A spring renewal took place this month and I'm not referring to the annual exit of winter. On April Fools' weekend (March 31st officially) L and I completed the move from Marion to Delaware, Ohio. Delaware is just 20 miles to the south, but for all intents and purposes - it might as well be a world away.

A new house, new town, new neighbors, new surroundings and putting to rest my nearly seven years in Marion. I still work there, but having a significant commute to decompress everyday has advantages. Like, for example, rediscovering NPR. I used to work in public radio and was an avid listener forever, but then a 5 minute drive to work put a halt to listening significantly each day. The first drive to work on April 2nd was very satisfying, getting to listen to Morning Edition again. The drive for L didn't go as well, she was stopped for a ticky-tack traffic violation by a state patrolman (I, too, was stopped for the same violation a few weeks before).

Also this week, on April 3rd, I marked my five year work anniversary. The folks at Marion Public Library are still trying to recover from my being there - I'm like the plague. Oh and to add to the fun renewal, the first full day of being a Delaware resident was on April Fools' Day, that night and through early Monday morning we received three inches of snow. On that Tuesday we had tornado warnings and enough rain to issue flood warnings and road closures. Apparently spring moved in, but winter has been well versed on squatter's rights and has taken every legal step in it's power to hang around for as long as it can.

The last couple of days in Marion (while packing for the move) were infiltrated by the echo of Bob & Whack Job next door complaining about my picking up the random trash in our community parking lot and along the sidewalk. This was something I did on my cool down after training runs everyday. "Who does he think he is?! Who does he think he's trying to impress?! That b*tch? Let me tell you, she doesn't care. It isn't even our trash!", were the variety of phrases whack job would spout with her sidekick Bob agreeing - adding fuel to the deranged tire fire taking place in her mind. I was able to determine later that the "b*tch" reference was referring to Alyssa, our landlord - who is actually quite pleasant.

The last complaint I remember hearing from those two was how I was drying clothes without the use of a dryer (amazing!). Our building's dryer had been on the fritz, but the apartments are heated by radiators we don't control, so they stay pretty warm & constant. This allows one to lay or hang wet clothes around and let them - get this - AIR DRY....BOOM! Holy cow, I don't know how folks were ever able to do laundry before the invention of machines or electricity.

"I've seen him do laundry down there, but how he's using the dryer - I don't know. Something is going on or he's doing something to it, but he's screwing everyone else!", whack job spouted while, I imagine, sitting in her recliner with a Mountain Dew in hand and chronicling my daily life in her Manson-like manifesto written on the backs of receipts garnered from their many grocery shopping trips to "The" Rite Aid at the corner of Delaware Avenue and East Columbia.

Alas, they are still there, I have gone and all is right with the sane world again. As I breathe a sigh of relief, along comes the second installment of The Buck Fifty - the 150 mile, 24 hour, 10 person team relay race running through 4 state parks, a variety of back country roads, along the remnants of the Ohio & Erie Canal and through my historic hometown of Chillicothe, Ohio - Ohio's First Capital - involving 74 teams (there were 38 in 2017) from 21 states on Friday the 13th.

Team Traffic Panthers (many of our members either work with the Ohio Department of Transportation ODOT - Traffic - or we went to the same high school: Chillicothe Southeastern - the Panthers) was essentially the same team from the year with only a few changes tweaks & changes and we were hoping our experience and knowledge of the area could improve upon our 18th place finish in 2017. There was a discussion as to what relay placement (1 thru 10) each of us would take (with each placement running three separate routes), but to avoid making waves I decided to stay with the same placement as last year, number six - the first runner for van #2.

The week before, those of us in van #2 (Mike, Mark, Dave, Tom, Eric and I) discussed needs & details for Friday and Saturday via Facebook Messenger. Those discussions weren't always serious (names have been removed to protect the innocent)

*Maybe we should just run with a beer bottle in our hand like a baton.
*No...we need the beer holder hats with straws.
*Do they make a beer hat that holds a forty on both sides?
*Might as well. We can just mount the headlamp to that.
*Hence..."Light" Beer
*Think they have a store that would overnight us five of them
*Bolt's on Watson Run maybe? 😉
*Or we could get camels backs and fill them up, would be easier to run with
*King Cobra Camel backs!
*Now we are talking
*So I'm in front of my classroom and my Apple Watch keeps dinging....I was thinking there must be a problem....I get back to all of you heathens.....there will be beer in the fridge in the basement....would suggest no more than one in between legs....good protein and carbs....although some of you probably have a tolerance that a sailor would be proud of. I will have bagels, Gatorade (or other electrolyte drinks), water, eggs, sausage, cookies, etc. available at the house. I will have water and electrolyte drinks in the vehicle.....along with some sort of bars (that would be protein bars.....not the type that some were referring to).
*Thanks Dad! 😉
*Don't make me stop this car........
*Geez, dad is such a pain in the ass sometimes.
*He never lets us have any fun
*Just know that disciplining you would hurt you more than it would me.....I think that is how it goes.
*What.....a.....crock....
*So what’s does everyone want? (a picture of a store beer cooler is attached)
*A suicide of the Bud Light Clamato and Colt 45, Billy Dee Williams would approve.
*That sounds like a freaking nasty drink
*Rawr..!! 😉 Yeah it is!

...we discussed plenty of more serious things, but this is how our interactions took place.

Race week began with snow (AGAIN!) on Monday with the forecast having temperatures rise each day to the weekend. With Friday reaching 75 degrees, our Van #2 start at 11:15pm at Frankfort Adena High School would have acceptable conditions to work with. Van #1 (Dan, Gary, Sarah, Patricia, Chris and Josh) had the pleasure of starting us off at around 6:30pm.

Being 30 to 40 degrees warmer on our first leg when compared with last year, it was comforting not having to run with gloves, hats, thermals and what not. Getting the baton from teammate Patricia and breaking the seal for van #2 was exciting. The four mile route on country roads in the dead of night was all the more enjoyable with a clear sky and thousands of stars occupying the horizon. This kept your mind at an even keel as you casually searched in the dark distance for the faint blinking red taillights of competitors.

I did pass a fellow runner, ironically, at nearly the exact point of this same route as last year. I could see yet another, but they were too far in front to reach him or her before our first baton exchange. At the four mile mark I am at the chute, offer teammate Eric the baton and he's off at 11:48pm. I complete the 4.1 mile route in 26:46. It is now a van ride for the next couple of hours to finish our four other legs. Each baton exchange is it's own party. Music is playing, volunteers and competitors are cheering, a fire is going for additional warmth and refreshments are available as a variety of team vans arrive, congregate and leave as their runners come & go.

As Traffic Panthers van #2 awaits the arrival of teammate Tom at our first route's last leg, we mill about with hundreds of others as this is a van transition point for every team. Its around 3am and our van #1 arrives, half asleep and zombie like from the short nap they were able to take in. While hanging out, I run into Greg - a 2017 Traffic Panther who joined his sister's team this year - we wish each other good luck and go our separate ways.

I smell a grill going, volunteers are cooking burgers and dogs. This would make up for the fact they have run out of coffee. I stand as close as I can to make sure I grab a burger, I'm starving and want something other than a Cliff Bar, banana or granola. I should have paid more attention as the grill master is cooking by the light of the headlamp in the dark - he, too, can only see so much. It tasted so good, but by the third bite it was noticeably more rare than I would have liked it to have been. Nevertheless, I scarfed it down - but did notice teammate Dave toss the bulk of his in the trash. Tom arrives, hands off to Sarah from van #1, we pile into van #2 and drive the 30 minutes to our home base (van driver Mike's house - he's known to us as "coach" for having been our high school track coach years ago and continues in that capacity today) for a short nap & food.

