Training Log - Week 19 of 28 - Saturday

Brrrr. Cold and damp. At least it didn't rain!

10 miles

Shoe mileage = 105 miles

Training Log - Week 19 of 28 - Friday

Got up early and ran in my own neighborhood. To the middle school, through Willowbridge, and to Sonic (it was very tempting to stop and eat; alas, I brought no money) then back to the house.

3 miles

Shoe mileage = 95 miles

Training Log - Week 19 of 28 - Thursday

Stomach bug. Not conducive to running.

Training Log - Week 19 of 28 - Wednesday

Rainy in the morning. Cleared up later as a cold front moved through.

Ran at lunchtime.

3.5 miles

Shoe mileage = 92 miles

Training Log - Week 19 of 28 - Monday/Tuesday

Weather is absolutely awful. Pouring rain and cold.

Did not run. Back on the horse this Wednesday.

Training Log - Week 19 of 28 - Sunday

Race day! I had a good day but it was eventful.

HMSA Classical 25k (15.5 miles)
2:47:28 (personal record)

Last year I ran this race in approximately 2:59:00. Shaving off 12 minutes is good thing!

A beautiful day. Sunny and cool.

I decided that I would run this race as a 10/1 (run 10 minutes, walk 1 minute) just to see how that would work. The theory is that your 10 minute run time will get better because who get a break every mile or so for your body to recover.

I think I would have had an even better time but for a few things.

From the start of the race I had many bathroom stops - never eat brisket with spicy BBQ sauce the night before a race.

At around mile 12, a member of our club (Janet, an older lady) took a pretty bad spill. I ran back to help her clean off the blood and decided to run the rest of the race with her at her pace. She got back up and placed 2nd in her age group (that's toughness!).

The first one on the scene to help Janet turned out to be an old college buddy of mine at the University of Houston who I had not seen since 1992. So we ended up talking the rest of the way.

So if it weren't for the extra potty breaks and the "caution flag" for my club mate, I think I could have finished this in 2:40.

Running 10 minutes and walking 1 really helped me keep from tiring out too quickly. At the end of the race I had enough energy left to go further. Also, I was no where near as sore as I was after the 13 mile race three weeks ago.

October 26 -13.1 miles - 2:15:40
November 9 - 15.5 miles - 2:27:28
November 29 - 18.6 miles -
December 20 - 21 miles -

Shoe mileage = 88.5 miles

Training Log - Week 18 of 28 - Thursday

Hills. Four up and down. Ran with Susan C and Kathleen G. Humid but cool. Glad we got the run in early because it's going to rain today.

Friday brings a day trip to Dallas for work and Saturday is a day off. Sunday will be the Houston Masters 25k race in Downtown. Second of our series of four preparation races.

Next Saturday is our annual beer run (more on that later).

4 miles/hills

Shoe mileage = 73 miles

Training Log - Week 18 of 28 - Wednesday

Ran at lunchtime. The weather page on the Chronicle said it was 79F but there was no way it was that hot. Humidity was in the 30% range after lunch.

Ran on San Felipe. I enjoy this route but there's a lot of car dodging when running across the intersections.

3.5 miles

Shoe mileage = 69 miles

Training Log - Week 18 of 28 - Monday/Tuesday

Haven't run since Saturday. Dad went into the hospital Sunday. He collapsed Sunday evening (it's a miracle there was no head trauma). Paramedics came. As best we can tell he didn't have a stroke. Seems like it was seizure.

So, I didn't run Monday because I was with Mom and Dad in the ER until 2am. Tuesday, I messed up when setting my alarm and woke up too late.

Training Log - Week 17 of 28 - Saturday

Good run this morning. Humid but reasonably cool.

Had a running partner this morning. A guy named Todd. Veteran of Afghanistan (Army). Had a great discussion about our second ammendment rights. Said he met his wife while over there (she was in the Army also). "We'll always have Kandahar..."

11 miles

Shoe mileage = 65.5 miles

Training Log - Week 17 of 28 - Thursday

Hills (garages) again this morning. Cool but a little humid. It's fun to reach the top of the garage and look up at the stars.

