Running journal

Mid-April update

2011-04-17T17:11:00.000-07:00

Hello, boys and girls. I know its been a while, but this Spring is shaping up to be quite a busy season for me.

For starters, I've got the Mini coming up in just under 2 weeks. I can't say I've really done a good job preparing for the race. I don't anticipate having a problem covering the distance, but I am pretty sure I will not be finishing in under 2 hours (that was my goal for last year, and I did), but that's okay, because of another reason for my busy Spring: Running With the Locals.

As I've mentioned a few times on this blog, I recently started a vlog called Running With the Locals. There is also a Facebook page where I share the videos and other running-related thoughts and opinions. And it has started to gain a little traction.

Thanks to a local shoe store, Swag's, who posted a link to my facebook page, the following has more than doubled this weekend! Along with that, I'm appearing on LIVE tv tomorrow afternoon, as a guest announcer on Live from 725, and I'm hoping to get in a few good words for RWtL. Lump in the continued support and encouragement of The Local Guys, and that adds up to a lot of time shooting, editing and posting videos.

Also this Spring, my girls are doing Spring sports. One is playing soccer, the other is working out with her school's track team. Between games and practices, most every weekday afternoon has a practice or a game. Ugh. Oh yeah, I'm helping coach the soccer team too. Almost forgot that little tidbit.

So I'm probably not going to match the nearly-46 miles I've run so far this month during the month of May. I'm not sure how the next two weeks will shake out. The only thing I know for sure is that I'm running 13.1 miles on the 30th.

Not so fast, Spring!

2011-03-27T17:09:00.000-07:00

The weather around here has been, for lack of a better word, insane. However, that is also just plain typical for this area. I suppose that makes me a little insane for thinking that it should be normal. You know, Spring follows Winter, Winter follows Fall, etc.

With the seasons flip-flopping between Winter and Spring (and back again!), its no wonder I ended up with some kind of respiratory infection or allergy. Sometimes I can't tell the difference. My brother (an RT) suggested it was allergies brought on by the higher-than-usual mold growth (brought on by the wetter-than-usual month of March). Sometimes it feels like a cold, other times it just feels like allergy-induced misery. Regardless, I have been coughing, hacking, sneezing and dripping for going on three weeks.

I tried to trudge through, telling myself that as long as I wasn't feverish, I was fine to run. But I never got to feeling better. That is, until I took a little break from running. Did I mention that I didn't run a step last week? Well, I didn't. And my head started feeling a whole lot better. Not 100% just yet, but better. So I feel okay with the brief hiatus.

Along with the ick I was under, I have been working on Running With the Locals. Either shooting, editing or brainstorming ideas for the videos, or just trying to come up with what to do next, and figuring out where it may go. Its pretty exciting. My pal Lincoln has been keeping me on this, which is a good thing. If he weren't, I'm pretty sure I would have dropped it by now. I'm not real big on following through with ideas, so me actually working to make this into something is kind of a big deal.

So, to recap, no miles last week. I intend to pick it up this week (the mini is less than 5 weeks away, yikes!), and also continue to work on making RWtL into something worth watching(as well as something being watched by more than a handful of friends and family).

If you get a chance, check out my vids. There should be a link in my last post. Hit me with some feedback too.

A little bit farther

2011-03-21T17:27:00.000-07:00

Ladies and gentlemen, in addition to being a sporadic blogger, I am now a novice vlogger. The theme of my vlog is road races in and around Louisville, KY, and is called Running With The Locals. I have a YouTube channel, and a Facebook fan page, which you should check out immediately!

I got this whole vlog-thing going a few weeks ago, as a way to motivate me to get running again. Sometimes you need a kick in the pants to get out the door, and this was it for me.

I contacted my buddy Lincoln, and he offered to help me out, whether it be technical advice, ideas to expand on my original idea for the show (which began as a monthly list of 3 or 4 races that I found interesting), or just to bounce thoughts and ideas off of. I knew that just having this idea wouldn't be enough to keep it going. I needed to find someone who would nudge me every now and then and make sure I didn't let it fizzle out. Lincoln, whether he wanted to or not, has become that guy for me.

How about I get this post back on track?

I ran 4 times this past week. Once was a 2-mile race (The Shamrock, one of my favorites!), and the other three were runs of 5.3, 7.5 and 4.6 miles. I just passed the previous week's totals, but with one more run. Granted that first run of the week was a 2-miler, but still. Guess those motivational issues are already popping up.

The last 2 runs were on Saturday and Sunday, and I hope its a while before I decide to do that again. My Sunday run was painful. I think my body had already decided that Sunday was a rest day, but when Brain said, "hey, let's run!" Body said, "nah."

That is how my running week went, a couple of highs and lows. At least it looks like Spring is going to stick around for a few weeks, before giving way to Summer!

Three runs, nearly 19 miles

2011-03-12T12:14:00.000-08:00

I am really glad to see Spring make it's return. But, then again, it has come and gone a few times already these last few weeks. I think it may finally be here to stay.

Temps for this week's runs were 57, 37(BRRRR!), and 68(YESSS!!). Mother Nature is a bipolar wench.

Distances for the runs were 6.83, 3.35, and 8.56. That middle run was the coldest, and not coincidentally, the shortest.

The half-marathon I am running is still seven weeks away, so now I'm starting to wonder if I'm gonna peak too early. Probably not a serious threat, though. I may just be eating up bigger runs by the time the mini rolls around. That would be fine by me!

Adding 'em up

2011-03-09T04:20:00.000-08:00

Since I have committed to running the mini again this year, I figured I had probably start stepping up the mileage and frequency of my runs. I've been averaging about 10 miles a week over the last month or so, and yesterday I knocked out a near-7-mile run (and felt no worse for wear).

Long story short, once again, I am feeling good about running. Part of it has to do with a little side-project I've got going. A few weeks ago, I started a vlog about the local running/racing scene. It is called Running With The Locals, and I'm excited about what it is, and what it could become.

My buddy Lincoln, who pretty much paved the local-video-shoutout path that I am on, gave me the blessing to use the name (it is a flat-out ripoff of his and Squire's excellent webshow,Living With The Locals), and, along with his fellow Local Guy, sat down with me to listen to my ideas for the project. They gave me some great advice, some of which I have already put to use, and some of which is still a little further down the road, but all of which I am supremely grateful for.

Anyway, that's why I am psyched. I have set up a blog just for RWTL, but there's nothing there yet. Once I get that rolling, I'll post a link so you can check it out.

That's all for now.

Getting back on the horse

2011-02-20T06:13:00.000-08:00

Well folks (is it presumptuous to assume more than one person reads this blog?), I have finally made a commitment to running again. It looked a little iffy for a while, but I have a few races on the horizon that I've signed up for, and I would rather not struggle or hobble across the finish lines, so some preparation is in order.

This week brought some surprises. First was the weather: it looked and felt like Spring! I could not have been happier. The long, cold, gray days were really getting me down. It was great to run outside in shorts!

My second surprise was when my 10-year-old asked to run with me. Guess she got a bit of Spring Fever too. We took it easy, running around a 1-mile track at a local park. There was some walking, but also plenty of encouragement and praise. I love the fact that she wants to run with me! Hopefully the good times will continue.

Even though this weeks totals are a far cry from what I was running a few months ago, I feel great about them. Its the start of a new chapter. Not sure where its going, but I'm excited to find out.

Totals for the week ending 2/19/11
8.41 miles
approx 1 hr 20 mins

Four weeks later...

2011-01-29T06:03:00.000-08:00

In a way, it is hard to believe that I haven't run in the last 28 days. Not at all. I haven't had this much of a layoff since I broke my foot back in '09. Back then, I had a doctor's note. This time around, I just wasn't feeling it.

Without going into specifics, I will just say that I am parting company with the crazies, including Brian. People's lives take some crazy paths, and I simply won't be accompanying them down this one.

Moving on!

After a less than stellar attempt at getting some shuteye, I woke up late in the 3 0'clock hour. I tried, unsuccessfully, to get back to sleep. Fast forward to an hour later, and there I was, at the computer, catching up on tweets, FB, etc. Joy.

Soon after, I decided that once the sun rose, I would get out for a run. I checked my routes, trying to find something close, and still around 3 miles. I settled on a 1 and 2/3 mile loop, and ran it twice, which worked out fine.

I had a little bit of an issue with my left knee, which I expected. Nothing serious, just a little "hey, how ya doin?". By the time that happened, I was almost done, so no big deal.

I know, that to comfortably run anything farther than a 5k, I am going to have to ease up on the reckless eating that started around Thanksgiving. I think my metabolism has been in a coma since then, and I'm going to need to shock it back to life.

So, there it is, my latest beginning.

Totals

3.34 miles
30:52.85 (9:15/mile)

Hangover 2011

2011-01-03T08:09:00.000-08:00

If you read my last post, you know that I ran the 2011 Hangover Classic. Like last year, I brought my camera, so you know this one is gonna be good. So what am I waiting for? Let's get to the pics and recap!

A few of the people I've run with over the last year were there, including Traci and Mike, Tom, Garry, Dave (from P&R), Shawna and Brian. The run started just outside of Downtown Louisville, along River Rd. No bullhorn, no announcement of any kind that I heard from my location at the back of the pack, the group just started moving, so off we went.

I had very low expectations for this run. I've been bothered by knee problems as of late, and I've also been eating like a pig. Couple that with only a handful of runs under my belt, and it is a recipe for disaster. Fortunately, things didn't go as badly as I anticipated.

One of the fine establishments along the course.

The first few miles were uneventful, running-wise. No real pain or squeaks from either knee. Just a somewhat slow pace, which, unfortunately, felt necessary. I didn't want to get in a hurry, then have to deal with aching knees for 8 miles. So Brian, Shawna and I took it very easy.

Awesome from the back...

Even awesomer from the front

Homebrew supplier...Nice!

Things were going well until mile 6. I started noticing the ache in my right knee. I put up with it for a little while, but, before long I had to stop. I had made it into the downtown district, right behind Slugger Field, and in the tall shadow of the new KFC Yum! Center. We began the run back toward the finish line at a walk. The course isn't a traditional out and back. Its actually more of an out and back for the first mile or so, then a loop that doubles back onto itself, so you start and finish in the same general area.

I saw this lady several times, and from behind, she reminded me of the Roaming Gnome

After a brief walk, I was ready to start running again. We resumed the run, but by mile 8 I was ready to walk again. This walk was a little longer. I was trying to rest enough to be able to finish the race without having to walk again. I managed to run the remainder of the 10 miles, but for the last 3/4 of a mile it felt like I was running on one leg. I guess I was in a way.

By the time we hit the finish line, I was very ready to be done. Official time: 1:39:52.5

Not a complete disaster, by any means. I was about 12 minutes slower than last year, but whatever. I'm just glad I was able to run as much as I did. It definitely could have been much worse.

I guess I need to figure out what I'm going to do next. Should I just start over? I know I can't just pick up where I was a few months ago. It would probably be smart to back off and tackle a few shorter training runs, and focus on staying healthy. I feel like I know what I should do, but I don't always do it. I'm sure a lot of runners feel the same way.

The Dreaded Hangover

2011-01-01T05:24:00.000-08:00

Happy New Day/Month/Year/Decade, Dear Readers!

This morning, the only Hangover I am dreading is The Hangover Classic, Todd Heady's annual run along the Ohio River just outside of Louisville's downtown. The cause of my dread is my lack of discipline (you know, diet and training!).

It has been a low-mileage/ high-calorie holiday season for me, and the results aren't conducive to a pleasant 10-mile run. I am already anticipating a disaster, so anything less will feel like victory. I am also bringing my camera, cell phone (for tweeting purposes--check it out @panthersden2, if you like), and beer. Probably should bring some ibuprofen too.

I was telling Brian about how, at this point in my running, I need to just start over. I haven't been able to run over 3 miles without having knee issues, and I just haven't felt like running much. I need a goal, and I need a plan. He said he is going to help his kids train for the Mini, and suggested I join them. That may be just what I need.

Check back later for the recap!

Oops, I did it again!

2010-12-28T13:57:00.000-08:00

A little over a week ago, I had the worst run of my life. Almost caused me to hang it up, but I tried to regroup and run smarter, choosing shorter distances at slower paces. Or, at least, I meant to.

The first run after the disaster was a 2.5 mile run at an easy pace. Thumbs up! No pain, and a healthy boost to my running ego!

After that, I felt like everything was back to normal, so a few days later I doubled the distance. I ran a 5.25 mile course, and once again, ran what felt like an easy pace without any issues whatsoever. Hallelujah! It was a Christmas Eve miracle!

Fast forward to four days later, and I attempt to tackle the same 5.25 mile course. Having learned absolutely nothing from my experience just ten days prior, I take off like a bat outta hell. I can barely breathe, especially on the uphill portions, and I feel all right. That is until I get nearly 2.5 miles into the run.

Flashback to 12/18: "I got the first twinge a little over 2 miles into the run. I had almost made it to the Y, and my left knee got a little tweaky. I rode it out, since I was practically there."

So what do I do? I keep on trucking to the turnaround, knowing exactly what awaits me (and my poor, mistreated knees).

Once I hit the halfway point, I stop and walk for a bit. At this point, I know I am screwed, but I keep going, since I have to get home some way! I start out running, but before long I am walking. This continues for another two-and-a-half miles, getting worse the whole way. Mercifully, I get home in under an hour.

I had an epiphany along the way. I should have made a note then and there, because I no longer remember it. Something about accepting that as of right now, I can't expect to run as far or as fast as I did a few months ago. I have almost slid back to the point of starting over, and I might as well accept that and try to move forward, instead of stubbornly trying to do things that I simply can't do right now.

But, knowing what an idiot I am (at least when it comes to running), I know that I will be right back out there on New Year's Day, trying to beat last year's time. I should probably get a big bottle of ibuprofen, in anticipation of the hangover I hope to have, and The Hangover that is going to kick my ass.

A recovery run, of sorts

2010-12-23T16:49:00.001-08:00

After the disaster that was supposed to be my weekend long run, I needed a shot of confidence. I wasn't looking to break any records, I just wanted to go out and run without the pain that plagued me on the last attempt. Low standards, I know, but it really was all I needed out of this one.

Since I had to drop the youngest off for practice, I figured I would suit up and head out for a few (less than 3) miles. I ran a portion of the route I had gotten familiar with over the last few weeks. It ended up being just under 2.5 miles, and I am glad to say I had no knee pain. I felt like a fat-ass, though. That wasn't fun. That's what I get for getting sick. And eating with reckless abandon. Oh, and all that delicious beer.

So, like I was saying, good to be running without pain!

An awful, awful run.

2010-12-18T05:03:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I got a text from Brian saying some of the crazies would be running this morning. I was pretty noncommittal, but not really planning on going. Then later that evening, I see Shawna (Chief Crazy), and she asks if I'm running in the morning. I think I told her not to count on it. But, wouldn't you know it, I wake up at 5 and can't get back to sleep, so I start thinking, well, maybe I should run. Same old story, me trying to avoid it, but not being able to.

I got dressed, had a quick bite to eat, and decided I would run to the Y and meet them there, do a 6-mile loop, then run home. That would have given me 10 or 11 miles. Little did I know my knees were only up for running about 4 miles.

I got the first twinge a little over 2 miles into the run. I had almost made it to the Y, and my left knee got a little tweaky. I rode it out, since I was practically there. We got moving as a group, and I got probably a mile-and-a-half before I stopped to walk for the first time. The first of many, many times. By this time, both of my knees were on the verge of exploding. At least, that was how it felt. I thought the downhill stretch of the run would be better, but it wasn't. The only thing that felt better was walking. And after a few more miles or run/walking, even that didn't help things.

It was flat-out the worst running experience I can recall. Not at all the confidence boost I was looking for, since I have a 10-miler coming up on New Year's Day.

To their credit (and probably because of the last time I ran with the group), they mostly stayed with me. Brian was right there, but the other three were never out of sight. I felt kind of bad for holding them up, especially since it was 28 freaking degrees!

Dave, who has been having heel issues, wasn't having a great morning either, so he offered to give me a ride home once we got back to the Y. I was super grateful to have a warm, short ride home instead of a cold, long and lonely walk back. So, we bid the other three (Tom, Brian and Shawna) adieu and called it a ~~failure~~ morning. Roughly (very roughly, actually) 8.5 miles, covered in a blistering 1hr and 50 minutes.

As I sit here, nearly 40 minutes after wrapping up the disaster that was my morning run, I can finally feel my fingers. Good times!

Another late race recap, or The Long and Winding Post

2010-12-17T12:19:00.001-08:00

This time around: Fast Freddie's Festive Five-Mile Foot Feast.

Had to take a break after typing that last sentence.

Let me try to paint a picture with my words, to make you feel like you were there with me on Thanksgiving morning, 2010, running five miles through beautiful New Albany, IN.

You know what? If you want to feel like you were there, get your running clothes on, drag a treadmill into the shower and run for 45 minutes. Be sure to crank the incline up and down occasionally, too. That should do the trick!

Last year's run was awesome. I was making the leap from 5k races to 5-milers, and still managing to maintain a decent pace. With me, as always, was Brian. This was the race that started the post-race toast tradition (Sam Adams Octoberfest, this year AND last year). My hopes were high that the 2010 edition would be as unforgettable. I was right about it being unforgettable, only for a whole other reason.

Packet pick-up was the day before, so Brian and I went to the race site for our bibs and shirts (which, btw, had the names of the top 500 finishers from '09, including Brian and I). Brian's daughter was running also, so she came along. So did my girls. They weren't running, they just didn't have anything better to do. Sigh.

It was raining that afternoon, and it had been for the better part of the previous day and a half. Strange, we had near-drought conditions for the late summer and most of the fall, and then we have flash flood conditions on Thanksgiving. Mother Nature is bipolar.

Anyhow, we got our packets and headed to a gastropub/ craft-brewery where my brother works for a snack and a beer. We had their signature pommes frittes, with a lavender honey dipping sauce, as well as ketchup for the kids and mayo to dip those delicious fries. My brother suggested a seasonal offering, a winter warmer they call Naughty Claus, and boy am I glad he did! It was good on it's own, but even better with the fries! Brian and I both had the NC, and the kids enjoyed some Sprecher sodas. While I was there, I got a growler refill of one of their mainstays, a Belgian table beer called Tafelbier. That pit stop really brightened up an otherwise dreary day.

That night, the rain tapered off, and hopes were high that it would be dry by the time the race rolled around. Nope, not gonna happen. I woke around 7, and it was just beginning to rain. By the time Brian picked me up about an hour later, it was pouring. And it didn't stop at all during the race. I spent at least 15 minutes trying to find a baseball cap I wouldn't mind parting with after the race. Not something I am used to worrying about when I get ready for a race.

Luckily, the race begins and ends at a local 4-H fairground. Well, somewhat luckily. We had to park in the grass, or should I say, the impromptu grass-covered river that was overtaking the area. After a short walk through ankle-deep water, we waited inside the 4-H building, along with several hundred other runners. There were a few folks dressed as pilgrims and indians, but not many. It wasn't quite the festive scene I remembered from '09.

A few ladies got into the spirit.

An announcement was made that the race would be starting soon, so we made our way to the exit. We ended up loitering there until it looked like they were starting, then headed out. Only, it turns out it was a false alarm. For some reason, the crowd at the finish line started running, but had to be stopped and brought back to start again. I think it was because Traci wasn't out there yet, but we may never know why.