We have some real food provide by Mike's wife Amy and I down my traditional beer, then it is off to get some rest. Some slept - I just closed my eyes and relaxed. Then, 45 minutes later, the lights come on and everyone in their groggy state gathers their things and piles back into our van to head out to van exchange number two at Walnut Creek Campground. Once there, I climb out and begin loosening up for my second venture. The others try to continue napping.

It is still dark, but it is just light enough to know the sun will be popping out soon. I had to stand next to the fire here last year to ward off the chill, this year I'm minding my own business and visiting the port-a-john every five minutes due to the amount liquids I've consumed. I find that I'm a bit queasy, but figured it was just some nerves. Then I can feel my body wanting to rid itself of something, so I wander over to the opposite side of the nearby dumpster (away from everyone) and in the dark I upchuck some things - not much, but enough to notice (even in the dark) it is portions of a less than cooked hamburger. Dave had the right idea, I thought, a few hours ago. I grab some water and clear the taste out of my mouth and hear "Team 41!", bellowed by a race checkpoint volunteer. This is my cue indicating van #1 teammate Patricia is on the horizon. I steady myself and feel much better than I was just five minutes before, then she arrives, I retrieve the baton and I'm off for a second time. It is now around 6:20am.

Again, to keep my mind off running I take in the excellent view of the sun rising above the hills on the outskirts of Tar Hollow State Park as I navigate the six miles of small rolling hills along the hidden country roads. I can see competitors in the distance, their red taillights are faint as it is almost daylight. It is getting warmer and as I pass some runners, I simply stick out my hand and we high-five - we all need a little encouragement. The last quarter mile of the route is downhill in full sun and I've passed five competitors. I reach the checkpoint and pass the baton to Eric for a second time. I have covered the 6.01 miles in 41:08. I now get to ride through the dirt roads and hills of Tar Hollow for the next few hours.

What made it worthwhile was the next stop, Eric's finishing point and Mark's start. The shelter house checkpoint has a live Christian bluegrass band playing and they are fixing breakfast sandwiches on a griddle. I munch on a sausage, egg and cheese sandwich - but I am again annoyed that they have run out of coffee. The ongoing fire gave you the feeling of a late fall camping trip, minus the hundreds of runners and their transport vehicles.

At Southeastern High School (my alma mater) we await the arrival of Tom with the folks from Traffic Panthers Van #1. While here many of us are chatting with a number of familiar faces and finally somebody has coffee still lingering around. I say "hi" to Mike & Marie, friends who have volunteered at this checkpoint. I alert them to the fact that my last leg would bypass their driveway and to be on the lookout for me. Tom arrives and exchanges the baton with Sarah. As van #1 leaves on their final journey through Scioto Trails State Park, we in van #2 get about 2 1/2 hours to chill out. It helped here to have Mike's house about fifteen minutes away from the high school as well as our next starting point. The time is around 10:30am and our projections indicate we are way ahead of our time from the year before.

At coach's house we eat some, I down my between races beer and some us shower. Following a teammate, I take a welcomed shower as well. Though, somehow, I as I get out there seems to be an inordinate amount of water on the floor. Trying to figure out where it came from, I noticed the toilet has overflowed and continues to slowly do so. Now this didn't turn out to be a huge deal and I did get ridiculed for this taking place, but with the amount of water that was spewed it had to have started prior to my occupation of the restroom. That's neither here, nor there...but I'm just stating a fact, sorry Mike and Amy. After this fiasco, I did get to rest and close my eyes for about 90 minutes before my inner alarm clock kicked in. My teammate gathered and we, again, pile into the van and head out to van transition number three, Open Door Church.

It is spitting rain and the radar indicates an oncoming downpour, though it would never arrive. Once there, I again get out to loosen up and visit my port-a-john friend in the intermittent sprinkles. Shortly thereafter, van #1 rolls in and like clockwork - about 20 minutes later Patricia make her way in and hands off to me and the final stretch begins at around 3:15pm. This leg is a gauntlet of continuous climbing and plateauing for about six miles before a mile of relief at the end of Patton Hill. The key is to keep your head down and keep moving until the last mile, then you can let it all hangout.

And it was just like I remembered from the year before, keeping my general pace I start passing competitors, overtaking seven total along the way. One girl I pass says to me, after we high-five, "I think this is the second time you've passed me today!" This is just one of the many quirks you will find with this race, the farther along you go - the closer together you become.

At the summit, I see some folks hanging out at the end of their driveway, it is Mike & Marie and their family. I gather enough breath to yell their last name to signify my arrival. They jump into action and offer some encouragement (they just missed my passing this location the year before) and paving the way for the start of the downhill. On the descent, my shoe becomes untied but I'm in such relief of having completed the uphill portion I ignore it. A mile later, I see checkpoint 27 and Eric patiently waiting. My appearance officially represents our team's return to Chillicothe proper. Sweating profusely in the warm & humid atmosphere,I pass the baton and slow to a walk, relieved my 17 miles are finished. I have covered the 6.61 miles and 784 feet of elevation in 48:45.

Our van finishes by navigating the streets of Chillicothe, around the Adena Mansion (the historic home of the Father of Ohio, Thomas Worthington) and to the finish line at Ohio University-Chillicothe where we meet up with van #1 and cross the same line - as a team - where we began less than 24 hours and 150 miles ago. Our goal was not only to finish, but to beat our time from last year. And arriving at about 6:20pm on Saturday officially completed both of those tasks. We receive our finisher's medals and box of Crispie Creme finisher's donuts.

I drive home in an exhausted trance, but was welcome by L and a spread of a homemade dinner of proteins galore - FULLY COOKED proteins to be exact. Ten hours later, I wake up on Sunday morning with every muscle from my neck to my feet tender and sore. Breakfast was another around of carbs and proteins provided by L. Sunday is when the rains finally came, it either poured or drizzled all day long. Thankfully, it delayed it's arrival on Friday and Saturday. We, of course, have begun discussing next year's event. If you thought year two was eventful, I can only imagine what year three of The Buck Fifty would bring. We had 38 teams in 2017, then 73 in 2018...we could see well over triple digits in 2019, but we have time to relax before that takes place on April 12th & 13th next year.

Teammate Gary has already put the rest of us to shame. Just like last year, the Sunday after The Buck Fifty, he again ran the Athens Half Marathon and did it in 1:31:00, finishing 19th - there is a reason nobody likes this guy. Oh, and - just like last year - says he would not do again...we know he is a liar.

Our captain, Mark (the dude who skipped out last year for the cruise), sent all of us this message on Tuesday morning (3 days later) after we discussed possible changes for 2019: "Woke up 1:30 in the morning eyes wide awake. Why did I arise from my slumber? Was I stressed about work? Do I have things that need done with the family? No, not awake because of that. Awake because I am thinking about the logistics of if we switch Vans, where do we sleep? What time will I start and end? Etc. Holy! Still have a freaking year. What did you all talk me into?"

