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Thoughts by Astro. Powered by Blogger.

13 miler

I made the long run this week. 13 miles. A nice morning to run. Wasn't sunshiny like the weather girl said it would be, but above freezing. The first six were fairly easy and uneventful. Right on the 10 minute pace I dared to dream about the night before.

The next three were close to pace but the last three were difficult. Besides being almost hit - by a car and a not an angry woman. Yea, driver not paying any attention and trying to blow a stop sign to beat oncoming traffic. I have never been almost hit before.

The last three required walk breaks but I made it in a 10:15 pace. Well below my 11 minute I wanted. I also ended up having a bloody foot. Never has happened before. Damn stray, pointy toenail. Gonna have to get a pedi now.

Now the big question. Retotaling my mileage for the month brings me to 49.3 - short of the 50 I thought I would have from the last post. So, the does month end on the 31st or now that the last full week ofJanuary is over? That is my dIlemma.

Looking at next week's schedule I will be running 115 miles for the month. That's a lot for someone as amateurish as me. January should have been 80 miles but for some reason I took a whole week off. That was bad of me. But still I did almost good. February will be another month and hopefully I can be fully successful.

Yea me!!!

Yea to all my running friends that are staying in the swing of things and running as well. Here's to one foot in front of the other.

- the beginning of the end

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Close to month end

January is about to come to a close and it has been a pretty good month. 11 more to go. It is going to be a 50+ mile month. I would like to have hit 80 but for January I am happy. Most of these miles have been on my dread mill.

Speaking of - I ran 7 miles on it Wednesday. My longest run ever on the mill. Man it was tiring. But I did it. Then I went to log it and found out I wasn't even scheduled to run until the next day.

Tomorrow is the longest run of the month at 13. Can't wait. Trying to hold on for the long run in the winter months. So much easier to run in the spring, summer and fall.

Work is going better. Hired another minion to work for me. Now I have three. This should make my job easier and many, many less hours.

- the beginning of the end

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Thursday Treadmill


Treadmill, how I hate thee. Let me count the ways.
1. You're indoors
2. You make me sweat
3. You make me run at a steady rate
4. See 1 - 3

But I suppose the steady pace will be good for me. I am running on the treadmill right about the speed/pace I want to run my next marathon at. So, this should be good training therefore I suffer.

Been a good year in my running so far. Does it count that it has only been 13 days. I say, YES. 22.9 miles and the week isn't over yet. Saturday is the group long with, dare I say it? No, I shall leave them nameless until others come to realize I will fully be one of Them. But I do need the company on the long runs.

The pacers are great. Bonnie has run many, many marathons and is a great pacer. Mike has run a few and in terrific shape (a lot due to his profession) and both seem to be good people. But, in general, I have found that most runners are good people. They are all seem to be friendly and helpful. I like the camaraderie of the group.

I also miss the old group a lot. I will have to go to LOW on Saturdays I am not running with the other group to see them, if not run a little. The LOW group are fantastic, awesome, fun people to be with. I became a runner with them and I do miss them.

That's it for now. Going to read and relax for a while and fall asleep with the TV on again.

- the beginning of the end

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Slippery and Disappointment

Slip slidin' away
Slip slidin' away
You know the nearer your destination
The more you're slip slidin' away


Tip of the hat to Paul Simon.

That's what tonight's 5 mile run felt like. Living in the country and with a road that never saw a snow plow tonight, it was rough. I gave up after 2 miles up and down my half mile lane. So I came in, and put a miserable 2 miles on the treadmill.

And to top that off I though MTV might have some good videos. WTF??? MTV does not show videos anymore. '16 and Pregnant' - back to back. Where's my MTV? Oh, change the channel you say, yeah, dropped the remote and it went off the end of the tread. I'm a man. I suffered.

The run felt pretty good considering the slidin', the blowing snow, and then the dreadmill. But it is done and almost the distance. I know it is short, but I think the shoveling I did before the run has to count for something. So be it. Another 4 miles in the books for the run. Think I will also workout with Kendra tonight after this short blog. She if she can give me a proper workout.

Disappointment - 
I missed the showing of the Hood to Coast Relay movie. I missed the 'Spirit of the Marathon' last year and now this one missed as well.



Now to find it online or Netflix later to see. Damn it.


Work - 
I am driving back and forth to Bloomington every day this week for a security class. I am taking it to see if I want to go into the networking security field - maintaining baselines for servers and equipment, verifying proper procedures are taking place, looking at new ways to make my company's security tighter. it could be a helluva lot of work. From just the first 2 days, we are behind the curve. I knew this before the class, now I have just had it told to me. But, I have to admit that there have been a lot of changes in the last 9 months at work that have made us much, much better.


