4 miles in tall, wet grass. Good to run again. If I keep this up, I'll have 8 miles before the end of the month! (sigh)
For some reason, my very lengthy detailed and frankly, very enjoyable, post was lost and didn't save to a draft. So, shoot.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Saturday, May 10 -- The Kitchen Run
I decided to run with ETK (age 8) and a friend of his today. Normally, ETK runs the race with his mother/my wife, but I thought I’d give it a whirl today since I’ve been a little lax in my running training lately.
As a starter for this post, neither of these guys have done much running, other than as a part of sports practices, games or recess. I guess that means they actually run a lot more than the typical person? Probably. This was ETK’s third 5K event, but in the two prior races, he walked a pretty good chunk of the distance. Our collective goal was for him to run the entire distance today and we’d go as slow as needed to do it and steadily.
The start time was supposed to be 8:00, but unexpectedly nice weather brought out a lot of morning-of registrants (which is great – this event supports the Kitchen, my non-profit of choice). We hadn’t done much coaching together, so we ran about a half-mile down and back and I talked them through what it’s like to run in a group of people and how they need to run a steadily increasing pace rather than sprinting/walking. They’re eight years old, though, so a straight line just isn’t going to happen for them. Oh, and apparently you have to wrestle periodically during a run.
The bottom line is all three of us ran the full distance and we all sprinted the last 1/8 mile. The time was around 36 minutes, which I really couldn’t be more pleased about for their first shot at a 5K. I have been trying to improve my time and today I would have been shooting for sub-23 minutes, but I’m much more proud to have witnessed the accomplishment of these guys.
“When’s the next one, Dad?” ETK is ready to run again. So, I think June 21 is the next one.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
6.6 miles - Tuesday, March 11
What a beautiful afternoon. I spent all day Monday and Tuesday sitting in a class learning about FDA's Design Controls and Risk Management. Riveting topics, but a little wearisome after two full days.
GZ shared some running trails with me mid-afternoon and so I started getting it in my head that I was going to do that tonight. With the temps hitting 70 this afternoon, I couldn't have asked for a better day to get a real run.
You can tell you are not running Missouri as soon as you get going. The air is light -- practically non-existent, I think. Once you get used to it, though, you can just revel in the crispness. The sun was shining (a lot!) and the mountains are incredible. Why doesn't everyone spend their free time outside here?
My run was an out and back on the Coal Creek Trail. I hope to do some portion of it again tomorrow when the sun isn't right in my face. When you are at the Aquaris Trailhead, you can see forever, I think. I'm also itching to get back on the Davidson Mesa before I go home.
GZ shared some running trails with me mid-afternoon and so I started getting it in my head that I was going to do that tonight. With the temps hitting 70 this afternoon, I couldn't have asked for a better day to get a real run.
You can tell you are not running Missouri as soon as you get going. The air is light -- practically non-existent, I think. Once you get used to it, though, you can just revel in the crispness. The sun was shining (a lot!) and the mountains are incredible. Why doesn't everyone spend their free time outside here?
My run was an out and back on the Coal Creek Trail. I hope to do some portion of it again tomorrow when the sun isn't right in my face. When you are at the Aquaris Trailhead, you can see forever, I think. I'm also itching to get back on the Davidson Mesa before I go home.
2.75 miles - Saturday, March 8
Whoa! Are you kidding me? 2.75 miles? That is a loooooong run. Alright, pipe down. I wasn't thrilled with it, but it was my first day back on the whacked out feet.
I was actually happy about it for two reasons -- 1) I ran and it didn't hurt during or after the run and 2) I had the discipline to stop when I said I was going to stop.
So, all in all, a good run. I'm heading to Colorado tomorrow and hope to get some nice runs out there.
I was actually happy about it for two reasons -- 1) I ran and it didn't hurt during or after the run and 2) I had the discipline to stop when I said I was going to stop.
So, all in all, a good run. I'm heading to Colorado tomorrow and hope to get some nice runs out there.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
9.4 miles - Saturday, Feb 23
After much indecision, I decided to run Saturday morning after all (right after saying I wouldn't) mostly because Jennifer handed the phone to me instead of just telling Kari that I wasn't running.