4 miles

Shoe mileage = 54.5 miles

Training Log - Week 17 of 28 - Wednesday

Another beautiful day. 67F and 3o% humidity. Ran on my lunch hour in the Galleria area.

3.5 miles

Shoe mileage = 50.5 miles

Training Log - Week 17 of 28 - Tuesday

Took Monday off. Needed time to rest. I really hit it hard on Sunday. I sore on Monday. Still a little bit sore today.

Picked it up today with hill training. As I've said before, we have few hills here in Houston (do the freeway overpasses count?). So you have a choice between a treadmill that elevates or parking garages.

Met the advanced group at one of the parking garages on the Hewlett-Packard campus at 5:30am. Up and down three times.


3 miles

Shoe mileage = 47 miles

Training Log - Week 16 of 28 - Sunday

Woke up at 5:30am and headed downtown for the 2008 Koala/Luke's Locker Half Marathon. This is race #1 of 4 that we will run in preparation for the big one in January. The Koala Half, IMHO, is the best organized of the preparation series (although the next one has better swag).

The weather was sunny, cool and dry but a little warmer than anticipated. I hit this race hard and tried to leave nothing on the table. Began to slow down around mile 11 as some some soreness set in. Connected for the last two miles with my friend Sonny Mims. He was struggling a bit so we ran and talked and before we knew it we were at the finish line. Running is an individual sport but we all try to support one another (leave no one behind!).

The bad news... my time was slower than last year's race.
The good news... I was only 20 seconds slower.

Unofficial time = 2hrs 15min 40sec

Taking Monday off from training. Advanced Team is running 5 miles but I am going to pass and start again on Tuesday (hill training).

Next race is on November 9. 25k (that's 15.5 miles to you and me).

October 26 -13.1 miles - 2:15:40
November 9 - 15.5 miles -
November 29 - 18.6 miles -
December 20 - 21 miles -

Shoe mileage = 44 miles

Training Log - Week 16 of 28 - Thursday/Friday

Insanely busy at work so did not run. Friday was an off day anyway. Tissue work done at Koala Sports Medicine on Thursday. First big race of the season on Sunday!

Training Log - Week 16 of 28 - Wednesday

Advance team meeting. Special strength traning. The plan was to go three miles after SST but we all had to get to work.

2 miles

Shoe mileage = 31 miles

Training Log - Week 16 of 28 - Tuesday

Short run today before we ramp up on Wednesday and Thursday. Then two full days rest before the first of our four warmup races...

2 miles

Shoe mileage = 29 miles

Training Log - Week 16 of 28 - Monday

Weather is warming up again. Ran indoors on the treadmill today.

4 miles

Shoe mileage = 27 miles

Training Log - Week 15 of 28 - Saturday

Clear skies. Upper fifties. Ran by the moonlight for the first half of today's run. Felt pretty good afterwards. Could have run further. That's good because I have a half marathon to run in 8 days...

A lite week next week ahead of the race. But I am told that we are going to start hill training the week after. Since we have few hills in this part of Texas, we'll be running up and down parking garages.

12 miles

Shoe mileage = 23 miles
Total mileage this week = 23 miles

Training Log - Week 15 of 28 - Friday

Normally I would rest on Friday but I skipped Monday so today was penalty mileage.

2 miles

12 miles on Saturday morning. Temp is supposed to be 57F! What difference 25 degrees makes. This is my favorite time of the year to run.

Half marathon next Sunday!


Shoe mileage = 11 miles

Training Log - Week 15 of 28 - Thursday

More rain. But it did let up later in the day and the temps were cool for the middle of the day. Ran at Memorial Park (my old running place of choice; packed dirt is so much easier to run on than concrete!) during my lunch hour.

4 miles

Shoe mileage = 9 miles

Training Log - Week 15 of 28 - Wednesday

Rain rain go away! Heavy rain and storms all day.

Had to retreat to the gym to run on the treadmill.

3 miles

Shoe mileage = 5 miles

Training Log - Week 15 of 28 - Tuesday

What a difference a new pair of shoes make! Will probably buy one other pair after the 21 miler in December.

This morning was a track workout. Blessed with a lite rain!