Tom, aka Boston Tom, aka the carpool "winner"

The race begins (again), and I just go. I hadn't really discussed a plan, I was just going to wing it. I knew Brian would be running with his daughter, and he projected a time around an hour. I just wanted to get this one over with, so I took off. I saw someone I know about 20 yds ahead (one of my daughter's teachers, an Ironman who I've seen at a few other races), so I made it my goal to catch up to him. Within two miles, I had, but then I could only keep up for maybe another mile. At that point, I had to walk for a few seconds, to catch my breath. I had been rolling upper 7's for the first 3 miles, and I was hurting.

After that brief pause, I took off again. I ended up walking briefly on an uphill section about a mile later, but from then on out, I just kept going. I tried to keep the Ironman in my sights, but he slipped away after the second walk break. I ended up slowing down quite a bit during the last mile, but I didn't want to walk again, so that was my only other option.

I finished the race a little under 40 minutes, about 6 seconds slower than my time from last year. I was surprised, considering the two walk breaks and breakdown near the end. Surprised in a good way, of course.

After a quick bottle of water, I went back out to the course to try to spot Brian and his daughter. Not much later, I caught sight of them and snapped a few pics before the rounded the turn toward the finish. I even dashed to the finish line to get some more of them heading to the line. To his credit, Brian let up and allowed his daughter to finish ahead of him. Classier than some folks I know.

Brian and his daughter, heading down the stretch!

Anyway, once Brian was done, we headed to the car for some towels and an Octoberfest. Then, we went back inside for the awards and door prizes. I was shut out in both of those categories, but Tom, who rode with us, nabbed some nuts. I think he was 4th in his age division, which is impressive, considering the caliber of runners that show up for this event. Tom is a beast.

Like I said earlier, it was a memorable run.

A Belated DASH Recap

2010-12-07T18:20:00.001-08:00

November 6th was supposed to be my marathon debut, but as I've ~~whined about~~ reported already, I had to miss that. Instead, I ran a local 5k that celebrates our veterans.

D*A*S*H* 47130 (see what they did, its like M*A*S*H*!) is held each November, right around Veteran's Day, smack in the middle of my hometown's downtown. The local VFW color guard was there, and there was a short speech about the history of our armed servicemen and a 21-gun salute prior to the run. It was a somewhat somber start for a 5k, but at the same time, it brought attention to what we too often take for granted: the sacrifices made by our soldiers to protect our freedom. It was a little inspirational.

The race itself wasn't very noteworthy. Even though the course was around our downtown, there isn't a whole lot going on, especially at 9 a.m. on a Saturday morning. Plus, the course wound through an older, residential area too. The run along the river was a bit more scenic, though.

I felt good during the run, up until the end, when I poured it on down the homestretch. I overestimated how long of a sprint I could maintain by about half a block. I still sprinted, just faded a smidge before the finish chute. Still, I nearly matched the time I set at last year's event, so that was encouraging.

Afterward, I managed to convince myself that I would luck into an age group award or door prize, but ended up with nothing more that an air-freshener for my car and a bottle of water. Still, it was a good return to racing for me.

Nearly Four Months

2010-11-27T04:10:00.000-08:00

That is how long it has been since my last post on this blog.

Wow. I've got to let that sink in for a minute. Four months. Sheesh. This post could take a while.

As I hinted in my last post (you remember, 16 weeks ago, in early August), my girls' volleyball seasons consumed a huge chunk of my time. Their teams did well, and I was very glad to have been a part of that, but as a result, I didn't have time to run much. Or, rather, I chose sleep over running. Most days, I slept a few hours, got up to be at practice, came home, ate, and then tried to get a few more hours of sleep before heading to work. Looking back, it was ridiculous, and it made for a looooooong 10 weeks.

Since then, I have been taking it easy. I just didn't have much desire to run. Back in July, I ran just over 130 miles. This October, I didn't even run 20. It was a real low point in that cycle.

Because of my hiatus, I knew I would practically be starting over. That wasn't fun to admit, and it only made it harder for me to want to get out and put in the miles. To go from running 10-15 mile long runs to struggling with a 4-mile run was discouraging.

In my mind, the worst part of all of this was going to be starting over. Just before volleyball season got into full swing, Brian and I had made up a training schedule for what was going to be our first full marathon, The Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. It seemed perfect for a first. Flat course, early November, and from what we had heard from other runners, a great overall experience. Obviously, that didn't happen for me, but Brian kept up with the training, and he not only ran it, he kicked some ass! He also ran 30-something miles as part of an ultra-relay team in the Bourbon Chase a mere two weeks before the marathon. He is a beast. Me, not so much, but I am slowly getting back into the game.

I picked up my mileage in November. I've logged almost 50 miles for the month, ran with Brian a few times, and ran in two races. I've had to be opportunistic about when I ran this month. On a couple of occasions, I've been able to knock out a few miles while my youngest is at cheer practice, which hasn't been too bad. Also, it hasn't been as much of a struggle to just run a few miles closer to home, even if I am rolling solo. I guess the point is, I am feeling good about running again. I also have a sliver of hope: both race finish times from this month were within seconds of my times for the same races in 2009. I'll post recaps of those two runs soon.

So there you have it, a condensed recap of what I've been doing since the last post. With the Christmas season upon us, it is probably a good thing that I am running again. It sure is a great way to manage the stress that comes with the season.

The idea is to run, then blog

2010-08-06T04:26:00.000-07:00

But lately, I've been doing just the running part. And what good is that to you, dear readers? If you aren't out there with me, or if you aren't within earshot when I am bragging about my 5-mile training run that I ran at sub-marathon goal-pace, or if you aren't checking my RunningAhead account on a daily basis, then how would you know?

Can't dwell on the past, all we have is now. But know this: I have been running, and I have been following the training plan that Brian adapted from the Runner's World Sub-4-hour training schedule. Not perfectly, but pretty closely. Life gets in the way of marathon training sometimes. Go figure.

Week Two was right on track, until I hit a snag. I knew I had a busy weekend on the horizon (birthday party, followed by late night at the drive-in, followed by family reunion, followed by a long afternoon/evening/night of ~~drinking~~ hanging out with some good friends), so I salvaged the long run by twisting Brian's arm and running it a day early. Ended up missing a 4-mile easy run. No big whoop.

Week Three was looking good, until we realized that my oldest and Brian's youngest have back-to-back birthdays in the middle of the week, aka Hill Day. I ended up running a solo 5-miler at a pace 25 seconds under target MP. Not quite the same as Hill work, but I'm good with it. The next day, which should have been my rest day, I went out on the same route and ran it a smidge faster. Brian had come over to run it with me, but had to turn around and go back home after he realized his wife's keys were in his car. So what does he do? He runs 5 at a pace nearly a minute faster than MP! Geez, Louise!

So, all I have left for this week is my long run. Schedule calls for 12 easy miles, which shouldn't be a problem. Plan on knocking that out Saturday morning with Brian and whoever else shows up.

So far, so good!

One Down, Fifteen to Go!

2010-07-24T08:29:00.000-07:00

Well, my first week of marathon training, for The Monumental, is in the books. I logged just under 32 miles for the week. You already know about the first half of the week, so let me tell you about my last two runs.

Friday called for 4 easy miles at a 10 minute pace. Easy enough. Brian came over, we ran two laps around my neighborhood that morning, before it got too hot. Success!

This morning, I didn't have high hopes for the run, since 4 of my running mates were doing the Red Eye later today. I had texted one of the guys who occasionally runs with us, but didn't hear back from him. So I headed to the Y around 5 a.m., hoping someone would be there, but prepared to go solo if no one did. Alas, no one did.

I ran the first loop (about 6.3 miles) in about an hour. I got a little freaked out during the run: I saw a creepy, child-abductor-special conversion van 3 times on that run. Maybe it was 3 different vans, but seriously, how many vans like that can there be in Clarksville? And there are 3 of them out at 5 in the morning? Just doesn't seem likely. So the third time I see it heading my way I got my cell phone out of my pocket and acted like I was calling someone. I don't wanna end up in a pit like that girl in Silence of the Lambs. Ick.

When I was nearly back to the Y I saw Garry's car, which meant I would have company for the second loop. When I got there, Garry AND Dave C were there.

We started out, and Dave had a faster pace in mind than I did, so he kept getting further and further ahead. Luckily for me, Garry stuck with me. I have never really talked to Garry, outside of a few comments here and there, but this time we actually had a conversation. That was nice.

Toward the end of the run, I got a sudden queasy feeling and had to stop to walk. Garry stuck with me, though. It was only a short walk, maybe 0.2 miles. Final time for the two loops was about 2 hrs and 4 minutes.

On a related note, in a running blogger way, my hero at Shut Up and Run! has a giveaway going right now, in conjunction with Champion's campaign to bring back sportsmanship. That is something I can really appreciate, as a father and coach to my two girls. Follow the link and join in!

The contest ends July 26, so don't waste any time!

Halfway through Week One

2010-07-22T04:12:00.000-07:00

This week, Brian and I started training for the Monumental Marathon. I don't know if it actually is some life-altering marathon, or like most of the rest of them, or maybe they named it that because it runs past some monuments. Regardless, we are a little over 15 weeks away from that monster!

Having never really trained for any race before (unless just going out and running counts), we didn't really know what to do. We did know that it would require some kind of plan. Luckily for us, Runner's World had its Marathon Issue last month, and it had an easy-to-follow plan for breaking 4 hours. Sounded good to us, so that's what were going with.

The first week calls for 3 easy days, one hill day, and one long-run day, and adds up to 25 miles. No problem. Except the easy pace they call for is a little slower than we usually run for shorter distances, and that actually made it harder than I thought it would be. Go figure.

So, at this point, we have had two easy runs and the hill run. And so far, things are going really well. We added a few more miles to the hill run, but everything else has been pretty much on target. This weekend should be interesting though. Brian is running a relay with 3 of the crazies, and will be adding nearly 20 miles to his weekly total. He's gonna be fine, I know. Meanwhile, I'm going to work in an early Saturday long-run. I'm shooting for 10-13 miles. I'll let you know how it goes.

Next week, we do it all again, only we get to add some miles to the easy runs. Bring it on!

Totals
Monday and Tuesday
4 miles each day
39:43

Wednesday
7.22 miles (Hill)
1:25:00 (estimated)

Friday and Saturday, or Highs and Lows

2010-07-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

Friday evening, after an excellent dinner and some family time, I made time for a 5-mile run. It turned out to be my best effort since last Sunday. Since I've been adding hill-work to my routine, and since its been so freaking hot lately, I've really come to appreciate a good, easy run.

I did a little over 5 miles right around dusk. It was still a little hot out, but at least it was getting cooler instead of hotter. Kind of nice for a change. I could get used to that!

Then this morning, Brian and I got together for a run. We had a bit of a weather delay, so we got started about an hour later than we had planned. No biggie. The only problem was I was not up for today's run.

Since we weren't running with the crazies, Brian thought we could mix things up and run over to Louisville. At the time, it sounded like a good idea. And the first 5 or 6 miles were fine. However, once we crossed the river and added on another mile or so, I started fading. We ended up stopping at the Downtown YMCA (where we ran into my friend Sean) for some water, then got back to running.

That ended up lasting about 4 blocks. I just couldn't handle the distance today. Ran a mile, walked a bit, ran some more, walked some more, you get the picture. We ended up walking the last 3 miles. Actually, it may have been 3.5 miles. Pretty bad, I know. Some days are like that, I guess.

Totals
07/16/10
5.14 miles
45:19.39

07/17/10
13.9 miles
2:37:17.64

Bringing you, dear reader, up to speed

2010-07-15T04:07:00.000-07:00

This is my last week before marathon training begins, and how do I spend it? Running in the blazing heat, up hills, all while I would rather be at home, in the ac, with my feet up and a cold drink within reach. I must be an idiot.

Sunday evening, Brian and I got out for 5-mile run close to home. Actually, we started/ended at my house, so very close to home. Knocked it out in 46 minutes.

Then Monday night we ran the Samtec Loop. We had been talking about strides, so near the end of the run, I decided to try it out. I started pumping my arms and really pushing off with my forefoot (forefeet?), and finished very strong, in under 19 and a half minutes.

Tuesday afternoon, Brian and I met Shawna and Tom at the Y for a 5-mile run. It was hot and humid (90 degrees and 98% humidity, thanks to a rain shower earlier in the afternoon), and I was not digging it at all. I wasn't the only one, because we stopped to walk on a few occasions. We covered just under 5 miles in about 45 and a half minutes.

After that peach of a run, you would think I would have enough sense to take a rest day. You would be wrong. Brian and I met up with Shawna and Tom again last night for a hill run. I'm realizing that my fears of running the hills were legitimate. Those flat-out suck. At least this hill run was shorter.

We met at Pacers and ran to Spickert Knob Rd. It climbs, dips and winds for nearly a mile, and I felt like it was laughing at me the whole way. I ran as well as I could, and walked for some of the worst parts. Luckily for me Shawna had already put in a bunch of miles earlier in the day, and was glad to walk it with me. For me, there's not much worse than being the last one on a group run, especially when the rest of them are running and you just have to walk. Unfortunately, I know this feeling better than I would like to. So having Shawna walk with me was nice. It definitely made the run suck less than it would have.

Once we hit the top, Brian and Tom were waiting for us. We ran another tenth of a mile, then turned back. I will say this: running down Spickert is quite a bit easier than running down Moser. I will also say this: once we hit the bottom of the hill, the run really sucked. It was a long, hot 2 miles or so back to Pacers. And I stopped to walk. Twice. I really can't wait til it starts to cool down.

The hill run ended up being a smidge over 6 miles, and we finished it in 1 hr, 1 min and 10 seconds.

Today I intend to rest. Not sure yet if I will run Friday (or when I could, even!), but I plan on getting out early on Saturday to run with the group. I've gotta keep this train moving!

Totals
4 runs
Nearly 18 and a half miles
about 2 hrs and 52 minutes
One well-deserved day of rest

Saturday morning run

2010-07-11T13:32:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to keep running. I really am. The warmer days and humidity, however, are not making it easy for me. I know that the heat will pass, and the cooler days-and even cooler nights-are coming, but I don't want to wait. I've had my summer vacation, so feel free to bring on the cool!

Okay, I'm feeling a bit better now. Another thing I am looking forward to: running without complaining.

Saturday morning, I met up with some of the regulars for a few miles. Brian had texted me the night before and said they would be running at 4. That didn't happen for me. I showed up at 6, and found only 3 other runners: Brian, Dave and Jen. Jen had to get going, so I joined Brian and Dave.

Dave had to leave by 6:30, so he ducked out and went back to the Y. Brian and I ended up running about 5 miles. After we got back to the Y, Brian called it a day. He had already done 15+ miles (whew!), so I was on my own for the next few miles.

I did the usual Y group loop of 6.25 miles. I wasn't jazzed about running solo for an hour, but off I went. It ended up being not as bad as I was expecting. The hour didn't exactly fly by, but it ended up being fine. I had to walk a few times, but no biggie.

For the sake of brevity, I will combine the two parts of this run as one set of totals.

11.31 miles
1:56:00

3 more miles

2010-07-09T19:48:00.000-07:00

I ran 3 miles this morning when I got home from work. Didn't run at work, since it was raining.

It was very humid this morning. Actually, the air was saturated. 98% rel. humidity, in addition to it being 75 degrees at 6:45 IN THE MORNING! Kinda sucked. Because of those conditions (and my tiredness, I'm sure), I only ran that pathetic 3 miles.

I haven't gotten back into a groove, as far as running goes. I'm trying, but I just have felt worn out before I even get started lately. Its a little frustrating.

I got a text from Brian saying the group starts running at 4 am, but to just show up whenever. Not sure what I'm gonna do, guess I will just head out when I get up, whenever that is.

Totals
07/09/10
3 measly miles
27 minutes

blah

Two more

2010-07-08T15:26:00.000-07:00

Brian was back and ready to run last night, we did the Samtec Loop.

We saw 4 deer a little over a half-mile into the run, and for whatever reason, Brian decided to run after them. That was a little weird, but whatever.

Other than that, it was a pretty uneventful run.

Then this morning, I ran 2 miles in my neighborhood, which was also pretty uneventful.

Totals
2.5 miles
21:38.6

and
2.03 miles
17:53.47

2 short runs you must be dying to know about

2010-07-07T13:53:00.000-07:00

Last night I returned to work after a relaxing 3-day weekend. Boy did that suck. But this blog isn't about how much I hate work (if I had one, it would probably be DammitIwishmylifewasavacation.com), it is about the running.

Brian, as you know, is back from vacation. I told you that. We ran the hill the other day, remember? Don't you pay attention to anything I write on here? Sheesh. Anyway, he was in Florida for a little over a week, and having already done that this year, I can tell you that the heat, humidity, and pollen count (we consistently rank in the top 2 for Spring and Fall allergies. Suck on that, Clean Air Cities!) can make for a miserable return.

Last night he got waylaid by the "fresh air" in our beautiful Ohio Valley hometown. He sounded like Froggy from the Little Rascals. As amusing as that was, it meant I was running alone. Boo.

"I'm not running tonight."

I took off at lunch time for the 2.5 mile loop. The moon was just a sliver, so it was a dark run. Not a lot of streetlights on the route, plus you pass through a stretch that is tree-lined on both sides. It kinda spooked me last night. I thought someone was in the bushes, which really freaked me out. I was jumpy for that whole stretch.

I saw a few things last night that we rarely see during those early a.m. runs. The first was people out walking. We run through an industrial park, and there are other businesses working overnight, so obviously there are people around, its just that you never, ever see anyone walking, like for fitness. A little later, I saw a small buck near a house. I spooked it, and it took off, but stopped, turned and watched me run by.

Those are the highlights. Everything else was pretty much the same as it ever is. I finished the run in under 20, so, good for me!

"Same as it ever was, same as it ever was..."

I also ran in the morning after work. I did a smidge over 2 miles in about 19 minutes. That's about all there is to say about that.

Totals
July 7, 2010
2.5 miles
19:44.56

and
2.03 miles
19 minutes

Hill Run

2010-07-06T07:30:00.001-07:00

Maybe Hell Run would have made a more fitting title for this post.

Yesterday evening, I joined Brian and Shawna for a 7-mile-run. We left from P and R's and made our way up Moser Rd. And boy did that suck. Brian, who hadn't been for a run in over a week, took off like he was making up for lost time. I kept up, but only until we got to Moser ~~Mountain~~ Road. After that, I started falling behind. Eventually, they stopped so we could walk a bit. I ran a bit more, but had to stop and start a few more times before getting to the top.

Once at the top, I felt awful. I think my body went into a revolt, because all I wanted to do was lay down and die. Okay, not really, but it was about as bad as I have ever felt out on a run. After a few minutes, we continued on until we hit 3.5 miles, then turned around to head back down the hill. I will say that, while not as strenuous as the ascent, the descent had its own unique set of challenges. One was not running over the person in front of you. The other was not looking down the side of the hill. It was a long way, straight down.

I made it to flatter land with no incident, but needed to walk once again when we hit Hausfeldt. We walked for a few minutes, then finished the journey at a run. I fell further behind, finishing about 20-30 seconds behind Brian and Shawna.

