Almost a year...of nothin'

It's been almost a year since my last post, which wasn't about running at all.

So I'm back into it an doing triathlon training - for real this time. No....really...I am. I even have a training plan that I am following on BeginnerTriathlete.com, so there.

So I'm hoping that being a multisport athlete won't beat the hell outta me and also cuase me to train in a different way allowing my to build up around my hip issues.

So there it is.

Whether it be bike, swim or run, see ya out there!

My First Skydive video....

I posted this here because FB wouldn't work and YouTube claimed some copyright infringement, so they disabled the audio. Let's hope this sticks.

We interrupt our regularly scheduled...

posting to talk about...

SKYDIVING!!!!

I did my first jump yesterday and now when I hear a small plane fly over, I look to the sky, not necessarily expecting jumpers, but still looking nonetheless. And for the rest of my life, whenever I see jumpers, I'm going to be jealous I'm not with them.

Chicago Marathon plans are scrapped...

Hip problems have pulled me up short on all of my runs lately. I am now going to focus on training for Disney. First a visit to a sports physician will be necessary.

Yesterday's easy 3 mile run had my left hip and right hamstring feeling like they were going to snap. That must be related. I can't see how those two issues are coincidental.

The week in review...

Tuesday was supposed to be 15 miles, but ended up being 10.5 - chalk it up to poor diet and lack of rest the days prior. I felt like going fast on Wednesday, so I benchmarked my mile.

6:12!!!!

That's a full twelve seconds off my PR for the mile. I am totally stoked!

Today was 17 miles and I forgot how hard that can be to bounce back. Oy!

Here's my splits (first 5 2.5 mile "laps"):

1 - 22:45 avg 150 bpm
2 - 23:51 avg 148 bpm - 9:32 pace
3 - 23:20 avg 150 bpm - 9:20 pace
4 - 24:35 avg 146 bpm - 9:50 pace - long uphill
5 - 23:44 avg 146 bpm - 9:29 pace

The next 3 splits are 1 mile in length as I hit the end of my route where I had discrete 1 mile lengths I could use. These were done as part of the last 4.5 miles of the course:

1 - 8:33 avg 150 bpm
2 - 8:19 avg 148 bpm
3 - 8:25 avg 153 bpm (that's just weird)

So, I'm pretty pleased. The overall time was 2:40:13 for 17 miles which makes it a 9:25 pace.

Chicago Rock N Roll Half Marathon

My diet sucked the day before and I only had about 4 hours of sleep....

I happy that there's such a thing as Powerbars.

Overall time was 2:00:06. I'm too tired to share thoughts about the run right now. It's time for a nap.

Picked up my race packet today...

And am getting set. No big deal really, I mean, c'mon, it's 13.1 miles....whoop-dee-frickin-doo...

Let's call it practice for setting up for the marathon in October...

Bib# 12085. Corral 12, which is 2:15. I don't think I'll be that slow. I do have a strategy which is to stay in my lower zone for the first 9 or so miles and then pick it up.

I'm going to have an insanely tough time reining it in.

While I'm here and not that I won't be thanking everyone through other means - but a sincere and heartfelt thank-you to everyone that has donated to my cause so far. If you're reading this and haven't done so, please give your consideration to it and use the link in the column to the right of this post.

Now I have something to write about...

I sent a message out via Facebook asking my friends to donate to my cause. One of my friends did something completely unexpected, and posted an article on Associated Content here. In that article, he used the word "inspiring". I was immediately humbled.

While it's my life's goal to become a positive force for change, I at times feel that I am missing the mark. Call it getting bogged down in the pettiness of life. What does this make me other than "human", but I can't help but feel convicted by this word "inspiring".

Before I continue to wax rhapsodic, it's important to note that this effort isn't about me, but if one bleats too often about how they are part of something so much bigger than they are, are they not resorting to puffery. I'll endeavor to stay down-to-earth in my musings going forward.

So, in feeling convicted, I am called on not only to persevere, but to excel. It is in that effort that I give honor to my father's memory and provide an example to my children, which I hope they carry with them for the rest of their lives.

It's been a long time...

But today was 8 miles in prep for the Chicago Rock n Roll Half Marathon. I've gotten myself down to an 8:58 pace for 8 miles and I ran the first mile in 7:20. I had some hills to contend with, so I'm hoping the flatter Chicago course will give me a faster time.