I believe it was the poet Walt Whitman who wrote, "O Captain! my Captain! our fearful trip is done, The ship has weather’d every rack, the prize we sought is won...", and welcome to the pain the rest of us have experienced for the past year, Captain Mark!

When all was said and done, the Traffic Panthers finished 19th out of the 73 teams who took part (69 of those teams were able to finish). We were 45 minutes faster than in 2017 and were under the 24 hour designation by nearly 9 minutes. One heck of an improvement and an even better experience, if I don't say so myself.

So, The Buck Fifty Year #2 is complete and we can only expect an even bigger event next year. And to tell you a bit of a secret, keep an eye for an article in Runner's World in the very near future - BUT YOU DID NOT HEAR THAT FROM ME ;) With that said, I will be continuing last summer's effort to break the half marathon seal (which was successfully accomplished), I hope to include a few more those 13.1 milers in this summer's 40 & Running tour. The first one takes place in two weeks at the 15th installment of the OhioHealth Capital City Half Marathon in Columbus, Ohio with Gary and few others. Number two will more than likely be in my new city of residence (Delaware, Ohio) at the New Moon Half Marathon with a few Traffic Panthers. I get to cheat a little here as I get to practice on the race route daily (it actually circles the block I live on now).

My first three attempts at the half (with a goal of 1:30:00) didn't go exactly as planned. My initial half marathon event last September was cancelled two days before and I had to scramble to find one at the last second ON THAT DAY - and melted in the sweltering sun and heat in Celina, Ohio: 1:39:40 (Grand Lake Half). Attempt number two was three weeks later and recovering from a calf strain, only to have it re-ignite at mile ten in Columbus: 1:37:06 (Nationwide Children's Columbus Half).

Then this past January, number three had us navigate a poorly marked biking/hiking trail in the snow, ice and negative degree temperatures in southwest Columbus which saw myself and others take a wrong turn and run 13.94 miles instead: 1:36:31 (Brokeman's Running Winter Warm Up). If you subtract the addition mile there, my 13.1 finish was 1:30:28. So if you follow the progression, and barring additional weirdness, I am on the cusp of reaching the 90 minute half marathon goal - but don't hold your breathe.

As you can see, it has been a roller coaster...but everyone loves an aggressive thrill ride...and it is getting weirder everyday.... and I think the rest of Team Traffic Panthers - Mike, Dan, Sarah, Patricia, Gary, Tom, Dave, Chris, Josh, Eric and Mark - would agree...

Bleachers – Rollercoaster

It was summer when I saw your face
But like a teenage runaway
Oh god I never thought we'd take it that far
Some killer queen you are

Now I'm running and I can't stop anywhere I go
I think about it everyday and night I can't let go
Man, I'm never the same
We were shot gun lovers I was shot gun running away

So come a little closer
There was something I could tell ya
You were such a rollercoaster
And a killer queen you are

Rollercoaster, I don't say no
Rollercoaster, when you don't say no
And it's such a rollercoaster
Some killer queen you are

We took the bones out from the road
Those endless nights that we traveled we stole
You let your clothes fall to the floor
And lit a fire while I waited for more

Now I'm running and I won't stop I don't wanna go
I think…

March brings change: winter changes to spring, clocks change by adding an hour, college hoops and it's yearly swan song of madness engulfs the nation as we change national champions, for a least one day everyone suddenly becomes Irish and this year, for me, it also will include a change of address.

For the last six years (five in my current apartment), I have been a resident of Marion, Ohio. At the end of the month, L and I will be moving about 20 miles south to Delaware. Ultimately, we wanted to move in together but Marion didn't seem to have dwellings which fit what we wanted (and needed) and we found such a place in Delaware. Back in my radio broadcasting days, I think I moved about 15 times in a ten year period throughout four different states. My joke to others who were moving around that time was if you contacted U-Haul, just float my name and you could get a discount - they knew me well. Luckily, that time of my life has since wandered off.

So some things will be a bit different, not to mention hectic, here soon. To ease this transition, I threw in some running familiarity between now and "the move". For the second consecutive year, I signed up for the St. Patrick's Day 4 Miler At Kinsale in Powell. Last year I took fifth at this event and, funny as it may be, was also a time where I was transitioning - just in a different manner. Its weird how a year can change things

The move takes place a little while after the race, but for frame of reference, Delaware is closer to the majority of the races I've been involved with in the last year. So less driving will be cool. For example, Marion to Kinsale - 42 minutes, or 33.2 miles (according to MapQuest) and Delaware to Kinsale - 19 minutes, or 11.8 miles...I'm cool with that. And most of my recent races have been in the Columbus area, so the difference between Marion and Delaware to - let's say - downtown Columbus is about 20 miles & 20 minutes. Now this isn't all about distances to and from races, obviously, but it would be a welcome change to what we have become accustomed to - see, there's that word again: change.

As our heads spin attempting to maintain a daily regime while juggling the details of moving and cohabitating, we can only take deep breath and let it all play out. Easier said than done at times, but it is just as exciting as it is nerve racking. New place, new town, new situation but running is still my vice to keep my head on straight. This is where the St. Patrick's Day weekend race comes in - I will be running (getting my first beer free, BOOM!) and keeping my mind occupied with something other than moving.

This, though, isn't what I had in mind. On Monday of this past week, I was replacing the waste toner cartridge in our copier at work, I knocked the removed cartridge to the floor and scattering an ominous cloud of black, blue, red & purple dry ink throughout our workroom. I spent about an hour vacuuming up what looked to be Picasso's lost work, Pummeled Pugilist Face, off of the floor.

The first cleaning device I used was one of those Shark DuoClean Slim lightweight vacuums and I was happy to see it remove the rainbow of fruit flavors from the carpet, but then it began blowing the fun cloud of colorful dust out the exhaust on the backside - and into my face - adding to my misery. Option number two, an actual vacuum used by real people who make real messes because we live in reality (found in our maintenance closet), did the job. There are some remnants which could be mistaken for a hastily covered up crime scene, but I admitted to being at fault - so being annoyed by my clumsiness has been the only repercussion.

With consecutive days of chilly weather, but tons of sun I was kind of expecting the Kinsale 4 Miler to be relatively the same - not on this St. Paddy's Day it wasn't. The temperature dropped even further followed by early morning flurries, then sleet and drizzle. I guess having weather similar to that of the Irish homeland was only fitting as the sky resembled the contents of the scattered waste toner cartridge from earlier in the week. It was a late afternoon race, so it was comforting to experience a slight warm up and everything drying out before we started, leaving us with a decent wind and overcast sky.

There were plenty of folks decked out in the holiday green, most dressed to simply have fun - focusing more on the atmosphere than the race. Last year at this time there were a handful of folks prepared to compete and this year looked to have fewer of those individuals. Maybe its because I'm at the top of my game now, I was still working my way up a year ago.

At the gun I stretch out my legs to get a good rhythm and along side of me is a dude in fluorescent green. At least I would be able to see him if he takes off and I'm trailing in a few minutes, I thought. I could hear a few others behind me, but that didn't last long. A little over a mile along the winding residential roads of the upscale neighborhood wrapped around a country club and the dude in the obnoxious green tails off. Within seconds, I don't even hear him (or anyone else) behind me. I pass L for the second time and hers is the only voice cutting through the chilly late winter breeze.

