I Need a De-weird, a De-monster

Things were a little different Monday. Normally, I do a upper body push workout at the gym. But since it is race week, I did legs, so they will have time to recover before Saturday's marathon. But before I got to that, some other things happened.

The first other thing that happened was a trip to the pool before work. I was a tad late, so all I got was 1,100 yards straight. Then I went to work, and it was my long day. I taught four classes, ate lunch, and did some [un]necessary paper work for the school. There is always something we have to do that I can't find a purpose for. Oh wait. Punishment. I forgot that. When you are a teacher, you have to be punished now and then. You know the old saying: no good deed goes unpunished. For having the unmitigated temerity to do good for the world and give you life for teaching, you must be punished.

Back home, I hit the road for my longest run of the week. Well, that's not right, because Saturday will be my longest. I shuffled for 4.11 miles. I did not rest long, however, before I was in the City. I wanted desperately to use my new overhead press machine. It sat there, beautiful, useful, needed, and called me like the sirens of old. But it would have to wait. It was legs night, so I warmed up with some hip abduction/adduction work and some very light squats. It was all streamlined right up to the max effort: 6 X 50, 3 X 80, 1 X 100, and then ones all the way up with plenty of rest in between. I hit a PR by two pounds. 

Two pounds?

Yeah. I have a set of fractional plates. Tyler used to call them "PR makers." That they are. After that big push, I hopped on the skiergg and did 2:15. That is the best thing about the Echo bike. I used to hate the skierg. Now the Echo bike makes the skierg seem tame. Praise God for that. That was the way it was when I was studying languages in seminary. Each one would de-weird the previous one. So what can I get that will de-weird, de-monster the Echo bike? Let me know in the comments below.

1/23 - 1/29

I had another one of those weeks, good and bad. I am speaking, of course, about my training. It was the week before my marathon, so my taper began. Although I was only scheduled to taper my running, somehow I tapered my swimming also. Huh? Yeah, I'm bad like that. 

Monday started in the pool with 1,150 yards. After a long day at work, I ran and easy 2.07 miles and did my push workout at PC. Tuesday was more of the same except I did not make it to the pool. I shuffled 4.17 miles and did my pull workout at the City. In addition that that, I did 2:06 on the skierg.

The Overhead Press Machine arrived Wednesday. Boy do I love getting packages from Titan Fitness. Plate City Gym took a huge step forward with the addition of this equipment. I love it. I can just sit down and start cranking out some reps. I know, you can do overhead stuff without it. But on the machine, you can brace and push as hard as you want. Also, I don't have to move any J-cups around or set anything up. It's great. Oh yeah, I hit the pool for 1,300 yards. At the City, I worked legs and put the OP machine together.

I was back in the pool Thurday morning for 700 yards. I already wrote aboout why my swimming was so low that morning. But that  night at the City was great because I got to do my full shoulder/triceps workout on the new machine. I did a set on the machine followed by a set on the skierg x 4 or 5. Yeah, it was intense. It was fun. It was real. It wasn't real fun, however. The treadmill running totalled 1.27, and the skiergging totalled 4:30. 

Friday was my last long[ish] run at 8.15 miles. That is something I can recover from. I didn't go to the pool or to the gyn because Penny and I took out for Louisiana to eat fish. Yeah, we are adventurous like that. 

Saturday, I spent to morning studying for Sunday. After lunch, I took a short 3.21-mile run. Then, at the City, I did overhead press and pull. And I added some trapbar deadlifting. Sunday was rest, and today it starts all over again. Yehaa.

For the week, I

  lifted weights five times,

  swam 2,878 meters,

  skiergged 6:36 minutes, and 

  ran 20.5 miles

Not bad, but I don't know why I am having so much trouble getting my swimming in. Maybe this week.

Kilbourne, Louisiana

It was the first Friday since my wife retired. She has been retired now for three full days. We slept in and then drank coffee. I wrote the blog post about the new machine. I had hoped to use it again Friday, but things didn't work out. I took a run in late morning and went 8.15 miles. That was part of my taper. The Mississippi River Marathon is next Saturday.

I didn't go to the pool. I did not go to the gym. We went to Louisiana to eat fish. 

WHAT!?!?! You drive two states over to eat fish? Is there not a balm in Gilead? 

There is, but sometimes a little drive is a nice thing. Besides, we were celebrating my wife's birthday. I am married to an old woman. But she still looks good. And it's not as far as it sounds. Arkansas is only sixty-five miles from our driveway. And north east Louisiana is only twenty-five miles from Lake Village, Arkansas. So a ninety mile drive now and then for a nice meal is not too far to go.

On our way down, Penny and I tried to add up how many times we have made the journey. We made the count by adding up the friends we have eaten there with. The last time was with Rhonda and Jimmy Pelly who met us there from Rayville, Louisiana. 

Was it good? 

Would we make the trip if it wasn't? If you want to give it a go, the Old Hardware Fish House is in Kilbourne, La which sits one foot over the state line from Arakansas. You get on Highway 65 at Lake Village and head south. At Eudora, you get on another highway that goes south. Look it up. You won't have any trouble finding the fish house once you reach town. It's on the side of the highway where all the cars are. Cars are attracted to good food.

We got there before opening time so we took the oportunity to explore the town. We drove every street within the city limits. It took about ten minutes. From what I gather from looking on the internet, Kilbourne has a human poplulation of 419. But I have never been anywhere that has so many cows in town. I bet we saw at least 900 cows making the cow population double the human one. 

I haven't traveled the world. But I have been to Kilbourne, Louisiana, and to Ecru, Mississippi. Not many people alive today can say that. Can you? Make the trip to one of these. Friday and Saturday nights are best for Louisiana. 

A couple of tips: don't order the tea, and the whole fish is the bomb. With our runaway inflation, they now charge you by weighing your plate. Plates for me. I went back three times. 

The bill? 

A touch high. But treat yourself. You are worth it. 

Not a Problem

Okay, I worked out with the new machine Thursday after work. I guess I should back up and first cover my morning swim. I made it to the pool. T was out for necessary reasons. I only swam 700 yards because another patron was in the pool, and he asked me a question about swimming. I'm a sucker for that. In fact, while I was getting ready to get in, I was debating in my mind whether or not to say something to this guy. Some people don't like unsolicited advice. Then he asked me the very issue I wanted to talk to him about. 

He asked about breathing while swimming freestyle. He is about the fortieth person I have seen who makes the same mistake. He tries breathing out the front, and then instinctively knows that's not right and turns the head to one side. I was in the pool with him a few days ago, and I noticed his body position was bad. Improper head placement ruins body position. Swimming is 60% body position. The other 60% is relaxing in the water. He had both problems, so he was 120% behind the eight ball.

