Brooks

I am super excited to once again be part of the Brooks Inspire Daily (I.D.) Program for the 2013 season! Although I have exclusively worn Brooks Shoes for the last seven years of running, this is my fourth year of officially being a part of the awesome Brooks Team!

My go to shoe of last year was hands down the Brooks Racer ST 5:

It weighs practically nothing but still gives me enough support so my feet don't hurt. If you are looking for a good shoe that you can wear in training and in races, check it out. I currently have over 600 miles on the pair I am still wearing.

David Goggins World Record Pull-Up Attempt Using CarboPro

Navy SEAL David Goggins Tackles World Record for Most Pull-Ups, Raises Money for Children of Fallen Special Operations personnel

Check out the man attempting a world pull-up record in the NBC studio!

On Thursday, Sept 27, Navy SEAL David Goggins will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the “Most Pull-Ups” in a 24-hour period while also raising awareness and funds for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, a top-rated nonprofit organization that supports the families of fallen and wounded Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps Special Operations personnel.

His efforts will be covered by the TODAY Show (NBC), where a pull-up bar will be installed into the studio and they will monitor his progress throughout the show and again on Friday morning for the finale. The current record for the number of pull-ups is 4,020 by Stephen Hyland at his personal gym in Stoneleigh, UK, on July 23, 2011.

If anyone can break the record, it is David Goggins. As a Navy SEAL, ultramarathon runner, Ironman finisher plus veteran of numerous other endurance races, he is someone who not only enjoys a good challenge, but often puts himself into situations that he doesn’t like. Often times he pushes himself to extreme limits raise funds for a nonprofit organization he is passionate about, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

In 2005, several of Goggins’ fellow Navy SEALs were killed in a helicopter crash during a mission in Afghanistan. To honor them, Goggins vowed to raise money for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, which ensures a full college to the children of fallen special operations personnel. Goggins rationalized that to raise money, he would have to do something extreme, something phenomenal— something incredibly painful.

So, he went online and “Googled the 10 hardest events in the world.” That is where he found the Badwater Ultramarathon, a legendary 135-mile race through Death Valley.

In 2006, with little distance running under his belt, he finished the Badwater and gained much attention from the running world. Although he admits he “hates running,” he continued to push himself by competing in other ultra-marathons to raise awareness for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation, while also honoring the sacrifices of his fallen brothers.

In 2008, Runners’ World magazine named Goggins a “Hero of Running” for his philanthropic efforts.

Goggins will appear on the Today Show from 8:00 am – 8:30 am (EST) when he kicks off his 24-hour period of pull-ups. The Today Show will monitor the pull-ups and have the finale on Friday between 8:00 am – 8:30 am.

To show your support of David Goggins, visit online http://www.firstgiving.com/pullupsforSOWF

IronMan Louisville (Christina is a 5X IronMan)

This past weekend the whole family packed in our van and went to Louisville, Kentucky for Christina's IronMan Triathlon on Sunday. I was so very proud of her and her effort. My wife is not only an amazing athlete but more importantly a beautiful person inside and out. She never takes herself too seriously, so the following is her race recap. 

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Just wanted to share some after-thoughts about this past weekend's Ironman Louisville!

1) I FINALLY learned why IM Lousiville doesn't sell-out like all the other Ironman races (that close within 24 hours) this past weekend! When they say it "can be hot" ... IT'S HOT!! 94 degrees and SUPER HUMID is NOT FUN!

2) When ALL THE OTHER triathletes don't have wetsuits ... that probably means it was obvious it was going to be a NO WETSUIT swim !! Denial, perhaps? Regardless ... not a pleasant surprise to walk down to the start and realize you wont be wearing your wetsuit.

3) The Ohio River IS gross.When you cant see your hand underneath ... it's dirty. And when you swim "around an island" and you're STILL NOT DONE it really puts 2.4 miles into perspective!

4) always remember to 'make a plan' with your traveliing companion who happens to have your transition bags ... my husband dropped me off to stand in line to enter transition and we didnt make a plan to meet... we both walked around for ~20 minutes trying to find each other ... very calming to the nerves...

5) So sorry if you love a time trial start but I HATED IT! Arrived to swim start almost 2 HOURS early to stand in line to enter the water (1st come/1st serve). The seasoned "IM Louisviller's" apparently CAMP OUT to get a good spot in line and dont go to transition AT ALL in the morning. I ended up near the middle-end of the line which was approximately 1 1/2 miles long. So YES ... STOOD in a line for almost 2 HOURS!!! (only good thing is once it started it moved quickly. entered the water ~7:20).

6) They stopped placing port-o-potties in the swim start line after about .5 miles. Which meant the triathletes down by me looked like the homeless watering the grass and squatting anywhere there was so much as a leaf to utilize for privacy...

7) Back to the time trial start. Depending on where you start (in line) you may spend your ENTIRE swim going around lots of people ...

8) Bike course: (FREAKING HOT) Kentucky has NOTHING on Wisconsin on HILLS!! VERY FLAT by comparison!! I have NEVER seen so many flat tires. Apparently a disgruntled Kentuckian decided to throw some tacks spanning a couple miles. Rough day for the athletes and bike support...

