I went down to Fleet Feet on the way home from work to pick up the materials for the Zoo Zoom. For me, it was a shirt, the tracking chip, my bib (I hate that name), and a t-shirt. For Jenny & Gregory, it was their bibs (both number one - appearently all the kids are #1) and t-shirts. Their smallest shirt size was Gregory's size! He's six, but Jenny's only three and about half his size. I suppose she'll grow into it.

I guess this means we're committed. It's going to be really cool, and runner's family members all get into the zoo for free. The schedule is:

8:00 a.m. 5 km Run/Walk (3.1 miles)
8:35 a.m. 10 km Run (6.2 miles)
9:30 a.m. 5 km awards ceremony (Main Stage inside the Zoo)
9:45 a.m. Saucony Run for Good Fun Runs
220-yard run for ages 4-under (no toddlers, this event is on the road!)
440-yard run for ages 5-6
1/2-Mile run for ages 7-9
1-mile run for ages 10-12 (Additional waves may be added based on entry numbers)
10:30 a.m. 10 km awards ceremony (Main Stage)
10:45 a.m. T-Bone's Magic and Fitness Adventure (Main Stage)

That means that for all of us to eat breakfast early, we'll have to get out of the house at like 5:30! That's ok though, I think we can manage. I'll do the 5k at 8, then depending on zoo hours we'll either spectate the 10k, or head into the zoo.

I have a few goals for the 5k:

- Finish faster than 30 minutes (no problem, but it has to be a goal)
- Finish in the top 10
- Have fun

#2 will be harder than #3, of course. Looking at last year's 5k standings for my age group if I work my butt off I should be able to crack the Top 10, but there are more people registered this year than last. Looking at the 10k standings and times, it's obvious to me that most people register for the 10k. If there were that many for the 5k, there's no way I'd make the Top 10.

So... keep me in your prayers.

I ran 5k at lunch, but used a different strategy this time. I found I pushed myself too much in the first mile the last time to the point where I was just pooped at the end. I think that's where I've been going wrong lately and why my times have suffered.

29:07:67 this time around, not my greatest, but I feel better afterwards. I'm not EXHAUSTED like I was the other day. Then I did a light jog back to work. 37 minutes total, 425 calories burned.

Maybe I can punch it just a TINY bit more on Sunday. :)

On a message board I frequent someone linked to this video of the Dallas Cowboys doing their training, and oh man, I recognize a lot of those! Notice what they're doing, too:

- FAST lifting, not slow. They're all for fast twitch muscle fibers.
- KEEPING THE HEART RATE UP. Circuit training to burn more calories while building muscle.

I *love* watching videos like this. There's no room for slacking with these guys. They're professional. Watching stuff like this gets me back in check to where I need to be. Which is where I'm not now. :)

Like today. Thanks to taking the car to the body shop for an estimate this morning, that was my lunch hour. I didn't work out at work, so I said no problem, I'll burn the 600 at home tonight.

Yeahhhh right. I did a half-hour of cardio, burned 330 calories, and decided to watch tv with my wife for a while. That was my big mistake right there, assuming I'd get back to it after. She went to bed after The Riches, but did I? Nooo, I started feeling tired and look at me, I didn't work out any more.

Not to mention, I continue to be a wimp on the treadmill! I just don't understand it. I took my speed down to 6mph for the entire stretch, yet I bailed at 20 minutes and switched to the stairclimber. For some reason I just can't sustain much time on there these days.

Anyway, I'm off to bed now. At least I'm going to bed at 10 tonight!

I also got my confirmation email for the Zoo Zoom today. It says you can switch runs prior to race day (like switch from the 5k to the 10k or back), and I'm seriously tempted. But I know that since this is my first race, I better do what I know I can do. Don't want to overdo it my first time out! Only 3 days left, I pick up my chip & race bib tomorrow.

Tonight, I dodged a SERIOUS bullet. There I was, in the mini market getting a drink or the drive home, when I saw a nice, fresh pile of donuts. Just CALLING my name.

Then I remembered, I have two $1 off coupons for MetRx Protein Plus bars in the car. So I grabbed one, grabbed a bar, and that satisfied the craving. 320 calories, I ate that in lieu of dinner.

43 minutes on the stairclimber this evening (basically the length of a Babylon 5 episode). 360 more calories burned, 756 total for the day (that's a bit over the 600-calorie goal, hehe).

The B5 episode was Grail. Not the greatest episode of the series, but you know I'm gaining a new respect for those Season 1 episodes. They aren't near as bad as some people like to make them out to be.