Soundtrack for this Cocodona training block: Theme from the film Armageddon. Because I'm just an ill-prepared guy from the oil fields, with not enough time to train, in the hopes of just getting on that launchpad in May and lighting a candle under impossible odds. So bad it's good. #running

As I prep for the coming winter storm, I pulled out my winter spikes and dreamed of a scenario where only I can run across the city for supplies on impassable streets. The best part of any niche hobby is imagining an incredibly unlikely scenario where it actually becomes useful. This is my moment 😂

I've been thinking about this run since that knee twinge on Sunday. My PT this morning found that my hamstring is tight enough to be played like a guitar and targeted that a bit. No electric dry needling required. And tonight? What do we say to the Cocodona DNS idea? NOT TODAY. #running

My co-worker knows I run trails and gifted me the recent NYT article on Kilian Jornet. "Some extreme runner. You kinda look like him." I sure don't run like him, but that's still the greatest compliment I'll be given today 😂

If you can’t fly then run. If you can’t run then walk. If you can’t walk then crawl. But whatever you do, You have to keep moving forward. - MLK Jr. May we all do our part to keep Martin Luther King Jr's dream alive. Love, compassion, diversity, equality, inclusion. And not accepting an inch less.

That's a 44 mile week, all outdoors! I didn't feel quite as fresh as yesterday, which is normal for a Sunday run. No tightness, maybe the ghost of a ping on the inside of my left knee in the first 200 meters. But it never spoke up again. Looking forward to an earned rest day tomorrow. #running

Just finished The Endurance Artist by @jaredbeasley.bsky.social, and I was hooked the whole way through. The Barkley & Backyards are hard enough to explain without getting lost in mythology, and laz is no different. This book captures the appeal of all three, while preserving their humanity as well.

I really needed a running win today, and I got it. Ten miles, ninety minutes, zero stiffness or pain! This needs to be just one link in a long chain of healthy runs, but it feels significant. Still holding together! #running

It's tough to gradually build miles when I'm supposed to be doing 70+ mile weeks, but I'm staying patient. If I tweak my knee again, I won't have time to properly prepare for Cocodona. In the meantime my IT band is quiet, so thank goodness for small favors. Hold together, baby! #running

My condition must be improving, because now I'm stopping because I smell someone cooking burgers in their backyard, instead of knee pain. #running

I intended to cross train today, but it's been a stressful work week and all I wanted to do was get outdoors and clear my head. Another good run. Another PT sesh tomorrow. #running

I ran outdoors with confidence today. No weird tightness, no feelings of imminent pain. I ran for an hour! Now, yesterday was a rest day and there are other explanations at play. But turning my thigh into an electric pin cushion this morning didn't seem to hurt. #running

Tried dry needling with electric simulation this morning for my IT band issue. Basically turning my thigh into a combination of a pin cushion and a cattle electric fence. While Tom Jones' It's Not Unusual played in the background. Actually Tom, it is.

Fast and no pain 👀 #running

I was so happy to simply run around some familiar streets for a change. No pain, even as I pushed towards what seems to be the 50 minute threshold where it usually starts. I'm knocking out my PT homework too! #running

More than football happened today. I might've struck gold with my PT. He's treated ultra runners before. He was thorough and had good suggestions for getting me back on track for Cocodona. The first was seeing if I could avoid irritating my IT band by splitting up runs with cycling. Answer is yes!

I had a postgame video call with my college friends. We were sad for 5 minutes, but it's hard to be disappointed with the greatest season of #olemiss football in our lifetimes. A few plays away from an undefeated regular season, and we got revenge on that team in the playoffs. We survived Kiffin. /

Whatever happens tonight against Miami, this is perhaps the piece of writing that best encapsulates this moment for Ole Miss fans like myself. A program known for reminiscing on its losses, rising out of its latest public embarrassment (Kiffin) and emerging feeling hopeful for the future. #olemiss

I am grateful for exercise as a small escape from The Horrors. Of which there were many, today. It's like every day in this country is a hard day that promises more hard days ahead.

A run, a ride, and my regularly scheduled lift! 30 minutes on the treadmill didn't irritate my IT band, and cycling felt as good as it ever has. I was pouring sweat by the end. Wrapped it all up by going home for my regularly scheduled strength training. A big day felt good. #running

More cycling at the gym! I was feeling yesterday's strength work, so I decided to give the uphill treadmill a go. I could feel that the treadmill wasn't going to be great for my IT band, so called it after 20 minutes. But the bike felt perfect. I'm just a cycling boi now, it seems.

My first PT appointment is Thursday. I've finally accepted that NOT running is probably best for my IT band in the meantime. Cycling doesn't seem to irritate it, so here I am. 75 minutes felt good! Even managed to get into zone 2 for a chunk of it.

I was sidelined by the flu for the past few days, which I took as an opportunity to rest my IT band as well. Sitting around the house isn't easy for me, especially with such lofty goals. A cold rain run reminded me to let go of expectations and do what's best for me. This owl was cool too! #running

Introduce yourself as what almost killed you: Hi, I'm A Tractor Wheelie.

