This is how i feel today. Three miles in 27: 00. Heat & sore back.
6/21/2009, Happy Fathers Day
Happy Fathers Day!!!
Normally, I like to get my weekend runs in early so I can spend the rest of the day with my family. Today, though, I had to run my oldest, "Kay" halfway to my parents' house, as she is going to spend the nest 10 days there while my wife goes to summer school in the "Cities" (thats slang for the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul) which is a good 75+ minutes away.
Anyhow, we left in the morning and I was hung over from push-mowing the last two days (as you may recall, our rider is in the shop). I actually love mowing, both push and riding, but it has been awhile since I've done much pushing, so my body is rebelling. I was thinking, though, it is a heck of a cross-trainging session. Works the core.
Didn't have time for much of a run but snuck 3 miles in. My right achilles was reminding me, however, of the mowing I made it do. I have more to do and plan to wear my GPS watch, just out of curiousity.
I pushed the last mile in 7:55 to end up with 3 miles @ 8:33 pace.
Normally, I like to get my weekend runs in early so I can spend the rest of the day with my family. Today, though, I had to run my oldest, "Kay" halfway to my parents' house, as she is going to spend the nest 10 days there while my wife goes to summer school in the "Cities" (thats slang for the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul) which is a good 75+ minutes away.
Anyhow, we left in the morning and I was hung over from push-mowing the last two days (as you may recall, our rider is in the shop). I actually love mowing, both push and riding, but it has been awhile since I've done much pushing, so my body is rebelling. I was thinking, though, it is a heck of a cross-trainging session. Works the core.
Didn't have time for much of a run but snuck 3 miles in. My right achilles was reminding me, however, of the mowing I made it do. I have more to do and plan to wear my GPS watch, just out of curiousity.
I pushed the last mile in 7:55 to end up with 3 miles @ 8:33 pace.
6/19/2009 Easy 4 from Work
Ok, this run contradicts what I said about the last one. I started this run from work, which, like my house, is basically out in the country. I don't mind running from here, though. So I don't know wha my hang-up is about running from home.
I have to point out againi how awesome my employer is. We built an addition about a year ago and prior to doing so, I had put in a request for them to include a shower in it because I like to run from there. Well, they did. They may have had more than just me in mind, but still, they put a shower in one of the new bathrooms. I've used it three times already this month. Sure makes life a lot easier for me. I don't have to pay for a YMCA membership or take "pirate" showers at the local university.
One thing I do like about both my home and work settings is that they have HILLS. I'll have to blog about that another day. 4 @ 9:01
I have to point out againi how awesome my employer is. We built an addition about a year ago and prior to doing so, I had put in a request for them to include a shower in it because I like to run from there. Well, they did. They may have had more than just me in mind, but still, they put a shower in one of the new bathrooms. I've used it three times already this month. Sure makes life a lot easier for me. I don't have to pay for a YMCA membership or take "pirate" showers at the local university.
One thing I do like about both my home and work settings is that they have HILLS. I'll have to blog about that another day. 4 @ 9:01
6/16/2009, Easy 3.25
Our riding lawn mower is having problems with the transaxle (I think). It is a 2005 Craftsman, 42inch, with hydrostatic drive. The problem is that it slips out of gear or something. Often, when going up hill, it will make an odd sound and then free-wheel backwards down the hill. Braking will stop it and seems to put it back into gear.
This morning, I dropped it off at the shop and then before going into work did 4 easy miles.
The thing is, I live out it the country and just don't like running out there. It is kinda weird but I feel super self-conscience running when noone is around but in town, I feel completely invisible among people.
I'm not sure why this is but it is real enough that at times I don't run from home. Partially, I'm embarrassed running among my neighbors, many who are farmers. I'm imagining them thinking, "what a wuss, a real man gets enough excercise doing chores". I grew up among farmers and loggers (my dad, for example) so I know how physical their lifestyle is. But I'm a computer programmer and the 40ish hours a week that I spend "working" does nothing for my health. So, yeah, I need to make a point of exercising.
I'm not embarrssed at all about how I run--I move along at a reasonable enough speed most of the time and it isn't like I run like some weirdo.
