30 Minute Monday Run

Got out and ran for 30 minutes last night, extending the top loop of CP to include the top of the Reservoir trail. It wasn't very hot, but muggy, so I had my first good running sweat of the season. It felt good. I am getting excited for summer.

Run with Spouse

January was a tough month. Work and the weather were obstacles for me. I even dragged my gear around Germany for week, hoping to run in Hamburg and Berlin, but the same forces of work and weather kept me mostly at my desk. (Weather was the bigger problem in Germany, actually. There's been a lot of snow and ice there...apparently this is unusual, and the Germans don't clear sidewalks. Both cities were COVERED in ice. In fact, I slipped and smacked my head pretty good on my way to a dinner. Bad business.) So altogether I had only four runs in January, a far cry fro the 40 miles I'd announced as my goal for the month, on this blog.

So that's my update, as I've been an infrequent visitor. With a 15k galloping toward me (March 28) I am feeling some positive pressure to get back on the stick. (Funny how the Olympics are inspring. I love the Olympics, but watched my first few hours of coverage last night...snowboard cross and some luge, men's skating.)

So Mrs. FA and I got out together this morning for about 3.5 miles in the Park. It's a beautiful morning in NYC. The sky is a slate blue, and the Park is covered in crusty snow from last night's storm. The footing was tough but kind of fun, shifting from some slick blacktop to the snow-covered Res loop to crushed ice and salt.

More later, fellas. Peace.

Best Run for Weeks

I got out for 34 minutes tonight. Best run for weeks. I ran the Reservoir Loop for the first time in a dog's age. I actually felt strong, and mid-way chose to run a slightly longer route than I had planned. Maybe some of the fitness I lost in the six weeks of post-ADK 1/2 inactivity is coming back. But then Wednesday's run will probably kick my *ss.

Don't Run After Pizza

I had two slices of pizza tonight around 5:30. When I got out for my run at about 7:45, I started out hard and the agida quickly shut me down. I thought I was gonna die. SUCKING wind. So I slowed to a walk for a few blocks and started up again at a more moderate pace and headed out towards the resevoir and looped it. I was back at the apartment in about 31 minutes, which is not bad. When I hit the resevoir track I felt that I needed a pacer, so fell in behind a couple out having a social run, chatting away, and stayed with them until about 3/4ers 'round, then pulled ahead and that was that. Heading to the shower now. 10 mile run in the plan for Saturday.

Losing Count

I haven't been counting runs, as is my habit. But I had a good Central Park Reservoir run this week, on a very hot and humid Tuesday evening. Didn't think I could sweat so much. I broke down and did the unthinkable, removing my shirt and running in the park, topless. I pity my fellow runners who had to watch, but I was considerably more comfortable.

I brought my sneakers ro Lexington, KY for a Wednesday/Thursday business trip, aiming to run Thursday morning. Alas, I drank too much bourbon Wednesday night and slept in Thursday. I only roused myself to shower and dress in time for a breakfast meeting. It was super humid there, too.

Aiming for a 7 miler today in the Champlain Valley. Will post.

Peace, fellas.

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 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 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 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.

Run 11

So I got out tonight around 6:25 and pointed myself east on 110th Street. I ran the length of Central Park North, a slight downhill the whole way so I was feeling like an animal when I rounded the corner to head downtown on Fifth and hit the slight but relentlessly steady uphill climb all the way to 90th Street. Murder. I joined the ReseRvoir loop there and turned against traffic, rounded the bottom and was heading back uptown on the West side when I looked at my watch. Only 21 minutes had elapsed since leaving the apartment. Only 21 minutes. I thought I was gonna die.

I arrived back at the apartment about 12 minutes later after a short breather and light jog the remaining distance. Its time for me to get my HR monitor fixed and start wearing the strap again. I need the biofeedback to help me set a sustainable pace.