Yesterday I had my first "winter run" for the year. We had about an inch of snow come down over my lunch hour, so I leashed up Parsenn and we took a 15 minute stroll around the neighborhood. He did pretty well, with the exception of any time a car drove past. The poor little guy would get really scared, tuck his tail between his legs, and curl himself up between my feet. Adorable.
Today, the wind returned. And I'm talking wind. The kind of wind that just takes your breath away. I think of myself as a pretty rugged runner, but this stuff just isn't fun. I'll take sub-zero temps and snow any day, but a cold 20 mph wind and I'm seeking out a treadmill.
So this morning I covered about 9 miles in roughly an hour and a half of exercise between a treadmill and an elliptical. It was actually a nice rotation, which even included some of Keith's Dumbbell-Treadmill workout. This I really liked. I ran at about an 8:30 pace on the treadmill, holding 5 lb. dumbbells. Next time I'll slow down the pace, as I lasted only about 7 minutes before exhaustion. The key to indoor workouts is to mix it up. In chiro school I once ran for 2 1/2 hours on a treadmill the night before a big exam, studying (and sweating all over my notes) the entire time. Doing that once is enough for me. Thanks, Keith, for the idea.
29 November 2007
25 November 2007
Tryptophan just called to concede defeat.
Wow, what a weekend! It wasn't long ago the Wednesday before Thanksgiving was a big drinking night at the bars in town, when everyone would get a chance to see high school friends they likely hadn't seen since at least last summer. This year, for me, my Wednesday night was a quiet one after dropping Ellie off at the airport. We had a relatively bad storm come through, so getting home was an achievement in itself. It was the kind of snow fall that remains snow on the grass, but on sidewalks and roads it melts, then gets slushy, then freezes overnight. Not the best running conditions...
Thursday morning I met my buddy Jon for our "trot to and from the turkey trot" trot (follow that?). We started about 5 miles away from the beginning of the race and battled some serious wind and icy sidewalks to get there. I'm still not sure how both of us made it all the way without falling. We joked along the way that people driving by were surely looking at us like we were complete idiots. We loved every step of it.
At the actual run, a 10K event, I ran 41:27. I was hoping to break 41 minutes, but considering the wind and everything else, I'm okay with my time. Jon and I then took off on another 5 mile jog back to our cars. It was wonderful to run with someone, as I've done 99.99% of my runs alone over the summer. I'm still smiling thinking about it.
Today, after doing everything I could in the previous 48 hours to gain 17 pounds of turkey, I planned to run a 15K event about an hour away. After a small alarm clock mishap (I forgot to turn it on), I was lucky enough to be woken up by my cat, Lilly, as she walked across my face. She aroused me just enough for me to open my eyes and realized it seemed a little too bright out for 5:30 a.m. A quick glance at my clock (6:47 am, and an hour drive to an 8:00 race) and I was moving. I had slept in the clothes I was going to run in (is that weird? I hope not...) so that wasn't a problem. Parsenn made a quick "drop off" outside while I brushed my teeth, and I was out the door. At times I was not obeying the posted speed limit, but I made it up to the race, jogged to the registration area, got my bib number, and jogged to the start line. I was so close on time I literally didn't have time to pin on the number, so it got stuffed into a pocket. And I'm off!
About 3 miles into the run, my legs felt sore, my stomach was a little upset with me, and I was working into a serious head wind that wasn't helping matters. I decided to recalibrate the goals for this run, from breaking 1:03 to just keeping a sub 7 minute pace. At mile seven my clock read 49:54, so I knew it was time to push if I wanted to get my new goal. I felt great down the stretch...the headwind was now a tail wind, the Gu I had slammed jogging to the start line seemed to kick in, and I finished up in 1:04:40 (6:56 pace). My reward? I got a block of cheese! Seriously! They were out of shirts, so I guess they'll be mailing that out to me at some point. In the meantime I'll have to settle for a block of cheddar in the shape of a turkey. Only in Wisconsin.
