Big news about the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon on my internet tonight! I should send my entry fee soon!!
Las Vegas Review Journal
March 8, 2011
By Patrick Everson
Since taking over and rebranding Las Vegas' annual marathon, Competitor Group has made quick strides to upgrade the event's image.
In just two years under the Rock 'n' Roll Las Vegas Marathon banner, the event has more than doubled in size and gained access to more of the Strip, with the offshoot half-marathon now contested almost entirely on Las Vegas Boulevard, along both the northbound and southbound lanes.
The one glaring thing the event didn't have going for it: the full effect of the Las Vegas Strip.
It's got that now.
Earlier today, at a splashy outdoor news conference in front of Fashion Show Mall, Competitor announced the marathon and half-marathon, set for Dec. 4, will move from a morning start to an evening start.
"That's how we've always envisioned it," Competitor president Scott Dickey said. "The last 18 months, we've been talking about it pretty consistently with the casino, hotel, city and county partners to see how we could pull it off logistically."
And Dickey expects a huge impact.
"Instantaneously, this becomes the largest night race in the world. This is gonna be a gargantuan race," he said. "This will have a bucket-list effect around the world. It becomes a must-do race."
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Base Building, February 28 - March 6, 2011
Daily Quote: "Don't believe everything you read. It is indeed possible to run -- long and fast, for months on end -- on a stress fracture. Rest doesn't cure all injuries. Great races are possible when you're deep into heavy training. Less is almost never more. And here's the real upender: Haile Gebrselassie jogs in place at stoplights." --Scott Douglas, Running Times Magazine, "Scott's Original Miscellany" March 2011, pg 52
My weight loss was minuscule, I currently weigh 176.1. I should be happy with the weight loss, but I was very strict with my diet and added the most weekly running mileage this year. I thought I would be at least 175 pounds this week.I know the closer I get to my ideal marathon weight of 170 pounds the tougher it will be to losing weight.
My previous marathon weight of 170 pounds helped me accomplish three Boston Marathon Qualifiers, and now consider this weight my ideal racing weight. Of course, maybe I could even run faster with even less weight, but I would be very happy to return to 170 pounds.
Last week I ran a total of 33 miles, which is the most weekly miles this year! My mileage base is still being built toward that 60 mpw goal that I have set for myself, as of yet, I haven't cut any crosstraining or weight training as I continue to increase my mileage. Eventually, something will have to give as I have limited time due to my working 12 hour days as a Las Vegas cab driver. My training last week:
Monday: Easy Run, 4 miles. Swam 20 laps.
Tuesday: Easy Run, 6 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Wednesday: REST DAY
Thursday: Easy Run, 4 miles. Swam 25 laps.
Friday: Easy Run, 5 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Saturday: Easy Medium-Long Run, 10 miles. Cycling, 30 minutes.
Sunday: Easy Run, 4 miles.
Total Weekly Mileage: 33 miles.
My weight loss was minuscule, I currently weigh 176.1. I should be happy with the weight loss, but I was very strict with my diet and added the most weekly running mileage this year. I thought I would be at least 175 pounds this week.I know the closer I get to my ideal marathon weight of 170 pounds the tougher it will be to losing weight.
My previous marathon weight of 170 pounds helped me accomplish three Boston Marathon Qualifiers, and now consider this weight my ideal racing weight. Of course, maybe I could even run faster with even less weight, but I would be very happy to return to 170 pounds.
Last week I ran a total of 33 miles, which is the most weekly miles this year! My mileage base is still being built toward that 60 mpw goal that I have set for myself, as of yet, I haven't cut any crosstraining or weight training as I continue to increase my mileage. Eventually, something will have to give as I have limited time due to my working 12 hour days as a Las Vegas cab driver. My training last week:
Monday: Easy Run, 4 miles. Swam 20 laps.
Tuesday: Easy Run, 6 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Wednesday: REST DAY
Thursday: Easy Run, 4 miles. Swam 25 laps.
Friday: Easy Run, 5 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Saturday: Easy Medium-Long Run, 10 miles. Cycling, 30 minutes.
Sunday: Easy Run, 4 miles.
