OK, lots of stuff going on and no time to really blog well, so here is a little about a lot of different things.
The I Run Kids Marathon registration is going on right now. Kids can sign up until the end of the school year (and I let quite a few in afterwards too). There are quite a few new schools that are participating this year including the school where one of my running friends works at. I have no idea if we will have more or less kids that last year but fingers are crossed for more. A couple new public school also joined which is encouraging. Word of mouth is out there and people want in.
My daughter had her second track meet this past weekend. She ran the 800 (4 meters shy of a half mile) on Friday evening. She ran so well, I am again proud. She finished in a time of 3:00.94. Not too shabby for 10 years old. Saturday she ran a 1600 that was more like a cross country race than a track race. 2 hills on the course and 70% on grass. It was in the 80's and sunny but she gutted out a 7:18. She was so happy with her times.
My friend Paul just got done running The Great Wall Marathon in China. I haven't talked to him yet but can't wait to hear all about it.
Sunday was pretty warm in Wisconsin and that was the day of the Green Bay Marathon. Lots of people were not prepared enough for the race and many had to be treated so about 2 1/2 hours into the race, they cancelled it and closed the course. My friend Amy ran the half marathon and said it was really hot. She was fortunate enough to have finished before they closed it but her time way way off what she can normally do. I wonder what I would have done if they cancelled it when I was out there. Back in 2007 when I ran the Chicago Marathon in the Melt Down year, I was told the race was cancelled when I got to mile 24. I was hot and miserable but I kept going and finished anyways.
I had a bad weekend for running myself. I set out to do 10 miles on Saturday morning and only got 5 in as I just felt bad. Poor excuse, I know. After that run and 7 hours at the track meet under the sun, I was beat, dead tired and crashed pretty hard that night. I still have 2 weeks before the next race so time to get back at it.
So 2 weeks from now is the Decker's Creek Half Marathon in Morgantown, West Virginia. My first race in a long time so I am excited to see how I can do. The course looks like a pretty fast one (on paper) but it could be hot.Either way, it will be fun to be mixing it up again, even if it is only a half marathon.
The next weekend is the Ragnar Relay from Madison, WI to Chicago, IL. My team isn't fast but we will have fun. I think my total miles has increased to 37.5 miles for Ragnar. Pretty close to the Goof distance.
Then a week after that is the Great Milwaukee Race which is a clue solving, challenge race. That one is always fun as to where they take you and what crazy things they have you do. Looking forward to that one again.
I am planning an early August full marathon but not sure yet. Another crazy yet fun one.
Time sure does fly these days. So much going on and hard to get in all the running I feel I need to do.
Keep on Running!!!
Monday, May 21, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Proud Dad
I changed things up a little this past week. I ran a lot less. My reason? My knee had a little something going on. It is not he same pain and I wouldn't really call it pain, but it is something I am a little concerned about. So that is why I decided not to run on Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. At least it is one of the reason.
It is now Sunday evening and I can still feel 'something' in my knee. Not enough for me to take any more time off, I do plan on running on Monday, but enough that I am glad I didn't officially run this last weekend.
"Officially Run"? What does that mean? I did get some running in but not a constant distance. It was track meet weekend for my kids I coach. They had a meet on Thursday which I could not attend due to work (if was a meet beginning at 9:00AM) but I did attend the meets on Friday and Saturday. The running I did was back and forth, over and over, in the infield of the track cheering on my runners and relaying splits, letting them know to either speed up, slow down or just plain relax. Since there were 4 different 1600 meter races and 4 different 800 meter races I had kids in, I was back and forth quite a lot. The kids did well and had fun.
OK, now for the Dad Coach in me to come out. My oldest daughter, Melissa, was able to run in her first ever track meet on Friday. She is in 4th grade (10 years old) and not officially on the team since the school only has 5th through 8th grade on the team, but since I on of the coaches, she is allowed to run at all the practices and I was able to get her into a race this year. She ran on Friday in the 1600 and was really excited.