I told him what he needed to do, and amazingly he did it. It is very common to give someone tips which they thank you for and then they go along the same old way not changing one iota. But he put his head down and breathed to the side. The change was immediate and dramatic. His legs came up, his speed came up, and his confidence came up, soared. So I fooled with him during most of my time, but I like helping people with their swimming. I wound up with only 700 yards, but I left the pool feeling none the worse for it, in fact feeling better.

After that, I had a nice day at work. I always enjoy Thursday (our Friday). My schedule is a little easier, and the weekend starts at 1:30. What's not to enjoy? So I went home, changed clothes, and was eager to get to the gym. Out there, I worked out on the, . . . uh, drum roll, please . . . the Plate Loaded Deltoid and Overhead Press Machine from Titan Fitness. There, I said it. That thing is good, yeah.

I did a sort of a crossfit kind of workout. First, I warmed up some with some treadmill running and external shoulder rotations. Then I did a series of cycles composed of the overhead press (on the new machine), the skierg, followed by a shuffle on the treadmill. I think I did four rounds, or was it five? Then I continued to press after I stopped the circuit. I did not go too heavy because I always start light on a new movement. Yes, I have been doing some overhead pressing lately, but with the machine, the angles are not exactly like free weights.

After the swim, after work, after the gym, Gerald Johnson came by and picked me up. We went to the Sportsmen's Banquet at North Greenwood Baptist Church. This was my first time going to this. There must have been 500 people there. They fed us catfish, and it was amazing that the lines went so quickly. Austin Riley, the third baseman for the Atlanta Braves was the sqecial guest. He and Jim Phillips had a question and answer session. It was good. It was real. It was fun. And yes, it was real good fun.

So I had a good day. 

Wait, wasn't yesterday your wife's birthday? 

Yes. We are celebrating that tonight. We are driving to Louisiana to eat fish. 

And you just ate fish? 

Not a problem. 

All the way to Louisiana to eat fish? 

Not a problem.

More Gooder, More Better, Most Bestest

Wednesday was a big day. I did make it to the pool and swam 1,300 yards. Then I went to school and had that long day. I had checked my email Tuesday night and saw that my package from Titan Fitness had arrived in Crossville, Tennessee late that afternoon. They had earlier said it would be delivered by Wednesday. When I looked at my email Wednesday morning while at work, they said it had been delivered. WHAT!?!?!? They have never delivered in the morning. A few minutes later, Penny texted me and said I had a huge package under the carport. WHAT!?!?!? FedEx made it happen. And Lynn Watts doesn't even drive for them anymore.

I couldn't wait to get home and start putting that thing together. First, I needed another stall matt, so when I left work, I went to Tractor Supply and picked one up. Then at home, I changed clothes, dragged the matt around, and moved the package to the gym with the help of a dolly. After all of that, I started cleaning up and working out. I love that, working out and putting together a new machine. That's also the way I mow grass. I do a set then crank the mower and do a few passes on the lawn.

I did some cleaning and moving and installed the matt. I also did some shuffling on the treadmill and used the Hip Abductor/Adductor machine. When I got everything set up, I unboxed the new machine and layed all the parts out. Between sets of abduction, I would put something together. I finally got to the squats and finished the new equipment. Plate City is now more gooder, more better, most bestest. 

What is it?

I'll tell you in the next post, replete with pictures. Last night was leg night, and this is an upper body machine. Tonight I use it. Yes, I played with it a little bit, but tonight I do a major workout on it. I can't wait. 

My Eyes Were Not Poked

First, Tyler texted me that he wasn't goint to make it to the pool. Not to worry, I can go alone. Then my wife brought me breakfast in bed at 6:00 a.m. She's never done this before. Breakfast in bed, yes, but at 6:00 a.m., no. That was too much to overcome. Yeah, I'm easy like that. I stayed home and did not swim Tuesday morning.

After work, however, I went to the courthouse to try to pay some taxes. They said I didn't owe any taxes. WHAT!?!?!?!??! Whoever heard of such. They told me that I was exempt because I am over 65. I never heard of anyone else being exempt. I know for a fact that my mom paid property taxes until she died. This makes me wonder. It makes me susupicious. It makes me nervous. If I really don't owe, that is great, but I don't feel at ease about this at all. 

The weather got bad. It grew cold and rainy. Not to worry. Plate City Gym was open for business. Out there, I ran on the treadmill and did my pull workout. It was real. It was fun. But it was not real fun. It was real fun for Pee Wee. He always bites stuff when I come out there. 

So I got two workouts in. That's not ideal, but it is better than a poke in the eye, and I have had a poke in the eye. Thank you, Jesus, for a good day and eyes that were not poked.

I Can't Even Remember

Another week has started. I went to the pool and saw John Bush there. A couple of years ago, he stopped on Money Road and gave me some water. God bless him. Later, I saw him in a store and he asked about Chicot. I gave him my mailing address, and he mailed a donation. That sounds like a good man to me. I told him about the upcoming fundraiser, and I think he's is going to join in. I was only able to get 1,150 yards swum. The swim was straight, and I felt a loss of conditioning after only swimming once last week. 

It was a long day at work like Mondays always are. Then I had a tooth dentist appointment. Yeah, the one I originally had last Monday but was changed to Tuesday, then Wednesday, the Thursday, and back to Monday. Tooth dentists are like that. At least that one is done. But I have another one in about a month.

I didn't go out on the road, but decided to simplify and both run and lift at the City. I alternated short treadmill runs with bench pressing with the Swiss bar. For my assistance work, I did the seated dip and pushed that one to a new PR. When I finished, I was pumped up like Honze and Fronze always wanted me to be. 

Penny cooked me some eggs for supper, and they were good, yeah. Then I lounged and tried to cool my tired brain. I watched something on TV. I was so into it that I can't even remember what I watched. Should I be worried about this? I kind of am. I already had a forgetter that works overtime, but this kind of forgetting troubles me some. CC is giving me the treatment, and I am just about to break down in tears over it. In her place, Luvie, Baby Kitty, and River have moved in but that is only partial compensation. Compared to CC, they are physicians of little value. Lord, let her stop the punishment and come back to me. Thank you.

1/16 - 1/22

I fell off the wagon. Or I fell off the water. I fell out of the water. I failed. But I did some other things. Monday, I ran 2.62 miles and went to the gym. At the gym, I did my push workout, and I did 1:06 on the Echo bike and 1:40 on the skierg.

Tuesday, I cancelled my morning swim because my brain decided to act like a run-a-way horse and keep me up all night. I did, however, run 8.13 miles and do a pull workout at Plate City.

By Wednesday, I had cut the run all the way down to 1.26 miles on the treadmill. But I hit the legs pretty hard; however, I failed once more to go to the pool.

