July 29th, Sunday

Broke the 200 mile mark for the month today!  That was my goal to help me get ahead before school kicked in in August, so very happy about that.  Started tonight at 6:17 pm and ran 8.45 miles in 1:17:51 for a slow pace of 9.13 miles.  On Friday I got to see a great sunset but could not get to my camera in time for any photos!  I did get there in time tonight and actually came away with a couple of decent pics thanks to my palm tree friends!

Not quite as great as Friday's but not bad just the same.  I must admit, I don't grow tired of running down here at Mission Bay.  I am very lucky to have such a beautiful city to run in!

Have a great week everyone!  Hope that all goes your way and that you find a little time to spread the word (blog address:  www.trick2012in2012.blogspot.com), send me a short note, or donate if you haven't already!  : )

Total Miles:  1253.24   Pace Runner:  1159.92   +  93.32 miles!  

Love you both Mom & Dad!  Happy Anniversary Marian & Darryl!  Go USA!  <3

July 28th, Saturday

I ran last night & I ran this morning, 11.82 miles around both Fiesta & Sail Bay in 1:47:22 for a 9:05 pace per mile.  Not bad for legs that didn't have much of a rest.  Although I do most of my running by myself, this whole... I don't even know what to call this anymore!  Anyway, this has been a great team effort as most all things are in life.  Lelia, Michelle, John, my family, many of my students, all of you who read this blog,  the list goes on & on.  I thank you all for your donations, your efforts to share my info about my run, and all of your supportive comments and encouragement!

Here is a video that talks about teamwork that I show to my Ambassadors:

http://www.pullingtogethermovie.com/

Well, July has been very productive.  I have had 3 weeks of over 50 miles but with the travel days this week, I only got in 43.58, still good but not fantastic.  I will definitely break my monthly record but I will wait on those numbers until after they are in.

Total Miles:  1244.79   Pace Runner:   1154.43   +  90.36!!!!!  (+ 32.99 miles for 2112! )

Love to all my loyal readers, especially those who are helping to spread the word!  THANK YOU!!!!

July 27th, Friday

Happy Opening day for the Olympics!  GO USA!!!!

Back in SD after a trip to see my friends the Mahady's in the Antelope Valley!  Went & saw Joe's "Pop Warner" football practice where he got his helmet.  "Mean Joe" is getting ready for his rookie season!

Thursday was a travel day and so I took it off from running since I have put up some good mileage this month.  An extra day of rest definitely can't hurt!  Sleep has been pretty scarce of late, especially with the early (4:30 AM !!!) wake up calls in Vegas to escape the heat, so I slept in on Friday to get caught up and ran in the evening.  At 6:35 PM I was back circling Fiesta Bay.  8.4 miles in 1:12:41 for a pace of 8:39/mile which is back to what I would expect with some extra rest.

Thanks to the Mahady's for their great hospitality.  Great to hang out for a bit & I promised a picture of the kids.  (My Mom hadn't seen Emily since her baptism I think!)

Emily is going to be her ASB Vice President this year as an 8th grader!  Be a great leader, Em!

Total Miles:   1232.97   Pace Runner:   1148.93  +  84.04 miles (definitely going to break +90 this week!)

Love to all my friends, family, and especially my folks!  <3

July 25th, Wednesday

My last day to run in Las Vegas this AM.  Pretty cool sunrise that I took a pic of for you:

The clouds are subsiding and so was the humidity.  Finally felt the usual dryness in my mouth as is par for the course for running out here.  I ran 8.14 miles in 1:16:41 for a pace of 9:25/mile.  The hills definitely slow my pace but not sure if the early hour has anything to do with it or not.  I know that I usually don't catch my stride until late in these runs so who knows or cares for that matter!

 This is a great sign that is posted along the road that I run on but I have yet to see any wild horses or burros but I must admit that if I did see them and they were close enough, I would be tempted to feed them but I usually don't carry any sugar cubes or carrots on my runs.

Again, having a great visit with my folks.  My Mom is becoming a pro at bejeweled on her new iPad that my Dad got for her on her 80th B Day!  We will be skyping soon!  Read some more of "The Gipper" to my dad yesterday and if you are a Notre Dame fan, I highly recommend it.  Very entertaining and interesting to see how college football worked back in the late 1910's.

As this could be my last run in the cool valley of Red Rock, I took a pic with me in it via the timer on my camera:

I know, I will never get photography awards (you can see not only the shadow of my truck, but also that of my camera on the edge of my bed!)  If I had more time on my hands, I would crop it and it wouldn't be an issue!  That's it for now.  Please keep supporting, commenting, & donating.  I now have some business cards in case anyone would like some to hand out for me!  Just let me know!

