I'm retired from racing. Really.

Sicker, no run.  Plus work is crazy busy.

AM- 6 with my dad, who happens to be in town on business.  Then we spent the rest of the day at the opulent Biltmore mansion and a Christmas parade.  Fun times.  I was sure I would break 3000 miles for the year this week, but instead ran twice for 14 miles.  Oh well.

Lunch 6.  33 deg and breezy- brr.

Lunch 7 with Mark.  Still below freezing temps at lunch, but warm enough for shorts.  The goal is the ramp up my training by running 6 days a week, and slowly increasing mileage.

Lunch 8 with Phil and Jim.  Felt good today for the first time this week.  Still below freezing highs.  Even colder and snow predicted next week.

Looks like I passed the 3000 mile mark for the year.  Cross another goal off the list.  This will be my first year while on the FRB that I don't increase my total mileage, though. 

Lunch- it was goodie day at work, so I pigged out all morning, eating cookies, cheesecake, breads, etc.  Needless to say, my primary goal all 6 miles of my run was to keep all the food down.  Despite some close calls, it was a success.  After work, we took the girls to Disney's Princesses on Ice- lots of fun, and I'm not sure I've ever seen so many little girls dressed as princesses in my life.

Lunch 4.5 with Jim

Hilly lunch 9 with the guys.  Actually wore tights- below freezing with 25 deg wind chill.

My whole family is sick right now, and all I can think of is Star Wars characters. 

It's 15 deg right now in Greenville (before windchill), and 32 deg in Logan.  Something just doesn't seem right.

No run today- dentist during lunch, then at work too late to run.

I haven't signed up or even spent any time looking for upcoming races.  I think it is because I am slowly, very sadly coming to the realization that my competitive running career is likely over.  Between my work hours and extreme lack of access to good trails, my trail running certainly will only go downhill.  And for road running, it is difficult to run enough miles to be competitive even under ideal circumstances.  The less-than-ideal conditions here (i.e. no running trails/bike paths, very unsafe to run on many roads, particularly when dark) make it that much more difficult.  I know I can certainly run recreationally and even somewhat competitively and enjoy that, but it's hard to accept that my fastest days are probably behind me.  I just can't see 100 mile weeks happening.  I'm pretty sad about this.  I'm not seeking sympathy or pep-talks, just venting to myself.  It's a bitter pill to swallow.

Lunch 8.  Todd took us on a new route that included a little nice grass and dirt running.  Nice to break out of the standard 3 routes, and real nice to be off pavement.

Lunch run 8.  It was 32 deg and rainy, which is about as miserable as conditions get.  But it actually wasn't that bad- a couple of us were even wearing shorts.  There was a bit of ice on the roads this morning so they cancelled the schools, which the definitely would not have done in Utah.

Evening update- according to weather.com, it is now 46 deg in Greenville (and increasing!), 7 deg in Logan, and 9 deg in Idaho Falls.  Life is good again. 

AM- Woke up early to run with Todd.  The 9 laps on the GE track seemed to go real fast thanks to steady conversation.  About freezing temps, which felt pleasant.

PM- First trail run in over a month!  Maybe that's why I've been so depressed.  Parked at Barry's house, 1 mile from Paris Mtn.  7 miles in about 70 min (that's what happens when the whole run is on leaf-covered trails and it's night).  Didn't see a single person the whole time, and there was a nice stillness all around, a good Christmas peaceful feeling.  I could actually see the lights of Greenville from the mtn, since the leaves are gone.  1200 ft climbing.

AM- Headed back to Paris Mtn.  Temp was 35 deg and it stopped raining just as I started, so I was not cold.  Only saw 5 runners and 1 hiker the whole time on the trail.  Felt pretty good and pushed the pace a bit, esp. at the start and finish.  My longest run since my race on Nov 6, and my first time over 40 mpw in 6 weeks or so.  Kinda sad, I know.  But it's nice to be on the dirt again.  10.5 miles in 1:37:30 with 1900 ft climbing.

Lunch- run by myself.  Haven't done much speedwork for a long time, so I figured I should do some soon to get into 5k shape.  5 miles warmup, 2.5 miles at 6:15 pace, the .5 mile at 6:00 pace.  1 mile cooldown.  9 miles, 1:03:30

PM- 9.5 miles at Paris Mtn in the dark with Barry and his dog.  It's so nice to be on trails.  9.5 miles in 1:33 with 1700 ft climbing.  Felt great.  We watched a huge, brilliantly orange moon rise over the trees.  Definitely won't set any speed records on these trails after dark, but it beats the road.

Lunch- 9 with Todd and Jason.  I felt like crap the first half, despite the beautiful, 65-deg and sunny weather.  We ran a new route out to see a Christmas palm tree, which was awesome.  It energized me (at least that's my story).  Felt better on the second part.  9 miles.

No run- half day work, then went to the Biltmore in Asheville, NC, instead for a very nice, all you can eat buffet.  Wonderful food... and they sure didn't make any money on me.  Then we went to the luxurious Grove Park Inn to see the winners of the National Gingerbread Contest.  Finally, Marci and Kinley went to Tangled while Aspen and I played.  Fun day with the family.

AM- had planned to go to the mountains today (no work), but then slept in too late.  So 10 miles around the apartment on a sunny, cool morning.  Very excited for Christmas.  And we are heading to Washington DC for a week on the 26th, which should be great.  

Happy Christmas Eve, everyone! 

On Christmas night in 2007, I went on a run after dark.  8 inches of snow had fallen that day in Idaho Falls, and I thoroughly enjoyed running through the very peaceful, still neighborhoods, looking at snow-covered Christmas lights and singing Christmas songs to myself.  One of the more enjoyable runs.  I never thought I would experience this in South Carolina, since it hasn't snowed on Christmas here in 47 years... 

Who would have thought we would have a white Christmas with lots of snow falling in hot, humid South Carolina while nothing is falling in Utah, Colorado, or Idaho?!?  Indeed, it started snowing here just after noon, with 1"+ accumulations by sunset.  I waited till after dark and ventured into some nearby neighborhoods, again looking at Christmas lights.  It wasn't as quiet or as much snow as that day in Idaho Falls, but it was certainly more unexpected and almost as enjoyable.

Merry Christmas to the FRB!