After I worked five hours this morning and ran five miles, the thought occurred to me that I should golf five over on the front and five over on the back nine today. My round started with an Eagle, the second of my life! This very good round for me on a new course ended three over on the front, and seven over on the back, totaling ten over which is close enough to my goal. Almost as importantly, I ended tied with my brother.
BB asked if I was running long on Sunday so she could ride along again. I prefer to run long on Saturday and promised to do so early so she can come with before our second baby shower at noon. Thinking about her enjoying riding along makes me smile.
Saw my first add for father’s day last night, and got excited for myself. 33weeks tomorrow.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Speed
I run mostly around the town I live in, visiting calm streets and discovering new areas. Seeing new things and people is fun for me. So Monday on a tempo section of my run, I heard some kids talking, which in and of itself isn’t at all unusual. I didn’t realize till I was a few housed past them, that the group was talking to me. Yelling for me to sprint, and I was already going faster than a normal easy run pace.
When I finished my run, I thought maybe I forgot to start my watch after I’d stopped it when I put Bruno’s leash back on (don’t know how it came off, but he stayed with me while it dangled, not sure he knew he was momentarily free). I knew I ran 20 minutes faster, but not that much, and I didn’t hurt at all. So I added a minute and a half in my log.
The easy run on Tuesday timed fast as well, but I did get some water on my watch (it’s a very cheap one), which made me still think it might be my watch. Yesterday was interval day, and baby class day, so I used my step-dad’s Garmin 201, and my watch. Six total miles in 51 minutes. Two timers can’t be wrong. My splits were all pretty quick, and I followed the recommended recovery distance. In about one month, I’ve cut a minute per mile on my average easy runs.
This is making me rethink my 10k goal of under 50 minutes. And what do I even think about the 8k six days before? Easy run? Incorporate it into my long run one day later than scheduled?
I’m about to send in my registration for my first half-marathon.
The battery on step-dad’s Garmin has one hour left. So, I either need him to find the charger, or I need to get my own.
When I finished my run, I thought maybe I forgot to start my watch after I’d stopped it when I put Bruno’s leash back on (don’t know how it came off, but he stayed with me while it dangled, not sure he knew he was momentarily free). I knew I ran 20 minutes faster, but not that much, and I didn’t hurt at all. So I added a minute and a half in my log.
The easy run on Tuesday timed fast as well, but I did get some water on my watch (it’s a very cheap one), which made me still think it might be my watch. Yesterday was interval day, and baby class day, so I used my step-dad’s Garmin 201, and my watch. Six total miles in 51 minutes. Two timers can’t be wrong. My splits were all pretty quick, and I followed the recommended recovery distance. In about one month, I’ve cut a minute per mile on my average easy runs.
This is making me rethink my 10k goal of under 50 minutes. And what do I even think about the 8k six days before? Easy run? Incorporate it into my long run one day later than scheduled?
I’m about to send in my registration for my first half-marathon.
The battery on step-dad’s Garmin has one hour left. So, I either need him to find the charger, or I need to get my own.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Training Partner?
BB is just about done with school for this semester. Because of this, she was able to relax at my brother’s graduation and then bike along with me on most of my run tonight. It was a lot of fun.
My brother’s grad ceremony was kinda boring, as I’ve found most of them are. But I had to go to watch the kid finally get his college diploma. The party/gathering afterwards was kinda odd for a bit. Rightfully so, my step-dad doesn’t like my bio-dad, and this makes gatherings with both families uncomfortable. But step-dad did pretty well today, and at the end of the day, got me thinking about another half-marathon. At least I’ve got more time to decide with this one.
I wanted to get up and run early this morning, but couldn’t drag my sorry behind out of our comfy bed. This meant I had to fit my run in this evening. After I took the dogs on their normal loop, pregnant BB, cautiously as possible, rode her bike the next seven miles with me. About five miles in, she asked if she was a distraction, and that couldn’t have been further from the truth. It was very enjoyable to have someone to chit chat with (I think I’ve asked for this in a previous post) on my weekly long run. It turned out to be my longest and fastest “long run” ever. Besides a full stomach, I felt good, and wasn’t trying to go so fast, and fast is a relative term. It also sounds like BB is feeling good from the ride, minus a little heartburn which is a normal everyday occurance now. We both hope she’ll continue to come along once in a while from now on, while she can.
Now I need to get used to the fact that most of my long runs from now on will be longer than the last. And to remember to never run on a full stomach again.
My brother’s grad ceremony was kinda boring, as I’ve found most of them are. But I had to go to watch the kid finally get his college diploma. The party/gathering afterwards was kinda odd for a bit. Rightfully so, my step-dad doesn’t like my bio-dad, and this makes gatherings with both families uncomfortable. But step-dad did pretty well today, and at the end of the day, got me thinking about another half-marathon. At least I’ve got more time to decide with this one.