Two races in 4 days, and 2 PR's! Well, okay, it's the first time I've ever run a 10K or 15K, but I've never been one for such mundane details.
Thursday morning I met my buddy Jon for our "trot to and from the turkey trot" trot (follow that?). We started about 5 miles away from the beginning of the race and battled some serious wind and icy sidewalks to get there. I'm still not sure how both of us made it all the way without falling. We joked along the way that people driving by were surely looking at us like we were complete idiots. We loved every step of it.
At the actual run, a 10K event, I ran 41:27. I was hoping to break 41 minutes, but considering the wind and everything else, I'm okay with my time. Jon and I then took off on another 5 mile jog back to our cars. It was wonderful to run with someone, as I've done 99.99% of my runs alone over the summer. I'm still smiling thinking about it.
Today, after doing everything I could in the previous 48 hours to gain 17 pounds of turkey, I planned to run a 15K event about an hour away. After a small alarm clock mishap (I forgot to turn it on), I was lucky enough to be woken up by my cat, Lilly, as she walked across my face. She aroused me just enough for me to open my eyes and realized it seemed a little too bright out for 5:30 a.m. A quick glance at my clock (6:47 am, and an hour drive to an 8:00 race) and I was moving. I had slept in the clothes I was going to run in (is that weird? I hope not...) so that wasn't a problem. Parsenn made a quick "drop off" outside while I brushed my teeth, and I was out the door. At times I was not obeying the posted speed limit, but I made it up to the race, jogged to the registration area, got my bib number, and jogged to the start line. I was so close on time I literally didn't have time to pin on the number, so it got stuffed into a pocket. And I'm off!
About 3 miles into the run, my legs felt sore, my stomach was a little upset with me, and I was working into a serious head wind that wasn't helping matters. I decided to recalibrate the goals for this run, from breaking 1:03 to just keeping a sub 7 minute pace. At mile seven my clock read 49:54, so I knew it was time to push if I wanted to get my new goal. I felt great down the stretch...the headwind was now a tail wind, the Gu I had slammed jogging to the start line seemed to kick in, and I finished up in 1:04:40 (6:56 pace). My reward? I got a block of cheese! Seriously! They were out of shirts, so I guess they'll be mailing that out to me at some point. In the meantime I'll have to settle for a block of cheddar in the shape of a turkey. Only in Wisconsin.
Two races in 4 days, and 2 PR's! Well, okay, it's the first time I've ever run a 10K or 15K, but I've never been one for such mundane details.
20 November 2007
Nic vs Tryptophan
I'll be the first to admit a major reason I run and stay active is so that I can eat some things that may not be...lets say "nutritionally beneficial"...and not feel quite as guilty about it. This is always especially true around Thanksgiving. So this year I'm taking on gluttony by signing myself up for a couple races: a 10K Turkey Trot on Thursday morning and a 15K run on Sunday morning. Bring on the 2nd (and 3rd through 5th) serving of stuffing! I love that stuff!
But a simple 10K is not enough. Oh no. Not when I plan to eat--graze is probably a better word--on Thursday throughout the afternoon, especially during the Packers game. I mean, NFL games last a ridiculously long time. There's often only one play between commercial breaks. What else am I supposed to do with food only one room away?
So on Thursday, a good friend of mine, Jon, and I will be adding to the 10K by running to and from the event. Jon's current training (he's an aspiring Ironman nutcase) calls for a 16 mile run this weekend, so I called up my trusty friends at MapMyRun.com and came up with this:
...and voila! 5 miles to the run, 6.2 miles at the run, and 5 miles home from the run. I'm hoping to run under 41 minutes (6:35). Today over lunch I ran 6 miles in 39:50 (6:38), so I guess we'll see.
My wife, Ellie, is flying to London tomorrow for the Holidays to visit a good friend of ours living over there, so it's just me and Parsenn hanging out on the weekend. She found a great deal on airfare, and won't have to miss any work, so I'm hoping it's a stress-free trip for her. Parsenn is probably going to be laying low, as today he had what the people at the Humane Society call an "alteration." Poor guy!
