In keeping with the whole New Year's Resolution theme, i have been rethinking my goals for 2010. Since there are so many things that I would like to do, I have also tried breaking them out into categories so that they might be more manageable.
Riiiiiight.
Here are the categories, in NO particluar order:
Husband, Father/Step, Brother, Son, Nurse, Runner, Pet Owner.
I am certain to have left out a few roles/categories, but these are the ones that readily come to mind. Over the course of the next week or so, I will be working to break down the goals into these categories, then eliminate the ones that don't meet my "goal criteria". Huh? Didn't know that I had criteria. Oh, silly, silly reader! I have criteria for just about EVERYTHING. Ask my wife. She'll tell you. No logo's on shirts. ONLY plain, fat free yogurt. Go Lean Crunch. No Ketchup (ever). No Jell-o. But I digress....
So here are the criteria. Pretty simple, actually. I try hard to follow the acronym S.M.A.R.T. when setting goals. Perhaps you have heard of it? No? I am happy to share:
S=Specific. Instead of "run faster", setting a goal of "half marathon in under 1:50" is specific.
M=Measureable. As in 4 fewer incidences of dog using tile by back door for toilet by taking him out earlier in the mornings.
A=Attainable. While a goal of becoming Critical Care Certified by the end of the year is Specific, it isn't very attainable.
R=Realistic. Goes hand in hand with Attainable. Goal of "finishing first marathon in under 3 hours is Specific, it isn't all that realistic.
T=Timely. As in not too far off into the future. My first goal mentioned is Specific, but if I don't include a time with it, and leave it open ended (half marathon in under 1:50 at some time in my life), it doesn't fit. Something like "climb Camel's Hump with my family by the time the kids go back to school in August" meets all criteria. (hint, hint).
Armed with this, try to set some smart goals for you this year. Share them with me, and I'll try to help you remain 'accountable' to them (and yourself).
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
First and Second thoughts
About a month ago, i was struggling with a notion to run the '10 Key Bank Burlington City Marathon that is to be held on Memorial Day weekend. I didn't tell anyone about my idea for quite some time. I just 'slept on it' and tried to run on it, too. Then one day i couldn't keep my mouth shut and talked to T about it. As usual (Lord only knows WHY) she was (is) very supportive of the idea. One of my concerns is that there is a local Half Marathon that I really want(ed) to do that takes place the following weekend. I didn't think that it would be a great idea to run that only 7 days after my first marathon. I decided to try to register for the Half. If i got in, then i wouldn't consider the Marathon. I didn't get into the Half.
2300 slots available. sold out, online, in 25 minutes. i was on the site 3 minutes early. I didn't get in.
so, NOW what? the marathon is early in the season. Yes, the end of May can still be a bit chilly and unpredictable. More importantly, though, is that the months leading up to the end of May are very predictable. Predictably COLD and too miserable for training long miles outside. Which means the Rubber Band of Doom (title borrowed from RazzDoodle over at running off at the mind.) I may have mentioned my disdain for thistorture device piece of equipment. Check below to be sure. Done? Good.
So my current delemna is deciding if it is really worth trying to train for a marathon that early in the season. if
i go about it the wrong way, i could end up with an injury that would lay me up for the rest of the summer (which in Vermont is on a Tuesday in 2010). That would NOT be fun. My practical side is saying to wait and find a 'better' date later in the year, like the beginning of August. In the deep south. Uphill. Ok, maybe not all of those, just the August part.
I had put part of the entry fee on my Birthday/Christmas list, but may have to rescind that request. I also told my sister that i was planning to do it, and now have to tell her that i am not. T, too, may be a bit surprised,
especially if she reads it here before i have a chance to tell her in person. what with all of the Christmas
craziness, mebbe she'll let this one slide.
2300 slots available. sold out, online, in 25 minutes. i was on the site 3 minutes early. I didn't get in.
so, NOW what? the marathon is early in the season. Yes, the end of May can still be a bit chilly and unpredictable. More importantly, though, is that the months leading up to the end of May are very predictable. Predictably COLD and too miserable for training long miles outside. Which means the Rubber Band of Doom (title borrowed from RazzDoodle over at running off at the mind.) I may have mentioned my disdain for this
So my current delemna is deciding if it is really worth trying to train for a marathon that early in the season. if
i go about it the wrong way, i could end up with an injury that would lay me up for the rest of the summer (which in Vermont is on a Tuesday in 2010). That would NOT be fun. My practical side is saying to wait and find a 'better' date later in the year, like the beginning of August. In the deep south. Uphill. Ok, maybe not all of those, just the August part.
I had put part of the entry fee on my Birthday/Christmas list, but may have to rescind that request. I also told my sister that i was planning to do it, and now have to tell her that i am not. T, too, may be a bit surprised,
especially if she reads it here before i have a chance to tell her in person. what with all of the Christmas
craziness, mebbe she'll let this one slide.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Blatant attempt to win stuff
Head on over to Rachael's blog to enter to win a signed copy of a cool runner's book. Apparently she's 'connected'. Very lucky, indeed.
I haven't been a follower for long, but i am adding her to my google reader page. oh, and twitter. why?
free stuff. Helllllooooooooo!
I haven't been a follower for long, but i am adding her to my google reader page. oh, and twitter. why?
free stuff. Helllllooooooooo!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Sorry, Friday, but I was distracted.
I awoke at 5, with the alarms, ready to get OOB (Out Of Bed) and head to the dreamill's secret lair and get an extra mile or two in on Friday. As I lay there psyching myself up to face the probable 15 degree morning, i heard a distinct pitter-patter in the hall. Soon, the sound stopped at our door. I whispered, "get in here, quick!" and lifted up my covers.
How could i not? So B, with his B and Frog Blanket in tow, snuggled right in next to me. And we cuddled, hugged, giggled, tickled, all while trying hard not to wake up T. As time for T to get up approached, I had B go give her kisses.