We planned on her trying to run a 7:30. I knew she would be able to, but would she be able to get through the pain associated with the last lap and a half of a 'mile' race. Our goal was to run 1:50 per lap which would translate to a 7:20 in the end. Easy numbers to remember. Her first 200 meters and also her first lap were really fast. Excitement! She settled in on lap 2 and 3 and then on the final lap, she didn't fade, she kept going strong and finished with a time of 7:05! I was so proud of her! She was so proud of herself! Of the 3 meets this year, her time is the second fastest on the team. OK, not too many girls have run this year in the 3 meets, but she did excellent. This Dad is smiling :)
I will continue to run this coming week. I have a little less than 3 weeks until my first race after the injury, a half marathon in West Virginia. I am excited and a little nervous. I want to run well (as always) but don't want to go through the pain of the IT thing again. I will keep rolling though and even bring the foam roller on the trip. I will...
Keep on Running!!!
It is now Sunday evening and I can still feel 'something' in my knee. Not enough for me to take any more time off, I do plan on running on Monday, but enough that I am glad I didn't officially run this last weekend.
"Officially Run"? What does that mean? I did get some running in but not a constant distance. It was track meet weekend for my kids I coach. They had a meet on Thursday which I could not attend due to work (if was a meet beginning at 9:00AM) but I did attend the meets on Friday and Saturday. The running I did was back and forth, over and over, in the infield of the track cheering on my runners and relaying splits, letting them know to either speed up, slow down or just plain relax. Since there were 4 different 1600 meter races and 4 different 800 meter races I had kids in, I was back and forth quite a lot. The kids did well and had fun.
OK, now for the Dad Coach in me to come out. My oldest daughter, Melissa, was able to run in her first ever track meet on Friday. She is in 4th grade (10 years old) and not officially on the team since the school only has 5th through 8th grade on the team, but since I on of the coaches, she is allowed to run at all the practices and I was able to get her into a race this year. She ran on Friday in the 1600 and was really excited.
We planned on her trying to run a 7:30. I knew she would be able to, but would she be able to get through the pain associated with the last lap and a half of a 'mile' race. Our goal was to run 1:50 per lap which would translate to a 7:20 in the end. Easy numbers to remember. Her first 200 meters and also her first lap were really fast. Excitement! She settled in on lap 2 and 3 and then on the final lap, she didn't fade, she kept going strong and finished with a time of 7:05! I was so proud of her! She was so proud of herself! Of the 3 meets this year, her time is the second fastest on the team. OK, not too many girls have run this year in the 3 meets, but she did excellent. This Dad is smiling :)
I will continue to run this coming week. I have a little less than 3 weeks until my first race after the injury, a half marathon in West Virginia. I am excited and a little nervous. I want to run well (as always) but don't want to go through the pain of the IT thing again. I will keep rolling though and even bring the foam roller on the trip. I will...
Keep on Running!!!
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Another Long One
I had a pretty good week of running. A ran 4 days including a long one on Saturday.
Twice in so many weeks, I was able to meet up with Amy for a long run. This time the rain was done before we started, not during it. I picked up Amy around 6:30 and this time we headed down to the lakefront to go on our long run. We were going to run the same route and path that the South Shore Half Marathon but keep going past the turn around and then a small loop before heading back.
I have a lot of friends that I run with but most of the time, I am the slower of the group or the faster runner so running with Amy is really nice. She and I are very close in our pace. We run side by side and don't have to wait or feel like we have to speed up to keep with each other. We get in some good talking along the way, that is until toward the end when the talk lessens as we tire.
This time we ended up going 20 miles on the path on a cool, slightly breezy morning. Since we were planning on going 20, I was nervous that I may have bitten of more than I could chew since 125 miles was the longest I had gone since my comeback. Amy had already did a 20 in preparation for the Madison Marathon in 3 weeks and this would be her last long run before it. Through 14, we both were feeling great and then my legs started to feel tired. I had planned to take a Gu at 15 so I kept the pace hoping for the best but ready to let Amy go ahead. Our pace was about 8:57 at this time and after my 15 mile Gu, we kept it up and I felt a little better.