I wanted to get up and run early this morning, but couldn’t drag my sorry behind out of our comfy bed. This meant I had to fit my run in this evening. After I took the dogs on their normal loop, pregnant BB, cautiously as possible, rode her bike the next seven miles with me. About five miles in, she asked if she was a distraction, and that couldn’t have been further from the truth. It was very enjoyable to have someone to chit chat with (I think I’ve asked for this in a previous post) on my weekly long run. It turned out to be my longest and fastest “long run” ever. Besides a full stomach, I felt good, and wasn’t trying to go so fast, and fast is a relative term. It also sounds like BB is feeling good from the ride, minus a little heartburn which is a normal everyday occurance now. We both hope she’ll continue to come along once in a while from now on, while she can.
Now I need to get used to the fact that most of my long runs from now on will be longer than the last. And to remember to never run on a full stomach again.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Menudo 5k
Played golf on Thursday and then ran extra intervals that night. My times were all around what I wanted them to be, but not necessarily in the right order. This left me unsure of what to expect of myself at today’s race.
After I left the house, and just before I got on the freeway, I realized I forgot my watch, and ran back home. This made me even more nervous about trying to warm-up, get my number, and not being late. Without speeding, I got to the race with plenty of time to spare. Met my ma and step-dad walking to the registration, and fortunately don’t feel like I needed to entertain them. This allowed me to run for a 15 minute warm-up or so, and not worry about getting back to my car to drop off my sweatshirt and race bag, because ma was nice enough to grab it from me.
Today was another small race, maybe 75 people. Flat out and back course with the temps in the mid 50’s, but kinda windy. I lined up closer to the front today, and tried to get to the right when I realized that there was a jog in the road about 200 meters out. My first mile was 7:34, which I thought was too fast, but I felt great. Again, I was able to pick out a guy (in grey) early that I thought I could follow. About 1.25 miles in, I was passed by a guy in a red shirt, and tried following his cadence. I stayed with him, but his feet hit the ground too infrequently, as he was a good six inches taller than I. Saw my step-dad about half a mile after I turned around. He looked good and I felt good, so I yelled something about a nearby geocache. I don’t remember my two mile split, but the back of the one mile marker was 16:07, and I defiantly thought I could beat 24:00. The guy in the red shirt was caught with 400 or so left, and grey shirt and I sprinted in, and I finally passed him with 30 meters left. I wouldn’t let him go faster than me. (I sound all serious right there, but it was all in fun.) Through the chute and had over my number tag, start to stretch and realize I forgot to stop my watch. Oh well, results will be posted online. After my finish, I walked back and found my step-dad and ran the last ½ mile or so with him. He said I helped him in, so that’s a good thing, and he crushed his goal time of 35:00 with a 30:20. The online results have me with a 23:40, and I feel great about that.
Step-dad got around to asking me what my running goals are. I’ve been thinking about a 10k in early/mid June, and not much after that. Other than maybe a marathon next summer in Walker, MN. He wants to run an 8k somewhere in four weeks. A nice 8k sounds good to me, and there’s one in St. Paul the weekend he’d like.
What’s after that? Besides the birth of our kid and a complete change in my life that is. Any ideas as far as running is concerned?
After I left the house, and just before I got on the freeway, I realized I forgot my watch, and ran back home. This made me even more nervous about trying to warm-up, get my number, and not being late. Without speeding, I got to the race with plenty of time to spare. Met my ma and step-dad walking to the registration, and fortunately don’t feel like I needed to entertain them. This allowed me to run for a 15 minute warm-up or so, and not worry about getting back to my car to drop off my sweatshirt and race bag, because ma was nice enough to grab it from me.
Today was another small race, maybe 75 people. Flat out and back course with the temps in the mid 50’s, but kinda windy. I lined up closer to the front today, and tried to get to the right when I realized that there was a jog in the road about 200 meters out. My first mile was 7:34, which I thought was too fast, but I felt great. Again, I was able to pick out a guy (in grey) early that I thought I could follow. About 1.25 miles in, I was passed by a guy in a red shirt, and tried following his cadence. I stayed with him, but his feet hit the ground too infrequently, as he was a good six inches taller than I. Saw my step-dad about half a mile after I turned around. He looked good and I felt good, so I yelled something about a nearby geocache. I don’t remember my two mile split, but the back of the one mile marker was 16:07, and I defiantly thought I could beat 24:00. The guy in the red shirt was caught with 400 or so left, and grey shirt and I sprinted in, and I finally passed him with 30 meters left. I wouldn’t let him go faster than me. (I sound all serious right there, but it was all in fun.) Through the chute and had over my number tag, start to stretch and realize I forgot to stop my watch. Oh well, results will be posted online. After my finish, I walked back and found my step-dad and ran the last ½ mile or so with him. He said I helped him in, so that’s a good thing, and he crushed his goal time of 35:00 with a 30:20. The online results have me with a 23:40, and I feel great about that.
Step-dad got around to asking me what my running goals are. I’ve been thinking about a 10k in early/mid June, and not much after that. Other than maybe a marathon next summer in Walker, MN. He wants to run an 8k somewhere in four weeks. A nice 8k sounds good to me, and there’s one in St. Paul the weekend he’d like.
What’s after that? Besides the birth of our kid and a complete change in my life that is. Any ideas as far as running is concerned?