16x 30sec (5k pace) x 30sec (walk)
2 mile cool down

Shoe mileage = 2 miles

Training Log - Week 14 of 28 - Saturday

Long run day. Weather was reasonable. Cool but more humid than previous days.

11 miles

Buying new shoes on Monday and will keep a cumulative total of miles on the shoes. Need to be replaced every 300 miles or so.

Training Log - Week 14 of 28 - Thursday

Ran at lunch today. Mid-seventies. A bit more humid but a beautiful day none the less.

3.3 miles (35 minutes easy)

Lisa emailed to say that she had chose the design for Buck's headstone. Typical Lisa: it would have been fun (the design aspect, I assume) had it not been so sad...

Training Log - Week 14 of 28 - Wednesday

I was in the Galleria area today working on our webserver (co-located in the Marathon Oil tower). Finished what I need to get done, went to the gym, changed and ran out side.

Sunny, upper 70's with 24% humidity. Wow! It's like a sunny day in L.A.!

Hamstring and piriformis are tender but held up ok. Gotta keep on moving!

3 miles

Training Log - Week 14 of 28 - Tuesday

Marilyn had to leave early this morning for jury duty at the county courthouse in downtown. She left before my workout with the team was scheduled so I had to skip.

Spent at hour at Koala Sports Medicine. Worked on my hamstring and piriformis (muscle in one's gluteal area). Ouch!

Training Log - Week 14 of 28 - Monday

Track workout with running team at 5:30am. This time it was sprints.

12x30 second runs with 30 second walks in between each rep

2 mile cool down

Training Log - Week 13 of 28 - Saturday

Skipped today's 1o mile. Doc worked me hard at the sports medicine place. Need to heal over the weekend.

Training Log - Week 13 of 28 - Thursday

Skipped track workout today and will not make it up tomorrow. May skip Saturday's workout.

Going to sports medicine doctor for this annoying muscular issue.

Training Log - Week 13 of 28 - Wednesday

An old injury is creeping up on me.

Illiotibial band syndrome. Cause: too many miles.

Went to my sports medicine doctor/chiropractor and had my leg worked on.

Was told to lay off the running until Saturday. The net loss is one day of training.

Hopefully we've caught this early. Best cast scenario is I cut down the running to 3-4 miles every other day and give up the track workouts. Worst case is I have to take a week or two off for therapy. This is a muscle issue so it can be worked out with deep tissue therapy (not fun).

Here's hoping for a good run on Saturday.

Training Log - Week 13 of 28 - Tuesday

Slept in after a hard workout on Monday.

Ran at the gym on the treadmill at lunch.

4 miles

Training Log - Week 13 of 28 - Monday

Cool morning. Low humidity.

Track workouts this week on Monday and Thursday.

We started a routine called "Special Strength Training" (SST). Light weights and other exercises for quads, hamstrings, and hips.

2 miles after the SST

** we broke the $12,000 mark in fundraising today with help from friends of Buck's in Louisiana. So a big "way to go" to our friends to the east!

Training Log - Week 12 of 28 - Saturday

Cool weather this morning for the long run. A bit foggy on the bayou path (in Houston we have these drainage ditches that we call bayous). Reminded me of the Hounds of the Baskervilles...

Life is returning to normal on our side of town after Hurricane Ike. Most folks have their power back. Curfews have been lifted. Galveston will still take years to rebuild.

And the Tina Turner jokes have stopped. Texas is Tina and Ike is coming to get her. Something tells me that Anna Mae Bullock got the last laugh on that one.

9 miles

Training Log - Week 12 of 28 - Friday

I was beat on Thursday. I went to bed early on Wednesday and slept for 11 hours. I can't remember the last time I got that much sleep since we've had children.

3 miles

Weather looks great for the weekend. The curfew has been lifted so we can run earlier. 9 or 10 miles on Saturday morning.

Training Log - Week 12 of 28 - Wednesday

Track workout

1) 1200 meters at a 10 k pace
2) 12 burpees (squat thrusts with jumps) - skipped this - didn't want to mess up my back
3) 50 ab crunches
4) 18 push ups
5) 25 body weight squats (fast)
6) 800 meters at a 10 k pace
7) 15 squat and dumbell presses with weights
8) 50 low back extensions
9) 12 feet elevated pushups
10) 20 lunges with each leg
11) 25 bench dips
12) 1200 meters at 10 K pace
13) repeat steps 1-12
14) 1 mile cool down.

