A Twenty Mile week?

I'm sitting at 19.4 miles for the week. They are walking/running miles, or what I call aggressive hiking.

I've been reading a lot about the Pacific Crest Trail that goes from the Mexican border close to San Diego up thru Oregon and Washington and then past the Canadian border. 2,650 miles. And every year around this time, a few hundred people decide to hike it end to end. They're called Thru Hikers.

It's pretty amazing. They take off from 5-6 months to do this journey. They hike thru desert, snowy mountains, rainforest and redwoods. They can climb Mt. Whitney (the highest point in the lower 48) as a bonus.

I read about one Arizonians journey back in 2008. She came to within 100 miles of Canada, before she hurt her ankle and had to stop her journey. Amazing. You can read her journal at Pacific Crest Trail - Jellybean 2008.

Now, I'm following a couple from Houston that just started the PCT on Thursday. Read about Jim and Wendy, as they head north. I'm also, reading about Tim from New Zealand whose starting his journey later this month.

On Wednesday, I plan to hike 10 miles in South Mountain Park, close to home. I wonder if I could do that for 150 days. That would get me a little over half way to Canada on the PCT.

What's the furthest you've ever hiked?

Work In Progress

Ran with Alan Jackson tonight.

2.5 miles. I'm running for 30 minutes at a time. I know I should be able to get more mileage than that, but I am what I am.
And today I'm a slow runner that likes to eat blueberry granola with flax from Target. It's so good, I know it must not be good for me.

Had leftovers for lunch and dinner. See an earlier post and make your best guess. Today was day four with no soda. I did have an iced tea from Wendy's in the afternoon. With it, I got a free jr frosty. It's really small.

13.5 Mile Week

2.3 miles tonight. It's not high mileage and it's not fast mileage, but it's outdoors and it's enjoyable.

I'm trying to be more concious of what I'm putting into the ole pie hole. So, I'm snapping pictures with my new palm pre. I just had to get a phone named after a runner.

Anyway, Amy won a cheesecake at Albertson's. I had a small slice yesterday.
I do like popcorn. Had some while we watched Charlotte Grey last night.

Dinner yesterday was a baked chicken breast, broccoli, three cherry tomatoes and some fruit (bananas and straberries). The bowl to the right was some kind of spicy stuff Amy wipped up. Oh, and that's a homemade roll. Part whole wheat and part white flour. It taste much better than it looks. I forgot to take a picture of tonights dinner. We had a salad, spaghetti with a little bit of chicken and a broccoli salad. I helped make it. I diced onion, grated cheese and made a sweet and sour mayo mix. It had sugar and vinegar in it. Tasted great. We used half the amount of mayo and sugar that the recipe called for.

Lunch yesterday and today was left over Mostocholi. One bowl was for me and one was for Emily.

Not pictured were a hand full of cashews, three sugar cookies (small ones) and one myoplex (after tonites run). Breakfast was a bowl of Target blueberry granola cereal with milk.

NO SODAS FOR TWO STRAIGHT DAYS.

The Joy of Running

Ran another 2.4 miles last night. My 'joy of running' is high, even though my 'endurance' is low. 11.2 miles done for the week. That includes lots of walking/scrambling in South Mountain park on Thursday.

Did anyone watch Food Revolution on ABC? Jaimy Oliver (The Naked Chef) has come over from the British Empire and is trying to help the fine folks of West Virginia eat less fried food and road kill. So, the Monahan's of Arizona plan to start eating a lot better too. Less refined sugars and more whole foods. I'll try to document our progress here. With pictures.

So, your job is to be brutally honest with me. Like, "Pat, I don't think a Peanut Buster Parfait from Dairy Queen for five days in a row is what you planned" or "Pat, that salmon bake with brown rice looked awful, how'd you eat it?"

Now, this is a meal. Maybe cut that steak up into three meals, less potatos and more veggies. Bon Appetit!

Of course this was my breakfast.

Hiking Day

After two run days I took it easy with a hike in South Mountain. I started just before 5 pm, so I knew I'd have to turn around 2 miles in so that I could get back before it got to dark. I probably could have gone 3 miles.

I ran into the park on Pima Canyon road, a sort of fire road. Then I hiked south in a dry wash. At this point I was all alone. I heard the occassional bee, which had me worried about swarms. About every 50-100 yards I would have to scramble up boulders - a dryfall that I imagine looks great after a heavy rain.

Hopefully next week, I can do this again and get deeper into the park to were the rock tunnels are. Below are some maps of my day. I traveled about 3.7 miles.

Pirate On The Run

2nd day of running. 2.56 miles in 30 minutes listening to one artist the whole time. Can you guess which one from the title?

If you like the Artist guessing game, go over and say hi to Magazine Smiles. Where every post is a song title and you get to guess who the artist is. If you don't know music that well, just keep answering the same band and eventually Irene will throw you a bone.





Answer to title question

Or my daughter would like this version.

27 Days Ago

27 Days ago . . . I was a runner.

Today, I am a runner again.

