Gordo Running

Hey, maybe I should write a 2016 year in review. Let's see... Biggest "story" of 2016 for me in running and in life was moving from San Angelo.  This was a cultural shift from a big city to a small cowboy city. From a multitude of large running groups and a solid group of reliable running buddies to a couple of different groups made up of mostly the same people.  From running most of my miles with Ryan to running most of my miles alone.  I got to take a bigger part in the local running community though.  Hey, I'm in charge of the San Angelo Road Lizards Twitter now! (@SAroadlizards, we have 10 whole followers!) Additionally I got to charge of the volunteers for a small 5k and am looking at race directing for the first time next year. What else happened this year...  Oh, I started this blog.  Then I abandoned it.  This will be my first post since August.  Granted, I've got a few mostly fleshed out but never published drafts sitting here waiting...

     Nope, no gym selfies here.  Not even two Marshawn Lynch references.  Beast mode in this case refers to the primal diet that Mila and I have (mostly) been following since mid April.  I  wanted to dig a little deeper into it today, especially since I haven't had anything significant happening in running since my last post.  OK well I did get tricked by a pitbull last night.  Ran up to me wagging his tail all friendly looking, once he was behind me he started snarling and barking and had to be called back by his owner. I just kept thinking "THAT'S NOT SNOWFLAKE!!!"      I have long known that eating was a key component missing from my training.  I've gotten quicker over the last couple of years through hard training and great coaching, but there is a ceiling to that improvement.      In listening to Trail Runner Nation ( trailrunnernation.com ), many athletes talk about becoming "fat burning beasts." ...

I mean that.  I did another MAF test.  Then when I got home 8 hours later, I looked over my training plan and realized that today was supposed to be a rest day and tomorrow was supposed to be my second MAF test.  Overexcited maybe?  Well, I think giving me 3 days off on a training plan is likely to drive me crazy.  I mean, I did some push ups and planks and even tossed a football in the direction of my wife a few times on Monday, but running was a no-go.  So I don't run tomorrow?  Is that what I'm supposed to do?  Ugh.  Ok, no run tomorrow but Mila and I can go lift (relatively) heavy things and set them down.  Today's run got off to an inauspicious start when I had to start 20 minutes late.  I was supposed to meet someone at 720 on the track to help him get ready for his PT test.  He would only be able to run until 730 before having to head to work.  Luckily I got a text from him later explaining that he'd run the night b...

I guess my workout this morning doesn't really count.  I didn't take a picture to post, so it didn't happen, right?  I don't even know that I can write this entry!  I guess I'll try and push through. Today was my first day of base building for the Houston Marathon, taking place January 15, 2017.  My half marathon a couple weeks ago didn't go as planned so I can't sign up for the guaranteed slot the only registration open now.  I can sign up next month. Like I said, today was my first day of base building.  This year, I am trying something different.  As I wrote in my previous blog, my wife and I started the primal diet 3 weeks ago. Results have been good as I lost 8 pounds and got through that rough first week.  Don't worry, I won't put any before and after pics up.  Tied in with the diet is a new approach to training.  It is a Dr. Phil Maffetone-inspired, Mark Sisson-prescribed diet that focuses on the slow and low methodology.  ...

Hi.  I'm Chris.  This is me:  OK so that's maybe not the best pic to start off a running blog.  Here's another shot during the same run: Anyway, that's me running in the 2014 Carrabba's 1/2 marathon relay.  I recently did a practice "lecture" on running and its benefits.  I had to cut many parts of what I wanted to say, which had already been pared down considerably.  The presenter that followed me started talking about creative outlets, pointed right at me, and told me that I should start a running blog.  So.... here it is.  My first shot at a running blog.  I'm not 100% sure where I'll go with this just yet.  2016 has brought on a lot of changes.  One of the main ones is moving from San Antonio, Texas to San Angelo, Texas.  Sure it's only about 200 miles and the climate is very similar.  But it is a world apart in what I've found for running so far.  Granted, I have only been here for 3 weeks.  One ...