It was an eye-opener, especially when Shawna mentioned that she and some of the other crazies were doing 8 or 9 repeats up that beast of a hill. I'm hoping that left of the 5 miles to-and-from there, but it may not have. There is obviously a reason we call them the crazies.

I passed on the opportunity to run with them this morning, and I'm probably going to regret that. At some point I'm going to have to commit to some kind of marathon training plan.

Distance and time are from Brian's Garmin. I adjusted the distance (for longer time spent walking) and time (for finishing a half-minute later than him) to more accurately document my run. Actual time spent on my feet and distance covered were probably 15-20 minutes more and .25 to .5 miles longer.

Totals
6.85 miles
1:07:36

I tried, but I couldn't take down the record

2010-07-01T04:17:00.000-07:00

After what seems like an eternity, but was actually more like a week, I went for a run. I won't bore you with the reasons for not running (I've got plenty, trust me), but at least one or two were valid.

I had hoped to get out in the afternoon, but my sleep routine has been somewhat shitty since vacation. I'm still unable to get back onto my dear old third-shift sleep schedule. Also, I cut the grass and considered that my cardio for the day.

It is almost a shame I haven't been running these last few days, because the weather around here has been as good as its been since February or March. No kidding. The daily highs have been in the low 80's, the humidity has been waaaaaaaaaay down, and you can walk to the mailbox in the afternoon without having to change your sweaty shirt when you get back inside.

So last night, I ran the Samtec loop, our 2.5 mile course that I usually run with Brian. Brian, however, is on vacation, so I ran this one solo. Normally that would mean chances are good for a record-breaking run. Not so this time out. Not for lack of effort or desire. I set out feeling pumped up and ready to rock out, I simply wasn't able to do it.

I charged out of the gate, and right away my stride felt good. I felt tall and fast. That lasted about 3/4 of a mile. Then I felt heavy and winded for about 1 and 3/4 miles. That ain't gonna add up to a record-breaker no matter how you fudge the numbers.

Now, my time is a bit of a mystery. I used the stopwatch on my ipod for this run, and due to operator error, I ended up switching screens when I meant to stop the time. After staring in disbelief at a different screen, I hit the timer again, and there was my run time, still rolling along. I stopped the clock at 18:45, which was at least 15- 20 seconds after I had stopped running. Therefore, I'm calling this one 18:25. Not bad, but not what I had hoped to run, or even felt like I had run. Guess I'll have to take another crack at it tonight.

Totals
July 1, 2010
2.5 miles
18:25 (7:22/mile pace)

5+ miles in FM

2010-06-22T04:33:00.000-07:00

That's Fort Myers.

Once again, I awoke earlier than the rest of the family, so I suited up for a run. I had an idea of where I wanted to go, so after getting a quick bite to eat, I filled a water bottle and headed out.

I ended up covering nearly 5 1/2 miles in about 50 minutes. I felt good about that. The worst part was the last mile or so, with the sun beating down on my back. I could feel the sunburn under my shirt (which, btw, was soaked).

I may have to get out before sunrise for the next run.

Also, I have added pics to my 5k recap from the other day, so please check it out again.

Totals
June 21, 2010
5.38 miles
49:00

Out Run Parkinson's 5k recap

2010-06-21T06:49:00.000-07:00

This year, I decided to look for a race to run while we are on vacation. I found one that fit perfectly into our plans, signed up and actually raced it.

I got up a little earlier than I would have liked to, so with a few hours to kill, I decided to go out on the bike for a bit. I ended up biking for an hour and fifteen minutes before heading back to the house. After that, it was off to Cape Coral for the race.

I got there with plenty of time to spare, so I checked out the park where it was being run. It had a nature center with snakes, lizards and fish from the area. I really used to dig that as a kid, so it was kinda neat for me. After that, I talked to a few people who were there, including one guy who was running his first race that day, another who was race walking it (31:19! I think he beat the first-timer!), and a guy whose son was running it. The kid crushed it! 19:49 or something like that!

It was a nice event, put together by 3d racing from Estero, I believe. They had a bunch of runners representing them. Local track club. There were also a bunch of adult runners, called the Speedsters, that took a lot of the age group awards.

Getting my game face on

The corral

I can't believe its not Fabio

I did quite well. 23:03.9, good enough for 5th in my age group. Seems like I've been in the most competitive age group since I started running. I finished 41st overall, out of 173. I'm happy with how I did.

I think this may become a regular vacation thing.

Totals
June 19, 2010
3.1 miles
23:03.9

I've got some catching up to do!

2010-06-13T02:42:00.000-07:00

I just realized that it has been over a week since I've posted anything! The sad part is, I've actually got some stuff worthy of a few blog posts! Races, shoes, and long runs! Let's get to it! I'll take things chronologically, to keep me from having to backtrack (and to keep me from getting confused to the point where I repeat things).

Last Saturday, I met up with Brian and the crazies for an early, pre-sunrise, 5 am run from the Y. We ran to another runner's house, met up with her and her buddy, then back toward the Y for a loop of Coopers Lane. Coopers is a rolling, uphill run. At least from the direction we ran it. The humidity made for a soggy and depleting run. Oh, I almost forgot the best part. I ate like a drunken idiot the night before and nearly sharted myself on the run. How awesome would that have been? (11+ miles)

Monday-Thursday Brian and I ran OYSTRs. (2.5 miles each/ 10 miles total for the math-impaired)

*Slight backtracking at this point.

Wednesday, I went to Pacers and Racers for some new shoes. The wear on the heels of my SyncroInfinitys was starting to concern me. They still feel great, and I haven't noticed too much of a difference in any other aspect, but like I said, the heel wear was bothering me. I talked to Kerry, who told me the wear was normal for the way I run, and I still had about 100 miles on these shoes. That was great news! But since I was flush with cash from my grad video sales, I went ahead and bought another pair of shoes. I went with a different Pearl model, the SyncroPace. Initially, I really liked them. Then I got them home and ran a few miles in them, and liked them a bit less. After a second run in them, I was ready to return them. I haven't yet, but I really think I will in the next few days and exchange them for another pair of the SyncroInfinitys. Stay tuned for the exciting conclusion of this story.

Yesterday, I was wide awake at 4 am, so I decided to meet up with Brian and the crazies for another 5 am run. I have got to start taking Ambien or something on Friday nights. It seems like I never get enough sleep on the weekends!

We ran nearly 8 miles yesterday morning, and then drove out to a nearby family farm for a 10k. It sounded a lot less crazy a few days ago, I swear. Having only run one other 10k, the goal for this one was rather modest: improve on the last one, even if its only by a few seconds. I'm glad to say we met the goal. I would even be glad to give you a recap!

Brian and I got to check-in about 40 minutes before race time. We had pre-registered, but for some reason, Brian's entry wasn't on file. We found out later that a bunch of entries had gone missing that morning, including a few other people we knew. Luckily, our buddy Tom was working registration and got things straightened out for Brian.

Shortly before the run, a bagpiper shows up, in full regalia, and starts piping. I guess that's what you call it.

A little while later, Shawna and Jen show up. Then Traci and her kids show up too. There must have been some mix-up with their entries too, because I saw them furiously filling out entry forms shortly before start time.

We headed to the starting line, and off we went! Less than a mile into the run, it started raining. It didn't last long, though, and it was soon replaced by warm, muggy air. Yeah, that's so much better for running. So to recap, we still have 5+ hilly miles to go, and I am soaked. Fun.

I didn't hold up as well as I would have liked. At the halfway point, I was so ready to be done, but I kept going. I had to walk a few times, but I managed to catch up with Brian every time. I'll tell you this: it must have been bad out there, because Brian even stopped to walk on a few occasions. If he hadn't, I wouldn't have finished anywhere near him.

Once we hit 5 miles, I started looking for the finish line every time we rounded a turn. It seemed like it took forever. At mile 6, I had fallen a few yards behind Brian. I was tired, but I dug deep and caught up to him before we made our way to the finish. We ended up crossing the finish about 50 seconds faster than the last 10k!

Afterward, we stuck around to see how everyone finished. Most of them got done before us. Sometimes I hate running with fast people!

We also got filled up on fresh, local strawberries! They were incredible!

Totals
Sat, June5,2010
Y group run
11.42 miles
1:52:52 (9:53/mile)

June 8-11
4 OYSTRs
10 miles
1:12:45, approx (8:20/mile avg, approx)

June 12
Y group run
7.77 miles
1:12:39.49 (9:22/mile)

June 12
Barnyard Dash 10k
6.2 miles
52:44 (8:31/mile)

Hello Summer!

2010-06-04T13:17:00.000-07:00

Around here, Summer tends to arrive early. Like mid-May. Its kind of strange how we seem to go from daily highs that flucutate between 50-70 degrees, then BAM! a unending stretch of 90 degree days, smacking you right in the face! I believe we are going to be in a for a long, hot Summer. And to think I was so ready for Summer to be here a few weeks ago.

All right, enough rambling about seasons, on to the important stuff.

Monday night, I returned to work after a long, holiday weekend. We didn't do much over the holiday, which was actually kind of nice for a change. The kids finished up their school year a few days ago, and now they are settling into a lazy summer groove. I miss that!

Along with getting back to work, of course, was an OYSTR. Brian and I ran the 2.49 miles in 20:31. A good tempo run, and a great time to run it. With the morning lows around 70, you better believe I am going to be logging some miles overnight when the sun isn't beating down on me!

Then on Tuesday, as I am getting ready to head to my kid's school for their 6th grade graduation ceremony (where I debuted the grad video, which was very warmly recieved, thank you very much), I knocked over a shampoo bottle in the shower, which dropped onto my right foot. Not good. I've been through this before, and the last time, I ended up with a hairline fracture and no running for nearly 2 months. So obviously, I'm freaking out! I am thinking I'm going to be in a soft cast for the summer, I'm going to miss the next 2 or 3 races I want to run (one of which is during our upcoming vacation), and just fall into a depressed funk because of one little slip.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Well, I'm glad to tell you that I ran 4.5 miles this morning, and my feet felt fine! Careful observers will note that, while a Friday morning run isn't unheard of, it is uncommon. So why run this particular Friday morning? Because it was National Doughnut Day! To mark the occasion, Krispy Kreme stores across this great nation were giving away free doughnuts. FREE!!!!!

I caught Brian on Facebook, and after a little arm-twisting(yeah, right), I talked him in to running up to the local KK store. Good thing it is only a little over 2 miles from my house! Once we got there, I made it a point to tell any and everyone that was walking in about the free doughnuts. Some knew, some didn't, but everyone seemed ridiculously happy about it.

Mmmmmmmmm, donuts

So, after inhaling a cruller, it was time to head back. We ended up running to Brian's house. I was fading fast(been up all night at work, didn't sleep well the day before, and it was warming up outside), and he said he would drive me home from there. Thanks buddy!

Not a bad morning, now that I think about it.

Totals
June 1, 2010
2.49 miles
20:31.14

June 4, 2010
4.5 miles
38:44(approx)

I should probably post before May comes to an end

2010-05-31T18:57:00.000-07:00

I've got three more running entries to share with my blogger readers, and I bet the two of you can hardly stand the wait!

Last Wednesday, I did my test run to make sure things were good to go for the group run from the Fleet Feet store in Louisville. All systems were go, so Brian and I headed over and did their scenic loop, which is a three-mile loop up and down the hills of Cherokee Park. It could have gone better for me. I had to stop near the end of the 2nd mile, and after seeing the splits (8:17 and 8:07 for the first two mile! YIKES!!), it is no wonder. The temperatures were nearing 90 that evening, and the oppressive Ohio Valley Humidity was doing a number on me. And after all of that, we still didn't win any of their giveaways!

So Saturday rolls around, and Brian and I agree to meet up with the two craziest of the Crazies at 5 a.m. for 10 or 12 miles. Ugh. I get up and pick Brian up, we head out and ran a really jacked up route, stopping along the way to pick up another couple of runners. Other than that, nothing too memorable. We logged just over 11 that morning.

And today, Memorial Day, we once more join the craziest two (plus another one who is crazy in a whole different way) for a few miles. This was at 9 a.m., and it was getting hotter the whole time. Not a great deal of fun, but I better get used to it. Knocked out 8 miles today.

Totals

Wed, May 26
3 miles
26:04

Sat, May 29
11.1 miles
1:42:46

Mon, May 31
8 miles
1:16:35

Saturday run, and a Wednesday morning run

2010-05-26T04:51:00.000-07:00

In my last post, I mentioned that I would be heading out for a run that morning and looking at doubling my weekly mileage. Well, I did. And right around that 10-mile mark, my left knee got all tweaky. No grinding or blowout or anything like that, just a little tweak that did not feel right. Ended up walking it in from there.

Could have easily been worse, and I could have easily done something stupid, like try to run another few miles, but it wasn't, and I didn't. It's not like I paid to run that morning, or was heading for a finisher's medal, so why risk it?

I gave the knee a few days off, and finally headed out for a run this morning. Brian and I had talked about heading over to Fleet Feet for their weekly group run. They are having someone from Amphipod, I think, sponsor the run, and that means freebies! Hopefully I will leave with something other than a sample of Sport Wash this time!

Totals
May 22, 2010
10 miles (approx)
1 hr 45 mins (also approx)

May 26
2.03 miles
17:03(8:24/mile pace)

Still running, and still working on slide shows

2010-05-22T02:20:00.001-07:00

Lately, I've been busy with my kids' schools' year-end stuff, specifically a pair of slide shows to rock the house. I started doing these 3 years ago, and I guess I have become "the guy". I don't mind it so much the rest of the year, but those last few weeks of April and early May are a little busier than I would like. Not complaining, just making both of my readers aware of why the mileage has dipped lately.

Since I last blogged, Brian and I have completed the walking(or, in our case, running) program at work. Sixty miles will get you $10. And it did. At least, we finished the sixty miles. Like taking candy from a baby.

It is early on a Saturday morning, and I'm getting ready to at least double my miles for the week. It has been almost a month since I've run on a Saturday. I guess I felt a little burned out after the mini. Time to get things moving again and start thinking about that full marathon in the fall.

I'm pretty sure that 26.2 is going to be my self-imposed limit. Brian and I were talking a little bit about that last night. The crazies that we've been running with are all, well, crazy. Enjoy that 50-miler! I'm still pretty happy with that 13.1 I ran a month ago, and if anything, it opened my eyes to how tough running a full marathon is going to be for me. Training and all of the prep work, let alone the race itself.

So that's where I am right now.

Totals since last post

15 miles, all OYSTRs
6 runs of approx 2.5 miles each, all around 20 mins per run

The week thus far

2010-05-12T16:14:00.000-07:00

So far, I've gotten in a few runs with Brian. Three of these were at work (our customary 2.5 milers), and the other was just a garden-variety afternoon run near home.

Sun/Mon/Tues nights we racked up a little over 7.5 miles. I can almost hear the cha-ching! of the Spring Walking Program! That $10 gift card is almost mine!

Tuesday afternoon, Brian texted me about getting out for a run. Funny how it almost always works out when he does. Normally, I would have been on the way to or from picking up my oldest from school, but she had left school early with some kind of mild illness, so I was actually just doing nothing when I got the text. BTW, she was fine, just some fleet and passing minor funk.

Anyhow, I got my tired ass ready and headed over to Brian's house. We had discussed knocking out 5 miles, so we just headed out with Garmin and played this run by ear. The course we ran was a bit of a mash-up of some of our familiar runs, and ended up getting us almost all the way back to his house in 6.2 miles. That's 10 kilometers to our friends around the world!

We ran nearly the entire way with a stiff wind knocking us around. And when we were spared the breeze, I was almost begging for it, because even though it felt like running while tugging a fat guy around in a wagon, at least it had a cooling effect. And it was in the low 70's yesterday, which felt like high-80's or low-90's once we got rolling.

About 4.5 miles into the run, I hear Brian yelling at someone. I figured he had snapped and was yelling at cars that were passing us, but it turns out he had spotted Shawna (aka Unofficial Leader of the Crazies) on the opposite side of the road. She was all "WTF? You guys can't call?" and I was all "It is all Brian's fault! I was just minding my own when he texted to go for a run!" and she was all "Whatever!".

Okay, not really. But kind of. All of that over four lanes of traffic, as we were running in opposite directions. Wham bam, see ya ma'am.

I will spare you the totals for the work runs. Mostly in the 20-22 minute range, right around an 8-min pace. But I will share the total for the 10k run.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010
6.2 miles
53:29

And another two!

2010-05-05T04:06:00.000-07:00

Logged two more 2.5 milers over the last two evenings. One of which set a PR for our tried-and-true Samtec Loop.

Monday night, Brian and I hit the loop, finishing in 21:24. Actually took it easy on that one. And I can say that with no hint of irony: these 8:30-pace runs actually are becoming easier for us.

Last night, I ran solo. Brian was a little sleepy (3rd shift can really suck sometimes, especially if things mess with your sleeping routine), and said he wasn't running, but I could use his Garmin if I wanted to. I took him up on the offer, and before I hit the door, he said "Don't go breaking any records!".

Well........if you've read this blog with any kind of regularity, you will know that any time Brian or I run alone, we tend to up the pace. Not sure why, maybe because it sucks to run alone at 2:30 a.m. through an industrial park.

Once the Garmin was ready to roll, I took off. First mile flew by. I didn't know it, but I ran it in under 7. Next mile was a little slower, but not by much: under 7:30. Last half-mile, which nearly always sucks, was a smidge under 3:40.

I bested my PR for that route by just about 17 seconds. Like I've said before; that's what you get when Yetis run solo!

Totals
May 4, 2010
2.51 miles
21:23.85 (8:32/mile pace)

May 5, 2010
2.51 miles
18:00.34 (7:11/mile pace)

The first two runs of May

2010-05-03T18:51:00.000-07:00

Back to back, as a matter of fact.

Brian and I ran last night at work. 2.5 in under 21, and then again this afternoon. Ran 6 in a little over 54.

Last night, the weather was agreeable. Humid, but agreeable. Today, it was hot. Pushing 80, which felt more like upper 90's to me. Glad I took water with me.

On a side note, my shoes are starting to concern me. The wear on the heels is getting to Threat Level Midnight. I've only put a little over 200 miles on them, but I guess I am a hard heel striker. Everything else is holding up great, just wish the soles were too.

Totals
May 3, 2010
2.5 miles
20:51.75 (8:21 pace)

May 3, 2010
6 miles
54:06.3 (9:02 pace)

The last two runs of April

2010-05-02T15:51:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe that it is already May. I still don't know where the last four months went! I know I've been running more than ever, so I suppose that is why it has been such a blur.

Tuesday and Wednesday, Brian and I ran our 2.5 milers on break. We slowed things down a little, which was great for me since I've been feeling really tired lately. I guess the Mini really took a lot out of me. I think I was in need of a break too. Outside of running, I have a few slide shows to create for my daughter's school, and those keep getting closer and closer, and I am starting to stress a little bit. I hear running is a great stress reliever, so at least I know if things get too bad I can suit up and hit the road for an hour or so.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand: The last two runs for the month of April.

Our pace for those two runs was 8:08 on Tuesday, and 8:38 on Wednesday. We actually did take it easy on that last one. Damn good thing too! I may have mentioned how worn out I've been feeling lately.

