Running Through Life

New Leaf - usually means a new attitude, a turn of events for the better. Let's see if I can equal that.

Running - Since my last post (12 days ago - not a new leaf there), I have stuck with my marathon training plan. I haven't always made the dictated times or stated distance but i have given  my best effort on each training run. My running has increased in mileage every week this month. My times have dropped each week. I am getting stronger and faster. For this I am proud and happy with myself.

New Leaf!


Work - Work has gotten better. My team has picked it up. We are working better together. We are getting tasks done and finding more work to do without it being handed to us. That is a good thing.

New Leaf!


Diet - I am slowly starting to eat a little better again. This is a plus. It keeps me healthy. It is flattening my belly. I am losing weight (mind you, I only want to lose about 7 lbs) but I am getting closer to what I want to be to be able to run better. I still lapse and have a pizza, but that is going to happen.


New Leaf!


Homestead - Thanks to a bunch of crappy bankers lending money on property only worth half of what it is listed at and bringing the economy to a crashing halt, the President has made it possible for me to get my mortgage rewrote by Fannie Mae. More than a 4 point drop in interest rates. It is awesome. Thank you silly bankers for allowing this to happen. You make my heart sing.

New Leaf!


Personally - I am great. Ok, maybe I shouldn't brag. But I got great friends. Real people even. People that actually talk to me with their mouths and vocal cords - not just electronically. I have great electronic friends as well. Of course this doesn't really count as a new leaf as they have always been here for me. I have met some new people. And I can't for sure guarantee they are great but they sure have started out on the right foot. They are great so far. I have also gotten reacquainted with some past friends as well. I am counting this as a

New Leaf!


What do you think?

-the beginning of the end

You can google it.

Wednesday was track practice. How I am beginning to loathe track practice. I fully understand why it is good for me. I understand the need for it. But I really dislike how I feel for the next two hours afterwards. Tired, beyond belief, almost want to puke, ready to throw it all in. But then I get a little something to eat and I eventually feel better. Times like that is when I need a personal 'you did great texter buddy'. Usually the Running Doc is there to pat my back but... she's been busy packing. Though Coach Harley, Kelly and AM did cheer me on and clap. Feels good to have a cheering section. But also, a little electronic pat on the back feels good later. I'm just needy that way.

Mile repeats for track. My 4.30 schedule called for running them in 8.40. Piece of cake. I knew I could do it in close to 8 flat. So I ran, one lap - 1.51, lap 2 - 1.55, lap 3 - 1.54, what gives, but ok, lap 4 - 1.52 for an 7.33.95 mile (1600m). Fast. Too fast. Let's slow down a little on the next one.

Mile 2 - 7.34.99. Whew! Good thing I slowed down a little over a second. I felt much better. Yeah, right. The last one was going to be a bitch and it was - 7.47.37. And I just felt bad. Good thing there was not another one.

After cooling down, I needed something to eat. If I went home, I probably would have had a glass of Powerade and gone to bed. Off to The Clark Bar for some good food and a little live entertainment. A little one woman band. Played some Jewel, Norah Jones, Allanah Myles and self wrote numbers. She's good. She's aslo has some type of gadget that let's her record muliple back beats, tambourine and vocals and then loop it and play it over and over while she sings and strums the meat of the tune. It was kind of cool.

So a simple night, early night. Off to bed and back to Springfield for another day of class. It is starting to drag now, but only today and Friday and I am done with it.

On a brighter note, Saturday is th Warrior Dash race in Joilet. I am still looking for someone to go with and take some pictures and video for me. Any takers? Hint, hint, hint....

Tip of the hat to Sophie B. Hawkins

- the beginning of the end

I really am trustworthy. I am sure I have lied at some point in my life. At times probably on purpose as a little kid cause I was rotten as a little kid. But I try not too. Why go on about this? Because I forgot my Garmin on my first L&C training run. I was bummed. I almost went home to get it, I almost did not run.

But I did run.

I am happy I ran.

I have no idea of I ran the correct tempo for the middle 2 miles that was scheduled, but I am saying yes. Scheduled run was supposed to be 2 easy, 2 @ 9.13, 2 easy. I averaged a 9.37 pace for the entire 6 miles. I am pleased. Trust me - the time isn't made up.

Now why did I run so well? Not real sure. My day was spent in a training class (Microsoft stuff) and it was kind of mind numbing (tomorrow will be meatier and better). But, I fixed issues at work. Got disappointed in how some things were handled at work. Chatting a little and got some clarity in a few other issues.

I think that clarity put me in a state of mind I needed to be in to run well. I ran very relaxed, very easy. I replayed the day as I ran. I was more at peace than I have been in awhile. The partial clarity was good for me. Trust me - I am not fully clear, but more so.

