30 minutes

Ran for 30 minutes this morning. No issues with the calf. This is the old injury from the March 15 half marathon. With only a couple of weeks out, I'm not optimistic that it will be strong enough to run the race, and I'm not up for reinjury. The plan is to try to get in a couple of moderately long runs over the next couple of weeks to see how they feel, then decide whether or not I have to defer the race to let the calf fully heal.

You'll see my progress here.

One More

Got in another 5 today. It felt OK, not great, but pretty good, better than yesterday. It was much cooler. Took Child 2 with me. He chattered for 4 miles then fell sound asleep in the last mile. He slept in the stroller while I chatted for 15 minutes with a neighbor then in the front yard for probably another 40 minutes while we prepped dinner. Very worried about this marathon. My "training" has been a joke.

Orphan Children

I'm here. I've been fitfully running and stressing at my lack of preparation. I've got a plan for this month. You'll see it unfold in the coming weeks -- I'm not going to talk about it, I'm just going to do it. We were away last week, I only got in one run. I ran about 3 times the week before and just did a wilting-in-the-heat run today. Sorry for being so absent, I'm glad that you've been carrying on.

Run 23

I got out for just less than 30 minutes in the Park last night. I gave it one last try and decided that I'm just not an iPod runner. For so many reasons, I just don't want to deal with the iPod while running. I think I gave it a fair trial. Enough on that.

Hoping to get through my week with a schedule of short runs and then put on some miles this weekend. But I am focusing now only on Wednesday's run. Will check in then.

Spring Weekend

No running this weekend, but I spent three hours raking and mowing my 1/2 acre, and for good measure replaced the gutters, and screens on the porch and kitchen doors. I can still see Lake Champlain from the porch (the green isn't fully back on the trees) so I sat for an hour and nursed a Molson Canadian after packing away the yard tools. Not a bad way to spend a late Saturday afternoon, especially with temps in the mid-80s.

Running tonight, fingers crossed that no crises intervene.

Back 2

5 miles, 43:41. No pain. Trying not to push it. I'll go for 3 - 5 on Tuesday. VCM is a slight possibility. (I had written it off last week, so I could just focus on getting healthy.)

Back

Ran pain free for the first time in 6 weeks today. 3 miles, 25:58 minutes. Forcing myself not to go out again tomorrow, fearing relapse on the calf.

Have to catch up on the blog, but kiddies need to go to bed first.

Back at it

Two weeks with a nast cold, one vacation week, and one hard work week have set me back a month. Finally made it out for an easy 3 (that wasn't so easy) yesterday. Very slow, but good to be out again. Most of the nagging injuries seem to be much better. Looking forward to getting back into the routine again. Next goal is the Corporate Challenge in mid June.

Good to see FA keeping the blog going. What happened to everyone else?

Run 22

Out again this morning for another quickie, 25 minutes in the Park. I entered at 96th Street today and immeidately headed uptown on the Park Drive, taking the Great Hill in reverse. Felt good, blah blah blah. It was a beautiful morning, 48 degrees and clear. There were other runners out in the Park but not too many. I am starting to like the morning run. The issue is, to go longer I have to get out earlier, which is tough on Mrs. FA since I usually run the littlest FA's morning routine. (She can be tough about dressing, brushing teeth, eating breakfast, etc.) So, this is something to work on.

I've been focusing on hitting my schedule this week, one run at a time, and today was the 4th run in 6 days. Not too concerned about distance at this point. Aiming for another shorty before leaving the city tomorrow (Friday).

Peace, fellas.

Run 21

Got out this morning for a quickie, 25 minutes hard along the bridle path. Busy at work, so no rhapsodizing today. Now I turn to getting the next run done - Wednesday p.m. Will check in then.

Run 20

I snuck out again last night for 30 minutes along my abbreviated Reservoir loop, the one in which I double back on the West Side bridle path rather than go all the way around the water. It was the second run of the weekend and my thighs are sore today, the right one in particular. I usually don't run on back-to-back days, but it was worthwhile. Though yesterday was cooler that I anticipated -- I could have used the windbreaker -- Spring weather is driving people into the Park and it is more fun to be out than in the lonely winter months.