Tyler and I did meet up at the pool Thursday morning. We slashed for 1,150 yards. I hit the treadmill again for a whopping 1.15 miles, and I did some real lifting with Pee Wee. 

My long run this week was done on Friday, and all I shuffled was 11.07 miles. Last Friday's 23-miler still had me a bit fatigued. Once more, I hit the gym, and I hit it well, but the pool went unused.

Saturday, I shuffled 2.18 miles. At the gym, I did light squats and heavy deadlifts. I hit a Big ASS world record of 300 pounds on the trap bar deadlift. Yeah, I am bad like that. In addition, I pulled for 2:00 on the skierg. 

For the week, I

  swam 1,051 meters (horrid!!!),

  skierrged 3:40,

  echobiked 4:26, 

  lifted weights six times, and

  ran 24.23 miles

Yeah, that is a mixed bag. I can't explain how I let the week slip by with only one short swim. I guess I was a bit busy and a bit fatigued. At least I got in some good lifting and a decent week of running. I also found a good use for the echo bike: it makes the skierg seem not nearly so bad. That is progress. Thank you, Jesus.

More Gooder

Slow start. That's what I call my typical Fridays. I start the day slowly, drink more coffee, pet cats, blog, wake up a little at a time. Then I go out for a run. This Friday it was an 11 miler. Originally, I had planned on a 14-mile run, but once I got out there, I could feel the fatugue. I am not recovered from last week's 23 miles. I am in the taper phase, the time when regulating recovering it the main thing. 

The thing about an 11-mile run is it doesn't take all day. So I had some time and energy after my run. Of course I ate and rested. But then I went to Plate City. At the gym, it was pull day, but I wasn't feeling it. That happens more than it doesn't. When it does, I do what I do in the morning: I start slow. I begin with some external shoulder rotations, some stretching, a very light set. I look at the weights, I do a little more. I go a little heavier. I pee on the ground. And slowly I get things done. I may or may not get the hard-work feeling. But even if I don't, I wind up with a solid workout in the bank.

So I had a good run and an adequate gym session. Then Penny and I went to the Crystal. There I got one of my favorites, the blackened red fish with that etouffee sauce. That and a baked potato is good, yeah. Back home, Penny tossed me a bag of candy. Wow, my already good day just got better. More gooder. Thank you, Jesus.

The City of New Orleans

Friday (Thursday) was a good day. Tyler and I started things off right at the pool. We swam gently to the wrong end of the pool and then did 50s from that side. Why from the wrong side? Because last week, T was having pain when he stopped on the right side. Huh? The water is shallower there. With rib injuries, sometimes there is pain with level changes. Going from horizontal to vertical can hurt real bad. He told me on the other end, it did not hurt when he stood up. I am supposing that was because the deeper water provided some pressure on his ribs. So we did 50s from the start, and I finished with 1,150. I think I was a single 50 more than Tyler. We did thirteen 50s and then wrapped up with 425 easy.

Work was nice. I like Fridays (Thursday) because I only have three classes, and we are on the edge of the weekend. Also, this was a big day. We were told that the school's board was meeting at 1:00 p.m. to decide our fate. We already knew that this was our last semester in our current building. To make a short story long, I received a text at 2:14 p.m. saying that the Greenwood Center was staying open. We don't know where we will be other than we will be in Greenwood. Thank You, Jesus. Thank You, thank You, thank You. Thank You, thank You, thank You. This is a huge deal to me. I am very happy where I work and with whom I work. Going back to main campus was not a pleasant thought to me. This news has the potential to impact how many more years I will work.

After work, I rested, took a nap, and watched some of the Paul Finebaum Show. Then I went to Plate City around 5:30. Out there, I did something I had in mind when I bought the Echo bike. I warmed up with it and then hopped straight onto the treadmill to "recover" at my normal shuffling pace. Get the idea: the Echo bike had my thighs burning and my heart rate pounding about as fast as it pounds. Then I jumped onto the treadmill and shuffled until my breathing was only slightly elevated. See the picture? I have some more things like this in mind. In the future, on leg day, I am thinking a set of squats followed by the Echo bike, followed by the treadmill, then rinse and repeat. That should build some unique fitness: strength, intensity with lots of acid, and recovery while running. Just thinking about that makes my bowels loosen.

Besides the warmup, I did bench presses with the Swiss bar and seated overhead dumbbell presses. In addition to that, I performed some lateral raises. Pee Wee and I got to enjoy each other's company while the stars slowly came out. The weather was nice and occaisionally we could hear the City of New Orleans rail line. I always think about that song written by John Goodman but performed best by Arlo Guthrie. "Riding on the City of New Orleans/

Illinois Central Monday morning rail/ . . . .

Inside for Cat Time

No. Laziness? Maybe. And maybe I was thinking I would do it in the afternoon like I did last week. But that didn't happen. I had a tooth dentist appointment. Or so I thought. It was my fourth appointment (changed three times) and when I got there I knew I was in trouble when the lady asked, "What are you doing here?"

It has now been changed the fourth time for my fifth appointment. 

Sigh.

I would just cancell exceept I need this one.

After all of that, I dediced to relax a little before I went to the gym. When I did go, I performed my usual treadmill/leg work stuff. My totals on the dreadmill were only 1.26. Yes, I am cutting back some this week, if you haven't noticed. 

On the squat, I was programmed for my usual four warmup sets and then

  2 X 5 @ 80% rest :30 between sets

  5:00 minute treadmill walk

  1 X 8 @ 80% rest :30 between reps

  4:00 treadmill walk

  1 X 80% plus five pounds

All in all, that was one intense leg workout. I also did the hip abductor/adductor machine. While I was doing that last dreadmill walk, the weather began to shift. I felt a gust of air. A few seconds later, I felt another gust that was about two degrees cooler. It happens fast. Then the rain came down like the heavens were angry at the earth and was trying to beat it. Then I ran for the door and went inside for some cat time.

Thank You, Lord

I did not make it to the pool Tuesday morning. I was awake most of the night, thinking. There was no problem, I was just going over class stuff in my mind. I do that sometimes. My brain kicks into high gear and once it does, I cannot stop it. It's like a run-a-way horse that doesn't obey the reigns. So I slept in late Tuesday morning to try to make it so I could survive the day.

I did go out for a shuffle after work and went 8.13 miles. It was dark when I passed the radio station coming back towards town. Fortunately, I had a flashlight with me which helped me to stay alive. Usually I carry one if there even if there us only a small chance that I will get caught in the dark. 

After the run, I did go to Plate City. I was not feeling too energetic, so I warmed up slowly and did my pull workout. Since I was so fatigued, I only performed the bare workout and then went inside. But I did it and did not let the workout slide. The temptation was there, but so was the grace of God. I overcame it with His help. Thank you, Lord.

