High-Octane

Okay everybody....Sorry for being stealth for so many days but between my hip problem (and having nothing to say) and work (which has been crazy) I really have fallen down on keeping up on the Blog.

First: My hip is still painful. The symptoms are the same (but not as bad). When I get up in the morning and take the first few steps it hurts quite a bit. Throughout the day it feels better but as I walk, run, etc. it still hurts to put pressure on it. Actually the pain seems to come and go in intensity. More activity doesn't seem to make it hurt immediatly but later it may start hurting more. For example the last few days I have been working outside doing manual labor at the Extreme Home Makeover in Kansas, this didn't seem to have aggrivated the hip any more than normal.

Today I decided to go ahead and run a couple of miles. The first 1/2 mile the hip hurt quit a bit but after that got much better. Now (3 horus later) it actually feel pretty good..just a little discomfort. I''ll wait and see how it feels later today and in morning before deciding if I'm going to run again tomorrow. On a side note, I can't believe how much conditioning I have lost in two weeks. My heart rate was way up compared to a normal run of this type so I  guess I'll be starting over again when I do get to training again :-(

I got my bike in and plan to go to the bike store today to get shoes, helmet, pants, etc. I was able to ride the bike a few minutes yesterday and it didn't seem to bother my hip at all. Hopefully the bike will allow me to do something until my hip is back to 100%.

Here's the run for today:

8/8/2011
Mile	Time	HR	HR %	Out & Back
1	8:30:00	135	68%
2	7:35:00	162	86%
Total	16:05:00	149	51%
Pace	8:02:30

Biked 16 miles in the PM with Callie. First time on the new Road Bike...It rides great!

I ran 2 miles again today. The first 1/4 was very painful, the next 1/4 was very uncomfortable the next mile was better. The last mile was irritating but not painful. Maybe if I run 10 I'd feel perfect at the end.

I ran on monday and skipped yesterday. My hip was sore most of the day yesterday.

8/10/2011
Mile	Time	HR	HR %	Out & Back
1	8:04:00	140	71%
2	7:02:00	166	89%
Total	15:06:00	153	53%
Pace	7:33:00

Psalm 46:1

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Ran another 2 miles today but it was still very painful. Through the first mile I just wanted to quit.

Yesterday I got my bike all adjusted and rode 16 miles. It didn't seem to hurt my hip at all but maybe it wasn't a fair test since I took 2 ibuprofen before the ride.

Sorry I haven't been very enthused about blogging lately...

8/10/2011
Mile	Time	HR	HR %	Out & Back
1	8:54:00	136	68%
2	7:36:00	159	84%
Total	16:30:00	148	51%
Pace	8:15:00

"If you can give your son or daughter only one gift, let it be - enthusiasm."
Bruce Barton

Rode my bike today...No running...!

8/14/2011
Miles	Time	HR	HR %	Break at Each 6 Miles
18	64:39:00	143	73%
Total	64:39:00	143	73%
Speed	16.7 mph
		85 Deg.

Biking doesn't seem to hurt my hip. I do think it's getting better but very slow progress.

Isaiah 40:31
But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.

I guess I need to be more patient....!

Yesterday and today was the big roping event. I went to Waco Texas for the USTRC Regional Finals qualifing in three roping catagories. Roping is kinda like golf where you are ranked based on your ability and past performance. There are several catagories where you team up with another roper (your choice) to form a team and your team enters a roping catagory that matches your qualification. I roped in catagories 12, 11 and 10. At these roping I actually have a pretty good chance to win but if you can imagine all of the variables that go into roping (your own performance, your team partner's performance, both you and your partner's horses and then there's the steer your competing against). With all this said, it can get a little dicy sometimes and you can get in a rut and not do well. All in all my performance and my horses performance was very good. I came very close to winning big in one of the three catagories and somewhat close in another. I feel that we (my partners and I) had a couple of bad breaks. Even though I didn't get in the price money it was a very good weekend for me, I don't expect to win at every competition I go to...it's actually very tough to get in the prices competing against up to 300 other teams that are basiclly classified as you and your partner. The horse I rode is getting better and better at these big events and I'll be ready to go to the next one.

A few of you asked for photographs. Here is a link to the photographer's website where you can see many of my roping runs at the event.

http://www.allensrodeophotos.com/

Enter 33324 into the "Find Your Proofs" (at the right of the page)

Select me 33324 Preston Tatum (you should be able to view all the pictures by clicking on the thumbnails)

 There are many other pictures of me competiting in the "Proofs On Demand" if you're really interested. It might get a little confusing in alot of the other pictures because I am riding a variety of horses (mostly a white horse) and roping the heel end (back feet). Reciently I have gone back to the head end (roping the horns) after many years of layoff from the head end (that's a long story...I can tell you later if you really want to know).

Anyway...there's Team Roping 101 ... Enjoy... :-)

Jeremiah 4:13 Behold, he shall come up as clouds, and his chariots shall be as a whirlwind: his horses are swifter than eagles. Woe unto us! for we are spoiled.