A Balance, Redefined

February 2011

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Location:

Vestavia,AL,USA

Member Since:

May 31, 2007

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Other

Running Accomplishments:

Marathon Top 10 Finishes: 7 Bridges ('15), Utah Valley ('13), Salt Lake City ('08), Top of Utah ('07), and St. Louis ('04). Ran around the equator (24901.55) in 4,388 days.

Personal Records
Marathon 2:39 (SLC '08)
1/2 Marathon 1:12.30 (Provo River, aided '08)
10K 34:16 (Track, sea level '00)
10K 33:15 (Des 10K, aided '08)
8K 25:32 (Crack of Dawn, aided '13)
5K 16:44 (Track, sea level '00)
5K 16:07 (Running of the Leopards, aided '12)
 

Short-Term Running Goals:

NYC Marathon November 3, 2019 done 

London Marathon October 3, 2021 done

Tokyo Marathon March 3, 2024!!!

And my largest challenge to date, raise $20,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of my cancer survivorship and in memory of those lost to blood cancer...
DONE! $26,403.70

https://pages.lls.org/tnt/al/london2021/awende

Long-Term Running Goals:

Enjoy being a Masters Runner.

Get under 3 hours one more time...

Personal:

Grew up outside Chicago and joined the blog while I lived in Salt Lake City. Now living outside Birmingham. I am married with two daughters. Wife thinks I'm crazy for doing marathons. And yes I am crazy I'm a scientist for a living...

Click to donate
to Ukraine's Armed Forces
Miles:This week: 0.00 Month: 0.00 Year: 331.25
RM 090416 Lifetime Miles: 136.06
Saucony Type A Lifetime Miles: 200.18
Nike Vaporfly Pink Lifetime Miles: 122.22
Saucony Ride #37 - Black Lifetime Miles: 56.50
Saucony Ride #38 - Neon Lifetime Miles: 53.50
Saucony Ride #39 - Grey Lifetime Miles: 59.50
Brooks Launch #38 - Grey Lifetime Miles: 65.25
Brooks Launch #39 - White Lifetime Miles: 57.50
Brooks Launch #40 - Blue Lifetime Miles: 54.00
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
98.000.000.000.000.000.000.0098.00
Brooks Launch #1 Miles: 27.00RM 090416 Miles: 0.01Asics DS-Trainer #4 Miles: 10.50Saucony Rides #6 Miles: 19.00Asics DS-Trainer #5 Miles: 7.50Saucony Rides #7 Miles: 34.00
Night Sleep Time: 183.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 183.50Weight: 0.00
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Almost there. Things are shaping up but about three days behind where I want to be. 6am-1:30am.

Night Sleep Time: 5.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 5.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Found my limit. Called it a day at 4pm and took the night off.

Night Sleep Time: 4.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 4.50Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
6.000.000.000.000.000.000.006.00

Engine refueled with a full night's sleep. Half day in lab to take care of items that don't take care of themselves. Then noon run. Always nice to get out during the day and soak up a little sun. It was cold but not as bad as yesterday. Now back on the horse to the finish line... Sunday morning.

Avg. 7:31 HR 156

Brooks Launch #1 Miles: 6.00
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
5.000.000.000.000.000.000.005.00

Clear the mind and get the creative juices flowing. Morning SugarHouse loop. Took it a bit quicker in spots and just enjoyed the run overall.

Avg. 6:48 HR 169

RM 090416 Miles: 0.01Asics DS-Trainer #4 Miles: 5.00
Night Sleep Time: 6.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 6.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
5.000.000.000.000.000.000.005.00

Working on the grant since 5:30am. Took a breakfast break with the family and a running break to enjoy our warm weather (47F) midday. Hope to have the first complete draft to my mentor by tomorrow morning for one final round of editing and then out the door!!! I see the light at the end of the tunnel. The run today was good. It is nice to get the legs moving. I did the same run as yesterday, SugarHouse Loop. Most of the speed was in those first two miles all downhill to SugarHouse from my house (6:11 and 6:13). But there as a little left in the engine as I cooled down back up :)

