21 miles in the Sahara

Hi Everybody,

I've been away from the internet for the last 2 weeks, so I'm finally getting around to updating my little journal here.

As you may know, my job from time to time takes me to interesting corners of the world. Since I started at D&M, my main garden spot has been Algeria. Well for about 10 days, I had the treat of travelling to Hassi Massaoud, Algeria. While staying there I got to stay in the lovely resort of Base Irrara where I was treated to 3 meals a day of brown soup, bread, and "cooked meat"..... yummy, the perfect diet for a marathon runner in training!

Well, obviously while in training for the big 26.2, I couldn't lay off for the last two weeks. SO, yes, I did manage to get in about 21 miles total, including a 10 miler running in the Sahara desert. Well needless to say I didn't take off running up and down sand dunes. I had to stay inside the perimeter fence of the base. I had my trusty Garmin that informed me I could tour a 2 mile circuit around the base, so my 10 miler made for a 5 lap travel around Base Irrara.

Here's the satelite view:

Yes, that's the Hassi Massaoud Airport.

Well, things are progressing very well. I'm going to do a 16 mile training run this weekend. I'm feeling healthy, no nagging injury problems so far! And I also have been wearing my heart rate monitor, and I'm running farther and faster at a lower heart rate, so proof my fitness is coming back to me slowly. We'll be setting no personal records in April, but thats not my goal. I want to thank everybody who's contributed to my fund raising campaign. So far I'm in 5th place in the MGH marathon team.... I'd like to get a little better.

Ok. Take care everybody.

Mike

A sincere thank you for your support

Dear Friends, Family, and Colleagues,

I thought I'd keep an online journal of over the next few months chronicling my fund raising effort, marathon training progress, and anything else of interest. I hope that you find interest in it. Check back frequently to get an update of my progress, more about the cause and Bryce, and other musings I find interesting.

I want to thank everybody for your ongoing support. I'm just into my second day of fund raising, and its off to a great start with already over $1300 of donations. As you know, the fight against children's cancer is a very near and dear subject to Kelly and my heart. The finish line of a marathon or any distance race has always been a real emotional moment for me, but I can't imagine the uphill race many of the kids being treated go through. I hope this small effort can help some of them get to the finish line healthy in their fight of their disease.

I haven't run a marathon in 3 years, and I haven't really been very good about keeping in my running shape of old. So this year won't be about setting a personal best or "making someone pay", as my old running buddy Rob used to say (referring to the pain inflicted upon another runner that's trying to stay up with your late race pace). I will now be running with a bit more a bigger sense of purpose.

My training has gone well so far. I ran 13.2 miles on Sunday, that's just over half way in the marathon distance. I always tell people that haven't run a marathon, that getting to the finish line isn't the hard part, it's getting to the start that's the real challenge. Preparing for the 26.2 mile run requires that distance many times over in training week in and week out. Staying focused is tough. But with a new kind of goal in mind and all your support, it seems a bit easier to stay motivated and get those miles in.

Training along the way will mainly take place along the Mississippi River, where we live, but will also take me to some trails in East Memphis, the roads of Addison, Texas when I'm on business in Dallas, and even the sands of the Sahara Desert when I'm working in Algeria.

Anyway, I thought I'd post a little video of the last time I ran in the Boston Marathon in 2006. This is a short clip from the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Comedienne Niecy Nash covered the race for the show. You may recognize me taking a little non-conventional hydration stop. Hope you enjoy!



Thanks again...

Mike