"Why?", he asked. "Because she loves them", i whispered back. So B climbed up over me and started pecking at T's half covered head, easing her into the morning like only kisses from a child can do. T reluctantly got OOB and went down the hall to steele herself for the comingonslaught of ankle biters and screamers daycare kids. I honestly don't know how she does it every day. At least I usually have the option to "titrate to effect" orders for my patients. T, well, doesn't. But I digress.
So as T was down the hall, and (more or less) awake, B was attacked by the Nibbler-Nabbler. He comes around mostly in the mornings (although you should never really let your guard down) and tickles and nibbles and kisses little kids until they giggle uncontrollably. And then he does it a little more.
Finally we had to get up, too, and tackle the day. By now it was too late to salvage any meeting with the dreadmill. rats.
So, sorry, Friday, but I was distracted.
How could i not? So B, with his B and Frog Blanket in tow, snuggled right in next to me. And we cuddled, hugged, giggled, tickled, all while trying hard not to wake up T. As time for T to get up approached, I had B go give her kisses.
"Why?", he asked. "Because she loves them", i whispered back. So B climbed up over me and started pecking at T's half covered head, easing her into the morning like only kisses from a child can do. T reluctantly got OOB and went down the hall to steele herself for the coming
So as T was down the hall, and (more or less) awake, B was attacked by the Nibbler-Nabbler. He comes around mostly in the mornings (although you should never really let your guard down) and tickles and nibbles and kisses little kids until they giggle uncontrollably. And then he does it a little more.
Finally we had to get up, too, and tackle the day. By now it was too late to salvage any meeting with the dreadmill. rats.
So, sorry, Friday, but I was distracted.
Monday, December 7, 2009
moving along now....
starting second week of pushup challenge tomorrow night. had to 'rearrange' the days, but made it through. am considering doing the same workouts this week, too. why not?
ran on the dreadmill this morning. only had time to squeeze in 2 miles because i didn't plan ahead well. does this surprise anyone? anyone? Beuller? Beuller? didn't think so. at any rate (fastest I got was 8.5mph for the last .25 mile), my body was just getting into the groove when i had to stop. unfortunately my internal thermostat didn't get the memo. i sweat. a lot. even in my sleep. so after running 2 miles in 8 minutes (AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA) ok, in sixteen something....i had to stop. even though i took an extra long time in the big bathroom changing, and taking a bird bath. after changing into my interim clothes, i sped off to the canteen for breakfast. grabbed some toast, egg, and bacon with large coffee. (yep, dabbing sweat the whole time).
back to our locker room, changed into scrubs, (yep, still dripping), dumped a buncha baby powder down my shirt and headed in to the Unit.
such was the beginning of my day.
Thank you, T, for giving me the opportunity to run in the mornings.
ran on the dreadmill this morning. only had time to squeeze in 2 miles because i didn't plan ahead well. does this surprise anyone? anyone? Beuller? Beuller? didn't think so. at any rate (fastest I got was 8.5mph for the last .25 mile), my body was just getting into the groove when i had to stop. unfortunately my internal thermostat didn't get the memo. i sweat. a lot. even in my sleep. so after running 2 miles in 8 minutes (AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA) ok, in sixteen something....i had to stop. even though i took an extra long time in the big bathroom changing, and taking a bird bath. after changing into my interim clothes, i sped off to the canteen for breakfast. grabbed some toast, egg, and bacon with large coffee. (yep, dabbing sweat the whole time).
back to our locker room, changed into scrubs, (yep, still dripping), dumped a buncha baby powder down my shirt and headed in to the Unit.
such was the beginning of my day.
Thank you, T, for giving me the opportunity to run in the mornings.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Push up-date
Like I promised, I started the hundredpushup challenge this past Monday. My test put me able to start at week 3, and I should have been in the last column, with the hardest workout. knowing myself as i do, i started in the second column, with the middle of the road workout.
it goes like this: there are 5 sets. 60 second rest between sets. set 1)12, 2)17, 3)13, 4)13, 5) max (at least 17). well, i did just find up to the last set, and my max was 16. i was a shakin and a quakin, trying to push the bedroom floor into the basement. but only got 16. and a shady 16 at that. prolly best to say 15.
at any rate, i missed yesterday because i was...ummm...not paying attention. then i intended to do them this morning, but i was...ummmm....forgetful. and cuddling with B on the couch, using him as a pillow (very giggly, bumpy, wiggly pillow!) before I left for work.
so mebbe tonight.
ran 4 miles on the dreadmill last night while Z was at practice. i hate that thing.
it goes like this: there are 5 sets. 60 second rest between sets. set 1)12, 2)17, 3)13, 4)13, 5) max (at least 17). well, i did just find up to the last set, and my max was 16. i was a shakin and a quakin, trying to push the bedroom floor into the basement. but only got 16. and a shady 16 at that. prolly best to say 15.
at any rate, i missed yesterday because i was...ummm...not paying attention. then i intended to do them this morning, but i was...ummmm....forgetful. and cuddling with B on the couch, using him as a pillow (very giggly, bumpy, wiggly pillow!) before I left for work.
so mebbe tonight.
ran 4 miles on the dreadmill last night while Z was at practice. i hate that thing.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Of Biggest Loser and Chocolate Mousse
We had a small amount of heavy cream left over from the Bread Pudding we made last week, and i hated to throw it away. so, hmm, what can i make with it...? I KNOW! chocolate mousse!! why the heck not?? wellll, the 'why not' turned out to be that we didn't have ENOUGH cream. called for 2 cups, only had hafl a cup. so let me quarter it! nah, T says, just go get more cream.
so i did.
and it worked out just fine. made enough for a serving of 8, but looks to me more like a serving of 2. recipie called for espresso, but i just used some strong coffee from my bodum ("it's just a widdle guy!"). also needed..umm..what's that orange liquer? yea, anyway, don't have it, so i used Kahlua.
