I Am No Longer A Runner

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I am not sure when it happened or what all took place to make it happen, but I can no longer call myself a runner.  Runners just don't act the way I have been acting lately.

I have been struggling with what and how much I eat for some time now and have tried to fix it but have not yet been able to stop eating like I am running 40-50 mile weeks with long runs up to 20 miles.  I don't eat horrible, I just make occasional bad choices and almost consistently eat too much.

If the eating was the only thing I wouldn't be taking the time to write this, but I have also had issues keeping motivation up lately.  I really would like to fix this as well, but I am not sure exactly what is causing it or if it is a combination of things.  I am not sure if the winter months have derailed me, or if it is the fact that I am trying to deal with a small thigh injury which has been causing me to miss many days of running that I otherwise would have enjoyed.  There is also the possibility that I am depressed from being just 3 weeks out from the Publix Georgia Marathon, and no where near where I was in training for the first two marathons.

Winner Of SYNTHA-6 Protein Supplement

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If you use Protein Supplements you definitely need to try SYNTHA-6™  from BSN Supplements as I mentioned in the review and giveaway post last week.  It is the best tasting Protein Supplement I have ever tasted, and we all know that is the most important part right?

There were 20 entries and so I headed to random.org and let them do their magic.  The winner of the SYNTHA-6 was #16, Fred Lechuga aka @CvilleFred.  Fred, make sure you send your shipping information over to me at info@262quest.com and I will get it right out to you.

Running Should Look Like It's Hard Work!

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Anybody that says running is easy is either lying or they are not doing it right.  I am sure I will get all kinds of people that come down on both sides agreeing and disagreeing with that point, but in my opinion if running is done right it is hard work.  Sure the elites make it look easy, but if it wasn't hard work wouldn't they all be faster?

Recently I was at a track meet and I was watching all levels of runners do their thing.  Sure I enjoy watching the fast runners kick it and blow by everybody else, but I also enjoy watching the ones that happen to come in last place, and all the ones in between.  In the front of the races the runners all look the same, they are giving everything they have and leaving nothing on the course.

MY RUN - The Movie

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I love running books, films, and movies.  When I see a new one coming out I get excited, and my response was no different when I first read about the MY RUN movie a few months ago.  MY RUN, The Terry Hitchcock Story, is about more than just running, it is about running the marathon of life and all the obstacles that were thrown Terry's way.

Some have called him the real life Forrest Gump, but I am making an assumption here that given his journey and why he went through it, he would rather just be called a loving father and husband.

Ryders Eyewear Review and Giveaway

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A few weeks ago I was sent a pair of the HEX 480's from Ryders Eyewear.  I have to be honest and give you a basis for this review.  I typically do not wear sunglasses, but when I do it is usually only in the car and it is some cheap pair I picked up for a couple dollars that make me look like one of the Beatles.... if they were bald.

I never have run with sunglasses before trying these out.  This is mainly because I don't need something else that I have to deal with all the time.  I don't want something that I have to keep from bouncing, keep in place, keep clean or anything that will distract from the run.  All that being said, I was ready to give these Ryders a try.

The first time I wore them my daughter Payton and I were headed out for a trail run.  As we were driving to the trails she said they looked cool and she even had to try them on. Now notice I didn't say that she said I was cool, but that the glasses were cool.  She stopped telling me I was cool 5 years ago when she was 10 years old.

You Gotta Know When To Hold 'Em, Know When To Fold 'Em

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It doesn't matter if I am running a race, training for one, or if I am just in my normal routine, when I head out for a run I intend on completing it.  Normally I am a procrastinator. If there is something I don't want to do or something that feels overwhelming it can be days, months, years, or even longer before it gets done.... if it ever gets done at all, but with running I am not that way.  Sure, sometimes it can take me a little bit to get out the door, but I always do it.

This brings on a new and different challenge, knowing when the right thing to do is to take the day off, or when to cut a run short.  Very few times have I not known what I need to do, as my body always seems to make it very clear to me, the problem is when I choose not to listen.  I can be stubborn that way and all too often I will push through and make the run happen anyway, or keep going when I know a run needs to be cut short.

Running Meetup With New Friends

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A few weeks ago I wouldn't have planned something like this because I would have never believed it would have worked out the way it did.  If you are part of the community at the 26.2 Quest Fanpage or if you follow me at either @262quest or @virtual4now you probably already know what I am talking about, but for the rest of you I  had the most awesome opportunity to run with some new friends..... from Australia!

You will recall about a week ago I posted about the Couple On The Run book, and the Authors Andrew and Sue O'Brien from Partnerunning.  Just a few weeks ago I didn't know them, but through the magic of social media last week I helped them with the virtual launch of their book, and this past Friday actually had the opportunity to run with them here in Atlanta.

Run The Reagan 2011 - Volunteering Style

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The first two years I ran the Reagan, but last year it didn't quite work out that way.  The first year it was my first Half Marathon, while the second year it was a nervous first 5k back after recovering from my broken collar bone.

This year, once again we are volunteering.  Both my daughter's and I will be at the finish line handing out medals for the half marathon finishers, picking up people who fall over, or just about anything else they can find for the slave labor to do.

