Hello world! June 4, 2008
Posted by chadaustin in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
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Glazed and Confused — The Krispy Kreme Challenge Race Report January 30, 2008
Posted by chadaustin in Doughnuts, Krispy Kreme, Running, Running Races.3 comments
The late American distance running phenom Steve Prefontaine once said, “A lot of people run a race to see who is fastest. I run to see who has the most guts.” “Pre” probably never ran an event quite like the Krispy Kreme Challenge, but it’s a race that definitely puts his adage to the test.
Part race, part eating contest, the challenge is the ultimate test of gastrointestinal fortitude. Run two miles from the NC State University Belltower on Hillsborough Street to the Krispy Kreme store on Person and Peace streets in downtown Raleigh. Eat a dozen glazed doughnuts, then run two miles back to campus – all in under an hour. (more…)
Five on the Fifth January 5, 2008
Posted by chadaustin in Running.1 comment so far
Posted my first run of the New Year this morning with a 5.61 mile effort at the American Tobacco Trail….five leisurely miles on the fifth of January. It seems like forever since I had been on a run, but in reality it’s only been two weeks. Still, that’s the longest period of time of taken off in a while that wasn’t because of an injury. I had a harder time than usual training through the holidays this year. Perhaps it’s because I didn’t have a January marathon staring me in the face like I’ve had the past two years. I think the rest was beneficial, however, and it sure felt good to get my legs back under me.
Rethinking Resolutions January 5, 2008
Posted by chadaustin in 2008, goals, new year, resolutions.add a comment
Happy New Year! Since I’ve been on a blogging hiatus for three months, my resolution for 2008 is to be a better blogger. Not really, but I’ll try.
I will confess, however, to getting caught up in the hype of the New Year and the symbolic “fresh start” it brings. And like many, I do like to set goals for the coming year in different areas of my life — physical, mental, spiritual, relational, financial, etc. And like most, I tend to overdo it, get too ambitious, or focus on too many things at once. (more…)
Chicago Marathon Race Report October 10, 2007
Posted by chadaustin in Chicago Marathon, Marathons, Running, Running Races.2 comments
The 2007 LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon will likely go down as one of the most memorable marathons in history, but for all the wrong reasons. By now, the heat-related havoc wreaked on the runners participting in the 30th running of this event has been well-documented.
In most years marathons, even the major ones like Chicago, Boston and New York, receive scant coverage in the mainstream press. But when a runner dies, hundreds others are treated for heat-related illnesses and the race is called off some three-and-a-half hours in, the race suddenly becomes front-page news and a lead story on CNN.
I was there in Chicago on Sunday, and it’s with mixed emotions that I pen this report. I want to be proud of the fact that I was able to finish, yet be sensitive to those who didn’t get that opportunity. I want to be thankful that I was not among those who suffered any ill-effects from the record-high temperatues, yet be considerate of those who did. I sympathize with those runners who reported not having water available to them at aid stations because I was able to consume ample fluid at each station to remain hydrated. Yet I also empathize with the race officials, who despite their best efforts and planning, had no control over the brutal weather conditions that ruled the day. And, of course, my heart goes out to the family of Chad Schieber, the 35-year-old Michigan native who died while running, as well as the hundreds of other runners who were treated for heat-related illnesses. (more…)
Chicago Hope October 3, 2007
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With the Chicago Marathon one week away, I decided to start the final week of preparations on Sunday by squeezing in one last speed workout at the Second Empire 5K Classic in downtown Raleigh. The course for the Second Empire 5K is advertised as one of the fastest in the Triangle, and it certainly lived up to its billing on Sunday. I set a new personal best in the 5K with a time of 21 minutes, 3 seconds in the Second Empire 5K.
I hope my results in the Second Empire 5K bodes well for the Chicago Marathon. Prior to my last marathon in June, I ran a personal best in a 5K race the weekend before, and then went on to PR in the Sunburst Marathon the following weekend. Hopefully the flat, fast course in Chicago will help me take a few more minutes off my marathon PR of 3 hours, 54 minutes.
T-Minus 30 and Counting September 8, 2007
Posted by chadaustin in Marathons, Running.add a comment
The countdown has begun. The Chicago Marathon is a mere 30 days away. Time to put in two more long training runs — a 14 miler and a 20 miler — and then it’s taper time. It’s also time to pay better attention to my diet, which has been up and down of late.
In honor of the 30th running of the Chicago Marathon, the event’s official Web site is sponsoring a feature titled “30 Runners in 30 Days.” From now until race day, the site will profile a different participant in this year’s race. Today’s spotlight is on country music artist Jo Dee Messina, who’ll sing the national anthem before joining the field for the 26.2 mile run through the Windy City.
Summer of Runnin’ September 4, 2007
Posted by chadaustin in Races, Running.1 comment so far
Summer is a time for rest and relaxation. For me, the summer of 2007 was a summer of runnin’ and racin’. In early June, I decided to see if I could compete in at least one road race per week for the entire summer — from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
This crazy quest began at the Bare Bones 5K in Salisbury on Memorial Day weekend and ended this morning at the Cancer Services Labor Day 5K in Gastonia. During the 15 weekends, beginning May 26 and ending Sept. 3, I ran 19 total races in three states, in 14 North Carolina cities, in 12 North Carolina counties. The races included one mile run, 13 5Ks, one 8K, two 10Ks, one marathon and one sprint triathlon, and at some point during the streak, I set a new personal best in each distance. (more…)
It’s Still Greek to Me August 23, 2007
Posted by chadaustin in Greek, Seminary.add a comment
After a semester hiatus, I’m back in the classroom at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, where I’m taking Intro to Biblical Greek this semester. Actually, I’m retaking Intro to Biblical Greek this semester. I took this same class with the same professor on the same night of the week at the same time slot a year ago, and struggled through it. I figured I needed a refresher before jumping into the second semester of Greek, so I decided to audit the intro class this semester.
Although I was fascinated by the Greek language and had an excellent professor in Dr. David Black, I struggled to grasp some of the nuances of the language in my first attempt at Greek and consequently felt like I was treading water just to stay afloat in the class. By God’s grace, however, I’m determining to work diligently and master the concepts this go round so I can use all kinds of impressive jargon in talking about Greek words like aorist passive imperative.
No Rest for the Wounded August 19, 2007
Posted by chadaustin in Running, Training.add a comment
Despite the lingering soreness from yesterday’s fall in the Ramble Trail 8K, I had to get out the door this morning for my weekly long run. With the Chicago Marathon seven weeks away, I’m entering the peak portion of my training program in which the distances of my weekly long runs build to the 20-mile mark. This morning, I went 16.1 miles in 2 hours, 45 minutes for an average pace of 10:14 per mile. In two weeks, I’ll go 18 miles. In four I’ll go 20. Then it’s a three-week taper before heading to the Windy City.