melt melt melt, whip whip whip, fold fold fold, mix mix mix, place in fridge.
oh, that last sentence took about an hour. while we watched NBC's "the biggest loser". nom, nom, nom. seems odd to be making that kinda rich, dense, yummy food while watching those folks struggle. but hey! that's all good.
got up to run this morning, but then remembered that I didn't get the milk last night, and needed to get it this morning. so run has been postponed to take place while Z is at practice. I am going to try to use the gym at the middle school, but if that doesn't pan out, i will go to the VA. i am fortunate to have it to use!
tossing around goals and race choices for next summer....must try to remember not to dream TOO BIG. (have we met?)
the good thing about me sinking like a rock when i try to swim is that i don't see any triathlons in my future. good to know my limitations! (which is counter to one of my favourite quotations, "find your limits and exceed them.")
alright. back to work!
so i did.
and it worked out just fine. made enough for a serving of 8, but looks to me more like a serving of 2. recipie called for espresso, but i just used some strong coffee from my bodum ("it's just a widdle guy!"). also needed..umm..what's that orange liquer? yea, anyway, don't have it, so i used Kahlua.
melt melt melt, whip whip whip, fold fold fold, mix mix mix, place in fridge.
oh, that last sentence took about an hour. while we watched NBC's "the biggest loser". nom, nom, nom. seems odd to be making that kinda rich, dense, yummy food while watching those folks struggle. but hey! that's all good.
got up to run this morning, but then remembered that I didn't get the milk last night, and needed to get it this morning. so run has been postponed to take place while Z is at practice. I am going to try to use the gym at the middle school, but if that doesn't pan out, i will go to the VA. i am fortunate to have it to use!
tossing around goals and race choices for next summer....must try to remember not to dream TOO BIG. (have we met?)
the good thing about me sinking like a rock when i try to swim is that i don't see any triathlons in my future. good to know my limitations! (which is counter to one of my favourite quotations, "find your limits and exceed them.")
alright. back to work!
Friday, November 27, 2009
New Challenge
As if i don't have enough going on.....
A few months ago I came across this site www.hundredpushups.com . i printed out their little charts, and kept it as a book mark, thinking that i would see it often enough to get motivated to actually DO it.
but i haven't. i HAVE moved the sheet from one book to another. searching back into my anatomy and physiology files i can say that my triceps were at least minimally invovled in moving the sheet, but did not produce the burn that i would have hoped. on to the next idea.
a few weeks ago i started following a blog over at trithedream.com. the author actually joined the challenge, and has been posting his workouts. accountability. hmmm. that's what this site is supposed to be all about. so, here i go, with renewed enthusiasm...
i am joining the challenge tonight. printing out the stuff that i need today, reading it later, then starting tonight. should be a fun ride. i just hope that i can brush my teeth and wash my hair. i am already having flashbacks.....
"More PT, Drill Seargent! More PT! We like it, we love it! Make it HURT Drill Seargent, make it HURT"
i need help.
A few months ago I came across this site www.hundredpushups.com . i printed out their little charts, and kept it as a book mark, thinking that i would see it often enough to get motivated to actually DO it.
but i haven't. i HAVE moved the sheet from one book to another. searching back into my anatomy and physiology files i can say that my triceps were at least minimally invovled in moving the sheet, but did not produce the burn that i would have hoped. on to the next idea.
a few weeks ago i started following a blog over at trithedream.com. the author actually joined the challenge, and has been posting his workouts. accountability. hmmm. that's what this site is supposed to be all about. so, here i go, with renewed enthusiasm...
i am joining the challenge tonight. printing out the stuff that i need today, reading it later, then starting tonight. should be a fun ride. i just hope that i can brush my teeth and wash my hair. i am already having flashbacks.....
"More PT, Drill Seargent! More PT! We like it, we love it! Make it HURT Drill Seargent, make it HURT"
i need help.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Duty Called
at 350 AM. We were all sleeping comfortably when I heard the phone ring. My first thoughts were that there is NO WAY that we both could have over slept by 2 hours. It was the VA. Listened to the message from the warm, soft comfort of our bed.
"Gary wanted me to call you to see if you could come in early. We have 7 patients. Ok, well, call us please."
ugh.
so i waited. i figured i would wait 5 minutes and then call. 2 minutes into that 'grace period', my cell phone rang. right above my head. so i answered....
"Hi, Gene, it's Albie. I really hate it when Gary does this to me, but can you please come in at 5 am instead of 730? we have a full house, and it is getting crazy."
"sure, no worries. i'll be there by 445," came my reply.
and so it went.
i worked too much yesterday. from 445-1600, then from 1630-2330. grand total of 19.5 hours. then got up this morning at 615 and worked from 730-1600.
yep. i need sleep. which collides with "i need to run". so maybe saturday or sunday i will go for a nice, LSD run. then Monday pick the MWF/TuTh cycle back up again.
c-ya!
"Gary wanted me to call you to see if you could come in early. We have 7 patients. Ok, well, call us please."
ugh.
so i waited. i figured i would wait 5 minutes and then call. 2 minutes into that 'grace period', my cell phone rang. right above my head. so i answered....
"Hi, Gene, it's Albie. I really hate it when Gary does this to me, but can you please come in at 5 am instead of 730? we have a full house, and it is getting crazy."
