Running around the edges…

Distance: 10 mi (2 runs)

Miles to go: 1774

…of everything else I have to do…

For those that don’t know, I am remodeling my kitchen and dining room from the floor up.  In the past, since I am building my cabinets, etc.  I have had time to do other things while the glue sets or the finish dries, but now it’s go time.  The floors and walls have been stripped bare and are awaiting new hardwood flooring, cabinets, tile, etc. and now that we are full on into it, everything else has to take a back seat for a while.  I start the flooring today and once I get going on it, I have to go until it’s finished so look for posts to be even more sporadic for a while.  I will still be running, just probably not blogging about it as much for a while.

My last two runs last week, I have to say, were two of the best I’ve had in a while.  Traknight on Wednesday was awesome.  We ran a timed mile and (although it wasn’t the 5:45 I ran last fall) I felt pretty strong.  But even more awesome than that, I managed to run my last two 400s AFTER the mile in negative splits.  Oh… and all without pain.  The next morning I almost talked myself out of running because it looked like it was going to rain, but I went anyway and ran VERY strong for 6 miles and felt like I wanted to keep going afterwards.  I think I’m finally starting to get back in shape… a little…  Although I’m still too chicken to enter a real race for fear that my times will be way slower than last year.  I know… It’s stupid…

I’m also loving the bike commute.  I ride 12 miles one way to to work on M/W/F and really enjoy it.  Although I have this odd pain in my knee, more than likely from being out of bicycling shape.  I think it also may be that I’m don’t quite have my bike set up right for me yet.  All things to play with…  The route I take is very hilly so I get a bit of a leg strength workout in as well.  My bike is awesome.  It’s a Kona Jake cross bike and it’s comfortable, smooth and fast (er than I am… for sure…).  I’m not really interested in keeping track of speeds or anything, just total mileage and even that is just to know when I should be looking to do maintenance on the bike.  I’m just happy it’s working out.  Who knows, maybe next year I’ll give a duathlon a shot…!  I have already experienced the jelly leg when switching from bike to running on Wednesday nights.  What a LOVELY feeling THAT is…

…back to the kitchen…!

Off the back

Distance: 25.75 (4 runs)

Miles to go: 1784

“Off the back” is an unfortunate description of what happens to me most of the time when I try to hang with the faster runners.  It is also a good description of my struggles keeping up with this blog!  I am still running, but due to house remodels, sick family and other life issues (sleep, food, etc.) I’m struggling to find time to keep from getting “dropped”…

Last week I ran twice with the group and once on my own and then took some time off to get my kitchen remodel caught up.  I got quite a bit done on it but ended up being too tired to run on the days I was working so I kinda had a long layoff (from Thursday morning to this morning), but surprisingly I ran pretty strong this morning on a hilly route, so I’m happy.  I’m afraid my routine will be a bit fractured over the next several weeks until I get the bulk of the kitchen stuff done, so be patient with my struggles.

After my Thursday run last week I felt so sore that I almost thought I had re-injured myself.  I don’t know if it was just the increase in mileage last week or that each run was longer, but something wasn’t happy and I paid for it for a couple of days.  Maybe that break was a good thing because this morning I ran pain free and really felt good.  I keep thinking that I need to run a race or two to get me back in the spirit, but I’m still a little nervous about it.  I think it’s mostly because I’m afraid that I’ve lost a lot of speed and won’t do very well… Kinda lame… I know…  There is, however, a freebie 4 miler coming up on July 4th that is fun and well attended so I might run that one just to see where I’m at.  I ran almost exactly 8 minute miles last year (32:07) and I think if I work at it for the next couple of months I can beat that time.  The 8:30s I ran this morning felt comfortable on the hills and this upcoming race is on a very flat, out and back course.

Now that (hopefully) the weather is starting to settle down a bit it will be nice to get back into a routine, at least Tue-Thur.  I think I have missed that and it feels good to be running with the crowd again.  Now I just need to keep up…

Weird-O-Meter pegged…

Distance: 13 mi. (2 runs)

Miles to go: 1809

I’m really not sure why I still have the 2000 mile countdown on here.  I guess just to track progress.  It will be next to impossible to complete this goal because the hole is just too deep.  But it is still fun to watch the numbers come down.

I have switched to running Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, bike commuting (12 mi) on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and then lifting on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings.  It sounds like a lot but it’s not.  The only hard day is Wednesday because I have to bike in the morning, then bike over to the track and run in the afternoon.