Total Weekly Mileage: 33 miles.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Blood Test Results
Quote: "PSA is a protein produced by cells of the prostate gland. High levels of PSA can be a marker for prostate cancer, although it's far from a perfect screening tool, experts say. Men with both high and low levels of PSA can have cancer or not have cancer." --Prostate Cancer Foundation, Research News, Article "Rapid Rise in PSA Levels a Poor Predictor of Prostate Cancer"
I received the following letter from Dr. Kyra Norris in regards to my blood tests that were taken last week:
"Dear Mr. Robison:
I have reviewed your results and wanted to provide you with an update.
Your total cholesterol is 179 mg/dl The goal is below 200 mg/dl. Your LDL or “bad cholesterol” is 98 mg/dl. The goal is below 130 mg/dl. Your HDL or “good cholesterol” is 61 mgldl. The goal is above 40 mg/dl Your Triglycerides level is
101 mg/dl. The goal is below 150 mg/dl.
The following test(s) are within the normal range: red blood count, white blood count, platelet count, cholesterol, blood sugar electrolytes, liver enzymes, and kidney function.
Your PSA level is 4.50 ng/dl. Normal is 0 to 4 ng/dI.
The following test(s) are outside the normal range: PSA (prostate level).
Please repeat a 10 hour fasting blood and urine test(s) in I month. These tests have been ordered for you. Please go to any Quest Diagnostics laboratory to complete these tests. No appointment is necessary to complete these tests."
Overall, I'm pretty happy with my blood test, even though my PSA level is troubling, I'll be taking another blood test next month and see what happens. I'm having a stressful Spring with the discovery of a nodule in my lower right lung, a lump in my throat that needs a biopsy, and now my prostate too...
I received the following letter from Dr. Kyra Norris in regards to my blood tests that were taken last week:
"Dear Mr. Robison:
I have reviewed your results and wanted to provide you with an update.
Your total cholesterol is 179 mg/dl The goal is below 200 mg/dl. Your LDL or “bad cholesterol” is 98 mg/dl. The goal is below 130 mg/dl. Your HDL or “good cholesterol” is 61 mgldl. The goal is above 40 mg/dl Your Triglycerides level is
101 mg/dl. The goal is below 150 mg/dl.
The following test(s) are within the normal range: red blood count, white blood count, platelet count, cholesterol, blood sugar electrolytes, liver enzymes, and kidney function.
Your PSA level is 4.50 ng/dl. Normal is 0 to 4 ng/dI.
The following test(s) are outside the normal range: PSA (prostate level).
Please repeat a 10 hour fasting blood and urine test(s) in I month. These tests have been ordered for you. Please go to any Quest Diagnostics laboratory to complete these tests. No appointment is necessary to complete these tests."
Overall, I'm pretty happy with my blood test, even though my PSA level is troubling, I'll be taking another blood test next month and see what happens. I'm having a stressful Spring with the discovery of a nodule in my lower right lung, a lump in my throat that needs a biopsy, and now my prostate too...
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Base Building, February 21-27, 2011
Quote: "There will always be storms. Challenges are abundant. Life is better when we accept them, stop wishing them away and start believing in ourselves. After all, something on the horizon is coming either way." --Dave Griffin, from the article "After the Last PR," Running Times Magazine, January/February 2011, pg 59.
The above quote struck a chord with my current storm; I no longer cough up blood, but still occasionally spit up blood during my runs. Last Monday I visited my new primary health care provider, Kyra Norris, she had scheduled me for my next cat scan in six months, gave me an array of blood tests, and scheduled me to see a Ear, Nose & Throat Consultant, Dr. James H Heroy III, M.d., F.A.C.S. on Wednesday. Wednesday I visited Dr. Heroy and he gave me a throat exam and discovered a lump at the back of my tongue near my larynx, which should have a biopsy...my next visit is scheduled for March 15th. Working with my HMO does take time.
My weight today is 176.5 on my six foot frame! The weight is coming off very slowly, which is going according to plan as I strive to lose 1-2 pounds per week. My belonging to about.com's weight loss challenge helps me stay on track with losing weight. I'm striving to reach 170 pounds during my base building period.
Last week I ran a total of 30 miles, which is the most weekly miles this year! My mileage base is still being built toward that 60 mpw goal that I have set for myself, but I have to admit something is going to have to give for me to accomplish more mileage...I may have to start cutting out some of my crosstraining as to allow more time for running. Perhaps eventually running "doubles?!?" Working twelve hour shifts as a cab driver is problematic, but with strict scheduling and persistence, I should still accomplish my goals without sacrificing sleep in the process. Last week's training:
Monday: Easy Run, 3 miles. Swam 20 laps.