It took forever to get back to the house. Normally, it's 15 minutes from the track to my front door. Today, 40 minutes. Thanks for getting power back on, NOW FIX THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS!

Training Log - Week 12 of 28 - Tuesday

Slept in. Ran at the gym during my lunch hour. It's getting hot again.

3 miles

Training Log - Week 12 of 28 - Monday

Up early to run with the Advanced Team. Just Mark, Susan, and me. No lights on the running path but it was a cool morning.

4 miles

Training Log - Week 11 of 28 - Saturday

Ended up resting today.

Our long run was optional. Couple of lingering problems from Hurricane Ike.

Curfew meant that we couldn't get out on the road very early.

Many streetlights not working made for dangerous conditions.

We are actually a week ahead of last year's schedule so no great harm.

Training Log - Week 11 of 28 - Thursday

Boy am I sore. But I cowboyed up and ran. I think it helps to keep moving.

3 miles

Training Log - Week 11 of 28 - Wednesday

First track workout with the advanced team. It was hard but no as bad as I thought it would be. The temp was 67 degrees before the sun came up. No lights at the junior high track where we training so we exercised in the moonlight.

Here's what we did

1) 800 meters at a 10 k pace
2) 12 burpees (squat thrusts with jumps) - skipped this - didn't want to mess up my back
3) 45 ab crunches
4) 18 push ups
5) 25 body weight squats (fast)
6) 800 meters at a 10 k pace
7) 15 squat and dumbell presses with weights
8) 45 low back extensions
9) 12 feet elevated pushups
10) 20 lunges with each leg
11) 20 bench dips
12) 400 meters at 5 K pace
13) repeat steps 1-12
14) 2 mile cool down. - skipped this as I was out of time and need to get home to help Marilyn

Training Log - Week 11 of 28 - Monday/Tuesday

Decided to skip training until Wednesday and get over my head cold.

Training Log - Week 10 of 28 - Entire Week

Most of last week was a wash.

Monday - 3 miles
Wednesday - 3miles

Thursday/Friday - preparations at work and home for Hurricane Ike left no time for training. Came down with a cold (perfect timing!).

Saturday - storm hit and lasted the better part of the day. No damage at home but no power. Relocated to Katy (sister-in-laws) because they had power and air conditioning. Needless to say, our long run was cancelled due to 90 mph winds.

Sunday - still exiled to Katy.

Training Log - Week 9 of 28 - Saturday

It was 68F this morning at run time with low humidity!



6:30am - 9 miles



Back held up well until after the run. A little sore now but nothing that a day a rest can't cure.

Training Log - Week 9 of 28 - Thursday/Friday

Went to the chiropractor late Wednesday. Back was very sore.

Back spasms all yesterday and part of today. Felt it would be better not to run on Thursday. Friday is a rest day anyway.

Was finally able to pop my back by myself in such a way that gave instant relief.

I am not stretching like I know I should.

Nine miler on Saturday am.

Training Log - Week 9 of 28 - Tuesday/Wednesday

Did not exercise on Monday (Labor Day). Caught up on sleep, which is just as important as mileage.

Tuesday - 3 miles
Wednesday - 4.25 miles

On deck Thursday, we begin speed training!

Training Log - Week 8 of 28 - Saturday

Didn't quite make it to eight miles today. Another very hot & humid day.

5:20am - wake up
6:00am - 7.25 miles (close enough for government work!)

Marilyn has also told me that she is planning to run at least one mile with me.

Martin is in for three.

Steph is in for at least one.

I'll get by with a little help from my friends.

This week begins "track work". Now that we've built up a base we are going to get faster and stronger.

I am also adding extra days during the week. A two miler here and there to keep me on the move.

On the iPod today:

I Will Not Be Moved - Natalie Grant
Miracle of the Moment - Steven Curtis Chapman
Everlating God - Lincoln Brewster
Eminence Front - The Who

Training Log - Week 8 of 28 - Friday

No run today. Rest!

8 miles on Saturday morning.

