The Door County Long Run (In Reverse)

I woke up this morning to pouring rain. Not a good sign for a long run so I delayed it a bit. We ended up meeting my parents in Peninsula State Park for a hike in the late morning after the rained have ended and the sun came out. The winds were blowing but temps were good. My parents agreed to watch the kids while I ran back to the hotel they were staying at.

The run was not the way I had planned it before I came up. I actually did 2 things differently. 1.) I ran the course backwards and 2.) I ran mostly on roads and the tree cover was so much that the GPS for my Garmin was in and out quite often not allowing an accurate distance measurement and that happened to come true.

1 mile into the run and I hit the first somewhat big hill. No problem as I cruised up it and kept going. Running in the middle of this park is nice as there few cars that go by and only a few bikers. Only me, the road, and nature. After 2 miles I know the GPS is off as I know I did not run a 10 minute mile there. My first break was right were I started 5 miles into the run. A little water and a Gu and a pebble removal for the shoe and I continue on. I see the others coming back from their hike, say a quick hello, give a quick "air hug" to my kids and off I go. Air hugs are hugs where you do not touch as I was quite sweaty.

I get to the park entrance at close to mile 10 and take break number 2. As I run though the town of Fish Creek (a quaint little touristy town with lots of shops and B&B's), I see 2 of my uncles entering a pub. "Have one for me" I yell to them and I continue on. I get to Hair Pin Turn hill and this goes on for awhile as I turn onto Gibraltar Bluff Road. When will this hill end??? I get to the end of this road and as I turn, I scare up a small deer that darts out of the bushes and jogs around a clump of trees. Beautiful deer. This is about the time I notice my legs are starting to not feel so good. I am about 14 miles in and the hills have taken their toll on my. I knew my pace was slowing but I wasn't sure how much as the GPS was unreliable.

I go down a steep decline to White Cliff road and really feel tired. I keep going but need a break after only 2 miles. I am drained and I know I did not eat enough before hand and the Gu wasn't doing the trick. I also did not get enough rest the night before. I get to Egg Harbor (these towns have interesting names huh) and still have about 2 more miles. I hit a short but steep hill in town and have to walk some. I then keep going and have 1 more big long hill ahead of me. It is the longest and tallest so I dig deep and struggle my way to the top. As I turn the last turn, I get to the entrance to the hotel complex right at 2 hours, 29 minutes, and 56 seconds (yes, i ran 4 more seconds and stopped the watch right at 3 hours even.

I am tired and glad to be done. My ankle is sore but I can still move. I don't know my distance yet but the GPS says 18.68 miles. I know this is off and I did check on line at Gmap-pedometer and clocked it there. I was right, it was way off. I actually ran 19.70 miles. Had I known this, I would have ran 0.3 miles more but I had enough. So my pace ended up at 9:09 per mile, the exact pace for a 4 hour marathon but there was no way I could have kept that up for 6.5 more miles.

I recovered rather quickly by being in the pool as the kids were in there for another 2 1/2 hours. Like I said, they love to swim.

Dinner was nice as most of my cousins and their kids and all my aunt and uncles on my mom's side were up there. Lots of nice conversations, cute little babies to see, and of course, good food. We pack up and leave tomorrow but I think 1 more trip to Wilson's is in order. I am driving my cousin Scott to the Milwaukee airport from here. It will be nice to spend about 3 hours talking to him. He is a scientist at the University of North Carolina and we talk running a lot when we see each other. He used to run but only up to 12 miles at a time, still not bad at all.

This long run obviously did not give me confidence but I know what I did wrong and what to improve on. My ankle is still an issue but as it is adjusted, I am told it will still be sore due to the new positions of the bones. This was the case with my back as well.

Kids Love To Have Fun

I did a morning run again on Thursday. I felt sluggish again and just didn't feel like fighting it so I did my 5 miles @ 8:42 pace. I got it done early so I could take 2 of the 3 princesses with me up to Door County. That is where I am writing this post from. Actually I am at my campsite in the Pop-up since the campground has Wi-Fi. I did take some pictures while I was up here to show you all the beauty of Door County and I will post them soon. I just hope they can show the real beauty but I suppose that is the case with all places.