Unlike last week, this week our Garmins were not in sync. As we ran, my Garmin was ahead of hers by almost 0.01 per mile. As I reached 20 miles, her Garmin had 0.15 to go so we kept going until hers hit 20. We made it and both of us pretty tired but glad to be finished. We finished at a pace of 8:55 per mile.
It was a good run and on the way back, we treated ourselves to some chocolate milk and then a 20 minute or so ride home. It was good to be home and relax for awhile. There will most likely not be a long run for me next weekend as I am coaching at 2 track meets on Friday and Saturday. I am excited to see how my kids do in there meets coming up. They have worked hard over the last few weeks of such a short track season. And there are a couple kids who really put their hearts into the workouts and really tried to learn what they could. I hope they all do well in their races.
Only 4 weeks until my first race after my injury. A Half Marathon. I am looking forward to it.
Keep on Running!!!
Twice in so many weeks, I was able to meet up with Amy for a long run. This time the rain was done before we started, not during it. I picked up Amy around 6:30 and this time we headed down to the lakefront to go on our long run. We were going to run the same route and path that the South Shore Half Marathon but keep going past the turn around and then a small loop before heading back.
I have a lot of friends that I run with but most of the time, I am the slower of the group or the faster runner so running with Amy is really nice. She and I are very close in our pace. We run side by side and don't have to wait or feel like we have to speed up to keep with each other. We get in some good talking along the way, that is until toward the end when the talk lessens as we tire.
This time we ended up going 20 miles on the path on a cool, slightly breezy morning. Since we were planning on going 20, I was nervous that I may have bitten of more than I could chew since 125 miles was the longest I had gone since my comeback. Amy had already did a 20 in preparation for the Madison Marathon in 3 weeks and this would be her last long run before it. Through 14, we both were feeling great and then my legs started to feel tired. I had planned to take a Gu at 15 so I kept the pace hoping for the best but ready to let Amy go ahead. Our pace was about 8:57 at this time and after my 15 mile Gu, we kept it up and I felt a little better.
Unlike last week, this week our Garmins were not in sync. As we ran, my Garmin was ahead of hers by almost 0.01 per mile. As I reached 20 miles, her Garmin had 0.15 to go so we kept going until hers hit 20. We made it and both of us pretty tired but glad to be finished. We finished at a pace of 8:55 per mile.
It was a good run and on the way back, we treated ourselves to some chocolate milk and then a 20 minute or so ride home. It was good to be home and relax for awhile. There will most likely not be a long run for me next weekend as I am coaching at 2 track meets on Friday and Saturday. I am excited to see how my kids do in there meets coming up. They have worked hard over the last few weeks of such a short track season. And there are a couple kids who really put their hearts into the workouts and really tried to learn what they could. I hope they all do well in their races.
Only 4 weeks until my first race after my injury. A Half Marathon. I am looking forward to it.
Keep on Running!!!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
No Need to Cancel
100 miles seemed to be an easy accomplishment in the past. Before January, I had hit 100 miles for each month (except one) for something like 3 years. The injuries I did get were small enough to keep running through them. That was until this January of course. Even though I ran 2 full marathons and a half marathon in January, because of my IT injury, I only totaled about 75 miles. Lots of rest between the races and then no running after.
In March, I slowly began to run again after therapy and now in April, I am doing long(er) runs and on Saturday, I passed 100 miles for April. It is good to be (mostly) back.
On Saturday, I had planned on running with Amy on her long run as she prepares for the Madison Marathon in late May. I was going to run whatever distance she wanted to up to 20 and hopefully be able to keep up with her and not crash at the end. We planned on running early and going to the same trail I ran on last weekend because she had not run on it yet. Having plans for a run make it a ton harder to cancel which helped this time.
