Herein will go the training updates from Dyronman, P-Diddy, and Cameron von den Beeleesworthenstein (Beely Swahili).

The goal is this: to motivate one another through encouragement and positive smack-talk to achieve training milestones that will eventually result in a qualification for each runner to the 2006 Boston Marathon.

Here's how it works: post a comment to this message to update everyone on your latest training achievement (this could be a normal training day, or a major training milestone).

Of course, smack-talking may ensue, as evidenced by the fact that P-Diddy will NEVER beat me at a half-marathon distance (or greater) race. He spues forth some nonsense about capillaries and i-was-a-cross-country-coach and stuff like that, but we all know who the king of running is...

So a quick recap of last month's events shows:

Dyronman - will get by with a little help from his friends
P-diddy - surviving life and running
Swahili - MII (Missing In Inaction)
Ray "could eat no fat" Pratt - injured, but still winning races.

What a dramatic story we're forming here! We all owe a few entries for the first few days of December, which should now be logged under this entry. We'll see how this thing works archiving by month...

Training goals for December:

Dyronman: help wife have a baby and get in however many miles I can
P-diddy: #1 - stay alive; #2 - run 45 miles/week by end of December
Swahili: #1 - stay alive; #2 - run by the end of December
Ray "Jack be Nimble" Pratt: continue to dominate the other Pratt males?

I thought, given
1) the volume of information stored in our wee bitty brains, and
2) my eagerness to post SOMETHING to this blog, and
3) the limited number of miles I'm currently doing (which limits, in turn, the number of posts I can do)...

...we should have a place on here where we can just write stuff - stuff that's potentially unrelated to our training accomplishments.

So under this entry, you can log training tips, philosophy, encouragement, extraneous stuff (meaning stuff other than your actual activities).

I put some historical posts here for examples of what would go here. What do y'all think?

So 2004 comes to a close, and we move into another year. Currently the status of some is questionable, others are sporadic, and P-diddy is just plain super-human.

January's goals - please load them in your next comment, guys. My goal: to complete 90% of Hal Higdon's Advanced II suggested workouts, including all of the long runs. My "race pace" at which I will work out is 7:00/mile.

We pray that the new year, welcomed by Cameron "Swahili" Beeler's birth month of January, will also bring a re-birth of his running workouts. We know it's been a busy time, Cam - looking forward to some entries from you!

Ray, Casey, Carmen - keep up the good work and check in frequently!

January recap:
two knees (Pratt and Smith) are on the mend...
Swahili is still absent from the site, but rumors about him running again are flying around...
Dyronman is finding his goals are a little lofty and unrealistic when life gets in the way...
Erstwhiles Opitz and Hamlin are still putting one foot in front of the other...

February brings us Valentine's Day (pagan though it may be), which makes us think of heart. I recently read about a guy that wants to run 300 miles (Runner's World, February 2005). He gets up in the middle of the night twice a month to do his 75-plus mile runs so he doesn't detract from family time. He gives this sage advice: "Focus on micro-goals - the next phone pole or tree - and repeat the cycle. Don't think, Oh no, I've got to run another 135 miles."

Don't worry, Dean. We've got heart, but none of us will be running 135 miles anytime soon...

Well, the good thing about a training blog is that it keeps us honest, eh? (or mostly so, I guess)

Recap of February:

P-diddy is on the home stretch (literally), and will be back stateside any day now (actually, I think it's today!!! Our prayers are with you, P). So that outdoes any training accomplishments the rest of us may boast...

Ray fought through the flu to complete his first 10-miler of the year - way to go, Ray!

BeeleSwahili is back on-line and apparently running again! It is great to see the persistence! Keep us updated on progress!

I'm squeezing in a little here and there - looking forward to the Hogeye Marathon April 3. Any takers? Ray, I'm sure the Fayetteville ecclesia would love to have you as a guest speaker...the one caveat - you'll have to finish the marathon in under 3 hours and head straight for meeting. The good news: you'll only be about .75 miles from meeting when you finish the race!

March goals: get ready to run a 3:10:59 at Hogeye! Anyone else? just put them in your comments...

Well, training is going well for everyone these days, it seems. Casey only had to work on his Boston Athletic Association rules interpretation skills to achieve qualifier status! Ray, of course, got his work out of the way early on, qualifying for Boston at last year's Chicago. Way to go old guys! Quite a showing!

I was the first to go for a BQ in 2005, falling a bit short at the Hogeye (see comment below). All I need now is a nice, flat marathon course! Preston P-Diddy Smith is warming up quickly, taking second in his age group at the Hogeye half-marathon, and there are rumors that Cameron Beeli-Swahili has also been putting in miles...