Another part of the problem is I have limited options--at the end of my driveway, I can head one of three directions and then I run a mile before I get to decide where to turn. Our roads follow the mile grids laid out by the surveyors when the Public Land Survey was originally done. It gets a bit lame running the same roads over and over again.
That contradicts myself a bit because I don't mind running the bike trails where I don't get a choice at all--x miles out, x miles back. As long as I don't hit the same trail too often.
It's the same as where I grew up--I had to run at least a mile before i hit an intersection and then i only had two choices.
Anyhow, I am often looking for reasons to go into town and piggy-back a run out of it.
3.25 miles @ 8:54
This morning, I dropped it off at the shop and then before going into work did 4 easy miles.
The thing is, I live out it the country and just don't like running out there. It is kinda weird but I feel super self-conscience running when noone is around but in town, I feel completely invisible among people.
I'm not sure why this is but it is real enough that at times I don't run from home. Partially, I'm embarrassed running among my neighbors, many who are farmers. I'm imagining them thinking, "what a wuss, a real man gets enough excercise doing chores". I grew up among farmers and loggers (my dad, for example) so I know how physical their lifestyle is. But I'm a computer programmer and the 40ish hours a week that I spend "working" does nothing for my health. So, yeah, I need to make a point of exercising.
I'm not embarrssed at all about how I run--I move along at a reasonable enough speed most of the time and it isn't like I run like some weirdo.
Another part of the problem is I have limited options--at the end of my driveway, I can head one of three directions and then I run a mile before I get to decide where to turn. Our roads follow the mile grids laid out by the surveyors when the Public Land Survey was originally done. It gets a bit lame running the same roads over and over again.
That contradicts myself a bit because I don't mind running the bike trails where I don't get a choice at all--x miles out, x miles back. As long as I don't hit the same trail too often.
It's the same as where I grew up--I had to run at least a mile before i hit an intersection and then i only had two choices.
Anyhow, I am often looking for reasons to go into town and piggy-back a run out of it.
3.25 miles @ 8:54
Long Run, 5 miles
Ok, so my long run is only a mile longer than my other runs. So sue me.
Averaged 9:07, first in 8:23. Flat course along a bike trail.
The thing to note about this run is that it is in Minnesota. We spent the day orgainizing my wife's classroom. We live in Wisconsin. That is one of the hardest things about our long-distance relationship. I have to travel to Viking territory to see them. I pass the viking HQ on my way. I despise purple.
Averaged 9:07, first in 8:23. Flat course along a bike trail.
The thing to note about this run is that it is in Minnesota. We spent the day orgainizing my wife's classroom. We live in Wisconsin. That is one of the hardest things about our long-distance relationship. I have to travel to Viking territory to see them. I pass the viking HQ on my way. I despise purple.
Easy Run, 6/12/2009
Today was tough. I was still sore from a couple days earlier. This was to be expected. I averaged 8:38 which was faster than I expected but it was tougher. The first run back is usually the easiest--you dont have your wind but you are not sore yet, either.
I survived.
I survived.
Time Trial 2400m
I'm hoping to focus my posts mostly on the qualitative, not quantitative, aspects of my running. This is a bit of a switch for me. In the past, I tended to think more about times and splits and paces.
I read a book about change (Change or Die by Alan Deutschman) that said there are three key components to making a change in your life. His three R's were relationships, repeat, and re- frame.
I'm going to try to build more running relationships--I've been a mostly passive member of dead runners society since about September 1992, I plan to be more active there. I'm hoping to build some bloggy friends. And then in the fall, when I relocate with the ladies, hope to join some running groups.
Repeating is just about getting out there and running.
Re-frame. I've always really been more of a racer than a runner. While I enjoy the intangible benefits of running, my focus has always been racing and racing faster. I need to stop that. That was part of my consistency problem--if I felt like my training wasn't up to par, than I thought it was pointless and I would lack motivation to continue. Now, I just want to enjoy each run.
That being said, I couldn't completely ignore my normal racing tendencies, so today, on my three month anniversary since my last run, I started again with a time trial.
I overran my warm-up, doing my first mile in 7:48. I did 2400m in 11:29 (first 1600 in 7:28).
My right knee felt like I twisted it during my cool-down so I walked the final half mile.