I have already noticed a MARKED improvement in my leg strength due to biking (and it’s only been two weeks). The hills seem smaller now…!  I ran a hill yesterday that usually kills me and it was noticeably easier and I had energy when I got to the top.  Maybe there IS something to this whole cross training thing…

Yesterday was an unremarkable run other than the leg strength thingy and the almost overpowering smell of flowers on the trail.  It was beautiful on the way out, but almost too sweet smelling on the way back…!  Today’s run, however, was another surprise.  Not only for the fact that for the first time in a month it wasn’t frickin’ raining/hailing/lightning, but also because of how I felt.  After yesterday’s run I was hurting.  The combination of all the manual labor I am putting in (kitchen remodel… from the floor up) and the run left me VERY sore and uncomfortable.  I dined on Ibuprofen yesterday evening but still woke up sore and stiff.  I didn’t expect much from the run but when the route was announced, it was one of my favorites which picked me up a bit.  It has 2 punishing hills in it and a third near the end, just to kick you when you are down, so WHY I like it… I dunno.  It is just over 7 miles which is pushing the limits of my current endurance, but I decided to go out and see how I felt.  It has lots of options to cut short so I wasn’t worried.  As we took off I felt… good…?  Really?  Yes, my legs were a bit sore, but I was holding about an 8:30 pace VERY comfortably.  As the miles ticked by I kept waiting for the bonk, but it never happened!  I ended up finishing at an 8:33 pace.  By far my fastest effort since before the marathon last fall!  And on a tough course too!

There were only two odd things to note.  First,  as I hit the second major hill in this route my legs got VERY heavy.  This cleared about half way down the back side of the hill, but still.  I haven’t felt that in a long time and am not sure what to make of it.  Finally, as I rounded a nameless corner about half way through the run I was greeted by a blinding blue-white flash, big boom and then a huge shower of sparks!  A transformer blew up on a pole just behind me!  GOOD GAWD!  Talk about having to change your shorts!  I definitely needed a new diapy after that one… I needed a hug too… Scared the BEEJEEZUS out of me…  Of all the stupid things to have happen, and for NO apparent reason.  File that one under “Crazy Crap”…

Unexpectedly pleasant

Distance: 8.6 mi (2 runs)

Time: 39:08

Miles to go: 1822

OK… I give up trying to “predict” how I am going to feel based on what I did the day before.

I “thought”, based on the fact that I rode 17 miles and ran 4 miles (traknight) yesterday, that I would be exhausted and hobbling this morning for the A.M. run…  But damned if I didn’t have one of the strongest runs since Thanksgiving.  Just under 5 miles at an 8:30 pace.  And I was tired, but felt like I could have gone another mile or two.  You would think after 41 years I would be better able to figure me out…

I’m going to stop short of saying I felt “strong”, but I think I am definitely regaining some of the fitness I lost due to the injury.  I will say that I definitely feel fatigued right now.  I don’t think this is unusual, but I am right at that borderline where, if I do any more, I am going to be hurting.  Luckily, the way my schedule works out I am not set to run again until Saturday morning.  The break will do me some good.

Until then I get to demolish my kitchen.  The long awaited day is here when my new appliances arrive and the old stuff starts to come out.  I’m terrified and excited at the same time.  Who knows what will happen, but I’m looking forward to finding out…!

Monday… X 2

Distance: 8mi

Miles to go: 1831

After two REEEEEALLLY frustrating days of screw ups and miscues, I finally did something positive. See… on Monday I was supposed to ride my bike to work… but I forgot my bike shoes at work on Friday so… no ride. I decided to go in late so I could get my hair cut, but the shop was closed. This morning, I was going to go for a run with the club… but the alarm didn’t go off (read: I screwed up and didn’t turn it on…). In addition, I am buried up to my ears in my home remodel and am completely overwhelmed right now. The mere THOUGHT of it all makes me a bit dizzy. So when lunch time rolled around today, I was looking forward to our planned group outing to my favorite spot for wings… and it got cancelled.

So… I gave up… Left work early… and decided to get my hair cut and go for a run. After success on the hair cut end of things I hopped on the trail and took off. On what amounted to the perfect running day (55 degrees, light wind, bright sun… the works), I ran over 7 miles (at about a 9:30 pace) for the first time since before Thanksgiving. No pain… No exhaustion… No fading at the end… Just a nice, confidence building long run.

…and it’s AMAZING how much brighter the world looks now…

Later…

Screw that last line… I just washed my cellphone…

Dear Truck

Distance: 10mi

Miles to go: 1839

Dear Truck,

I have a confession to make…

I have been cheating…

I have a new BFF (bicycle friend forever)…

I have soiled our friendship garden (Spongebob reference)…

I have defiled all that is sacred…

I have diluted the pure water that was our love…

with…

this…

…please don’t hate me…

I couldn’t help myself… I was weak…

Gas hit $3.39 a gallon and I just lost all control.

I tried to stop… Really… But it hurt so much to fill you up… over… and over… and you just kept asking for more…

Don’t worry… you will always be my truck… but I need to go in a different direction… A “greener” direction…

I’ll still visit you from time to time, if you’ll let me… But your addiction to fossil fuels is just too much… See ya’ around…

B

Playing catch up

Oops… just realized this post never made it out of draft.  Gotta go back and revise some numbers too!