Avg. 6:44 HR 168

Brooks Launch #1 Miles: 5.00
Night Sleep Time: 6.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 6.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
7.000.000.000.000.000.000.007.00

This is the longest final sprint I've every done. It is like a race that has a moving finishing line... Partly because I have set intermediate goals. The "biggie" is a week from tomorrow. I did get the first complete draft to my mentor at 8:45 am (after working from 5:30am-1:30am minus meal and running breaks) and he already got me back his comments. A good sign I hope a few thematic issues but I think I already know how to get them done and hope to be down early in the week. It will be nice to have my life back... Since I had the grant out of my hands for most of the day I got to spend some extra family time and went for a nice run. I backed off on the pace. Partly by going on a harder loop and partly because I don't want to push my luck. Suicide Rock-Dog Park loop...

Avg.  7:52 HR 153

Saucony Rides #6 Miles: 7.00
Night Sleep Time: 5.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 5.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
2.500.000.000.000.000.000.002.50

Commute run before a day of dealing with a form and limit change...

Asics DS-Trainer #5 Miles: 2.50
Night Sleep Time: 5.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 5.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
5.000.000.000.000.000.000.005.00

SugarHouse run and finalizing the candidate section.

Saucony Rides #7 Miles: 5.00
Night Sleep Time: 7.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 7.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
2.500.000.000.000.000.000.002.50

Commute run and then final science edits...

Asics DS-Trainer #5 Miles: 2.50
Night Sleep Time: 5.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 5.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
2.500.000.000.000.000.000.002.50

Very tired but the final comments are in and all I have is formatting

and transferring to the internal submission person. It will be out of my

hands tomorrow!!!

Brooks Launch #1 Miles: 2.50
Night Sleep Time: 4.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 4.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
2.500.000.000.000.000.000.002.50

Commute run. This was one of the hardest work weeks I've had in my life... However, things our now out of my hands and I can get back to "normal". Hopefully training for a June marathon!!!

Saucony Rides #6 Miles: 2.50
Night Sleep Time: 4.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 4.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
8.000.000.000.000.000.000.008.00

What a strange feeling. This is the first time in about three months that I do not have to think about the grant. It is the first time in about three weeks that I do not have to work on the grant. It is now out of my hands and now comes the waiting game. Sometime in June maybe even as late as July...

Got up to watch my wife run race two of the winter series. It was much warmed today than at the 5K. I started out early pushing the girls and went out four miles and turned around. Cheered on the runners until my wife got there and then we ran with her most of the way back. It was a good day and a good run. 

Avg. 7:19 HR 161

Saucony Rides #7 Miles: 8.00
Night Sleep Time: 7.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 7.50Weight: 0.00
Comments(2)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
11.500.000.000.000.000.000.0011.50

It is nice to relax. Another great day. Pancakes before church a long run after and then fun at the playground until dinner. I did a SE triangle run. A loop I haven't done in a very long time. It felt good but was a bit much. I just couldn't pass up the beautiful and warm weather today. Felt more like the second week of May than the second week of Feb... 1500ft of elevation changes...

Avg. 7:50 HR 148

Saucony Rides #7 Miles: 11.50
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(1)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.00

One major problem with working as hard as I did the last few weeks is that it weakens the immune system. So that combined with the fact that both my daughters are sick means I am now sick... Took the day off.

Night Sleep Time: 7.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 7.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
2.000.000.000.000.000.000.002.00

I was hoping that a few nights of good sleep would have done the trick but not enough... Headed out the door only to decide it wasn't worth it and turned back at the mile mark. Maybe another night of good sleep with kick this bug and refuel my battery...

Asics DS-Trainer #4 Miles: 2.00
Night Sleep Time: 7.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 7.50Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Still more rest...

Night Sleep Time: 7.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 7.50Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
2.500.000.000.000.000.000.002.50

Feeling slightly better than yesterday. I hope I am on the other side of the hill. Commute run in.