WHAT EVEN WAS THAT FOURTH QUARTER. We beat that crucial missed face mask call and ended the game three times. 2-0 in the post-Kiffin era! #olemiss #cfb

One of my toxic traits is immediately assuming that a national broadcast is against my team. "LACY IN TROUBLE... [heavy sigh, drags from cigarette] ... first down Ole Miss."

It's that time of year where this becomes an Ole Miss football account for a few hours, leaving all but two followers wondering if I got hacked. REBELS TOUCHDOWN! #olemiss

Some guy got very upset that I was reading The Secret History Of Star Wars. Someone asked what I was currently reading, and this random person hopped in to white knight George Lucas and the myth that the SW trilogies were fully planned in advance. I didn't even offer an opinion on the book lol.

One year sober as of tonight. This year I've learned to live a little simpler, a little more authentically, a little more confident. Around March, sobriety started feeling like my natural state, rather than a choice. I won't get those ten years of regular boozing back, but I'm happy to have today.

I don't think I'm in Memphis anymore. #running

Is running with friends and family the best part of the holidays? Maybe not, but it's close sometimes. #running

Breaking: Man in red goes from house to house on Christmas morning. Could it be? Shasta Claus? Merry Christmas!

15% grade, 14 pound pack, 3942 ft climbed. 24:30 warmup 8x {5 minutes @ 1 hr pace; 2 minutes recovery pace.} 24:30 cool down Knocked this out in the morning before Christmas prep began! Hope y'all are having an excellent Christmas Eve/morning

My legs mostly felt great, but a strange fatigue and mild nausea settled in after mile 7. Combine that with a little IT band tightness during mile 8, and that's a recipe for walking the last 1.5 miles home. At least it was a nice night and I'm on holiday. #running

There was also this! 4610 feet of climbing. 15% grade. Tough, but satisfying. Big day.

Running Bingo Day 12/12: Counterclockwise Loop! I saved the best for last. #Running like the gods intended it: Beautiful left turns. Raise hell, praise Dale, merry Christmas, and happy holidays.

Yesterday was a day for family, and there was no way I was going to take a self-indulgent long run. As I always say, life comes first. But in running bingo, I can have my cake and eat it too. Two activities in one day! Final challenge to come. #running

I'm an American. Yearly Indianapolis 500 enjoyer. The son of a son of a Dale Earnhardt Sr fan. I do not turn right. I do not complete circuits in a clockwise direction. I have completed this abomination today for the love of the game, and will discuss it no further... Knee was ok. #running

"Running" Bingo Day 9/12 - At Least 60 Minutes! I didn't post yesterday because my evening was pretty full. But I rode my first 50K (indoors or outdoors), was bored out of my mind, and my knee felt grand. I'll take it!

Ideas from the gym stationary bike: someone needs to mount a Rock Band drum set on the front of this thing. Let my arms shred some classic Rush songs while my legs are stuck in a two hour blast beat.

Instead of today's scheduled uphill treadmill, I applied for an appointment with a local physio. I'm entertaining myself with what the first meeting may be like. "When did you first notice your knee issue?" I ran 100 miles. "What is your goal after rehabbing your knee?" I want to run 250 miles. 😅

One of my Stereotypical Dude qualities is a malignant aversion to seeing doctors. With my knee acting up again the past couple days, it's time to find a PT. Because I'm too turned up on Cocodona training to give it the recovery it needs. Basically I need someone qualified to tell me "no". 😂

2 miles up 5x 3 minutes @ 10% grade, 5K pace 2 miles zone 2&3 Skipped 2 mile cool down I did my uphill speed training by heart rate instead of hard pace, which worked very well. My knee felt better than last night's run, but not well enough to do my final 2 mile cool down. #running

Hoping I've gifted the article successfully so that everyone here can read it.

10 mi Z2 + 6x30" hills My knee got a little fussy during the run, but mysteriously had no complaints about trucking uphill a few times at sub 6 mile pace afterwards. You OK, buddy? #running

And here's my week of workouts! I'll be halfway through the Power Builder plan after this week. Wednesday's paces do not reflect reality at 10% grade. They'll be way slower, but just as tough. I hope I can grit my teeth and put an honest effort into that workout. Looking forward to it all!

Running Bingo Day 6/12: Run through a park! I look forward to these Monday walks with my partner every week. We talk about our day, Cocodona planning, critique holiday nights. Anything, really. We also ran for 17 minutes in a park to satisfy bingo requirements.

This was Day 5 of 12 of Running Bingo: At least 120 minutes! Got it by just 8 seconds.

15% grade for 2 hours. This was super affirming. Treadmill can't compare to trail of course, but in 2 hours I was able to lug a heavy pack up >10% of Cocodona's total elevation gain. I'm a little leery of how low mileage these opening 6 weeks are, but I'm learning a lot and taking confidence from it