Couple to report

Got a nice 4.75 mile run last Sunday. I felt good and had fun and beat the rain. I didn't get out again until Wednesday and did my bread run to Trader Joe's. I felt better on the way back than on the way out -- total head-wind on the way out and a lovely tail-wind on the way home. It's cold today, but I hope to get out today for a quick one. Should be doable.

Several workouts later and a thirty day challenge

Hi all,

Hit the treadmill for a 4.1 miler last Friday and this past Monday. About an 8:20 pace. Also, hit the gym for a P90x workout for a little over an hour lifting weights. I am about to start another reiteration of this program and if anyone else is interested in ordering the DVDs and starting with me let me know.

VTR - I understand what it it like to play hockey as I played the JV-B boys team yesterday on defense and had a blast. Unfortunately, I know where my body needs to go on the ice, but it really can't take me there. Need a little more practice.

Just getting out and being active is 90% of the battle.

I am challenging each of us to workout for the next thirty days for a couple of reasons:

Keep the holiday weight off
Start the New Year off the right way by being in better shape

To keep us honest, I say we post weight and photos of the upper body. Any takers?

Keep on running.

Cold, or, Harlem Doesn't Run

Got out for a brisk 27 minute run tonight. I had planned to go longer but I found myself underdressed and COLD. The Park was empty above 96 Street, that is, I found myself observing, hey, the Park is empty, it must be the cold, until I crossd 96th Street and suddenly I was among many runners again. My conclusion: Harlem doesn't run.

Blustery

Seems like I was always running into a headwind today. Ran the castle island 10K route. Not much else to report.

Building the base

Still at it. I've been increasing the mileage ever so slowly at 10% per week for the last month. Based on Agricola's recommendation and that of several running rags I've read, this is a good rule to avoid (repeat) injury. 50 miles last month, shooting for 55 this month. Ran my 3 mile loop this morning as the bone spur in the ankle was a little sore after the added distance the past two weeks. Last week had two of my hardest runs due to weather (Wednesday's snow storm and Friday's torrential rain). There's something about running in bad weather that I'm addicted to. Felt good today. 6+ for Wednesday.

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.

Crappy Week

I didn't get out this past week until Friday, in Tampa, Florida, early, around 6:00a. I ran for about 28 minutes. I got a little freaked by the sign that said, "Beware of Alligators." No lie.

Mrs. FA and I got out yesterday (Saturday) for 30 minutes in Rochester, NY. It was 19 degrees and the terrain was mixed -- some snow, some ice, some blacktop -- in her sister's neighborhood.

I'm finally back home after six days, hoping to have a regular week, with runs Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

Peace, fellas.

Clarifying

Of all of the things I like about being my own boss what I don't like is the never-off nature of starting our own thing. It interferes sometimes with my life which is really much more important than my work (and always has been). I tend to get short lately and have little patience. Running helps me deal with that -- a reality hammered home when I'm not running as much as I should. I got out yesterday afternoon in the dark. It was cold and windy. There were no other runners out. The Christmas lights were on in folks' houses. I went 3.3. It was beautiful and clarifying both physically and metaphysically. I was strong and quick (I can run!). I pondered some stuff and settled on a course of action. It was good. I then got home, showered, hydrated & drank a beer. I yelled at my kids about something stupid. I've still got a ways to go. Embrace the process. Find the center.

GOOAAALLLL

I scored one last night for my team on hockey night (after two weeks of scoring against my team). Good workout, good fun, followed by beers. Not bad for a Monday night.

More Like It

I went out late today, around 4:15 PM. I didn't run over the weekend. I worked hard on Saturday to finish my yard work. Today was the first run of the 09-10 winter running season as far as I'm concerned: sub-40 F, dark, snow on the ground, badly shoveled sidewalks in places, hat gloves tights, shell & reflector. I had no real route in mind, I just went out and did my thing and ended up having a beaut of a run in the 4 mile neighborhood. I even threw in my end of 10K hills and did well. Last week may have been an anomaly, it may have been the week off, too much food at Thanksgiving, I don't know. My body reacted well and I enjoyed tonight. I felt quick, I liked my tempo, my CV felt good, my legs were solid. Mrs. A is happy to see us back on the blog.

Treadmill again

As I work into running once again, I have found it tough getting motivated to do it even though after I finish a run, I feel immensely better. Hit the treadmill last night for 4.1 miles and ran at an 8:30 pace. Slow, but at least I haven't lost too much ground to just lifting and other things. No tights yet!

