1. Oakland Raiders – W
   First, I never put up a L against the Raiders. Second, I think Denver is actually better.
2. Cincinnati – W
   This one could be very ugly…if you root for the Bengals.
3. @ Tennessee – W
   First road game and I think the Broncs carry their winning ways into this game. Will be a close one though.
4. @ Green Bay – L
   On the road against the defending Champs? Winning streak comes to a quick halt…but they learn something here.
5. San Diego – W
   I think the Broncs split the season with the Chargers and take the one at home.
6. BYE
7. @ Miami – W
   Just don’t think the Fins are any good and the Broncs are coming off a week of rest before having to make the East Coast trip.
8. Detroit – L
   I really want to put a “W” here, but something tells me this one gets away from them (and Detroit will be much improved this year).
9. @ Oakland – W
   May actually be a loss, but see game #1.
10. @ Kansas City – L
    We never seem to play well here…calling for yet another season split. However, I have a sneaking suspicion this one will be close.
11. NY Jets – L
    Offense won’t be able to do enough against this DEF.
12. @ San Diego – L
    Hard to win on the road against this team, and SD will be making their late year comeback by now.
13. @ Minnesota – W
    Not many will agree with me here, but I think the running game and DEF help sneak out a win on the road here. And I just don’t think MIN will be very good.
14. Chicago – W
    Cutler back home? Yummy! Von Doom should have fun with this offensive sieve line. ;o)
15. New England – L
    We typically play this team well at home, but can’t bring myself to put the “W” here.
16. @ Buffalo – W
    This team is B-A-D and will be in the Andrew Luck sweepstakes. Really cold weather could be a factor…but I see us depending on the running game and pulling it out.
17. Kansas City – W
    I think we have something to play for here and will show up to get the season split.

So…my season prediction? A CRAZY 10-6. For the record, I said 8-8 last year (only missed it by 4 games!)…so my predictions mean nothing. But I truly think the Defense is looking good (great so far…but expecting some reality when the season starts). My biggest concern? Two really…injuries…and Orton (if there are close games here he will NOT win them for us).

Even if we end up 6-10 (which is more likely) I still think EFX have on the right road…and who knows…every year there’s that one team…maybe it’s us this year! Go DONKEYS!!

This week I pick it back up and end the week with a 16 mile run (another “longest run”). I look forward to this long run with a little apprehension given how my last long run (14 miles) ended. I really need a decent long run to get some of my confidence back and strike out some of the doubt lingering in my mind about finishing this marathon.

So my plan is to be more careful with my diet and hydration this week. We’ll see how that work out…still another 9 week of training after this one!

Week 7 Training Plan:

1. Monday: 2 miles @ 9:50 — Ran it this morning, took it nice and easy.
2. Wednesday: 5 mile tempo @ 8:18 pace for 3 miles
3. Saturday: 16 miles @ 9:50
4. Total = 23 Miles

Must improve my diet and am hoping life settles down a little and allows for some more cross-training, but not holding my breath. Onward & upward!

Here are the two pictures that Colin at Red Sky Tattoo was working from…and I asked him to add the phrase “With You Always” to the piece…

My Favorite Picture of Them Both

I got the recommendation to use Colin from the shop owner and I visited him a couple of weeks ago and set an appointment on the spot. When we showed up he took about an hour to do the stencil and once he showed it to me I was no longer concerned…it rocked! Here’s the stencil on the arm…

It's Big! Anita thinks too big, I think just right!

It took 2.5 hours of actual chair time to finish. I was in the shop a total of 5 hours, but that included the drawing time and breaks. Here it was after the first break…

Looking Good

There are three questions most people ask me about the tat the first time they see it. I’ve already answered two of them (where did you get it done and how long did it take). The first question is usually, “Did it hurt?” Answer: “YES!”

But the final result was SO worth it (added the photos so you can see the comparison “side by side”). It’s hard to get a good photo right now since it’s still healing, but you get the general idea…

Love It, Love It, Love It!!

The whole thing was a great experience and I absolutely L-O-V-E the tat. It was worth waiting to find the right person (and I highly recommend the entire crew at Red Sky Tattoo in Castle Rock). I miss both my brother and my sister-in-law very much, but they are always close to me now!