I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving! Oh, and, pass the gravy...
But a simple 10K is not enough. Oh no. Not when I plan to eat--graze is probably a better word--on Thursday throughout the afternoon, especially during the Packers game. I mean, NFL games last a ridiculously long time. There's often only one play between commercial breaks. What else am I supposed to do with food only one room away?
So on Thursday, a good friend of mine, Jon, and I will be adding to the 10K by running to and from the event. Jon's current training (he's an aspiring Ironman nutcase) calls for a 16 mile run this weekend, so I called up my trusty friends at MapMyRun.com and came up with this:
...and voila! 5 miles to the run, 6.2 miles at the run, and 5 miles home from the run. I'm hoping to run under 41 minutes (6:35). Today over lunch I ran 6 miles in 39:50 (6:38), so I guess we'll see.
My wife, Ellie, is flying to London tomorrow for the Holidays to visit a good friend of ours living over there, so it's just me and Parsenn hanging out on the weekend. She found a great deal on airfare, and won't have to miss any work, so I'm hoping it's a stress-free trip for her. Parsenn is probably going to be laying low, as today he had what the people at the Humane Society call an "alteration." Poor guy!
I hope everyone has a fantastic Thanksgiving! Oh, and, pass the gravy...
19 November 2007
Regret is the insight that comes a day too late.
I had my chance, and it's haunting me!
This weekend was a blast--from the drive up to the cabin, to the time outdoors, to the time with my bro and father-in-law, I can't tell you how much fun it was. I even had a chance at a buck, but passed...
Saturday morning I was leaning up against an old oak tree, overlooking a meadow about 75 yards long by 50 yards across. There were a couple deer trails that went right through the meadow and all kinds of scrapes along the route. I set up shop about 15 minutes before sunrise and settled in. I didn't have to wait long, as within 20 minutes, from the far side of the meadow, a buck appeared. From that distance, in the poor light, he looked relatively small and was only a 3 or 4 pointer (I think his left antler was a lone spike). I decided at that point that I would let him go and wait for something a little bigger. After all, I had never fired the rifle I was using, and if I saw a buck already, surely I'd be seeing them the entire weekend!
Oops.
As he made his was across the meadow, I started to realize he was a pretty thick guy, and his head was just small. But by then he was only 20 yards away, nibbling and looking at me. Any move for my rifle likely would have sent him off, so I just watched. He never panicked, was never in a hurry, but slowly made his way through the meadow and into the woods. And that was the only interaction we had with a deer the entire weekend.
Just wait 'till next year. (Geez, now I'm sounding like a Cubs fan.)
This weekend was a blast--from the drive up to the cabin, to the time outdoors, to the time with my bro and father-in-law, I can't tell you how much fun it was. I even had a chance at a buck, but passed...
Saturday morning I was leaning up against an old oak tree, overlooking a meadow about 75 yards long by 50 yards across. There were a couple deer trails that went right through the meadow and all kinds of scrapes along the route. I set up shop about 15 minutes before sunrise and settled in. I didn't have to wait long, as within 20 minutes, from the far side of the meadow, a buck appeared. From that distance, in the poor light, he looked relatively small and was only a 3 or 4 pointer (I think his left antler was a lone spike). I decided at that point that I would let him go and wait for something a little bigger. After all, I had never fired the rifle I was using, and if I saw a buck already, surely I'd be seeing them the entire weekend!
Oops.
As he made his was across the meadow, I started to realize he was a pretty thick guy, and his head was just small. But by then he was only 20 yards away, nibbling and looking at me. Any move for my rifle likely would have sent him off, so I just watched. He never panicked, was never in a hurry, but slowly made his way through the meadow and into the woods. And that was the only interaction we had with a deer the entire weekend.
Just wait 'till next year. (Geez, now I'm sounding like a Cubs fan.)
