Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Today's Workouts

Weather: 63 with crisp air, going up to 95 later today
Time of Day: 5 am
Distance: 7.06 miles
Time 1:04:27
Pace: 9:07 per mile
Running Shoes: Brooks Axiom 3 - I do not like these shoes. They are advertised as light-weight training shoes but they weigh 11 ounces and feel like boats. Fortunately I got them on a closeout sale so they weren't too expensive. I'll run in them a few times a month and eventually get to 300 miles at which point I'll ditch them
Comments: So to easy run in nice weather. My legs are still beat-up from Sunday's race but are slowly getting better. They should be fine by the end of the week...maybe...I hope

First My Wife Now the Feds

A guy can't get a break.

From CNN
Court allows agents to secretly put GPS trackers on cars

(CNN) -- Law enforcement officers may secretly place a GPS device on a person's car without seeking a warrant from a judge, according to a recent federal appeals court ruling in California.

Drug Enforcement Administration agents in Oregon in 2007 surreptitiously attached a GPS to the silver Jeep owned by Juan Pineda-Moreno, whom they suspected of growing marijuana, according to court papers.


It was bad enough that my wife secretly had a GPS chip implanted in my head while I was passed out after my bachelor party (shh she doesn't know that I am on to her) but now the cops can plant a GPS device on my car without a warrant. What is this country coming too? I'm sure the founder father's would have been more than ok with King George putting a tracking device under their horse's saddle.

I mean I accept that behavior from my wife, I figure it's implied in the marriage contract. It does present some difficulties after going for a run if I stopped for any length of time. "Honest honey I was in the porta-potty for half and hour, that chili con queso you made last night did a number on me. What's that? Why yes the porta-potty was inside a Hooters restaurant. Go figure."

Listen I am not advocating growing marijuana, at least not unless you are gonna share with a stressed-out father of 12. But do we really want the police sneaking around our houses and putting tracking devices on our private property? What's next? Mind reading chips? National identity cards (oh yeah they are in the works)? Medical information chips under the skin (oh wait another bad example)? There is a line of Brazilian lingerie that has built in GPS! Really! How romantic can you get?

Of course if they could implant a GPS device in my teenagers I just might change my mind....



Sunday, August 29, 2010

Annapolis 10 Mile Race

Ran the Annapolis 10 mile race this morning for probably the 10th time over the last 35 years. I first ran this race in 1978 as a 13 year-old. That was my first running race that I ever ran so I like to try and do this one when it fits my schedule and when I am healthy.

The race starts and ends at the Navy Marine Corp stadium and goes through the downtown area of Annapolis, past the Naval Academy, across the Severn River (on a steep bridge), through some hilly but shaded neighborhoods, then back over the bridge to the stadium.

The race started at 7:45 (before it was too hot). My brother in law, who was also running, and I got to the start area around 7am and hung out with my friend The Donk who was also running - along with 5,400 other people.

The Donk and I had a nice BFF shot taken by his wife. I'm the handsome short one in the chili pepper's shorts. No that is not a training bra that I am wearing, it's a strap for a heart rate monitor. And between us we have 15 kids so lay of the fruitcake jokes :p



The start is a bit of a jumbled mess, kinda like driving on the DC beltway or being in the mosh pit at a Black Flag concert, but we worked our way through the crowds using only a few sharp elbows to peoples ribs. This happens to us every year we do the race. We really need to line up closer to the start and the geezers, the dues who are built like John Candy and women who could play linebacker for the Redskins really need to line up towards the rear. The Donk and I were running a similar pace today so stayed together the entire way. After a few miles we settled into a comfortably-hard pace for the next 5 miles. We did push the pace a bit the last 3 miles and finished fairly strong. Strong as in we didn't embarrass ourselves by passing out or puking at the end. So we got that going for us...which is nice.

Here is a random picture that someone I don't know took and posted on her facebook page. I got it through a friend of a friend...small world



After the race it was a quick exit and then back to the Old Casa de Sardonic Dad for a cookout. 3 cheeseburgers later and I am finally full...almost...

Race Stats:
Time: 1:18:24
Pace: 7:50
Place: still awaiting official results
Shoes: Saucony Fastwitch 4's
Shorts: BOA Chili Peppers
Watch: Garmin Forerunner 305

Friday, August 27, 2010

Today's Workouts

Weather: 60 and clear and low humidity
Time of Day: 4:55pam
Distance: 7.11 miles
Time 1:03:40
Pace: 8:58 per mile
Running Shoes: Saucony Fastwitch 4 racing flats. Brand-spanking new shoes, just out of the box yesterday. Very light and fast, faster than I am
Comments: Nice easy paced run. Got a 10 mile race Sunday and trying to keep the legs fresh. I also signed up for the Philly Marathon in November

Update to Today's Earlier Post

For Karen-
Question: If a blonde and a brunette fell off a building, who would hit the ground first?
Answer: The brunette - the blonde would have to stop for directions!

Laura-that is great that your hubby is running and I love your eye doctor.

We were at the ER last Friday when Mary broke her leg. Mary, who is 6, tells the nurse who is putting the temporary splint on her leg "and sometimes when my dad is mad he says he's gonna rip our face off". I am expecting Social Services any day now.

