Turkey Trotting

I ran my first Turkey Trot yesterday. I ran it with VTR (well, we were on the same course at the same time, just separated by about two minutes) in his hometown. Up early I headed south and met up with VTR and his father and we headed to the race. I wasn't sure what I was shooting for, though in the back of my mind I was hoping to go sub-23.

I'd had a crazy day at work on Wednesday (stressed and awake at 2:30 AM I went to the basement at 3:15 and started working and didn't finish until 9:15 PM -- good times) and was tired on Thanksgiving Day. VTR and I were near the front of the starting pack and that was sort of crazy. All these folks started blazing out along he first quarter and then pulling up exhausted . . . 3.1 miles is further than you think. I'd never run the course before and wasn't sure where I was until I saw the timekeeper at mile one. I ran the first mile in 7:11 and knew why I didn't feel that great. I calmed down a bit and fell into a good rhythm through the the second mile and while I felt that I was slowing I had a pretty good finish. We finished on the HS track and it was cool how nice that rubber surface felt and how much it helped propulsion. I finished in 22:49, by my watch, which is a 7:21 pace, so pretty consistent really. It was a hoot.

I got in 31:55 this evening and felt really good. I'd painted for about 3 hours today and wasn't totally feeling it, but once I got out there I enjoyed myself and it was a nice evening. Has anybody noticed Jupiter and Venus in the sky? Look to the western sky around sunset and you'll see them, the two bright lights nearly on top of one another, about 30 degrees or so above the horizon. Venus is larger and brighter since it's closer, but Jupiter is pretty darn bright too.

Suburban Duathlon

I did a duathlon today, or maybe even a modified tri. I raked for a good two hours with a couple of dump runs to get rid of my leaves. Picked up C1 down the street at a play date and took her on a quick errand. When we got home I geared up and went out for 31 minutes.

Raking is a great workout. It works the upper body, the legs, the abs. You do dead lifts and hustle barrels to the pickup, then drag it out of the truck bed and do it all again. I did a shortened stroller router this evening (solo) and it felt really really good. I'm having a good time right now just getting out and running. I'm shooting for minutes rather than miles and while I'm firmly in the 4-5.5 range right now the mileage is not the thing -- time on the road is. I'm trying to figure out some new routes, but I've been out 4 times since last Sunday and run three routes and that has helped immensely.

I dedicate today's run to my Dad's sister-in-law's father. He died today at the age of 95! He lead a long and good life. I liked him very much. He'd been sick a couple of weeks ago and in the hospital. He got sick again and said, no more hospital, no more medications. It's time. I think that's pretty amazing, brave and wise. It was time for him, he knew it. He accepted his mortality, and took control. It's not sad. It's empowering.

Dusk Run

I bailed early from work and headed out of town on the 3:05 train. I was on the road by 4:15 as the sun began to plummet below the horizon. The sky was beautiful, blazing orange and pink. The air was cold and moderately breezy, a beautiful evening for a run. I did stroller route without the stroller and added on some distance to so it most likely took me over five miles. I came back ten seconds quicker than I went out and everything felt really good over the course of my 43 minutes.

I passed a guy on the way out, near my turn-around, waved to him and kept going. I caught him again about 1.5 miles later. I slowed a bit, said how are you, thinking I'd engage him in a chat about the beautiful wintry night, and the great running weather . . . and he didn't even respond. He probably thought I was showing him up but I wasn't. I didn't realize it was the same guy I'd seen earlier until I was a couple hundred yards behind him. So, when he was rude, I revved it back up and did blow him away. This was a great run, from beginning to end. I'm hoping I can get one in today, but we're having a party for C2 this evening so that might keep me busy.

Filling The Cracks

Yesterday I posted a comment about running filling in the cracks of my life right now. I squeezed one in between the cracks of my day. I was on a call late last night and again early this AM (though I was not actually on the call, as they didn't call me, long story but it's cool). I snuck out after nine and did about 5 miles, a little less, in 38:54. It was a beaut of day -- crystal clear skies, cold and breezy. Glad I got out. Off to the showers and then the train for another call.