So, in the spirit of One Run at a Time, I am now focused only on getting out on Tuesday. Will check in again then.

Peace, fellas.

Run 19, One Run At A Time

'Morning.

So I haven't visited in a while. This funk got into my head, sapping my will to run through the boredoom and fatigue. It soured several runs I was looking forward to, in San Antonio, Sarasota, and Reykjavic. I was in Seattle and San Francisco this week and didn't even bring my sneakers. But I've registered for a 10k and the Wall Street Fun Run in May, and am going to meet those commitments on way or another.

So, one run at a time:

Today was pretty good, better than I was anticipating. Ran my steady eddy 5k resevoir loop in about 33 minutes. It's beautifully warm in NYC today, and there are lots of runners and walkers and cyclists in the Park. My run definately benefitted from the company.

Later, fellas.

Outdoor run

Finally headed out for a spring run and I was pleasantly surprised by how good I felt. I am pretty sure it was 4 miles at a 7:53 pace the entire time. I was a little high in the HR towards as the end as I really wanted to run the same pace the entire time, but it felt good to be outside with sunshine and wind all around.

Hope everyone is well and good for A. for getting out there and breaking down that wall.

Cheers!

Beautiful Evening

I took another evening run today and it was a beautiful evening. Child two came with me and he chattered the first four miles then fell sound asleep in mile five. I love running with my children. I felt pretty good though I think I was pushing it pretty hard today. The stroller totally changes the workout factor for me, but it's great to have the company. Knocking down another brick.

Quick & Late

Quick late run and a quick late post. Ran abut 4 on Wednesday, late in the day, from 5:40 - 6:15 PM. it was more than four but less than 5. I had meetings in Boston and needed to get my car from the train station lot -- I got a ride out of the city -- so I ran a good sized loop to get my car. I felt pretty good, and am glad I went. I nearly bailed but Mrs. A pushed me out the door. Hopefully the FAs get in a run in Rekyjavik to which they are currently en route if they haven't landed yet.

Catching up

This is a catch up post.

Ran 3 miles on Friday night.
Ran 5 miles on Saturday morning.
Drank 5 bottles of wine (collectively with 5 adults) on Saturday night.
Ran 25 minutes on treadmill on Monday, followed by 35 minutes on the elliptical.
Did 45 minutes on the elliptical today.
6-8 mile run is on my schedule for tomorrow, pending the calf health.

More soon. Have to go to bionicles.com now. Agricola, you'll know this site soon enough with little Ag 2 and 3.

Good Weekend

We had a great weekend on the Cape this weekend with the VTRs and Mrs. FA and her kids (Mr. FA, we missed you). I ran 8 on Saturday, 5 with VTR and 3 with Mrs. FA. IT was great to have someone to talk to. Near the end with VTR we were both sort of working and I looked at him and said, "you're doing great, this is much quicker than I thought we'd run." He looked at me and says, "I was picking it up to stay up with you . . ." funny. I enjoyed running with Mrs. FA too, she set the pace, we had a great conversation about running work and the usual stuff, and got in a nice run.

I took Children 1 & 2 out today and we had fun on a fairly short run, in the neighborhood of 3 miles. We played a game avoiding "traps" -- manhole covers and sewer grates that either popped your tire, grabbed your leg or arm or spewed sparks (water valve covers). I'd pretend not to see them and both kids would be yelling "TRAPS!" I'd swerve the whole stroller at the last second and they'd be swerving with it all tossed around in the cabin. We had a blast. It was a gorgeous evening of golden sun and brilliant blue skies. C1 said, "it looks like early morning but it's not. . ." so observant. We saw a couple of big cotton tail rabbits, loads of Grackles and a couple of big Northern Flickers.

I got in five on my birthday (Wednesday) with C3. I felt good much better than my 3/29 run. I'm rediscovering my mojo. VTR gave me a big pep talk this weekend and it was good, thanks. I'm knocking down the wall one brick at a time as that HS rower mentioned -- great comment PR.

A tangential thing: we saw a bunch of birds this weekend that looked loonish, but I think that they were Brants, a small to medium sized goose. According to The Sibley Guide to Birds they winter here and summer up in Hudson Bay/the arctic circle.