Anyone have goals for April that need to be put out there for all to see? I'm wanting to see Swahili work up the Jay Challenge...I believe you've been asked!

Well, it seems the mid-season blues have hit a little bit. Casey had a tough run at the Charlottesville marathon, but still managed to post a respectable 3:37. Ray and Dyronman spent long Swahili-style periods of silence throughout April, while P-diddy has set the standard of persistence, but seems to have re-scheduled a few runs in there...

Maintaining the status quo might be a good goal for April / May, which are shaping up to be pretty busy months for everyone, I guess...

So instead of just maintaining, let's all go for a little improvement, be it mileage, intensity, or dropping those mile paces a few seconds or so - let's use this training blog to keep up the good work!

Well, May was to be the month of rebirth...How does everyone feel? I saw Swahili this past weekend, and although he reports he is frequently running, there is no hard evidence of such activity. We did not inspire each other to run in person. But I feel differently than I did in April - I feel that such shortcomings are motivation for building a STRONG running/triathlon season ahead!

June will usher in a new dedication for me...I am re-focusing goals based on recent accomplishments, and beginning my charge towards a sub-10-hour Ironman (!?!) and more importantly, a BQ.

P-diddy reports starting two-a-days this week to get the mileage in. I heard that two workouts within 12 hours can have the same physiological benefit as one long workout...

Here's hoping Casey feels better, and that Ray will be ready by the end of this month for some intense training at the beginning of July at Great Lakes Bible School!

For real, gentlemen. Something happened and July was here. Must've had something to do with life. Life always tends to get in the way of training!

Does anyone out there have any goals? Mine is to go sub-5-hours in the Degray Lake Half Ironman coming up in August. 3 years ago, I did a 5:43:03 in this race, so that represents a 12.5% improvement. I mean, seriously - I HAVE to demand that of myself, right?!?

A few of us have seemingly dropped off the face of the earth, I know - but we've been together at GLCBS (what a FANTASTIC WEEK!!!), running together some, but not as much as we'd hoped, I don't think. Ray, P-Diddy, Swahili, and myself were all present in Wisconsin for the week.

As for July, who knows? It's HOT.

Well, July has come and gone...we all maximized our heat training and MOST IMPORTANTLY, we all "qualified" for Chicago with some last-minute entries! I'm excited to learn how Ray and Casey did at the Jay Peak Marathon, and am looking forward to my upcoming races (4 in 4 months, for a guy that hasn't raced but 3 marathons and 5 triathlons in his illustrious career).

"Bald 'til Boston" Beeler has earned a new nickname with action, not words...I am SO NEEDING A PICTURE for the website so we can all witness C"BTB"B's dedication!

Regarding August goals, I'm excited to learn how Ray and Casey did at the Jay Peak Marathon, and am looking forward to my upcoming races (4 in 4 months, for a guy that hasn't raced but 3 marathons and 5 triathlons in his illustrious career). I know BTB's just working to earn his hair back, and P-diddy's hoping for wellness...we're all praying for your health, too, P! Let's all pray for health as we enter race season. Goals should be rapidly becoming more concrete...let's get them on paper, eh? Mine: Go sub-5-hours in Degray Half Ironman, sub 1:30 in Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon over Labor Day weekend in Virginia Beach.

Happy training!

August saw a few more races, the Jay Marathon, Geoff's 5k, and the Lake Degray Half Ironman. Everyone seems to be doing well. Swahili with his long runs has come out of nowhere to put many of us to shame! But let's not let his newfound success get us down...instead, let it INSPIRE YOU to work HARDER!!! Only a month left before the Chicago Marathon! Are there other races that we're looking forward to? Only 2 months until the Ironman Florida!!!

How about posting some goals for the month...for me, I'd like to get my 15-mile run to work down below 1:45. Keep up the good work, everyone! (I don't want you too far behind me come race day...)

Well, October is here. BQs at Chicago? We'll see. Actually, at the time of this entry the results are in. But I'll save that until the comments come in.

So where does this leave us? Is the racing season over? What is the plan, guys???

Okay, Okay - I've been a little out of pocket. Forgive me. I hope everyone continues, at least, to maintenance mode over the off-season. I like the looks of Mr. Johnson working on core strength - an essential part of any training plan, and a large help to me in my races, I know. November contains Ironman Florida for me - last big race of the year (maybe...unles btb-beeler can convince me to join up to the Dallas marathon...). Anyone else planning races? Anyone planning to keep up with this blog?

