Southland Shuffle 2019, a San Angelo tour, motivation, and cross training all in one!

It's been a few weeks.  Eventful I'd say.  I haven't necessarily thought about writing about running, to be honest.  I've been enjoying my running (mostly, more on that later), but nothing much to write blog about.

400m repeats at 5:15 in the morning

I have been working out consistently and enjoying it.  Lately, my goal has been 6 days a week with 2x a day workouts 4 of those days.  That's the goal, but life happens.  However, I've been able to be pretty close on that schedule.  I can tell I'm getting stronger, specifically with the improvements in my pull ups and burpees.  Most of all, I've been enjoying mixing up what I'm doing.

tools of the trade

To recap my goals, I want to get my 1-2-3 kettlebell circuit down under 16 minutes (currently 17:45), do a chin up hold for 45 seconds (currently at 24 seconds), get my 2 mile time down to 14:15 (at roughly 14:40 right now), get my 5k down under 22:30 (currently about 23:45), bench my bodyweight (roughly 20 pounds short now) and get my squat and deadlift to 350 (I'm probably around 300ish right now).  I really need to get a good spotter for the bench, squat, and deadlift.  Any takers?
Anyway, the past couple days have been awesome.  I don't write much about my career in here, but I'm set to get promoted this spring.  As it's a big step, there was a weeklong training seminar culminating in a fancy induction ceremony.  I probably won't make my promotion ceremony next year, so this was going to be my celebration.  My mom even flew down from Michigan.

thanks for all the support Mila!

con las damas, el mero mero, y el jefe

when Jon asks me to take a pic for him

fins up! (photo credit: Jammie Preiser)

The ceremony was very nice.  I even bought the fancy uniform for the occasion.  We had some amazing speakers, good food, great "team spirit," and quite a few folks that had a LOT to drink.  Most of all, I left inspired and motivated.  I hope my team and students are ready for me tomorrow morning because I'm coming strong.
Yesterday morning, we had the 38th Southland Shuffle.  (I wrote a little about the 2017 race here)  Southland Shuffle is put on by the Fish family as a "vintage" race through the College Hills neighborhood.  It's $3, there are is no online registration or race shirts or bibs even.  Just line up, run your 1/2 or 3 miles, turn around, and come back the way you came.  All of the age group awards are handmade too!  This year's theme was llamas.

My goal was sub 50 for the 6 mile and/or a top 10 finish.

before we get all sweaty (photo credit: Jammie Preiser)

Dennis and I look less than impressed (photo credit: Jammie Preiser)

Kent giving the pre-race brief (photo credit: Jammie Preiser)

getting ready

The race didn't turn out as planned.  I've been running, but never more than four miles.  I wasn't ready

for six hard miles, but I started like I was.  I held back as best I could the first mile but still started about 45 seconds quicker than I should have.  Halfway through, I took a little break to drink water and say hi to the youngest volunteer, Kent's 1 year old granddaughter.  By mile 4, I knew I was in a spot of trouble (as far as hitting my goal) but I thought I had a good shot.  Over the next mile, I knew it wasn't going to happen.  I fell apart a bit over the last mile and finished in 50:28.

I DID come in 10th though

Jammie's fierce finisher face

she told me that not pooping myself was a win, I'll take it

good smile Jon (photo credit: Jammie Preiser)

Dennis placed in our age group, Jammie placed in hers.  I think I came in 4th in the age group and 10th overall.  So, 4 miles in about 33 minutes was "good" for me.  It was the 18+ minutes that came after where I need work.  I'm still working on shorter distances, so I'm not going to worry until I start looking at half marathons in the winter.
After that, we got some breakfast and then took Mar on a short San Angelo tour.  She came to visit a couple of years ago, and it was literally 107 degrees outside, so we went quickly.  We stopped at Coffee 101, the international water lily collection, the Cactus market, Eggemeyer's (finally) and Bahama Buck's.

a neat spot by the water lily collection

That's about all you can do during the day in San Angelo while trying to escape the heat.  So, we took a nap then headed to Christoval Vineyards for dinner.  

Today included an early morning airport trip, an easy but hot 4 miler, and rest.  

Like I said, I'm coming into next week motivated.  Chiefs KP and Blaze along with our other speakers had me thinking all week long.  Thinking about how to take the next few steps in my life and my career.  I hope that I can carry this momentum into the future.