MLK Day

MLK Day was nice if you like nothing. Well, I did a little more than nothing, but not a lot. First, I stayed in bed a long time. CC is giving me the treatment, I don't know why, so Luvie had been all over me. When she is on the bed, he knows better than to get close.

I had thought about swimming, but my JSS returned. Get this: through a careful program of stretching, strengthening, and careful progressive overload, my right shoulder has been feeling like palace. Then, Thursday I was so tired when I came home from work, that I did not lift giving my shoulder more rest. Then I did my super long run Friday so I did not swim or lift. Penny and I went out of town Saturday, so I did not swim or lift again. Man, that shoulder really got some rest. Sunday, while taking it easy in the bed, the shoulder went janky and painful on me.

What!?!?!?

How does that happen? I didn't do anything. Therein lies the answer. Our bodies were meant, designed to be used. When we don't use them, they don't get better, they get worse. I let my shoulder off too long and it want koo koo for Coa Coa Puffs on me. 

And guess what? When I went out for a run that afternoon, after about a mile, the shoudler stopped hurting. Really, I am not making this up; I am not exaggerating. My shoulder suddenly got well when I took my body off the couch and onto the road for a run. Not only that, but I was able to go the Plate City and hang out with Pee Wee between sets of bench presses. 

The lesson here. Get off you hynie keester, get out the door, and do something. You will not feel right until you do because God did not make you to sit around. Let me say that again. God did not create you for minimal effort. Move your body. Take a walk. Ride a bicycle. Work in your yard. Go to the gym, the pool, the tennis court. Do something physical every day. You can thank me later.

Another Geezer Menu Story

Once a year, my wife and I along with our daughter, granddaughter, and grandson make a shopping trip to Jackson. We do this the Friday after Thanksgiving, and it is one of the highlights of our year. I get to be with my family all day and then we go to Berry's for dinner. After that, we stop by Barnes & Nobile on our way out. Caitlyn, our granddaughter, is an avid reader. So we browse books, buy a few, and my daughter always buys me one of those coffee-like things. You probably know where this is going already. I don't know what it is she gets me, but I enjoy it very much. 

Awhile back, Penny and I were in Jackson, and we stopped at Barnes & Noble on our way north. It was late, I was sleepy, and I needed some caffeine to make the trip home without falling asleep and crashing. For the life of me, I cannot remember the name of what my daughter gets me, so ordering that was out. As I approached the coffee shop (or whatever they call it), I did so with loads of trepidation. I decided to go to the magazine rack, which is nearby, and obliquely surveil the coffee shop from afar. I did that and saw a couple ordering for about eight minutes. I'm in trouble, I thought. I knew.

Finally, I got the nerve to make my way to the counter when the couple finally cleared out. "Can I help you?" the elderly lady asked. She's as old as I am, I thought, so she should understand my discomfort. Maybe she will be nice to me.

I looked at the menu. There were dozens of choices and words such at "mocha" and "lattee" and others that I didn't understand.

"Coffee," I answered. "Just coffee." I mean, I couldn't very well ask for "What my daughter buys me." Come to think of it, I would have been very happy had she given me a dart and let the cast that at the menu and whatever I hit, fix me that.

She just looked at me. I had seen this movie before. Remember French Camp?

"Can I just get coffee?"

After a few uneasy seconds she answered, "Well, not here. Over there," she pointed to some machines outside the counter. "You pay here, but fix it yourself over there."

Oh, I see. Being uncomfortable is not enough. You have to humiliate me and treat me like plebian for daring to ask for simple coffee. But I complied. I paid, then fixed my own coffee all by myself like a good boy. 

Then superman left the store.

1/9 - 1/15

I've already mentioned that last week's training was truncated.But it wasn't all that way. Monday, I swam1,250 yards, ran 2.54 miles, and lifted weights. Tuesday, the swim was 1,100, but the run blossomed to 10.57 miles. Yes, I lifted also to make for one really productive day.

Wednesday was big swim day. I hit the pool in the afternoon for 3,600 straight. Then I went to Plate City for some treadmill shuffling (2.82) and some serious leg work.

Tyler and I swam Thursday morning, 1,000 yards, but after work, I was so beat that I went to bed and stayed there. Friday morning, however, I ran from Minter City back home for a total of 23.1 miles of shuffling. That is my long run for the marathon. Yeehaa. During Penny's shopping, I got in 1.1 miles of soft shuffling Saturday, but that was all. So, I missed two weight workouts and the swimming was a bit slim. The running, however, was good.

For the week, I 

  swam 6,351 meters,

  lifted weights three times,

  skiergged 1:00,

  echo biked 2:05, and

  ran 40.13 miles

You can see that the weightlifting and the swimming were most definitely truncated. The running, however, was good. That makes two weeks in a row at 40 miles. Last year I only did one 40-miler the whole year and that was in December. As you can see, I have been emphasizing the run. It is just the inner impulse coming out.

Oh, I have another menu story if you guys are interested. Since I am off work today, I can write it if you want. Let me know, and I will type it up.

End of Week Training

I just realized I haven't written about my last three days of training. Thursday morning, I met Tyler at the pool. We swam 25s with three breaths between each. He still had some discomfort, but we got 1,000 in and it was at least a little bit of training.

After work, I crawled into bed, and I could not extract myself. No, I did not run. I did not even go to Plate City.

At least I saved some energy for Friday. I caught a ride with Lolo Lubiani who drives to Clarksdale every Friday. He dropped me at the Minter City United Methodist Church, and I ran shuffled home. I've done it before, but with some walking thrown in. This time, I went 22.13 straight which took me to the front doors of Bankston School. From there I walked and shuffled and would have taken a ride if someone had offered one. Heck, if I had seen anyone I knew, I would have asked for one. But I made it home with 23.1 miles of running and less than a mile of walking. This will be the apex of my marathon training. I will now begin a taper. The race is February 4 and will be my first official marathon since 2016.

Saturday, Penny and I had breakfast at Acey's. We then went to her shopping areas and I managed to pull of a 1.1 mile shuffle in the parking lot. Yeah, 1.1 is not bad after 23.1. Still, there was no time for weights so I had a truncated week in the gym.

Lord, Help Me

You can probably tell that I am off work since this is my third blog post of the day. Yeah, I get like that sometimes. It all started with a dream I had last night (this morning, actually) about trying to order some food and being overwhelmed with the menu. 

This happened to me late last summer when I took some stuff to a re-sale store in French Camp. Most of the businesses in that town support French Camp Academy. My wife and I believe in that school and we try to do what we can to help them out. We were trying to finish moving (it only took us a little over two years) and we had a load of stuff we were wanted to donate to the store. 

I made the trip and took my coffee mug with me. The Academy has a coffee shop across the street from the re-sale store, so I thought I'd make it a double whammy and donate a truck-load of items to the store and buy a cup of coffee.