Friday night caused me some worry as the forecast called for rain all morning and into the afternoon. I had already checked the schedule for the Pettit Center but they were not opening for runners until 9:00. I woke up in the middle of the night to rain already but we had already planned to run in the rain so we were not cancelling. I woke up again a little after 4 and the rain had stopped but the radar showed more on the way. I picker Amy up at 5:30 and we headed to the trail starting a little after 6:00. We go lucky for 6 miles and had no rain. Then a little started, then a lot came down. We chose to only go 15 since the rain was coming and at the half way point, a full 7 1/2 miles from the car, the rain was coming down hard. We laughed about it and turned back toward the car, into the wind, and into some tiny, stinging hail. We must have run in the pouring rain for about 2 miles before it let up some. As much as it was cold and wet, we actually were having some fun talking and enjoying the scenery.
The rain stopped for the final 3 miles or so and we finished feeling pretty good at an average pace of under 9:00/mile. It was a good run!
It is now turning to the month of May and the spring marathon season. While I am not planning a spring marathon, I am planning on a half marathon in early June and lots of other fun running events in June. As long as I keep icing my knee and doing my rolling, I hope things continue to look up for my running. And I hope things are looking up for your running too.
Keep on Running!!!
In March, I slowly began to run again after therapy and now in April, I am doing long(er) runs and on Saturday, I passed 100 miles for April. It is good to be (mostly) back.
On Saturday, I had planned on running with Amy on her long run as she prepares for the Madison Marathon in late May. I was going to run whatever distance she wanted to up to 20 and hopefully be able to keep up with her and not crash at the end. We planned on running early and going to the same trail I ran on last weekend because she had not run on it yet. Having plans for a run make it a ton harder to cancel which helped this time.
Friday night caused me some worry as the forecast called for rain all morning and into the afternoon. I had already checked the schedule for the Pettit Center but they were not opening for runners until 9:00. I woke up in the middle of the night to rain already but we had already planned to run in the rain so we were not cancelling. I woke up again a little after 4 and the rain had stopped but the radar showed more on the way. I picker Amy up at 5:30 and we headed to the trail starting a little after 6:00. We go lucky for 6 miles and had no rain. Then a little started, then a lot came down. We chose to only go 15 since the rain was coming and at the half way point, a full 7 1/2 miles from the car, the rain was coming down hard. We laughed about it and turned back toward the car, into the wind, and into some tiny, stinging hail. We must have run in the pouring rain for about 2 miles before it let up some. As much as it was cold and wet, we actually were having some fun talking and enjoying the scenery.
The rain stopped for the final 3 miles or so and we finished feeling pretty good at an average pace of under 9:00/mile. It was a good run!
It is now turning to the month of May and the spring marathon season. While I am not planning a spring marathon, I am planning on a half marathon in early June and lots of other fun running events in June. As long as I keep icing my knee and doing my rolling, I hope things continue to look up for my running. And I hope things are looking up for your running too.
Keep on Running!!!
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Not Just the Easy Run or the Long Run
Since my injury earlier this year, I have not done any really hard runs. I have done a lot of easy 5 milers and I have done a few longer runs, 8, 11, 15. But I have been neglecting the harder run, the track workout, the tempo run, the fartlek, the hills. I decided to finally stop that. If I am going to get back to the level I was before (and hopefully further), I need to get in those speed workout too.
Monday, I did a pseudo tempo run. I started with 3 easy miles then decided to pick it up and tempo it back in. My final 2 miles were 7:24 & 7:26. They were hard and I felt out of shape doing them, but I did it and it was good.
Today I decided to hit the hills. About 2 miles from my work, there is a really nice hill to run repeats on. I have run them many times. So I decided to go and run 4 repeats. I kept getting faster as I continued on. It was difficult and I am sure they were not as fast as I had done them before. But the part that was encouraging was when I was done doing my cool down back to work. It felt easy and fast. I need to keep remembering that these hard workouts really do help.
I think I was avoiding them for a few weeks because I thought that running harder may make my IT sore. Good News, did not happen.
I have another long run planned for this weekend with a friend. Not sure if we are going only 15 or all the way to 20. Either way it should be fun.
