Coupla Runs

I got out Saturday evening for a 5k-ish run in the Park, same distance again early this morning. I dragged my gear to Orlando Sunday and Monday but didn't make it out. Just as well, it wasn't overly hot, but steamy.

New Route

I lapped the perimeter of Morningside Park last night. It's a big park. Two times 'round took me a little more than 30 minutes. There is a monster climb, starting on 123rd Street, up two blocks on Amsterdam and then to the crest of Morningside Drive. That really kicked my behind. But I enjoyed the change of scenery. Morningside Avenue has enjoyed a quiet renaissance, the Park is beautiful -- lots of cherry blossoms in bloom -- and the apartments along there make me envious.

I'm still not feeling great on the road but am striving to stick to a schedule. My next race is the Healthy Kidney 10k in Central Park, May 15, sponsored by the headman of the United Arab Emirates. I ran it last year and it had great swag, as befits an Emir. (I remarked recently to Mrs. FA that we've reached a point where we can say, ran this race last year, etc.)

My time last year was 1:01:25. Given my 3 and 6 mile splits during the 15k last month, I am aiming for sub-57 minutes on this go.

Wages of Sin

I did a strong 5 this afternoon even though the run was sluggish and crummy . I bailed yesterdy when I couldn't find the gear I needed to run in the cold and got really frustrated. Footing was tough, and afterward my calves got all tight and lousy feeling. It could be the footing, it could be some dehydration, not sure. My pace was all over the place, and I'm attributing it to the major league meal we prepped for my parents as their Christmas gift and the two Negronis and the wine. You reap what you sow, and the wages of sin are steep. It was good to get one in early this week, I'm feeling consistency building. I'm two weeks from the start of the Vermont City Marathon training , and therefore 20 weeks from race day. I'm about 4 weeks from the Super Sunday 10K; 8 weeks from NooBeffid Half, and 12 weeks from the Cherry Blossom Ten. Spring is shaping up nicely which is good because I'm sick of January.

Run 28

I got in my planned run last Wednesday, May 13. The route was a variation on Run 27, cutting across the Park at 102nd Street and then taking the Great Hill in reverse instead of head-on. I don't know the distance traveled on Runs 27 and 28 but I ran for 30+ minutes each night.

Run 27

Ran for 30 minutes tonight. It's a great evening for in NYC. Temps in the hig 60s, I think. Clear. Light breeze. LOTS of very fit women on bikes buzzing past. Interesting.

Took a slightly different loop, leaving the Reservoir path on the East Side at 95th Street, up the Park Road on the East Side, down the hill behind Lasker Pool and then partway up the Great Hill until my exit near home.

I'm working on having a positive outlook about the Healthy Kidney 10k, sponsored by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates. (Weird.) So far, so good. I'll run Wednesday evening, then knock off until the race on Saturday.

Run 26

After a frustrating work day I headed out last night around 7:45p, ran down the hill from the house, and then up up up Route 9 towards Westport. I was surprised by my uphill stamina. There were no flats on this route, it was either up or down the whole way. I walked some of the ups, but overall I had the heart pumping hard for 45 minutes altogether. My calf muscles ached towards the end, and my shins are sore this morning.

Next week's 10k looks like kind of a big deal. Professional male runners will be participating. I'm sure I won't see them, but that's still sort of cool. The course is the entire park loop, starting at Columbus Circle and running clockwise, up the West side, down the East side. I'm going to use the water stations on this one.

Run 25

The 10k is around the corner, May 16. After a short chat with VTR I got out and ran my standard 5k route in about 28 minutes. No stops, no excuses. It was cool out but I came back sweating. Going to try to get on a full 10k this weekend up in the Champlain Valley.

Run 24

I snuck in 25 fast minutes on the treadmill on Friday night, before the long drive to PH. I'm not much for treamills, as I have said here before, but this was a pretty good run. Caught a rerun of "Friends" on the gym TV. It was only my second run last week (first was on Monday) and I didn't run this weekend, beyond 30 minutes sprinting around the yard, playing hide-and-seek with the little FAs. I'm now inside two weeks of my 10k, and even though I haven't hit the road like I did for other races I feel optimistic and am excited for it. I've had some good dreams, running well and feeling good. Aiming to run 10k this coming weekend in preparation but otherwise am just aiming to get through the week.

