almost 60 degrees warmer...

The last time I ran outside it was 16 below zero. Five (5) days later I got sick and was not able to do much at all. It was the germ from hell which has taken out half the staff at work and sounds like it now has gobbled up Matt Patten as well. I was thrilled that today I woke after 6 continuous hours of sleep... That was great considering I have been sleeping little. So I decided the run outside could not be passed up.

I went to the Minnesota River bottom and ran two hours. It was very mixed footing with shaded areas like ice and hard to climb the hills to slush my foot would sink 4 inches as I ran along. I was wearing only a short sleeve T-shirt with a long sleeve T-shirt over it and was very comfortable the entire run.

I wore my Nathan and tried a few things I read somewhere once, but not sure who to give credit. When I filled the bladder, I turned it upside down and sucked all the air out of the bladder. I was told this makes it ride better on the back. IT DID. Amazing how there was no sloshing around and did not know it was there. BUT, I discovered with no air inside the bladder, sucking out the water was so much harder. Now I am going to test this a little more to see if it was a kinked hose or something like that, but I sure loved the way it felt on my back.

I also do not like powders on the bladder. So, I took straws and filled them with Gookinade powder. I would take the straw and eat the powder like the old sugar filled Pixi-Sticks. I really like this as opposed to drinking the stick drinks I manage to spill on me time to time. I am interested in trying this again in the future. Wonder if any others have tried such a thing?

Anyway I am so glad to get outside. I had some pains I did not like, but that is what happened when you take time off, at least I think.

Carry on!

Tire flip, headphones and other rambles

I saw an article in the Star-Tribune yesterday.  It was about a guy who wanted to run 93 miles in 24 hours on a treadmill, (

http://www.startribune.com/local/north/38239339.html?elr=KArksUUUU)  At first, I though let Diane challenge the guy…  She will always be the queen of treadmill training in my book!  Then I though, I know so many people that could do this easy… I might sound like I am diminishing his glory, but Adam flips a tire and I think he can do over 100 in 24 hours on a treadmill…  Enough said.  What I know about most successful ultra runner is they are so humble.

 

I never thought I would get rid of that cold, and it still lingers a little…  I think it is lingering as I need to get some sleep.  After being sick all last week and sleeping for what seemed like forever, insomnia has hit me now as I try to get caught up.  I monitor my time sleeping and morning pulse rate among other things; I have slept 20 hours in 6 days… (THAT IS LESS THAN 3.5 A NIGHT...I AM NOW ON AUTO PILOT AND FORGETTING WHAT I AM DOING.)  I hate taking sleeping pills but I think I need to head to the store and stock up.  They just make me feel so depressed!

 

I did run yesterday and felt good.  Just 3.1 miles in 32 minutes.  Also got an e-mail that Grandma's Marathon no longer bans headphones.  They still encourage not using them to enhance the full atmosphere and experience of the race.  I did enter.  I have to, I think.  I have said it many times on this blog; I had a goal in 1985 to run 25 years in a row.  I have 24…  I am not sure I want to fail, but I am already so nervous…  To me, it does not seem like such an accomplishment until I look back at life changes, injuries, and all other things that could have stopped me, but did not!

 

Saturday looks like a great day to head outside.  I finally have 3 weekends where my tennis only has me working a match a day and that is nice.  But then I have three weekends in a row where any training is impossible with tennis being 12-14 hours a day…

 

Starting March 21, I have only one full weekend of tennis though May 16 so I am looking so forward to getting a solid 6 weeks of weight loss and training.  Up till that point, I have the goal of building a solid, consistent base of 20-30 miles a week.  Over that next 8 week period, I plan on getting my average miles into the high 40's and slowly creep into the 50's though Grandma's.  At that time, I will decide if it is time to work an aid station at the Superior 100 or ramp up and go for it again?

 

Two weeks from today I will be in Munich, Germany with my son.  Never been to Germany so it should be so much fun! 

 

Carry on!

Cold and Flu

I am out of commission... The past three weeks I have been fighting pain in the midsection which moved all over. Made it verify hard to workout. Went to the Doctor and he though I may have a sports hernia, but I do not understand how Icy Hot helps a sports hernia? But Icy Hot helps, a bunch. I think it is a groin strain. It feels better this week, but I am now down with a cold...

I have not had a cold and flu this hard in years. I have not left work ills in years. Today, was to much. Some think it is from running outside all week last week even in the 20 below day, but I did not start feeling bad until Saturday Morning and I did not run Friday. Either way, it is slushy outside and I am stuck inside... Bummer, but at least I did get quality time in last week.

Even though I want to train as I enjoy it now, I can not... I am not getting worried about that issue as I am leaving for Germany in three weeks. When I come back, we can get set for all the outside trail running... Yippee...

Inspiration needed?

I have ran outside many times the past few days, including today at noon. They say it is -7 degrees but did not feel that cold. Refreshing... Weight is down a few pounds, Steve said he lost 1.87 percent, I lost 1.92 percent... Just inched him out but I guess that leaves us below the yellow line.

Inspiration needed? Look at this story... Wow...



http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5450251584057734356&hl=en

Regular runs...