The course drifts off the road and onto the country club cart path. Now, in my mind, this is what Ireland would look and feel like: under a blanket of clouds with a good stiff, chilly breeze gliding along the undulating terrain of a lush green golf course still damp from early morning precipitation. Just me and the dude on the bike about 100 meters ahead of me acting as the lead pack indicator along the snake-like trail (I know, there aren't any snakes in Ireland - bear with me damn it!).

The golf course rests beyond the backyards of the cookie cutter country club homes and every few minutes a few of those residents, who decided to bite the bullet and venture out into the less-than-hospitable air, would offer some encouragement. This was also a sign to me that I wasn't going to be challenged. As those words of encouragement were bellowed to me, I listened for them to echo the same sentiments to others. Those sentiments never came, or rather they were out of earshot and quite a distance behind me.

I was going at pretty good clip, I thought, so my focus was to maintain form and a decent pace. The pace bike just ahead acted as my rabbit. I wasn't going to catch up him, but did work on maybe decreasing his lead. This is something I have been practicing in order to break that 1:30 half marathon barrier - the next attempt will be at the Capital City Half Marathon on April 28th. I was 28 seconds short on my last effort.

Recollecting to the same race path from 2017, I push a little more to finish the last half mile on a high note. Again, it is just me and the bike in front as we come off of the cart path and onto the main drag. Wrapping around the corner lined with orange cones to the finish I see L giving me a fist pump and the race emcee is roaming along the path barking pleasantries into a cordless microphone. Just as I pass, he nonchalantly sticks out his hand and without skipping a beat we high five. Seconds later I notice the clock while reaching to stop my watch and cross the finish, I'm under 24 minutes.

To be exact, I'm at 23:39 (according to my watch) or 23:40 (says the official timer). Still, though, I'm 1:12 faster than 2017 and without being pushed or challenged. I'm handed my finisher's medal, grab some water and a banana and the finish line volunteers are like statues. Everyone is dressed to ward off the chill, but they seem to be waiting. I look back toward the finish and realize second place is still out of eyesight. The volunteers aren't frozen in place, they are simply waiting for others. Second place made his way in moments later, but 41 seconds after me.

The flood of finishers eventually arrive and L finds me. We head into the heated tent where the after party is to take place (complete with a DJ and video projectors airing the NCAA Tournament Second Round games) to grab some food and my finisher's beer. The medal was pretty cool, complete with a beer opener on the back, though using it would have to wait since this day's beer was all draft.

We stay just long enough to get warm and hear a few tunes. Ohio State was about to play Gonzaga, but I didn't want to watch it for the simple fact I didn't think it was worth my time to be disappointed. And my thinking was correct, falling behind 15-nothing. They did put in a ton of effort to take the lead in the second half, but they ran out of gas. Which is what I expected, that had been their process for the last month of the regular season. Still, though, they were supposed to be a bottom feeder this year and nearly won the the Big Ten...hard to complain. Anyway, we made it home for some crock-pot corned beef and few more celebratory beers.

We move in two weeks, the winter is over, mileage ramps up and new running routes are to be made. Don't look now, but that's summer peaking over the horizon and a whole new ballgame has arrived.

So, what comes next? Well, the Traffic Panthers and I return to The Buck Fifty - Southern Ohio's 150 Mile, 24 Hour, 10 Person Team Relay in my hometown of Chillicothe, Ohio on April 13th & 14th. We finished 18th out of 38 teams in the inaugural race and year two will have 73 teams toeing the starting line. Here's how it is described: An overnight relay race that will take you over 150 scenic and rolling miles in Southern Ohio. You will travel through several communities, run trails in 4 amazing National and State Parks and across several school campuses.

If you aren't a fan of hills, you are screwed. If you want a challenge and have the wherewithal to set fire to your lungs, disintegrate those legs, live out of a van for 24 hours while taking part in three unique routes around Ross County, then by all means - join us in 2019. All you gotta do is dig down...

MUSE - Dig Down

When hope and love has been lost
And you fall to the ground
You must find a way
When the darkness descends
And you're told it's the end
You must find a way
When God decides to look the other way
And a clown takes the throne
We must find a way
Face the firing squad
Against all the odds
You will find a way

Dig down
Dig down
Dig down
And find faith
When you're close to the edge
With a gun to your head
You must find a way

When friends are thin on the ground
And they try to divide us
We must find a way
We have entered the fray
And we will not obey
We must find a way
Yeah

Dig down
Dig down
Dig down
And find faith
When they've left you for dead (dig down)
And you can only see red (dig down)
You must find a way

Dig down
Dig down
Dig down
Find faith
We won't let them divide (dig down)
We will never abide (dig down)
We will find a way

Dig down
Dig down
Dig down
Faith
Dig down
Dig down
Faith

Cold weather running doesn't bother me. I have the wherewithal, stamina and discipline to deal with what I have been given - though a little extra push helps at times. My issue with winter is the lack of daylight in order to do what I want to do.

I began a new position at my place of employment after the first of the year (awesome!) and with it comes a regular weekly day schedule: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. - no more split of three day shifts and two night shifts. So I get up in the dark, get to work in the sort of dark and go home in the waning moments of daylight. I prefer running after work, so I get home and fight the urge to relax, throw on some running gear, put together a pseudo running route (which is typically changed or updated mid-run depending on how I'm feeling) and head out the door.

I'm getting in miles, but not as many long(er) runs as I would like. As a result, I've been working more on speed and stride length on routes of three to six miles. Since I work every third weekend, I get the Friday before that weekend off and I was able to squeeze in a 10-miler about a week ago - but most of the time it is a short and relatively fast workout.

On the heels of last month's frigid 13.94 mile "half marathon", I thought it would be a welcome change to hit up a shorter race to test myself and make me feel better about struggling to get my standard 20 miles in each week. I came up with the Scioto Miles Warm Up Columbus Marathon, Half Marathon, 10K and 5K Marathon Relay and Half Marathon Relay on February 18th and selected the 10K portion.

What made this race interesting to me is the fact it is a road race run completely on a one mile loop. It made me laugh that the race website urged folks to have a personal spectating navigator to help keep track of your laps. Now this may not be necessary for the 5K & 10K crowd, but the half marathon and full marathon folks may need the additional support.

I was happy to not be forced back into the high school track practice mode of having to cover our distance crew duties all on the quarter-mile track - that, my friends, was the equivalent of a slow death: monotony abound.

A one mile loop, I thought, could help with estimating splits without passing the same scenery every 60 seconds. Also, having people watching and cheering you on would take your mind off of the fact you are simply running in circles and put a spring in your step.

Speaking of, I have always had springy ankles. Whether it be running, basketball, flag football or playing the baseball/softball outfield - I would roll an ankle, feel a sudden burst of pain, get that "oh crap!" thought, bounce back up and all would be fine. Some soreness and a little swelling would ensue, but otherwise I wouldn't be slowed down at all. This was especially true with running the mountain bike & hiking trails of Eastern Kentucky while at Morehead State. I would roll my ankle(s) on rocks, roots, branches, holes, the feet of teammates, woodland critters and lost term papers - but just kept moving. I've been lucky - unlike my brother (who was also a high school runner), who would roll an ankle, have it swell up like a balloon and have to sit and wait it out. Sorry Chad....I bypassed this gene.