My sister Stephanie and my friend Martin have agreed to jump on the course on race day and run with me for a mile each at around mile 20 - 21.

Click here to see map of the course.

I've never run more than 21 so I figure that if I have someone running next to me for encouragement that it will carry me through the park and onto Allen Parkway (mile 23 - 25).

Training Log - Week 8 of 28 - Thursday

All week I have not been able to bring myself to run outside. On the way home from work I was sweating like a pig even though I had the A/C on full. It's just too damn hot.

3 mile tempo run indoors.

A tempo run consists of a period of slow running then a faster than normal pace followed by a period of cooling down. A ran each of the three miles at a different pace.

Slow run = 11 minute mile
Fast run = 9 minute mile
Recovery run = 10 minute mile

Friday is a rest day.

Long run on Saturday.

Training Log - Week 8 of 28 - Wednesday

2 miles. Indoors on treadmill.

Training Log - Week 8 of 28 - Tuesday

3 miles

I ran inside on a treadmill today. Too freaking hot!

Plus, I wanted to sleep in. I believe I overdid it with back to back runs on Friday and Saturday. Might be overtraining a little bit.

Sing and Make Music - Psalm 57

Psalm 57:5-11 (NIV)

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.

They spread a net for my feet—
I was bowed down in distress.
They dug a pit in my path—
but they have fallen into it themselves.
Selah

My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and make music.

Awake, my soul!
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.

For great is your love, reaching to the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
let your glory be over all the earth.

Training Log - Week 7 of 28 - Saturday

Muggy, humid, and miserable. No end in sight for about another six weeks. I am ready to run in cooler weather.

I only got 5 in today. I set my alarm for 5:30am, or so I thought. I accidentally set it for 5:30pm! Needless to say. I arrived just in time for 5 with the Champions Fit blue group.

Time permitting I will get three miles in on Sunday.

6:20am - Wake up
6:50am - 5 miles

Training Log - Week 7 of 28 - Friday

4:50am - Wake up
5:30am - 5 miles

This has been a long week.

Tuesday and Wednesday I had a stomach bug.

Thursday brought rain and lightning at run time. Ok to run in the rain but no lightning!

This morning was catch up but I am going to be three miles behind my goal for the week. Eight miles on Saturday morning. I will probably break 20 miles total per week next week.

Today was a bagel run. We began and ended at Panera Bread on SH249. Also, we do this on occasion to celebrate birthdays in the club. Happy birthday Kimberly Bowron and Mark Lehman!

What I am listening to on my iPod:

Baba O'Reilly - The Who
Hey Ya! - Outkast
Back Down to Zero - Robbie Rivera
Let It Rise - Big Daddy Weave
Free to Run - Newsboys

Anything with a solid cadence helps with the run.

Baba O'Reilly speeds up to double time in the last several bars!

Training Log - Week 7 of 28 - Monday

The cool air from last night's rain did not last until this morning.

Another hot and humid day. August in Houston, gotta love it!

4:50am - Wake up
5:30am - 5 miles

Total mileage this week = 5 miles

Ran slower this morning. The advanced team coach is advocating a plan of running slower (1 minute slower than race pace) in the early part of the training. The benefits are:

1) increases the stroke volume of your heart (heart pumps more blood with fewer beats)
2) increases lactate threshold (point when body cannot get rid of lactic acid waste product faster than it is produced; soreness!)
3) burns fat instead of glycogen, leading to weight loss and
4) trains your body to run on stored fat, not glycogen - delaying or hopefully, eliminating "the wall".

That would be great. The "wall" is not much fun. Avoid if possible.

Training Log - Week 6 of 28 - Saturday

Not quite as hot this morning.

Ran with one of the other Champions Fit coaches for the last 2 miles. She was flying! It's easier to get through a run if you have someone to talk to!

5:30am - Wake up
6:10am - 7 miles

Total mileage for week 6 = 15 miles

Adding a fourth day of running next week. The week after that I will add one more.

Will most likely start running garages on Tuesday.

Since we don't have many hill here in Houston, we use parking garages for our "hill" training.

** Fundraising update - received approximately $1800 from Rapides Regional Medical Center. A little shy of the $3000 I was expecting but perhaps there will be more to come. Still 22 weeks to go before race time!