The header sounds a little gross... But it means three runs so far this year - about 8 total miles! For those who may read this, that is not a big amount, but considering months ago I did not ever want to run again... I had no urge, I had no desire and had no enjoyment lacing up and heading out, this is a nice number of runs and miles.

Now, is it cool to run outside again (No pun intended - it is winter!) Again, I really have completed very little running since ST 100 attempt... My current runs are not big runs, fast runs or that athletic in effort, but I have enjoyed the outside. Just short runs of 2.5-3 casual miles. Not at all hard. Seems simple and I do not feel like I did much. I would have more runs in but the month of January will be a minimum month for increasing miles of running. That is because I have four weekends in a row of tennis which means 16 plus hour work days Friday and Saturday and 8-9 hours Sunday. When I finish Sunday I usually go home and sleep. For tennis I am on my feet most of the day and it is really tiring both mentally and physically. I am only focused on training and preparing for Grandma's at this time. No other thoughts about any other race. I will see what happens when the snow melts... So I am looking at January as a base month. With a goal of running at least 3-5 miles every other day on average. If I do not, then who cares, I am just thrilled to enjoy lacing up the shoes once again.

Then tennis is much less in February through April due to my changes in schedules. I decided not to apply for Carson, CA event in April as I am taking my first non-tennis vacation in years (I only had one in the past 7 years?)... Although Carson is all chairs and top level officiating. So I should have a chance to get more outdoor time in with the reduced tennis and I am looking so forward to my real vacation!!! A trip to Germany for over a week visit with my son in February. Then there are some great running partners out there I am looking forward to spending some weekend time with...

I also wonder how my 6 weeks of Vitamin D therapy has impacted this positive attitude about running as well. I have 6 more weeks to go. I am less fatigued, sleeping much better, also still needs improvement. I also purchased DietController which is one of the best programs I have seen to monitor all aspects of diet and exercise. I do not want to slip into the lack of nutritional balance noted in my blood tests 7 weeks ago. It is so hard to believe how off balance I was and glad the physician found these issues. Either way, things in the personal life are in a strange situation right now and I find myself missing Dana more than ever. I am not sure I ever let me feel about her death, but I know for sure, I was so dependant on her for encouragement, I am now reliving what we went through 3 years ago, alone... Hard to believe she died 2 1/2 years ago as it seems like yesterday.

But as I know she would want for my and anyone else in this situation, to continue on with the good things in life. I think running is one of those things again, and that alone feels good. Hope this continues and I see you all on the trails in the future.

Until then... Carry on...

Random thoughts...

I ran yesterday. And I ache today. I am like a rookie all over again!

I have read many blogs about 2008 and look forward to more in 2009. The recent message tends to be great or miserable about the year but all have hopes for 2009. Not much in the middle. There is one thing that amazes me, that being that all of us who thought I year sucked (including me), we are actually better off than most of the world. We work out more, have food and housing, great friends and a smile.

For some, no matter how much we dislike our runs, our Duff’s, our diets, or relationships, there are some who had the worse DNF experiences. The death of a friend or relative. This is the ultimate DNF. DNF of a life, DNF my time with them, DNF our desires… But I think back to some of the deaths I have endured.

I keep coming back to the death of my 3-year-old nephew, Aaron. It was those words from that unknown pastor that I recall so often. He said that Aaron did not DNF; he actually lived his life fully. His life of three years god gave him was full and complete. Those three years seems short because we have these expectations of life being 70 or 80 years.

It is hard, but if I remove the expectations I had about my time on earth, my race times, my race distances, my weight goals, they are less impacting. But at the same time, without expectation, life is dull and empty. Where is that balance, I will never know… But I bet I will think about it…

I’ve never been an absent minded person. Perhaps that’s the wrong way to describe myself. Not intense enough? The truth is I can’t ever stop thinking. When I’m bored my mind drifts off and explores situation after situation and idea after idea.
So one day as my mind started to drift I began to play the “what if” game. What if I were born a monkey? What if I had the ability to read minds? What if I did not break up with Shari Felted in High School? Then a more troubling thought entered my mind and I haven’t able to shake the question since.

What it there was an epidemic?

What it a new disease breaks loose and begins to ravish the population? And suppose there’s only limited number of vaccines. What do we do? It was this train of thought that I am musing over still.

See an epidemic is a natural occurrence to this world, just like tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. However in so many ways an epidemic can be worse. While natural disasters only affect one small area, diseases aren’t limited my any geographical barrier. They can go anywhere, infect anyone. They don’t stop; they spread leaving desolation in their wake.

So if one of these were to break out here in modern day America my question is: There is only a limited number of vaccines and medial supplies, so who gets treated? How would we be able to justify who gets saved, and who isn’t worth saving?
It’s a hard choice to make when one is forced to play god. Who would be the ones to not be treated? The old, the sick, the mentally unstable? Or do the rich get treated and leave the poor to die? Who could be allowed to make this decision? It’s all so complicated. Morals and family ties make the choice almost impossible. How would you justify it? Kill the few to save the many? Put in such a situation, it scary to think of what I would have to do. What would you do? It may be a question that is moot… but if I am occupied thinking about something, it does go all over the map.

So as I start 2009, I think about stupid things like above when I have nothing else to think about. About things I can never answer or at least I hope I never will… And I am thankful, for what has been given to me; even I find many faults or issues with much of the same.

Carry on…