Joey Lawrence's Catchphrase?

Whoa!!! I'm in running nerd heaven... As you may or may not know, I'm running my first marathon in April. I've been training with the TEAM off and on, and running on my own for quite a while.

The coolest thing so far in all my running has been my Nike + system for the ipod Nano. It truly is the reason that I'm where I'm at today in my running. You plug a little sensor into the bottom of your Nano; it talks to a shoe sensor; while you run, the Nano gives you feedback through your headphones. When you are done you get a summary of all kinds of data, plus when you sync to itunes all of your data is uploaded to Nike's website... and if you did really well either Lance Armstrong or Paula Radcliffe tells you that you ran further or faster than you ever did. Simply amazing, esp. for $29.99. The motivation that it has given me is priceless.

the Nike website is Applerific

The problem with the ipod is that it is a little inaccurate, which if you aren't running very far doesn't really matter. But when you have to run 14.5 miles to get it to think that you ran 13.1 it's a different story. So the interface (pictured above) is incredible. The grape Apple Kool-aid is my fav. But my training log, pace per mile, all that stuff is getting to be more and more important.

So, I bought the latest and greatest thing EVER!!! The Garmin 305, wrist mounted GPS unit. It slices, it dices, it juliennes. It's a little Dick Tracyish, but I don't care. It tracks elevation, distance, heartrate, time, pace... AHHHH!!! Information. Overloading. System.

Look at these graphs...

and that's not all... are you ready... GOOGLE MAPS!!! Of your run...
but wait... It get's cooler... WATCH THE RUN ON THE MAP!! Surely, you can't be serious?!? I am serious, and don't call me Shirely." Here's the link for that.

So, look for emails and what not from me, whenever the run is particularly cool.

And look at this one more thing... It's a picture of our Honored Hero, Olivia Cheek. The gadgets and fun aside; all this running is for Olivia and all the other kids and adults struggling with Leukemia and Lymphoma.
She is a happy and healthy 4 year little girl... who, thankfully, is cancer free now. But her health didn't come without a struggle. TEAM in Training, who I'm working with, helps raise money for research and to help families like Olivia's fight against cancer. If you want to help, please donate to the cause. Your support really does make a difference.

The New-Wave Re-Revolution Continues

Check out this Aussie band... They are called "Cut Copy" and this single, "Lights & Music" is from their album that is about to be released. After just seeing the movie "Control" about Ian Curtis, the lead singer for "Joy Division", I'm really liking this sound. Synthy but with real instruments in that basic structure.

Papa's got a brand new Camera

ATHENS, GA - 1/22/2008

I just took my first few pictures with my new digital camera. I've been dying to get a digital SLR forever; so I broke down, took the plunge, and got a Canon Rebel XT from Amazon. Four days of misshipments and a trip to the UPS station at 8:45 tonight and it is mine... mine... allll miiiinnnnneee!! cue dah-dah-dannnhh!!! from "Young Frankenstein" and or "Dramatic Hamster" if you're all hip with the kids.

I love photography, esp. macro and low light shots, so check back often and critique away. Go ahead, I can take it. There now, don't you feel better; making fun of me and my pitiful sophomoric efforts.

Oh yeah, and I'm starting back the running program big time. I slacked off over the holidays. I've only been running a couple of times a week at best, nothing further than 6 miles at a click. April 26th and 26.2 miles in Nashville are going to be here before I know it - - so I'm on it.

If you want to support my running and my cause, please donate. Here's the link. Team in Training is the best thing going to fight blood cancers, and it's helped me so much already. So help if you are able.

Thanks and Have a Great '08 - I know I'm planning on it.

"B+W Bella"

"House on Haunted Hill Bella"

"Macro Bricks"

Up at 2:10 AM

Some people who know me really well probably think this is obvious... but I have ADHD like crazy. I've been off and on with the prescription droogs for it over the past few years. I've also tried omega 3's, meditating, B-vitamins, not sweating it so much, etc... One of my best friends works for a pharma company, and got me to try Strattera. Which rocks at helping. A powerful neurotransmitter reuptake inhibitor has side effects though. Some are awesome, like appetite suppression. And it has some side effects which I'm not too groovy on, like, oh, I don't know, INSOMNIA.

The bad thing is that I love the rush of having ADHD. It feels like I'm brainstorming all the time. Creativity is as the max. When I run or drive I have the best ideas about all kinds of things I want to get done or tell people about...

But then I don't get anything accomplished. Brainstorming sessions need to be edited. Some of the wonderful ideas aren't. They need to be lined through on the big easel notepad that's in the front of the meeting room OF MY MIND. Also, social and work interactions can suffer a bit. Being a manic street preacher who dominates every conversation he's in does have some downsides.

I've never experienced trouble sleeping. Only when I'm super stressed about a specific issue, usually something I've procrastinated about and need to take a distastefully confrontational action on, have I had trouble. Usually it's head on the pillow and lights out in 30 sec. Not so tonight. I finally got around / didn't get distracted by something and got my Strattera refilled today. I wanted to go ahead and get some in my bloodstream, so I took one early evening with dinner. Bingo!! Insomnia tonight. And I know Will is going to come into my bedroom around 5am, like he usually does, and hop into my, admitted very cozy, bed to "sleep wit you, Daddy" So, I've been doing the look at the clock and calculate how much sleep I'm going to get tonight math. OK. If I fall asleep RIGHT NOW, I'll get 5 hours. If I fall asleep RIGHT NOW, I'll get 4 hours and 57 minutes. If I fall asleep RIGHT NOW, I'll get 3 hours and 34 minutes.