9) Note to male friends: Do NOT EVER wear WHITE bike shorts that probably feel very comfortable. That probably means they are see-thru. And people really dont want to see...

10) Participating in an Ironman or toting 3 boys ages 6, 8 and 10 around the race course in 94 degree Kentucky heat ... (that was NOT my request)... but pretty sure I would have rather been racing.

11) It's great to know that the protein powder I use smells and tastes like fish if heated to BOILING point sitting in the sun ... so much for THAT nutrition plan!

12) I have to chuckle when I feel like i'm "moving right along" on the run and my split is an 11:32! hahahahahaha

13) Wore a solid colored sports bra on the run due to the heat. Note to self: Throwing cold water and ice down sports bra to cool off produces a reaction ...

14) Any Ironman finish is a good finish. I always feel blessed to participate. I was probably in the worst place mentally for this race that I have ever been in ... in my life. So I will take it and be extremely thankful! 

Our kids (Chase, Cruz, & Dash) competed in an IronKids Run on Saturday. 

Christina making it look easy at Mile 80. My wife averaged nearly 17.5 mph for the entire 112 miles!

12 hours 49 minutes and 35 seconds later...it is Finished!

Other photos are available online here. 

Official Results are available online here.

Recap of The Last Few Months

Friends -

I have done a lot of soul-searching over the last few months. Although running is important to me, a runner is not who I am; I am a father, a husband, a Christian, a person who wandering through this journey of life is fortunate enough to have a loving partner and a wonderful family to be a part of the the adventure. The upsets and the joys are not what makes us who we are, but how we deal with those things. How fast we bounce back; how quick we recover. Like a long-distance run, whatever life throws at me I am going to make a honest and real attempt to turn it into something great - turn them into growing experiences.

In April, I returned to Pekin, IL to compete at the 150 mile trail distance again. The following is a link to a newscast regarding this race. I ended up dropping out at mile 70. I could provide a laundry list of why, but the bottom-line is I just didn't want to finish. I just didn't feel the outcome was worth the effort. This DNF made me begin to question why I run.

 

In June, I toed the line with 200 plus other runners at the Kettle Moraine 100 Miler. I ended up finishing 7th overall and the first Wisconsinite at our hometown 100 Miler. Finishing first in my age group and having the endurance to pass 4 runners in the last 6 miles certainly made me feel good. But again, does not make me the person I am. Life's an adventure and I'm trying to make the most of each and everyday...enjoying running but not living for it.

My next running adventure will be running with my friend Randy Steiner at the Dances with Dirt 50 Miler in Devil's Lake, WI next weekend. Randy has helped me at many of my races and it will be a pleasure to help him achieve his goal.

Inspiring elementary schooler with cerebral palsy runs amazing 400-meter race

Just viewed this and really found it awesome. Not only the individual effort by Matt but by the unconditional love and support shown by his classmates. Inspiration is out there. There is a quote that a have hanging in my office that I read every so often - I am unaware of the author: "If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves."

Return to the 150 Miler This Weekend

I am getting ready to return to Pekin, IL April 13 to defend the title at the 150 mile trail run at the Potawatomi Trail Runs. I have run this race three times: 2007 (3rd place), 2008 (2nd place), and 2009 (1st place). The race has not been held since 2009. I’m going after my friend's David Goggins’ course record of 33 hrs. 36 min. www.potawatomitrailruns.com

I will be one of 31 runners starting the 150 miler. Please follow us along as we start at 12 noon Central this Friday, April 13. We will be updating via Twitter. Go to www.twitter.com , search on @dexterpunisher , and click FOLLOW.

"Stuff" Ultrarunners Say

This was shared with me and I wanted to share it with you. Super funny stuff written by fellow ultrarunner Dax Ross.

Also can be viewed on YouTube at: www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=nq8lJEJr3xk

3,658 Running Miles in 2011

When I posted my 2011 mileage last January I started the post with a quote from H.P. Liddon...

"What we do on some great occasion will probably depend on what we already are; and what we are will be the result of previous years of self-discipline"

The hardest part of making something a routine is starting it. The very first step. Whether it be the first step out the door on a freezing cold morning or the first step through the doors at your new job. Starting a new routine is the hardest. When I ran my first marathon in 1997 I never dreamed that I would be consistently averaging over 10K of running miles a day. I have been tracking my daily mileage since the start of 2006 and now have a daily 6 year average of about 8.5 miles/day.

Like many of you, I had goals in 2011 - many of which involved running. And like many of you - I did not achieve all my goals but still I am very proud to say I gave it my best.

Running Highlights:

• 3,658.43 total miles run in the year (10.02 miles/day avg; 70.35 miles/week avg; 304.87 miles/month avg) - my best ever.
• Defended the title at the McNaughton 200 Mile Trail Run and took over 10 hours off my 2010 winning time.
• Paced a marathon for the first time (actually 2 in 2011). The first was the Madison Marathon (3:20) 24 days after the McNaughton 200 Mile Trail Run. The second was the Haunted Hustle Marathon (3:30).
• Was competitive in a few marathons: Finished 2nd overall at the Trailbreakers Marathon and 4th at the Dells Marathon.
• Ran 3 official marathon races in the month of October.

Here's to the start of a new year. Anything is possible!