To recap this historic month: In April I ran my first half-marathon, I logged my farthest run to date (15 miles!), broke 20 minutes for our 2.5 miler training/tempo runs (twice!), and last but not least, logged over 100 miles for the month!!! I've been close the last few months, but finally broke that barrier. I'm a little over 320 for the year (with the dismal February, and the whole running-in-the-wrong-kind-of-shoes debacle), and anticipate I will manage to get in 1,000 for the year. Guess I need to start saving up for some more shoes!

Totals
April 28, 2010
2.5 miles
20:62.17 (8:08/mile pace)

April 29, 2010
2.5 miles
21:33.22 (8:38/mile pace)

Work run

2010-04-27T04:08:00.000-07:00

Monday night, Brian and I were joined by the Z man for our regular loop. Well, he hung with us for nearly a mile, then faded. I shouldn't say he faded, since he was less than a minute behind us. Semantics.

Anyhow, it has been nice having Brian run with his Garmin. We now know exactly when and where the mile splits are, and are staying right at an 8 minute pace on these 2.5 milers. Tonight we finished at an 8:03 pace, I think.

I know that these are good training runs, and speedwork, and blah blah blah, but I am still tired from Saturday's half. I guess I just wish I felt as good as I was feeling during and after the OYSTRs before that race. I just need to get good and rested. Perhaps next week.

Totals
April 27, 2010
2.51 miles
20:09.78 (8:02/mile pace)

Sunday night work run

2010-04-26T11:45:00.001-07:00

Back to work, and a short recovery run.

It was a cool and drizzly night, but it wasn't all-out raining, so we ran. I could lie and say that my heart was in it, but it wasn't. We ran it a little easier than the last few work runs, but not by much, since it looked like it might start pouring any minute.

We finished our 2.5 mile loop in a little under 21 minutes. Not quite easy, like I said, but it didn't feel too bad. I've definitely felt worse during some of our overnight runs!

This week looks like a rainy one, so I'm not sure how much running we'll be doing at work. We may have to work in a few longer runs in the afternoons/evenings this week. I think Wednesday and Thursday are the only days they aren't calling for rain. The temps are a bit lower for the next few days, too. Yay! Cooler AND rain! How lucky can you get?

Totals
April 26, 2010
2.5 miles
20:57.42 (8:23/mile pace)

KDF miniMarathon

2010-04-25T10:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I ran my first half-marathon, and let me tell you, it was a lot tougher than I expected. Luckily, I had the best running partner a guy could ask for to help pull me through it. It definitely would have been a different outcome without you, Brian. Probably a lot uglier, with more walking, stopping, and self-doubt. So, thanks buddy!

The day before the race was filled with packet pick-up and the runner's expo, lunch with our new running friends, and a spaghetti dinner with the family. The expo was good. I got an extra technical shirt from a vendor, a few more water bottles, and I am happy to report that I do not have any signs of mouth cancer. Not that I had any reason to think that I did. I don't smoke or chew. But the exam was quick and free, so why not?

Friday evening, I crashed around 9:45, only to wake around midnight. After that, I didn't get back to sleep until sometime after 2, so when the alarm woke me at 4:30, I was hating life. I didn't have much time to dwell on that, though, since I was picking Brian up at 5:15. Since I had everything I would need for race day laid out and ready to go, I just had to get dressed, eat, and check the weather.

About the weather: the forecasts leading up to Saturday painted a pretty grim picture. They were calling for up to an 80% chance of thunderstorms on race day, and just about 100% chance of at least some rain. We did get rain, but luckily no thunderstorms.

Brian and I had talked about meeting up with the Y running group before driving over to catch the shuttle to the starting line, but we thought we would rather get over there and worry about finding them in the corrals. We got there with plenty of time to spare, so we hung out in a bank drive-thru to stay out of the rain. A little later, we decided to try to find the crazies, but didn't see them until we were back in the corral and ready to start the race. Brian spotted them outside of the corral, moving up to the front of the corral. We tried to get their attention, but couldn't, so we just decided to try to catch up with them once we got moving.

It took us about two miles to catch the first one, Jeff, in the park. He told us that Tom was up ahead of him, but wasn't sure about the rest. We ran with Jeff for a bit, then set out to find Tom. It took us a while, but Brian spotted him at a water stop. We stopped briefly, but Tom was waiting for the rest of the group to come through and told us to go on and he would catch up with us later.

After the park, it was three miles or so to Churchill Downs. We had to run through the tunnel to the infield, then a short stretch around the infield, and then back out through another tunnel. The tunnels were crowded and pretty much sucked, so we just tried to get through them as quickly as we could.

It was a long three miles to the half/full split, and to be honest, it was kind of dull and uneventful. Not much to see, other than some older buildings and homes and Louisville's Central Park. I think there was a live band or two during that part, but nothing very memorable, other than the rain coming to an end and the sun starting to heat things up.

After the split, we were nearly to downtown. This was crunch time. I was ready to be done, but still had a few miles to go. A little earlier in the race, Brian had said that once he saw the finish line, he was going to bolt. Just wanted to give me a head's up. Somewhere during this part of the run, though, he said that since we had started this together, we were going to finish it together. That was fine with me, since there was no way I was going to be able to keep up with him otherwise. At the time, I thought he was talking about this particular race, but now I think he meant running in general.

It felt like we made more turns during the last few miles of the race than during the other ten or eleven miles. That's probably because I was so ready to see the finish line. At one point, I even remarked that one of the last turns, which took us in the opposite direction of where the finish line was located, must be someone's idea of a sick joke. Yeah, I was so ready to be done.

I toughed out the final stretch, and Brian and I hit the finish side by side. We even had identical chip times for the race: 1:52:19. He crushed his best time for a half, which he set 14 years earlier! As for me, an instant PR, but one helluva tough time for me to beat in the next one!

I was exhausted, but pretty proud of how we did. I know Brian could have probably broken 1:50:00, but he stuck with me. I have the best running buddy ever! Did I mention that already? Well, I do.

We helped ourselves to some bagels, drinks, etc., then made our way to the runner reunion area. After a brief cool down, we got our free beer. Cool, crisp, free, and pretty refreshing. We just hung out for a while, then decided to head to the car for some dry clothes and another (better) beer. Man, that dry shirt and socks and shoes felt great!

We walked back down Main Street to the bridge to try to catch a glimpse of the crazies, and ran into Tom and Jeff. They said that the remaining crazies hadn't been by yet, so we stuck around to see them come through. Once they were there, they stopped briefly, asked if we were going to run with them (HA!), then took off once again, with Tom along for the rest of the run. With that, we bid farewell to Jeff and made our way back to the car.

We will probably do a few 5ks in the next few months, and of course we will continue to run with the crazies on the weekends, but the next big race is going to be the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon. Yep, we're taking on a full, 26.2 mile race. Hopefully, the next few 6-7 months will be enough time to get us where we need to be for that one!

Fleet Feet Fun Run

2010-04-21T18:15:00.000-07:00

Apparently, Wednesday nights are Fun Run night at the Fleet Feet store in Louisville. And once a month or so, they have a vendor sponsor the run, and afterward the vendor gives out some swag. I am so in for the next few of those!

The group left the store around 6:30 for three miles through Cherokee Park. It has been a while since I had been over there, and I had forgotten how hilly it is. Still, it was a good run. I covered the three hilly miles in 24:48, and did not, at any point, feel like dropping dead, unlike the last warm day I ran. So that's a good thing.

I attached a few pictures from inside the park, and also one of me after the run. I also took a few back at the store during the goodie giveaway. I wish I had won one of the hydration belts, but I didn't. I didn't leave empty handed, though. I got a sample of some Sport Wash for my nasty running clothes!

The vendor that sponsored tonight's run was from Nathan products, and they make water belts and stuff like that. They also brought the aforementioned Sport-Wash, but I don't know if they make it or just had it for the giveaway.

I'm looking forward to dragging Brian to one of these runs.

Midweek

2010-04-21T13:40:00.000-07:00

Brian and I changed things up a bit by running up to Grantline last night. The hill sucked, as usual, but it was a good reminder of what is waiting for us on Saturday morning.

According to Garmin, the distance was a little more than we thought, but not by much. All good.

Felt good during the run, especially that all-too-brief bit down the hill. I am noticing that these runs seem to be getting easier. I guess the speed work, if you can call it that, is paying off!

One other note. Garmins are pretty awesome! I've been getting the info from Brian's RunningAhead page, and it is impressive the amount of data it captures. Splits, maps, pace; it is badass!

Totals
April 21, 2010
2.63 miles
20:53.67 (7:57/mile pace)

2 1/2 miles, and some Lost-inspired rambling/whining

2010-04-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

Last night, Brian and I ran our usual route. He had gotten his Garmin earlier that day, and we took it for a spin to see if our mapping on MapMyRun.com was accurate. We had it mapped as 2.5, and according to Garmin, it was 2.48. Close enough for me. We did the first mile in under 8, then backed off a little. We finished the run in 20:07.57. Nice, quick run.

Totals
04/19/10
2.48 miles
20:07.57 (8:07/mile pace)

As for that rambling, I was thinking about my commitment to running a lower-mileage week this week. I had actually said aloud, "I'm only going to run at work this week." to my wife at some point this past weekend. After saying that, I told Brian pretty much the same thing, only to add an asterisk, by also mentioning "yeah, but I probably won't stick to that!". Well folks, it looks like the Universe wants me to remain a man of my word.

Our car has been having some mechanical issues lately, and we were finally able to get it to our mechanic yesterday afternoon. He is working on it today, but as of right now (nearly 5 in the afternoon), we don't know if he will have it done today. Which kinda sucks. We did the one-car thing today, which meant that I got off work this morning, came home, then left again a half-hour later to take the kids to school and my wife to work. Then, early in the afternoon, I had to pick the kids up from school. Luckily for me, a friend of ours picked up our youngest, which meant an extra hour of sleep for me (yay! 5 hrs instead of 4!), and I met them at the Jr High when I was picking up the oldest.

So, I can't really plan on running today, since I have no idea when the car will be ready. At least my wife arranged to get a ride home from work, so I don't have to worry about that. Hopefully, my wife will show up with the car and all will be right in our little world. If not, I'll suffer through another day of fragmented sleep, I guess. At least the forecast for the next few days look pretty great. Maybe I'll be able to work in a little bit of a longer run before Friday.

Sunday night run

2010-04-19T13:21:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems like the Yetis are getting back to form. We've run a couple of sub-20 Samtec Loops, and last night's run felt pretty good. If you've only got 30 minutes to squeeze in a workout, might as well haul ass!

My first half-marathon is only a few days away, and I am glad to say I am injury-free and ready for it! I owe thanks to the good folks at Pacers and Racers for getting me into the right shoes; the Crazies, for making me want to get up early on the weekends and run; and most of all to Brian, for running damn near every step with me. You all ROCK!

Total
Sunday, April 18, 2010
2.51 miles
19:56 (7:57/mile pace)

Saturday morning run

2010-04-18T11:37:00.000-07:00

Saturday was my long-run day, and it turned out to be my longest run to date! I woke up earlier than I had planned, and I've learned that it is useless for me to try to get back to sleep if I'm going for an early run. So, I got up, got ready, and enjoyed the quiet.

I had already decided that I would run to the Y to meet up with the group, and Brian offered to give me a ride home. I am glad he did, because this morning run wore me out!

I got to the Y just after Brian did, and we waited for the group to get back from their first loop. We only had to wait a few minutes before some other runners drove up, and then a few more minutes until the runners got back. It was Jen and Gary. Shawna was sick, so no running for her.

After Jen and Gary had refueled, we left for the 6+ loop. Brian and I started off behind Jen and Gary, but within two miles, we had moved ahead and kept going. The run was about as good as it gets. We were running fairly fast (for us), and pain-free. The pace was consistent, the weather was cool, but a little breezy. I hope the weather for next weekend's half-marathon is as good.

We got back to the Y in under an hour, and waited for J and G to get back. We weren't sure if they were heading back out, and didn't want to be rude. They got back and couldn't decide whether they were heading out for another 6. They settled on 3, and we headed back out.

A little over a mile in, we ran into Tracy and Cindy, who were doing a longer run, and they stopped to talk with J and G. Brian and I stopped too, and just hung out for a few minutes, until we realized this might take a while. We said goodbyes and started moving again.

I really started feeling worn down on this last stretch, and I slowed down. It was a rough couple of miles, but I kept moving, knowing that we were nearly done. I was really happy to finally see the Y's parking lot, and even happier when we finally stopped running. I had just run 15 miles!

But within a few minutes, every ache and pain started to increase. I felt more like I had just aged 40 years. It was rough.

I'm planning on a lower-mileage week, but you never know. I want to be rested and ready for the Mini, but also want to keep moving forward with my mileage gains. I guess we'll see what happens.

Totals
April 17, 2010
15.1 miles
2:14:44

First sub-20 OYSTR of the season

2010-04-15T04:01:00.000-07:00

It was bound to happen. The way Brian and I have been inching closer to the 20-minute mark for our overnight runs, it was just a matter of time. Last night, we dropped it like a bag of dirt.

We started out with Z, but he faded after about 3/4ths of a mile, and we hit the mile at 8:06. Fastest mile of the week! After that, we kept the pace up for a bit, then, like we usually do, we decided to back off of the pace. Obviously, that didn't happen. We hit mile 2 at 16:08; an 8:02 mile! A sub-20 run was going to happen.

Brian lied and said he didn't have any kick left. Okay, it wasn't a lie. He just didn't think he had any extra kick. He was wrong, because shortly after the 2-mile point, he decided to go for it. We picked it up a little, and headed for the final stretch. With about 30 yards to go (with a dogleg turn, too), we kicked it into another gear, and I chased Brian to the line. We finished the run with a little bit of time to spare, in 19:45.53!

Obviously, I'm pleased with how this one turned out.

Totals
April 14, 2010
2.51 miles
19:45.53

An OYSTR, with a side of humility

2010-04-14T16:40:00.000-07:00

Last night, Brian and I did our 2.5 miler on our break. Time was 20:28. This was after running the first mile in 8:08, I think. We said we were going to reel it in, but ended up running the 2.51 miles at a pretty even pace. We're just that good.

Today, after picking the kids up from school, I kicked around the idea of going for a run, maybe 7 miles or so. I had already heard from Brian, and he wouldn't be able to join me, so it was too easy to talk myself out of it, and I almost had when one of my kids started to get on my sleep-deprived and therefore easily-agitated nerves. That's when I decided to head out for a few miles of me time.

What I didn't take into account was just how warm it was outside. Hanging at 80 degrees, in the heat of the afternoon. Probably not the best time to run. Oh, and did I mention the plate of nachos I ate about an hour before I left the house? Not my finest moment. On top of all of that, I was just tired. I've been getting about 6 hours asleep the last few days, and blah blah blah, poor me, etc.

Long story short, I ran/walked this one. I tried to run the whole way, but about 2.5 miles in, I had to walk. The heat was really getting to me. After a short walk, I was running again. That didn't last terribly long, and I ended up alternating running and walking for the next few miles.

At my lowest point, mentally speaking anyway, Brian and his family pulled up alongside me and offered me a ride. I thanked them, but said no, and kept on going. I started running again shortly after that, only to stop and walk one last time before finishing the route at a run.

I could dissect this, but I wouldn't get any satisfaction out of that. Maybe it would make me a smarter runner, but I think I learned my lesson out there without having to break this down any further. It was hot, I was tired, and I ate poorly RIGHT BEFORE I LEFT. End of story.

At least I found a penny on this run. Oh, and I had an ice cold Summer Shandy as soon as I hit the door, followed soon after by a lovely Breakfast-for-Dinner.

We'll call this one a break-even.

Totals
March 14, 2010
2.51 miles
20:28 (8:10/mile pace)

Later, same day
6.61 miles
1:07:37.4 (10:14/mile pace)

A few OYSTRs

2010-04-13T12:02:00.000-07:00

The Spring Walking Program has begun at work, and they actually hand out gift cards for people that walk 20-60+ miles over the next few weeks. Since I'm already running on my break, might as well get paid for it!

Sunday night, Brian and I did the customary 2.5 mile loop in 20:22. Pretty good run for the Yetis. Then, last night, we did the loop again, and pushed a little harder down the stretch (TWSS). We finished that run a bit faster, at 20:10. I guess that short-distance speed (relatively speaking, of course) is still there.

Eleven more days until my first half-marathon, and everything is going well. Brian and I are looking to break 2 hrs, and neither of us see that as being a problem. Can't wait to hit the road and see what I'm made of!

A great day for my favorite Yeti

2010-04-10T06:32:00.000-07:00

Got out for a Saturday morning run with Brian and the crazies. Actually, after today he may have officially earned his "Crazy" status. More on that shortly.

I couldn't decide when to join the group, so I didn't set an alarm, just woke when I woke. I knew I wouldn't sleep past 5:30, but wasn't sure if I would be wide awake before then. As it turned out, I was out of bed a little after 5:00 and at the Y by 6, ready to roll.

Shortly after I arrived, the crazies came rolling in. After a water break, we were off. The run was fine, maybe a little fast at times, but nothing major.

Next time around, it was just me and Brian and Shawna. At this point, Brian had already run 2 laps, and was heading out for his third lap for the first time ever. I just hung back, let them set the pace. We stopped to walk for a few times. Brian was having issues with tightness in his legs, but he soldiered on. I'm really impressed and awfully proud of how far he's come these last few months.

Surprisingly, that lap was right around an hour too. We must have been going at Yeti pace!

Good, historic run.

Totals
12.6 miles
2 hrs, approx (9+ mins/mile)

Solo run

2010-04-07T17:14:00.000-07:00

This evening, the wife and kids left for a Girl Scout meeting, so once my dinner had settled, I suited up for a run. Since it is Wednesday, that means that Brian is most likely doing a hill run with the Crazies. There would be only one Sweaty Yeti on this run.

After a little number crunching, I decided that a run in the neighborhood of 5 miles would be in order. That gave me about an hour to work with. I opted for the 5 mile out-and-back.

The skies looked like they would open up and rain at any minute, but only did very briefly. I got rained on very lightly, and I barely even got wet, and that was about 2 miles in.

I hit the halfway point at 21:06, and finished at 42:58. Good run.

Totals

5.14 miles
42:58.03 (8:22/mile)

Mid-week recap

2010-04-07T15:27:00.000-07:00

So far this week, I've only run OYSTRs with Brian. But since the rest of the family is at a Girl Scout meeting, I may have to head out for a solo trek. Hopefully the rain will hold off for another hour or so.

As for the OYSTRs, Sunday night we got out for our tried-and-true 2.5 mile loop, with a time of 21:19.16 (8:32/mile). Sunday nights always suck, and this was no exception. Considering it was Easter, I'm surprised I wasn't more bloated than I actually was. Seriously, I ate a lot of food that day.

Monday night we mixed things up a little. First off, Z joined us for the run. When I say joined us, I mean that he ran with us for nearly a mile, then behind us the rest of the way. Secondly, we combined two of our routes to make one Super Route. It wasn't really super, it just sounded good in my head. We covered 3.32 miles in 27:06.54 (8:10/mile). Nice time, even if it was a little breezy out there.

Tuesday night it was just Brian and me for the 2.5 mile loop. We did see Gibby out there, but he left before us and finished just ahead of us. Not sure how far he went. 20:40.58 (8:17/mile).

A couple of good runs to get the week started. The weekend will be here before I know it, and I am planning on doing 12+ with the crazies on Saturday morning. According to the 10% rule, I should be up to 26 miles this week. I've banked 8.3 so far, and another 13 on Saturday will put me at 21+, so maybe I'll attempt a 5-miler in a little bit.