Funny how training is so cyclical. So many things are, in fact - the day is our model for life - the sun rises and falls, and each day goes by with little change (I am an Ecclesiastes fan, by the way).

Isn't it a blessing to have new beginnings? Where we can forget the blahs of the past and press on to the wows of the future? Well, here it is, 2006 - how many Boston Marathon qualifiers will we have by April?

Only time will tell...

My, how far we've come since the inception of Boston 2006. Our deadline is approaching so rapidly now - April 17 is only 75 days away - about 10 weeks - and who's going? Who is still clinging to hope? Who has resolved that this blog should be named "Boston Whenever?"

Regardless of our answer to those questions, I think we can say at the least, that Boston 2006 is less about a specific race, and more about a general lifestyle. One that promotes healthiness of body, encouragement in fellowship, and strength in numbers. And of course, the goal to reach the Boston Marathon. Sometimes we do better with tangible goals. It's helpful to set those goals high, isn't it?

One month to the 2006 Boston Marathon. Isn't it great that we were all hoping to qualify for the 2008 Boston Marathon?

Yes, it's a-ways off, but I think there's no time to start planning like the present!

Casey and Ray - BEST OF LUCK THIS MONTH IN THE BIG ONE!!! We are collectively pulling for your success! Geoff - we're still here, all checking in as often as possible. I've been absent a few weeks, but things are CRAZY, as I'm sure they are for you all...

How about some race goals from everyone? Put them out there, let us hold you accountable. No more slacking, people - it's time to get ready for an early qualifying time for Boston 2008!

May is here. The thrill of Boston is behind us, and the true measure of endurance is upon us. Who will continue to push the envelope after the milestone has passed? A couple of folks have put up their race goals...any other fearless fellows willing to lay it on the line in public?

I was told last month, in effect, that I was slow. It has motivated me...had my first track workout today - thanks, P-diddy for the insight into speed...now it's just about the work...

We're all in full swing, now, I'm hoping. We're seeing steady activity from most bloggers these days, which is lovely! Maybe we're all still a little bit under our goal weekly mileage - how can we "make it happen?" P-diddy has adopted a schedule which he strictly follows. You may think this is not possible, given your particular situation, but I bet you'd be surprised. Even a guy like me, who's often out-of-town, working weird schedules, can pick a schedule and abide by it for the most part - just define when you're going to get up, when you're going to go to bed at night, and determine what training you can squeeze in during the available hours remaining.

Prioritize, and maximize the effectiveness of your training, and more importantly, your life!

Okay...is anyone else feeling re-motivated? I hope so. I ran the VA Beach Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon this past weekend - in 2:13:change. It was a lovely race, and being with Grandy and amongst all the racers, reminded me why I do this thing. So to celebrate, tonight I did something quite novel and borderline crazy -

I went on a training run.

The weather was cool, my legs felt notably fatigued and weak, but I'M BACK. I believe in the power of running. I believe in its power to give one a healthy mind, a healthy outlook, and a healthy body. God has given me a good-working body, and it's the least I can do to treat it and train it right! Boston '08, here I come!!!

The weather turns, and so do we...I've started back by trying a new race distance. It has been a full 13 years since I ran in a 5k race. That's right - it was high school. But I ran in the Big Dam Bridge 5k this past weekend, and it was lovely! I forgot how much pain you could inflict on yourself in such a short time...yet how fast you can recover! It's a totally different deal...

So maybe you could try a new race distance in October? Maybe begin training for a different distance to give yourself just the fresh change that you might need.

There are some months that seem like they're just there to fill in the space. Maybe November won't be as special as some of the months around it. However, it does present an opportunity...do we improve over the next 30 days, or do we decline???

Well, few of us made 2006, but we've got our sights clearly set on 2008. Let's get the new year started off right. I'm so appreciative of our God, who gives us new beginnings, and forgives us for our failings. So, from a guy who failed to qualify for Boston in 2006, here's looking forward to 2008.

Anyone got their qualifying race lined up?

"When I am weak, then I am strong." What is the deal with this phrase? I've been dealing a lot over the last month with the term "survival." Dealing with folks who are just "getting by." You know, some people will say that you should have some life goal - accomplish some great thing - in order to be thought of as successful at the end of life. This is not so.

For example, I just read that Sandra Day O'Connor is designing a video game to teach kids. And I thought, "what about people who spend their whole lives teaching kids, but who skip the 'i-was-a-supreme-court-justice phase' of life? Do they get any press for their everyday efforts?" The answer is "no." People want greatness.

