I think I'll train for this one...

After running Bayshore on essentially no training and a long run of six miles, it's time to gear up for Chicago and Indy this fall. I'm going to get back on a training plan this weekend. My summer vacation officially begins on Saturday so I thought that would be a good time to start following a schedule. I'm using the Matt Manning "Run More" plan with striders thrown in 2-3 times a week to try to improve my overall speed and leg turnover.

I'm not going to throw any goals out there just yet other than to try to hit a new weekly high in mileage and see where the training takes me this summer. I am almost relieved to be getting back on a plan and adding another element of discipline to my life.

The "Matt Manning" Plan is there a book on it yet?

Look forward to seeing where more miles takes you. Discipline seems to work well in my life as well. "Thank you sir may I have another".

I don't know who's trying to be cooler in that photo, Greg or Bobby.

Remember Tom, the beer always tastes better after a long run.

what game were you guys watching, football? I mean the real one.

The "Run a Marathon with Little or No Training" plan? I know that one! I've used it myself, although without success.

Dave-O wrote:I don't know who's trying to be cooler in that photo, Greg or Bobby.

Dave, that's sort of like "tallest midget" contest, isn't it?

Dave-O wrote:Remember Tom, the beer always tastes better after a long run.

Good point, but I need to just leave the beer alone this summer.

Jerry wrote:what game were you guys watching, football? I mean the real one.

It was Greg and Bobby's first experience with Major League Baseball as we were at the Cell watching the White Sox win. They don't get much chance to see professional baseball on the north side of Chicago.

tom wrote:

Jerry wrote:what game were you guys watching, football? I mean the real one.

It was Greg and Bobby's first experience with Major League Baseball as we were at the Cell watching the White Sox win. They don't get much chance to see professional baseball on the north side of Chicago.

What wasn't shown in this picture is that immediately after taking this photo, someone mugged tom and stole his camera. Times are tough on the south side of Chicago.

GregC wrote:

tom wrote:

Jerry wrote:what game were you guys watching, football? I mean the real one.

It was Greg and Bobby's first experience with Major League Baseball as we were at the Cell watching the White Sox win. They don't get much chance to see professional baseball on the north side of Chicago.

What wasn't shown in this picture is that immediately after taking this photo, someone mugged tom and stole his camera. Times are tough on the south side of Chicago.

So Bobby and you ran away?

Jerry wrote:

GregC wrote:

tom wrote:

Jerry wrote:what game were you guys watching, football? I mean the real one.

It was Greg and Bobby's first experience with Major League Baseball as we were at the Cell watching the White Sox win. They don't get much chance to see professional baseball on the north side of Chicago.

What wasn't shown in this picture is that immediately after taking this photo, someone mugged tom and stole his camera. Times are tough on the south side of Chicago.

So Bobby and you ran away?

Jerry, look at us. Would you mess with us?

We sat there and enjoyed the only action we saw that day.

Bob wrote:We sat there and enjoyed the only action we saw that day.

Other than Buehrle making the play of the year and the Sox winning 6-0? In typical Cub fan fashion, you two probably missed the action because you were either on your cell phones ar talking to the other fans around you instead of watching the game.

tom wrote:

Bob wrote:We sat there and enjoyed the only action we saw that day.

Other than Buehrle making the play of the year and the Sox winning 6-0? In typical Cub fan fashion, you two probably missed the action because you were either on your cell phones ar talking to the other fans around you instead of watching the game.

So it seems they two set up the mug, the only reason they were there.

Good luck with your training this summer. I hope your training plan nets a satisfying result this fall.

Tom, first off, I LOVE your avatar! You have a beautiful wife and you two look so happy and nice together

Second, I like your blog title, as I could easily have used it, but you beat me to it! Haha! I think it's great that you're not throwing any goals out there and just concentrating on running and hitting a new weekly mileage. It takes the pressure off and you'll find training to be a lot easier...at least that's what I think. Before you know it, you'll be killing your weekly mileage and you'll become even more wicked fast than you already are!

Tell Alison we say, "hi"!

GregC wrote:

tom wrote:

Jerry wrote:what game were you guys watching, football? I mean the real one.

It was Greg and Bobby's first experience with Major League Baseball as we were at the Cell watching the White Sox win. They don't get much chance to see professional baseball on the north side of Chicago.

What wasn't shown in this picture is that immediately after taking this photo, someone mugged tom and stole his camera. Times are tough on the south side of Chicago.

Well Greg the brothers are hurting on the south side not making much money from banging on the buckets of late outside the park. You sure you want to mess with us South Siders?

As for training and running Tom I hope that "Run More" plan works out for you! Man I can't believe that the last time we saw you and Alison was the night the picture was taken for your avatar! Hope to see you soon

Paging Mr. Slacker.

tom wrote:

Jerry wrote:what game were you guys watching, football? I mean the real one.

It was Greg and Bobby's first experience with Major League Baseball as we were at the Cell watching the White Sox win. They don't get much chance to see professional baseball on the north side of Chicago.

That's very true. Is it sad that the draft was less than a month ago and the Northsiders are already focusing on their top 10 pick in 2012?

Dave-O wrote:Paging Mr. Slacker.

C'mon, Tom... are you running MORE? 98 days to Chicago!

Ground control to major Tom

Ground control to major Tom

Take your protein pills and put your helmet on

(Ten) Ground control (Nine) to major Tom (Eight)

(Seven, six) Commencing countdown (Five), engines on (Four)

(Three, two) Check ignition (One) and may gods (Blastoff) love be with you


This is ground control to major Tom, you've really made the grade

And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear

Now it's time to leave the capsule if you dare


This is major Tom to ground control, I'm stepping through the door

And I'm floating in a most peculiar way

And the stars look very different today

Here am I floatin' 'round my tin can far above the world

Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do


Though I'm past one hundred thousand miles, I'm feeling very still

And I think my spaceship knows which way to go

Tell my wife I love her very much, she knows

Ground control to major Tom, your circuits dead, there's something wrong

Can you hear me, major Tom?

Can you hear me, major Tom?

Can you hear me, major Tom?

Can you...

Here am I sitting in my tin can far above the Moon

Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do

Running, yes. Blogging, no. Will try to change that in the coming weeks.



Spent last week laying on the beach in North Carolina and running back and forth across this monster:







It's about 3/4 mile long and a giant hill as compared to what I'm used to running on, so while my quads and hamstrings weren't too thrilled about it, it was very good for me.