The reason for my indecision? My ankle (or whatever that muscle is that runs outside of your ankle between foot and knee) has hurt all week. By Thursday, I could walk normally, but there was still a twinge every time I turned or walked on steps or hills. Our friend, a former Olympic trainer, suggested I just continue to ice it and let it heal another week. He was sitting next to me, playing cards and shaking his head, as I agreed to run.
Jon decided he had had enough of cold weather, so he ran his 11 miles on a treadmill at the gym. Kari and I couldn't imagine going that long on a treadmill (even though my hero can do it all the time) so we ran in/out/around the neighborhood.
The morning was cool, but that great kind of cool. We took off at an easy pace and turned at the end of our street. Jon drove by and yelled at us on his way to the gym. At the 2 mile point, I could already feel a lot of tension in my foot, but I wrote that off to the lack of use this week. Kari is a great running partner, because she has a million (interesting) stories and is always gung-ho to run faster or slower depending on our needs.
We wound through neighborhoods and got to this great little 1-mile nature trail through the woods that connects two neighborhoods. Since we have had a bunch of rain, sleet and ice this month, the little stream was actually rippling, which provided a nice sound to run by. Very enjoyable until we got to one of the bridges where the ice and rocks and dammed up the flow-holes and water was rolling over the bridge. It wasn't deep at all, but we were 4.5 miles from home and didn't cherish the idea of wet shoes. After looking around for other ways to get across the stream, we gave up and returned on our original path.
Stopping was good or bad, depending on your viewpoint and medical knowledge. My foot hurt like someone had snapped it in half. We walked back to the road and then resumed the run. I'm not sure why, but running felt a lot better than walking.
We completed our run at about a 10 min/mile pace, which is slower than both of us wanted. A little bit of walking and my stupid foot were to blame. Jennifer has convinced me to call the doctor this week and get it checked. I hate being a wuss. So, probably no running this week either. And I think I've scrapped my plans for the April marathon. I'll focus on some other activities this week and let my foot rest up. Ideas? Other suggestions? Fill the comments with "wuss".
The reason for my indecision? My ankle (or whatever that muscle is that runs outside of your ankle between foot and knee) has hurt all week. By Thursday, I could walk normally, but there was still a twinge every time I turned or walked on steps or hills. Our friend, a former Olympic trainer, suggested I just continue to ice it and let it heal another week. He was sitting next to me, playing cards and shaking his head, as I agreed to run.
Jon decided he had had enough of cold weather, so he ran his 11 miles on a treadmill at the gym. Kari and I couldn't imagine going that long on a treadmill (even though my hero can do it all the time) so we ran in/out/around the neighborhood.
The morning was cool, but that great kind of cool. We took off at an easy pace and turned at the end of our street. Jon drove by and yelled at us on his way to the gym. At the 2 mile point, I could already feel a lot of tension in my foot, but I wrote that off to the lack of use this week. Kari is a great running partner, because she has a million (interesting) stories and is always gung-ho to run faster or slower depending on our needs.
We wound through neighborhoods and got to this great little 1-mile nature trail through the woods that connects two neighborhoods. Since we have had a bunch of rain, sleet and ice this month, the little stream was actually rippling, which provided a nice sound to run by. Very enjoyable until we got to one of the bridges where the ice and rocks and dammed up the flow-holes and water was rolling over the bridge. It wasn't deep at all, but we were 4.5 miles from home and didn't cherish the idea of wet shoes. After looking around for other ways to get across the stream, we gave up and returned on our original path.
Stopping was good or bad, depending on your viewpoint and medical knowledge. My foot hurt like someone had snapped it in half. We walked back to the road and then resumed the run. I'm not sure why, but running felt a lot better than walking.
We completed our run at about a 10 min/mile pace, which is slower than both of us wanted. A little bit of walking and my stupid foot were to blame. Jennifer has convinced me to call the doctor this week and get it checked. I hate being a wuss. So, probably no running this week either. And I think I've scrapped my plans for the April marathon. I'll focus on some other activities this week and let my foot rest up. Ideas? Other suggestions? Fill the comments with "wuss".
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)