Keep on Running!!!
Monday, I did a pseudo tempo run. I started with 3 easy miles then decided to pick it up and tempo it back in. My final 2 miles were 7:24 & 7:26. They were hard and I felt out of shape doing them, but I did it and it was good.
Today I decided to hit the hills. About 2 miles from my work, there is a really nice hill to run repeats on. I have run them many times. So I decided to go and run 4 repeats. I kept getting faster as I continued on. It was difficult and I am sure they were not as fast as I had done them before. But the part that was encouraging was when I was done doing my cool down back to work. It felt easy and fast. I need to keep remembering that these hard workouts really do help.
I think I was avoiding them for a few weeks because I thought that running harder may make my IT sore. Good News, did not happen.
I have another long run planned for this weekend with a friend. Not sure if we are going only 15 or all the way to 20. Either way it should be fun.
Keep on Running!!!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Meeting the Ragnars
Last night, my Ragnar Relay team had a short little meeting. I was a true meeting for me since I only knew 1 member of the team. So I met Scott, Rob, and Paul. I already knew Brian so the only member of the team missing was Tricia. As you can see, we are a 6 member team so we qualify as an "ultra" team. Most teams have 12 members.
What is a Ragnar Relay? Ragnar is a running relay race. There are a whole bunch of them all over the country but the one I am going to be doing starts in Madison, WI, runs through Milwaukee, WI, and the culminates in Chicago, IL. The race is about 200 miles long so we will be running through the night. The race is broken into 36 different "legs" of various distances. Normally with a team of 12, each runner will run 3 different legs with a long time in between. With an Ultra Team, each runner does 6 different legs. Out team has chosen to run 2 legs per time.
Our meeting was not much about Ragnar. We did get to discussing 'business' after awhile, but it was more about getting to know the new guys, cracking jokes, and having a couple "dollar burgers" at the bar. Eventually we talked about who would be running which legs. Turns out I have been given the anchor legs. I hope I run like I have an anchor around my waist. I will be running about 36 miles over the roughly 30 hours we will be out there. As much as I like to run as fast as I can, and I will do my best, our team is not about competing. We will be out there just having fun and being crazy. It sounds like most of the team runs pretty close to the same pace so that is good.
Only about 6 weeks until the race so the excitement is building.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Finally to 200
It took awhile but I finally made it to 200 miles for the year. Of course the injury and over 10 weeks of no running were to blame, but I am getting back to it. I think I will even get over 100 miles for April. Usually I am around 500 miles by this time of year. I have no ambitions of "catching up" though. That may have been part of the problem, too many miles.
I passed 200 on my long run this weekend. Paul and I ran a 15 miler Saturday morning. Paul had just completed to Whideby Island Marathon last weekend but wanted to do another long run this weekend. So since he was a bit tired from that one, he didn't mind running a little slower in case there was a problem with my knee/IT Band. We took a slightly hilly course but it is a nice trail. Turns out I was able make it the whole 15 miles without pain.
I did start to lose it a bit after 13. Seems my endurance was lost a bit over my break. Paul and I did finish with a pace just under 9:00 so that isn't too bad. I may get in an even longer run next weekend but that depends on how far a friend of mine wants to go.
Things are looking up for a few late spring races I want to do now that I can go the distance without pain.
Keep on Running!!!
I passed 200 on my long run this weekend. Paul and I ran a 15 miler Saturday morning. Paul had just completed to Whideby Island Marathon last weekend but wanted to do another long run this weekend. So since he was a bit tired from that one, he didn't mind running a little slower in case there was a problem with my knee/IT Band. We took a slightly hilly course but it is a nice trail. Turns out I was able make it the whole 15 miles without pain.
I did start to lose it a bit after 13. Seems my endurance was lost a bit over my break. Paul and I did finish with a pace just under 9:00 so that isn't too bad. I may get in an even longer run next weekend but that depends on how far a friend of mine wants to go.
Things are looking up for a few late spring races I want to do now that I can go the distance without pain.
Keep on Running!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
