Hi there... My name is Rob

I kinda laughed one or two times this week. Funny how one day you wake up and just sit up to take a look around. Yesterday, brought the new start of a week and a Monday. Pretty cool, reflecting on the past week or two. Umstead 100 now behind me and a great time had pacing 50 miles (51) with Mike Keller. I also found a way to get my hands on his really cool flash light! Don't worry Mike, you will get it back. COTRs that sure was fun down there seeing everyone!

Now for Forget the PR 50k and 25k. Where to start... so much going on. Well, I guess I have 200 to 230 runners coming in with about 75 spectators and about 40 volunteers. I guess that is something to think about. It is 2008 Don Baun and I were running trails in Mohican. I was discussing my thoughts of having the biggest 50k in Ohio. I wanted the toughest course in Ohio. Well, did I mean this? You bet! :-)

I have been running and having problems with my IT band still. I went to see a Neurologist to get some input on the effects the back injury has had on my running. The over all assessment was all good. He did say that perhaps the nerve was damaged to a point that I just will not get full recovery. He said the X-rays show a healthy back but we are going to get a MRI completed just to be sure nothing is still against the nerve. If not, than I will need to expect struggles and effects brought on by the running. Everything else function wise is good it just affects my running. Sometimes you just have to stop things you love cause it is for the best.

l had already accepted that this was going to be my last year running 100 mile races. I am focused on Mohican 100 right now but the new focus has shifted to healing the IT band. I am not going to go to the Kansas race and instead focus on 50's for your Moma May 7th. I am going to work with my physical therapist with those extra weeks and try to get some ultra sound work done with some cross training for now. I enjoy going to the Y and have met some really cool people there so it is easy to go work out and motivating.

I already knew that I would be in my last year of running 100 mile races and that I wanted to shift any running to shorter races of distance being 50 miles or less. This is still the plan, but I was wanting to make it cause I wanted to and not cause of injury. I will fight to get this IT band healed. Change is inevitable.

I have been giving some thought to buying a canoe for some time. I just did not like the canoe weight and transport issue as that would be a problem. I had explored kayaks in the past and loved the fact that they weigh only around 45lbs. I could transport it in the back of my truck and lift it with no problems. I always thought it would be cool to canoe and camp along the rivers in Ohio some summer and go from one part of the state to the next via Ohio rivers. I have just always been too busy and rushed and running. Single life gives you the opportunity to see the world and to meet new people. Well...

Last Thursday, I finally decided to take the plunge. I went to Zansville and purchased a great kayak deal. I brought it home and I am very excited about the adventures that are out there in life.

Molly and I like to camp and we have been on some great adventures together but it is time to get some new ones. I am going to get through the Forget the PR and start some planning for sure and see where I end up one day. Camp fire early in the morning. :-)

I am going to post only races as I run them on this blog. I am just not really getting the time free to post anyways. Funny how FB and Blogs waste time... Someday I am sure I will look back and say it was worth it. LOL Some of it anyways. Ha