I am really looking forward to helping.  The Run The Reagan is a very local race for us, and one that I look forward to every year, regardless of whether I get to run or just volunteer.  It runs past many places that I train nearly every day.

If you are running, as many that I know are, Good Luck and see you at the finish line!

Winner of the GU Sampler Pack

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Let me first thank everyone who stopped by, entered, and took the time to share my blog and giveaway with your virtual friends.  I have been blessed with success in the blogger community and I like it when I can share the benefits of that success with you, my readers.  I feel like I have been doing a lot of giveaways lately and have had trouble mixing them with my normal content.  I am trying to keep this under control but I still have a lot of giveaways coming up over the next couple weeks that I am sure you don't want to miss.  Please know that giveaways are not the focus of this blog, but rather a side benefit for all of you...... I hope you don't mind!

Do You Use Protein Supplements? (Giveaway)

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I am a strong believer in Protein Supplements when it comes to both running, lifting, and workouts of any type that deplete or tear up my muscles.  In the research I have done over the years I have come to the personal conclusion that Protein Supplements are for more than just getting big muscles and make the use of them a regular part of my routine.

I have used plenty of different brands and kinds of Protein Supplements over the years, some that I have liked, and some that were so disgusting that I took them back were I bought them and demanded my money back.  I was using a brand that I have been very happy with lately, when I was contacted on behalf of BSN Suppliments with an opportunity to try their SYNTHA-6™ Product.

Couple On The Run - 24 Hour Virtual Book Launch and Giveaway

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If you have been a reader of 26.2 Quest for very long or have spent any time browsing around you will find that Family Running is something that is definitely something that is a big part of both my running life as well as everyday life.  With that in mind it is no surprise that when I found Partnerunning and their book Couple On The Run about running 8 marathons in 8 countries in 8 weeks, I was immediately drawn in and intrigued.

I don't remember where I found them first, whether it was on Facebook at their Partnerunning Fanpage, their Couple On The Run Fanpage, or if it was on Twitter at either @partnerunning or @coupleontherun, but once I found them it was quick and easy to build a relationship with them through social media.  It is amazing what social media has done to dry up the oceans in a figurative way to allow relationships to be built regardless of what continent you call home.

Why Is My Thigh Doing This?

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This morning I woke up just before 5:00 am and got myself ready to run.  Everything was just as any other morning when I head out to run, everything but my thigh.  I started by asking the question "Why is my thigh doing this?" when that really is not a question at all.

As you are aware I am in the middle of training for the Publix Georgia Marathon, which is just over a month away now.  I was behind on the training for the marathon when I committed to run it which we will not go into right now, and so I am in desperate need to build my mileage and build it fast.  I am an avid believer that building your mileage too fast will set you up for injury, something I am very in tune with and trying to avoid each day.

A Weekend of Roads and Trails

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A weekend like this past one doesn't come around very often.  The sun was shining all weekend long, unlike the rain that is coming down as I write this.  Sure it was Super Bowl Sunday, but since I am not a hugh sports fan, that wasn't the highlight of my weekend.  However, just so we are on the same page, hanging out with friends while the Super Bowl was on, was one of the highlights of my weekend.

Saturday was a little cool and I had the opportunity to head out for a Family Running time with my daughter Payton. We set out to run just 3 miles together and she ended up having to call it quits after a couple miles because her foot was hurting. She did however help me set a good pace so I continued at the same pace speeding it up only a little. It turned out to be a great 6 mile tempo run, and an unplanned one at that. I ran in my Saucony Grid Raiders which I don't run in much because they have somewhat of a ridged feel to them, but they felt good for this run. :)

The Speed Will Come

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Hang around with runners a while and it won’t take very long before you will hear about speed. Sure runners talk about a lot of different things from gear, injuries, training, unpleasant odors, and a million other things in between, but if you hang around for more than just a short time, you will most likely hear something said about speed.

This talk about speed with runners that have been running some time is all part of the fun and camaraderie of the sport, but what else would you expect in a sport where the pinnacle event is a race to see who can cross the finish line the fastest. The concern comes when new runners, particularly those who have very few miles under their belts, start worrying about it too much.

I Am Running With GU - Do You Want To?

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If you have trained for and run a half marathon or rocked the 26.2 I am sure that you have heard of GU Energy.  I have used GU over the years for the multiple endurance events I have run in, but I have also tried other brands and other products to make sure what I am using is giving me the best energy and sustaining power for those long runs.

When you get to that distance where a little something extra is needed to keep you going it is amazing how much different each product can be.  Each time I have been there I have noticed a definite increase in energy shortly after using the GU's I brought along to get me through the run.

I've Committed to the Publix Georgia Marathon

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If you have been following my training lately you would more inclined to say that I need to be committed for registering to run the Publix Georgia Marathon, rather than that I have committed to run the Publix Georgia Marathon.

The Publix Georgia Marathon, previously known as the ING Georgia Marathon, will be running through the streets of Atlanta and surrounding area on March 20th, 2011.  If I am doing my math correctly that is just 46 days away from today.  I am feverishly looking for a full marathon training plan, including a full taper (gotta have it!) that can be completed in 45 days (I am thinking about taking tomorrow off) so if you can help me with that it would be greatly appreciated!