After unloading the toys and clothes and dishes and what-nots at the store, I re-parked and made the forray into the inside of the coffee shop. Instantly, I knew I was in trouble. Every wall in the building was covered in menu. There must be eighty feet of menu. That is way too many choices for me. To make matters worse, I could not sufficiently read it. I can read Greek, Hebrew, Latin, French, German, and a few semitic languages. But this menu was far beyond my linguistic abilities. It had recurring words that I didn't know what they meant. Color me stupid, but I don't even know what a "lattee" is. That was one of the words, and yes, I was too ashamed to ask.

Luckily, there was a customer in front of me so this would buy me some time, I thought. But I failed to decipher the menu in the protracted minutes the other customer was trying to figure out her order. When she finally ordered, it took a long paragraph to place the request. 

Finally the worker turned to me and asked, "Can I help you?"

I was nervous, and I know my face was red while I felt my heart pounding in my chest. This is somewhere I don't belong, I thought. 

"I, uh, I want. . ." then I had trouble getting the word out, "I want coffee."

The girl behind the counter, a French Camp Academy student, no doubt, said nothing. She just stared at me while long seconds ticked off. There were several other cutomers in the joint, and I felt every eye on my back. This ain't New York City, I thought. This is French Camp, Mississippi, and I am not sophisticated enough to order a cup of coffee here.

"May I have some coffee," I repeated my order.

She looked at me some more. Then she asked, "Do you want . . ."

"No," I cut her off. "I want some coffee."

More staring. Then she said, "Okay," and went to a machine and put some dark liquid into a throw-away cup. "That will be $5.95," she added.

What!?!?!?! I can get a gallon of coffee for that in Greenwood. But I asked for it so I paid for it. Then I left, embarrassed but no wiser nor more able to order coffee in a coffee shop. Lord help me.

Ladies, Be Nice

 Penny and I love to stop at Spencer's in Grenada. Or maybe I love to stop there and since she is riding with me, she has to stop also. But I can't drive by the place without pulling in and making an order. It was years before I realized that you could go inside and eat a hamburger there. I always stopped for the ice-cream.

You walk up to the window and order if you know what you want. The whole outer building, a city block's worth, is covered in menu. There are way too many choices, but I simplify it and just order a strawberry milk shake. Penny, on the other hand, will read the whole menu. This always aggravates me, because I think I could have ordered, consumed my milk shake, and driven home by the time she finishes just going over the menu. Then she gives me her order, and it is eight compound sentences long. 

Huh?

Write it down, I say. 

It aggravates her that I can't handle the order.

We finally get the deed accomplished and then drive home, Penny silently treating me because I am not competent in female food orders. I never have been, but she knew that before she married me.

Ladies, food orders are difficult for men. Our brains don't think that way. Once you get past a burgher and an order of fries, we sort of get lost. Be patient with us. We are not trying to anger you, we are struggling and doing the best we can. Be nice.

Bad Dream

I walked across Wagner Park. I don't know why this keeps showing up in my dreams because Wagner Park holds no special place in my heart or memories. But in dreams, night after night, I walk across that patch of grass enroute to doing something else. Last night it was going to a Susi Shop. That might not even be the right terminology, but that was what it was in my sleep.

I had a long run scheduled, so I needed to eat something, get some digestion started, and start my run. Walking into the Sushi Shop, I found the massive walls covered in menu. By the way, I have some real life examples of where I have had to deal with this. There were too many choices and they were too confusing. I somehow found some chicken sushi (it was a dream) and thought that sounded nutritious, tasty, and maybe even filling.

"Can I help you?" the lady behind the counter asked.

"Yes, I want some chicken sushi."

She looked like the cafateria workers at Bankston used to look: all white, hair net, and thick white shoes. She shook her head "no."

"What does that mean?" I asked.

"That means no."

"I know that means no, but why does it mean no? Does it mean you don't have any chicken sushi, or you won't let me have any chicken sushi?"

She answered, but my ears failed to capture her words. Anyway, I knew that quest was futile.

So I asked her what is the closest thing they had to chicken sushi. Her answer was "tomato sushi."

That sounded tasty, but far from filling, and certainly not nutritous. Nevertheless, I ordered the tomato sushi. Then when she handed me the styrofoam box over the counter, part of my order slipped and and fell hitting me in the foot. 

I had thought I needed to add to the order to get some quantity into my ingestion. Now I really needed something else, but the bill was over nine bucks, and I only had ten.

Stay tuned to some real life examples of this very thing.

What's Not to Like?

I have decided that I will sleep in on Wednesday mornings. The new schedule is I swim Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday mornings. Since I need one long swim per week, I have decided to do that on Wednesday afternoons. There is not enough time to get the distance I need in the morning.

So I went to the pool after work ready to be Billy Big Yards but there were two women in there already. I had to wait until almost 5:00 before it cleared out and allowed my a chance to have my go. I goed and went 3,600 straight in 1:10:00 (1:57). How about that?

At home, I chatted with Penny some then went to Plate City. There, I shuffled on the treadmill, worked the Hip Abductor/Adductor machine, and did the most squats I ever have. 

I was ready to sleep then, but I had to prepare for class the next day. Yeah, that. All in all, it was a full but really nice day. Classes were good, lunch was nice, and training was vigorous. What's not to like?

The Old Way

I might have gone light Monday, but Tuesday I cranked it up a bit. First I went to the pool. Tyler was there and he swam more than last week, but he is still hurting. That's pretty strong evidence that he has a broken rib. He swam 1,050 slow yards with only two flip turns. That's improvement and he has stopped the freefall of his fitness. There is some victory in that. I swam 1,100. Yeah, I wanted and needed more, but I had to go to school.

School was nice, and I have now met all my students. Many of them I had last semester. I am liking the way this term is pointed. Yeehaa.

After work, I tried to take a nap. I could hardly stay awake on the job, but once home sleep was a stranger to me. Funny how that works. Eventually I went out for a shuffle and did 10.57 miles. Yeah, that was a pretty good run. I did it fartlek style, the old way. Nowadays fartlek running is highly structured. But when it hit the running scene in the late 1970s, you made it up as you went. The word (Sweedish) means "speed play." It is a medium to long run where you throw in some faster running. I do and did it the old way, that is, I made it up on the fly. I would find a nice smooth part of the shoulder on Money Road and hit if for ten strides per side at almost sprint pace. After a recovery, I would go to twelve, then thirteen, fifteen, twenty. Once back in town, I would cross all roads at 5K race pace and do some short blocks that way. I played until my legs would not come out to play anymore.