Good Start

I had a good start to my running week yesterday and did 5.2 in 42:24. I went post church, like FA, and it was a breezy, chilly, windy day. Clouds scudded in and clouds blew away. As I finished my run it looked very November. There were many stretches with a stiff headwind and quite a few with a good cross wind that would buffet me in between houses or at intersections. It's pretty amazing how much a headwind can add to the work level -- there was one big gust that almost stopped me in my tracks and slowed me way down, and the road was flat. It was cool in a torturous way. I felt really good near the end. I caught one of those moments where running feels like gliding, the sound of your breath and your feet on the road disappear and you're just in the zone. I'm hopeful that I'm coming out of my down-cycle. Let's see what I do the rest of the week.
Sunday was a good start.

Good Step

I took a good step this AM and got in a nice relaxed, and relaxing 4 mile run. I kept the pace around 8:23, ran within myself and came home a happy and contented guy. I was up at 5:15 but bailed. I woke up an hour later and hopped out of bed and headed out. Everybody was still sleeping, I got dressed in the kitchen and went. I really am a 6:00 - 6:30 AM runner, there's no getting around it. I've been running long enough that I know this about myself. I started running at 6:27 AM. It was chilly and gray but very comfortabe for running. I was happy to be on the road. I'm taking C1 & C2 tomorrow AM.

I was at a networking thing yesterday AM and walked into a bannister that gave me a charlie-horse. I wore dress shoes to this event, for the first time in months, and they made my right knee hurt. Besides those oddities, everything felt good. I have a question for the crew: Is it crazy that I'm balking at $35 to run a 5K in Decmeber? It seems really expensive to me and though it's for Special Olympics it seems like a gouge -- Falmouth costs $35, and the VTCM costs $85. JUst wondering what you all think.

Strollering In The Rain

The kids and I laid out their stuff last night -- blanket, jacket, animal buddy, slippers. My stuff was organized and hanging in the cellar stairwell. C2 and I were up around 5:30, helping Mrs. A with C3. I awoke C1 and she climbed right out of bed. I put the stroller together once the kids were up, grabbed them each a mini bagel and hit the road at 6:35. We ran for 40:26 over 4.78 miles and came back quicker than we went out, though I walked a bit near the end because I was gassed. It was a dreary day and I might not have gone had I not promised both kids that I'd take them. It rained on us quite hard in the last mile and I passed a woman runner and we smiled at each other and commented on the lousy weather. The kids were good, by and large, but I did have to stop twice in the last mile to separate them. They are good for about 34 minutes in the stroller and after that it becomes a bit nutty. It was a great run and I'm ecstatic that they both want to go with me. This is a good thing.

Quick Run

I didn't get out yesterday, but did make it out today. It was a nice morning, the sun was sort of up, there was a bit of overcast but it was mild and windless. I need to get better organized to smooth my AM departures and lay out my stuff better. If I can get out the door by 6:30 rather than 6:45 I'll be better able to log more miles. I did my short route, 3.3 miles, in 26 and change. Not my quickest nor my slowest, and it's not a surprise I've not run very much in the past ten days. Organization is key tomorrow, both C1 & C2 want to come so I'll have to set up the stroller tonight and get their gear ready etc. I'm looking forward to it.

Back At It

I took the week off after the CCM Relay. It was good to take a little break and it permitted me to wait out the time change. Unlike Bennu, I just can't motivate to run in the pre-dawn dark, though it's all in my head because the one that I got in with C2 I did enjoy (and so did he).

Well, that's fixed now because it's fairly bright by 6:30 so no more excuses. I did 5 yesterday with C1. She rode in the stroller and we ran on the Cape. It was a gorgeous, blustery day and she fell asleep somewhere along the route. It was very cool. I covered the 5 in 47 flat -- not at all my fastest for that route/distance but it's OK. I battled a stiff headwind for a bunch of it and we stopped to look at the Bass River as well. It was a nice run with my daughter on a beautiful day and that's all that really matters.

I'm looking to get back to a Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday cycle in anticipation of marathon training. Not sure about the mileage, 20 would be nice, but it's more about getting on the cycle.