16 November 2007
"It's the opening weekend of Deer Camp, and all the guys are here. We drink, play cards, and shoot the bull, but never shoot no deer..."
"the only time we leave the camp, is when we go for beer! It's the opening weekend of deer camp, and all the guys are here!"
--Da Yoopers
For the first time in 12 years, I'm actually going deer hunting when the season opens this Saturday morning, 15 minutes before sunrise (6:48 am). What I mean by "deer hunting" is actually going up to my father-in-law's cabin with my brother-in-law, Doug, and sitting in the woods for all of an hour at the most, before returning to the cabin to play cards, nap, eat breakfast, and then hang out (maybe even get a run in, wearing blaze orange of course). Will my rifle ever be taken off safety? Not likely. Especially for the afternoon "hunt," when we'll go out equipped a cigar, maybe a beer, and a good book. But not a gun. We won't have an empty hand to carry it! I'm just really excited to get up there and spend some quality time with by 2nd Dad and my younger Bro. It'll be fun. Except for the fact we're leaving at about 5 today, heading north on one of the main roads to get up nort' along with about 7 million other people.
As for running, I haven't done much recently. It's been windy and cold (not nearly as windy or cold as it's gonna get around here, but still quite a change) and my motivation has been low. I ran a 5 mile loop last night in 33:33, a time I'm relatively happy with. Next week, to counteract all the food I'll be ingesting before, during, and after the Packers move to 9-1 against the Lions, I'll be running the Turkey Trot 10K on Thursday (with some added mileage I'll tell you about in a future post) and the Noodleini 15K on Sunday. These are two distances I've never run before, so I'm interested to see what I can do. On Thursday, I'd love to break 42:00. There, I typed it. That's my goal time.
I hope everyone has a great weekend, and say a prayer for a safe hunt here in Wisconsin for all.
--Da Yoopers
If something like this guy strolls by, I might...just might...take the safety off. But that's about it.
For the first time in 12 years, I'm actually going deer hunting when the season opens this Saturday morning, 15 minutes before sunrise (6:48 am). What I mean by "deer hunting" is actually going up to my father-in-law's cabin with my brother-in-law, Doug, and sitting in the woods for all of an hour at the most, before returning to the cabin to play cards, nap, eat breakfast, and then hang out (maybe even get a run in, wearing blaze orange of course). Will my rifle ever be taken off safety? Not likely. Especially for the afternoon "hunt," when we'll go out equipped a cigar, maybe a beer, and a good book. But not a gun. We won't have an empty hand to carry it! I'm just really excited to get up there and spend some quality time with by 2nd Dad and my younger Bro. It'll be fun. Except for the fact we're leaving at about 5 today, heading north on one of the main roads to get up nort' along with about 7 million other people.
As for running, I haven't done much recently. It's been windy and cold (not nearly as windy or cold as it's gonna get around here, but still quite a change) and my motivation has been low. I ran a 5 mile loop last night in 33:33, a time I'm relatively happy with. Next week, to counteract all the food I'll be ingesting before, during, and after the Packers move to 9-1 against the Lions, I'll be running the Turkey Trot 10K on Thursday (with some added mileage I'll tell you about in a future post) and the Noodleini 15K on Sunday. These are two distances I've never run before, so I'm interested to see what I can do. On Thursday, I'd love to break 42:00. There, I typed it. That's my goal time.
I hope everyone has a great weekend, and say a prayer for a safe hunt here in Wisconsin for all.
12 November 2007
Okay, so I lied when I said I wouldn't be adding any more races.
Sue me. I just stumbled upon one more race I need to squeeze in, so it's on my "2007 Schedule" on the right. I blame peer pressure for this. I'm far too weak.
Click here for more info on this rather unique event.
Click here for more info on this rather unique event.