Thursday I drove the Melissa (7 1/2) and Megan (5) first up to Green Bay. This is almost on the way. We stopped at Bay Beach Amusement Park. This is a great little park with cheap rides for kids and teenagers. I think it was listed in the top 10 of some list of cheap family amusement places. It was drizzling a little but not enough to stop us from doing the Ferris wheel, small train and bumper cars and having them ride the Merry-Go-Round, Scrambler, spinning swings and various small rides for the little ones. Each ride is only 25 or 50 cents each. Like I said, a great place for little kids.

After about 2 hours, we left for the 1 hour ride to Door County. We got there, set up camp and then the rains came. Good time for a short nap. After the rain stopped, a short ride to Wilson's for dinner and Ice Cream (of Course), a trip to the indoor pool and a small campfire and off to bed.

Friday was a gorgeous day so I took them biking in Peninsula State Park. We did about 10 miles or so and them took in some sights from the tower and the bluff lookouts. We even saw a bald eagle on a perch looking over the water. I wish I had my camera, it was beautiful. Another trip to Wilson's for more Ice Cream (can you tell I like this place) and then a short swim in the lake. The water was not too cold but not warm either. We then hooked up with my parents at the hotel they were at and the kids went swimming for 3 hours. I think they like to swim. Melissa can now even swim on her own finally. She need practice of course but she will jump into the deep end, pop up and swim to the edge. Dinner with my family and the some Wii as my brother took it up. Melissa is actually a good bowler for never trying it before. Just the weirdest approach you have ever seen though with a front leg kick at then end.

Long run in the morning so I will post that in a different post.

A Few Short Runs and Time to Leave

I have had 2 more runs now since the last appointment to adjust my ankle. Yesterday was an easy 5 miler on the track at the high school near my house. I took my oldest princess along and she ran a few laps as I ran my 5 miles. I ran at an average of 8:28 while she ran a total of 4 laps. She was able to mark off another mile on her log sheet for the Kid's Marathon though.

This morning, I woke up early and was running on the track once again at 6:00AM. I was feeling quite sluggish and I didn't fight it. I just went easy and didn't feel particularly well. I ended up running 6 miles at an average of 8:48. I was surprised it was actually that fast.

Tomorrow will be another easy 5 on the track in the morning before I leave with 2 of the princesses to Door County. I am really looking forward to my 20+ miler on Saturday morning. My plan is to end it by jumping into the lake to cool off. I hope the water isn't too cold.

You may be wondering why I run on the track so often instead of going on a route. Well, when I was with my daughter, it was because the track is fenced in and I can watch her closely to make sure she is safe. In the mornings I run there right after I wake up. Usually on a long run, I will wake up early and sit around for an hour or so to let my body wake up and "let nature takes it's course" In the mornings before work, I don't have that much time so the track offers a nice portolet that is nice and easy to use quickly. Laps are not all that bad to run. I usually change lanes every lap to keep it a little more interesting and helps me keep track of the number of laps I have run. So tomorrow I will run to the track and run 17 laps, 2 laps in each lane and 3 in lane 8, then a 1/4 mile run home and 5 miles will be done.

The Road to Ankle Recovery

I know you have been reading about my issues with my ankle recently so I broke down on Friday morning and made an appointment to see the chiropractor. I didn't know if he would be able to help my ankle at all but I was due for a regular adjustment. Once I met with him, he said of course he could help me out. This made me feel better as the less the number of doctors I need to go to, the better. I had my regular adjustment and then he took some X-Rays of my ankle. He then proceeded to adjust my ankle and the rest of my feet. He cracked my toes which felt odd and hurt a bit but I guess they needed it. I went back today and the X-Rays showed that there is a bone between my heel bone and by leg bone (sorry, I don't remember what the name was) is out of position and he says that is my problem. He adjusted it again and I need to go back again on Wednesday.