Yet the best most ever do is to survive. The point is this: in God's eyes, mere survival is good enough. Work on your weaknesses. Build your strengths. Do your best. These are all great ideas. But whatever your "great" goal may be, find contentment in your weaknesses...in the end, they may demonstrate that you are a Survivor.

Survive well.

It's getting hot again; Bible schools are demanding weeks away from our training time (which is fine with me, by the way). One quick tip for maintaining training while on the road: have a workout partner who will hold you accountable even when you're out of town.

For me, this is Trey, Randy, and this blog. I'm in DC, and I know I need to get some training in. Last night, I ran in the first of the 3-race Cul-de-sac 5k series in Richmond, near my folks' house. There's always somewhere you can get some exercise!

Run with patience the race that is set before you! In a tennis-life analogy, I have noticed many people make "unforced errors," and have made many myself. What is a Life Unforced Error (LUE), and why do they happen?

I define a LUE as you might expect, given the tennis analogy... The volley is going along just fine and dandy - no excitement, no drama, just a baseline-to-baseline back-and-forth. Then, all of a sudden, (and I'm imagining now that it's possibly from one player's sense of boredom?) one player rears back and -

hits it right into the net. Sometimes life is like this. It's important to keep the volley going...you may get the chance to make some miraculous save, yes. But the better likelihood is that the volley will just keep going and going. I like one of Chris Rock's quotes from the movie "I Love My Wife:"

"Lots of people like to use the phrase 'life is short.' They tell you that someday, you're gonna get hit by a Mack Truck so you better live it up. Well, I'm here to tell you: Life Ain't Short. Life is LONG, and HARD. So you Better Pay Attention."

Just keep running.

The Rock and Roll Half Marathon was a success for many members of the Hamlin family. Tom, Cheryl, and Marria all competed. Shannon Elsea (nee Hamlin) also competed. It was a humid day, but worse than that -

I sat it out.

Why? Well, someone had to watch the kids, I guess. Yes, Carmen said she would (I think). Yes, there may have been other ways to get it done such that I could have run the race. But my heart wasn't in it. Why? I'm not sure. Just didn't want to fork over the $120 for the race.

Also in August, I became disgruntled with Ironman races. And now I'm thinking, "What's happening to me?" I like to run, bike, swim, and be active. I think I was just a little fed up with all the commercialism...

So get back to the roots of running. Run just to run. I ran today in the midst of Hurricane Gustav, which is bringing wind and rain to Arkansas. It was a blast. Very elemental...

What's with these winds of change? Obama says change. McCain says change. Our economy's changing - such that no one has change for a dollar any more. And it's gettin' cooler out there. THIS is the time of year to get those miles in - like a squirrel gathering nuts, we can bank some fitness before we head into a long winter of [treadmill running? hibernation? tights and stocking hats?].

Me, I'm glad for the change..I've determined I'm no warm-weather runner. A small rodent could make a nest in my sweat glands. They are that big, apparently. With the outside temperature 65 degrees during my lunchtime run today, I sweated like OJ in court. Is there a pill for such things?

Set yourself a spring race so you won't let yourself go over the winter. That's what I've done - Hogeye Marathon 2009, here I come!! Maybe Richmond Marathon 2009? Hawaii Ironman (I'm entering the lottery again)?

It's officially autumn. The clocks have all been set back. When you wake up, it's cold, and when you get home from work, it's dark. So what are you gonna do? You're gonna suck it up, and get up in the cold, dark morning, and run at lunch when possible, and you're gonna get that workout in because THIS is the year that you won't be putting on those extra 10 pounds of winter hibernation weight, right?

Well, hopefully. We always tell ourselves this at the beginning of the season. And then we falter. We're weak - even if the spirit is willing. But with this resolve, when March comes, maybe we've got that extra 10 pounds...instead of the 20 it might've been without some good goals!

So I have a specific purpose to my training now: Ironman Arizona 2009. As as warm-up, I'll be doing the 2nd Biannual Fayetteville Double. Now I just have to train.

It occurred to me that I should train with purpose all the time, not just when there's a looming deadline. For example, I should go out every time with the purpose of staying healthy, enjoying my present fitness. I should have some sense of what my fitness 'should' be.

Beyond that, I should be training to inspire others, to challenge myself, to raise awareness of some cause, or something like that. I have run for charity in the past, specifically the Challenged Athletes Foundation, and found it to be rewarding. It's sometimes hard to know where to start, but if you believe in a cause, it is straightforward to ask others for support. Happy training!!!