At the gym, I did my pull workout. I added 1:05 on the Echo bike. I sort of hate that thing. It is difficult and makes me feel like I have no fitness at all. I know, that means it's good, that it is working. But it feels bad. When I get off it, I am sucking air to the maximum. I like, enjoy, low to moderate intensity exercise. The Echo bike doesn't do low to moderate intensity. It does balls to the wall stuff. At a cadence of 60, I can barely last a minute and then not only my legs are tired, but my shoulders are shot. I just hope I can keep making myself get on that thing.

So I worked and did three workouts. I feel pretty good about that. Today classes start in ernest. I'm looking forward to my Old Testament class. We start Genesis today. That is one loaded book. Can't wait.

One Long and Good Day

I didn't do as much Monday as I wanted for several reasons. One is I went back to the classroom. Not only that, but I had someone coming to Plate City to purchase something from me, and I had to wait on him. Then there was the ball game, the National Championship, where the SEC once more gets to show everybody else who is the boss. If you didn't watch, Georgia beat TCU 65 to 7. Can you spell d-o-m-i-n-a-n-c-e?

All of that slowed me down but did not stop me. I swam 1,250 before work. The practice was a 600 yard warmup, a 550 for time, and a 100 yard 25/25 free/back cool down. The 550 was really slow. I don't know why.

School was nice. Then I went home and went to the tooth dentist. I forgot to mention that. After the tooth dentist, I had to wait for my customer. He came and gave me a few coins for a bar. Now I can buy another piece of equipment.

Finally, I got to run, but not too long because there was a ball game I wanted to watch. I did 2.54 miles and got home in time to have the TV on at Plate City for the kick off. I did my push workout along with some Echo bike work and some skiergging. All of that plus the ball game made for one long and good day. Thank you, Jesus.

1/2 - 1/7

I had a pretty good training week. It was good. It was not pretty, but it was pretty good. Monday started off in the pool with 2,050. We didn't go back to work until Tuesday so I had more time. Even after we started back to work, I did not have to go in until 8:30, so this week will look different than next week. Later in the day, I ran 6.09 miles. I also hit the gym for a push workout that included 1:05 on the skierg.

Tuesday the swim was only 1,300 due to the tighter time constraints of going back to work. What was really different about this day, however, was the fact that I shuffled 8.15 miles the day after doing 6.09. That was the first back-to-back medium run I can remember doing. I went to the City and lifted.

Wednesday I hit 3,200 in the pool. How did that happen? Maybe I went in after work. Really, I don't remember right now. But I did a longish swim, and shortish run of 2.24 and a heavyish leg workout consisting mainly of squats.

Thursday I swam 1,100 yards, lifted weights and ran 2.72 miles. Friday I did not make it to the pool because I could not wait to put the Echo bike together. I ran 1.8, did 1:30 on the bike, another 1:30on the skierg, and lifted weights.

I slept in Saturday morning. The cats and I hung out while I tried to study, but that was difficult being coveredin cats. Around noon, I went out for my weekly long run and hit 19.41 miles. Yeah, that's a real long run, I don't care who you are. 

For the week, I

  swam 6,992 meters,

  lifted weights five times,

  skiergged 2:35,

  echo biked 1:30, and 

  ran 40.66 miles

For me, a 40-mile running week is big time. I only hit one in all of 2022 and that was 40.2, so this was my biggest weekly mileage in over a year, maybe two. Pushing the run like I am is making it difficult to get in decent swim yardage. I will do the best I can. The long run of 19.41 miles was good. My marathon is one month from that run. I need a 20-miler this week, then I can start cutting back a little.

Machine Reveal

I'm sure some of you didn't sleep last night waiting on today's post revealing what the new equipment at Plate City is. Drum roll, please. Oh yeah, some of you already saw a picture of it on Facebook. Odd thing, that. I posted it on Instagram and Instagram, against my will, has begun to double post. I always wanted my two accounts to be different. 

Back to the drum roll for you who did not see the Facebook picture. 

I did not go to the pool Friday morning. Why? I wanted to start putting the new machine together. I got out there in the cold with a cup of coffee in hand a started unboxing the new purchase. That took awhile and then I started putting it together. After about fifty minutes of work, I went inside to get ready for work, the formal kind. 

At work, I wanted to be home playing with my new toy. I watched some videos on how to put it together since I was not finished. 

Wait, weren't you at work?

It's punishment week. We have about a day's worth of actual work to do, and I had done mine, but administration is always looking for ways to punish teachers for daring to be teachers.

So at lunch, I went home and guess what I did? Yeah, I finished putting the new Plate City piece together. And I got to test it a little.

Enough already! What is it?

It's a Rogue Echo bike.

Huh? 

Here is a picture.

But I thought you were a Titan man.

I am. I researched this purchase for months, really for months. I looked at both products, read reviews on their web sites, and more importantly, watched dozens of YouTube videos on each bike. The reason I went Rogue came down to the moniter. The Rogue moniter is easy to use (I knew how before I made the purchase) while the Titan moniter requires you to type in your age in before each use. 

WHAT!?!?!?

Yeah, that killed it for me. I plan, at times, to hop on and start grinding. I don't want to have to enter my age every single time I use it. 

How will I use it?

Let me count the ways. (See what I did there, Bill Hays)

One is as a warmup. It certainly gets the heart rate up and gets the blood flowing in both the lower and upper body muscles. Two is as a finisher. Like most people who use a gym, I like finishers, short but intense bouts of exercise at the end. Three is as a bike exerciser. I find it difficult to get on my bicyle and hit the road. Between a job, swimming, running, and lifting, cycling tends to get edged out. Having a bicyle there should lead to more use, just as having a treadmill there has lead to more running. 

But you had a stationary back there already.

Actually, I've had two. Gerald Johnson gave me one, and I used it for a while. It began to make noise, however, and then it seized up. I guess it didn't like living in the rain. Then when Plate City got a roof, I bought a used stationary from a gym in Cleveland. It worked well, but I found myself using it less and less because of the toe clips. I didn't like the hassle of getting into the pedals. Plus, I have a trainer for my road bike, but that requires cycling shoes and clipping in. The new bike has pedals that can be jumped on and used with no preparation and no trying to squeeze into.

Besides cycle training, I plan to use the bike for general conditioning. I am thinking of hitting the bike, then jumping straight on to an already running treadmill. The bike is made primarily for high intensity work. It runs the heart rate up high and it does it fast. Jumping off it onto the treadmill at a moderate pace will give my body practice at clearing lactic acid while running. That's called "active recovery" for you exercise geeks.

Not only that, but I can see it being part of a circuit involving the Swim Pull and the skiergg. 

Huh?

Yeah, this thing not only works the legs, but it hits the arm, chest, and back also. Can you spell d-r-y-l-a-n-d? And that is if you use it the regular way. It has footpegs that allow you to operate it using only the upper body. Yeah, Buddy!