Since my ankle was so sore recently, I took the whole weekend off. I didn't run until this evening. I ended up taking the family camping at our Church's Family Camp out. We all had a good time and I was able to stay up late out at a campfire late with other people, something I don't get to do often. Friday night, I stayed out until 1:45 AM. This is very late for me. the corn on the cob wasn't even put on the grill over the campfire until 12:30 AM. I had to wait until then. Saturday night I stayed up until 2:30 AM. We had a wonderful time around the fire just talking about anything, staring up at the stars watching a few shooting stars and seeing a few satellites going by.

Well, like I said, I did finally get a run in today. I ran after my volleyball match (we only won 1 of 3 but they were very close) and got in 9 miles. My ankle was sore during the run but it settled in after about a half mile. I ended up averaging 8:44 per mile but I wasn't going for speed. It was raining lightly the entire run which felt good and it was quite dark at certain parts along the bike trail in the wood but the rest of the run had lights. I plan on continuing the running hoping the chiropractor will adjust and fix the problem. Tomorrow will be something like a 5 miler and maybe a double run on Wednesday. I am off work this week so my schedule is all screwed up so hopefully I will keep the running together.

I am taking the 2 oldest princesses with me to Door County this weekend starting on Thursday morning. This place is absolutely beautiful and I love going up there. I will try to get some good pictures to share. I really want a retirement home up there someday. I am planning a long run up there. My mom will watch the kids while I go out for hopefully a 20+ miler. My plan is to run from the hotel complex all my relatives are staying at just south of Egg Harbor all the way through the side roads to Fish Creek. I will then enter Peninsula State Park (the place I ran the Door County Half Marathon) and run through there until I get to 20 or so miles. All my extended family meets there for a hike along the trails so I will plan on meeting them at the start. Ideally I would like to stash some clean clothes at the park and hop in the lake to clean off a little before the hike. I don't think they all want to smell how I will after a long run without cleaning up some.

I wish you all could join me for a run up there. It is a great place to run. I would even buy the ice cream at Wilson's afterwards. Mmmmmmm Wilson's.

Fartleks - It Has Been A Long time

I ran again today with Mike after work. After deciding not to do hills since Mike's knee was a little sore, we decided to do 5.5 miles with Fartleks in the middle. We set off at an easy pace of about 8:40 or so and then after 2.25 miles, we started the fartleks. We ended up running 8 sets of fast for 1 minute, slow for 1 minute. This took us about 1.5 miles out and then a nice easy run back to work to finish. It felt good today for me. I could feel my ankle but it was the usual.

That was until I went to the grocery store to get supplies for camping this weekend. While walking through the store, my ankle just kept getting more and more sore. Not to the point where I couldn't walk or anything, but just to the edge of almost limping a little. Now I am starting to get a little worried about this. I have twisted my ankle before and even did it once during a track workout, but this feels different. The soreness feels like it is in the middle of the ankle just below the ankle bone but above the heal. I am due for a check up with the doctor so maybe it is time to make an appointment and get this checked out as well.

Like I said, I am camping this weekend so i was planning on a 13 miler Friday morning before we leave. I have now decided to scratch that plan and give it a full 2 or 3 days rest from running. Am I disappointed? You bet! But this may be nothing. the uncertainty is not fun. I don't go to the doctor often, which I know is not a good thing, but I think now is the time. I am off work all next week so maybe I can make an appointment then. I have a nice long run planned for next weekend that I would really like to do. I will be in Door County and would love to run from Egg Harbor through Fish Creek and add about 10 more miles in Peninsula State Park to make it at least 20. We will see.