Tuesday: Easy Run, 5 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Wednesday: REST DAY
Thursday: Easy Run, 4 miles. Swam 25 laps.
Friday: Easy Run, 5 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Saturday: Easy Medium-Long Run, 9 miles. Cycling, 30 minutes.
Sunday: Easy Run, 4 miles.
Total Weekly Mileage: 30 miles.
The above quote struck a chord with my current storm; I no longer cough up blood, but still occasionally spit up blood during my runs. Last Monday I visited my new primary health care provider, Kyra Norris, she had scheduled me for my next cat scan in six months, gave me an array of blood tests, and scheduled me to see a Ear, Nose & Throat Consultant, Dr. James H Heroy III, M.d., F.A.C.S. on Wednesday. Wednesday I visited Dr. Heroy and he gave me a throat exam and discovered a lump at the back of my tongue near my larynx, which should have a biopsy...my next visit is scheduled for March 15th. Working with my HMO does take time.
My weight today is 176.5 on my six foot frame! The weight is coming off very slowly, which is going according to plan as I strive to lose 1-2 pounds per week. My belonging to about.com's weight loss challenge helps me stay on track with losing weight. I'm striving to reach 170 pounds during my base building period.
Last week I ran a total of 30 miles, which is the most weekly miles this year! My mileage base is still being built toward that 60 mpw goal that I have set for myself, but I have to admit something is going to have to give for me to accomplish more mileage...I may have to start cutting out some of my crosstraining as to allow more time for running. Perhaps eventually running "doubles?!?" Working twelve hour shifts as a cab driver is problematic, but with strict scheduling and persistence, I should still accomplish my goals without sacrificing sleep in the process. Last week's training:
Monday: Easy Run, 3 miles. Swam 20 laps.
Tuesday: Easy Run, 5 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Wednesday: REST DAY
Thursday: Easy Run, 4 miles. Swam 25 laps.
Friday: Easy Run, 5 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Saturday: Easy Medium-Long Run, 9 miles. Cycling, 30 minutes.
Sunday: Easy Run, 4 miles.
Total Weekly Mileage: 30 miles.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Base Building, February 14-20, 2011
Quote: "...too many people never realize that sacrifice is a requirement of life. You either sacrifice today to reach tomorrow's goals, or you give up your dreams in favor of the fleeting comfort that's distracting you. The pleasant reality, for those who choose the former, is that comfort is abundant when long-term goals are achieved." --Dave Griffin, from the article "After the Last PR," Running Times Magazine, January/February 2011, pg 59.
My current health goals are to reach 170 pounds, build my mileage base to 60 miles per week, and improve my overall fitness.
My weight today is 177.1 pounds on my six foot frame, just about seven more pounds to lose! The closer I approach my weight goal, the tougher the pounds are to lose. I've been making plenty of sacrifices with my sweet tooth last week, and suffered watching my wife eat a bowl of chocolate ice cream last night! The about.com running forum's weight loss competition ends on May 29th, and I should easily reach my weight goal if I can maintain a one pound loss per week.
My mileage base is slowly adding up and last week ran for a total of 27 miles. No hurry on reaching my 60 mpw goal as I have no races planned in the near future...I keep striving to improve by baby steps, baby steps, because mas most running injuries are due to running too much, too fast. All my runs are easy, about 9-10 minute miles at 60-70% of my maximum heart rate. The following is my effort last week:
Monday: Easy Run, 3 miles. Swam 20 laps.
Tuesday: Easy Run, 5 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Wednesday: REST DAY
Thursday: Easy Run, 3 miles. Swam 25 laps.
Friday: Easy Run, 5 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Saturday: Easy Run, 8 miles. Cycling, 30 minutes.
Sunday: Easy Run, 3 miles.
Total Weekly Mileage: 27 miles.
Tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. (I'm NOT a morning person) I'll be visiting Dr Kyra Norris for the first time...she's my new HMO primary care doctor and will schedule me for my next cat scan as well as to check for other developments in my overall health. The last few weeks have been pretty dramatic for me as I haven't been to a doctor in many years and now I'm starting to feel my age.
My current health goals are to reach 170 pounds, build my mileage base to 60 miles per week, and improve my overall fitness.
