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Saturday run

This mornings run at LOW was pretty good. I tried to keep up with JG and MM but it was no use. It was all I could do to stay close for the first 2.4 miles. Oh well, those who can't - coach. Right??

But I stuck for the 90 minute run and got 8 miles in. I feel pretty good except for a twinge on the inside of my right knee. Both calves are tired and my right calf bone is hurting. I hope it goes away soon.  but it was good getting out and seeing Coach Guest and PJ and RH/JH. The full marathon coming up in 4 weeks is going to be miserable if I decide to toe the line.

On another note, the new job is going fine. The weather is warming up slowly (possibly 70 by Wed) and the new baby goats are growing. But time to sell the other set of twins and get some cash for them. Think it is time for laundry and dishes and then veg on the coach.

Personally things are looking brighter than they did on Tuesday so hopefully no more sad commentary.

-the beginning of the end

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A better day

Monday night and Tuesday all the day were pretty piss poor as days go. Today was an eye-opener. I learned a lot and listened. Hopefully the weekend will continue this trend and I'll be walking on sunshine.

Enough about me. Wednesday was track practice with JG and MM out for 2 x 1600m. I don't have the times (left them with JG - check her blog here) but they had to be running 7.40s. MM on the last 400 killed and poured it on. As DC says 'gangsta'. Hope to see them Saturday for a short 90 minute run.

Alright, off to clean a horse stall and feed the goats. Life in the country. It is great.

-the beginning of the end

CORRECTION - 
Yes, it was 3 x 1600m 

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What a Day....

But, a heart full of sorrow
Paints a lonely tapestry 

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Corner Office and Track Practice

This will soon be MINE!!!! All mine.
Yes, I get to move into the corner office. I will have windows on two sides so all my adoring fans can come look at me.

Track practice was outdoors last night and it was beautiful. I had them run 5 sets of 2 minutes fast and then 2 minutes slow. Constant movement. JG was extremely awesome. She is becoming our star. Everyone else is looking up to her.

My Fighting Illini held off a great shooting team in Stoneybrook last night during first round NIT action. Now we get Kent State on Monday. It should be a good game.

-the beginning of the end

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New Job and Interview

I have been on the job for 2.5 days. There is a lot of work to do. I have to interview people and find someone to replace me. I know, tough job because of my vast knowledge, experience and awesome people skills. Hey, it's my blog, I can say what I want. Interviewed one potential candidate today. It went well, I think they could do well once brought up to speed from a server viewpoint. We'll see if they take it. They should.

On the other hand, I have a laundry list of items to complete by the end of July. This is a lot of work. Guess what, I'm just going to pass it off to others and have them do the work. LOL !!!

Tonight is track practice for TNT. One of my girls was complaining that she was sore after my last practice, but that it felt oh so good. I like hearing that I made people sore - means you are doing as I suggest. And not many do. Tonight is a run that can be as hard as you want it to be or as easy as you want it to be. Here's the set -

5 x (2 min fast then 2 min slow)
plus the normal warm up and cool down. That's it! 40 minutes of constant running. Push it and it will be a workout. Slack on it and I'm gonna yell at you.

-the beginning of the end

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New slant on blog

Instead of just blogging about running (which I do not do enough of) I will blog about anything my little heart desires. And my heart desires a lot. Some might be mundane like what I had to eat (some think my eating habits - not habits, but my choice of food combinations and preparations are gross), to shopping for new work pants (i had someone fondle my ass today through a large hole in the seat), to my goat raising, chickens, dog and horse I board, to woodworking projects (of which there are many started) to remodeling efforts (again, many started), to work, kids and yes, maybe even a little running.


I would really like all of you that do follow to please continue to follow. I hope I do not lose you.

Work - Today is Tuesday. It all ready seems that this week has dragged on forever. I accepted a new position at work (I am now THE Network Manager) which starts officially on Monday the 15th. This coincides with a new payroll week. So I have one more week of possible OT and then it is salary. Which sucks and doesn't suck. I am already starting in the new workload and passing work on to my co-worker that will soon have to answer to me. (evil laugh) Actually we get along great so it shouldn't be a big deal.

Goats - My big momma goats dropped twins Saturday while me and the daughter and her girlfriend were watching Alice drop into a rabbit hole. Both are doing well and you can see them here.

The weather has finally started to warm up here. 50 degrees with an overcast sky today, but the snow is almost entirely melted. now I see all the garbage I need to clean up. It'll wait.

I have reconnected with some old friends on FB and it has been great. I have learned a lot about some of them . Some things I suspected and some I did not. A friend of mine will be back from Australia Saturday evening and then she jets off to Pittsburgh on Monday. Sometimes, I think it must really be rough on her kids, but I have met them (one much more than the other) and they seem very well adjusted. They both are great people. A true testament to their mother.