Totals for the last 3 runs

8.32 miles
1:09:06.28
8:19/mile pace

Papa John's recap

2010-04-03T12:08:00.000-07:00

Heckuva run!

Brian and I met up with Jeff, Tom, Shawna and Jen right before the start of the race. Jen was having asthma issues, so Jen and Shawna were going to run with her. And since there was no way in Hell that Brian and I could keep up with Tom for long, it was just the two of us (plus a few thousand other people!).

I found out today why everyone hates the hills of Iroquois Park. They really suck. My knees are still sore from those damn hills! At least it was only 3 miles of the run. Three long, painful miles. But I digress.

Sometime during mile 8 it started to rain, and it didn't really stop anytime during the race. The rain actually felt good. It wasn't pouring on us, just sprinkling, and that helped to cool me down, Shorty Fire Burning on the Dancefloor, oh OH oh!

With about 2 miles to go, Brian started to edge ahead, and I wasn't able to keep up, so I told him to go on. He held back for a little bit, but eventually finished his race. I was able to keep him in sight for most of the rest of the race, and finished 20 seconds behind him.

I've only run one other 10-mile race (The Hangover, earlier this year), and was able to improve on my time from that one by over a minute. I was pretty excited, until I thought about how hard I would have to run to top that time. But I got over that pretty quickly, once I grabbed something to eat and drink (2 Panera crunchy cinnamon bagels, a slice of PJ's pizza, two bottles of water and a Powerade.).

Three more weeks until the Mini!

Totals
04/03/10
10 miles
1:26:16 (8:38/mile pace)

Quick recap

2010-04-03T12:05:00.000-07:00

I ran two other times this week, the Samtec loop on Monday night and 8.5 with Brian on Wednesday.

Totals
3/29/10
2.5 miles
20:35.43 (8:15/mile pace)

3/31/10
8.5 miles
1:16:02 (8:57/mile pace)

Back to the loop

2010-03-29T18:30:00.000-07:00

Last night, it was back to work after a nice relaxing spring break. Not exactly my idea of a great time, but a guy's gotta pay the bills. Since we're actually having spring-like weather, it seemed like a good time to get back to the routine of the Overnight Yeti Seasonal Training Runs.

Last night's OYSTR was a trip around the Samtec loop. It's a little 2.5 mile route we've mapped out, and we can usually knock that one out in about 20 minutes. That gives us time to have something to eat before having to get back to the grind.

Time for the OYSTR was just under 21 minutes. Not the kind of times we were putting in last year, but I think that has more to do with our changing goals. In order for me to run 13.1 (or 26.2!), I'm going to have to slow the pace. And lately, a short run for us is 4 or 5 miles. So, a faster paced run is going to be uncomfortable, right? Even if the run is 2.5 miles and over in 20 minutes?

Either that or it was just a bad run. I hear those happen from time to time.

Total
Late Sunday, 03/28/10
2.5 miles
20:58.49 (8:24/mile pace)

Lazy weekend

2010-03-28T17:01:00.000-07:00

This post could have also been titled "Lazy Week", since it fell during Spring Break. But the week itself wasn't lazy at all. 8.5 miles with Brian on Monday, some hiking on Tuesday, a visit to the local fossil beds on Wednesday, nearly 9 miles on Thursday, and another 5 miles on Friday with Brian. But at least I wasn't at work.

I had planned on hitting 24 miles this week, by adding 10% to last week's mileage. I didn't make it to 24 miles, more like 22.5. I was close to 24 after Friday's run, and managed to talk myself out of running over the weekend. I think I needed the rest. Not that I'm tearing it up, but it's more than I'm used to running. I think I may be getting a little mini-burnout too. That, or it could just be a little funk I'm working through. It will pass. I will run at least 25 this week, with the Papa John's 10-miler on Saturday, and that will get me back on track.

Brian's planning on running tonight at work. I'll bring my stuff and make it a game-time decision.

Return of the Yeti

2010-03-26T17:08:00.000-07:00

Brian is back from Chicago, so we got caught up on things over a few miles of running. We did the 5-mile route from my house in around 45 minutes.

The weather was looking good, but we did have a little bit of a breeze to deal with. It went by quickly, though, like all good runs with good company do. I wasn't feeling great for the return trip, but I kept on going, just took it a little more slowly.

I'm right under my self-imposed 24 miles for the week, so I'm a little torn over what to do about tomorrow morning. The crazies will be out eating up some mileage, and I would like to get out and join them for at least 6, but I really don't want to overdo it this close to the Mini. The good news is that I haven't had any serious issues since I got the new shoes, so I'm thinking I can probably run without any problems tomorrow and just take a rest day on Sunday. I'd really hate to be wrong about that, though.

Total
Friday, 03/26/10
5.14 miles
44:54.34 (8:45/mile pace)

A few runs during Spring Break

2010-03-25T17:56:00.000-07:00

Monday morning came mighty early. Around 4:15 for me. Brian and I had planned on getting together for a run before he left for Chicago with the family that morning. So I got to Brian's around 5am and off we went!

We did a modified version of the Y group loop, stretching it out to an even 8.5 miles. And I was done before the sun came up! Of course, I was also worn out and ended up crashing for a few hours. Since it was Spring Break it wasn't a big deal. I got up, we had lunch and then went to a movie.

Today, while my kids were out shopping with their great-aunts, I got a solo run in. I did pretty much the same route as Monday, only I started from my house. It ended up being a little bit of a longer run by a little over a 1/4 mile (8.87 miles).

Good week so far!

Totals
Monday, 03/22/10
8.5 miles
1:17:15 (9:06/mile pace)

Thursday, 03/25/10
8.87 miles
1:18:47 (8:53/mile pace)

Saturday morning running

2010-03-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

Saturday was the Rodes City Run, part of Louisville's Triple Crown of Running. Several of the crazies from the Y running group were planning on running the 10k (after getting in about 20 miles beforehand, no less), so Brian and I cooked up a plan to run down there with them and Bandit the race.

I picked Brian up around 6:30 and we headed to the Y, where the runners were ready and waiting. After waiting a few minutes for Tom to pin his bib onto his shirt, we were off. We ran the 6.55 miles from the Y to 4th and Chestnut, stopping once for a brief pit stop for a couple of the runners, in 1:05:30. It was a bit more scenic than the usual Saturday morning group run. We got to run across the Clark Memorial Bridge, past the new downtown arena, and through the middle of 4th Street Live.

Once we arrived, we met up with Jen's husband (and our chauffeur for the the ride home), Jeff, and a few other runners, then it was a short walk to the starting line. Due to the massive number of people running the race, it took us over 4 minutes to wedge our way across the line. After that, it was a lot of weaving around people for at least 2 miles. It got a bit less congested as you ran, but there were still a lot of folks out there.

I ran with Brian and Shawna for most of the race, until Shawna dropped back to check on Jeff and Jen. She caught up with us a bit later, with about a mile to go, then ramped up the pace. I'm pretty sure I would have finished closer to an hour if she hadn't shown up again. Brian and I were cruising along at a comfortable pace around 8:30 or so, then Shawna comes flying up and kicks it into a sub-8 minute pace.

We kept up with her right up until the 6 mile mark, and Brian and I just let her go. But then, when Brian caught sight of the finish, he bolted and I chased. Didn't catch up with her, but we ended up crossing in under 54 minutes (53:30 for me, 53:16).

A couple of really good runs for the weekend.

A few of the runners were going out for a 10 mile run this morning (Sunday), but I'm still trying to be smart and not overdo it. I've been working back up to where I was, and I'm trying to abide by the 10% rule. I think I may have pushed it a little bit more than 10%, but I'm not feeling any worse for it. Next week looks like a 24-mile week. Lucky for me it's Spring Break!

Totals
Y to RCR start
6.55 miles
1:05:30 (10:00/mile pace)

Rodes City Run
6.2 miles
53:30 (8:38/mile pace)

OR
12.75 miles
1:59:00 (9:20/mile pace)

Too gorgeous not to run

2010-03-19T17:31:00.001-07:00

Not just me, that goes for the weather lately too!

Thursday afternoon was simply fantastic as far as the weather goes. Warm, a light wind, and mostly sunny. Around here, that's a welcome change. So, after some back and forth, will I or won't I, I followed Nike's lead and just did it.

I left my house and started out on my just-a-bit-over-five-miler, but I stopped when I saw my next door neighbor out with her kids. I knew that she had been running, and I thought she was going to do the Mini next month, so I asked her how her running was going. Turns out, it wasn't going anywhere. Life with two young children will do that to you. She was glad to hear how my running was going, and I was quick to brag on myself for every recent accomplishment. There wasn't much to tell, so I said goodbye and got moving.

The route du jour was a rolling course. Pretty much out-and-back to a nearby school, through mine and two other neighborhoods and along a straight shot of road (with a sidewalk, thank goodness). My intention was to take it easy, treat this like a recovery run, which was welcome after the (relative) speed I had been running for my previous two outings. I kept tabs on my pace, trying to keep it slower and easier, but I guess too slow, like too fast, is just not terribly comfortable. Don't get me wrong, I ran at an easy pace, didn't really push it that hard, but I still ran at a sub-9 min/mile pace. I was a little surprised, and also optimistic. I hope I can maintain that kind of pace for the Mini next month!

Totals
March 18, 2010
5.14 miles
45:26 (8:51/mile pace)

The running continues

2010-03-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

Hello Blogosphere!

I've been enjoying the Spring weather so much that I've been a bit of a deadbeat blogger as of late. My apologies. Perhaps a race recap with pictures will smooth things over between us. Whaddaya say?

Before I get to the recap, I have another run entry to report. I'll get right to it.

Monday afternoon, as temperatures were flirting with 60 degrees in the Ohio Valley, I set out for a quick, short run. The plan had been to run with Brian, but due to technical difficulties in the form of a few missed emails, I ran this one solo, while he got out for a longer run with some of the folks from the Y group. I didn't really have a grand plan in mind, but I knew I wanted to push a little bit harder than I do during longer runs and see how fast I could cover two miles in my hood.

I set out at a quick, but still comfortable pace. Since I was solo, I wasn't worried about being able to hold a conversation, which is a good thing since the only sounds coming out of my mouth were the sounds of labored breathing. I think there is one stretch of road in my neighborhood that I would consider "flat", and it's probably about 10 yards. The rest of the way is varying degrees of up- and downhill. Not the gentlest terrain for a PR, but good prep work for a short, flat race as it turns out.

I finished my 2.03 mile Neighborhood loop in 15:11, and it wore me out. As I've said, the running I've been doing lately has been over longer distance and at a slower pace, so this bit of speed work made me feel like The Flash! I'm not sure The Flash feels quite like I did after the run (fatigued, hungry, yet euphoric), but whatever. For that brief moment, I might as well have had a lightning bolt on my chest.

The Shamrock

Is that a leprechaun? No, it's Brian!!

Once again, Fast Freddie put on his St. Patrick's Day 2-miler right in the heart of my town's downtown district. Naturally, Brian and I had to run it. He even talked his kids into running it, which is all kinds of awesome in my book!

We showed up a little early, got our bibs and checked out the decked out locals in their green. I have to say, it didn't seem like as many people were embracing the St. Patty's theme as their was last year. Still, two quick miles and a free green beer at the finish was really all I was there for. That and the sweet medal that the top 100/gender got. As it turns out, we weren't in any real danger of not getting one of those bad boys.

Before we hit the starting line, we had another stop to make. As I've mentioned, my friend Lincoln has launched a website, LocalShoutOuts.com, and he had a few t-shirts for Brian and I to wear during the run to promote the site. We picked them up at his wife's salon, Big Hair Peace, which was less than a block from the race, and suited up!

A shameless plug for LocalShoutOuts.com!

While we were waiting for the main event, we ran into a few people we know and chatted a bit. Jeffrey and his sister were back for the 2nd Annual, although he wasn't dressed quite as colorfully as last year.

Before long, it was time to hit the starting line and do this thing. We moved to the front of the pack (I wanted to be in this year's Starting Line picture, I wasn't any threat to win the race) and waited for Fred to yell GO!, and then we were off.

The view from the front of the starting line. Jeffrey is on Brian's left.

The eventual winner, after a little warm-up run just before the race.

We started out faster than usual, but I was feeling good, and a little bit confident in our ability to at least match last year's time. We were cruising along a little too fast to carry on a debate, but we could still talk, although I don't think we did all that much. I think I actually had some kind of subconscious game plan going on, and it involved running this as fast as I could manage without blowing up.

The course was familiar (it is my hometown after all), and we knew where the turnaround was, so we knew about how far we had gone and how far we had to go during the entire run. That was nice. During every other run, I don't have that luxury. I'm at the mercy of some meager signage announcing every 1/2 or mile. Not to sound cocky, but I was using my head as well as my legs in this one.

At the Mile mark, we were 7:20. Ludicrous. Faster than last year's first mile by 10 seconds. I don't recall last year's first mile being that much effort either. After the turnaround, we had a brief downhill stretch, and we maintained the pace. With about a half-mile to go, I was feeling frisky and started to edge out a little. Brian basically said "Do what you gotta do" and I did. I just wish I hadn't that soon. We were about 3/8ths of a mile out and I was kicking. When I had thought about when to start my last kick of the race, it was going to be a few blocks closer to the finish. Oh well, keep on running, I guess.

I crossed the finish at 14:09. Brian was close behind at 14:23. We both improved over last year, which is outstanding! Brian's kids did well too. I believe this was the first official race for both of them, so way to go!

Two Yetis toasting a well-run race!

Afterward, Brian won a door prize (Red Hots from Schimpf's), his daughter won some Lia Sophia jewelry, and I won $50 in $1 coins! Boo Ya! A great finish for a fun event!

This week was a good one for running

2010-03-13T11:22:00.000-08:00

I'm finally gaining the confidence in my feet to start adding a bit more mileage, thanks largely to the new shoes, and lately, from the bit of stretching advice I found on Runner's World's website. Because of that, I'm not scared of going out and running 7, 8, 9 miles or more without tearing something in my foot and sidelining myself for another few weeks. It is a wonderful feeling. That is one of the reasons why this was a good running week for me.

Another reason was the return of warmer Spring temperatures. Even the overnight temperatures have been nice. Brian and I ran on Monday night, a quick 2.5 miles around the Samtec loop. I believe Brian got out another night this week, but that was a solo mission for him. It won't be long before we are out there 3 or 4 nights a week!

Ran with Brian on Wednesday (5+ miles) and today (I did 9.5, he did 13.6!). Both were pretty good runs, but they did their share of kicking my butt! I may start adding another run or two to the schedule (HA! Like I stick to any kind of training schedule! Oh wait, I'm going to be in trouble when it comes time to prepare for a full marathon!).

Next week is the 2nd Annual Shamrock, a flat, fast 2-mile race in the heart of downtown Jeffersonville. We ran it last year and had a great time. I expect nothing less from this year's event. I'll have some pictures to share on my post-run blog entry, so stay tuned.

On to the totals!

Monday, March 7
2.5 miles (Samtec Loop)
20:09 (8:04/mile! Really?!??)

Wednesday, March 9
5.38 miles
47:08.17 (8:46/mile)

Saturday, March 13
9.56 miles
1:25:04 (8:54/mile)

Playing Catch-up with my Journal

2010-03-03T15:15:00.000-08:00

Okay folks, I've not been staying on top of my blogging lately. I know you hang on every word, and no day is complete without a post from yours truly, but I've taken on the task of putting together two end-of-year videos for my youngest's school, and I've been trying to keep up with the sheer volume of photos that have been coming my way. I'm still keeping track of things over at RunningAhead.com, I just have been a little less consistent with the blog. I hope you can forgive me.

To start that long road to redemption, how about four updates? I thought you would like that!

Last Tuesday, Brian and I put in a little over 5 miles. Actually, it was closer to 5.5, but who's counting? We left from his house and did a modified Y-group route. Considering I was still sort of breaking in the new shoes, this run was good and painless. After the run, not so much. I'm still bothered a little by post-run soreness. I'm hoping that as I get accustomed to the shoes, this will pass. And it has, little by little.

5.42 miles/51:50 (9:34/mile)

Then on Saturday, I joined the Y group for a morning run. Some of them (the craziest ones) showed up at 5am and did 6+. Then Brian and another few showed up at 6 for another 6+. I got there at 7 for that shift. It had started snowing early that morning, and there was a light dusting on the ground. It turned out to not be an issue, other than being a little bit cold. I was glad it wasn't slick. That would have just sucked.

After some early hazing, I felt right at home with the group. A few of them have been having some issues with breathing (which, to me, doesn't seem like anything to fool around with, but who am I to talk?), so their pace was a little slower. That and the fact that they had already done 13 miles or so already. We ended up stopping for one of the other runner's pit stop, and another time for one to catch his breath. Either way, Brian and I kind of led the charge and just kept going. We ended up doing 6.25 together (like I said, he had already done one lap), and then hauled ass to a pancake breakfast for Gibby's youngest's soccer team. And they were good! It was a nice reward for the effort, although I probably indulged in more reward than I deserved!

6.25 miles/1:02:00 approx (9:56/mile)

Monday, Brian and I got out for another run. We ran the same route we did the week before, putting in 5.42 miles. This time, however, we picked up the pace a bit. Nothing crazy, mind you, just a little bit faster. Testing the hardware. And it passed.

We finished almost 4 minutes faster than the last time we ran it! I didn't feel any worse, other than being a little out of breath. I still managed to talk most of the way, so it couldn't have been that bad.

5.42 miles/ 47:57 (8:51/mile)

And that brings me to today. Once again, I was joined by my favorite Yeti, Brian. To shake things up, we did an out-and-back from my house along a mildly rolling stretch of road. Parts of it were kicking my butt, but I just kept going. This was probably the toughest run for me lately, but I'm sure that has to do with my erratic sleep. I just can't seem to get more than a few consecutive hours of sleep before I'm wide awake. Ah well, at least I got some work done on the videos, and got a good run in too!

5.14 miles/44:51 (8:44/mile) Niiiiice!

I probably won't run again until Saturday morning. This should be interesting, since the first leg of the Kentucky Derby Festival's Triple Crown of Racing is that morning, and I believe most of the crazies will be running it. If nothing else, I'll knock out 6+ with Brian and call it a morning!

Feeling more like myself

2010-02-22T05:09:00.000-08:00

And I have to say, it is mostly due to the new shoes. Not sure why I resisted for so long, other than being a tightwad. I'm happy to say I am confident in my feet getting me where I need to go, and it's because of the new kicks.

Although I have the confidence back, I still need to use my head. That means taking it easy on my next couple of runs, and definitely not showing up for a Y group run at 6am on a Saturday and knocking out 12+ miles, or doing 5 or more miles on back-to-back days. Actually, I think I will pass on b2b's of any distance for a little while. I need to be able to run 13.1 on April 24th, and since I already know I can cover the distance, I just have to hit the line healthy. That means don't be stupid and overdo the training miles too soon. That's probably going to be harder for me than running the race!

Shifting gears here: Shut Up and Run, the most honest running blog I've ever read, is having another giveaway. This time, she has 10 pairs of Yurbuds headphones up for grabs. Check out the blog, laugh your ass off, and hopefully get some free stuff! Win +Win +Win!