Asics DS-Trainer #5 Miles: 2.50
Night Sleep Time: 5.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 5.50Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
2.000.000.000.000.000.000.002.00

Bleh. Still not breathing right. Go from complaining about the grant to complaining about being sick. Thanks to the few of you still checking on me and putting up with all this negative energy... Positive thoughts! Commute run in but stopped at the edge of campus because of breathing.

Brooks Launch #1 Miles: 2.00
Night Sleep Time: 6.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 6.00Weight: 0.00
Comments(4)
Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.00

I'll start running again when I stop coughing again...

Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Got some cross training in with the snow. However, fell... Kind of comic really. Starting to have the cold go away and I bruise my hip. Can't really say anything but let out a big laugh and take the next day in stride. I hope you all had a great weekend.

Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
0.000.000.000.000.000.000.000.00

Last day of rest. Took a lot of sleep and a nap. Actually stayed home for a holiday. Wish I could have enjoyed it more but still got a lot of play time.

Night Sleep Time: 10.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 10.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
2.500.000.000.000.000.000.002.50

Slept through the night even after all the rest during the day. Feeling much better and the bruise on the hip is only sore to the touch and did not seem to affect my running. Commute run in.

Brooks Launch #1 Miles: 2.50
Night Sleep Time: 7.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 7.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
6.000.000.000.000.000.000.006.00

Feeling much better. Evening home loop. Avg. 7:41 HR 156

Saucony Rides #6 Miles: 6.00
Night Sleep Time: 6.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 6.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
3.500.000.000.000.000.000.003.50

Mid campus commute run. Avg. 10:04 HR 142

Saucony Rides #7 Miles: 3.50
Night Sleep Time: 6.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 6.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
3.500.000.000.000.000.000.003.50

Same mid-campus commute run as yesterday. Another good day about 85% recovered. No Garmin.

Asics DS-Trainer #4 Miles: 3.50
Night Sleep Time: 6.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 6.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
9.000.000.000.000.000.000.009.00

Out cheering on the 15K runners. My wife continued her streak of PRs almost the exact same by decreasing her times ~5 min on the 5K, ~10 min on the 10K and ~15 min on the 15K. Amazing what a year of consistent training will do! Really proud of her work this last year. The girls and I ran out to the turn around and waited to cheer her on. We didn't get much of a head start today (~7 min) so 5 of the racers caught us before we made it there. It was a bit colder today than the previous race and a bit of weather on the way back did not make for an enjoyable run for the girls, but they were as good as troopers as they could be all things considered. The knowledge of hot chocolate waiting at the finish line did a little to help alleviate the concerns of the cold... Even with pushing the girls, waiting at the turn around (clock stopped) and running the first few miles on the return with my wife I managed a 1:11. Nothing compared to my 53:17 three years ago but at least I was out there doing something... It was nice that a number of the racers had recognized me from the previous two races and made some encouraging comments. Maybe next year I can join them instead of just being a cheerleader.

Avg. 7:39 HR 173

Brooks Launch #1 Miles: 9.00
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
3.500.000.000.000.000.000.003.50

Just a quick little home loop to get the blood flowing. Obviously quick in time out not speed run :)

Avg. 8:47 HR 146

Saucony Rides #6 Miles: 3.50
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
6.000.000.000.000.000.000.006.00

Slept in a  little extra this morning. The day therefore felt like it started slow but ended fine. Did a home loop in the early evening. 

Avg. 7:07 HR 161

Saucony Rides #7 Miles: 6.00
Night Sleep Time: 8.00Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 8.00Weight: 0.00
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Easy MilesMarathon Pace MilesThreshold MilesVO2 Max MilesTrainer 1 MilesTrainer 2 MilesRacer MilesTotal Distance
98.000.000.000.000.000.000.0098.00
Brooks Launch #1 Miles: 27.00RM 090416 Miles: 0.01Asics DS-Trainer #4 Miles: 10.50Saucony Rides #6 Miles: 19.00Asics DS-Trainer #5 Miles: 7.50Saucony Rides #7 Miles: 34.00
Night Sleep Time: 183.50Nap Time: 0.00Total Sleep Time: 183.50Weight: 0.00
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