I did the very same thing on Tuesday, February 6th. Just as I started an after work jaunt, I slid on some ice and suddenly felt the pavement up past the ball of my right ankle. Unnerved by the sudden jolt, I continue running - but with a bit of hitch. A few steps later, there is some tenderness, but that's it and I finish my five miles at dusk. The ankle did swell slightly and continue to be a little sore, but not enough to keep me from doing anything.

Later that week, talking about the upcoming 10K, L said she thought - since I had focused on the half marathon for sometime and put in the work - that I could pull out a PR at the continuous loop Scioto Miles race. To throw additional encouragement my way, replying to some practice run posts on Twitter, she tossed out the FREE BEER card.

You will see the screen shot here of the twitter challenge that says, "don't forget: PR = the beer is on me from wherever your heart desires** in the Columbus metro area." Now, there are a ton of breweries in this particular area and that decision - should a PR occur - isn't exactly an easy one. Here is just snippet of the selection of Columbus area breweries - 37 of them are on this list.

My 10K PR (38:34) came last June at the - get ready for it - Columbus 10K. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, tender ankles and/or psyching myself out - I would have an excellent opportunity to break that PR and down some free suds.

To start with it was 40 something degrees and mostly sunny, not like the -4 degrees we dealt with upon arrival at January's Brokeman's Winter Warm Up Half Marathon on January 14th. Since it was in the 30's the day before, our route had a thin layer of spotty ice. The 5k, half-marathon and half marathon relay group started first, followed by the full marathoners, marathon relay and we, the 10kers, three minutes later. At the gun I dart off and notice I'm out there alone. No one in my peripheral and I can't hear anyone behind me. "Am I starting way too fast? AGAIN!", I thought.

Crisscrossing the route to get around the larger ice sections was easy at first, but then we make our way into the back of the pack of the first group. So now I'm dodging ice, slower runners and walkers and they are littering the entire path. Not that they shouldn't be, but it was hard to maintain consistent pacing. I felt as if I was running just as much laterally I was going forward. At this point, I haven't notice anyone pass me, but then again, as much as I was darting around walkers and slower runners, I could have just not noticed. That's also when I realized this is how the entire race would be, since we are navigating a one mile loop. Extra work would have to take place for the next 40 minutes or so.

Upon completion of each lap, I saw L in around the same area yelling out encouragement and I still haven't notice anyone pass me. I was in the group which included the full marathoners, so ideally they wouldn't be going as fast I was, but still....was I missing something? Around lap four, I did notice someone pass me as I was dodging people, but shortly thereafter I passed him back. I couldn't tell if he was also running the 10k or was a half-marathoner or marathoner attempting to surge.

I brushed up against and bumped so many elbows, while simultaneously tossing out a "sorry", that I thought I had to be doing something wrong or was being that one runner jerk you come across now and then. Even the Columbus DeSales High School students who were volunteering at the water station were getting bumped. Some would stick out a cup of water, not realizing that simply passing them did not mean you wanted refreshment. At times the water they were holding would be knocked out of their grasp. This wasn't done purposely mind you, it just so happened that the area next to the water station was usually the most clear running path. If you were among those splattered with water or Gatorade, my apologies!

On the last lap, passing a variety of the same people for the fifth & sixth time, I speed up as much as I could (while imitating a running back weaving through an aggressive defense). I feel as if I'm going at pretty good clip and see as I pass through the finish line I'm at 38:58. A little disappointed, since I was hoping to PR, but I wasn't all that far off - around 15 to 20 seconds or so. It was promising - for referencing longer distances in the future- that I was as winded, but not all that worn out.

While catching my breath and mingling among the finishers and spectators, I think I see a familiar face. Upon further review, I make way over to a kid standing next to his parents and, "Excuse me sir, are you Jailen?" He answers, "Yes!" and I follow with, "Do you know who I am?" He smiles,"You are Craig!" His parents echo one another, "We thought that was you!?"

Jailen out distanced me - you may remember - at the Shalom 5k back in December and had run the 5k (finishing 4th) at this day's event. They ask how I finished and I could only say I didn't know. He and I both related how it was difficult to maneuver with the crowd of folks running several races at the same time on a small course, but it was more of a challenge than it was a problem. He, too, finished with a time a bit slower than he would have liked.

I offer a congratulations, find L and we make our way into the Crown Plaza Hotel conference room where the post race festivities were taking place. We gather some bagels and coffee, then scarf down some post race pizza. As results get uploaded, I inquire and discover I finished first among the 10k crowd, so I wasn't wrong in believing I hadn't been passed by anyone. Along with my finisher's medal came a winner's coffee mug. I didn't set a PR, but winning the race would suffice. That was L's thinking as well regarding the "free beer for a PR" incentive she had given the week before. I didn't set a personal record, but being the overall winner couldn't be totally ignored.

Making our way home and after crashing for a few hours, we head to our favorite local hangout - TwentyNine BrewPub - named for Marion's favorite native son, Warren G. Harding, the 29th President of the United States. Among a variety of Ohio and other craft beers, 29's niche (along with excellent wood-fired pizza) is creating beers with names related to Harding, his life and presidency.

On this visit, L and I each order flights of mostly Ohio beers. This was my race victory reward, though I do believe if I had more opportunity to run straight ahead (rather than weaving through the crowd like a purse snatcher attempting to make a quick getaway) I would have likely reached that PR. Though, I will have plenty of time to try again soon. I will now be on the look out to see what fun March event to take part in as those St. Patrick's Day related races are a dime a dozen.

Don't look now, but according to the calendar - Spring 2018 is just over a month away (Tuesday, 20th March 2018, 9:16 a.m. - to be exact). Of course that means (in Ohio at least) we will still get some sort of snowfall (...flurries, blizzard, avalanche..) up thru May 1st, but it is exciting to know eventual warmer weather is just on the horizon. Recently we've started experiencing more daylight at the end of each day, boom!

Yup, schizophrenic weather - it will be imperfect...but... aren't we all....

Silversun Pickups - Lazy Eye

I've been waiting
I've been waiting for this moment all my life
But it's not quite right

And this real
It's impossible if possible
At whose blind word
So clear but so unheard

I've been waiting
I've been waiting for this silence all night long
It's just a matter of time

To appear sad
With the same old decent lazy eye
Fixed to rest on you
Aim free and so untrue

Everyone's so intimately rearranged
Everyone's so focused clearly with such shine

Everyone's so intimately rearranged
Everyone's so focused clearly with such shine

Lost and loaded
Still the same old decent lazy eye
Straight through your gaze
That's why I said I relate
I said we relate
It's so fun to relate

It's the room, the sun, and the sky
The room, the sun, and the sky

I've been waiting
I've been waiting for this moment

Winter in Ohio is cold, of course. We get ice, we get snow and many of us will whine about it despite this being a yearly thing. Though we weren't expecting the second coming (and going, thankfully) of the ice age for the last week of 2017 and first seven days of 2018.

And still, I ran. With spandex, two pair of socks, two pair of gloves, a skull cap, two head bands (one for the ears and one to cover a portion of my face) and eye wear - I put in my running duty. This, I thought, had better pay off as my first competitive action for '18 would be a half marathon. Yes, the very same distance that was my goal for nearly all of '17.

And speaking of, Bob and W.J. (whack job) have returned from an apparent hiatus. My lovely neighbors took some holiday time off from messing with my stuff (a nice Christmas vacation it was), but returned this past week as my name tag on my apartment mailbox was ripped off a few times.