Killing two birds with one blog

2010-02-20T06:21:00.000-08:00

The last eight days have been a series of ups and downs for me, running-wise. Last Friday (Feb 12th), I got out and ran on a pair of sore feet. Not the usual sore, but full-blown what-the-hell-is-going-on? soreness. Arches, heels, and something going on across the top of my left foot that makes me think I may have another stress fracture.

I had been reading Shut Up and Run! and decided I would do just that. I took the insoles out of my old running shoes and stuck them in my newer, but ridiculously unfit (for me, anyway) shoes and hit the road. I won't lie, I was hating life and my stupid decision for the first 1/4 mile or so. But eventually, it became painless and I started enjoying being out there. Until I saw the huge German Shepard that was roaming around.

Actually, I heard it first. It started following me, and I heard its collar making a ching-ching sound as it dragged the ground. I had a bad experience (got bit in the ass!) when I was younger, so that was not at all what I wanted to run into, or more likely, from. I told it to get the hell away, and it did. But a little later, when I ran along the same stretch of road, I saw it again. This time, its curiosity got the better of it, and despite my instructions to stay away, it just followed me for awhile as I walked.

Once I got out of sight of the Shepard, I resumed my run and finished up my 4.06 miles in 36:15. Not bad, especially considering I stopped for the Shep, and also for another leash-less dog, and also for a grody old penny that was in the street. I rarely pass up spare change on a run, especially after reading about a guy in Runner's World a few months ago who has a cubic crapload of coins (C cubed?) that he has picked up on the run. Ask Brian, he'll tell you. Best score- $1 bill and a Memphis trolley token. But I'm getting off of the topic.

During, and immediately after that run, I felt great. No pain, just a little discomfort. Almost back to normal. Then a few hours later, I felt terrible. Like I had been dancing barefoot on gravel for 8 hours, which really depressed me. But after a good night's sleep, I felt fine again. I'm not even going to pretend that I understand the dynamics of that, I'm just going to enjoy it.

A few days later, Brian tells me that I was a topic of conversation during the Saturday morning run with the Y group. Apparently they miss me. Okay, probably not. More like, "Wasn't there another guy that dressed just like Brian that used to run with us?" And,yes, we have dressed alike for a few Saturday morning runs. That kind of stuff happens when you do just about every 5k, 5 miler, etc. together.

One of the runners asked if I had been fitted for shoes, which I hadn't, and the rest of them agreed that I needed new shoes. I had been fighting that for awhile, since the shoes I had weren't that old or worn down. Only that wasn't the problem. It was that they weren't giving me the support I need. Which brings me to my trip to Pacers and Racers.

On Wednesday, I took the plunge, and got fitted for some serious running shoes. I know, I should have done it when I decided to sign up for the Mini, but I resisted out of nothing more than cheapness. Only now, I have a couple of aching feet and a pair of, basically, worthless running shoes (my Asics, that is).

I was assisted at P&R by a young man named Brian. I told him about recent events/injuries that brought me there, and he checked out my running form and my current shoes. After that quick assessment, he said I was a pronator (defined here as an "overpronator) and required stability shoes. I tried on 4 or 5 pairs, and I eventually settled on these beauties.

Pearl Izumi SyncroInfinity, in case you were wondering. The coolest feature of these, IMO, is the seamless upper. It feels like slipping your feet into a pair of socks! I've ran in them once, which I will get to shortly, and I'm still working out the fit, as far as comfortable lacing and such. Seems like it always takes me a little while to get to the best, most comfortable fit. Trial and error.

After a day and a half of wearing the Syncros around the house for breaking-in purposes, I was ready to take them for a spin. Brian, of course, was ready for a Running of the Yetis, so we got together on Friday morning for a few miles around my hood. We paced it kind of slowly, and basically just knocked out a few miles and enjoyed the sunshine and the company. Kind of like we usually do, only with sunshine.

We ended up doing two laps, for a total of 4.06 miles, in 36:55.87. That's a 9:06/mile pace, which, for me, is pretty good. I wasn't as concerned with the pace or time, or mileage even, but rather with how I felt. And the good news is, I felt great, but that is what good company will do for me!

While we were running, I was telling Brian about how I would like to get back to running with the group, but I would probably end up pushing myself too far too soon, and he knew where I was coming from. He suggested showing up a little later, and maybe only doing 6 miles or so with the group. I didn't take him up on it this week, but probably will next Saturday, especially since we are going to a pancake fundraiser that morning. Mmmmmm, pancakes.

Later in the day on Friday, the soreness returned to my feet, but a little less than usual. I hobbled around before eventually crashing for a nice 12 hour sleep. Keep in mind, I work third shift, and since getting off of work on Friday morning at 6:30, I had gotten about 45 minutes of sleep. That 12 hours was well deserved.

It is now Saturday morning, and the feet are a little sore and stiff, but I'm pretty sure that as the day goes on they will feel better. Hopefully the new shoes are the magic bullet that puts an end to the soreness and gets me back on the road for good.

A blog worth following

2010-02-12T05:08:00.000-08:00

Head's up people! Recently, I started reading Shut Up and Run!, a hilarious blog from the Boulder Running Examiner. Doesn't seem like anything is out of bounds with this chick, which makes for some fine reading.

She also has a Champion giveaway going on right now, so get on it and sign up for the goodies! She will be drawing a winner on February 16th, so no dawdling!

You can thank me later.

Forgot to blog a few runs

2010-02-09T05:15:00.000-08:00

I probably "forgot" to blog these two runs because they were the two runs that made me finally admit that something was wrong with my feet. It was after back-to-back 9-milers that I couldn't ignore the discomfort any longer. Arch and heel pain, textbook indicators of plantar fasciitis, most likely brought on by the extra mileage Brian and I have been tacking on.

I probably noticed that something was going wrong about a month ago, but it never persisted longer than a day or so. Just some soreness, and a little tightness along the bottom of my feet, mainly the left, but sometimes both. I figured it came with running. Not exactly, but it can come with running too much too soon. It can also be a result of poor form and having the wrong shoes. I'm not so sure either of those two things are the problem. I'm almost positive it's because I overdid it.

So now I am looking at the Mini, which is fast approaching, and trying to figure out whether I will be able to take some time off to recover and rest, and still run it the way I want to. Right now, the Mini is a little over 10 weeks away. Maybe I'm worrying over nothing. Or at least nothing major. I was able to rattle off 12.6 a few Saturdays ago, and hardly felt it. The hardest part for me is not being able to run without worrying about seriously screwing something up.

I really enjoy running, especially with Brian and the group from the Y. I even like solo runs sometimes, because they make me feel fast. But for me, group runs are where it's at. It's my stress release, I guess. I've noticed that I feel better, as far as my mood goes, after a run. Especially this time of year, when you are cooped up day and night because of the wintry weather. It's good to get out and do something, break a sweat and work your muscles, even if folks look at you like you are crazy.

I know I mentioned this in my last post, but I need to start using my head. I ran yesterday when I probably shouldn't have, and while I haven't set myself back any further, I don't think I did myself any favors either. It sucks to sit on the sidelines.

You're probably wondering about those two runs I mentioned at the start of this post, so I will get back to that.

Brian and I ran with the Y crazies on the Sunday before Super Bowl Sunday and took a wandering run through Clarksville, hitting Veterans Pkwy, Lewis and Clark, and Wooded View Golf Course, along with the industrial area of the city, before returning to the Y. My left foot was about as stiff as a board the whole way, and it kept slapping the ground with every step. Should have known something was wrong, but I ignored it and kept on trucking. All in all, a little over 9 miles, 5 or 6 of which were pretty rough on me.

Then the next evening, we joined the crazies and some other folks that are training for the Mini for another 9 miles. We did 5 as a large group, then a few of us did 4 more. I definitely shouldn't have, but I did. I see a pattern developing.

Totals
Sunday, January 31, 2010
9.2 miles
1:25:54 (9:21/mile)

Monday, February 1, 2010
9.04 miles
1:2112 (8:59/mile)

Back to the shorter runs

2010-02-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been bothered by what I believe to be plantar fasciitis. Symptoms are mainly pain in the heels and arches (Bingo!), and from what I've read, it is brought about by poor form, the wrong shoes, and/or big increases in mileage. While I can just about rule out two of the three, the mileage increase is undeniable.

I've been resting since the last big run I did (last Monday with the Y group, a 9-miler, which was preceded by a 9-miler the day before!), and also using ice to try to relieve some pain and swelling. It's been pretty crappy, not being able to get out and run. I felt like I was making good progress, but I ended up overdoing it. I guess the competitive part of me that shows up when I run has gotten the best of me. Now I have to try to be smart and not let this happen again.

I'm going to try to use my head from here on out. Before Brian and I started preparing for the Mini, I had heard that you need to increase your weekly mileage by no more than 10%. I didn't. The first week, I started running with the crazies and knocked out 12.5 miles in one day. That's more than I used to run in a week. And I felt fine. But before long, all those miles took their toll. Now I'm nursing sore feet and doing short runs for a while until I can build up a good mileage base. I may even start using the dreaded Elliptical Trainer again to at least get some more cardio work.

So today I ran 2.03 miles around my neighborhood, and it sucked for a variety of reasons. I hadn't run in a week, so I was sluggish. I have been eating lots of junk, so I had crappy fuel and a spare tire to lug around. And the whole issue with my feet. Oh, and it's still cold here too. But I went out anyway.

Less than a quarter-mile in, I noticed some pain in my left arch. More soreness, or just a tightness of the band of tissue that runs along the arch. Soon afterward, my right heel started getting my attention. And before long, my left heel chimed in. Then my right arch. A symphony of foot pain. Okay, not pain exactly, but aches. I never felt like I had to stop and walk, or worse, get off of my feet. It just sucks.

I finished the run in 17:28.3 (8:37/mile), which kind of surprised me. I felt like I was moving slower than that. On the other hand, it seems right, since I usually like to get the solo runs over as quickly as I can.

Guess I will ice the arches and hope the weather allows me to get back outside before too long. We're expecting another few inches of snow overnight. Maybe the ET and I will get together for a little cardio.

A chilly Thursday afternoon run

2010-01-30T01:03:00.000-08:00

Thursday, we had clear skies and chilly temps. And, as you probably know, if I'm running on Thursday, it's probably solo.

For whatever reason, I couldn't decide if I was going to run or not, and ended up not getting out of the house until 5:30. That wouldn't have been a big deal if it weren't clear and cool already. Once the sun started to set, it got even cooler. There was also just enough of a breeze to get your attention. But whatever, right? It's not always a walk in the park.

After Wednesday's run, when I had to shed my jacket 3 miles in, I dressed a little lighter. I forgot to take into account that it was nearly 10 degrees cooler, and before long, I was wishing I had my jacket with me. Since I didn't, I just ran a little faster to stay warm.

I chose a route that took me out of the neighborhood, since whenever I run alone, I find it very easy to wrap things up early, and I wanted to get more than 2 or 3 miles in that day. I ended up running my TJ out and back course, which takes me out 2.57 miles before the turnaround. No chance of quitting early on this one!

I took my iPod and listened to the Avett Brothers latest cd, I and Love and You. I wasn't sure if it would be good running music, but it made a fine companion on this trip. Most of the songs are on the quiet side, and a little slower tempo, but one song in particular lifted my spirits on this run. It's called Kick Drum Heart, and I loved this song the first time I heard it. I had that going through my ears about halfway through the return trip and it carried me along quite nicely.

I ended up running the 5.14 miles in 43:51, an 8:32/mile pace. I think I hit the halfway around 21:17, and slowed down just a little for the return. That's a little faster than the day before, but also about half the distance. I'm not complaining, just saying.

I was hoping for that mood elevation that I got after Wednesday's run, and I believe I got a little bit of that. It's nice to be that tired but still feeling somewhat blissful. If this is the runner's high I've heard about, then I'm not overly impressed. But if it's not, then I am really looking forward to the day I get mine!

Totals
Thursday, January 28, 2010
5.14miles
43:51 (8:32/mile)

First run since Saturday

2010-01-28T04:19:00.000-08:00

As far as the weather goes, yesterday was probably the pick of the week. Temperatures were slightly above freezing, the sunshine had returned, and the roads were begging me to come out and play.

I called Brian, since we pretty much have a standing order to run just about any time, but he said he was going to be tied up briefly with some auto repairs. I told him to call when he got done and we would head out then. But as I sat around, I thought, Why not go ahead and suit up, hit the road and just meet up with him when he calls? So I did just that.

I left my house and started towards Brian's. I figured he would be a little while, so I took a less direct route. Probably 15 minutes into the run, I got the call. I told him I was on the road and could be there in 10 minutes. I spotted him about a block away from his house, and when I was close enough, I told him I needed to drop off the jacket I was wearing at his house. It felt fine when I started, but about 2 miles in, I was ready to ditch it.

After that little detour, we basically did the Y group's 6 mile loop, only starting at Brian's house instead of the Y. Also, we made the turn into Brian's hood two streets earlier than normal. It probably didn't add much distance to the run, but it gave us a little different scenery.

After the run, Brian game me a ride home, which was great because I don't think I had another 30 minutes of running in me at that point. Probably would have been more like10 mins running and 45 walking.

I mapped the route I covered, and it was just under 10 miles. Pretty awesome. And the overall pace was comfortable 9:02. I think Brian mentioned that his pace for the portion we ran together was around 10/mile, so I either hauled ass at the beginning or slowed down big time toward the end. Or, more likely, a combination of those two scenarios.

I'm happy with it.

Totals
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
9.94 miles
1:29:47 (9:02/mile)

Missing the Monday Run

2010-01-25T15:16:00.000-08:00

As you know, Dear Readers, Brian and I have begun officially training for the Kentucky Derby Festival Mini-Marathon. We even joined a group of runners at the local YMCA to stay on track. They meet each Monday evening for a few miles of roadwork, along with some camaraderie and encouragement from people who have been there and done that. Unfortunately for me, Monday is usually a bad day for me to get out and about, due to a variety of things that inevitably fall on that day. Woe is me. At least I am consistently putting up bigger mileage weeks than I'm used to, with no adverse effects.

Anyway, as I sit here eating tacos, I think about how much better my time would be spent out on the streets and sidewalks of my town, putting in a couple of miles, instead of putting down a couple of tacos (and seconds).

The forecast for this week isn't terribly promising either. After a two-day break from the freezing temperatures we've had lately, it looks like those cold days are coming back for another visit. Hopefully it won't be an extended stay.

In spite of the cold (and, possibly, snow), I intend to get out for a few miles tomorrow. Actually, snow would be better than rain. At least I would stay dry longer.

Y running group Saturday morning recap, January 23, 2010

2010-01-23T06:21:00.000-08:00

That's one heckuva title!

After last week's outing with the Y group, which can only be described as frickin' awesome, Brian and I showed up for another round with the crazies. You remember, the group of Boston Qualifiers that run waaaaaaaaaaay more than we do. I guess we are on our we to becoming crazy too.

We arrived at the Y a little before 6 a.m. to find a few cars in the parking lot, but no people. Turns out three of them had gotten there an hour earlier (5 a.m.!) to run the 6.3 mile loop. We joined them for their second lap. Two other runners got there after we did, but they were running 18 miles today, so they split off about a half-mile into the run.

About a mile and a half in, we had to stop for one of the runners to visit the little boy's room at IHOP (mmmmmmmmm, pancakes). Before long, we were back on the road and cruising along at a pace that was just a little slower than last week. Actually it was closer to 10 minutes/mile. A little slower than I would have liked, but not unbearable.

Once we got back to the Y, there were two other runners waiting to join in. Actually, one had already started running and met us as we were coming back. She doubled back and ended up running the 6.3 with Brian and I, since the other runner was a little slower and looking to do 5 miles. Shawna, Gary and Jen ran with her.

To say that the woman that ran with us was talkative would be an understatement. She talked non-stop for the entire run. And all of that talking slowed me down, since Brian left the talking to me and ran out ahead of us. But that's fine, I was feeling like I needed to slow it down a little anyway.

We finished the 12.6 miles (with the potty break) in 1:58:22. That's just a smidge over 9/mile, but considering everything, it was pretty good. The temperatures were great, and the whole group-element is really helping my running. I wouldn't have dared to run this far otherwise, at least not at this point in time. For me, it's just easier to run farther if you have some other folks around suffering with you. Okay, not suffering, but I think you get the point. I don't really enjoy running alone, and I'm really glad we fell in with this group. I can see this becoming a long-term deal.

Totals
Saturday, January 23, 2010
12.6 miles
1:58:22(with a pit stop)

A late report

2010-01-22T05:27:00.000-08:00

Wednesday afternoon, Brian came over and we did the loop around my hood. For a bit of a change, we reversed the direction. If you are familiar to this blog, you may recall that there is a reason we normally run it the way we do. Because the other way sucks. And yet, I still decided to go right instead of left. That which don't kill me...

The weather on Wednesday was icky. It was like the sky couldn't decide if it wanted to rain or not. So we had fits of rain, followed by stretches of dreary, overcast mist. Not pretty at all. But since it wasn't raining, we ran. Sometimes you have to take what life gives you. It's hardly ever going to be perfect conditions, so if that's what you're waiting for, you may be in for a long wait.

Enough amateur philosophy.

Like I said, we went right, which almost immediately takes us downhill. From there, it is a long trek from the lowest point in the neighborhood to the highest. Seriously, what was I thinking? After that, it rolls along with some ups and downs. We ended up running the loop three times. After the first lap, I had to stash my glasses in my mailbox, since they were covered in misty raindrops. By that point, it was actually easier for me to see without them.

At some point during the run, I noticed a little soreness in my right shin. I toughed it out, figuring that it was the change in the course, and perhaps the downhill segments had everything to do with it. I was still a little sore the next day, but it has since passed.

I would like to get out at some point today. It will probably have to wait until this afternoon, though, since I should actually be in bed now. It would be good to keep building on the mileage we knocked out last week. But if I don't, it won't be the end of the world. The main thing is to stay healthy so I can run on April 24th, and also to finish in under 2 hrs.

Totals
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
6.09 miles
52:39.48 (8:39/mile)

Somedays you got it, some days you don't

2010-01-19T14:57:00.000-08:00

Today was one for the "Don't" column.

I had planned on running later this evening, around 6, but my oldest daughter's cheer practice was canceled, which meant she would be home with her little sister and I could run earlier. Huzzah!

Well, since I hadn't planned on running til 6, I had a heavy snack (some leftovers from last night). That didn't travel well. More like a rock in my stomach. Add to that the fact that I got about 5 hours of sleep before I had to pick the kids up from school, and I'm feeling less like a runner and more like a slug. But I got out and ran anyway, because that's what I (sometimes) do.

I chose the simplest, easiest route, which starts and ends in my driveway, and got going. I ended up running 4.06 miles, and it was no fun at all. My gut felt like a backpack that I was wearing backwards, my knees started to ache, and my head just wasn't in it. I had some music to listen to, but I think I missed the social part of running with other people. I have no doubt that that was what carried me those 12+ miles on Saturday.

So, to summarize, crappy solo run where I felt like poo, but ran fast(er). Ta da!

Totals
January 19, 2010
4.06 miles
34:09 (8:25/mile)

My first run with the YMCA group

2010-01-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

I was up before the sun today, all so I could get in a few miles with the YMCA running group. It went so much better than I could have imagined. Brian picked me up around 5:45, and off we went.