Monday, April 30, 2007
Nerves
A thunder storm is the only thing keeping me inside right now, instead of getting one more mile in so I could hit 100mi for the month. I'll be content with 99.1...
I basically ran all negative splits today for 4x4/200 intervals. My second 400 and third 200 were up one second. The last 400 and all the 200s were done on the local track. The school wasn’t using it, and I found the way in. So I did the Start-circle-Start-circle thing for the first time in 11 years or so. All my times were lower than expected. Because I felt they could have been even lower, I need to decide how fast I’d like to run my 5k this weekend. Last time I wanted under 25:30, and I’m not sure if shooting for 24:00 is unreasonable?
Our A league team has one game left on the schedule. And we can’t finish any lower than first place. We beat the second place team yesterday, and it felt good after we lost to them the first time we played. It would actually mean something if we got the next fall league free for winning this spring league, which happens some places. But not here.
More baby classes this week. At work this morning I got very anxious, almost like a panic attack, because I’m not sure our house is ready. I’ve got to finish a couple projects and would like a new kitchen, and I wanted to leave work to get these things done. About five minutes later, I realized this is my way of being nervous. Mostly your typical Provider type concerns scattering throughout my head. And it’s all irrational thinking, because I know I’ll be a good dad. I’ve been preparing for this since mine walked out, and I picked up his racquetball racquet and thought “I need to learn this game to be the man of the house.” I was six.
It’s our second anniversary, our last without kids running about, and I’m watching hockey, and my wife is doing homework, both listening to thunder. Party animals I tell ya.
I still have the racquet.
I basically ran all negative splits today for 4x4/200 intervals. My second 400 and third 200 were up one second. The last 400 and all the 200s were done on the local track. The school wasn’t using it, and I found the way in. So I did the Start-circle-Start-circle thing for the first time in 11 years or so. All my times were lower than expected. Because I felt they could have been even lower, I need to decide how fast I’d like to run my 5k this weekend. Last time I wanted under 25:30, and I’m not sure if shooting for 24:00 is unreasonable?
Our A league team has one game left on the schedule. And we can’t finish any lower than first place. We beat the second place team yesterday, and it felt good after we lost to them the first time we played. It would actually mean something if we got the next fall league free for winning this spring league, which happens some places. But not here.
More baby classes this week. At work this morning I got very anxious, almost like a panic attack, because I’m not sure our house is ready. I’ve got to finish a couple projects and would like a new kitchen, and I wanted to leave work to get these things done. About five minutes later, I realized this is my way of being nervous. Mostly your typical Provider type concerns scattering throughout my head. And it’s all irrational thinking, because I know I’ll be a good dad. I’ve been preparing for this since mine walked out, and I picked up his racquetball racquet and thought “I need to learn this game to be the man of the house.” I was six.
It’s our second anniversary, our last without kids running about, and I’m watching hockey, and my wife is doing homework, both listening to thunder. Party animals I tell ya.
I still have the racquet.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Golf Season is Here!
I finally got out on the course this week. Subbed in a league that is mostly made up of my bowling league. I don’t consider golf exercise. If a guy can drop his cigar, set down a beer, swing a club, pick up his nicotine and alcohol, and keep playing, it’s an activity, not exercise.
But I’m trying to get out again today.
So I ran early today, so long as early is a relative term. I stayed up watching Vancouver beat Anaheim in double overtime last night, so I didn’t roll out of bed till eight. I ran a nice easy 7.85, my longest run to date, around some new routes. Saw lots of people out and about this morning, made me wish I had a training partner for these longer days.
I found a summer hockey league. This means I’ll play a few more games as a guy without kids, and I’ll miss my first scheduled game in six years around the time our kid arrives. With the possibility of not skating all summer, I’ve contemplated buying a bike to add some summer cross training. But, I’ll put those thoughts on hold; I didn’t realize how expensive a bike could be. Hockey and running is enough of a balanced exercise routine for me.
Off to the bakery to see if they have any German Chocolate rolls left this late in the day.
But I’m trying to get out again today.
So I ran early today, so long as early is a relative term. I stayed up watching Vancouver beat Anaheim in double overtime last night, so I didn’t roll out of bed till eight. I ran a nice easy 7.85, my longest run to date, around some new routes. Saw lots of people out and about this morning, made me wish I had a training partner for these longer days.
I found a summer hockey league. This means I’ll play a few more games as a guy without kids, and I’ll miss my first scheduled game in six years around the time our kid arrives. With the possibility of not skating all summer, I’ve contemplated buying a bike to add some summer cross training. But, I’ll put those thoughts on hold; I didn’t realize how expensive a bike could be. Hockey and running is enough of a balanced exercise routine for me.
Off to the bakery to see if they have any German Chocolate rolls left this late in the day.
Monday, April 23, 2007
What have I done?
My interval run today totaled 6.5 miles, and I thought I totaled around 5.75 or so. Today was less than half a mile shorter than my long run from this past weekend. I feel great. I think I’ll run trails tomorrow.
Also, this month I’m on pace to spend more time running than playing hockey.
Also, this month I’m on pace to spend more time running than playing hockey.
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