My weight today is 177.1 pounds on my six foot frame, just about seven more pounds to lose! The closer I approach my weight goal, the tougher the pounds are to lose. I've been making plenty of sacrifices with my sweet tooth last week, and suffered watching my wife eat a bowl of chocolate ice cream last night! The about.com running forum's weight loss competition ends on May 29th, and I should easily reach my weight goal if I can maintain a one pound loss per week.
My mileage base is slowly adding up and last week ran for a total of 27 miles. No hurry on reaching my 60 mpw goal as I have no races planned in the near future...I keep striving to improve by baby steps, baby steps, because mas most running injuries are due to running too much, too fast. All my runs are easy, about 9-10 minute miles at 60-70% of my maximum heart rate. The following is my effort last week:
Monday: Easy Run, 3 miles. Swam 20 laps.
Tuesday: Easy Run, 5 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Wednesday: REST DAY
Thursday: Easy Run, 3 miles. Swam 25 laps.
Friday: Easy Run, 5 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Saturday: Easy Run, 8 miles. Cycling, 30 minutes.
Sunday: Easy Run, 3 miles.
Total Weekly Mileage: 27 miles.
Tomorrow morning at 8:00 a.m. (I'm NOT a morning person) I'll be visiting Dr Kyra Norris for the first time...she's my new HMO primary care doctor and will schedule me for my next cat scan as well as to check for other developments in my overall health. The last few weeks have been pretty dramatic for me as I haven't been to a doctor in many years and now I'm starting to feel my age.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Restarted Base Building Mileage
Quote: "I never once believed that someone or something else was responsible for my success. Running taught me long ago that there's danger in that kind of thinking. The moment you leave your future in the hands of things outside of your control is the moment you place it in the hands of circumstance. And circumstance doesn't much care about your success." --Dave Griffin, from the article "After the Last PR," Running Times Magazine, January/February 2011, pg 59.
Last week I restarted my base building after a short hiatus due to resting my lungs. All my mileage was easy running within the heart rate zones of 60-70% of my MHR (maximum heart rate.) The following is a short sketch of my exercising:
Monday: Easy Run, 3 miles. Swam 20 laps.
Tuesday: Easy Run, 4 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Wednesday: REST DAY
Thursday: Easy Run, 3 miles. Swam 25 laps.
Friday: Easy Run, 4 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Saturday: Easy Run, 6 miles. Cycling, 30 minutes.
Sunday: Easy Run, 3 miles.
Total Weekly Mileage: 23 miles.
Next week I plan on continuing the slow process of building my base running mileage with easy aerobic running as well as losing more weight. I also will continue to crosstrain in a variety of disciplines. I viewed an interesting video called, Learn How to Skip Rope, and I'm considering purchasing a jump rope...even though I was a total klutz when I was young and couldn't jump rope! I'm thinking during a slow night at the airport's cab holding area I could jump rope.
My wife gave me a $50.00 Border Books Gift Card for my birthday and I quickly spent it on books and exercise magazines! I purchased the book, "Performance Nutrition for Runners," by Matt Fitzgerald, which I hope will help me eat cleaner, perform better, and perhaps lose a few more pounds. Last week I joined a weight loss competition that's on my favorite running forum site, called about.com Running & Jogging Forum. I hope Fitzgerald's book will be helpful in that endeavour.
Last Sunday my weight was 178.8, today it's 177.9, almost a whole pound! My strategy is to lose one or two pounds per week as to reach my racing weight of 170 pounds. The weight loss competition ends on May 29th, and if I lose one pound per week I could be less than 170 pounds on my six foot frame by that date!
I purchased another chess book, I know I already have over 3,000 chess books, but I just had to have the recent book on Bobby Fischer, "Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall — From America’s Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness." by Frank Brady. Should make fascinating reading when I'm in my cab during those long waits in line.
Last week I restarted my base building after a short hiatus due to resting my lungs. All my mileage was easy running within the heart rate zones of 60-70% of my MHR (maximum heart rate.) The following is a short sketch of my exercising:
Monday: Easy Run, 3 miles. Swam 20 laps.
Tuesday: Easy Run, 4 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Wednesday: REST DAY
Thursday: Easy Run, 3 miles. Swam 25 laps.
Friday: Easy Run, 4 miles. Upper body weight circuit training.