In short, this is a valuable piece of equipment that adds tremendous flexibility to what I can do at the City. Oh, did I mention hopping on, running the heart rate up, then going out the gate and onto the road for a run? The possiblities are endless.

What else did I do? I took a short run and did my pull workout. And all the while I was jumping on and off that bike. Life is good. Thank you, Jesus.

Day Four

Big T was better Thursday morning but not 100%. He stopped after 550 yards and said he was tappiing out for the day. I understood. Ribs are tricky and can be very painful. After he left, I swam a bit more. Then I diagnosed myself with a severe case of the lazies. Let more correct that: the Lazies. I didn't want to do anything. I get like that sometimes. I went home after 1,100 unispired yards. 

After checking my email, I found out that the new gym equipment was "Out for delivery." Boy, that put a spring in my step. Earlier in the week, I went to Tractor Supply and picked up two more stall matts. They were still in the bed of my truck. So when I got home at 4:10, I changed clothes and immediatly began preparing for UPS's arrival. 

I dragged the matts to the back, got out the leaf blower and began to clean up. I moved stuff, threw trash away, and installed the new matts where the new machine will go. Then I checked my watch. Five o'clock. He should be here any minute now. 

I decided to lift before I ran so I could hear him when he drove up. I did my full push routine listening for the distinctive sound of a UPS truck every second of the workout. When I finished at 6:30, he still wasn't there. 

After waiting a while, I decided to run but stay on Crockett. I wanted to be there when he showed up so I could get him to help me get the machine into the backyard and preferably inside Plate City. So I ran down to Weightman and back, then to Kenneth Street, to Claiborne, to Crockett, to Weightman, and so on and so on. The whole time I was trying to breath quietly so I could hear that truck and start sprinting home if I did. 

I finished running about 8:15. I hung around outside and stretched, all the while listening for a UPS truck. Finally I went inside, but when I did, I went to the living room where I could easily tell if he drove up. About a quarter of nine, I peed on the fire and went to the bedroom to retire for the night. 

I was almost asleep when the doorbell rang. What?!?!? Yeah, it was him at 9:51. Angry? Not a chance, and to make things better, he had that thing on a real dolly and rolled it around the side of the house, through the gate, into Plate City, and dropped it right where I asked him to. If I hadn't been so caught off guard, I would have tipped him. I know those guys are well paid, but I appreciated the service. But I was out there without my wallet or my shoes even. I asked him if he had to get up and go again in the morning. He answered in the affirmative. Having a real job is tough. Don't think for a moment that I don't appreciate my work with the time off I get.

What is the machine? you ask. I will tell you tomorrow along with pictures and plans of how I plan to use it. Stay tuned. Don't change the channel, and don't dare even touch that dial. You don't know where that dial has been. 

Day Three

Since I don't have to be at work until 8:30 this week, I figured I could do a long ("long" is always a contextual term) swim before work. Hence I was in the water as soon as the 6:00 gang was out. At one minute and thirty seconds before 6:30, I was swimming. I went 1:07:16 straight for 3,200 yards. I was still early for work.

Work was long and tiring, but because it was Wednesday, all I had on the program was Plate City. On leg day, I shuffle some on the treadmill so everything is out there. I squatted

  12 X 50

  10 X 80

  2 X 100

  1 X 120

  5 X 2 @ 80% with 30 seconds rest

  walk 5:30 on the treadmill

  6 X 1 @ 80% 30 seconds rest

  walk 5:30 on the treadmill

I shuffled a total of 2.24 miles between warmup sets and while doing the Hip Abductor/Addcutor machine. I set a PR on it. Besides a few external rotations for the rotator cuff muscles, I did nothing for the upper body. It would have been a good time for some skierrging, but I was in a minimal effort mood. The squat session was pretty tough and I did it, but I didn't want anything extra.

So Day Three was a pretty one, despite the overcast skies. It was a good one also. But it was not a pretty good one. Thank you, Jesus.

Second Training Day

The second training day of the year found me back at work. Yes, I am both excited and not about this. The break is always too short, but part of me is ready to get back on the job.

Before I went to the school, however, I met Tyler at the pool. He gave it a go but was unable to swim. He just returned from a skiing vacation where he suffered a snowboard crash and injured some ribs. I swam

  600

  4 X 75 @ WIFL

  4 X 50 @ WIFL

  200 25/25 free/back

  total: 1,300

Why the reduction in yardage? Read the two paragraphs above.

After work, I went by Tractor Supply and picked up two more stall matts for Plate City. I have something on the way. The stall matts and the new machine will put the City over the top. 

Back home there was no time for lounging. I had to put on my running kit and hit the streets pronto. I shuffled 8.15 miles. That was a first for me. Huh? Back-to-back mediums.

One of the hallmarks of ultra-marathon training is back-to-back long runs. I have never really done a back-to-back long run, that is a long run today and another one tomorrow. In fact, if memory serves me correctly, my 6.09 Monday added to the 8.15 Tuesday was my first back-to-back medium runs. The back-to-backs are supposed to be the cat's meow of endurance building. I always avoided them because I never felt like I was fit enough for one, and I feared recovery issues. 

Why this one? I simply ran what I felt like those two nights, and that is what happened. That and the fact that I registered for the Mississippi Trail 50 may have put a little fear into my soul. Yeah, I am signed up for a marathon in February and a 50-miler in March. 

I did. 

What? 

Go to the City after gettin up early and swimming, working all day, shopping, and running 8.15 miles. I did my pull workout with Pee Wee in the dark. Plate City after dark is a special place to be. 

All of that made for one full day. Surprisingly, however, I was not overly tired or sleepy and did not rest well last night. Maybe that was because I drank some tea after lunch. I'll try to avoid that from now on. At the moment, I am contemplating reclining on the floor. Yes, I am that tired AND sleepy. Praise the Lord anyway.

First Training of the New Year

On the first, I did little. No training, just lounging, lunch with our son, and then a ride to Noxapater to see Aunt Mary. But didn't you just go see her during the Thanksgiving break? Yes, and I will go back during Spring break if not before. She is my last aunt, and she is 90-years old. How many more times will I get to see her?

So Monday, I did my first training of the new year. Of course I started in the pool with 2,050 yards. I did a 500 for time and swam 8:27. That is not that good, but it is far better than the 7:01 I swam last week over 400 yards. I checked my watch off the wall after 400 and it read 6:47. I guess I am starting to get a little bit of my push back. 

On the road I shuffled 6.09 miles. Isn't that a little too much for Monday. Ordinarily it is. I let my legs make the decisions and that is how it wound up.

At the gym, I did a push workout. That included the bench press, the seated overhead press, and some shoulder stuff. I ended with a swim circuit. A swim circuit? I call it that. It was a set of high repetition lateral raises, followed by a set of swim pulls, and going instantly into the skierrg. Wait, that wasn't all. I then went to the heavy bag and after that hopped onto the treadmill for a short easy walk.

