Run. Hike. Poop.

Running a 5K as a barefoot Christmas Tree

December 8, 2012By y2kemo

There aren’t many runs I look forward to more than the Reindeer Romp 5K in Jamestown, NC. Not just because it’s close to home, but because I get to run it in a homemade holiday-themed running costume.

The first year I ran as a gift. Last year I went as the Grinch pushing my son in a sleigh. This year I went as a tree.

The tree idea came to me as I nearly suffocated in my Grinch mask last year. I didn’t just want a tree. I wanted one with lights, garland, ornaments, and a real moving-around-the-tree train.

Over the next 51 weeks I planned my costume in my head. And like a kid who’s had all year to put together his science project I finally made it to Hobby Lobby to get materials for my tree the Monday before the race.

Charlotte’s Thunder Road Marathon: My first barefoot 26.2

November 19, 2012By y2kemo

Two runners post marathon — *My sister and I post marathon*

If you’re bored with life, if you don’t get up every morning with a burning desire to do things, you don’t have enough goals.
Lou Holtz

At the beginning of the year I set a handful of running goals: run a 5K a month; set a new marathon PR; and run a barefoot half and full marathon. Up until this past weekend I’ve knocked out 10 of 12 5Ks via Anywhere5K, set a marathon PR in Chicago (3:31:25), and ran a barefoot half in Indianapolis.

Since the NYC Marathon fell through, I decided to make Charlotte’s Thunder Road Marathon my first barefoot marathon. As an added bonus, my sister was going to run with me, and I was going to help pace her to a new PR.

Army Ten-Miler: A barefoot warmup for the NYC Marathon

October 24, 2012By y2kemo

The Army Ten-Miler (ATM) is one of my favorite races to run. But don’t take my word for it. Registration for the ATM opened to the public on May 15 at midnight. Within 9 hours all 30,000 spots were filled.

Put on by the U.S. Army Military District of Washington, the race starts and finishes at the Pentagon, passing by DC landmarks including the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, and the Capitol Building.

I ran the race in 2006 (1:13:05) and again in 2011 (1:17:29). This year, because the NYC marathon is just 2 weeks after the ATM, I decided to hold back a little and use the race as a barefoot warmup.

Race Report: The 2012 Chicago Marathon

October 10, 2012By y2kemo

I’ve lived in a handful of places. Not quite as many places as I have been, man, but enough to provide a goal of running a marathon in each location. My first knocked out Kansas City, MO. Second put a check next to High Point, NC. And this past Sunday I drew the line through Chicago after finishing the 35th Bank of America Chicago Marathon.

The road to the finish line started off rocky after a bit of miscalculation. For whatever reason I had it in my head that my 20-week training schedule started in July. In late June I got to thinking about the marathon, backed up 20 weeks, and realized I was off by about 6 weeks.

Sure, I was logging about 20-25 miles a week, but I needed to be running 35-40 miles a week. So, I created a new training plan that spanned 92 days and 471 miles, and started July 7.

Blue Ridge Relay 2012: Break out your best poop jokes

September 11, 2012By y2kemo

team of runners at the finish line — BRR2012 Team GO FAR

Last year I joined Team Lost Soles to run the 2011 Blue Ridge Relay; a 208-mile race that starts in Grayson Highlands State Park in Virginia and ends in downtown Asheville, North Carolina.

In the course of a year we lost six “soles” from the 2011 team (RIP), but we gained 6 new ones for the 2012 GOFAR team (RIP soon). If you subtract 6 from 12 you’ll see that half the team was willing to give the BRR the benefit of the doubt.

BRR 2012 Team GOFAR consisted of runners ranging in age (36 to more than 36) and experiences (marathon to triathalon to ultramarathon). We pushed through the heat, humidity, and occasional downpours. We braved each others’ body odor and never-ending supply of poop jokes.

We did it all in a mere 31 hours 32 minutes and 32 seconds.

Spinach Manicotti Recipe

July 24, 2012By y2kemo

I went to a predominantly Italian high school. Well, there were a lot of Italians anyway. Each year we had a huge feast raffle dinner deal where hairy-lipped women from the old country would come to the school to create the best Italian food you could ever eat.

When they talked, all I could hear was “spaGHETti” “meataballa” and of course “ManiCOTti.”

Point is, I like eating Italian food. I like making it even though it’s all basically pasta, sauce, and cheese with a handful of whatever else is in the crisper and/or meat drawer.

Today, I’m raiding the crisper to make spinach manicotti.

How-To: Make the Perfect Greeting Card

July 20, 2012By y2kemo

Trying to find the perfect greeting card is a pain in the dark side of your moon. You’ve got to stand in the greeting card aisle looking at card after card with all the other losers trying to get your names in the relationship history books.

Look moron, it ain’t gonna happen. Not that way. If you want the perfect greeting card, one that will blow the mind of the one you love, hate, is sick, or who did something nice for you, then keep reading.

When you’re done you will share this post. Why? Because this post will make you look like a genius.

Backpacking Fontana Lake

July 6, 2012By y2kemo

shuckstack-map — Shuckstack Tower Trail
*Click to enlarge*

I love a good hike. I love the peacefulness it brings. The camaraderie it provides when traveling with friends. And, I enjoy a good challenge. This past weekend I got my wish.

Three buddies and I hiked the Great Smoky Mountains via Fontana Dam. As an added bonus the lot of us hit up Tsali Campground for a couple nights where we swam a bit, fished, got poured on, and hit up the Nantahala River for a ride.

We arrived at Fontana Dam on Saturday around noon, grabbed a permit from the dam welcome center, and began unloading our packs from the car. Within minutes it was evident that the 100° F (37.7° C) temperatures were going to be a factor in our planned 12-mile hike. Every one of us were sweating buckets. Thank God for water bladders and bottles.

Who Wants S’mores?

June 24, 2012By y2kemo

So I went camping with my sister and family over the weekend. As usual, we gobbled up the s’mores by the campfire prior to winding down.

In the morning, as my brother-in-law prepared breakfast, he removed the box of graham crackers from the food bag. When he did he found a little ole spider hanging out in the corner.

Naturally, we removed the spider from its new-found home, placed it in my niece’s butterfly container, and took a bunch of photos.

Bluegrass Camping at Hagan Stone Park

June 6, 2012By y2kemo

I enjoy camping in “the nature.” Pitch a tent, start a fire, and wait for darkness (and s’mores). On a recent trip to Hagan Stone Park in Pleasant Garden, NC something interesting accompanied the sound of owls hooting and crackling wood—music.

Off in the distance we could hear the makings of a bluegrass band: a mandolin, banjo, 2 acoustics, Dobro, and a
bass fiddle.

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