Few posts lately...

Ever since the rush of the Rouge Orleans ultra relay, I have been postless. Frankly, I've been really down in the dumps.

For many reasons, I did not run the New Orleans Rock n' Roll Marathon that I was totally looking forward to. There has been tremendous pressure at work - they're firing people left and right - and I'm one of those dopes who purchased a home with an exotic mortgage. To make matters worse, I stupidly bought another home before selling the first.

So far I still have food to eat and 10 year old clothes to wear -- thank you Banana Republic for never going out of style. Right? Banana Republic isn't unfashionable yet, is it? -- but the pressure and anxiety have been breathtaking... at least for me.
I've been through this before, though more seriously than now. After that experience I resolved never to be unhappy -- or at least allow myself to get severely depressed again. So when I found myself wandering this questionable neighborhood of sad sackedness, I again resolved to escape it.
That's what I'm doing now. I'm still very bummed, anxious, frustrated, insercure, pissed, and gassy, but I'm gonna get out of it.

If you wanna see how I'm gonna do it, check it out. If not, I'll keep you posted.

Limosines for the feets!

Santa brought me a pair of bright, pimped out size 11 Asics Gel Nimbus 13s. The soles have the impressive GU Dance Line, whatever that is.

These are the carriages that'll carry me across the Houston Marathon, Rouge Orleans Ultra Relay and New Orleans Marathon finish lines. And because I'm training in the cool months, these won't stink nearly as much as the Asics I just retired.

They were good to me too. They helped me in the final stages of Chicago Marathon training, the race itself, and prepped me for Houston -- though I should have traded them in long ago.

After I finish Christmas clean up -- the tree is punishing my allergies -- I'll wax philosophical on shoes. Can't wait.

Merry day after Christmas and Happy New Year!

New Orleans Marathon -- AWESOME new course!!

Run through the CBD, Garden District, St. Charles Ave., Audubon Park, the Quarter, up Esplanade through City Park, to the Lakefront... man, that's hitting all the great hot spots in NOLA -- at least the ones that don't serve adults. Check it out: New Orleans R&R Marathon course map. The race is all the way in March but I am already so psyched for it. By then I will have finished the Houston Marathon and Rouge Orleans Ultra Relay. Boo-yah! So psyched!

What have I done?!?

Have you ever run an Ultramarathon relay? I signed up for one today. In the words of David Byrne, "My God, what have I done?"

You may ask yourself,
where does that highway lead to

On the weekend of Feb 10-12, 2012, my team of 6 will run 126.2 miles from downtown Baton Rouge to Audubon Park in New Orleans. As the crow flies it is a 68-ish mile, hour+ drive on I-10 from hither to yon. But the meandering path on the Mississippi River levee along River Rd. is a marathon + 100 miles.

Our team will include a bold starter and strong finisher. Somewhere between will be me, the Clydesdale who will lope along like someone is pushing me from behind.

The ultra is a pretty thrilling concept, I must say. It is quite intimidating. It will probably present the most phyically demanding test of my life. And like all major decisions that I have been peer pressured to make, I am gradually warming up to the idea.

The ultra is a Big Thing. You've seen me refer to the Big Thing before. It is something intimidating, "impossible," beyond my reach and capabilities, but the thought of conquering it gives me butterflies. It is scary and exhilerating all at once. Training for a successful finish will require planning and strategy. Lucky for me I am already training for Houston and New Orleans, which should totally prepare me for the ultra.

Wow. My first ultra. I will celebrate with a beer.