Training Log - Week 6 of 28 - Thursday

It's so HOT, even at 5:30am.

A run of any distance in this weather is nothing but a slog. Averaging an 11 minute mile right now. The good news is that when the weather begins to cool down in October it will be easier to pick up the pace (last year my mile pace was about 9:30/mile).

If it doesn't kill you, it makes you stronger!

4:50am - wake up
5:30am - PREP workout then 4 miles

Total mileage this week = 8 miles

Going to pick up another 3 or 4 on Friday, since I missed a day in the middle of the week. Long run of 7 miles on Saturday. Should get me up to 18 or 19 miles. Nearly back to my pre-baby mileage base.

On the fundraising front, just shy of $9000 on the website and still to collect a reported $3000 from RRMC!

What the Papers Had to Say About A.C.

Town Talk, the local paper in the Alexandria, LA area, published two artciles about A.C. last week in addition to his obituary.

Our View: Buchanan Legacy Alive and Healthy

RRMC CEO remembered for 'visionary leadership'

Arren Calvin "A.C." Buchanan, III - Obituary

Training Log - Week 6 of 28 - Monday

Getting back on track today. Our whirlwind trip to Louisana for Buck's funeral (and to spend time with Lisa) made it difficult to get any runs in.

4:50am - Wake up
5:30am - PREP workout and 4 mile run

Total mileage this week so far = 4 miles

*PREP workout includes the following

30 crunches
12 push ups
25 body weight squats
30 low back extensions
15 squats with dumbbell presses
20 lunges each leg, holding dumbbells

I am sure I will be sore tomorrow!

Marilyn's Comments from Buck's Funeral

My wife, Marilyn, made the following short speech during Buck's funeral (I am so proud of her!):

My name is Marilyn Peacock & I am AC’s oldest niece.

I loved my uncle dearly. Ever since I was a little girl, I always felt as though we were kindred spirits – both with logical minds, but also feelers. And I’ve seen several parallels in our lives.

There were times in my life, as well as in his when one of these aspects – the logic or the feelings – outweighed the other taking each of us down paths that led to less pleasant times .

But we learned from these experiences – learned what to steer clear of, and eventually found the way to balance, and back to the path that led to happiness.

I found my wonderful husband Scott, and AC found Lisa,
And I thank God regularly for both of them.

I am so thankful that my uncle found his soul-mate, and that he was able to live such a loving and fulfilling life with her.

I thank Lisa for coming into his life and giving him the love and respect he so richly deserved, and for completing the wonderful person he grew to be.

I also want to thank all of you here – his colleagues, members of his church family and his community, his friends and extended family – for caring for my uncle and for being a part of his life. I know he treasured you all. God bless you.

Revelation 7:9-17 - "...every tear from their eyes"

Visitation is at 5pm on Friday, the funeral is on Saturday.


Revelation 7:9-17 (New International Version)

The Great Multitude in White Robes

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.

And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."

All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying:

"Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!"

Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"

I answered, "Sir, you know."

And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

Therefore,
"they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.

Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

In Memoriam - A.C. Buchanan

Buck passed away today. Later in the day on Monday, his condition deteriorated. He became unconscious and never woke up. We were told that the clot is his brain burst and he hemorraged severely.

By this afternoon his neurosurgeons told us that he would be in a vegetative state permanently. The decision was made, in accordance with his wishes, to end life support.

Buck passed with Lisa, Carolyn (Lisa's sister), David (Buck's son), Nick & April (Lisa's son and his wife), and several of his neices and nephews by his side.

Lisa is resting at her hotel with her sister and her neice Kathryn. She is due to return to Louisiana on Wednesay.

Please keep Lisa and the entire family in your prayers.

I'll post information about funeral arrangements when they become available.

I have a five miler at 5:30a. I think it will be the toughest run I've ever done.

Truly a dark day.

Lunchtime Visit with Buck

Marilyn & I visited Buck and Lisa at lunctime (Lisa's sister, Carolyn, was there, too). The kidney issue mentioned earlier has been discounted. Apparently, that's ok now. His doctors are preparing to start him on a different "super drug" (this is what Lisa called it). The first time they tried this it caused problems with his heart. The staff will be monitoring that closely. Once that's under control they will look at some thinning agents to address the clot in his brain. I am sure that this is infinitely more complex than I am describing but I am not a medical professional.