January thru April is a busy time for REALTORS in Arizona and I got to the point that I was too tired to run. Around February 24th, I got really busy. 2 days turned into 5, which turned into 20 and then 27. I learned that when you quit running you start seeing loads of people running. I'd be in my car with clients driving in Scottsdale, Chandler or Gilbert and I'd see someone running down the road. One moment I'm explaining short sales and the next I'm rubber necking watching the runners go by. I half expected my clients to start snapping their fingers telling me to "Focus, Pat Focus."

The good news. 27 days off and 1 pound gained.

So, tonight I got out and ran for 30 minutes. I ran some, I walked some. 2.46 miles later I was done and I loved it.

The NYC Marathon lottery has not happened yet. It won't until April 7th. But, today I start training for the NYC Marathon that will take place on November 7th, 2010. My 49th Birthday. The plan is to be under 200 pounds for that marathon and to run it in under 5 hours.

And Tomorrow I will be a runner again.

Running past the kids

There's two things I do when I run to Desert Breeze Lake from my house. I tap my 26.2 decal when I'm done and I tap the shoe of this statue.

It's kids playing on a log. I saw a similar statue just north of the Metrodome in Minneapolis after my marathon. It reminds me to enjoy the moment. Today I got in a 3.2 mile run. The fifth run this week.

When I ran this way yesterday I left a dollar bill in a tree. See it in the picture below?

It's a gift for someone. But no one's seen it yet. This sidewalk isn't used much. Just runners, walkers and snot nosed kids with their skateboards. Or you, just go on down to Desert Breeze Parkway for your very own dollar bill.

Indianapolis 35 New Orleans 21. What's your guess?

My Favorite Places to Run Near Home

I mean like within a 20 minute drive of my front door. If you click on them for a map you can toggle between the map and an aerial view.

1. From my house to Desert Breeze Lake and back. 3.5-5 miles.

2. My One mile loop that I began running back in 2006.

3. The canals in south Tempe. Or this way too.

4. Mt. Chandler or the landfill they made into a park. 1 mile loop.

5. The Paseo Trail Canal system in south Chandler.

6. South Mountain - 48th Street entrance.

7. Kiwanis Park, site of my first ever race.

8. Tempe Town Lake.

9. Gilbert Trail from the dog park past Agritopia to Power Road.

10. Freestone Park with three different canals to run on.

A message on RunningAhead

I got a message on RunningAhead. I didn't even know you could leave messages. Here it is:


hi meepmeep!
have you been running much?
okay, i admit, i haven'tbeen running much, and the farthest i can run is 0.625 mile.
how are u doing?
i am fine. since you probbaly have more expirience running then i do, can you tell me about it?
i mean like what do you do before and after you run?
like that stuff. thanks!ha ha the smiley faces.
not to be rude, butyou don't have to answer the questions. i just wantto get to know you more.
1. well first, are you a boy or a girl.
2. what is your favorite hobby?
3. and uh,when you run, do you have to eat certain things?
well first,
1. i am a girl,
2. my most favorite hobby is ice skating,
3. and uh, i am no.

After I reply, if you don't hear from me for for awhile you can send me mail to:

Florence Correctional Facility
Cell 1002
Florence, AZ

Fortunately, I have friends in there (Nick).

Mt. Chandler Dual Athletics

I saw this billboard, so I stopped running. Not sure why, but I took some time off. I even did run a few times because it was too cold. In Arizona. But today, I grabbed my garmin and put on my PF Chang's race shirt. Then I grabbed my recurve and headed on over to Mt. Chandler.

Mt. Chandler or the Paseo Recreation Center is a landfill topped off with a park. It's the highest point in our fair city and has an archery range, disc golf course, dog park and a one mile soft dirt trail with great views in all directions.
I did the loop twice and then ran to the highest point to end my two mile run. When you run north you can see Camelback Mountain. To the west is South Mountain and to the north east you can see Four Peaks, Red Mtn and the Superstitions. Great views. It's not pancake flat, but close with a 30 foot drop off all along the trail. It's like running on the perimeter of a huge man made dirtpile.

Then it was off to the archery range with my recurve bow. I haven't shot an arrow in over 2 years. I had a hard time remembering how to put my bow together, let alone shoot an arrow.

If you're an archer, this place is fantastic. Five targets at different ranges set up and shade at the shooting line.

Arizona Vs. Michigan - The 1000 Mile Challenge

Week Three is in the books. With the help of four team members running in this weeks PF Chang's Rock N Roll Marathon and Half Marathon, Team AZ has taken the lead.


Team Michigan
(week 3, name, YTD)


17.4 Ken Davenport 49.6


13.2 Jenn Warstler 19.37


7.15 Pam Shorkey 21.25


10.7 Carol Feldmann 25.5


30.25 David Potter 88.75





Week 3: 78.7 YTD: 204.47




Team AZ


14.8 Pat M 30.2


39.3 Rio 99.3

2 Nick 2


41.2 Adam 67.2


33.5 Susie 49.5



Week 3: 130.8 YTD: 248.2



Team Arizona now has a 44 mile lead over the High Five State. Adam lead the way this week with41.2 miles and a blistering 3:44 marathon.