In other news, I saw something yesterday I don't see often at all and it made me really think. I was grocery shopping (again) and as I left, I saw an lady with a shopping cart full or groceries being arrested for shoplifting. he police were waiting for her and the store knew she was going to do this as she had been for a few days. At first I was feeling like it is a good thing and that what she did was wrong and she deserves to be arrested as stealing is wrong. But as I thought about it, I still feel her arrest is the right thing, but I wonder what led her to do this. It is possible she was just a petty thief and this was a log time coming. But what is she is on hard times and can't afford to feel her family (I am only speculating here). If this is the case, she still should not have done what she did, but I wish someone would lead her to a help center to a church that could help her. I know my church helps out those in need even if they are not members of the church. Anyways, I said some prayers for her last night in hopes she will get herself or her situation figured out.

The economy is real bad for some out there. I just hope people make the right decisions during hard times.

What is Between an Easy Run and a Tempo Run?

My ankle still seems to be giving me some problems. It seems to be quite sore when I start and then after about 12 mile, it goes mostly (not completely) away. Then on and off during the day it is sore and not sore. I wish I knew what it was but I can still run so that is a positive.

Monday was 8 miles at 8:29 pace before Volleyball. I felt good and the pace was almost completely even the entire way. Then we ended up only winning 1 of 3 games at V-Ball. Should have won 2 but oh well, it was still fun.

Yesterday was a nice 5 miler with Mike. We ran not a Tempo but not an easy run either, well, at least for me, for Mike it was an easy run. First 3 miles we at an average of 8:13 then mile 4 was a 7:50. The last mile we picked it up and with a nice finish, we ended that mile at 6:54. That felt really good. As usual, we stopped a the the platform scale to weigh ourselves. I keep telling people I want to lose about 15 pounds to get that marathon time down and I always get the same look and responses. The ole why do you need to lose weight or where do you plan on losing it from. I am 6' 2" tall so I guess I can weigh more because I am tall, but I still want to be lighter. Right now I am going at 182. My goal would be to get to 170. I am the same height as I was in college when I was weighing 160 and running great. Just want to get those last few off now.

I do use the weight thing as an excuse (jokingly) as to why I run slower that some of the guys I run with. I say stuff like my weight/pace per mile is as fast as them. Hey, it sounds good!

Today is a planned 5 miler while the oldest is at Gymnastics. I hope the ankle is not an issue but I will see.

Hills and Long Run

The last 2 days brought about 2 harder workouts. First of all on Thursday, Mike and I tackled Mountain Rd for some hill reps. It was the first time Mike and I have run together in quite a while. He had hurt his knee and wasn't running too much so it was nice to finally run with another person.

We ran our 2 mile warm up and then did 5 reps up the hill. We sprinted the last one pretty fast which felt very good but really drained me. A nice slow cool down was needed and run.

Today I decided to run my long run for the weekend. I need to be home in the morning. So I went close to the lake again for a nice 20 miler. It was cool here today. I think the temp was in the upper 60's when I started with a threat of some rain. I started a little fast for the first 2 miles then I hit a hill for mile 3 and slowed. The rain started but very lightly and felt good. I was in and out of the trees as I was on a bike trail that wound back and forth through parks and along parkways. After 4 miles, I was able to pick it up some and turned around a little past 10 miles at an average of 8:43.

After turning around, i kept the same pace as I took breaks only every 5 miles for some Gu and water. I started to feel fatigue at about mile 17 but knew I had a good downhill coming. That mile was good but then when the hill was over, I was still a bit slow. I pushed the last mile and a half and finished 20.5 miles in 2:58:30 for an average of 8:42. Would I have liked to go a little faster? Sure, but I was still satisfied with this run. It was the longest run I have done in awhile. I was feeling kinda hungry toward the end so if I have a little more food in me at the start and a little more fuel with me, I think I could have kept that pace for at least a few more miles. Maybe even an entire marathon.

I plan on taking tomorrow off from running. My ankle was a little sore on the run and more so afterwards so I iced it.

In other news, the T-Shirts for the Kid's Marathon arrived today. I handed out a few to those who has signed up though my work or had a school representative I worked with. They turned out good. At the school my daughter attends, I plan on handing out the shirts at the Family Fun Run. I emailed the group today saying to show up on Sunday and get their shirts so hopefully there will be a few more that show up Sunday. I guess we will see.