I took their signature move as a personal sign to me that they have come out of hibernation and their Christmas spirit has officially worn off, but for how long? I assume they would be like Punxsutawney Phil, or Buckeye Chuck here in Marion, and see their shadow - thus deciding to continue their break from screwing with me (and my things) through April or May. Ahhh...one can only hope.

Oh yeah, so sometime between Friday night & early Monday morning of last weekend, my car was rifled through. I would say broken into, but there was no damage or sign of forced entry. Now my car has automatic locks, so if I don't activate it with my keys - it will lock itself shortly thereafter. How entry was gained, I don't know.

My car sits in my garage slot behind my apartment building and looked undisturbed. Upon venturing out to head to work Monday morning, all of my belongs inside of said vehicle were scattered throughout the seats. I keep nothing of value in my car, so whoever thought they were getting rich quick were sorely disappointed. Though, I was missing two things. An old plastic Eclipse gum container I used to stash random change and my road atlas...from 2004.

So I was thieved of a 14 year-old U.S. Road Map (torn, ragged and faded by the sun) and enough pennies, nickles and dimes for two (possibly three!) day-old supermarket donuts (the plain or powered kind, not those scrumptiously filled with various jams, jellies or creams). Still, though, quite the haul, I must say. Apparently my extensive three CD library of Michael Buble (It's Time, the good CD from 2004 - don't judge!), The Killers (Hot Fuss, 2004 - a dubbed CD from my brother) and The Slang (a Columbus, Ohio band a former coworker played in from 2010 - self titled) just wasn't good enough. I can't imagine why?

Anyway, the 2018 tour would start with the Brokeman's 3rd Annual Winter Warm Up. I attended this event last January, but took part in the 8 mile event. It was quite cold then as well, but the ice on the all-paved bike trail is what made the going a bit rough. Also, at the time, this was the longest race I had ever taken part in and it was part of an effort to prepare for the inaugural Buck Fifty Race - the 24 hour, 150 mile, 10 person team relay in and around my hometown of Chillicothe, Ohio. This year I would be much more prepared and battle with Brokeman's 13.1 mile offering.

This race route is set next to Smith Farms and the path is entirely on multi-use trails, paved 2 way bike paths. It starts on the Alum creek multi-usetrail and connects to the Blacklick trail, passing through Three Creeks Metro and Confluence trail head. The course is half shaded and has many rolling "hills".

And this, too, would go towards keeping in shape for year two of The Buck Fifty taking place April 13th & 14th. My squad, the Traffic Panthers, took 19th out of 38 teams in 2017. Officials are pushing for 100 teams this year. In the meantime, I was targeting a top ten finish for the Brokeman's Half Marathon - barring any catastrophes or collapses.

As I said, 2018 began frigid then suddenly moved to spring, BOOM! I even ran wearing only one layer as we reached 50-plus degrees. Though on that Friday the skies were to begin vomiting this white, wet stuff and and remind us that it was only January. Thus, race day Sunday was to arrive in the same arctic state it was just a week before. The weather was playing the part of the cat and we were the mice it was toying with.

Local news folks ran their weather models several times in hopes of getting a better idea of what kind of stupidness was to arrive and they came up with a couple of different answers. We were going to get anywhere from 7 to 11 inches of snow - a little less than two days before the Brokeman's 3rd Annual Winter Warm Up. So I was tasked with tracking down some crampons to avoid a "running with ice skates" episode on the paved - possibly snow & ice covered - trail. Whether we were actually going to get an onslaught of snow or a just dry heave of sky dust, Sunday promised to not be vapid in any way.

Friday morning it began to rain and proceeded to pour all early afternoon with some sleet, but it was still way to warm for snow to arrive (dropping from the high temperature of 55 the day before doesn't happen in the blink of an eye) - though the radar kept telling us it was coming. Right at about 3:30 p.m. the graupel, aided by a blustery wind, began flying sideways throughout the region and quickly evolved into snow with help of a 20 degree temperature drop. Thus, the predicted winter uppercut came at us with full force.

As a result, Saturday's event shakeout run and early packet pick up were cancelled due to the four to six inches of snow on top of a nice layer of ice. Though with sunshine all afternoon and the ability to plow the paved trail a couple of times, the race would still be a go for Sunday. So the bitter cold and ice sheets covering the vast majority of the trail would be the only added obstacles. Not wanting to spend my race as if on ice skates, I was able to find YakTrax to give myself the benefit of some traction.

On race day, Lauren B. and I nearly got stuck in the snow as it was not easy to determine the race staging area parking lot from the surrounding grass in the predawn hours. A few maneuvers later, we found our way and relaxed as we waited for the sun to rise, packet pick up to take place and the race to begin. The process of leaving the warm car and walking over to get my race packet was arduous. The negative temperature felt even colder without the benefit of the sun. It was a short sprint back to the car to ward off the chill. With everything ready to go, but some time to waste, we sat there taking in as much warmth as we could until being forced back out into the atmosphere.

When 8:30 a.m. approached, we gathered our courage and reentered the frozen abyss. I jogged a portion of the route to acclimate myself to the weather and loosen some stiff muscles and - wow - did the sun make a difference (as long as you were moving, that is). Lauren wandered off to get a good spot to take pictures and spectate. I can't imagine how cold it was for her.

Finally in the corral, we get some instruction and a countdown and we are off - and it has warmed up to -2! Hoping to do a better job of staying within myself, I ignore the two folks who are off to beat the world. I did utilize their pace to stretch my legs a bit, but my pace stayed comfortable for me. I could feel the YakTrax helping with traction, even on the ice covered bridges, but it is a struggle to keep my breath from turning to ice on my sunglasses. With only a snippet of visibility, I focused on the colorful outerwear donned by those in front of me. I only had to deal with this for the first mile as we would then circle around and face the sun and thaw my lenses.

At about the two mile mark we come to a fork, separated paths, with no signage or direction. I follow the handful of folks in front of me, but minutes later it seemed as though the path we're on is simply circling a small lake and return us to where we began. Damn it....we guessed wrong and had taken the wrong route. Following, now, the remaining half marathoners and eight mile participants we navigate the correct route.

I'm annoyed, but take solace in the fact the vast majority of the lead pack was with me. Trying to ignore the mistake, I keep my pace comfortable and focus on form and breathing. The cold is no longer an issue (as long as I stay upright). I'm passing a variety of runners - who I should be ahead of by now - and casually wonder if my pacing is decent (I only look at my watch unless I feel it is absolutely needed). Nearing the eight mile run turn around and water stop I see the leaders in the far distance. Despite the route mistake, I'm feeling good and glad I don't need to get water because the water jug at this stop is frozen despite the full sun raining down.

At the seven mile mark, we come upon another fork with no signage or direction. I and a fellow half marathoner look at one another - both us are at a loss. Which way are we supposed to go? I select the route that seems to have the most footprints in the snow and he follows. I ask, "Do you think this is the right way?" Through heavy breathing he follows with, "I don't have an f-ing clue." Instead of wasting time, we continue on. Luckily, about a mile later and into a sort of clearing, we see a runner ahead. A sigh of relief is pushed out knowing I haven't, again, taken the wrong route.