Jury is still out on whether I would like this new position or not. It is also not a guarantee that it would be given to me, just a consideration. I do like what I do now with my hands in most everything and getting them into more and more with each passing month. But..... job promotion and showing that I can and will..... mean a lot to the mucky-mucks. =;o)~


Other stuff - 
I helped a displaced co-runner, TNT teammate, friend with her running plan the week. Looks like she will bust it at the Martian half (which I may have to do someday - sounds like fun) and the Cleveland full. Of course, after her last full, I expect nothing worse than a 4.19 now. How's that for pressure Running Doc?


And you know it is just in fun. Any time you post is fine as long as you give it your all and don't follow my less-than-give-it-your-best footsteps.


Enough of this, I hear Kendra calling to me.


- the beginning of the end

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10 Miler FAIL


It wasn't quite that bad, but three months off and I wasn't ready for a 10 miler. It was 2 loops, one about 5.5 and one smaller about 4.5. I felt pretty good for the first 3.5 but knew going for the second loop wasn't wise. Next week is only a 9 miler so, it I did not feel too bad about dropping pot. I could run extra by the parking lot and not have to worry about have to walk back.


I made the loop with the group (I ran with the 10 - 10.30 group) and then ran around Centennial High School for a total of 7.11 miles. Legs do not hurt, but they are extremely tired. So for my first week back into running I got 12.36 miles in. I feel good about it.


Next week will be back to more. Scheduled runs of 5, 7 and 9 miles. I just got to get out there and do it.

I also need some running winter clothes. I found that I was overdressed on top. 3 lycra shirts and my wind breaker jacket was just to much at 3 miles in. Gloves do not cut it either. I need mittens. I kept pulling my fingers out of the finger parts. And my BEE U TEE FULL face needs some protection. It was cold. Though eventually the heat and steam escaping from my massive chest (it's my blog - can't I embellish?) warm up my face. I have to look for one of those ski mask things that cover your face and neck. Possibly full length tights as well, though my legs warmed up within a mile and a half. Overall, 5 degrees wasn't too terribly bad.

My supplied training scheduled is different. One week is 3 workouts, the next 4 and so forth. It will be interesting to see what the emails indicate on types of running.

I am happy. 

PS - Yes, Joanna, my marathon wannabe time was NOT by accident. Not in the least. What are running buddies for after all?

- the beginning of the end

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First Week Down

I have one week of running under my belt. And what a rough week it was. As I have been told by some of my peeps, it may have been too much. But I will carry on. I think my treadmill speed might be off. When I run the last half mile at 8 mph it just seems like that half mile ticks off the counter sooooooo sloooooow.

It can not be that I am out of shape, can it? Be gentle, you know I bruise easily.

Tomorrow is the first group run with Second Wind Running Club. A 10 miler. I am not sure if 'mean shirtless guy' will be there or not.

It should be an adventure tomorrow morning. I am tired from the running and aerobic workouts with Jillian and Kendra. I will see them next week and eventually I will kick their ass.

- the beginning of the end

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New Year, New You, New Me

Well, 2 out of 3 ain't bad. Hats off to Meatloaf.

If I get the third part of the above title trilogy right maybe meat will rewrite the song. Anyway, it has been a great year so far. I have run everyday but one. And on that day Miss Michaels kicked my ass during some aerobic exercise. Hopefully, friends, lovers, comrades, bloggers alike will keep on me to keep on truckin'. 

So far so good. I am looking forward to a lot this year. Including some serious running. Look for some of the following times to drop (predictions in ( )- 
1 mile -  6.52 (6.30)
5k      - 28.15 (24.48)
5 mile -  47.34 (44.59)
Half marathon - 2.04 (1.59)
Marathon - 4.52 (4.27)

It is going to be a lot of work, but my peeps will keep on my ass until I get it done. I failed the last of the year and they aren't about to let me fail this year. Are you peeps?

I am signed up for the Indy Mini and believe the Quad Cities Marathon may be on list for September. There is also the Rock n Roll half marathon in St. Louis as a close race to do. Kennekuk Road Runners also put on several good races throughout the year. And I will most likely run the 5 mile Buffalo Trace Trail run again. And who knows what else I may run.

Getting the TV room of the house in order – finally. It is ready for drywall mud, then primer, paint and wainscoting.  Think about green, dark green, but not totally convinced yet. Got awhile to think about colors, being color-blind I might seek help on that. 

Not much going on at the farm now that it is winter. Just staying warm and slowly working on things inside. This summer will bring lots. I got an ATV and snow thrower to fix. Maybe a boat. I plan on setting on an obstacle course to run through with fun things to do. Climb over obstacles, through heavy stones, pick logs, pull ups. Cool shit like that.

Here’s to a Good, New Year to you and to me.

-          The beginning of the end

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