My diet hasn’t gotten too much better so I’m not sure why expect anything to go any better than it has. This week has been a recovery week and I’m finishing it off with a 5K…the one year anniversary from my first race last year. We’ve come a long way baby!

Last week’s training plan (week 5):

1. Monday: 2 miles @ 9:54 — Easy, Breezy
2. Wednesday: 4 mile tempo run (2 @ 8:21) — the start of the bad…had to stop 4 times on this run (can’t remember the last time I had to do that on a run this short)
3. Saturday: 14 miles @ 9:52 — U-G-L-Y…got dehydrated after running out of H2O at mile 12 and not properly preparing for this run in the heat. Must learn a lesson from this one!
4. Total = 20 Miles

This week’s training plan (week 6):

1. Monday: 4 miles @ 9:54 — Felt good, even though my muscles were sore.
2. Wednesday: 6 miles@ 9:54 — Ran this morning and it felt good! Hoping this is a positive sign for things to come.
3. Saturday: 5K race — TBD, but expecting to run a PR (in the 8:00 pace or better range)
4. Total = 13.1 Miles

Still no cross-training…who has the time?!?!?

I’ve noticed that my diet (which hasn’t been great lately) seriously affects my running..so I’ll be paying closer attention to that this week.

Here’s the training plan for this week:

1. Monday: 3 miles @ 9:54
2. Wednesday: 4 mile speed run (2 @ 7:51)
3. Saturday: 12 miles @ 9:54
4. Total = 19 Miles

Cross training has been absolutely zilch since I started my training…just finding it hard to fit anything more into the schedule. We’ll see how that goes moving forward.

Not even going to talk about weight loss right now (since it’s going in the wrong direction!!). Sigh…

Enjoy…

[Show as slideshow]

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Last week I had two runs that needed to be done during Scout Camp. The elevation at camp was over 7.000 feet and it was hilly. Got the runs in and they felt good. Over the past two weeks I also finished an 8 and 9 mile run (from the church to the house). That’s been the hardest part…getting the long runs back into my routine.

Here’s the training plan for this week:

1. Monday: 3 miles @ 9:56
2. Wednesday: 5 mile tempo run (3 @ 8:23)
3. Saturday: 10 miles @ 9:56
4. Total = 18 Miles

Aside from some serious hiking during summer camp, I haven’t done much cross training so I still need to get that into my routine. I’m also having a tough time mentally picturing finishing 26.2 miles…9 miles has been hard enough and that’s only about a third of the distance! Trusting the training and taking it little by little.

Weight Loss Goal: 20 lbs lost (185 target)
Weight Loss Update: Lost 2 pounds in the last two weeks…197 right now.

Next year he’ll be going solo…a week away from family all by himself. Part of growing up and becoming his own man. Has me a little nostalgic…I can still remember bringing him home from the hospital. But it’s great to see him learning, growing, and becoming…well, Logan.

Not exactly sure what’s in store for the two of us next week (aside from some rock climbing and an obstacle course for me…and hopefully some R&R). However, I full expect it to be yet another chance to build some memories…even if we are on two sides of the camp.  ;o)

Are you a “journaler”?

And if so, why? If not, why not?

My answer is both “yes’ and “no”. I have a journal and every once in awhile I even use it. It seems to go in cycles for me. I’ll journal for a good 6 months or so on a consistent basis and then for some reason I stop and don’t pick it up for awhile.

Right now I’m in a “down cycle”…not journaling much at all (aside from blogging, but I don’t think that counts). My suspicion is that journaling is quickly becoming a lost art. Maybe Facebook has taken its place…which is not really good since Facebook is done in the open for all to see, while journaling is a private affair.

Maybe it’s time for me to pick mine up again. What do you think…?

Here’s what this week has in store for me (I’m following the FIRST Training Program that focuses on three runs per week plus cross-training):

1. Monday: 3 miles @ 9:58
2. Wednesday: 5 mile tempo run (3 @ 8:26)
3. Saturday: 8 miles @ 9:59
4. Total = 16 Miles

I also plan on two cross-training days including at least one day of TRX training (love that thing, but it hurts!)

Weight Loss Goal: 20 lbs lost (185 target)
Weight Loss Update: Lost 5 lbs last week (great start, expect things to slow down from here)

I’m sure that’s more than anyone really wants to know…but here we go anyway…