The Qwer Old Fella's Marathon Method

"Rest is the basis of all activity" - Joan Benoit Samuelson

Listen to the body. You have the willingness to work hard and push yourself... so when all signs are saying "no" you are making the wise choice by listening.

Great week Bam! Your posts and advice on others' posts are very insightful. You are obviously bright and knowledgeable, and you know what you are doing. Keep up the great work! Looks like you are well on your way to accomplishing all your goals! You'll do it!

Nice week Bam - you seem very in tune to what your body is telling you on a daily basis. I tend to hear mine, but too often ignore it.

Rob - that's a cracker. I tried to use the quote so that I could get an afternoon nap. Needless to say, Majella was having none of it.

Jake - I don't know what happened y'day - probably fighting off some lurgy. But your recovery post was timely.

I think when I get up around the 100 mark, I need my naps. Next week, when the kids go back to school, I'll get back into the habit. It might be tough but I'll get the hang of afternoon naps - I'm sure:)

Matt - thanks very much. I think others would benefit more if I were to shut up:) You were probably cringing at my advice but I know you're too decent to say. I would do well to take a leaf from your book and adopt a quieter, more supportive and tactful approach. From now on...

I was thinking about you when I was out running today and trying to comprehend how you can do the job and hours you do and run so hard - as well as all the family stuff too. That sort of attitude towards life floats my boat and inspires me.

It's great that you guys are working together and pushing and supporting each other. It certainly motivates me. Don't tell anybody, but I often think, when I'm out on my own battling in the wind and rain, that I'm slogging it out with you chappies. I'm nuts.

I think this is going to be a cracker-jack year for many of us on FRB. I'll be 'quietly' watching your progress:) Thanks again for your kind words. That was some tempo you lads did today. Very impressive, especially in those conditions.

We will have to figure out a way to get together for a run someday.

Keep the mouth running Bam. You encourage us to THINK about what we are doing, and you provide insight that is incredibly valuable. We're lucky to have you posting on here.

I'm with Rob... maybe we should head overseas for a marathon at some point. I wonder if Steve could get us a plane?

Bret, I have no choice but to listen to my body, if I didn't the undertakers would be laughing at my skinamalinky body.

2015 London/Berlin/Rotterdam/Amsterdam or a flat marathon in the US at sea level - I couldn't look in the mirror if I ran a downhill marathon - unless of course I ran a fast time:)

Good choice Bam. If that heart rate is up in the morning, that's the body saying it's tired or getting sick. Always "listen" to an elevated heart rate and take it easy.

Bam, NEVER change and keep your mouth firing. We like you just the way you are (especially me). I meant what I said and that's because of what you do and say. And NEVER be quiet -- especially toward me. I welcome criticism. If you ever notice something I can improve on, be brutally honest and please let me know. You'll never offend me. We should always question the "why's" of what we do. And maybe my being "quiet" is just that I'm new to the blog and don't want to be overbearing yet :) I'll be a loose cannon soon :) Just kidding. I have a lot to learn. But I have learned a lot about principles of running during my running life. Perhaps I need to take a more vocal approach like yours and share such things more often. Do NOT stop and do NOT change Bam. You have a lot to offer, and I certainly appreciate your insight and perspective.

I'd love to join you guys for that marathon in 2015.

I'm not a huge fan of the DH courses either, but was was a huge fan of getting a big envelope of cash after Top of Utah :-)

Once the OTQ window opens up though, those courses are out for me.

Thanks Matt. I suspect you fellas will be busy with the OT's in 2015 or are they in 2016? Either way, the more the merrier.

I like the idea of being the strong silent type but in reality I doubt I'd be able to keep quiet. It's probably more to do with understanding the nuances between the two cultures. More often than not, I'm messing and I wonder if people get that. I'm learning.

Thanks again. Now, about your training...:)

And of course, I'm logged in under my daughter's name. What a plonker I am!

I love that you were logged in as BabyBam. Definitely made me laugh, and definitely something I would do. You never finished your sentence about my training :) And I'm really learning a new vocabulary from you.... "plonker" - I love it.

Good point Jake -- a wad of cash certainly makes a downhill course worth it!

Andrea and I do that all the time.

Bam I suspect we'll all get our OTQs out of the way early so we'll be playing w/ house money and can do whatever we want in 2015 :-)

Jake, I thought somebody would take the bait:)

I can't get my head around the idea of training hard for months/years and then running on a downhill course. For me, it would invalidate the achievement. I couldn't say, with any integrity, I ran a X:XX marathon, if I knew it was downhill. I doubt that makes sense to you guys, it's just what I think. I can't even say I've ran anything yet - flat, downhill or undulating. The race I ran didn't have a finish line. That's worse than a downhill dash.

Mind you, I don't blame you for going for the stash:) I understand that, fully.