"sure, no worries. i'll be there by 445," came my reply.
and so it went.
i worked too much yesterday. from 445-1600, then from 1630-2330. grand total of 19.5 hours. then got up this morning at 615 and worked from 730-1600.
yep. i need sleep. which collides with "i need to run". so maybe saturday or sunday i will go for a nice, LSD run. then Monday pick the MWF/TuTh cycle back up again.
c-ya!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
eerily safe
try this experiment. place your hands against your face as if you were holding binoculars, but actually have your hands touch your face. now connect your thumbs under your nose. this should also look like you are pressing up against a store window to see the goodies inside.
now run.
for fun, try going up stairs, and then down stairs. oh. one more thing. do it at dusk or twilight.
that's almost what it was like running/hiking up Mt. Cardigan this morning. i left the house around 420, and in just under an hour was headed up the trail. made it to the top before the sun rose, but the sky had clouded in while i was headed up. I only managed one decent photo, and it has one of the tower's guy wires smack in the middle of it.
right before i got back to the parking area, i heard a loud "*snort*" coming from the trail ahead of me. my immediate thought was "DEER!", so i stoppd running and stood next to a tree. a short way down the trail i could see a woman headed up who had just finished blowing her nose. whew! at least no run in with wildlife!! i also noticed that she was wearing some sort of music player, and probably couldn't hear me stomping down the narrow trail. so i stepped aside to let her pass.
right as she got to me, she finally looked up. her eyes got huge and she shrieked. i tried not to laugh, and only said, "good morning!" before continuing down the trail.
got to the car, got changed sent a text that i had made it back, and then headed home.
success.
so the title? well, that's how i felt, in my head, as i was running through the darkness with only my headlamp to shine the way. eerily safe. thank you for indulging me.
Thanks again, Tracey, for letting me do this. I know that my 'account' is running low...
now run.
for fun, try going up stairs, and then down stairs. oh. one more thing. do it at dusk or twilight.
that's almost what it was like running/hiking up Mt. Cardigan this morning. i left the house around 420, and in just under an hour was headed up the trail. made it to the top before the sun rose, but the sky had clouded in while i was headed up. I only managed one decent photo, and it has one of the tower's guy wires smack in the middle of it.
 |
| From dad's races |
right before i got back to the parking area, i heard a loud "*snort*" coming from the trail ahead of me. my immediate thought was "DEER!", so i stoppd running and stood next to a tree. a short way down the trail i could see a woman headed up who had just finished blowing her nose. whew! at least no run in with wildlife!! i also noticed that she was wearing some sort of music player, and probably couldn't hear me stomping down the narrow trail. so i stepped aside to let her pass.
right as she got to me, she finally looked up. her eyes got huge and she shrieked. i tried not to laugh, and only said, "good morning!" before continuing down the trail.
got to the car, got changed sent a text that i had made it back, and then headed home.
success.
so the title? well, that's how i felt, in my head, as i was running through the darkness with only my headlamp to shine the way. eerily safe. thank you for indulging me.
Thanks again, Tracey, for letting me do this. I know that my 'account' is running low...
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
part one of two
this is the part (1) where i talk about the two dreadmill runs this week (can you HEAR the crickets??? chirrp, chirrp, chirrp.....)
this past weekend T and i were talking about my current failure to be running with some consistency, and SHE came up with a plan for me to run MWF one week and then TTH the next.
sounds good to me, so this is my first MWF week. I ran 2.something miles on the dreadmill both days so far. not an easy start to the day, but i gotta do what i gotta do, so off i went. just too darned dark at night, so the morning thing is the best way to go. only a few more weeks until it starts to get lighter earlier. so?
so, then, perhaps, i will run outside. i will try not to use the sub-zero temps as an excuse. ha.
so if i get up a bit earlier those days, then come in and run on the dreadmill for say about 45 minutes, i can get in some good miles during the week, and if time allows, perhaps i can run outside in the woods every so often.
so only 4.something miles this week so far, but MAYBE i will run on the AT in W.Hartford (headed SOUTH this time) on Friday, if the weather is good, and IF i can get my other chores done.
ok. stay tuned for part two of two, in which i attempt to win a give away over at www.trithedream.com
this past weekend T and i were talking about my current failure to be running with some consistency, and SHE came up with a plan for me to run MWF one week and then TTH the next.
sounds good to me, so this is my first MWF week. I ran 2.something miles on the dreadmill both days so far. not an easy start to the day, but i gotta do what i gotta do, so off i went. just too darned dark at night, so the morning thing is the best way to go. only a few more weeks until it starts to get lighter earlier. so?
so, then, perhaps, i will run outside. i will try not to use the sub-zero temps as an excuse. ha.
so if i get up a bit earlier those days, then come in and run on the dreadmill for say about 45 minutes, i can get in some good miles during the week, and if time allows, perhaps i can run outside in the woods every so often.
so only 4.something miles this week so far, but MAYBE i will run on the AT in W.Hartford (headed SOUTH this time) on Friday, if the weather is good, and IF i can get my other chores done.
ok. stay tuned for part two of two, in which i attempt to win a give away over at www.trithedream.com
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
I'm just sayin'.....
Exercise May Prevent Prostate Cancer: Study
Report adds to debate over the value of exercise as a protector for men
by Robert Preidt
Friday, Sept. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Regular exercise may help protect men from prostate cancer, says a new study.
U.S. researchers looked at 190 men who had a prostate biopsy and found that those who were moderately active -- anything equivalent to walking at a moderate pace for several hours a week -- were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The study also found that exercise was associated with less aggressive disease in men who did develop prostate cancer.
"As the amount of exercise increased, the risk of cancer decreased," lead author Dr. Jodi Antonelli, a urology resident at Duke University Medical Center, said in a news release.
The results, published Sept. 22 online in the Journal of Urology, contribute to the ongoing debate about how exercise affects prostate cancer risk, said study senior author Dr. Stephen Freedland, a urologist at Duke and the Durham Veterans Affairs Hospital.
"There have been dozens of studies about the value of exercise in lowering risk of prostate cancer, and some of them quite large, but the bottom line is that they've left us with mixed signals," Freedland said in the news release.
The majority (58 percent) of the men in this study were sedentary, which means they exercised less than the equivalent of one hour per week of easy walking.