We got to the Y and waited for the rest of the group to show up. We didn't have to wait long. After some brief introductions, we were off and running.

Apparently, the group has a few routes they normally run. Today we were treated to a 6.25 mile loop that makes its way into Clarksville and ends back at the Y. I was a little worried about keeping up with the rest of these guys. For the most part, they are all experienced marathoners. As it turns out, I didn't need to worry about that. We ran at a very comfortable pace (9:02/mile for the first 6.25), and we were able to talk the entire way. It was great running with a group of people like that; friendly, talkative, and all with a sense of humor similar to mine.

We finished our 6.25 in 56:22, just in time for the second group of runners who showed up for a 7am run. I was trying to decide whether I felt like I could run that loop again, and decided I would give it a try. Of course, Brian was on board. So, after about a 5 minute rest, we were off again.

This time, it was a little tougher getting started. My legs felt heavy, almost like they were full of water. That was a new one for me. It faded by the time we had run half a mile, and we fell into a nice pace. One of the runners who joined us has a kid that goes to the same school as my youngest, and also one the same age as my oldest, but they are in different schools this year. Anyway, I ran and talked with her for a bit, since I hadn't seen her in a while. I also talked with a few of the other runners. Some of those guys do some serious traveling for their marathons!

Enough rambling. The time for our second go-round was 55:09, a full minute + faster than the previous run! Fan-frickin-tastic! When we got done, we talked a little bit with two of the guys, but I had already decided (after running past IHOP twice) that I was going to make some pancakes when I got home. And I was ready to get off of my feet too!

Brian dropped me off, I offered him some pancakes, but he declined, so I got inside and immediately started pancake prep. Let me tell you, those were the best pancakes I have ever made. And I've made a lot of pancakes. And I ate a boat-load of them.

My divine pancakes.

A great way to end the fist week of training for the mini-marathon. I am very ready for a few days of rest.

Sunshine and warmth!

2010-01-14T13:25:00.000-08:00

We were treated to another sunny day today, and warmer temperatures too! After my happy dance, I sent Brian an email: "You thinking what I'm thinking?". Of course he was!

Brian came over and we did two laps around the hood. I was feeling a little tired, from having only gotten about 5hrs of sleep before I had to get up, my knees were a little tired and achy, and also a little soreness in my calf. Yes, it's still lingering. I've been wrapping it when I'm not running, and that helps. I just hope I'm not doing any lasting damage to it.

The idea was to just go out at an easy pace and get a few miles in the bank. Only really nailed one of the two. The pace started slow, then got a bit faster as we went along. Pace for the first mile was just over 9 minutes. After that, we gradually increased the pace, finishing at an 8:30 pace.

Despite the tiredness, it was a good run. I just need to seriously take these runs a little easier. Otherwise, I'm gonna burn out or hurt myself. I'm adding more miles than I'm used to, and that could create a problem if I don't start using my head. I can't go from 10 miles a week at an 8:30 pace to 20+ miles a week at the same pace: that's gonna end badly! I need to slow down and rest on designated rest days. Use...My...Head.

Totals
January 14, 2010
4.06 miles
34:28 (8:30/mile)

Sunshine!

2010-01-13T14:43:00.000-08:00

As planned, Brian and I got out for a run this afternoon. His son even joined us for a bit.

It was a bright and beautiful afternoon, even if it was still a little cool. The temperature was hovering around 37 degrees, but with the sunshine and hardly any wind, it was actually nice weather for running.

Brian wanted to knock out 5 or 6 miles, so we broke with the old routine and took a something-old, something-new route. We started out as we usually do, but added another half-mile or so inside the neighborhood, then ran out and to a nearby bank. From there we reversed the course. It ended up being about six and a half miles. Total time: about 56 minutes.

A nice run, made even better by good weather and great company. I hope the sunshine lasts, and that warmer temps are coming back to stay. I'm not real crazy about having to dress in so many layers.

Totals
January 13, 2010
6.49 miles
55:49 (8:37/mile)

First run in nearly a week

2010-01-12T15:56:00.000-08:00

I suppose today marked the official start of my half-marathon training. Last week, Brian and I went to the YMCA for an informational meeting about training for the Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon and Mini-Marathon. We met the resident running expert, who is a little bit crazy about running. She's a Boston Qualifier, and runs a few marathons each year. That along with being a mother of four.

Anyhow, at the conclusion of that meeting, Shawna (the above-mentioned "crazy runner") set up a date and time for the first group run. It was last night, and due to an obligation, I couldn't get out and run with them. Brian went, and said the pace was conversational and slow, but he also added that he felt like he could have ran forever. I think they did nearly 5.5 miles in about an hour.

So today, Brian and I had planned on getting together this afternoon for a few miles. Unfortunately, he had some things come up and he couldn't get away for a run. A little after 5, I suited up and waited for my wife to get home. Once she did, I was out the door. I had planned on 3 laps around my neighborhood, which I figured would take me about an hour.

The first lap was kind of a slower pace. I hadn't run in a few days and needed to gently knock the little bit of rust off. The second lap was better, faster, and I felt pretty good. The third lap was awesome! Shortly into the run, I stretched out my legs and started picking up the pace. The pace felt good for most of that lap, at least for a full mile-and-a-half. I was probably at around an 8:15 pace, judging by my final time.

I used my iPod to time the run, and since I wasn't familiar with the stopwatch's functions, I didn't get any lap times, only the total. I'll know better next time.

Speaking of time, my final time for the 6.09 miles was 51:49, a pace of 8:31. I doubt I could have maintained that pace for much farther, but it felt pretty good for today's distance.

Hopefully the Yetis will do a group run tomorrow.

Totals
January 12, 2010
6.09 miles
51:49 (8:31/mile)

5 Kilometers with Brian

2010-01-06T14:12:00.000-08:00

Today, Brian and I had planned on getting together for a few miles. We hadn't run since Sunday (when I tweaked my left calf running up a hill), and the weather today was as good as it is going to get this week, so let's run!

Got to Brian's a little after 4 and we hit the road. Not exactly sure where we were going to go, but we had a few options. We ended up doing the 3.1 mile route. Early into the run, my calf started getting my attention. The soreness that I thought I had banished by resting for the last few days wasn't completely gone, just laying low. I toughed out the run, but am vowing to all of the internet to give it at least 2-3 days of rest before hitting the road again. Actually, that shouldn't be too difficult, since the weather man is calling for a few inches of snow overnight tonight and temperatures that would make a penguin shiver.

On a side note, I picked up $0.51 on the road today. I'm this much closer to a new pair of shoes!

Totals
Wednesday, December 6, 2010
3.1 miles (a route I shall call The Meadows 5k)
25:16.41 (8:10 pace, baby! with a bum calf!)

It is still cold, but we still run

2010-01-03T16:08:00.000-08:00

I know it's early January and cold temperatures are to be expected, but these past few days have seemed colder than the usual. We ran the Hangover in single-digit Wind Chill temps, for crying out loud! I'm ready for at least a minor warm-up.

Today was a little warmer, but with wind chills, it was still well below freezing. But since Brian and I braved a colder 10 mile run just the other day, surely we could handle a few miles in the cold! So I made the call, and about a half-hour later, we're out the door and on the road.

I had a vague idea of where I thought we would go, and I knew it would be at least 5 miles. We started running, and about 2 miles in I told Brian where I was thinking of running. Of course, he went along with it.

We ended up running just a little under 5 1/2 miles in just under 46 minutes. We were rolling pretty good there toward the end. Strange, during the 10 miler, the last two miles were the worst for me, and today, the last two miles were probably our fastest.

I did tweak my left calf, and I hope it isn't a hamstring related thing. I'll keep you posted.

Totals
January 3, 2010
5.38 miles
45:57.1
8:33 pace

Hangover Classic recap

2010-01-01T14:18:00.000-08:00

A new tradition began today, as Brian and I tackled 10 miles through the frozen streets of Louisville. The Hangover is a well-organized, scenic, and flat/fast run, and one I can see us running for quite a while.

As usual, I awoke before my alarm, but only by about a half-hour. I had laid out everything I would need for the run last night (I was scrambling all over the house at 1 am looking for my misplaced bib, now THAT'S fun!), so I went ahead and got up, got dressed and had a little something to eat. While I was eating, I got online to see if Brian was on, and in no time he IMd me. I told him I would pick up some Pumpkin Spice Cappuccinos and be there to get him at 9 (race time was 10).

I forgot to bring sunglasses. These are my wife's. I didn't end up wearing them, even though they looked damn good on me.

We got to the place (American Turner's Bldg, on River Road, fyi) with plenty of time to spare, so we walked around inside, looking for any familiar faces. We didn't really see many, so we just stayed inside to keep warm.

The crowd inside.

Before long, it was time to line up. We made our way to the back of the pack and waited. If there was an announcement, I missed it. People just started running, so we were off!

The view from where we started.

As promised, the course was flat and fast. I'm not sure if simply being flat makes it fast, but I usually hear those two words together in a race description, so I think it must be. The course was pretty crowded for the first half-mile or so, then we got some breathing room. That was a relief.

The first few miles flew by. There were lots of things to see along the way, especially since we were running through a part of Louisville that I rarely visit. The course wound through the Butchertown neighborhood, around the skate park, and eventually ran past Slugger Field. From that point on, it was straight to the finish.

Somewhere between miles 6 and 7 I realized that every step I took was the farthest I had ever run. That was pretty cool. And how did I commemorate this achievement? Nerding it up, with some comparison to Samwise from The Fellowship of the Ring. Oh well, that's me I guess.

I struggled the most during the last two miles, and it's probably because I knew we only had those two miles left, if that makes any sense. After more than an hour running, I was ready to be done.

Hallelujah! One more mile to go!

At one point, I noticed the frost on Brian's hat, so I took a picture.

And since I was taking a picture already, I took one of myself!

We crossed the finish line with a clock time of 1:27:45, I believe, and an Official Yeti Time of 1:27:30. The Official Chip Time will be available tomorrow, and it will probably be somewhere between those two times.

We set out with a goal of finishing under 90 minutes, and we did! It felt great to see the finish line, especially since we were a little more than 2 minutes ahead of our goal time, but also because I was ready to be done.

I did it! Ten whole miles!

Once we handed in our chip-timers, we headed to the car to ditch the jackets, and to toast with an Upland Wheat Ale. It was delicious, even if it was a little warm. I still don't know how they were warm, maybe the sunshine kept the interior warm. Didn't matter, it was still a great reward for an awesome run.

We went back inside the American Turners building to check out the door prize drawings and age division winners. We only had a shot at one of those two things, and I bet you can guess which one.

Brian won a blanket.

Toward the end of the drawings they ran out of names (they had a pre-printed list of 100, but hardly any of them stuck around), so they went by random birthdays. One of the prizes was $100 to Pacers and Racers! Well, we didn't win that either, so we called it a morning.

Amazing!

How about a 5k for a tuneup?

2009-12-30T13:38:00.001-08:00

Today was definitely the pick-of-the-week, as far as the weather goes. It has been a long stream of blah days, coupled with chilly temps. When I saw that it would hit 40+ degrees, I knew I would be running, which also means Brian would be running.

I called Brian, then suited up and headed over for an easy 3 miles. We covered the same course we sometimes do, the only thing noteworthy were the two trashy tweens we saw walking around, and that was only borderline noteworthy.

Due to a glitch, the stopwatch didn't start, so we ended up taking the time for the last two miles and averaging it out for the whole run. Ended up somewhere around 27:36, and we covered 3.1 miles (at least according to the mapping at runningahead.com. I swear, I've mapped that a few times and come up with a different distance every time! I think I'm sticking with the 3.1 from here on out.).

It was a nice, easy pace, and I think that is what we will be trying to duplicate for the Hangover on Friday. I gotta say, I am really looking forward to this one. It will be the longest run ever for me, and I actually believe I am ready for it. Couldn't have said that 6 months ago!

The only bad thing about this run will be the weather. It ain't looking good, folks. Colder than it has already been (somewhere in the neighborhood of low 20s), with the potential for snow. So I'm going shopping for some cold-weather gear tomorrow (unless I end up going out tonight!) so I don't freeze my tail off during the estimated 90-minute run.

Stay tuned for updates. I will probably take the camera (who am I kidding? Of course I'm taking the camera!), and treat you all to a visual celebration of the festivities.

4 miles in the snow

2009-12-28T04:01:00.000-08:00

Christmas officially came to an end on Sunday. That was when we had our last family gathering for this holiday season. We broke bread with my Father-In-Law's side of the family, watched a little basketball and football, and also watched the kids open gifts. It was a nice, relaxing afternoon. If only all family get-togethers were as laid back.

After lunch and a little dessert, I noticed that it had started snowing. Not the best news for me, since Brian and I had plans to run a few miles once I got back from the shindig. The snow started out as just a dusting, but by the time we left, it was coming a little heavier and had lightly covered the ground.

Home was 15 miles away, and as we drove, the snowfall got lighter. I was hoping for a near miss, but I wouldn't be so lucky. I got home and called Brian, thinking he may want to ditch the run. No such luck. He drove over, and we ran two laps around the 'hood, for 4.06 miles. As we were running, the snow started coming down harder, and the wind was in your face most of the time, no matter which way you turned. Not ideal conditions, but possibly similar conditions to what we will have to run in on New Year's Day.

Final time for our outing was 32:45, an 8:04 pace. We got faster with each mile, I believe. Maybe not the last one, but definitely the middle two.

Not sure when we'll run again. Maybe one more before the Hangover, maybe not. I could probably use another easy 2 or 3 miler at some point this week. We'll see how the week goes.

Totals
December 27, 2009
4.06 miles
32:44.92

Chrismas Eve run

2009-12-24T12:36:00.000-08:00

The unbelievably good weather continues! Today was warm, with a gentle breeze. Even with the overcast skies, it was still an amazing day.

My wife and I went out for a few last minute things, mainly food for tonight's get-together. It was sunny and warm, and I knew I would be going for a run when we were done. Luckily, I didn't have to wait long. As soon as I hit the door to our house, I was preparing to get going!

I knew Brian was going to be busy with family celebrations today and tomorrow, which meant it would be a solo run. It definitely would have been better with the Yeti running alongside me, but it was still pretty good. One side effect of running solo, at least for me, is that I tend to run faster than I would otherwise. That was true today.

I set out from my house with a route in mind, and it ended up being a pretty nice run. No matter where I go from my house, I'm going to encounter some hills. Some are big, some are small, but the fact is, there are hills in every direction. I ended up running from my house to an elementary school a little over 2 miles from my house. The route I took (an indirect route, through a few adjoining neighborhoods and along sidewalks on the main road) added up to a little more than 2.5 miles each way, for a total of 5.14 miles. And I ran it in 42:23.3. Pretty good, right?

I figure now I can eat all I want today and tomorrow, and not gain too much. I hope so, anyway.

Merry Christmas!

Totals
December 24, 2009
5.14 miles
42:23.3 (8:15 pace)

Another nice day, another nice run.

2009-12-23T14:00:00.000-08:00

The weather these last few days has been far from what we expect for this time of year. But then again, anything goes around here. There has been snow in May, and 70 degrees in December, so go figure.

Yesterday was gorgeous. Sunny, highs near 50, and calm winds. Today, overcast skies, temps still in the low 50s, and the wind was a little gustier. But that's still a whole lot better than snow and wind chills in the teens!

After our run yesterday, Brian and I said that if the weather cooperated (no rain), we would do it again today. So around 2:30, Brian caught me on Facebook, and we made plans to go run.

I drove over to his place and told him where I was thinking of running. Of course, he was on board, even though I had my doubts about the distance. I wasn't sure how far this run would take us, but in my mind it was at least as far as we went yesterday, but probably farther. And it was.

We set out at an easy, conversational pace, which was a good thing. It's also becoming a habit. Not that I'm complaining. I'm beginning to accept that to go farther, I have to go slower. And that may change. I never thought when we started this whole running thing that I would be able to run a 5k at a sub-8 minute pace. I just have to keep at it.

Today's run took us over 6.5 miles (6.52 by my mapping, 6.55 by Brian's. not sure what the inconsistency is all about), in 55:39.5, which is an 8:33 pace. If we can maintain that pace for the 10 miler on New Year's Day, I will be ecstatic!

Unless I get out for a run on Saturday or Sunday, this will be it. If so, that's fine. A couple of good, long runs with the Yeti is better than none at all!

Totals
December 23, 2009
6.52 miles
55:39.5

47 degrees on December 22nd!

2009-12-23T07:27:00.000-08:00

Unbelievable weather for the end of the year! Brian and I had already planned on going for a run, but the weather made it irresistible.

Brian came over, and after I was able to get off of the phone with my Mom, we headed out for an uncharted run. The thinking was that if we didn't have a clear idea of how far we were running, or where we were going, we would take it easy and probably run farther than we normally do. Mission accomplished.

We ended up running from my neighborhood to the adjoining one, then cut through a field/ wooded area to another neighborhood, and then to its adjoining neighborhood. I nicknamed it the MallardBoro-ButtonHaven Trail, taking elements from each of the 4 'hoods we ran through.

According to Official Yeti Mapping, we covered nearly 6 miles in nearly 50 1/2 minutes. It was an easy pace, and we were able to talk the entire way, which was great. It certainly made the miles pass quickly. The course itself had some mildly rolling hills, which, although not a great deal of fun, was good for the run.

Today is supposed to be every bit as warm as yesterday, if not warmer, so Brian and I are planning to head out again for a few more miles. Not sure where we will be going today, and that is probably for the best.

Totals
December 22, 2009
5.87 miles
50:20.4

Opportunities

2009-12-18T04:07:00.000-08:00

Lately, with the colder, shorter days, it has been a bit of a challenge for me to fit a run into my daily schedule. Being on third shift doesn't help matters either. If I do wake up early, all I'm thinking about is when I can get a nap before I have to leave for work.

But yesterday, an opportunity to run presented itself, and I took advantage. I had already scheduled the night off, so no need for a nap before work. I woke early to pick up my oldest from school (they had a noon dismissal), and we had lunch before picking up my youngest from her school.

I ran into my running neighbor, Bryan, at pick-up, and told him I would drop off a Runner's World magazine that I was finished reading. Well, I got home with the girls, put my feet up, and it was lights out. I woke up about an hour later, and walked the magazine over. Normally, we just hang out, talk about the kids, school, etc. But when I got there, his kids answered the door, and he was in the shower, so I just dropped the magazine off and headed home. That was when I decided to go for a run.

The weather was nicer than it had been in days. Temps were in the 40's, the sun was still out, and hardly any breeze at all. Good as it is gonna get this time of year. I got home, grabbed some shorts and layered 2 short-sleeved shirts, threw on a toboggan and some knit gloves and was out the door.

I noticed something yesterday that I hadn't before. The 2-mile loop I run in my neighborhood has a lot of ups and downs. I'd noticed that before, obviously, but what I hadn't noticed is that the second mile goes a lot faster. At least, it did yesterday. I ran the loop twice, and both times I did, I improved my time in the second mile. I believe the splits were 8 minutes, 15:40, 23:50 and 31:45. I found that to be interesting. Maybe it was the longer downhill stretches. Whatever it was, I was pretty happy with miles 2 and 4!

Totals
4.06 miles
31:45

Forgot one

2009-12-16T04:05:00.000-08:00

I had forgotten to post a run from Monday night.