Total of 4 miles.
I read a book about change (Change or Die by Alan Deutschman) that said there are three key components to making a change in your life. His three R's were relationships, repeat, and re- frame.
I'm going to try to build more running relationships--I've been a mostly passive member of dead runners society since about September 1992, I plan to be more active there. I'm hoping to build some bloggy friends. And then in the fall, when I relocate with the ladies, hope to join some running groups.
Repeating is just about getting out there and running.
Re-frame. I've always really been more of a racer than a runner. While I enjoy the intangible benefits of running, my focus has always been racing and racing faster. I need to stop that. That was part of my consistency problem--if I felt like my training wasn't up to par, than I thought it was pointless and I would lack motivation to continue. Now, I just want to enjoy each run.
That being said, I couldn't completely ignore my normal racing tendencies, so today, on my three month anniversary since my last run, I started again with a time trial.
I overran my warm-up, doing my first mile in 7:48. I did 2400m in 11:29 (first 1600 in 7:28).
My right knee felt like I twisted it during my cool-down so I walked the final half mile.
Total of 4 miles.
I'm Back
After a fall, winter, and spring of extensive non-running, I'm trying, once again, to get running again. My goals are modest right now--run 3x a week and get up to 15 miles/week.
Work & family presented huge challenges the last 9 months (do NOT read anything into that time frame). My wife and youngest daughter started school two hours away last August. They came home every weekend. My oldest daughter then started school there in December.
I was at home, pretty bummed, alone during the week for most of December through mid-February. At that time, they switched apartments and I started spending 3ish nights a week there with them.
Sidenote: I have an AWESOME employer who has supported me tremendously the last few years. If you need and GIS work done or need a website please give us a chance to compete for your work. The owners started the company because they wanted to work someplace that treated both the clients and workers right and I believe they've over-achieved on that. In the 8 years I've worked there, I've never had to ask for a raise--they've proactively taken care of me. Even more valuable, though, is that they've been tremendously flexible about allowing me to work the hours I've needed. I spent a few years working mostly nights so I could stay home with our youngest and my employer has always been supportive. They also treat their clients with the same respect.
One thing I've learned through this last year is how important my family is to me. My wife and two girls are everything. It hasn't been easy being away from them and I missed them terribly. I never want to be away from them again.
As far as running, I had a little momentum early in the year==think I did a 15-miler in Feb but once I started telecommuting, I stopped running. I ran a race on 3/8, after not running for nearly a month, because it was my birthday and I have not run since. But now that the family is mostly home for the summer, I'm going to start again.
One thing I've never brought to my running is a sense of balance. I tend to be either all-in or not in at all. I need to change that. I can not continue the roll-coaster ride of starting and stopping.
Just one more *smile*.
Work & family presented huge challenges the last 9 months (do NOT read anything into that time frame). My wife and youngest daughter started school two hours away last August. They came home every weekend. My oldest daughter then started school there in December.
I was at home, pretty bummed, alone during the week for most of December through mid-February. At that time, they switched apartments and I started spending 3ish nights a week there with them.
Sidenote: I have an AWESOME employer who has supported me tremendously the last few years. If you need and GIS work done or need a website please give us a chance to compete for your work. The owners started the company because they wanted to work someplace that treated both the clients and workers right and I believe they've over-achieved on that. In the 8 years I've worked there, I've never had to ask for a raise--they've proactively taken care of me. Even more valuable, though, is that they've been tremendously flexible about allowing me to work the hours I've needed. I spent a few years working mostly nights so I could stay home with our youngest and my employer has always been supportive. They also treat their clients with the same respect.
One thing I've learned through this last year is how important my family is to me. My wife and two girls are everything. It hasn't been easy being away from them and I missed them terribly. I never want to be away from them again.
As far as running, I had a little momentum early in the year==think I did a 15-miler in Feb but once I started telecommuting, I stopped running. I ran a race on 3/8, after not running for nearly a month, because it was my birthday and I have not run since. But now that the family is mostly home for the summer, I'm going to start again.
One thing I've never brought to my running is a sense of balance. I tend to be either all-in or not in at all. I need to change that. I can not continue the roll-coaster ride of starting and stopping.
Just one more *smile*.
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