Report adds to debate over the value of exercise as a protector for men
by Robert Preidt
Friday, Sept. 25 (HealthDay News) -- Regular exercise may help protect men from prostate cancer, says a new study.
U.S. researchers looked at 190 men who had a prostate biopsy and found that those who were moderately active -- anything equivalent to walking at a moderate pace for several hours a week -- were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer.
The study also found that exercise was associated with less aggressive disease in men who did develop prostate cancer.
"As the amount of exercise increased, the risk of cancer decreased," lead author Dr. Jodi Antonelli, a urology resident at Duke University Medical Center, said in a news release.
The results, published Sept. 22 online in the Journal of Urology, contribute to the ongoing debate about how exercise affects prostate cancer risk, said study senior author Dr. Stephen Freedland, a urologist at Duke and the Durham Veterans Affairs Hospital.
"There have been dozens of studies about the value of exercise in lowering risk of prostate cancer, and some of them quite large, but the bottom line is that they've left us with mixed signals," Freedland said in the news release.
The majority (58 percent) of the men in this study were sedentary, which means they exercised less than the equivalent of one hour per week of easy walking.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
The difference of a day
as you know, i ran the dreadmill monday before work. (this is NOT the gym at the VA. just sayin'.) i also ran on it yesterday. lungs didn't fare much better, but i did notice that i started to feel a little better after 1.5 miles. only had time to go 2 miles, so i only felt good for about 25% of the time i was on the dreaded dreadmill. drat. i ran at a 4% incline. ran slowly. maybe a 10 minute mile. maybe.
today, while driving to work, i said aloud, "i don't feel like running today." then the little, often irksome, voice in the back of my head reminded me of all of the reasons that i NEED to run, and of all the other people who i 'know' who are having a rough go of it and STILL run.....so i did.
and i ran hard, for 2 miles. at a 7:32 mile pace, which translates to around 8 mp.
the first half mile cruised by, and before i knew it, i had gone almost a mile. gone. that's funny to me, because i didn't actually go anywhere. i was very tempted to back off on the speed after a mile, but then remembered that i would feel better after another half mile. that half mile didn't tick by as quickly. i tried desperately not to stare at the clock, and instead concentrated on my reflection and the music pumping through my .mp3 player. (no, it isn't an iANYTHING. and i love it). so at 1.5 miles i bumped the speed up to 8.5 mph, and ran that for the last half mile, trying to keep an eye on my slowly disappearing reflection. my form is getting better.
so i think that i will try to continue these short morning runs, adding in outdoor runs when i can. on the dreadmill, i will concentrate on my form. ah, new goals.
but i DO MISS hanging out with T for a while before i come to work. once i get my form down, i will switch to every other day or so, not every day. see? another goal.
sha-BAM!
Monday, October 19, 2009
mirror, mirror
this morning before work, i ran on the dreadmill. tried to cram in a few miles in a short period of time. lemme tell you right now that my cardio status is in the toilet.
the change of seasons from summer to fall and from winter to spring have been very hard for me for the past 10-15 years. typically i get myself on some sort of medication (usually singulair) to bridge the gap, but this year I have chosen NOT to do this.
and it shows. when i ran this morning, i was quickly winded, and had a hard time getting in as much of a run (distance wise) as I wanted. i managed 2.75 miles before i had to stop and cool down. so i slowed for a while, and ended up with 3 miles. in about half an hour. i should be doing that in 20-24 mins, ESPECIALLY on the dreadmill (no wind/hills/etc.)
but i didn't. my legs feel like they did 'something' this morning, but not that they ran at all. which i guess is good, except that it isn't.
oh well.
so...mirror....the dreadmill was reflected in the gym's window this morning, and i could see myself run. wow. my form is AWFUL. so i tried to change it up a bit, so that it looked A LITTLE like i knew what i was doing. and my stride was different. didn't seem like i was working as hard. at least not my legs. just my lungs. but it was interesting to see myself run. my form needs work.
add it to the list.
the change of seasons from summer to fall and from winter to spring have been very hard for me for the past 10-15 years. typically i get myself on some sort of medication (usually singulair) to bridge the gap, but this year I have chosen NOT to do this.
and it shows. when i ran this morning, i was quickly winded, and had a hard time getting in as much of a run (distance wise) as I wanted. i managed 2.75 miles before i had to stop and cool down. so i slowed for a while, and ended up with 3 miles. in about half an hour. i should be doing that in 20-24 mins, ESPECIALLY on the dreadmill (no wind/hills/etc.)
but i didn't. my legs feel like they did 'something' this morning, but not that they ran at all. which i guess is good, except that it isn't.
oh well.
so...mirror....the dreadmill was reflected in the gym's window this morning, and i could see myself run. wow. my form is AWFUL. so i tried to change it up a bit, so that it looked A LITTLE like i knew what i was doing. and my stride was different. didn't seem like i was working as hard. at least not my legs. just my lungs. but it was interesting to see myself run. my form needs work.
add it to the list.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
VERBOSE race report
If we were playing Zork, this is what you would read if you typed in "maximum verbosity" in the command line.
Had trouble sleeping Saturday night. Was expecting big rains overnight (like during the day Saturday), and i think i heard every little noise in the house. and the neighbor's houses.
woke up with the alarm, took nice shower, and started to eat. just a bagel with some peanut butter. methodically loaded the car, tried to stay quiet....
i've never seen or done a multistage race before, so i didn't (still don't) know what to pack for transition, etc. I wasn't sure of the weather, so i packed for the worst case scenario. i used a big rubbermaid tub to haul my stuff, and put dry clothes in my backpack.
i left the house around 730, after getting well wishes and good luck smooches from my favorite pit crew(!). the morning was dreary, misty, and unpredictable in terms of weather.
the ride to Newport was beautiful. I am so lucky to live in this part of the country at this time of year. Parked fine. No signs outside the school directing us into the nearest door, so i wandered around to the front, wound my way through the halls, and arrived at the check in station in the cafeteria. turns out the closest, most convenient way to get in was about 30 yards from the truck. need better signs in the parking lot.
it now became 'official'. i have a number.
just as importantly, i have my ticket for the post race bbq chicken feast. i am not sure how many times i walked back and forth to the transition area, but maybe that is why i was so fatigued on the mtn bike portion......ha.