Total Miles:  1224.57  Pace Runner:  1137.93  +  86.64 miles  (+30.08 for 2112 goal!)  

Love to my incredible parents, they continue to inspire me with their courage and steadfast passion for life.  Can't wait to see you both again!  <3 

July 24th, Tuesday

Today was another early wake up call another nice cool run up at Red Rock Canyon.  I didn't do the longer hill today for a break but I did get in 7.12 miles in 1:06:32 for a 9:19 pace.

Here is a view of the road I run.  It is pretty desolate at the early hour when I run and even though it seems a little barren, it is beautiful in its own way.  Below is looking North, above was looking south on Charleston Blvd. (159) toward Spring Mountain Ranch.  This is the flat part!

One more day of the early wake up call and then I will be able to sleep in!  Having a great time with my folks!  Reading "The Gipper" to my Dad and working on a puzzle with my Mom.  Met a nice couple at dinner who just moved into my parent's place.  (It's called Las Ventanas)  Bill & Marilyn were their names and he is a double amputee from the Korean War who went on to live a great life.  Pretty inspiring and amazing!

I want to add a quote from the song Ghostrider by Rush.  If you changed the name to Ghost Runner it obviously would be more appropriate but I really like this stanza:

Sunrise on the road behind

Sunset on the road ahead

There's nothing to stop you now

Nothing can stop you now

Total Miles:  1216.43   Pace Runner:  1132.44   +  83.99 miles

Love to you all for your awesome support!  <3

July 23rd, Monday

Took yesterday off after a late night on Sat with the Alumni Tailgate at the extra-inning Padre game.  (saw a group of former students after the game and they asked how my running was going?  Thanks <3!)  Drove to Vegas for a visit with my folks :) on Sunday!  Got up at 4 AM to try to avoid the heat of the day and ran in Red Rock canyon (along the road not in the actual park).  I got 8.10 miles completed in 1:16:06 for a pace about 9:24/mile.  The road is fairly hilly and on the longer run there is a hill of about .9 miles long so the pace didn't bother me.

Did some reading of "The Gipper" to my dad and I think I enjoyed it as much if not more than my dad!  Great to spend time with both my Mom & Dad and even my brother, Gary, his wife, Beth, & their daughter, Brittany. 

I have some fun pics when the 4 of us went to the relatively new KISS mini golf place by the Hard Rock Hotel.

It costs a little too much and it is a little cheezy but we had a fun time and I got 4 holes-in-one (one with an assist from my sister-in-law, Beth!)  It is really amazing what Gene Simmons (I am assuming this was his brainchild) comes up with to make a buck.  The location is perfect but the golf was a little easy and they could have done more with it in my opinion.  I was disappointed they didn't have a KISS pinball machine personally!

Hope all your summers are going well and I will be talking to you soon.

Total Miles:  1209.31  Pace Runner:  1126.94   +  82.37 miles

I get to tell my parents I love them in person for a few days so I will say Love & thanks for all you who keep supporting with messages, sharing my story, and especially with DONATING!  <3

July 21, Saturday

Saturday morning after a long run, oh, did I not feel like running!  I did anyway because that is how I am going to get there!  8.27 miles in 1:13:13 for a pretty good pace of 8:51/mile.  I thought I was going to be about as slow as yesterday but when people are in front of me, I tend to want to catch them and then pass them!  I know it's crazy, I'm not racing, I'm just running!  But I guess the competitiveness in me comes out when I see people in front of me. 

The Statistician in me wants to do a study to see if there is a correlation between # of people on the run & my speed.  No time for that right now.  Maybe a project for stats class next year!

Speaking of stats, did I mention I broke the 1200 mile mark today!!!!!  Anyone want to give me some incentive to finish before the end of November???  Let me know...  No pics of 1200, more motorcycles & phones but this time there were turntables (foreshadowing) & even a snow cat! 

There is a Def Leppard song that came on during my home stretch that got me going that I think I am going to share with you.  Not really about running but the word "run" is in the title.  Love to run to it though!  They have been a favorite band of mine (maybe top 10 but for sure top 20) since i was in high school and the Pyromania album came out.  (Yes, I bought the ALBUM before I had the CD many years later) and going to see them with Deana LiMandri, Eric Seeley, et al (Motley Crue opened on their Shout at the Devil tour).  If you are not a fan of rock music, you might want to skip this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bptSnf6PBos

Total Miles:  1201.21  Pace Runner:  1115.95  +  85.26 miles!  +  29.8 for 2112! 

Love to my folks who I get to see tomorrow!!!! Yeah!!!!! <3