Peace, fellas.

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.

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.

Run 18, San Antonio

I got out for a short run in San Antonio along the famous riverwalk, which, by the way, if filing for bankruptcy! Anyway, I got run 18 squeezed in between meetings on Tuesday. It was hot in Texas and I had a good sweat, which I haven't had while running since probably October.

Run 17; iPod, Part 2

Mrs. FA is out with a close friend today to run a 4-mile NYRR race. Her friend recently beat breast cancer but is now staring down possibly more daunting health challenges and she started running only recently, I think partly as therapy. It's the friend's first race. So while Mrs. FA runs about 2 minutes/mile faster than her friend, today they're running the race together.

So with the little FAs playing at a neighbors I put my healthy, hardship free body out on the road again this morning, with the iPod. Still having trouble keeping the right ear bud in place, but the music was very supportive.

The playlist:

Eminence Front, The Who
Where the Streets Have No Name, U2
Don't Believe the Hype, Public Enemy
Here it Goes Again, Ok Go
Everywhere, Michelle Branch
Blinded by the Light, Manfred Mann
Favorite, Liz Phair

It's another beuatiful day in NYC, if temps are below 40 degrees. I ran my 5k Reservoir Loop in 29:44, during which I walked about 100 yards to try to shake off some piriformis pain.

Peace, fellas.

Run 16; iPod, Part 1

Mrs. FA has been after me to try running with the iPod for about 6 months. So I tried it this morning. (She bought me these ear buds that snuggle into the ear canal, b/c the standard ear buds fall out of my ears when I'm standing still.) Tell you what. I liked it. There was a time during the run when I struggled to keep the buds in my ears, and I gave up on the music for a while before a remedy presented itself. I definatlely felt more focused with my swerve on. I think that for where I'm at right now, the music might keep my head in the run. But I need more data. So I am going to try it again on the next run. I'll post the playlist.

Ran the Reservoir loop again. It's a BEAUTIFUL day in NYC, lots of people running, cycling, power walking, walking dogs, doing their thing, etc. Forgot the watch, so no time today.

Peace, fellas.

Run 15

Hello, Gents. I got out this morning at 7:00a and ran for just less than 30 minutes. I have a short version of the reservoir loop on which I turn right at the bottom of the reservoir and head back uptown on the west side bridle path. (Door to door this is about 5 to 7 minutes shorter than the full loop, and when I run in the morning I run this route to make sure I get to work on time.) The weather is temperate and there were lots of runners and lots of folks running with their dogs, which was cool to see. I don't often run the Park in the morning and at this time of year there are still so few evening runners, I enjoyed the busier Park vibe. Otherwise, nothing special about this one, just a workaday run, checked off my plan for the week.

I have some upcoming warm-climate travel, Tampa and San Antonio. I'm looking forward to a run around the Alamo, and a post with appropriately historical and literary color, ala Call Me Ishmael.

Congratulations to AG and VTR for solid performances at the Noo Beffud Half.

Peace,

Run 14

Got out tonight at 8:15p on the 5k Reservoir loop and ripped it. Ran it in 29.12, which is good for me. The temperature is 34 degrees. There were only two other runners on my route. It felt good.

Runs 12 and 13 - Back to Basics

So here's where I'm at:

I tried to go about 3.5 miles this past Monday evening on a new route. It was tough going. No lungs. Walking. My big take-away was, my 2008 gains have been lost due to my recent erratic running habits, caused by the holidays/winter/my Q1 travel schedule but also by my lack of focus on working around those obstacles. So I decided that I need to go back to the beginning and get my legs, lungs, and most of all, mental toughness-on-the-road back.

So I got out last night on my trusty 5k reservoir loop, and I huffed my way through it in 35+ minutes. I am going to stay on this route and run it regularly until I start to see some progress, as I did when I started this last summer. My next run is Friday night.

Due to a family life scheduling snafu I will not be running the NYRR 8k this weekend. So my next race will be the 10k in May. This is not a bad thing. The 10k will be a stretch distance-goal for me, and I've got some time to ramp up for it.

On the upside, the added daylight in the evening hours is VERY welcome, even if it is still quite chilly.

Peace, fellas.