Messages back and forth with T confirmed that she was on her way, and we figured that she would get there sometime while i was out on the road run. Quick little pre race meeting in the T-zone, and we crossed the road to line up for the start. Much milling around, newspaper interviewed a father-son team, chatted a bit with a biker who i had met on a training ride a few weeks ago...and BANG! we were off and running.
i stayed toward the back of the pack, but i don't think that i realized just HOW FAR BACK i was hanging. i paced with other runners, then let some go. was running behind a woman for about a mile, but her perfume or shampoo or something was giving me a headache. so, of course, because i am a ROOKIE....i let her go rather than pass her.
dumb. my pace slowed to something very comfortable, and there i stayed. as I was approaching the T-Zone, i could see T and B in the distance. very cool. i love that feeling. yay, team!
got to the transition after about 40 minutes of running. ok pace, but could have done it quicker. ANYWAY....i chatted with T/B while i changed into biking shoes, squeezed some clif shot gel into my mouth, chugged some water, and jogged off to get on the bike.
As i mounted the bike, i noticed a straaaaange feeling in my hands. Cold rubber. WHAT????!!! I FORGOT MY GLOVES!!!! I recalled that i had asked T to remind me of my glasses before i went out onto the road, so i'll just grab them at the next T-zone. Two riders were coming fast as we crossed the practice field, so i waved them by. easier to pass here than on the ski-jump stairs. i wouldn't see anyone for the next 20 minutes. and when i DID....it was that 12 year old kid from the father/son team. i could see him catching up....must.not.let.him.pass.me. oh, what am i THINKING. yes, kid, go on by. why not. then suddenly, after he had only been by me for about 5 feet...CRASH! he went down in a heap. bike to the left, body to the right. I asked him if he was ok as I stepped around him, and i trundled on my way. i must have looked like a big oaf out there. i was riding with skinny tires on, which were NOT a good compliment to the snot-slick roots and rocks that are strewn about the woods here in VT/NH, not to mention the leaves that had fallen from the heavy rains sustained on saturday. boy-wonder passed me again on a long uphill, and i never saw him again. ffwd to near the end of the leg, and someone had changed the directional logs. seems as though a sweeper came through, took a shortcut, and didn't see anyone out on the course. decided that all were done.....HA! not ME!!! but it all worked out, and I rode the correct trails for the leg. turns out, T had overheard a conversation amoung some timekeepers that all riders were done. she stepped forward (ALWAYS my Heroine!) and told them that I was still out there. I emerged from the woods realizing that i was DEAD LAST.
quick stop for more water, goo, and hello/goodbye's, and off i ran through transition. a dude on a bike at the end said, "are you heading out on the road?" "yes", i replied. "on THAT???", he queried. "yep. its all I have!" "i'll stay with you, then", came his reply, and off we went.
no gloves.
no glasses.
no energy.
little desire.
no confidence.
and so we rode. i chomped down some clif gel blocks, water, and tried to keep my calves and back stretched out. after about 3 miles, my escort asked how i was doing. he commented that he noticed that my feet "looked pretty chewed up". my feet were actually fine. the biking seemed to have little to no impact on my blisters. yay! i asked if he had a phone, because if he did, i was going to call T and have her pick me up. he didn't.
on we rode. near mile 6 the course heads left up a cliff. T had driven by already, and had screamed words of kind encouragement at me as she drove by. i could tell by the look her eyes that she was concerned....she parked at the firestation, and as i turned to go up the hill, i told her that i didn't think i was going to make it up. it is .75 miles long, and very steep, with a nice steep kick at the top. it starts out very simple, though, until you go about 50 yards and round a corner. the top MOCKED ME with every pedal stroke. i could hear the course LAUGHING AT ME. but then, with about 200 yards to the top, i could hear T yelling to me. it was WONDERFUL.
when i passed her, i said that i was going to drop out after i made it back to the school, and that i wasn't going to do the trail run. uneventful ride back. i rode as hard as i could, which wasn't very fast, but i made it. with about half a mile to go, i stood up on the pedals to gain some speed and stretch, but my left quad yelled "SIT DOWN!" as it started to seize up. not a good sign, so i just sat down and plodded on, keeping my pace as best i could.
when i crossed the chip mat, i told the time keeper that i was done. i racked my bike, and layed down on the ground. i cried. i couldn't look at T or B. she was full of pride and encouraging words, and all i could do was dismiss them and stare off into the distance.
shame on me. but i had resigned myself to the fact that I QUIT. I am a Quitter.
"Hello. My name is Gene, and I am a QUITTER."
Had trouble sleeping Saturday night. Was expecting big rains overnight (like during the day Saturday), and i think i heard every little noise in the house. and the neighbor's houses.
woke up with the alarm, took nice shower, and started to eat. just a bagel with some peanut butter. methodically loaded the car, tried to stay quiet....
i've never seen or done a multistage race before, so i didn't (still don't) know what to pack for transition, etc. I wasn't sure of the weather, so i packed for the worst case scenario. i used a big rubbermaid tub to haul my stuff, and put dry clothes in my backpack.
i left the house around 730, after getting well wishes and good luck smooches from my favorite pit crew(!). the morning was dreary, misty, and unpredictable in terms of weather.
the ride to Newport was beautiful. I am so lucky to live in this part of the country at this time of year. Parked fine. No signs outside the school directing us into the nearest door, so i wandered around to the front, wound my way through the halls, and arrived at the check in station in the cafeteria. turns out the closest, most convenient way to get in was about 30 yards from the truck. need better signs in the parking lot.
it now became 'official'. i have a number.
just as importantly, i have my ticket for the post race bbq chicken feast. i am not sure how many times i walked back and forth to the transition area, but maybe that is why i was so fatigued on the mtn bike portion......ha.
