Marathon Training Update & Cancelled Marathon

Mon. 7/23: Lift weights (45 min.)
Tues. 7/24: Run 1 hr. (6.3 miles?)
Wedn. 7/25: Hike 2 hrs. (in beautiful Wisconsin!)
Thurs. 7/26: Run 8.1 miles (1hr. 6min)
Fri. 7/27: REST
Sat. 7/28: Run 5 miles (42 min)
Sun. 7/29: Run 12 miles (1hr. 52min)

So last Thursday I checked the Stowe Marathon website to see if there were any updates, and it read, "MARATHON CANCELLED". As Borat would say, "Whhaaaat?". So I'm pretty bummed at that, but I can't blame them too much. They didn't give an exact reason why it is cancelled, but I imagine it is from low numbers (not their fault), poor organization (their fault), low on money (not really their fault), and some other factors.

Anyway, I'm researching a new race to run, and I will have that decided soon. Most likely in New Hampshire at the end of September. Right after I post this, I'm taking down the link to the Stowe Marathon on my 'favorite links' list on the right side of this blog. If those douchebags can't give me a marathon, they're not going to be listed here either. That oughta show them! Booyakashah!

Marathon training Update

Again, I have not written many beer reviews lately. As I am pressed for time right now, I will just write a quick marathon training update:

Mon. 7/16: Lift weights (1 hr.)
Tues. 7/17: Run 4.8 miles (44 min), dodgeball (1hr. 15min)
Wedn. 7/18: Lift weights (1/2 hr.)
Thurs. 7/19: Run 6.2 miles (54 min)
Fri. 7/20: REST
Sat. 7/21: REST
Sun. 7/22: Run 19.7 miles (3hr. 5min)

This was my longest run ever and it did not go quite as well as planned. The temperature was decent, not great (about 80 degrees). The first half went pretty well, my split time was 1hr. 26min, but then I slowed down considerably the 2nd half. Ah well, the time was not great, but not horrible either. I had hoped to run it in 3hr., which still is not a super fast time, but I was not too far off of that at least.

This week I will be doing a bunch of running and pumping ze iron as I need to put the capital 'D' back in diesel, as B once said.

More beer reviews on the way soon too, I love good beer too much not to be sharing my views on it on this blog.

About a month and a couple weeks until my marathon- as Bart Simpson says (or used to like to say at least, I haven't watched the Simpsons lately) - Aye Carumba!

Marathon Training Update

Nothing too interesting to update:

Mon. 7/9: Elliptical machine (20 min), Lift weights (35 min)
Tues. 7/10: Run 6.4 miles (53 min)
Wedn. 7/11: REST
Thurs. 7/12: Hill Training 1hr. (5.1 miles?)
Fri. 7/13: Run 4.8 miles (41 min)
Sat. 7/14: Run 8.2 miles treadmill (1hr. 8 min)
Sun. 7/15: Run 10 miles (1hr. 32 min)

This will be an easy running week. Good time to pump some iron and get ready for my big 20 mile run this upcoming Sunday. Giggidy gee!

Beer Review: Dogfish Head 120 Minute IPA

Just like this beer's weaker siblings, the 90 Minute IPA and 60 Minute IPA, this beer is a continually hopped (for how long? you guessed it, 120 minutes), big, over-the-top doozer of a beer.

This beer is cloudy, with lots of carbonation, and pours a pale red color. There is a very strong hoppy smell. Smelling this beer reminds me of 7th or 8th grade science class where we were taught to never just stick our noses down a test tube and smell, as the chemicals could strong enough to burn our noses or lungs. Instead, we were taught to waft the odors towards our noses. Not to make the aroma coming out of this beer sound bad, but it is just such a strong hoppy smell it made me think of that.

Basically the way to describe the taste of this beer is hoppy. It is basically a beefed up 90 minute IPA. Drinking and smelling this beer is like sticking an actual hop up your nose and inhaling deeply. It is difficult to describe this beer other than just saying the hops are a bit overwhelming. I am quite the hophead compared to the normal beer drinker, but this beer was still too intense for me. There is super huge mouthfeel and lots of flavor in this beer. Unlike the Jack Bauer variety of this beer, there is no citrusy undertones present.

Even the Dogfish Head website describes this beer as ridiculous and over-the-top. They even beg the question, "Too extreme to be called beer?". This beer is 20% alcohol, 120 IBU's, and a whopping 450 calories! I didn't taste all that alcohol while consuming this one, but I certainly tasted the 120 IBU's. This beer is released three times per year, and it is only sold by the single bottle (for $9.45 where I bought it). I enjoyed the experience of drinking this ultra hoppy beer, but I wouldn't buy it again, as it is too intense for me to really enjoy. I enjoyed its weaker siblings better (60 & 90 Minute IPAs). It would certainly be easy to get drunk off of a few of these however, it's easy to forget it's 20% alcohol!

Overall rating 3 out of 4 beer bottles.

Marathon Training Update

Quick update this week:

Mon. 7/2: Elliptical machine (25 min), Lift weights (45 min)
Tues. 7/3: Run 6.4 miles (55 min)
Wedn. 7/4: Hill Training 1hr. 5min (5.7 miles?), Bike 16 miles (1.5hrs)
Thurs. 7/5: REST
Fri. 7/6: Run 7.9 miles (41 min)
Sat. 7/7: REST
Sun. 7/8: Run 10 miles (1hr. 29 min)

Marathon Training Update

This past week was an easy week for me as was directed on my training guide. No long run last weekend, but a big long run that went pretty well this weekend. I've been lazy about lifting lately- need to pick that up this week.

Mon. 6/25: Run 6.4 miles (55 min)
Tues. 6/26: Dodgeball (1hr.)
Wedn. 6/27: Run 4.8 miles (45 min)
Thurs. 6/28: REST
Fri. 6/29: Run 4.8 miles (41 min)
Sat. 6/30: REST
Sun. 7/1: Run 17.6 miles (2hr. 33 min)

The long run went well- legs, ankles, and outer knees starting to get a little bit tired near the end of the run but that is to be expected. My legs feel great today and are only a bit sore, a little stretching through out the day should take care of that. My next long run will hopefully be 20 miles- Giddyup!

Beer Review: Dogfish Head 90 Minute Imperial IPA

This beer is the "big brother" of the 60 minute IPA, in that it has more alcohol, more calories, and more hops! This beer pours a light 'pumpkin' color. It smells very hoppy and strong, slightly bitter.

This beer is very tasty. It is slightly bitter and is very hoppy. It smooths out in the middle of beer; the slight bitterness goes away. The overall taste is of hops and nuttyish malt. This beer is certainly not for the faint of heart. Unlike its little brother described above, there does not seem to be much citrusy taste at all. Also unlike the 60 Minute, one could not sit around drinking this beer all day- a bit too strong for that.

I drank this beer while munching on pistachios, and they went very well together. As I already said, this beer packs a lot of punch, certainly not for a Coors Light 'afficionado'. Although quite strong, this beer still manages to be pretty smooth. At 9% alcohol, 90 ibu, and 294 calories, this beer might not bring Jack Bauer to his knees, but it will certainly bring down any Michelob Ultra drinker.

Overall rating 3 1/2 beer bottles out of 4.

Dogfish Head beers have an average rating of 3 1/3 beer bottles out of 4 so far on this blog... As Adam Sandler once said, "Not too Shabby!". Stay tuned for the review of the absolutely ridiculously hoppy 120 Minute IPA...