Here's how we did on Sunday (click on stats to enlarge):

Susan Markosian

Adam Ricklefs

Pat Monahan


Demi Rio

PF Chang's Rock N Roll Half Marathon 2010

After running the Twin Cities Marathon in October and the Tucson Marathon in December, my plan was to run PF Chang's Rock N Roll Marathon here in Phoenix in January. A mixture of too much running and a minor injury after Tucson left me less than excited about running RnR AZ.

I had already paid for the marathon, so I decided I could run the half marathon and still enjoy it. Running the full would turn into 13 miles drudgery. I did not want to limp home to the finish.

I went to the marathon expo expecting to get inspired, but that didn't happen. I got my bib number, chip for timing and cool Sugoi technical running shirt and headed for the door. I did make one pass thru the expo. Got a free tee shirt from Traveler's Insurance (let's hope they don't call me).
Sunday morning and the weather was perfect. I was in shorts and my Half Fanatics tee and ready to run. Had a real nice chat with the German teacher at Chandler High. She came up to about my elbow and reminded me of one of the teachers in a Harry Potter movie. She had spikey blonde hair and a german accent. I tell ya, if my kids went to Chandler high, I'd insist that they take german. Great lady.

It took us about 31 minutes to get to the start line. Ryan Hall had passed the 10k mark two minutes before I even got to start (guess he didn't have to worry about me beating him). My goal was to just do 12 minute miles. Not a real big goal, but I did want to finish injury free too.

The first five miles on my garmin show 10:51, 11:16, 11:48, 11:57 and 12:05. I was up about 2 minutes and knew I would need those minutes later. Later came quickly.

The next four miles were all between 12 and 13 minutes with mile 10 being at 14:31. Thirteens and fourteens would be seen the rest of the day. I finished at 2:49, which was about 10 minutes more than I wanted.
As I was taking a walk break I heard this lady behind me on a cellphone. She told her friend that she was at mile 8 and Pat Monahan just passed her. I turned around to see this lady in an Ohio State University shirt. I slowed down and asked her if she said Pat Monahan. She said, Matt Monahan. Turns out there was a Matt Monahan running in the same race. Turns out I ended up with a faster time than him. Another Monahan from Apache Junction ran the marathon in 2:08, so we aren't all slow.

After the race I got my medal and an orange (it was awesome) and headed over to the marathon course. I was there to see some of my running friends. I knew that Adam from Gilbert would be done already. Congrats Adam. But, I thought I might see Susie from Queen Creek, Eileen from Mesa or Lisa and Karen from the Tumbleweed Running Club. I could have seen Demi from Scottsdale, but I don't really know her that well and she would have been easy to miss. I don't know how I missed Susie. It might have been when I was laying in the grass wishing my feet felt better.

I slowly walked down University Drive figuring I would see Lisa and Karen and I could run with them back towards ASU. I was getting hungry for lunch and no angels (that's what we call TRC women runners, men are called Charlie). I passed two bands and Margaritaville, the water station manned by the Jimmy Buffet fan club. I really like that water stop. As I walked I looked down on the ground to find a sweaty $20 bill. A runner must have dropped it. I was that much richer. I walked further and came to a spot across from a McDonalds. Do I dare cross the street and traffic to get a burger and miss Lisa and Karen. Yes, I was hungry. And I had the money. I watched out the window and hurried back to the running side of the street. Before I could take a second bite of my Big Mac, Karen appeared. She said Lisa was ahead of her. I missed her for a burger. I, offered Karen a bite. She declined and told me how she couldn't hold anything down. I kept eating. A couple runners saw my meal and were slightly jealous. I offered them a bite too.

I walked with Karen all the way to the finish, then snapped this photo of the two new Marathoners.


The day was over and I headed home. Below are pictures of my new shirt and medal.

Here's all three Rock N Roll Half Marathon Medals. The first one is from the 2007 Hm that I ran in 2:47:54. The middle is the 2010 race in 2:49:52 and on the right is 2009 run in 2:25:21.

So, now I have to plan my 2010 race calendar. Not sure what I want to do, but I'm thinking I want to run the Lost Dutchman Half Marathon next month and the Pat's Run (Pat Tillman) in April.

Arizona Vs. Michigan - The 1000 Mile Challenge

The Challenge is on!

Team Arizona is comprised of Adam, Nick, Rio and me so far. We need a fifth runner, so if any AZ runners want to be on the team let me know. (Susie, Nick's wife will be our fifth)

Team Michigan is comprised of Ken, Jenn, Pam, Carrol and David.

The first week is three days long and so far we have 48.2 miles for Team AZ with Rio leading the way with 28 Miles. Team High Five has 43.5 miles with David leading with 22 miles run.

If anyone from either team would like to make a Challenge logo, please let me know.