Week in Review

It was a good week of running for me.  I ran a total of 38 miles.  My long run was 14 miles, which I did on a hilly course.  I ran 5 days and rested 2 days. 

Next week I will cut my mileage back to 25-28 miles to give my legs a chance to rest.  The following week I will run around 41 miles total.

Ways to Donate

If you would like to make a donation to Summit Academy in support of my run, you have a couple of options to do so.  You can donate through my blog using the secure "donate now" button.  If you would prefer you can write a check, make it out to Summit Academy, and give it to me or mail it to Summit Academy at 11508 Main Street, Louisville KY 40243.  Please add Pikes Peak in the memo section.

Thank you for your support of Summit Academy and our children.  We greatly appreciate it.

A Balancing Act

Over the years I have learned how fit my running in around a busy life.  When I decided to take on the challenge of running Pikes Peak Ascent, I wasn't overwhelmed by the amount of time I would need to train.  Truth be told, if I wasn't running this race, I would still be training about the same amount.

However, I miscalculated the amount of time it would take to keep up with the blog, Facebook and Twitter.  It takes a lot more time to keep up with the social media part and to get the word out about Summit Academy.  I'm struggling to keep my head above water at this point.  I'm lucky to have help from the development committee at Summit Academy.  It will only get harder.  I will need another vacation after this is over. 

Someone asked me the other day if I was a trust fund baby, because in my blog I didn't mention anything about working.  After thinking about it, I came to the conclusion it was a very good question.  The answer is no, I'm not a trust fund baby.  I do have a job.  In my professional life I'm a financial advisor with Ameriprise Financial.  One of the perks of my job as a financial advisor is flexibility.  As long as I'm not in a meeting with a client I can work from almost anywhere, assuming I have my laptop and cell phone.  I have one of the best assistants around, who makes my office run like a well-oiled machine.  Also, my work hours don't have to be from 9-5.  This flexibility has helped over the years, especially with a special needs child. 

One of the reasons I can get it all done is because I'm an early riser.  I usually get up around 5:00 AM (this morning it was 4:45 AM).  I spend the first hour and a half catching up on the news, markets and e-mails.  I will also use this time to research and review client portfolios.  Beth and I get the kids up and ready for school.  I get Tyler on the bus and go for a run.  When I get back from my run, I catch up e-mails and work that has come in over the last hour.  Then it's on to work.  Each day is different, but the same.  I run, work and take care of my family-not necessarily in that order.

There is another reason I get it all done, and that's Beth.  There is no doubt I married well.  I also married a runner, so she understands my need (addiction) to run.  She is also the first person I turned to when I decided to run Pikes Peak Ascent.  She is always there to pick up my slack and help me get it all done.  Together we make a great team and I am blessed to have her as my partner in life.

Week in Review

It was a busy week, but I managed to run 34 miles total for the week.  My long run was 12.64 miles in 1:58:57, so my new Nike+ Sportswatch GPS tells me. 

Next week I plan to run around 38 miles total.  I need to get more hill workouts in and I need to continue to increase my long runs.  I hope to run a long run of 13-14 miles next week.

Video of Abbe and I on Louisville Live Today

We are on at the end of the show around the 45:00 mark.

http://www.justin.tv/wbki_tv/b/286075905

Watch me on Louisville Live Tuesday, May 17 at 10:00 AM on WBKI, The CW

One of the reasons I took on the challenge of running the Pikes Peak Ascent race was to bring awareness to the community about Summit Academy.  I get my chance to do that on a bigger stage this week.  I will be on the TV show, Louisville Live, this Tuesday May 17.  Louisville Live is on WBKI, The CW at 10:00 AM.

Abbe Pedersen, Director of Communication and Marketing for Summit Academy, and I will share Summit's story and talk about my challenge of running up Pikes Peak.  I look forward (nervously) to this opportunity.

Please tell all your family, friends and co-workers to tune in and watch us, and don't forget to set your DVR.   

Week in Review

It was a good week of running for me.  I ran a total of 35 miles (including the Throo the zoo 5K I'm getting ready to run this morning).  Wednesday I did a double, 3 miles in the morning and 5 miles of hills in the evening.  This was the first week with the heat and humidity.  I actually like running in the heat, but it will take a couple of weeks for my body to adapt.

Friday was my long run and I did 12 miles at Iroqouis Park.  The first nine were on the pavement, then after refueling with gatorade, I ran a trail for the last 3 miles.  I haven't run much on trails and I think it's completely different than running on the pavement.  You have to concentrate more on where your feet are landing, so you can't zone out.  The Pikes Peak Ascent is run almost entirely on a trail, so I need to continue training on trails.  I felt good on my long run and my time was 1 hour and 53 minutes.

Next week I plan to run around 35 miles with a long run between 10-12 miles.

TV Appearance

I'm excited to announce I am going to be on the Louisville LIVE television show on WBKI, The CW next Tuesday, May 17.  Louisville Live is on air from 10-11:00 AM.  I will be talking about my Pikes Peak Ascent run and Summit Academy.  This is great exposure for Summit Academy and I really appreciate Louisville Live taking an interest in what we are doing.  Please share this with all of your friends and plan on watching it.  Thanks for your help and support. 

I will write more on this later.

Summit Academy Run Club

This Saturday the Summit Academy Run Club will run the Throo the Zoo 5K.  Janna and Jessica, the coaches, have done a tremendous job of teaching and training the kids to run a 5K (3.1 miles).  I'm very proud of the kids and I can't wait to see them cross the finish line.  They have been training really hard to get ready for the race this weekend, including this past Monday, which was the hottest training day by far this year.  They are ready for a hilly and challenging course.

The run club will have matching shirts on.  We will have a big Summit Academy sign and will set up at the finish line.  Come hang out with us and help cheer the kids on.

Thanks for Your Support

100 days until race day!

I want to take a moment and thank everyone for your support of Summit Academy and my run.  I greatly appreciate it.  I love getting your e-mail and comments, so keep them coming. 

Let me know if you have any questions about Summit Academy, my training or the Pikes Peak Ascent run.  Also, let me know if you have any blog suggestions.

Continue to help me spread the word.  Tell your friends to check out my blog.  Also, follow me on my Facebook Fan Page.  There is a link on the right side of my blog page, click it and "like" my Facebook Fan Page.  Please share both with your friends on Facebook.

To make a donation to Summit Academy, click on the Pikes Peak Ascent sponsor Todd picture.

Thanks again for your support.

Learning Disability Statistics

Learning disabilities are a reality.  Statistics confirm that children with un-remediated learning disabilities suffer.  The community suffers as well:

• One out of every seven children has a learning disability of some kind. 
• There are over 20,000 disheartened, struggling school age children in metro Louisville. 
• Their high school drop-out rates are 35% higher than their peers.
• They have a 50% higher chance for teen pregnancy
• They have an alarming 220% higher chance of ending up in the legal system

Week(s) in Review

The last couple of weeks have been chaotic.  Between work, the weather and Beth being out of town, my training hasn't gone according to plan.  That being said, I have extra weeks built in my training for times like this.  I feel like I'm back on track though.  This week I ran a total of 30 miles with a long run of 10 mile.  Next week I plan to run aroung 33 miles total.