Buck seemed to be in good spirits, all things considered. Lisa says at times his having problems finishing his sentences. Also, it seems that he can't tell what each hand is doing at one time.

In the meantime, we are hunkering down for Tropical Storm Edouard, which is coming right for us. A hospital is probably the safest place to be at the moment.

Update from Lisa - Stroke

** Lisa called at about 9:25am. Apparently Buck had a stroke on Sunday. He still has a blood clot in his brain. Doctors say that they cannot treat the clot at this point because Buck's kidneys are not functioning properly. They have to address the issue with the kidneys first. They were taking Buck for an MRI when she called. More updates as I get them.

Training Log - Week 5 of 28 - Monday

** Visited with Buck and Lisa briefly yesterday. As we were parking the car at their hotel, Lisa called to say that she was taking Buck to the ER. Couldn't finish his sentences. Couldn't hold his fork. Would stare off into space. By the time we got there he seemed OK and we talked for a few minutes. She took him to the ER anyway to have him checked out.

4:50am - wake up
5:00am - 3.3 miles - didn't feel like running further - stressed out over Buck's situation

Training Log - Week 4 of 28 - Sunday

** Email from Lisa that Buck seems to be feeling better after a platelet transfusion yesterday. Headed down there after lunch to visit.

No workout - day of rest as the Creator intended.....

Psalm 103:1-6

Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Training Log - Week 4 of 28 - Saturday

** Via sister-in-law, was told that Buck will be staying in Houston for the next month. Sounds as though the treatment is getting more agressive. Email from Lisa on Tuesday said that his bloodwork showed that his "blasts" are up (meaning his body is producing cancel cells again).

Pray hard!

5:15am - Wake up
6:00am - 6.13 miles

Total mileage this week - 13.13 miles

The theory behind marathon training is this:

Shorter "bread and butter runs" during the week, long runs once a week. On the long runs each week the mileage gets bumped up a little bit. Next week, 7 miles on Saturday.

Saturday is long run day with the entire club. In addition to training for the marathon, I am coaching beginning and shorter distance (half marathon runners) on Saturday morning. This is how I started out five years ago.

Training Log - Week 4 of 28 - Friday

** Lisa emailed this morning to say that she and Buck are off to their appointment at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.

Friday - no scheduled run - rest!

In preparing for the marathon, there are three races in the 2009 Houston Marathon Warm Up Series:

Oct 26, 2008 - Koala Health & Wellness Centers/Luke's Locker Half Marathon (13.1 miles)
Nov 9, 2008 - HMSA Classical 25k (15.5 miles)
Nov 28, 2008 - Champions Fit 30k (18.6 miles)
Dec 20, 2008 - Champions Fit/Katy Fit Annual 21 Mile Run

The 21 miler is called the "cookie run." Volunteers are waiting every few miles with cookies (carbs are good when you are going to burn them off!).

Tomorrow morning will be a 6 mile run with my club, Champions Fit.

Training Log - Week 4 of 28 - Thursday

4:50am - Wake up.

5:30am - 3.5 miles with Champions Fit ATP (advanced training program)

30 crunches, 12 push ups

Unbelieveable Response

It was two days ago that I decided to run the Chevron Houston Marathon "for a reason" this year.

Through the marahton website (http://www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/), I created a page on Active.com to raise money from the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society in honor of my uncle, A.C. "Buck" Buchanan, who was diagnosed with chronic leukemia earlier this year.

Also, I wanted Buck to know that a lot of people care about him.

I set what I thought was lofty goal of $1000. Two days later, the amount raised is over $1100.

Wow!

Buck's wife, Aunt Lisa, said that a lot of eyes will be watching the progress of my training now that folks have laid out their money, for a good cause of course, to see me finish the race. That's why I created this blog.

Check this blog daily to see where I am at in my training and for news about Buck's progress in fighting the disease.

To donate to the LLS, please visit http://www.active.com/donate/llshoustonmarathon/4unclebuck