Saturday: Easy Run, 6 miles. Cycling, 30 minutes.
Sunday: Easy Run, 3 miles.
Total Weekly Mileage: 23 miles.
Next week I plan on continuing the slow process of building my base running mileage with easy aerobic running as well as losing more weight. I also will continue to crosstrain in a variety of disciplines. I viewed an interesting video called, Learn How to Skip Rope, and I'm considering purchasing a jump rope...even though I was a total klutz when I was young and couldn't jump rope! I'm thinking during a slow night at the airport's cab holding area I could jump rope.
My wife gave me a $50.00 Border Books Gift Card for my birthday and I quickly spent it on books and exercise magazines! I purchased the book, "Performance Nutrition for Runners," by Matt Fitzgerald, which I hope will help me eat cleaner, perform better, and perhaps lose a few more pounds. Last week I joined a weight loss competition that's on my favorite running forum site, called about.com Running & Jogging Forum. I hope Fitzgerald's book will be helpful in that endeavour.
Last Sunday my weight was 178.8, today it's 177.9, almost a whole pound! My strategy is to lose one or two pounds per week as to reach my racing weight of 170 pounds. The weight loss competition ends on May 29th, and if I lose one pound per week I could be less than 170 pounds on my six foot frame by that date!
I purchased another chess book, I know I already have over 3,000 chess books, but I just had to have the recent book on Bobby Fischer, "Bobby Fischer’s Remarkable Rise and Fall — From America’s Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness." by Frank Brady. Should make fascinating reading when I'm in my cab during those long waits in line.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Result of Cat Scan
Daily Quote: Definition: "nodule" In medicine, a nodule refers to a relatively hard, roughly spherical abnormal structure. Nodules may form on tendons and muscles in response to injury. The vocal cords may also develop nodules. Nodules are normally benign and often painless, although they can affect the functioning of the organ. --Wikipedia
Received the following on my personal site in "SMA Health Online:"
CT CHEST WITH CONTRAST:
ACCESSION #: 5090314 - CT CHEST WITH CONTRAST
TECHNIQUE: Iodinated contrast was administered and spiral CT imaging
performed through the chest.
FINDINGS: There is a single 6 mm nodule noted in the right lung base
on image #56. If the patient does not have any history of carcinoma
and is not a nonsmoker then a followup CT in six months is all that is
needed to ensure stability. If there is high-risk or smoker, then a CT
scan should be performed in three months without contrast to exclude
change. No other nodules are identified. The lungs are clear
otherwise. There is no adenopathy. The mediastinal structures are
normal. The upper abdominal organs where imaged are normal.
IMPRESSION: Single nodule in the right lung base. See above report for
details. Followup is needed.
I already have an appointment with my primary care doctor, Dr. Kyra Norris, for February 21st and will have another CT scan scheduled in the next 3-6 months.
I've returned to running today, a short, easy three miler, at 9:56 mile pace. Heart rate in the aerobic zone of 62-66% of my MHR. NO ILL EFFECTS!! Not only did I not cough up blood, I didn't even cough. I will continue easy running for the next couple of weeks to allow myself to fully heal.
Received the following on my personal site in "SMA Health Online:"
CT CHEST WITH CONTRAST:
ACCESSION #: 5090314 - CT CHEST WITH CONTRAST
TECHNIQUE: Iodinated contrast was administered and spiral CT imaging
performed through the chest.
FINDINGS: There is a single 6 mm nodule noted in the right lung base
on image #56. If the patient does not have any history of carcinoma
and is not a nonsmoker then a followup CT in six months is all that is
needed to ensure stability. If there is high-risk or smoker, then a CT
scan should be performed in three months without contrast to exclude
change. No other nodules are identified. The lungs are clear
otherwise. There is no adenopathy. The mediastinal structures are
normal. The upper abdominal organs where imaged are normal.
IMPRESSION: Single nodule in the right lung base. See above report for
details. Followup is needed.
I already have an appointment with my primary care doctor, Dr. Kyra Norris, for February 21st and will have another CT scan scheduled in the next 3-6 months.
I've returned to running today, a short, easy three miler, at 9:56 mile pace. Heart rate in the aerobic zone of 62-66% of my MHR. NO ILL EFFECTS!! Not only did I not cough up blood, I didn't even cough. I will continue easy running for the next couple of weeks to allow myself to fully heal.
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