BTW - I topped my 5 mile pace the other day, and brought that in at 40:10.

No cerebral musings for now - I'm too hungry.

See ya out there!

Long time...no posts...

But the runs have continued...I've posted a 5, 8, 5, 10 and 5 mile run respectively. The last 5 miler was done in 45:26 IN ZONE!!!! That just rocks on many levels!!! I'm turning the corner on cardio health.

On another note - I foolishly asked the thought of an English Lit major(who happens to be smarter than I) about the blog. Not my brightest moment, because what has this been but fodder for an Excel spreadsheet? That said, I am going to take the time to post my musings from my runs. I'll preface those with the actual technical information from my runs on the off chance that no one really cares what I think, which I stipulate is highly probable. One hopes that hours in my head might actually lead to some interesting distinctions. Anything that speaks directly to private individuals will be censored...

Nothing for today, sadly(or is it happily?)...but you've been warned.

IT'S ON!!!

Just a quick update - the knee feels great! Time to kick fundraising into gear!

I shouldn't bitch....

But I am going to anyway....THAT SUCKED!

I did 5 miles today starting at 9am. I wanted to get a sense for the humidity that I know I am going to be dealing with in the Rock & Roll Half marathon on August 2nd. It also didn't help that it's been six weeks since I've run and I am dealing with the last vestiges of a cold (all the sinus crap that lags behind).

5 miles in 52 min and some change. After about 30 minutes, I really didn't care how long I took. I just wanted to stay in zone and finish.

I really need to make sure I do this right. Time to get back in touch with my running coach!!!

Have fun out there! Stay hydrated runners!!!

Wisdom won out...

And I decided to get some rest this week. I also took note of the fact that I passed out on the couch after eating dinner. Methinks I'm a smidge tired.

So, I am going to rest and try to beat out this cold.

Have fun out there runners! My thoughts are with you!

Bagged the workouts after Friday

I did my 900yds on Friday and then took over a different mode of living for a couple of days, so I bagged the workouts. Feel a cold coming on but am going to ignore signs that I should take a break and swim 1250yds tonight.

I must be an idiot.

On another note, provided I can beat the cold, I start running on Saturday!!!

900 yds in the pool again...

Wow...this is kinda tiring. I gotta make sure I stay fueled.

Today is another two workout day. Thinking that maybe I need to up my caloric intake so as not to scavenge my body.

Here's the workout if you missed it in a previous post:

1x200
4x100
4x50
4x25

I try to "sprint" the 50's and 25's to some degree to push myself. The 200 was dog slow, but the point right now is aerobic conditioning.

My knee is getting better. I'm finding that I respond well to exercise. Maybe it's psycho-somatic or I'm just plain psychotic...

The telling day will be August 2, when I run the Chicago Half.

See ya out there!

Leg workout...

I'm taking a count of people that REALLY like having to climb stairs after a heavy leg workout. A show of hands please? Yeah...that's what I thought. Today was:

Leg Press
Calf Raises
Hamstring Curls
Leg Extensions
Hip Adductor

I'm tired!

more swimming....

I'm using a program that would get me to the swimmer's mile, which is 1650 yds. This is done assuming that I would not be able to run, but since that isn't the case, I don't imagine myself getting there in six weeks.

Today was:

1x200
4x100
4x50
4x25

For a total of 900 yards...

Tonight is a leg workout. I do upper body at home, consisting of pull ups, push-ups and ab work. I'd like to see this program stick to some degree. The upper body stuff is no problem, but when I start putting distance on, I'd still like to lift.

Much better...

I swam last night and did a leg workout today. The workout only took about 25 minutes, but we're not talking about anything complicated here.

The one muscle group in my legs I failed to work today was my calves. Other than that it was simply leg press, extensions and curls.

According to the physical therapist, I should stay away from running for about 2 weeks. At this point I think I will take her advice.

Swimming...

Still swimming for another week or two and going to incorporate lifting to get some strength into my legs...

Tonight was:

4x100
4x50
4x25

For a grand total of 700 yards again. I'm tired!

See ya out there!

BTW - The half marathon and full marathon? THEY ARE ON BABY!!!!!

YES!!!!

No meniscal tear, so no surgery.

Turns out it was a bone contusion caused by poor tracking of my patella. Time for PT.

The physical therapist's name is Usha. Wish me luck on that one.