The idea was, the lateral raises get some blood flowing to the deltiods, a muscle highly involved in swimming. Then the Swim Pull mimics the freestyle pull in the water and overloads those muscles thus working sports specific strength. The skierg uses the same muscles but in a high aerobic/threshold level. After that, I am breathing like a man about to die. The heavy bag again makes the shoulders and arms keep working and the finish on the treadmill teaches the leg muscles to burn off that lactic acid that has build up in the blood stream and is flowing around the body shutting things down. If I can stick to that, it should transfer to the water with some improved performances. 

Thus, my first training day of 2023 was a solid one. And I have more ideas about how to build fitness for the pool. I have a new toy coming that should up the ante and give me more options for improving my cardiovascular system as well as my lactic acid buffering abilities. Thank you, Jesus, for goals and ideas and motivation.

12/26 - 1/1

I finished another week and another year. I might write a yearly review later. Maybe. Right now, what did I do the last week of 2022 besides eat too much? Well, I started Monday with a 2,000 yard swim. I followed that up wth weights and 4.72 miles of running.

Tuesday I swam 2,650 yards and ran 9.52 miles. The long run took the steam out of me so that I did not make it to the gym.

Wednesday I swam 2,800 and lifted weights not once but twice. Furthermore, I shuffled 2.55 miles on the treadmill.

Thursday I did 2,300 in the pool and nothing in the gym. On the road I did a wimpy 2.51.

Friday I again swam, this time for 3,050 yards. At Plate City, I hit it hard, but on the treadmill I was down to 1.64 miles.

You already know about Saturday. I worked out at the City then took off on a run to Hillbilly Heaven. This time I went all the way to Ruscoe Road. Penny pulled up on me and harrassed me about looking like an old man. Maybe that's because I am an old man. My claim to fame, however, is that I am too stubborn to stop. I have had people tell me I am too old to run. I have had people tell me I am ruining my knees. My knees aren't great, but they are as good as any 65-year old I know. I don't plan to stop. If I did, I might become dangerous to road signs and people. Oh, the distance? I went 16.26 miles of old-man shuffling.

For the week, I 

  lifted weights five times, 

  skierrged 3:00 minutes,

  swam 11,698 meters, and

  ran 36.48 miles

That's not too bad. If I could drop a few pounds, I would run a lot better. I have the base but that is all. I am now one month from my next official marathon. I need a few more long runs and some large weeks. I only have time for two big weeks before taper time starts. All the hay is not in the barn, but the barn door is starting to close. Am I nervous? Not yet, but I already know how that song goes. I will become nervous. I will wonder why I am doing this. I will regret my decision to sign up. Until I finish. Then its like a magic hand turns the lens finder and the picture becomes clear. I will then know why I did it and be glad I went through with it. That's the way it always works. I will drive home tired but content, happy with my choice, and before the pain disappears, I will already be dreaming about the next one.

New Year's Eve

It was 8:00 a.m. before I dragged out of bed and then had to make my fuss over CC. She sleeps on top of me all night, but gets up a little earlier than I do. When I get up she comes running, and if I don't make a fuss, she gets her feelings hurt, and I have to pay for it. Never mind that I am about to fall down and pee in my pants. I have to pet her and talk to her incessantly for several minutes or there will be trouble.

I wasn't up long, just long enough to pee and pour a cup of coffee, before I went back to bed to sip and type. "Where's the blogpost already?" was not something I was going to hear again. Not today. While I pecked at the keyboard, my mind kept going to the pool. Usually, I have grown a little lazy by Saturday. This Saturday was no exception. Origninally I had planned to swim, not long, but six days in a row should jump start my tune up. But while I pondered my energy and drive, I received a group text message from Debbie saying there was a problem at the little pool. It's one foot low "but swimmable." Well not for me. One foot low meant no flip turns on the east end so problem solved: no swimming Saturday.

But I did need to lift. Ususally Saturday is my deadlift and strongman day. But since it was New Year's Eve and Penny and I were going to Hillbilly Heaven (Yes, we talked it over with the family. Penny was feeling good and they were OK with being aroung her), I thought I would run out there. That meant no leg work at the gym. I was, however, still short on a pull workout so that is what I did.

By the time I get this far out, traffic thins
and it is easier to take a pee.

I think I watched some football. I did. It was Alabama versus Kansas State. But I needed to leave the house by 1:30 at the latest so I only saw three touchdowns in a short period of time before I was out the door and shuffling south. It was over the bridge, Market Street, Grenada Blvd, Bowie Lane, and across Highway 82 onto Humprey's Highway. The temp was around 60 so I was dressed light but still shuffling slow. The miles built up little by little until I was at 10 and at the foot of the big hill. Then I heard a vehicle approaching from the rear and it was slowing down. An SUV pulled up beside me and the driver's window came down. Behind the wheel was a nice-looking woman who quipped, 

"Need a ride?"

"No."

"Well you don't look like you're going to make it running like that."

"I'm going all the way to Ruscoe Road." Ruscoe Road is the long route.

"I don't think you'll make it if you turn on Hillbilly Heaven Road." Hillbilly Heaven Road is the most direct route.

And with that as she drove away I wondered why my wife won't tell me what she really thinks.

So I ran up that monster hill again, then shuffled on past Hillbilly Heaven Road (Carroll County Road 231), and kept going. Then I notice for the first time how large the timber was in that area.

Whatever problems Carroll County has, a lack
of natural beauty is not one of them.

I ran past the the Stone Road where I turned last week, and eventually I made it to Ruscoe Road. It was getting dark by this time.

This photograph doesn't reveal the darkness
that was beginning to settle in on me.

When I got a bit down Ruscoe Road, I stopped and walked some. I was up around 15 miles now. It was very dark, but the moon was bright enough to cast tree shadows on the road I ran on. I kept watching the shadows it see if something came out from behind one of the trees. It it had, you would still be able to hear me scream. I alternated running and walking until I made it in with 16.26 miles of running. Not a bad way to end the year.

At Hillbilly Heaven, we cooked and ate steaks, watched Christmas movies, and lounged around like it was a job. Penny and I drove home around 9:30. When we got out of her truck, we could hear the funfire (read "gunfire") going off south of the river. Inside, I turned the TV on just in time to see the last two plays of the Georgia/Ohio State game. I was not surprised at the closeness. I was scared for Georgia in this one. People made to big of a deal about Ohio State's loss to Michagan. Looking at the score, it looked like they got lit up. Looking at the game, they got burned on a few big plays. That is a big difference. Plus, when good

teams lose, they come back angry. 

So Alabama won, Georgia won, I worked out at Plate City, and I ran 16 miles. I ate a steak and spent time with family. It was a good day. Happy New Year to all two of my readers.