We're even going to have Tshirts! For next year, I think Nancy should have used an Octagon, not triangles, in the logo. And, given my distaste for the word "Blog," I would prefer "Running Journalling Friends." Just my two cents. I don't expect anyone to listen :)
11 November 2007
Parsenn's Debut
Despite the fact he's still overcoming a bad case of pneumonia, Parsenn made his debut effort in the 400 meter walk yesterday afternoon on the historic Riverview Drive Out-and-Back Course. He broke the tape in 17:37 and still looked fresh as he headed to the elite competitor's recovery area (his kennel). Parsenn overcame not one, but two potty stops in the home stretch (and another dog, roughly 6 times his size, barking at him) to still run a negative split (9:31 1st half, 8:06 2nd half). Parsenn struggled a bit out of the gate, as he's trained solo the entire 9 weeks of his life, and the addition of a pacer (me holding the other end of a leash attached around his neck) took a bit of getting used to and caused a pretty choppy early gait and pace.
When asked how he was going to celebrate such an amazing debut performance, he barked, which I think means he's going to take the first opportunity presented to pee on our kitchen floor. When asked to compare this debut performance to another recent and historic first race (Ryan Hall's 59 minute Half Marathon American Record), He whimpered, then coughed up a bit of guk from his lungs.
In other, much less exciting news, I ran 10 miles in 1:12 for a 7:15 pace.
When asked how he was going to celebrate such an amazing debut performance, he barked, which I think means he's going to take the first opportunity presented to pee on our kitchen floor. When asked to compare this debut performance to another recent and historic first race (Ryan Hall's 59 minute Half Marathon American Record), He whimpered, then coughed up a bit of guk from his lungs.
In other, much less exciting news, I ran 10 miles in 1:12 for a 7:15 pace.
09 November 2007
My "Personal Pacer Project"
A great friend of mine from Chiropractic school, who shall be known as Hack, called me this weekend to tell me he's getting the itch to go marathoning again. He's a collegiate trackster and 2:36 PR runner, so I hate him even more than I hate Lance. But he has always been a wealth of information ever since I started trying to figure out this 26.2 thing.
Well, since we graduated, and Hack moved Colorado, we've kept in contact despite both setting up practice, growing our practices, having kids (ok, so he's got a daughter and is expecting another, and I have a puppy), and pretty much dealing with the "real world" stuff. Hack has, shall we say, put on a couple pounds, so he called me with a proposal. I help him get back into better shape through accountability, punishment in the form of embarrassing tasks, and overall support, and he'll personally pace me in Chicago next year. Now, it's one thing to have the support of the pace team. They're great. But I can't help but think that having one specific person in your corner has to be beneficial, especially for someone like me that really can't run two consecutive miles at the same pace to save my life. Hack and I would go running together all the time in school, and he would never stop talking. He'd tell me that I didn't have to respond, but he enjoyed talking because it helped him keep his pace and breathing normal. Oh, I see, by talking, he made sure he ran slow enough to not kill me. JERK!
So, I help him get into better shape, he helps me run...but how fast? That's the catch, I guess, if there is one. We're looking to run sub 3 hours. I'm pretty sure he can do that right now, so there's my motivation. I need to get ready for a sub 3 so that he doesn't BEAT me when we run.
With this new plan and goal, my expectations at the other marathons definitely changes. I'll be honest, I've thought, "Don't even do them, you need rest!" I know, I know, that's the smart approach. But I'll be the first to admit I'm addicted, and I will simply look at Journeys and GITM as training runs, with the ultimate goal being the conquerage (is that a word--no, wait, it's conquest...right?) of Chicago.
I'm looking forward to your comments.
Am I nuts? (probably) Should I scale back? (duh) Is it wrong for me to be this excited for January to start coming so I can train for Journeys? (most likely) Did Parsenn poop on our kitchen floor this morning, and then lean in to lick it before I noticed and intervened? (yep.) I know that last one wasn't related to ANYTHING, but I bet it made you smile.