Messages back and forth with T confirmed that she was on her way, and we figured that she would get there sometime while i was out on the road run. Quick little pre race meeting in the T-zone, and we crossed the road to line up for the start. Much milling around, newspaper interviewed a father-son team, chatted a bit with a biker who i had met on a training ride a few weeks ago...and BANG! we were off and running.
i stayed toward the back of the pack, but i don't think that i realized just HOW FAR BACK i was hanging. i paced with other runners, then let some go. was running behind a woman for about a mile, but her perfume or shampoo or something was giving me a headache. so, of course, because i am a ROOKIE....i let her go rather than pass her.
dumb. my pace slowed to something very comfortable, and there i stayed. as I was approaching the T-Zone, i could see T and B in the distance. very cool. i love that feeling. yay, team!
got to the transition after about 40 minutes of running. ok pace, but could have done it quicker. ANYWAY....i chatted with T/B while i changed into biking shoes, squeezed some clif shot gel into my mouth, chugged some water, and jogged off to get on the bike.
As i mounted the bike, i noticed a straaaaange feeling in my hands. Cold rubber. WHAT????!!! I FORGOT MY GLOVES!!!! I recalled that i had asked T to remind me of my glasses before i went out onto the road, so i'll just grab them at the next T-zone. Two riders were coming fast as we crossed the practice field, so i waved them by. easier to pass here than on the ski-jump stairs. i wouldn't see anyone for the next 20 minutes. and when i DID....it was that 12 year old kid from the father/son team. i could see him catching up....must.not.let.him.pass.me. oh, what am i THINKING. yes, kid, go on by. why not. then suddenly, after he had only been by me for about 5 feet...CRASH! he went down in a heap. bike to the left, body to the right. I asked him if he was ok as I stepped around him, and i trundled on my way. i must have looked like a big oaf out there. i was riding with skinny tires on, which were NOT a good compliment to the snot-slick roots and rocks that are strewn about the woods here in VT/NH, not to mention the leaves that had fallen from the heavy rains sustained on saturday. boy-wonder passed me again on a long uphill, and i never saw him again. ffwd to near the end of the leg, and someone had changed the directional logs. seems as though a sweeper came through, took a shortcut, and didn't see anyone out on the course. decided that all were done.....HA! not ME!!! but it all worked out, and I rode the correct trails for the leg. turns out, T had overheard a conversation amoung some timekeepers that all riders were done. she stepped forward (ALWAYS my Heroine!) and told them that I was still out there. I emerged from the woods realizing that i was DEAD LAST.
quick stop for more water, goo, and hello/goodbye's, and off i ran through transition. a dude on a bike at the end said, "are you heading out on the road?" "yes", i replied. "on THAT???", he queried. "yep. its all I have!" "i'll stay with you, then", came his reply, and off we went.
no gloves.
no glasses.
no energy.
little desire.
no confidence.
and so we rode. i chomped down some clif gel blocks, water, and tried to keep my calves and back stretched out. after about 3 miles, my escort asked how i was doing. he commented that he noticed that my feet "looked pretty chewed up". my feet were actually fine. the biking seemed to have little to no impact on my blisters. yay! i asked if he had a phone, because if he did, i was going to call T and have her pick me up. he didn't.
on we rode. near mile 6 the course heads left up a cliff. T had driven by already, and had screamed words of kind encouragement at me as she drove by. i could tell by the look her eyes that she was concerned....she parked at the firestation, and as i turned to go up the hill, i told her that i didn't think i was going to make it up. it is .75 miles long, and very steep, with a nice steep kick at the top. it starts out very simple, though, until you go about 50 yards and round a corner. the top MOCKED ME with every pedal stroke. i could hear the course LAUGHING AT ME. but then, with about 200 yards to the top, i could hear T yelling to me. it was WONDERFUL.
when i passed her, i said that i was going to drop out after i made it back to the school, and that i wasn't going to do the trail run. uneventful ride back. i rode as hard as i could, which wasn't very fast, but i made it. with about half a mile to go, i stood up on the pedals to gain some speed and stretch, but my left quad yelled "SIT DOWN!" as it started to seize up. not a good sign, so i just sat down and plodded on, keeping my pace as best i could.
when i crossed the chip mat, i told the time keeper that i was done. i racked my bike, and layed down on the ground. i cried. i couldn't look at T or B. she was full of pride and encouraging words, and all i could do was dismiss them and stare off into the distance.
shame on me. but i had resigned myself to the fact that I QUIT. I am a Quitter.
"Hello. My name is Gene, and I am a QUITTER."
Friday, October 2, 2009
in search of lorazepam (not really!)
nerves, i got em. can't seem to shake them.
i am more nervous now than i was before the CHaD half marathon. i wonder if it is all related to my left foot (see below), but cannot be sure.
let's recap the event, and perhaps the real reasons will surface....
last time i raced my MTB = 1996 (wow. that's 13 YEARS)
last time i raced on road bike = NEVER
last time i raced trail run = NEVER. well, ok. i ran 1.8 miles up Ascutney in July.
last time i raced on pavement = CHaD (not so bad, really)
i have, at least, been on the course. this is a good thing. i have ridden both bike legs, and run both run legs. so...why am i nervous?
it is LONG. just over 27 miles total. we're looking at 3 hours. maybe. i am really shooting to finish by noon. that will be 2.5 hours. sounds do-able at this point, but i really can't tell.
looks (and feels) like my blister is infected, so I am going to toss some anti-biotics at it to see if it has any effect other than speeding up my digestive processes......must.get.immodium.
