Free Beer!!

Yes indeed. I'm offering free beer - at least $110 worth. But there's a catch...

You see those charming ladies at Fit Milwaukee (http://www.fitmilwaukee.com/) have put forth a challenge to me to run 110 miles in the month of December. Don't let those cherub-faced cuties fool you - they're devils in disguise! 110 miles?! The most I've probably ever run in a month before was 40. Seriously. In fairness to them, this challenge didn't come out of the blue. I was true to my 2009 resolution and I have kept a very active running year, and consistently ran a few miles every couple of days all year. BUT NOWHERE CLOSE TO 110 MILES IN A MONTH!! This is going to take a lot of willpower and drive - maybe more than I can muster alone. That's where you come in...

I've devised a plan to help me reach this goal. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to realize that - in Milwaukee - nothing motivates like FREE BEER!! So here's the plan: you stay on me and push me to get to the 110-mile mark by midnight of December 31, 2009. If I make it, I'll buy at least $110 worth of beer for a party at The Blatz Condominiums' Party Room (beer from Blatz Liquor; http://www.blatzliquor.com/). If I don't make it, it's your fault for not pushing me hard enough and NO BEER FOR YOU!! Truly the American way.

If FREE BEER isn't enough, there's more good news: after 20 days in to December, I'm 12.7 miles over the pace! To get 110 miles in 31 days it takes at least 3.55 miles per day. After 20 days, I should be at 71.0 miles, I'm presently at 83.74. Only 26.2 more miles to go!

I hope that I don't get injured, but it's always a possibility - especially running in snow and on ice. If I get hurt and can't complete the challenge, I'll still buy - as long as I'm over the pace at the time of the injury. (e.g. If I break a leg after Day 20, I better have at least (3.55 x 20) 71 miles in.) So that means you can't let up on me!

Please use the hashtag #PushMike when tweeting your motivations. I respond well to threats too.