17 miles.

Week total running: 0 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 40.44 miles.

”Letting yourself be overtaken by negative emotions leads to suffering. Therefore, it’s important to recognise the shortcomings of an unruly, undisciplined mind. If you train your mind, you’ll suffer less.” ~ The Dalai Lama

Training log (past week)

Sunday: stationary bicycle 10.33 miles.

Monday: stationary bicycle 10.31 miles.

Tuesday: stationary bicycle 10.10 miles.

Wednesday: stationary bicycle 10.35 miles.

Thursday: 3.24 miles (9:42); ran in the park, sunrise, 67° F, 93% humidity.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: 3.24 miles (9:30); ran in the park, cloudy, 71° F, 90% humidity.

Week total running: 6.48 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 41.09 miles.

“This is television, that's all it is. It has nothing to do with people, it's to do with ratings! For fifty years, we've told them what to eat, what to drink, what to wear... for Christ's sake, Ben, don't you understand? Americans love television. They wean their kids on it. Listen. They love game shows, they love wrestling, they love sports and violence. So what do we do? We give 'em what they want! We're number one, Ben, that's all that counts, believe me. I've been in the business for thirty years.” ~ Richard Dawson as Damon Killian in The Running Man.

I watched a movie on Hulu called The Running Man starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, Richard Dawson, and some other people. It’s a 1987 science fiction movie with the storyline beginning in 2017. I suppose the movie was intended as a warning to what the world could become in the future. In this movie the United States had become a totalitarian police state. The Running Man is not a specific person; they’re the contestants in a gladiator style game show. Ben Richards (Schwarzenegger) is framed for an atrocity and put in a prison labor camp. He escapes the camp and is recaptured. He is provided the opportunity to compete in the Running Man deadly television game show. If he survives, he will be pardoned.

I must say the actual real world 2017 bore little resemblance to the apocalyptic doom and gloom depicted in The Running Man. I saw this movie on a list of movies that are supposed to be inspiring to runners. I’m not sure why it made that list. The movie has very little to do with running. The only running is in the title and the action scenes. My personal opinion is that it’s not a particularly good movie. It’s basically another violent action movie themed around breaking things and hurting people. I might have enjoyed it more when I was younger. Perhaps if I had seen it in 1987 I’d been more impressed. I guess I’m just a jaded old man.

"Pain is weakness leaving the body." ~ Chesty Puller

Training log (past week)

Sunday: 3.22 miles (9:21); ran in the park, sunny, 67° F, 96% humidity.

Monday: 3.57 miles (9:49); ran in the park, partly cloudy, 79° F, 67% humidity.

Tuesday: stationary bicycle 10.21 miles.

Wednesday: 3.47 miles (9:44); ran in the park, partly cloudy, 85° F, 52% humidity.

Thursday: stationary bicycle 10.53 miles.

Friday: rest.

Saturday: stationary bicycle 10.07 miles.

Week total running: 10.26 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 30.81 miles.

”The battles that count aren’t the ones for gold medals. The struggles within yourself—the invisible, inevitable battles inside all of us—that’s where it’s at.” ~ Jesse Owens

Training log (past week)

Sunday: 3.52 miles (9:47); ran in the park, sunny, 85° F, 46% humidity.

Monday: stationary bicycle 10.52 miles.

Tuesday: 2.92 miles (10:04); ran in the park, mostly cloudy, 79° F, 70% humidity.

Wednesday: stationary bicycle 10.33 miles.

Thursday: stationary bicycle 10.31 miles.

Friday: 4.27 miles (10:46); ran the hilly country road training route, fog, 67° F, 100% humidity.

Saturday: 2.57 miles (9:32); ran in the park, sunny, 75° F, 87% humidity.

Week total running: 13.28 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 31.16 miles.

”Maybe that’s enlightenment enough: to know that there is no final resting place of the mind; no moment of smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom... is realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have yet to go.” ~ Anthony Bourdain

Training log (past week)

Sunday: stationary bicycle 10.12 miles.

Monday: 4.09 miles (9:40); ran in the park, sunny, 69° F, 100% humidity.

Tuesday: rest.

Wednesday: stationary bicycle 10.09 miles.

Thursday: stationary bicycle 10.23 miles.

Friday: stationary bicycle 10.20 miles.

Saturday: 6.17 miles (10:14); ran the hilly country road training route, fog, 65° F, 95% humidity.

Week total running: 10.26 miles.

Week total stationary bicycle virtual mileage: 40.64 miles.