i am more nervous now than i was before the CHaD half marathon. i wonder if it is all related to my left foot (see below), but cannot be sure.
let's recap the event, and perhaps the real reasons will surface....
last time i raced my MTB = 1996 (wow. that's 13 YEARS)
last time i raced on road bike = NEVER
last time i raced trail run = NEVER. well, ok. i ran 1.8 miles up Ascutney in July.
last time i raced on pavement = CHaD (not so bad, really)
i have, at least, been on the course. this is a good thing. i have ridden both bike legs, and run both run legs. so...why am i nervous?
it is LONG. just over 27 miles total. we're looking at 3 hours. maybe. i am really shooting to finish by noon. that will be 2.5 hours. sounds do-able at this point, but i really can't tell.
looks (and feels) like my blister is infected, so I am going to toss some anti-biotics at it to see if it has any effect other than speeding up my digestive processes......must.get.immodium.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Blistering Speed
i took advantage of wonderful weather this past Friday to try to catch up on some litte chores around the house. After running a few errands, I got clearance to go for a run.
My goal was to use the run to test out Ensure again and to be out for longer than 6 miles. The out and back that i have done on the AT from Norwich south to the shelter and back gives a nice, slightly challenging, 7 mile loop. Seemed perfect.
note: it is now a WEEK since the activities i am about to describe.
off i ran. and ran. i was feeling GOOOOOOD. dashing up hills that usually slow me down. i could 'feel' the trail, if you know what i mean. i could anticipate the climbs, was ready for the down hills. it was nice.
i ran without headphones so that i could listen to the forest. chipmunks were everywhere, gathering nuts, running up and down the stone walls. i spooked a partridge, thought i saw a deer; you know, the usual fall activities in the Vermont woods.
did i mention that i was feeling really good about the run? at the ususal turn around, i was still going strong(ly?). i decided to extend my run, and gave serious consideration to going all the way to west hartford (the OTHER trailhead) and then turning around. that would have made the run into just over a half-marathon, right around 14 miles. i was REALLY considering this to be a good idea. (foreshadowing).
around mile 4, which isn't much beyond the shelter, i started to feel a hot spot on my left instep, at the height of my arch. hmmm. not good. didn't feel any debris in there. hmm. no socks. did i mention that i wasn't wearing socks? at this point i have about 20 miles on these shoes, all without socks, and have had no troubles. the day and the trail were dry, so...why not?
did i mention the hot spot? i now had one on my RIGHT foot, too. dammit. do i turn around, and go 4+ miles back, or do i just call Mike to rescue me in W. Hartford and make the mileage only 6? run, run, run, try not to think about it, run run run....
ut-oh. down hill coming up. long one. ouch. ouch, OUCH! stop. tighten laces. less slipping=less rubbing=less blister, right? TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. decided to run until Teri (Garmin (p.b.t.n.)) chirped 5 miles, then turn around. make 10 out of it. why not, right?
blister central. ouch ouch ouch. managed to make the return trip in just 5 minutes longer than the first part, which i think is GREAT considering that my left arch had pretty much turned into ground beef. (see photo of 1 week old wound)
fast forward to today. one week has passed, and i am still limping on that foot. i have soaked in epsom salts, which helps, but maybe haven't done it enough. i am trying to air it out at night, which helps, but me thinks the clogs are not helping. too hot. the skin is nice, soft, and pliable, but it is ringed in RED, sensitive tissue. YEP...looks like a localized infection. bugs have taken up residency in my left foot. WHAT???
My goal was to use the run to test out Ensure again and to be out for longer than 6 miles. The out and back that i have done on the AT from Norwich south to the shelter and back gives a nice, slightly challenging, 7 mile loop. Seemed perfect.
note: it is now a WEEK since the activities i am about to describe.
off i ran. and ran. i was feeling GOOOOOOD. dashing up hills that usually slow me down. i could 'feel' the trail, if you know what i mean. i could anticipate the climbs, was ready for the down hills. it was nice.
i ran without headphones so that i could listen to the forest. chipmunks were everywhere, gathering nuts, running up and down the stone walls. i spooked a partridge, thought i saw a deer; you know, the usual fall activities in the Vermont woods.
did i mention that i was feeling really good about the run? at the ususal turn around, i was still going strong(ly?). i decided to extend my run, and gave serious consideration to going all the way to west hartford (the OTHER trailhead) and then turning around. that would have made the run into just over a half-marathon, right around 14 miles. i was REALLY considering this to be a good idea. (foreshadowing).
around mile 4, which isn't much beyond the shelter, i started to feel a hot spot on my left instep, at the height of my arch. hmmm. not good. didn't feel any debris in there. hmm. no socks. did i mention that i wasn't wearing socks? at this point i have about 20 miles on these shoes, all without socks, and have had no troubles. the day and the trail were dry, so...why not?
did i mention the hot spot? i now had one on my RIGHT foot, too. dammit. do i turn around, and go 4+ miles back, or do i just call Mike to rescue me in W. Hartford and make the mileage only 6? run, run, run, try not to think about it, run run run....
ut-oh. down hill coming up. long one. ouch. ouch, OUCH! stop. tighten laces. less slipping=less rubbing=less blister, right? TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE. decided to run until Teri (Garmin (p.b.t.n.)) chirped 5 miles, then turn around. make 10 out of it. why not, right?
blister central. ouch ouch ouch. managed to make the return trip in just 5 minutes longer than the first part, which i think is GREAT considering that my left arch had pretty much turned into ground beef. (see photo of 1 week old wound)
fast forward to today. one week has passed, and i am still limping on that foot. i have soaked in epsom salts, which helps, but maybe haven't done it enough. i am trying to air it out at night, which helps, but me thinks the clogs are not helping. too hot. the skin is nice, soft, and pliable, but it is ringed in RED, sensitive tissue. YEP...looks like a localized infection. bugs have taken up residency in my left foot. WHAT???
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)