I will get out into the real elements, but I am also considering switching shoes. One of my colleagues here just got new Nike "natural" running sneakers and he swears by them. You have to start out slower, but supposedly my buddy's aches in his lower shins have gone away. Check out this funny commercial I found while trying to seek out a link for all of you: http://tomfaranda.typepad.com/folly/2009/04/nikes-naturel-running-training-camp.html

The link to the shoe: http://store.nike.com/index.jsp?country=US&lang_locale=en_US&cp=usns_CSE_081109_Froogle&l=shop,pdp,ctr-inline/cid-1/pid-224611/pgid-224609&CAWELAID=377772735


I will let everyone know if I get them.

Men in TIGHTS

I donned the tights for the first time yesterday to squeeze in a 33-minute run in 42 degree temps.

That makes three runs for last week. This week I'm traveling, Atlanta and St. Petersburg, Florida, for work, then Rochester, NY for the weekend. I am aiming to schedule time for runs in the South, Rochester may be tough. Trying to stay on track with the challenge. More soon.

Quick one

Checking it off -- I got in a solid 3.5 miler on Saturday. It was sandwiched between two nights of festive drinking, so a five miler was probably in order, but I was glad to get out nonetheless.

Short Friday Run

Went out for 3.3 today. Nothing major, but I felt better than yesterday so that's heartening.
IT was chilly but I got out in shorts, gloves, hat not pulled all the way down technical-t and poly pro undershirt (long sleeved). My shorts kept riding up in my crotch and as I ran by this little gas station and Dunkins these morons across the street in an SUV told me to pull down my shorts. If there hadn't been 4 guys with hockey sticks (Aluminum sticks were visible in the back seat, running along the top of the door on the driver's side) I would have stopped, flipped them the bird and asked why they were looking at my shorts and crotch any way... but I rose above and carried on. I've never been hassled around here before (but have in rural Michigan) and think that people in cars who hassle runners are compensating for something.

I entered my name in the lottery for the Cherry Blosson 10-miler on 4/11/10 in D.C.. If you're interested let me know and I'll give you some inside scoop -- there is some HC momentum and we're trying to get in as a group, one from NE one from the Mid-Atlantic.

I also just signed up for the Vermont City Marathon.....here we go.

Treadmill run

Hi all,
Hit the treadmill for 3.1 miles and did some weights on Wednesday night. I don't know what it is about the treadmill, but I don't find them too bad. They are definitely easier on the joints and the legs. Might hit the Hyannis 5k this weekend if I can drum up some support around here.

Peace....

Perception

I'm not sure what it was, but for some reason I was convinced it was cold outside yesterday. It might have been FreeArtist's post from a few days back or the slightly gray morning. Whatever it was, I hit the streets at lunch in sweats, a long-sleeved tech shirt with zip up turtleneck, another zip turtleneck technical fleece, my light, running jacket (yup, I'm up to three layers) and gloves. I even reached for my hat, but thought better of it. I was overdressed to say the least.

Out on the course, I awkwardly reeled in a group of three runners. You know those times when you're running just fast enough to catch someone, but not fast enough to blow by them? That's the awkward pass I'm talking about. I said hello and picked up my pace until they were well behind me. Not a fan of the slow pass.

Besides my attire and pass, this was an uneventful run. I was glad to get out there. I figure it was 3.5 miles.

Wake Up Call

Beautiful day (sunny and 70 F), horrible run. This run was a wake up call for me. I need to be more conisstent in my runing, my diet, my hydration, my sleep habits. I need to structure my day better and remember to take time for myself and focus on running. I did about 4ish and it was one of the worst runs I've had in years. I raked and worked in my yard but haven't run since Thursday. The frustrating thing about consistency is that it's all in my control -- I just need to plan my days better.

OK, done venting. Thanks.

Run in the Rain

I got out last night in a cold, intermittant rain, for a 30-minute run. It wasn't a heavy, steady soaking rain, so I guess it was just enough to thin the running and cycling hordes and foster a sense of camaraderie among the runners who still got out, like we were tough guys. That's how I felt, anyway, and I acknowledged each of my comrades with a slight fist-pump. This being New York, this call for help went largely unanswered.

Hockey night

Monday night was hockey night again, and it felt good. 1.5 hours of wind sprints seem tough to beat for fitness. Good times.

Seeing the posts this week is helping with the motivation on the running front. I'm very sporatic. Hoping to get out at least twice this week. You'll hear about it if I do.

Solo Run in a City of 9 Million

I got out in an eerily empty Central Park last night. I started at 7:25p, ran along 110th St, up behind the Lasker Rink/Pool, across the 102 Street Tranverse, then down the West Side to Columbus Circle, where I caught the C Train home. The Park was EMPTY. Weird. I saw maybe four runners the whole way, and not a single cyclist. I t had been raining, so I can understand the cyclist staying in. I can only think the cold scared off the runners. I wore my stocking cap, and wished I had remembered gloves.

I'm staying with the intermitant recovery walks for the time being, though last night's running felt pretty good.

More soon.