I heard "I'm gonna rip your face off" daily growing up and so have my kids now.

Fortunately the nurse was a young girl who was one of six kids and thought it was hysterical

Politically Incorrect Day

Been up since 4:30 and I am in a feisty mode. Today is Global Forgiveness Day. Yeah I've never heard of it nor know what it is either. Sounds like some commie think that pantsuit wearing nuns came up with in the 70's. If I want forgiveness I just go sit in the penalty box at church on Saturday afternoons...a few Hail Mary's later and I am good to go.

In honor of Global Forgiveness Day I present the following jokes designed to offend all. And no I don't want your forgiveness.

Q. What's the Cuban National Anthem?
A. Row, Row, Row Your Boat.

Q. Where does an Irish family go on vacation?
A. A different bar.

Q. What did the Chinese couple name their tan, curly-haired baby?
A. Sum Ting Wong

Q. What do you call it when an Italian has one arm shorter than the other?
A. A speech impediment.

Q. Why aren't there any Puerto Ricans on Star Trek ?
A. Because they're not going to work in the future either.

Q. Why do Driver Ed classes in redneck schools use the car only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays?
A. Because on Tuesday and Thursday, the Sex Ed class uses it.

Q. What's the difference between a southern zoo and a northern zoo?
A. The southern zoo has a recipe along with a description of the animal.

Q. How do you get a sweet little 80-year-old lady to say the 'F' word?
A. Get another sweet little 80-year-old lady to yell, 'BINGO!'

Q. What's the difference between a northern fairytale and a southern fairytale???
A. A northern fairytale begins, ...'Once upon a time...'
A southern fairytale begins, ... 'Y'all ain't gonna believe this sh!t.'

Q. Why doesn't Mexico have an Olympic team?
A. Because all the Mexicans who can run, jump or swim are already in the United States

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Today's Workouts

Yesterday

Weather: 70 and cloudy. Less Humid out and a nice breeze
Time of Day: 12:30pm
Distance: 7.04 miles
Time 56:32
Pace: 8:02 per mile
Running Shoes: Asics DS Trainer. My final run in my final pair of this model of shoes. I have gone through over 20 pairs of these in the last 5 years. But in the past two years the shoes have gotten heavier as other models of shoes have been getting lighter. They have also gotten stiffer and less comfortable. All but one of my marathons have been in this shoe and so as the run portion of all the triathlons I have done. Goodbye old friend.
Comments: 1 mile w/u, 4 X 1 mile with 1/2 mile recovery/cool down. Mile splits: 7:47, 7:42, 6:57, 6:56. Last hard mile was almost a puker at the end.

Today

Weather: 80 and sunny
Time of Day: 1:30pm
Distance: 5.11 miles
Time 44:43
Pace: 8:45 per mile
Running Shoes: Brooks Axiom 3 - 5th run in this shoe, not feeling the love yet
Comments: very sore legs from yesterday's hard run and lifting weights at the gym

Monday, August 23, 2010

Get Out of Bed Now Kids!!!!

This is how we used to get the kids out of their beds......well until Mary fell out of her bunk bed last Friday and broke her leg.

Today's Workouts

Weather: 80 and sunny. Less Humid out and a nice breeze
Time of Day: 11:30am
Distance: 5.09 miles
Time 42:57
Pace: 8:26 per mile
Running Shoes: Asics DS Trainer 13 running shoes. 300 miles on these shoes so they are done. I get rid of my shoes at 300. Good thing too cause its summer and I run sock-less in the summer so these shoes smell worse than Obama's health insurance reform plan. That leaves only 7 pairs of running shoes in my current rotation. I think I better go shopping on my favorite shoe website (runningwarehouse.com). Just don't tell my bride, she thinks I have a running shoe addiction.
Hip/Back Pain: about a 1, almost no pain at all today

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Today's Workouts

10.31 nasty sweaty smelly miles. It finally started raining AFTER I ran in about 99% humidity. I am sore and chaffed all over. Wore my KSwiss K-ona running shoes which I love.

Friday, August 20, 2010

How Sweet It Is

Happy Sweet 16 Lizzie


Lizzie with her big sister Alex (Lizzie is actually the taller one)


Lizzie in the middle with Kara and Danielle


16 Red Roses from the Grandparents


Mary and her Hot Pink new cast watching the party and getting fussed over


Caleb and Danielle

Lizzie and Friends


She just can't keep her hands (or lips) off me

Mary's New Look

Well at least she has a cool color for the next 6 weeks

Hello, Remember Me?

Hi I am Rob and I used to Blog here....once upon a time.....

Since I was last here:

- my running has been in the toilet. Missed 6 weeks in March/April due to a hip injury. I have been back running since last May. ABout 85 days in a row but mileage only around 5-8 miles per day.

-Josh came home from the Seminary a few weeks ago and starts classes Monday morning at community college. He aslo bought a car and is working part-time.

-Mary fell off her bunk bed at 4am this mornig and broke her leg. We were at the ER from 4:30-7am.

-I did get a good run in after the trip to the ER

-Lizzie is 16 today and we are having a Sweet 16 Party today.