Well, since we graduated, and Hack moved Colorado, we've kept in contact despite both setting up practice, growing our practices, having kids (ok, so he's got a daughter and is expecting another, and I have a puppy), and pretty much dealing with the "real world" stuff. Hack has, shall we say, put on a couple pounds, so he called me with a proposal. I help him get back into better shape through accountability, punishment in the form of embarrassing tasks, and overall support, and he'll personally pace me in Chicago next year. Now, it's one thing to have the support of the pace team. They're great. But I can't help but think that having one specific person in your corner has to be beneficial, especially for someone like me that really can't run two consecutive miles at the same pace to save my life. Hack and I would go running together all the time in school, and he would never stop talking. He'd tell me that I didn't have to respond, but he enjoyed talking because it helped him keep his pace and breathing normal. Oh, I see, by talking, he made sure he ran slow enough to not kill me. JERK!
So, I help him get into better shape, he helps me run...but how fast? That's the catch, I guess, if there is one. We're looking to run sub 3 hours. I'm pretty sure he can do that right now, so there's my motivation. I need to get ready for a sub 3 so that he doesn't BEAT me when we run.
With this new plan and goal, my expectations at the other marathons definitely changes. I'll be honest, I've thought, "Don't even do them, you need rest!" I know, I know, that's the smart approach. But I'll be the first to admit I'm addicted, and I will simply look at Journeys and GITM as training runs, with the ultimate goal being the conquerage (is that a word--no, wait, it's conquest...right?) of Chicago.
I'm looking forward to your comments.
Am I nuts? (probably) Should I scale back? (duh) Is it wrong for me to be this excited for January to start coming so I can train for Journeys? (most likely) Did Parsenn poop on our kitchen floor this morning, and then lean in to lick it before I noticed and intervened? (yep.) I know that last one wasn't related to ANYTHING, but I bet it made you smile.
05 November 2007
On a runner's high, and I haven't run in a week!
This morning I watched highlights of the Olympic Marathon Trials again. It really was a great race, and to see such a grounded runner as Ryan Hall win was fantastic. I found more joy, however, in seeing Brian Sell finish 3rd. He's a workhorse and simply ran hard. He trains around Detroit, wears a Fu Manchu, and runs roughly 150 miles a week. He "tapered" to 80 miles this week. That is CRAZY.
Looking ahead to '08, I can't wait to get started. With my current (albeit tentative) schedule in place, the real training doesn't start until January, so I'm working right now on how to maintain the base and hit the ground rolling next year.
The first marathon of the year will be the Journeys Marathon in May. I don't think this is a course real conducive to a 3:10...
But you know what? I thought Chicago was a perfect course for a fast time, and we know how that went. So who knows? Perhaps it is a fast course. We shall see.
In late July I'm planning (hoping) to run the Grand Island Trail Marathon. This looks like a great event, with a different atmosphere, and unique course. That's really what I like in marathons, so it's a perfect fit.
In the fall, I've got some unfinished business in Chicago. I want to run a BQ there, and I'll give it a try (my 5th try) on October 12, 2008.
Oh yeah, I've got some other news...
There's a new addition to my training team! Meet Parsenn:
Sorry, Doug, this is not going to help you with your yearning for a dog. ;)
Looking ahead to '08, I can't wait to get started. With my current (albeit tentative) schedule in place, the real training doesn't start until January, so I'm working right now on how to maintain the base and hit the ground rolling next year.
The first marathon of the year will be the Journeys Marathon in May. I don't think this is a course real conducive to a 3:10...
Hilly first half...
But you know what? I thought Chicago was a perfect course for a fast time, and we know how that went. So who knows? Perhaps it is a fast course. We shall see.
In late July I'm planning (hoping) to run the Grand Island Trail Marathon. This looks like a great event, with a different atmosphere, and unique course. That's really what I like in marathons, so it's a perfect fit.
In the fall, I've got some unfinished business in Chicago. I want to run a BQ there, and I'll give it a try (my 5th try) on October 12, 2008.
Oh yeah, I've got some other news...
There's a new addition to my training team! Meet Parsenn:
Sorry, Doug, this is not going to help you with your yearning for a dog. ;)
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