I guess for now that will be it. I blog later and more often. Sometimes it might even be worth the read.

-the beginning of the end

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First outdoor run

Saturday - 7:30 am or so - 35 degrees - bright, sunny day. Perfect day for my first outdoor run. It was great. It was fantastic for the first mile. And then the M-S baseball team showed up and then - my inner running god (or maybe my inner 'I'm just as good as these kids are') spirit rose up from my toes and grabbed my balls and said "Go old man, just catch those kids, after all they're only baseball players."


So I sped up and caught about 25% of them. That took a lot out of me, but I continued on, albeit at a much slower pace, for 6 miles. My first run in forever. It felt good. My legs still feel pretty good. Maybe I should try this running thing again.

We had several alums show up this morning as well. It was great seeing everyone again. Hopefully, all of us will keep getting together.

Wednesday track practice was awesome as well. JG, MM,RH and CH were all there. JG and MM running 8 x 400m in around 1.40. Good job girls.

Farm news - I got two new baby goats this afternoon. Both are walking and taking momma teets very well. Pictures later.

-the beginning of the end

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From a friend

Below is from a friend, a guy I run with from time to time. A lot of that used to run together haven't been lately and what Randy has to say is good. Just thought I would pass this on...




Just a personal triumph.

I’ll call it “The Life Saver”

Well it all started with me deciding that today would be the day I would start the Fat Man Time Trials. I decided this with much thought as I pulled into the parking lot at Lake Of The Woods.

9.6 Miles was the goal with my intent to do the same in 1 Month to see if I could drop 1.5 minutes a mile. All of this of course within my Heart Rate Monitors approval.

Of course I am ahead of myself.

At 5:30 this morning as I lay in bed with my left calve pulsating and ready to respond to any sudden movement at any moment, I thought to myself, if my body was built a bit different I think I could be a decent runner. I mean a lot different, the taller, thinner, Gesell like physic that I know is in here somewhere.

I rolled out of bed tried to stretch those pesky calves along with a quick attempt at touching my toes and got dressed.

After quickly shrugging off any doubts and of course not looking in the mirror I jaunted out the door to my destiny.

I have spent two weeks watching the Olympics. If they could achieve their goals, I could to. After all mine is just 2:29:59 Half Marathon in Champaign. I really just want to get to the finish line so I can see my friend Harley finish his Full, I figure if he has a good day this is the time I would need, he’s a real runner. Never mind the leaders would have run twice as far as me. What a thrill it would be just to be that close to the Marathoners. My own personal little Gold Medal. I could be an Olympian. Cool . . what an achievement passing thru alongside and with the fast people it’s almost like I was right there with them. WOW . . . aanywho back to the story.

Well I started out slow and eased into a slower rhythm and finally found my pace somewhere in the real slow category. But I was feeling good. I f I kept my heart rate below 140 my calve would not cramp very hard, it was great.

Somewhere around Mile 5 I thought to myself, “why stop at 9.6 Miles let’s do 13.”

Somewhere around Mile 5.5 I thought to myself, “this is bullshit I need to lay down in that snow drift over there.”

I made it back to my truck at Mile 6.4 and had to call myself many horrible things, to which I am not proud of, to run back away from it and start my last leg. After all Saturday is so close to Sunday a person should not use this type of language.

At Mile 7.5 I was surprised at how good I felt, maybe I could do 13 today, I am such an overachiever.

At Mile 8- I was done. Done, Done, Done. . . . Done. . . . Done.

It was then I realized my truck was at Mile 9.6. What I sinking feeling that was. Instinctively I spun around to look behind me, I don’t know why I guess to see if I could hitch a ride. But there was nobody here but me. I was committed to this destiny of mine, by default.

As I walked a bit to get my wits back I spotted something in the distance on the ground. I knew what it was as soon as I saw it, 30’ away. I ran up to it and scooped it up. It was a Life Saver, no a real Life Saver still wrapped in plastic and everything, how cool was this. I have been by here twice already it was not here, I do not miss food on the course. It has to be a sign. Even after all of the bad language, a sign. I did not hesitate I plopped it in my mouth with the intent of it lasting to the end. Of course that is not my M.O. either so I quickly chewed it up before the next curve, 100’ away. It was goooood.

Mile 9.6 was there before I knew it.

I was done. But just for today.

There is always next week.

We could use some company out here on Saturdays at 8AM.

The Team seems to be amiss.

If not to Run or for the Team n Training spirit but at least to drop candy on the path.

All of which just may be a Life Saver.

Happy Training

Randy

PS: Wow, I just tried to get up after typing this and wonder does a normal person get this sore this fast or just us Olympians?


Thank you Randy. You have said we all are feeling.

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