I’ll be soliciting help on these shows.  Podcasts are always better with two people.  I’m hoping to make them more off the cuff and discovery rather than script.  If you see one that you’d like to help with, shoot me a message on Facebook and let me know which you’d be interested in.

So the Turkey Trot happened on Thanksgiving day. I had said on the podcast and on Facebook that I was aiming for an 11 minute mile pace. That would have put me at around 34:06 for the 5k distance. Well, thanks to a fast start, fast is relative here, I completed the race with a time of 31:09. That’s just a 10:03 pace per mile.  Probably the best part of the race was that I got to run with guys that I went to Jr. high and high school with, Brad Chowen and Joe Padilla. Very cool. They both kicked my butt, Joe decisively and Brad just a little less so, but it was a blast none the less.

Now, I have run a couple times since Thanksgiving, but not regularly as I did training for the race. Without a race to train for, I find there is no reason for me to go out running. So my next 5K race is the Seal Beach 5K/10K on April 10, 2010. That gives me 120 days to train and get ready.

I’ve found the web site of Hal Higdon. He has outlined there on his site both an intermediate 5K program to get faster at the distance and a 10K training program, both goals of mine. I’ll be doing the 5K program for the first 8 weeks and then transitioning to the 10K program. That should leave me in good shape to get a new PR (That’s a personal record.)  Who knows?  At least I won’t run slower.

If you’re up to it, lace up the shoes, follow the Higdon program or the Couch to 5K program, and come running with me.   Believe me, I’m not setting the ground under my feet afire or anything. You can do it.

It starts out very innocently with a “Hi.”, then it turns into a hard luck story.  These scam artists have to be related to the guy that hits you up in the parking lot “tryin’ to put together a dollar”.  He’s trying to get back to his half way house in LA and just needs bus fare.  Meanwhile he’s asked you every other day for bus fare and he’s too screwed up to remember he already tried his BS on you.  Also “Nope aside that am having problem to sorting out hotel bills.”?  Really?  At least learn a little bit more English.

And there it is.  She/he needs $870 to “sorting out hotel bills.” and of course they want it through Nigerian and other scam artists’ best friend, Western Union.

I was actually genuine in my response.  How would I send someone money through Western Union?  I have never done it.  I never will, but that’s beside the point.  Of course they’re all too happy to step me through the steps.

At this point I’m done.  I started this exchange when checking email and Facebook before I hit the road home.  This hacker/con artist has now taken up enough of my time.  I was immediately unfriended/blocked from the friend’s profile.  If not I could have written on her wall or what I actually tried to do, get her email address.  I did end up finding her with my wife’s Facebook account, contacting her husband and let her know what was happening.

So, be careful on Facebook.  I had heard about this scam before, though I’d only heard of it tried on motherly or grandmotherly type from their fake children or grandchildren.  The most important thing to take away from this is never send anyone money through Western Union.  It is always a scam.  Trust your instincts if something doesn’t feel right.

Be safe.

Can you find yours in this picture?

[Mike McAllens Real Visions]: Social Networking Wars?