Before we know it, we have some of the lead pack headed back toward us. They, too, seemed to be as annoyed with the lack of signage and made sure to tell us - as they passed - that our turn (and water stop) was just ahead, after the bridge over State Route 33. I, and my annoyed running partner for the last two miles, make audible relief groans once we reach the half marathon turn around and water stop (this jug of water is also frozen). Though, just as I slow down enough to make the about-face, my right foot slides on the ice and I come crashing down to my knee. I bounce right back up and feel my running tights rub against my now broken skin and the bruise starting to form. "You okay man?", is bellowed by my running friend. "Yeah, I'm good," I say with obvious annoyance and exhausted frustration.

So we are now on the return trip of the out and back course. Within a minute or so we bypass the folks trailing us and I wonder if I have enough left in the tank to keep pace to the finish or will I come to a snail's pace (as with the previous two half marathon attempts) in the remaining miles? My running partner makes some headway and starts to distance himself, but I don't feel like I'm getting slower. Then another competitor comes up from behind a few minutes later and does same thing. Having run the eight mile race here the year before, I know where we are on the secluded trail and work on lengthening my stride and pick up the pace, all the while bypassing the slower half marathoners.

I can still see the person I'm trailing and eyeball him in order to stray from losing focus and not think about the slippery path below me. I feel better at this point than the previous two 13.1 mile attempts and have even removed the hood from my running jacket, as well as the headband I was using to cover a portion of my face and mouth. I'm either delirious or in really good shape for this race, I thought. Then I wonder how much I've added to my race with that wrong turn back at mile two. And speaking of, I then pass that damn lake again (going the right way this time) and see the finish in the distance.

I don't hear any followers and pass Lauren B. giving me some encouragement. Cruising in, I pass an eight mile run straggler and remember to reach for my watch and stop it as I cross the finish. My makeshift medal is handed to me and I zombie walk through the chute and into a sea of runners. I wobble toward the BODYAMOR Super Drink truck and grab a free orange-mango flavored thing, pop off the lid and tip it to douse my dying thirst and....its frozen...solid. Well, crap.

Then, out of curiosity, I glance at my watch and see 1:36.30 as a finishing time. Yes, it is a PR (previous best was 1:37.10) - but then I notice that is my time for 13.94 miles! You have got to be kidding me, my wrong turn had taken me nearly a mile further than I should have run! Still thirsty, but astounded, I keep scrolling through my Garmin 935 to examine further details. Turns out my time for the ACTUAL half marathon (13.1 miles) is 1:30.28 (6:55 pace), just 28 seconds off of my goal in only my third attempt at this distance and in arctic conditions. Not to mention a full seven minutes faster than my previous best.

Lauren finds me, offers a congratulatory hug and some liquid refreshment that isn't a block of ice. I'm excited, but now I'm also getting cold since I'm no longer running and its like 7 degrees. We get to the car and Lauren cranks up the heat, then heads over to Cazuela's Food Truck to get the one free taco I'm awarded for finishing - as well as several others for us to scarf down. Finally drinking some liquid and able to feel my face again, I'm laughing at the fact I ran an entire mile further than I should have and still finished sixth out of 146 competitors. Even still, nearly everyone in the lead pack went the same direction as I did.

We proceeded to scarf down several excellent tacos, then headed out for the drive back north - but made a pit stop at Restoration Brew Worx in Delaware to have a beer and warm up a bit more before making it the rest of the way home. That, my friends, was a satisfying beer.

In a worn out trance the rest of the afternoon, I realized my haphazardly cobbled together training regime was starting pay off. And the best part of this race as that I paid attention to what I wanted to do - I ran my race and didn't attempt to set the world on fire. This left plenty in the tank to crank through the second half of Sunday's icy, rolling bike path in southeast Columbus. Not like 2017 when I couldn't find that extra gear near the end of the eight mile race. Then, again, I also had the benefit of running for over a year and not for just a handful of months like last year.

The snow fell again late Sunday night and then again on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, but working for a library means we have this day off as a holiday. And it was a welcomed additional day to recover from another backwards running weekend - Lauren I went outside to goof off for a bit, but that was it.

You know, sometimes wonder if the madness would cease if I stopped running or if I simply quit putting effort into trying to improve, but who am I kidding. I'm enjoying the madness, no matter how backwards it gets....run on friends.

Muse – Madness

(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma...)

I, I can't get these memories out of my mind,
And some kind of madness has started to evolve.
(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma...)

And I, I tried so hard to let you go,
But some kind of madness is swallowing me whole, yeah
(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma...)

I have finally seen the light,
And I have finally realized
What you mean.

Ooh oh oh

And now I need to know is this real love,
Or is it just madness keeping us afloat?
(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma...)

And when I look back at all the crazy fights we had,
Like some kind of madness was taking control, yeah
(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma...)

And now I have finally seen the light,
And I have finally realized
What you need.

Mmmm...

(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma...)

But now I have finally seen the end (finally seen the end)
And I'm not expecting you to care (expecting you to care)
But I have finally seen the light (finally seen the light)

I have finally realized (realized)
I need your love
I need your love

Come to me
Just in a dream.
Come on and rescue me.

Yes I know, I can't be wrong,
And baby, you're too headstrong.

Our love is

(Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma-ma...)

Madness

Supposedly people get wiser as they age, but I'm not completely on board with that statement. I believe this applies only to a small segment of the population. It is my view some of those people just get less ignorant, stupid and/or goofy - not necessarily wiser.

I am ending my running year with a flurry of 5k races and it blows my mind at how this 3.1 mile run seemed like a thousand mile journey back in high school. As a less ignorant adult in his 40's, the 5k is over just as it starts to get good. Back in high school, it might as well have been a gauntlet loaded with Pitfall! -like obstacles along with members of the Black Warriors Gang from Double Dragon attempting to extend your pain and suffering to more than just exhaustion. Those 16 to 17 minutes felt like hours.

I'm working on getting back to the level I was back then, but the race isn't as much of an arduous task as I thought it once was. Making sure to get in a long run each week (along with my regular routine) makes the shorter races easier to navigate - making mole hills out of mountains, per say.

Having just run a Thanksgiving morning race, I signed up for the 4th Annual Shalom 5K in Carroll, Ohio for the following weekend. I obviously wanted to compete, though part of my intention was to support my Buck Fifty Race Traffic Panthers Teammate, Gary, who was working on putting it together. The event proceeds would benefit the Shalom UMC Pantry Mission and participants were encouraged to bring along canned food items to further the pantry's focus. Like I said, it may be a short race, but the benefits go a long way toward assisting the community - much further than just setting a PR, simple exercise or feeding my competitive nature.

Speaking of, it would be cool to set another PR. I'm inching ever closer to that 18:00 mark and it's pretty exciting. I haven't come anywhere near running a 17- something or other since college and let me tell you how disgusting it is to know that 1996 was 21 years ago. And, oh yeah, I turn 42 on the 20th - holy crap. I'm not one to obsess about age, but time just seems to be flying by...maybe if I blink less it will slow down.

This route would start at about Bloom-Carroll High School and follow Plum Rd NW for about a mile and half before a return trip along the same path. Eerily similar to the path details with the previous week's race in Grove City, though many more rolling hills would be encountered.

And the weather would again keep us on our toes. The Thanksgiving morning run last week came with a bight, sunny sky and a temperature of 25 degrees. It would again be sunny on this December day, but it would somehow be 50 degrees. Sooner or later the bottom of this "bend, but don't break" weather thing is going to fall out and winter is going to arrive with a vengeance. Until that time, all fall and winter (and spring) gear will be readily available. For example, on Tuesday of this past week it was 62...in Ohio...in late November.