Distance: 6.5 mi (today), 3 mi yesterday at Traknight

4.5 mi and 3.5 mi in two runs in Oklahoma

Miles to go: 1849

To begin with, thanks for the kind words. I’m not saying I’m not sad to see him go. I loved him very much. I just know how much pain he was in for such a long time and I think watching that hurt me more than losing him…

Now, on with the runs… (wait… that didn’t sound good… hmm…)

Being in Oklahoma gave me a chance to run at one of my old favorite places which I highly recommend if you are ever in the Oklahoma City area. It is in a city called Edmond and is a park called Hafer. It’s very pretty for an urban park and has a paved 1.25 mile trail that winds through hills and playgrounds. I nice little gem if you are ever around that area. I ran it twice and, although feeling stiff and sore from the 8 hour drive, managed to get in a total of 8 miles. It was good to get out and relax a bit under such stressful circumstances.

We got back on Tuesday night and I was exhausted so I didn’t run even though I had time. Then yesterday I went to Traknight, expecting to feel miserable. Surprisingly despite being a little stiff and sore, I ran comfortably, if a bit slow. I can tell, however, that I am getting back in shape because I felt fine afterwards. We did out and back pace work (run 5K pace out 3 minutes, then turn around and try to come back at the exact same pace, then 2 out and 2 back, then 1… etc.). I was WAY off (slow) on the first one but managed to be within a second on the last two so I am getting the “feel” for running at pace again.

This morning was a pace run on the trail. It was PERFECT weather for running. About 60 degrees and a light breeze. I took off easy but felt strong… surprisingly strong for having just run 12 hours before… I decided to run to the 5.5 mile turnaround and see how I felt. When I got there I had enough gas left to add another mile so I ended up running 6.5 miles. I got a little tired toward the end but was happy with the result. I averaged about a 9:07 mile and the pace felt easy. Now I get to take the rest of today and all of tomorrow off before attempting 8-10 on Saturday. It’s fun to see the mileages creeping up again!!

So long, pop…

Distance: 5mi

Miles to go: 1867

Nice, slow, steady, cruise today.  Cold… about 40 and a wind of about 30mph… oh… and drizzling.  Sound lovely?  Actually, it wasn’t bad.  The way the trail runs through the woods by the creek (which looks like the Mississippi right now with all the rain we’ve gotten) you are pretty sheltered except for a few places where the trail goes through a field.  I did manage to get hit with a couple of gusts that nearly stopped me dead but those same gusts became tailwinds on the way back, so it balanced out.

I’m finding the slow and steady approach feels much better during and after the runs than pushing it.  So for now I’m averaging just under 10 minute mile pace and that is fine.  I’m moving forward.  That’s a good thing.

I have to go out of town for a few days to attend my father’s funeral.  He was a great man who’s body failed him and left him an invalid for nearly 20 years.  In many ways, his death is a blessing, both to him and my mother.  He is no longer in pain and has his body and mind back.  My mother, who is in poor health herself, is free from the burden of giving him total care and can now relax and heal herself.  I’m sad to see him go but I said my good byes to him years ago and mourned his passing then.  Since then I have loved him the same but I guess I’ve distanced myself from him.  It’s not a good thing or a bad thing…  It’s just a thing.  I watched him slowly fade for 17 years after his stroke and was tough, but it was actually a strong motivator for me to get back in shape.  I’ve always said (forgive the Def Leppard reference… it’s unintentional) it’s better to burn out than fade away… and this is just more ammo in my defense.  I would much rather have people say “Dude!  Bob died doing WHAT?!!!” rather than “Oh… I thought Bob died a long time ago?”  It’s just my personal philosophy.

Sorry to be so morbid.  Honestly, I’m actually upbeat right now.  My pop doesn’t hurt anymore, my mom can finally take it easy and I’m more confident than ever that I’m doing the right thing.  Don’t mourn the loss… celebrate the life!  He was a cool guy, he loved mom and us kids very much and his sense of humor was legendary.  That’s what I’ll always remember…

See… I told ya…

*sigh*

Glimpses of normal

Distance: 3 mi

Miles to go: 1972

Traknight baby!!  GAWD I’m slow.  It’s funny, though.  I could feel those occasional bursts of what it used to be like tonight.  Usually immediately followed by pain and wheezing… but still…  it’s there…

Of course, tomorrow we are supposed to get the mother of all storms… again…  They are predicting up to 6 inches of rain, hail, tornadoes, frogs, locusts and the earth splitting open… er somthin’…  Anyway, I don’t think I’ll be running with the group… again…  dammit.  If the weather does as they predict, I don’t think anyone will be running.  It’s supposed to be nasty.  Ahh well… I might take tomorrow off and, if we survive, run on Friday instead.

I think I finally guilted myself into volunteering for the big race this weekend.  After all, it IS the only event solely sponsored by the club… and I DID renew my membership… and I’m NOT racing… soo… I offered.  I haven’t heard anything from the volunteer coordinator yet, but I probably will.  It’s fun to volunteer and at least I’m out there.  Even if it IS supposed to snow/rain… *sigh*