Apparently, it poured here in CU after 4 pm. I was told 1.4 inches in a small town about 5 miles east of me. My rain gauge said 1.6 inches. I really am afraid to look in my basement. The Running doc my have her house sold, which will be a big weight off her and her hubby's shoulders as they prepare to move LATER this month. She has not gone yet. I was soundly chastised for writing her out of the state several days early. Trust me - she is still here.

I have a daughter-in-law today. Jake and Tiffany exchanged vows and got married today. I was saddened that I couldn't be there (it was just a courthouse marriage). They will have a proper ceremony later that I will be able to attend. Trust me - I wish them the best.

Tomorrow will be another training day. It should be a non-run day (you never know, I might venture out). It will be a pull-up day though. maybe some other type of core workout. But I am hoping for a day as good as today. Trust me - today was a good.

Trust me - I trust you.

- the beginning of the end

In my personal running life - I am ready. I am willing to start this journey. I will complete this journey. Simply because I have nothing else to do. That is not a complaint (ok, maybe a little one) but it is just a simple fact. A fact that was forced on me, but a fact I am learning to accept and deal with.
He will be married at the courthouse on Monday. I am not sure of when his new wife will be joining him at Ft. Bragg, but am sure it will be as soon as possible. I wish them all the happiness in the world and great success in their lives together.

Since I do all my own home repairs I follow a few bloggers that are much better at it than I. They usually have some pretty nice tips and every now and then  a giveaway.

HCI (Home Construction & Improvement) is one such site. They have had articles about all the new lead paint laws, to repairs, to new product reviews. The Black and Decker cordless trimmer is such a one. And a trimmer I could just with 6 acres of fenced ground.

Go visit them here - HCI Cordless Trimmer Giveaway

Maybe you'll find some useful tips for your next project.

-the beginning of the end

or maybe afterthoughts and Monday run...

It's been a week since my last blog. And a few things have happened. Work finally approved Florida trip, but then kaboshed the orignal dates and length. I now leave a week later and am there for one week instead of two. Meaning I have to work the frackin weekend. What a drag. I will also missed the fireworks over the Gulf of Mexico (though that may be a good thing now with it flammable. Thx BP).

This weekend (Saturday) is the bonfire at the farm. Should be a good time with lots of friends. I invited all my FB friends though I expect most to not make it. I know at least one guitar will be here so maybe a little fireside music. Hope to see everyone there.

As you know I have entered the Lewis and Clark marathon and have started running again. Last Wednesday was an all out track workout. Short, but intense. 1200/800/400/200/100 It hurt the next day. And I am not even close to world record pace in the 100m. But they aren't twice as fast as me. :o)

I also started a pull/push up routine in the mornings. I installed a pull up bar in the closet and it works pretty well. I am able to do full pull ups, lying pull ups and angle (Australian) pull ups. Of course, I went to failure in each and now my arms are screaming at me as well. I am going to reduce the number of reps to a manageable number and increase by one a week. Hopefully, I will increase easily and not painfully.

Running is going. Not as quickly as I would like but it is going. Saturday I got 'lightninged out' of my run. It poured which would have been ok but those bright flashes of light in the sky scared me. I opted for eggs and pancakes with the Running Doc's family instead. We talked about running, about their upcoming move, her finding running friends down there, my issues (far too many to list) and her return to running. I do not remember if I mentioned it but two weeks ago the Running Doc had an emergency appendectomy. This was after running a 5 mile trail race. She raced at 8 am and was having surgery at 7 pm.

After the rain went away, I went down to the lake and boated with a few friends. It was nice to get away. Sunday was make it day for Saturday in the running department and it lasted about 8.6 miles. Not too bad.

Today, I went for a short 3.5 mile run after an accidental nap after work. Got home at 4.15 and next thing I knew it was 6.15. the run was nice until my left thigh started acting up again. It is not as bad as it was, I think it is healing. Wednesday is track workouts again so we will see how they go. The new TNT team should be out there. It will be great to be run with others again.

-the beginning of the end

This week and next is pre-training for me. It means I need to run to get ready for the boost in mileage I will be doing. My official training for the L&C starts the week of June 14. So I thought, what a 5 mile run at 4.30pm in 89 degree heat and 72% humidity (that I found out later). Crazy!!!

I was originally going to go 6. At 2.5 I turned around. I had already slowed my sweating down and was starting to cramp. I only had one glass of H2O today. It was a bad day at work and I had no one to sound off too. That really sucked as I needed a good ear.

But I finished. Ate a good dinner for a change. And am starting to feel a little better. Tomorrow is track practice.  I haven't decided between 1600 or 800m repeats. Or maybe I will run with the TNT team. Play it by ear and see what happens. My calves are talking to me a little bit. Better slug down some water before bed.

-the beginning of the end