Brian and I skipped running on Sunday night. We had already run 4 miles earlier in the day, so no biggie there. We ran our usual Samtec loop at an easy pace, finishing a split-second over 20 minutes. Not bad. I won't say it was easy, but it wasn't bad. We talked most of the way, and there was some fatigue, probably from the 8+ miles I put in over the weekend. Overall, though, a good run.

With the Hangover Classic just a few weeks away, I should be running every chance I get. However, it's also Christmas time, and those chances just ain't coming around. Plus, it's gotten cold, and I haven't got all the good cold-weather gear. I can make do, but I would rather make excuses.

That's almost poetry.

Anyhow, gotta get some sleep now.

Totals

Monday, December 14, 2009
2.5 miles (samtec loop)
20:00.35

Return of the Yeti

2009-12-14T04:37:00.000-08:00

Brian emailed me late Saturday, on his way back into town, looking to get a run in sometime Sunday. Of course, I was in.

He drove over and we did two loops around my hood for 4.06 miles in 33:19. Not too bad, especially considering the slow pace of the first mile (nearly 9 minutes). Must have been all that talking. It had been over a week since our last run, and there was some catching up to do. Heard about Disney, wished I had been there/was going there/worked there/lived there, etc.

I'm pretty sure each mile got faster than the last. Except for maybe the last one.

Good to have the Yeti back. Running seems like more of a chore when I go alone.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

2009-12-12T09:05:00.000-08:00

Just got in from a mid-morning run. Can't say it was that great. It certainly wasn't as good as I had hoped it would be (twss).

I woke up this morning, laid around in bed for about an hour, then finally found enough motivation to get up and go for a run. After that, I had a quick bite to eat (a clementine and a hunk of sweet italian bread, with a glass of water), then got dressed. I was going to listen to some music, but couldn't find any headphones, so all I got to listen to was traffic, my feet hitting the ground, and my breathing. Oh well.

Once I got out the door, it was down the hill, toward the exit of my neighborhood. I had a plan, to run over to Brian and Gibby's neighborhood. I started out at a pretty good pace, maybe a little too fast to maintain for 5 miles. Since I didn't know exactly where I was going to go, I hadn't mapped the route and didn't know where the mile markers were. So no splits this time. Probably a good thing, too, since I probably would have thrown in the towel before I got home, or maybe even had Gibby give me a ride home!

Just before I got to Gibby's street, I passed Penny (Mrs. Gibby) and their oldest daughter, and gave them a wave. Then, as I was approaching their house, Gibby stepped out and said hi. I would have liked to have stopped right then and there, but if I had, I would have been done. I wasn't feeling great at that point, and I couldn't give myself a reason to quit.

At the end of Gibby's street, I cut across some railroad tracks closer to my house (closer than running back to the entrance of their 'hood and backtracking to my house, anyway) and headed for home. Once I got back into my 'hood, I took the slightly longer way around to my house, since I knew I could stop and walk it in from there.

During that last stretch, I found 4 pennies. I actually stopped and picked them up. They made a nice jingle during that last mile.

I ended up running a little under 5 miles(4.79 miles, to be exact). Final time: 40:28.1, a 8:27 pace. Not exactly Earth-shattering, and nowhere near the effort or quality of the Turkey Day 5-miler. But I'll take it.

Lazy week

2009-12-11T20:19:00.000-08:00

With my running partner nearly 1,000 miles away, my motivation kind of fizzled this week. I managed to run on Sunday night, but that's it. My excuses for the week were that it was too cold, too windy, too wet/raining, too tired, etc. I have a feeling that only the rain would have stopped me from running if Brian had been around. For me, it's just more fun to run with someone than to run alone. I think I may have mentioned this before.

Don't get me completely wrong. It has been very cold this week. Lows nearing single digits, and highs in the upper 20's/ lower 30's. Add a wind chill to that (or subtract it, actually), and it's just too dang cold for this guy! And we had one day when I don't think it stopped raining. So those excuses were very good reasons to not go outside and run.

This weekend, temperatures are supposed to warm up, and I couldn't be happier. I need to keep running, if only to make sure that I don't collapse or injure myself during that 10-miler on New Year's Day. Plus, for some reason, I keep hitting the "Next Blog" button and reading other folks' running blogs. That only makes me want to go run even more!

I'm just gonna write this week off (except for that awesome Sunday night run, of course!) and start fresh next week.

Or maybe tomorrow.

Yeah, definitely tomorrow.

This is what happens when you mess with the routine

2009-12-07T04:11:00.000-08:00

As you know from my last post on here, Brian, my Yeti sidekick and running brother-in-arms, has gone south for a little quality time with the mouse. If and when I run at work this week, it will be solo, unless Z gets crazy and actually suits up to run, but we all know that ain't very likely.

Getting to the point of the title of this post. Two things upset the routine I had going for me on these early a.m. runs. One: no Yeti to run and talk with. And two: it was frickin' cold out there! So let's see if you can guess how fast I ran that thing.

Give up?

18:17.3 for the Samtec Loop (2.5 miles). That's a 7:19 pace to you and me, Russ. (Sorry, I've watched several of the Vacation movies over the last few weeks. This weekend alone, I think I watched huge chunks of European Vacation on Friday, Saturday AND Sunday. All on the same channel! But I'm rambling.)

I tried to look at the timer on my phone at the 1 and 2 mile marks. I think I hit mile 1 in just over 7 minutes, and mile 2 somewhere in the 14's.

It was a tough run. My body felt okay, just a little tired. That's nothing new. I'm never really fresh at 2:30 a.m., not matter how much sleep I got that day. The worst part was trying to breathe, especially with the air being so cold. At one point, I thought my tongue was going numb from inhaling the cold air, but that passed.

I'm going to wrap this up so I can add my new PR to the blog. Wonder how long it will take me to top that performance?

Saturday, December 5, 2009

2009-12-05T18:42:00.000-08:00

I lost one of my Yetis to Mickey Mouse earlier in the week. Gibby and Penny left for Disney World on Wednesday. And tomorrow morning, Brian and Autumn will be on their way to the Mouse House for a week-long vacation.

If you've read this blog at all, you know why Brian going to Disney is Running Blog-worthy. He has joined me for nearly every mile I've run. Gibby, Brian and I started this journey together. Gibby has dropped off, but Brian and I still put in the miles. We run most of them together. For me, its a great way to make the miles go by. If you have a good friend with you, the discomfort, pain, etc. is a lot easier to bear. Plus we make each other get out and run, even if we sometimes don't want to. Anyone with a regular running buddy knows what I'm talking about.

Since he will be taking it easy at Disney (he's on vacation after all!), Brian wanted to get a longer run in before they left. So today at noon, I headed over to Brian's house for 6 miles around his neighborhood. We made an effort to run it a little slower than we've been running at work (7:30-7:45 pace), but we hit the first mile in 8:01. From that point on, we tried to slow down a little more. We did okay for most of the run, but I think Brian mentioned that we ran mile 4 in 7:45. This was right as I was mentioning that if I have a set distance to run, I try to run it quickly and get it over with. And I think I proved my point during that mile.

After that little dose of reality, we really cooled it down. Also because I was feeling a little tired from the 4 miles we had already run. We ended up finishing 6.04 miles in 51:19.21, which is an 8:30 pace, fyi. It was a good run, and a pretty good tune-up for the next run on our calendars, the Hangover Classic.

The Hangover Classic is an annual New Year's Day 10-miler. After our run, Brian and I headed over to Pacers and Racers to sign up. This will be the first time either of us will run it, but we both figured, what the heck? Its a great way to keep you motivated during the cold weeks of December! We talked to a guy at P and R's who happened to be wearing last year's shirt, and he told us that it was a great course, nice and flat. Sounds like a good way to start the year to me. May have a toast at the finish, perhaps an Upland Wheat? Now it sounds like a great start to the year!

During our run, Brian and I also talked about a few other runs we want to run, naming about 1 a month for the first few months of the year. I seriously think I will be doing the KDF mini-marathon this year. I'm just about over that last mental hurdle, and I believe that finishing the 10-miler next month will be all I need to convince myself.

Anyway, not sure how the weather will be over the next few weeks, but I am going to have to get out and run, whether its sunny or freezing. Actually, freezing would be okay, as long as it is sunny too.

Revised, Corrected, whatever...

2009-12-03T05:37:00.000-08:00

I was checking Fast Freddie's website this morning for info on a St. Patrick's Day run, and noticed a note next to the Thanksgiving 5-miler results which read, "CORRECTED". Clicked on the link, and was surprised to see a change to my placement (moved up a spot, ahead of Brian, even though we literally crossed side-by-side) AND a 2 second improvement. That still doesn't negate the nearly 20 seconds we spent walking to the starting line once the gun had gone off, but whatever, right?

So now the record "officially" lists my finish time as 39:40.68 (with Brian .03 seconds behind me), and moving up to 219 out of 845.

Tuesday night, or Wednesday morning: you decide

2009-12-02T04:32:00.000-08:00

Another fine run by the Two-Yeti Wrecking Crew.

We did our usual, the Samtec Loop, in the cool and crisp December (that's right, December!) air. Talked most of the way and still rolled across the finish line in under 19:15! 2.5 miles in under 20 minutes would have seemed ridiculous when we started this journey, and now its an everyday thing. Still amazes me when I take the time to think about it.

I think we are getting good at this.

Or at least we are getting better.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

2009-11-29T06:04:00.000-08:00

At our house, the weekend after Thanksgiving is spent decorating for Christmas. Lugging box after box down from the attic, assembling, lighting and decorating 4 Christmas trees, and setting out the many Christmas decorations we have accumulated over the years. Once we had all of that done (with the exception of the two tiny Christmas trees that are in the kids' rooms), I got out for a run.

The weather was great, especially for a late November day. Clear skies, a high of nearly 60 degrees; perfect for a run. Unfortunately, it was after sundown before I could hit the road. But it was still warm enough for me to head out in a short sleeve shirt and shorts.

I had figured I would do 2 loops around my neighborhood, which is a little over 4 miles, but my pacing was off, and I ended up running out of gas after just one loop. I finished the first mile in about 8 minutes, then for some reason picked up the pace and ran the 2nd mile in about 7:25. Final distance and time: 2.03miles, 15:28.

Back to work tonight, and Brian and I will be running as long as it isn't raining.

Thanksgiving 5-miler, the recap

2009-11-26T10:14:00.000-08:00

Fantastic run! I just had to say that first thing.

We finished the run in 39:38 by their clock, 39:22 by Official Yeti Time. The crowd of 700+ caused the delay. We actually had to walk to the starting line, and we weren't even that far back. James joined us for this one, and finished about 2 minutes ahead of us. That's okay, since the last time we ran together (CAI 4-miler) he was way ahead. We're catching up with you James!

I was expecting the course to present more of a challenge, but apparently we were ready for it. I may have overestimated the hills a bit, though. I don't think I struggled at all during the entire run. I was even able to not go berserk when people started passing in the final stretch. That was new for me.

After the run, we stood around until the cold was too much to bear, then walked back to Brian's car for an extra layer of clothing (and a Sam Adams Octoberfest!). After that, we made our way back inside to see if we had won a door prize. After drawing out several names (Fred's lack of patience was hysterical!), my name was called (travel mug and $10 to Dick's Sporting Goods), and a little later, Brian won too ($10 to Sam's Tavern)! At that point, I think it became the second-best fun-run ever, after Everest, of course.

Didn't see as many familiar faces this time around. No shortage of faces, just not a whole lot that I knew. Still an awesome time.

This time around I tried a little something different. I took some pictures and shot video, and afterward made a little video recap of the event. I guess yesterday's ShoutOut session inspired me. I hope you enjoy it.

Thanksgiving 5-miler, a preview

2009-11-26T02:28:00.000-08:00

Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday Brian and I joined our old friend Lincoln for some shouting. It's probably not what you think. Allow me to explain.

Lincoln has always had a dynamic personality. I met Lincoln in 6th grade, and from his outgoing nature and positive attitude, you just knew he would go far in life.

Fast forward to 17 years later, and the godsend that is Facebook. When I joined FB, Lincoln was one of the first people to send me a friend request. He is also one of the most active people on there, at least among my FB friends. A few months ago, he began posting about an idea for a web community of people praising, or giving a shout out, to local businesses. Since then, Lincoln and his team have gone from concept to actual working site (with a little bit of content from Brian and myself) in a manner of weeks. The result is LocalShoutOuts.com, and it is pretty impressive.

Brian and I had both been following the progress of LSO, and I had entertained the idea of doing some shouting of my own. But not being the most outgoing person, at least when I'm in a completely foreign situation, I hesitated. I did, however, send Lincoln a few suggestions for shouts. Of course, his reply was "Let's get the three of us together, reconnect and do a few of these shouts!" So I figured, what the heck, and the rest is recent history.

Yesterday we met at a local running and walking store, Pacers and Racers and shot a shoutout for them. Not the most graceful thing to see. Brian and I stumbled and froze several times during that shoot. But Lincoln figured out how to get the best shout we could at the time, and we completed that one. From there, we went to packet pickup for today's run. Linc was very excited about that too, and we ended up shooting another ShoutOut. That one was a little easier to shoot. After that, we went to a local microbrewery for a pint and a little reconnecting. We also did a ShoutOut for them while we were there.

That brings me to this morning. Irregular sleep is no stranger to us 3rd-shifters. After getting home from work on Wednesday morning, I slept for about 5 hours, then got up for the afternoon, then fell asleep after dinner for about 2 hours, woke up, watched a little tv, went to bed, slept for about an hour, woke up, was able to get another few hours of sleep, then wide awake and thinking about the 5-miler today. Not just the 5 miles, no no. How to capture it on video and make an entertaining ShoutOut. I guess I am hooked on shouting.

Now I am going to get my shout ideas onto paper and start mentally preparing for the 5 miles that are out there waiting for me.

Check back for the post-run report.

Sunday night, November 22, 2009

2009-11-23T14:27:00.000-08:00

Started the running for this work-week (a 3-day work-week, thankfully) with a 2.5 mile easy run around the Samtec Loop. Brian and I ran it at an 8 minute pace for a time of 19:58 and change.

It was a good way to start the week. We have the 5-miler on Thanksgiving day, so I'm not sure if there will be too much more running this week. I will probably do a solo run in my neighborhood on Tuesday (Brian will be working, otherwise it would be a Two-Yeti Wrecking Crew tearing up the streets), maybe give the route I ran this past weekend another shot.

Also, Brian and I will be getting together with an old friend of ours on Wednesday to shoot a Shout Out for a local running store. There may be more projects like this coming up, so stay tuned for that!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

2009-11-21T06:29:00.000-08:00

I woke up early this morning, and as I lay in bed, I heard my shoes telling me to go for a run. I tried not to listen to them, but eventually they got so loud I thought they would wake my wife. So for her sake, I got up and took them for a run.

Before I left the house, I got online and checked to see if A) Brian was online, and 2) he wanted to join me. After a while he IM'd me from the woods, where he was out waiting for a deer. After a short exhange, I decided it was time for me to hit the road.

It was a little chilly this morning, so I layered on the running gear, grabbed my youngest daughter's ipod, and headed out. I had already decided to run the 2-mile loop in my neighborhood, but this time I started out running the opposite direction that I normally do. It kinda sucked. The long, gradual downhill stretches with a steep beginning I usually run were now long, gradual uphill stretches with a steep ending. Not much fun. Although I did laugh out loud when The Proclaimers' "(I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles" started playing near the end of the 5th mile. I guess that's what you get when you borrow someone else's tunes. At least I avoided Miley and the Jonases.

I had set a goal for myself, to run for about an hour. I fell a little bit short of that. I suppose I could have, and probably should have, but by the time I ran past my driveway for the third time, I was ready to be done. I felt alright, just ready to be done. Finished 6.09 miles in 48:51, an 8:02 pace. The last time, I ran it in 51:01, FYI, so that made it easier for me to handle missing my goal of running for an hour.

A pretty good run, and a pretty good tuneup for next week's 5-miler. Brian and I are shooting for a 42 minute or under finish time, and I think that is probably going to work out just fine. I am really looking forward to this one. Other than Everest, this will probably be the largest field I've been in, somewhere north of 400 runners! I can't wait! And, as usual, I will take the camera and post a visually delicious Thanksgiving Day feast for the blogosphere.

Admit it, you are drooling in anticipation.

3 miles with Brian

2009-11-18T15:12:00.001-08:00

Now that the weather is getting less agreeable, I am adapting and becoming a runner of opportunity. For the second time this week, Brian and I have gotten together for a late afternoon/ early evening run. A few days ago, we did 4 hilly miles in my hood, today we did 3 in his hood.

I got to his house around 4:30, and we hit the road. I wasn't sure what kind of mileage he was aiming for, so about 2 miles in I asked, and we agreed on 3. We had been at about an 8 minute pace up until that point. I think I am going to have to slow down and wrap my brain around just running for an hour (or more) if I am ever going to tackle anything longer than a 10k. Sometimes I feel like I'm almost there, but not today. I tend to run faster when I run with Brian.

Anyhow, we covered 3.02 miles in 23:38, a 7:50 pace. We are definitely making progress on our times for 5k and under. But like I said earlier, I need to start out slower and maintain a slower, more even pace for most runs farther than that. I'm already thinking about the 5-miler next week, and trying to come up with a strategy that won't cause me to end up walking, but also stay near the 8 min mile pace we usually run. Something is probably going to have to give. We'll see.

Running journal

Mid-April update

Not so fast, Spring!

A little bit farther

Three runs, nearly 19 miles

Adding 'em up

Getting back on the horse

Four weeks later...

Hangover 2011

The Dreaded Hangover

Oops, I did it again!

A recovery run, of sorts

An awful, awful run.

Another late race recap, or The Long and Winding Post

A Belated D*A*S*H* Recap

Nearly Four Months

The idea is to run, then blog

One Down, Fifteen to Go!

Halfway through Week One

Friday and Saturday, or Highs and Lows

Bringing you, dear reader, up to speed

Saturday morning run

3 more miles

Two more

2 short runs you must be dying to know about

Hill Run

I tried, but I couldn't take down the record

5+ miles in FM

Out Run Parkinson's 5k recap

I've got some catching up to do!

Hello Summer!

I should probably post before May comes to an end

Saturday run, and a Wednesday morning run

Still running, and still working on slide shows

The week thus far

And another two!

The first two runs of May

The last two runs of April

Work run

Sunday night work run

KDF miniMarathon

Fleet Feet Fun Run

Midweek

2 1/2 miles, and some Lost-inspired rambling/whining

Sunday night run

Saturday morning run

First sub-20 OYSTR of the season

An OYSTR, with a side of humility

A few OYSTRs

A great day for my favorite Yeti

Solo run

Mid-week recap

Papa John's recap

Quick recap

Back to the loop

Lazy weekend

Return of the Yeti

A few runs during Spring Break

Saturday morning running

Too gorgeous not to run

The running continues

This week was a good one for running

Playing Catch-up with my Journal

Feeling more like myself

Killing two birds with one blog

A blog worth following

Forgot to blog a few runs

Back to the shorter runs

A chilly Thursday afternoon run

First run since Saturday

Missing the Monday Run

Y running group Saturday morning recap, January 23, 2010

A late report

Somedays you got it, some days you don't

My first run with the YMCA group

Sunshine and warmth!

Sunshine!

First run in nearly a week

5 Kilometers with Brian

It is still cold, but we still run

A Belated DASH Recap