Oh, I forgot to mention, my lovable old and crotchety "We Hate Craig, because we're old and crotchety and he isn't" neighbors have embarked on a new plan. For the last week, in our building's community mailbox area at the front entryway - the sliver of paper with my name on it in my mailbox slot (indicating I'm the apartment #1 resident) has been disappearing. I replace it...it then vanishes.

So, my subtle retaliation is making use of those free gift, stick-on address labels you get in the mail this time of year. I wedge one of those bad boys in the name slot pocket everyday as soon as I get home from work - it, too, will be gone within 24 hours. Though, you can tell it is a struggle for them to remove it as the floor will then be littered with bits and pieces of the former label - it's sad little ashes unceremoniously scattered near the postal service destiny of which it never had the opportunity to fulfill. I cry a little tear each time just knowing it fought the good fight in the never ending battle of minding your own business versus senility.

It gets even more interesting as I cover the label with scotch tape a few times. On Thursday, I found a rock (garnered from the building's front walk) laying near our mailboxes. You could tell it was used to scrape the taped label off my mail slot, as it was covered with scratches and dents from some intense effort. Funny, but I'm happy to help the haters, as they are quite the sedentary kind of folk. The more exercise I can offer them, the longer and more miserable their existence can be - 'Tis the season of giving. And I have lived in the same place for 4 1/2 years, so there are thousands of those damn labels at my disposal (hoarding has its advantages). This cold war continues and I have a stockpile of holiday issued ammunition thoughtfully supplied by a variety of non-profits preying on our holiday good will.

See what I mean about getting less ignorant, stupid and/or goofy - not necessarily wiser.

Anyway, race day began with the 90 minute drive south to our (Lauren B. and I) Fairfield County destination. A good mix of sun & clouds gave way to mostly sunshine as the crowd of 40 or so prepared to run or walk. When time came to hit the starting line, Lauren wandered off to find the best spot for photographing the adventure. At the gun this kid of 14-ish years of age takes off like rabbit, hoping to avoid wanting to race him off the bat I attempted to just keep within arms reach. He slowed down a bit, allowing me to reel him in and eventually pass him - but he continued to linger.

The kid knew what he was doing. Every now and then he would speed up and pass me, but trail off and I would drift by him again. At the mile marker, I find myself at 5:36. Probably a little faster than I wanted, but I had to take it. A quarter mile before the halfway point (our turn around), I get enough of a lead that I don't hear him. As I do the about face to head back, the skinny kid with long legs is around 15 yards behind me. Upon passing him and wanting to be pushed, I yell at him, "Let's go, come get me brother!" I wanted him to, if not leave me in his dust, run alongside me the rest of the way.

The second mile was definitely slower, but I worked on keeping my stride long and pushing my elbows through it. Mile two timed out at 12:00 (6:23) on the dot and I hear folks cheering for the speedy kid hanging out behind me as we start to hit some of the downhills. I try to focus on keeping a steady, but speedy pace and cover mile number three in 6:00. The finish is just ahead and up a decent incline and I can hear the footsteps again, I turn my head just enough to see the stick figure in the black hat inching closer.

We get to the base of the finishing hill and I yell, again, "Come on brother, come get me! Come get me!" A moment later he strides up alongside and just as he attempts to blow by, I match his pace. We run side-by-side for a few steps as we crest the hill and then I let up just enough and he glides ahead crossing the finish line first. I take second with an 18:27 (matching my return-to-running 5k pr set the previous weekend) and Jailen (I found out his name shortly thereafter) is your winner at 18:25. Rather impressive since I overheard him tell someone at the start that he was looking to run the race in exactly that time. I was happy to have been his rabbit.

Upon congratulating the kid, I discover Jailen is all of 13 years-old AND had played in his middle school's basketball game earlier that morning - scoring a deuce and pulling down five rebounds. If there was anything that ever made me feel old, that was it. Quite impressive and if he sticks to the running thing, he has a crazy bright future ahead of him. I can only imagine what it would have been like to be 13 and running 18-minute 5k's.

After the race, Lauren and I traveled further south to visit Rockstall Nature Preserve, a little known jaunt loaded with rock formations & water falls near the Hocking Hills area just outside of Sugar Grove. It is definitely hidden away and most people find it, I'm assuming, by accident. Lauren, luckily, had been there before.

We then headed back north to hit Rockmill Brewery to sample some of their Belgian Inspired Farmhouse Ales, just outside of Lancaster. A visit is highly recommended, as it is on a former horse farm and the tasting room gives you a cozy cabin-like atmosphere complete with a very friendly brewery cat. They had plenty on tap and more in bottles ready to open or purchase for home consumption. For food, we hit Steak & Shake on the way home and more was garnered as we watched Ohio State beat Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship game at a local joint back in Marion that night.

Back to running, over the last few weeks I've started adding (again) a long run each week. My plan is to try to tackle some longer, tougher races in the coming weeks. The first major one of those may be the Brokeman's Winter Warm Up Half Marathon on January 14th, 2018. I ran the eight mile race at this event last year (my first return-to-running long race while preparing for the inaugural Buck Fifty Race) and survived, but have since built myself up a few notches.

And having stepped up to the half marathon this year (ran my first two in 2017), my goal for next year is that elusive 1:30:00 mark - 1:39:40 (Grand Lake Half Marathon in Celina) & 1:37:06 (Nationwide Children's Columbus Half Marathon) are decent opening attempts, but they just aren't good enough (I've had training runs faster than those races).

In the meantime, I'll be wearing out my new Garmin Forerunner 935 and Running Dynamics Pod (Thanks Lauren B!) with every backwards running stat you can name. (Early Christmas/Birthday gifts rock!) Follow me on Garmin Connect (or Strava): crsimp01 and share your dorkdom.

Kodaline - Ready

You tell me that you're ready but you just don't know
My eyes are getting heavy and it's starting to show
Never seen it coming, never seen a thing
Maybe I'll get through what's ever coming to me

Cause I've been so unlucky I don't know what to say
Running out of money I've been wasting away
I never seen it coming never seen a thing
Maybe I'll get through what's ever coming to me

We fall
We fall down
If we fall
We fall down
If we fall down hard I'll be ready to grow

I'm ready
I'm ready for it
I'm ready
I'm ready for it
I'm ready
I'm ready for it all

Look me in the eye when I am talking to you
It's easy to get nervous I've been feeling it too
Yeah it's kind of crazy, yeah it's kind of dumb
But never let the pressure overpower the fun

Yeah I'm sure your parents probably said it to you
Follow what you love and you will love what you do
And never let the pressure tell you that you're not
Capable of being everything that you want

We fall
We fall down
If we fall
We fall down
If we fall down hard I'll be ready to grow

I'm ready
I'm ready for it
I'm ready
I'm ready for it
I'm ready
I'm ready for it all

I'm ready
I'm ready for it
I'm ready
I'm ready for it
I'm ready
I'm ready for it all

Look me in the eye when I am talking to you
It's easy to get nervous I've been feeling it too
Yeah it's kind of crazy, yeah it's kind of dumb
But never let the pressure overpower the fun

I'm ready
I'm ready for it
I'm ready
I'm ready for it
I'm ready
I'm ready for it all