I don't like calling people at 1:34am or texting them, because even if they are up... Cell phone buzzing at this time of the night means booty call and/or EMERGENCY. Neither of which applies. Not that the former would be so bad, but anyway.... So, I thought I'd try a little blogging. And then a little corn flake, high glycemic index, carb coma treatment.

Good Night. Sleep Tight. Don't take a pseudo Class II stimulant a few hours before bed.

Listening to - Nothing... I don't want to wake them kidz.
Mood - Apathetic
Currently reading - Something Boring

So, my left knee started bugging me a little over half way. It's OK. I feel fine now. We'll see how it feels in the morning.

MOVE Your Feet

This makes me happy... so happy. How do foreign bands figure out the "American" sound so well some times?


This comes from youaintnopicasso.com A great blog about music.

More running and music and photo blogging to come... I feel a prolific weekend coming on

If I forgot to call/email/comment Happy New Year - It's not too late, we've got a whole year to hang out... Make '08 Great! or '08 is Great! take your pick

It's not Christmasy - but it is pretty cheesy

But I don't care... for some reason, I love this. Happy Holidays



but I wonder... does Andreas know that Elmo isn't a real boy??

The Most Important Thing I'm Doing Right Now

CAUTION!!! Watching this video has been known to cause a lump in your throat and/or watering of the eyes. Side effects may include donating to help me or another of my TEAMmates reach our goals.

The Way I Feel Right Now

I'm running, I'm shopping, I'm emailing, I'm working, I'm cross-training, I'm AthFesting, I'm parenting, I'm fundraising, I'm blogging, I'm myspacing, I'm baking.... AAHHH!!!

More to come... The wheel keeps on turning, I think I can hold on 'til the Holiday's are over...

The Evil Look

My step-mother SueAnn, who always sends truly good stuff, sent me this the other day. Then, maybe, a half dozen other people have forwarded it also, so, I figure I have to post it as well.

This should make you at least smile... a little... if it doesn't, then I don't know about you.

Trying to be Open Minded is Tough

Fun Quirky Song

I can't wait to get a "real" camera... It is killing me!!!

Funny T-Shirts I Wouldn't Wear

Savannah Race Update

Greetings Record Enthusiasts!!!

No, I didn't end up officially breaking any records, except my own. I ran the 10K portion of the Double Pump faster than I've ever done a 10K before. Whoo!! Hoo!!

Place Bib Name Age City Total 5K 10K

159 4186 Andy Payne 37 M Athens GA 1:25:55 27:20 57:50 

So what, I ended up 159th out of 265 people. No where to go but faster, I hope.

Here are a few more pictures of the race:

Did I really go over that thing THREE times???

I love this shot

My Super Trooper, Trellis.
She was sick as a dog with some sort of mystery throat infection,
but she came out for me and ran the 5K. I loves my sis'!!!

The Double Pump

Real quick... I finished the Double Pump (15K) over the Savannah River Today. It is the "Toughest Bridge Run in the South" The bridge is a 5.5% grade.

What you do to do the Double is run a 5K over the river, then turn around, and run a 10K back over the river twice, ending up at the same finish line. 5K - 27:20 and 10K - 58:something.

It was the best race I've run so far... tons of fun. But I felt like I was cheating. Wearing the TEAM in Training jersey gave me such an advantage; people cheering for me, getting waves and shouts of "GO TEAM" from other TNT runners. It just gave me the biggest lift. I met most, if not all, of the Savannah TEAM; what a bunch of totally nice people.

Today I was running for a kid with leukemia that my good friend Tanner Shultz was a bone marrow donor for. (talk about being heroic) And I really want to thank Tanner being the biggest donor I've had so far, and his company Eli Lily does a 100% matching donation. Whoo!!

The most important thing that happened to me though was during the ascent over the bridge for the third time. I was feeling it big time, and had slowed to a walk at one point. All of a sudden I heard a voice in my ear, "Remember who you are running for" A man ran by me, and he pointed at me, and said, "They didn't quit, you can do it too" It was like a rocket being strapped to my back; I took off and passed all kinds of people, and made it up the last part of the bridge. After the recovery on the back half, you have to run through the flat part of the finish, but there is one more not that tiny hill to conquer. No problem!

I sought the man out after the finish and gave him a big hug and introduced him to my sister, Trellis, who'd run the 5K. He told me that he had been involved with TEAM in training for seven years, and just when he had stopped, his grandson was diagnosed with AMS. So, he knows what the society can do. He knows how it helps people and families diagnosed with cancer. It was a humbling and uplifting experience at the same time. That little voice of encouragement came at the best time and was such a powerful motivator, I felt like I was cheating, like I had taken a hit of some performance enhancing drug or something.

So, keep plugging away, keep running, if not for someone else, just do it for yourself. More pictures from the race and a few more stories to come. What a great day!!!